Undertones: Navi's Story

Chapter Four

The hour was dark as Link lay in the snow, his own blood spreading over him. Navi's tears fell all over, mixing with the stain that was already beginning to mix with the snow. Link had been badly wounded.

After fighting off a Wolfos, he'd been unaware of the icicles that hung overhead. Navi was sure she'd seen someone drop it on him. Either way, he was hