It's been quiet since they left Kakariko Village. They had a brief conversation about where to go and Sheik suggested checking out the Zora tribe. He sounded more comfortable with those options than the others. To Link it didn't matter either way, he wasn't familiar with any of the places or the tribes. Not for a lack of trying, he had recovered two memories in total and neither one was overly helpful in remembering who he was. He remembered Zelda, being chosen as her knight and her frustrations with not being able to use her magic. But that was it. He didn't remember the Zoras or what their divine beast was. Sheik didn't seem concerned by his lack of memories. It was appreciated as was his direct responses to Link's questions.

Glancing behind him he looked toward Sheik who was observing the sky above them before turning away again. Sometimes he wondered what Sheik was thinking but he could never tell despite his best efforts. Honestly he was sure Sheik liked it that way. Without the mask did his face give away too much?

Link knew that he was an expressive person, Purah got amusement out of it and whatever weird expressions his face made caused Impa to laugh.

He tried to dismiss his thoughts by looking for something to do. As he glanced around he spotted what looked like the top of a tower sticking out. He stopped briefly causing Sheik to twist to avoid smacking into him and stand next to him. He followed Link's gaze. "A tower." It lowered a bit and spotted the same monster Link had thought he'd heard. "And what is that?"

"You don't know? That is a Hinox. I've only taken one of them down, it's not overly difficult though. They have a giant weakness." But the parts they dropped sold for a lot. "Come on, you've been out of the game for so long you're probably a bit rusty." Sheik slowly turned his gaze to Link and arched a perfect blonde eyebrow.

"If I win you start a fire and cook dinner."

"Oh, and if I win?"

Sheik considered this a few moments and pulled the Lyre from his back. "I'll play you a song." It sounded so simple, so different from what anyone would consider a bet. There was no money in it, no high risk, just a simple bet for a song and food. And Link found himself excited for a battle for the first time in a while. He checked his traveler's sword, his Knights shield and his knights bow. He had fifty arrows and experience, he could win this.

"You're on, Sheikah."

Sheik vanished from his sight and Link rolled his shoulders before running toward the island settled among the wetlands. When he was within range Link pulled the Sheikah Slate out and loaded up a bomb. He tossed it up and down in his hand a few times before throwing it toward the Hinox. With a tap to the slate the bomb went off and the red Hinox jumped to its feet. This was hardly going to even be a challenge for him. Pulling the bow down from his shoulder he ticked the arrow on it and lined it up. As he lined it up with the monster's eyes and let the arrow go.

His arrow was cut in half by something silver that connected with the Hinox's eye a moment later. The creature fell to the ground and Sheik appeared in the air, landing up on top of the Hinox's head and yanking his Dirk from it's eye. He spun it around in his hand and slipped it into its holder before jumping back.

The Hinox leaned forward and grabbed Sheik by the leg, stopping the others retreat as if he was just a tree branch. "Sheik!" Quickly Link notched another arrow on his bow and fired it, aiming for the eye and getting the side of the monster's head instead. It turned on him and used Sheik like a weapon, swinging the Sheikah Warrior at him through the air. Sheik's body connected with his and they rolled across the grass right into the water.

Link sat up and looked down at Sheik, pressing himself backwards to get up. "Are you alright?"

Sheik nodded and rubbed the back of his head as he sat up. "We gotta move, it's coming. It had a faster reaction time than I thought. It won't get me again." He sounded so sure and Link actually believed him.

They broke apart and he ran toward the side while Sheik took for the trees again. He reached for another arrow and took aim, letting it fly through the air and hit its mark. The moment the Hinox was down again clutching its eye he ran forward sword at the ready. He got a good few hits in before rolling away once more, dodging out of the way as the Hinox reached for him. He heard Sheik move above him and three more daggers flew through the air, hitting it in various places in the head. The Hinox, though, was getting clever at this point and covering its eye, they'd have to just hack it down at this point or get sneaky. Link just needed the last hit though.

With an idea he grinned to himself and shouldered his bow, pulling his sword out once more. With Sheik hitting from long range he was the Hinox's primary focus, he could use that to his advantage. Sheik moved from tree to tree like a pro, bouncing between them even as the Hinox ripped another from the ground. As the other threw Dirk's from the tree lines Link ducked beneathe monster and swung his sword hitting it in the legs. It didn't take long after that, a few good hits in and the Hinox crumbled above him, vanishing into smoke and dropping everything it had.

Link grinned and sheathed his sword, hands placed on his hips and he looked up at Sheik. "I think I win."

"Hmm." He jumped down and landed beside Link, reaching his hand out and pulling some guts from Link's hair. He did his best to suppress a shiver. "You used me as bait."

"You were already acting as bait, I just took advantage of it. And I still won, I got the most hits in and wasn't used as a boomerang."

"Fair enough." He shrugged his shoulders and reached down, picking up his Dirk's and wiping them on the grass. He slid them into the holders at his thighs and moved away. Link took a moment to collect everything scattered around and store them away in his pack and the arrows in his quiver. "Guess I owe you a song, and I'll still catch dinner if you make the fire."

Link nodded and grinned up at Sheik. "Guess here's as good a place to make camp as any. I saw a few shrines around too, we could hit them before resting for the night. I'll go do them while you catch dinner?" Link had briefly explained the Shrines to Sheik when he explained the slates use. He'd offered to take Sheik in at some point but the other showed a lack of interest in such a thing. He'd said it was Link's destiny to do them, he had no purpose in entering the trials. Link wasn't going to press it. Maybe sometime he could get the other to try going in with him.

There were two Shrines in the wetlands. The Daka Tuss Shrine that felt very much like fishing and the Sheh Rata Shrine which took him longer to figure out than he liked. With the two spirit orbs in his belt and more places to warp too he headed back to where he had left Sheik at. Considering how long he was gone for Sheik had already gotten a fire going and the food was laid out. He sat just before the fire plucking at the Lyre in his hands. Sheik looked up when Link entered the area and turned back down to the fire.

"I made stew. Figured you'd want more than fish after running around so much. Did you get the orbs?"

"Of course. Sorry it took me so long, some of them are frustrating. Not hard, just frustrating." Sheik nodded and Link plopped down across from him. He shifted around till he got comfortable on the small rocks digging into him and then pulled the bowl of food into his lap, taking a bite. It was good, definitely better than anything he's ever managed to cook. They ate in silence, or rather Link ate and Sheik played with the string of the Lyre, and for once it didn't feel uncomfortable to Link. He finished off his food and sat the bowl aside, sprawling out across the ground with his hands tucked behind his head.

As the silence dragged on the random note from the Lyre shifted and suddenly a calm and soothing song played out across the night. Link found the tune relaxing and very fitting of Sheik. He must have played it a hundred times over to have it memorized so well. Link let his eyes fall shut and immersed himself in the music, a smile spreading across his face.

It ended sooner than he would have liked and with a half awake shift on the ground he mumbled out a question to Sheik. "It's a pretty song, does it have a name?"

Another string plucked and Sheik hummed. "The Serenade of Water." He'd ask the story behind it later.

The plan the next day was just to reach the tower in the distance. If they could do that they'd have made a good amount of progress. Though Link would argue fighting a Hinox was progress, Sheik didn't agree. As they got closer it seemed that this would probably be the easiest tower for them to climb. "Just jump." Sheik said, shrugging as he moved to do so himself. "Even you'll make this."

So they jumped, grasped into the side of the tower and just like the one before it climbed all the way up. Unlike before though at the top of the tower someone stood off to the side looking down. They had the body of a fish, scales and all, but the shape of a human. It confused Link's brain to look at them. They must have been one of the Zoras that Sheik had described to Link. They made their way to the terminal first and Link popped the slate into it. Like all the others the tower activated and dropped the map update onto the slate. Link took the slate back and busied himself with locating Zora's Domain.

Sheik himself had no problems walking his way right up to the Zora from before, leaning over to look down at whatever captured the Zora's attention before turning to them. "Hello." Was he going to ask for directions? Link slid the slate back into the holder at his waist and made his way over.

"Woah!" They exclaimed, leaning further over before realizing Sheik was even there. The Zora leaned back, looked between them before clearing his throat. "Excuse me! Yes, you! I am Gruve of the Zora!"

"I assumed." Sheik promptly replied, looking them over once more. "What brought you up here?"

"An excellent query indeed!"

Link being so close to Sheik heard him mumble underneath his breath. "So it's an inherited trait." He wondered what that meant.

"I, by order of Prince Sidon of Zora's Domain, am searching for a Hylian! Or, I was. But then I fell asleep. I awoke to a loud noise and awful quaking, and now here I am." He looked over the side of the tower again before shuttering and turning to them. "I'd like to get down and be on my way, but I'm simply too high up! I need to figure something out."

Sheik frowned and Link knew what was coming before he spoke. "You're a Zora. Jump. I've seen some Zora jump from even higher places."

Gruve gasped and placed his hand over his chest, eyes widening as he leaned away from Sheik. Almost as if he expected the Sheikah to just shove him off. "No, no, no! It's simply too far down, can't you see? I can barely see the water!" He shuttered and Link swore Sheik rolled his eyes and sighed in exasperation. "Prince Sidon is down at the bridge below, but for some reason I can't seem to catch his attention. But you two! You're a Hylian, yes?" Link nodded while Sheik shook his head, Gruve didn't care. "Well then! My luck is improving!" Ignoring them entirely he turned back to the side of the tower and started waving his arms and shouting. "Prince Sidon! I found one!" He took a deep breath and hollered. "I FOUND A HYLIAN!"

Sheik clamped his hands over his ears and jerked away from the Zora, glowering at him. When Gruve didn't get a reply he turned back to them and Sheik slowly removed his hands. Did Sheikah have sensitive hearing? "Hmm… Prince Sidon doesn't seem to notice my struggle. Perhaps I should swallow my fears and do as you suggested and jump. Then I could return to him! Alas, he must be worried sick." He stepped up toward the edge, looked down, and for a brief second Link thought he would. But then Gruve jerked back and shook his head. "No. Nope! Can't do it! I'm too high up! I'll more likely meet the gods of the ever after before I ever see Prince Sidon again! Mr. Hylian, Mr. Other Hylian, I must apologize. It will be some time before I can get back to Prince Sidon. Please, you must leave me here and go on ahead."

Before he could inquire about this Prince Sidon, Sheik grasped his elbow and yanked him away from the Zora. They moved off to the side and Sheik let him go, glaring at the Zora before turning to Link. "I'm tempted to jump down just to show this Zora it's possible. Before I shove him off." He knew the other was tempted to do that.

"Sheik, behave, he asked for our help." That did nothing to quell the other's irritation it seemed. "I wonder who Prince Sidon is."

"If he's anything like Princess Ruto was it'll be a test of my patience." Again conversations with Sheik always brought him more questions than answers. "Strictly speaking though the Prince or Princess of the Zora is the next to inherit Zora's Domain. I think they do it by lineage so Prince Sidon should be a descendant of Princess Ruto." Which answered some of his questions at least. Princess Ruto had to have been to the Zora then, what Prince Sidon is now. He nodded a few times and Sheik looked past Link to Gruve. "What do you want to do, Link?"

"Well, we were heading to Zora's Domain right? It's the first Divine Beast you thought we should do. So talking to Prince Sidon would be a good starting point." Sheik nodded and Link turned around to step up to the edge of the tower. He looked down like Gruve had done and then turned to Sheik. "You're sure it would be safe to just… jump?"

"For a Zora, yes. They can jump quite far. For you? You'll hit the ground we were on moments ago." That was… reassuring. "He said Prince Sidon was on the bridge, you'll have to paraglide down to it."

"And what about you?" He feared the answer.

"I'm going to jump." And without waiting for a reply Sheik leaped off of the side of the tower, flipped in the air and as he fell grabbed into one of the tree branches he passed. Using that he flung himself forward and was gone from Link's sight. A sigh fell from his lips and readying his glider he followed off after the other.

Sheik waited for Link at the entrance to the bridge. He landed next to the other, checked him over and then together they crossed onto the stone walkway. "It's so different from the other bridges I've seen."

"The Zora make it from special stones at the bottom of the river I think. Despite how many years pass their sense of design doesn't seem to change. The Zora's Domain of my time was a lot like this. Though the Zora themselves have changed."

"Really?" Link blinked, thought back to Gruve, and then looked to Sheik. "How?"

"Different colors. The Zora I knew were all similar looking."

He wanted to ask more, he always had questions for Sheik, but they got interrupted before he could. "Hey! Young ones!" He definitely heard Sheik muttered this time, a clear "another loud one" followed by a sigh. "Up here! Above you!" As one their heads tilted backwards and there indeed above them was another fish looking person. The second they spotted him he jumped down from the pillar he stood on and landed before them. "Pardon me if I may have a moment of your time?" He got a good look at them and his excitement only seemed to grow. "Aha! I knew it! You're a Hylian!"

He was waiting for Sheik to argue but the other stayed perfectly quiet and let the Zora speak. "Oh, pardon me. I am Sidon, the Zora Prince!" As he said this he swung his arm up, struck a pose and flashed them a grin. With teeth, that looked as sharp as the Dirk's Sheik was so fond of. It was mildly intimidating. "And what are your names?"

Link offered the Zora a smile in turn and pointed to himself. "I'm Link and this is my traveling companion, Sheik."

"Link and Sheik! What fantastic names! Hmm, though I can't shake the feeling I've heard the name Link somewhere before. Well, in any case, they're both strong names! To be honest I've been watching you both." Sheik didn't seem surprised at this though it did startle Link. How long had the Zora been following them? "I've seen the way you work. I can tell by how you carry yourselves that you're no ordinary people. Link, Sheik, you two must be strong warriors among the Hylians, correct?"

At this Link spared Sheik a glance before shrugging. "I suppose?" He was a Knight for the King and Sheik helped defeat the calamity years ago and was now recognized by Impa. No ordinary people could claim that technically speaking.

"Aha! Just as I suspected!" Sheik was right, these people were loud. "I am a Zora Prince, after all. I have an eye for talent that is unparalleled! Yes! Exquisite! I've been searching for people like you! A man like you too, who carry yourselves with power!" Link heard Sheik snort into his cowl and quickly the Sheikah turned his head away pulling the fabric up over his mouth. Prince Sidon payed him no mind, Link actually wondered if he remembered Sheik was there. "Right now, Zora's Domain is in grave danger because of the massive rainfall coming from Divine Beast Vah Ruta! Please, promise you will help us! We need your strength, warriors! Won't you please come to Zora's Domain with me?"

"That was actually our destination. We got a bit side tracked and to be honest I don't know the way." Link was winging it. He hoped with the map they got from the tower they could find the right direction. They kept getting distracted though.

"Wow! Really?! Thank you, Link! You are indeed the man I thought you were! Now Zora's Domain will be saved for certain! No time to waste! Hurry up and head over!"

"A direction would be helpful, especially with this weather." Sheik reached up and adjusted the head wrap on his head, already soaked through. Considering what Sidon said the rain wasn't going to stop soon either.

Prince Sidon startled and nodded. "Yes of course. Because of the rain, the cliffs are too wet to climb. To reach the Domain, you will need to go straight along this path. As a Hylian, I know you are unable to swim up the river. As such, the path to the Domain may be a bit treacherous. You'll likely have a tough fight in store-there are monsters up ahead that attack with electricity." He suddenly wished he got the details before he agreed. Prince Sidon struck that weird pose again at Link's no doubt uncomfortable expression. "Don't give up! I believe in you! Oh right, these should help!"

Link doesn't even want to know where he pulled the bottles out from but suddenly he had vials in his hands and was offering them to Link. "This is just a small trinket to show that I have faith in you! It's a drink that will increase your resistance to electricity! I'm not sure why but it's effects don't seem to work on Zora. Perhaps because it was made specifically for Hylians." Sheik let out a sigh again in what was no doubt exasperation. "It should work wonders for you, though! I shall go on ahead and make sure there is not anything strange going on where you are headed. I'm counting on you!"

Sidon flipped backwards a long arch and vanished into the water, leaving them standing on the bridge. Link pocketed the potion he was given and offered another to Sheik who shook his head. Sidon did say it was made specifically for Hylians, would it not work on him? "It sounds like we'll have a dangerous journey."

"No more than normal. This rain though will make the electricity more dangerous. It would be best to stick to the shadows and fight from a distance." That sounded like a good plan to Link. "The Zora are such an elegant race but they're so loud. Like a Goron." He rubbed the side of his head as if he had a headache.

"Were the ones you know like that too?" They started along the bridge as they spoke.

"Princess Ruto was, but she was also just a brat. Even grown she was still that way." Despite how he spoke there seemed to be a fondness for her in his tone. Sheik didn't seem inclined to explain anything more on it.

They walked along the bridge and Sheik tried wringing some of the water out of his hair. Link kept his gaze out for enemies but still watched the other too. "You didn't correct him when he called you a Hylian."

"There wasn't a point and he seemed desperate. Whatever he needed a Hylian for, which you are, I could do too."

Right, Link figured that but also… his gaze focused on the bright color of the other's hair. "You wouldn't… lie to me, right?" Over something so silly. Clearly Sheik was a Sheikah, the slate said so, and his eyes were a bright red. He just-Impa was so specific to the hair thing and he was always so secret. Letting Link in with little bits of information but still so distant. He manipulated the conversations with a terrifying ease. Link wanted to trust him, more than he had ever wanted to trust anyone on this journey.

Sheik paused in his steps and Link stopped a few breaths away from him, turning to look to Sheik. Sheik tossed his hair over his shoulder and looked Link in the eyes. He found himself trapped within that blood red stare, heart trapped in his own throat. "Sheik?"

"As long as I travel with you." He stated and Link's heart stilled in his chest. "I swear upon the oath of the Sheikah to never lie to you. If I can answer your questions, I will. As I have been. The Sheikah pride themselves on honesty, the mark of our people often being called the Eye of Truth. I have not lied to you once and I will continue to not do so. If I cannot answer you truthfully, I simply won't answer you."

Link swallowed, the feeling of guilt settling into his stomach. He knew he shouldn't have questioned him, shouldn't have distrusted him, but that nagging voice in his head just placed the few seconds of doubt and that was enough. Sheik crushed those worries quickly though and he nodded his head satisfied at the reply. "Thank you."

A nod and Sheik moved to continue walking. "There is no need to thank me and you are entitled to your doubt. I'm a stranger from another time. But, as I aided the Hero of Time truthfully and loyally I will do the same for you." He stopped again and turned to Link abruptly. "I will protect you to the best of my ability, even if it's at the risk of my own life. That is the task of a Sheikah Warrior. Our lives are disposable."

That… that was not at all what he wanted. He wanted Sheik to-be his friend or something not his spare life line! He didn't want to exchange Sheik for a third chance to do things right. Is that what he considered himself when he followed the Hero of Time around? The Hero had called him his friend, did Sheik even know he saw him as that? Their entire history just confused him more but right now in this moment he knew he didn't want whatever they had, he wanted more. He wanted friendship!

But Sheik was moving already, turning away from him, and Link's hand was reaching out before he even realized it. Link caught Sheik on the elbow and pulled him to a stop, fingers curling into the others suit and holding him still. His gaze was fixed on the ground, watching the rain hit the stone of the bridge and ripple the puddle of water forming. Apart from the sounds of the water there was silence between them, Link holding onto Sheik and the other simply watching him. He knew they hadn't been together long, it had been seven days max since they met and that was hardly a chance to get to know someone. But even so he knew if anything happened to Sheik he'd never forgive himself.

He found his voice. "I don't want that. I don't want you to place my life above yours. I don't want you to consider yourself disposable just because of some tradition your mother drilled into your brain. You're not some spare part that can be discarded to keep me going."

He could feel the other shift but he didn't raise his gaze just as Sheik didn't attempt to remove himself from Link's grip. "Link," was that the first time he's called Link by his name to his face? "You're the Hero-"

"I'm not! I'm not a hero, and I'm not a champion! I'm just Link!" His grip tightened and he heard the spandex creak as it twisted in his grip. "I'm just someone who woke up in a shrine with a Princess in his head giving him directions. I'm just doing what I can one day at a time with the biggest risk of failure above my head. I'm not anyone special." He risked a chance and lifted his head up, looking to Sheik. "And I want you to be my friend, not my shield. Not my shadow. I thought we were doing well in becoming friends."

Sheik looked away and Link could see the conflict in his eyes. He wondered if it stemmed from his teachings, his task with the Hero of Time, or Sheik's own mind. But whatever internal fight he seemed to have it was over fairly quickly and Link got a jerky nod in reply. "I've never had a friend before." One day, he'd tell Sheik what the Hero of Time said. "I don't know how to have friends."

A grin spread across Link's face and he let Sheik go. "I don't remember ever having friends, so let's figure it out together?" He waits, let's the surprise flicker through Sheik, and then he received an actual smile in return. Sheik's smiles are rare and to be cherished every single time, even if he can't see the others mouth. He smiles with his eyes and that's enough for Link.

"Together, then."

They walked together up the winding path, sticking close together and using the close space for shared warmth. Sheik constantly reached up to adjust the head wrap on his head, then at some point while Link was taking out a stray Lizalfos with his bow and arrow the wrap vanished entirely. Sheik's hair was soaked through and it looked uncomfortable, Link's Hylian Hood at least protected his head from the increasing rainfall. So far everything seemed to be going well for them, apart from the stray Lizalfos and Octorok's he didn't see anything too dangerous.

He was still waiting for them to reach that point. No doubt the dangerous Prince Sidon mentioned were waiting for them. Sheik took out another Lizalfos and landed down beside Link where he was waiting at the pass. They had to cross back and forth across the river, dodging Octorok's and hitting them with arrows and Sheik's Dirk's. As Sheik collected them Link picked up the parts of the monsters they defeated and slipped them into their bag.

"Hey! Link! Sheik!" Both of them stopped and slowly turned, looking toward the river where Prince Sidon was sticking up out of the water. "My apologies for calling out to you from the river! Since I pressured you into coming, I was not sure you would really come through. I am pleased things are going well." To well in Link's opinion considering the warning he was given. "Ever since this strange occurance, there have been a lot of monsters around here. Be careful as you proceed!" He raised his voice suddenly and shouted over the sound of the moving water. "And hurry! All my fellow Zora are anxiously awaiting your arrival!"

Prince Sidon turned in the water and vanished beneath it leaving Link and Sheik where they were watching the water ripple with his abrupt departure. Sheik twisted his Dirk around in his hand and slid it into the holder at his thighs. "Demanding race they are. Princess Ruto was the same." He shook his head and started walking again, Link hurrying to keep up with him. "I saved her life once and all she could say to me was; where is my fiancè?" Link blinked and looked up at Sheik. "She was convinced she was engaged to the Hero of Time. She wasn't. Some weird Zora tradition. It involves the giving of a precious gift and the making of an outfit. Of course Hylians don't know those traditions though, and there went the Hero getting himself engaged at twelve."

That sounded like a lot, no wonder the Hero of Time seemed to be having as hard of a time as he did. Being so young and having all those burdens thrown into you. Perhaps Link was lucky, he might have amnesia but he was aware and old enough to understand what was happening. "Where were you?" Sheik blinked and looked over to Link confused. "When the Hero was so young. What were you doing?"

"I-we were the same ago, so I was twelve too. Impa had just rescued the Princess from the Castle. While they tried to hide from Ganon, I was supposed to be training. Learning how to guide the Hero when he left the Sacred Realm." Training. He mentioned doing training a lot but he never explained what type of training he went through. Link couldn't help but wonder what it was like. "I spied too, on Ganon. Giving the information I learned to Impa, the Princess and to the Hero."

Was he spying at twelve and when he was older? Link couldn't imagine doing that, against someone who seemed to have eyes everywhere. Whenever he looked in the direction of the calamity he felt like he was being observed. It was horrifying. "Did you ever get caught?"

Sheik's steps paused, just half a second, and then he was walking faster this time. "There's enemies up ahead, we should be on our guard."

He was avoiding the subject but correct regardless. There in the distance outside the tunnel they were in was a small camp of Lizalfos. He could see the yellow heads on the arrows that symbolized the electric ones. Link frowned and reached behind him, tugging his bow off from his shoulder. "Distance?"

"Distance. And avoid those large puddles. You don't want to be caught in water when electricity hits it." Link nodded and they split apart, Sheik climbing up into a tree and Link crouching behind a rock. He ticked his arrow on the bow, pulled the string back and aimed for a headshot. He could take them out with one hit if he got it but if he didn't they'd be in for a fight.

He waits as the Lizalfos pivots around, looking for enemies in the distance. When it turned to a side profile he lined his arrow up right and let the string go. The first hit was perfect and the beast went down. Link saw Sheik's Dirk fly through the air a moment after his Lizalfos was down and hit the one behind Link's between the eyes. Two down, six more to go.

They were doing well until the final three. When Link's shot missed. He saw it before it happened, the Lizalfos moving and the arrow hitting far too low. The Lizalfos was instantly alerted to his place along with the other two nearby. One of them blew the horn as the others drew their bows back armed with arrows. Link had a split second to panic, looked down beneath him and just thanked his brief moment of intelligence to not be kneeling in a puddle.

He climbed to his feet and took off running to the side, slipping on the wet ground and nearly falling on his ass. He felt in his pocket for the potions Prince Sidon gave him hoping to down it before the arrow smacked into him.

"Link!" Arms slid around his neck and Sheik's body pressed against his. His own arms instinctively came up to catch the Sheikah, gripping his forearms as they tumbled backwards into the mud. Link could feel the moment the electricity hit Sheik from the arrow. His body tensed suddenly and it was as if all the muscles in the others body suddenly locked up. He got unnaturally warm and gasped sharply in pain, jaw locking up and teeth grinding together. It passed in a blink but there were these twitches to his body that Sheik didn't seem able to quite control.

It was horrifying.

"Sheik!" Link moved his arms to wrap around the Sheikah's upper half, dragging him behind a tree and depositing him into the ground. "Are you alright? I might have a potion, just hang on."

"I-'m fin'." He most certainly wasn't fine if he couldn't get his words out. Sheik seemed to notice that too given the way his face seemed to pinch in frustration. "Ene-y's." Right, he should deal with the Lizalfos before they get them again. Especially Sheik. Another hit might be the end of him.

"Fine just-stay here!" Not that he could go anywhere anyway, which Link would scold himself for being an idiot later. He grabbed his Guardian Spear from his pack and twisted the weapon out until it activated. These didn't generate electricity, it would be better than his traveler's sword. Armed he headed out from behind the tree and took on the nearest Lizalfos that had found them. It didn't take him long to dispose of the remaining Lizalfos now that he was ready for them. He could dodge the arrows as they came and with a series of simple hits with the spear they were done for.

When he returned to Sheik the Warrior had managed to get himself standing but he still shook as if the electricity was still running through his body. Link took the others arm in his own and used it to support him as he guided Sheik down the path. "Has your speech returned at least?"

He got a nod and Sheik took in a shallow breath. "I'm fine, not the first time I've been hit with a shock arrow, or various forms of lightning tools. Just takes the body a bit to work it out."

"You should have taken that potion that Prince Sidon gave us." Sheik shook his head and Link frowned. "Why not?"

"It was made for a Hylian. It'll have either a very little and pointless effect on me or none at all. Besides, the Sheikah are more resilient to stuff like that, we have our own methods of healing."

"Like?" He prompted, adjusting the other and wishing nothing more than to help.

"Magic." Gently he shakes Link off from him and turns toward the water. Honestly, it took even Link a few seconds to spot Prince Sidon and realize the other had been calling out to them. It was hard to hear him from so far away, the Sheikah must have had sensitive hearing or it was a Sheik thing.

But the red Zora Prince waved at them until they approached the edge of the land. "Sorry for calling from so far away! The Domain is still a ways off, but you're making good progress! I shall be along soon myself, it won't be much longer! In the meantime, I'll be cheering you on from here in the river, so hang in there! You can do it! Stay strong!"

Link waved and Prince Sidon flipped around back into the water, leaving them alone once again. "Link."

"Hmm?"

"Correct me if I'm wrong."

"Huh?"

"Did this fish," he said fish with such resentment that Link actually turned to look at him. His face was still blank. "Have on him a sword strapped to his waist?"

"Oh." He hadn't actually noticed but now that he thought about it, yes. Prince Sidon carried a blue sword strapped to his hip. "He did."

"So this Prince, who is undoubtedly trained in combat, is leaving us to fight while he acts like a cheerleader from the water. Not even bothering to kill the Lizalfos that swim around with him?"

"Oh…" understanding dawned on Link and he tried to think of some excuse for Prince Sidon. It wasn't working.

"I was just checking I'm not losing my mind, allow us to continue. Please drink one of those potions he gave you."

Apart from the brief and random thunderstorm they walked through nothing increased in difficulty. They disposed of the same Lizalfos, a few Keese that Link's guardian spear managed within the lightning storm and then they were at a bridge.

They got about halfway across it before pausing, Link glancing down intp the water before turning to Sheik. He was messing with his hair again, trembling fingers trying to fix the braid that was falling out. He dragged his fingers across the railing of the bridge, the bright blue rock that clearly glowed. "You know, I still like the Zora design. They have good taste."

"If we don't get there soon we should stop and rest. You need to eat, we've been hiking through here and fighting for a full day." Sheik was right the sun was setting at this point. He stopped fighting with his saturated hair and threw it over his shoulder, looking to Link who leaned against the railing. He was tired too and Sheik seemed to be reacting a bit slower. Zora's Domain didn't seem that far away when they started.

"Where are we, do you know?"

"I read a sign on our way through here, this is called Luto's Crossing." Sheik would read a sign in the middle of a battle.

"Hey! Link! Sheik! Look below! Down here!"

Sheik actually rolled his eyes, Link caught him. But they both leaned over the bridge and looked down to the Zora. There Sidon was in the water, waving madly. "You are still pretty far off, my friend." Link tilted his head toward Sheik when he cursed under his breath and muttered about craving fish fillet. "But I was sure you'd be passing over this bridge, so I have been waiting for you. You will be in Zora's Domain before you know it! In fact, I'm going to head that way too! I shall meet you there!"

Link didn't notice when Sheik left his side but he saw the way Sidon stilled in the water and moved his head. "Woah, Link! Watch out!"

He expected to be hit by something, he didn't expect for Sheik to suddenly grab him from his tunic and throw him down the bridge. He slid from the wet terrain and then hit the end of it in the grass. When he picked his head up he watched Sheik pull his Lyre from his back, soaked and bandaged fingers finding the strings without hesitation. He picked a few notes, a single set that worked well together and when he threw his hand out on the final note a burst of light strummed from the Lyre. It smacked into the Moblin, threw him into the side of the bridge and then right over the side of it. They'd be dead the moment they hit the water.

"You let Prince Sidon distract you." The Lyre was returned to its owner's back and Sheik made his way over, offering Link a hand. He accepted the help up and dusted his clothes off. "Come on, we can see Zora's Domain from here, if we hurry we might make it before sunrise." He didn't sound that hopeful. They were definitely talking later about Sheik taking an arrow for him and now physically throwing him from danger. When they weren't soaked, tired and starving.

They hiked up around the mountain side, Link stumbling a few times and catching Sheik when his body twitched unnaturally. He was truly worried about the effects of being hit in the spine with a shock arrow. When they reached the top they froze instantly, gazes narrowing in on the Wizzrobe.

"Run."

"What?"

"Run, Link!" His arm was grabbed and Sheik yanked him toward the edge of the mountain. "Grab your paraglider!" He had about ten seconds to react before Sheik was jumping from the side of the mountain and they were falling. He shook the paraglider out, the sound of laughter behind him from the Wizzrobe but thankfully it didn't follow him. But they were descending too quickly. Sheik was wrapped around his waist, arms encircled around him and face pressed into his hip. They hit land a moment later and Sheik stumbled in his steps before slipping to his knees and sitting on the ground.

Link folded the paraglider back up and put it away. "A little more warning would be nice."

"Any longer taken to explain the plan and we would have had to fight it." He was probably right but Link didn't like being thrown off a cliff. "With how tired we are it would have been too tight a fight. Those things are annoying when you're not tired." Which was also true. Link sighed and nodded to Sheik before sitting down on the ground with him.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, Sheik's head buried in his hands and body slumped over. The rain was cutting through his body like ice and chilling him to his very core. Sheik alone was trembling where he sat and Link was worried about him getting hypothermia. "Sheik, we need to get up, how much further?"

"It's behind us actually." Link blinked and turned. No kidding, right there was the long bridge, so many lights and the island that made up Zora's Domain. He takes a breath, rubs his hands together and then climbs up to his feet. Reaching his hands out he grabs Sheik's forearm and pulls him up to stand with him. Together they made their way to the bridge and then slowly across it.

Sidon met them at the entrance, all smiles and far too happy for someone like Link and Sheik who felt as horrible as they did. Sheik straightened up and slid Link's arm off of him, looking up at the Zora Prince. "Woah! I've been waiting for you! Welcome! Behold the pride of my people, Zora's Domain! Now I shall introduce you to the King. Hurry, this way!"

"No." Sidon blinked and Link watched as Sheik quickly changed from the annoyed and slightly pissed off Sheikah he had been traveling with to the Sheik his mother had raised. "Forgive me Prince Sidon, but Link and I just traveled for over a day constantly fighting. Were wounded, exhausted, and freezing. Hylians are warm blooded creatures, remember, the cold rain doesn't affect us the same way it does you. It harms us. We need to sleep. Besides, it's the middle of the night, I'm sure the King would rather be bothered when he's awake."

Sidon blinked and surprise flickered across his face before nodding in what Link assumed was agreement. "My apologies I forgot how sensitive you Hylians are!" Link quickly reached out and grasped Sheik's forearm before he attacked the Prince. "Please, the Inn is that way I'll fetch you in the morning once you've rested to meet the King! To help Zora's Domain you must be at your full strength!"

He guided them a bit into the Domain and left them with another red Zora. This one seemed slightly different shaped, he assumed she was their version of a female. "Welcome to Seabed Inn! Oh-! Could you be? Linny? It is! It's Linny!" He… had no idea what she was saying to him. He simply blinked at her. "Yes. I'm sure of it! You're Linny! Wow, it's been such a long time. Wait, but… I thought you and Mipha… fell to Calamity Ganon." Who was Mipha? "And you've been alive all this time? Where have you been? What have you been doing? Please, tell me!"

"My Lady," Sheik sucked in another breath that Link had learned to read as him gathering his patience. He actually agreed this time, if it wasn't one thing it was another. Today just didn't seem to stop. "Can we talk in the morning? We are very tired."

The Zora collected herself quickly and was clearly embarrassed. "Oh, I'm so sorry… I'm an adult and here I am, making a ruckus. I'd love to catch up sometime soon. Please, come inside, we have plenty of beds! My husband will help you. I'm Kodah and his name is Kayden."

Sheik practically dragged him inside and over to the blue Zora at a small desk. His color almost made him blend in with all the blue walls. "Greetings, welcome to Seabed Inn-wait… you can't be… you're master Link!"

"We've been through this." Sheik cut him off and dropped a sack of rupees onto the table. "Please, save this for in the morning. Two beds, for a week, what do you want?"

Kayden blinked and recovered quickly, his professional nature kicking in. "A week?"

Link cut in, placing a gentle hand on Sheik's elbow. He wasn't imagining the slight tremor to his body, was he still in pain from the shock arrow? He seemed to be struggling to hold himself upright through sheer force of will. "We've come from a long way to help Prince Sidon and Zora's Domain with Vah Ruta. We plan on being here for a while."

"I see, one week then. Do you want a normal bed or a blissful water bed?"

"Normal for me, I've had enough of being wet for a while." Link was inclined to agree with Sheik on this. "Zora don't bathe like us I know, but do you happen to have somewhere we can wash up?"

"Oh of course! We have a bath here in the Inn for our travers. Light the fire beneath it to warm the water."

Sheik nodded and paid Kayden the fee for the beds for the week and then left Link to get warmed up.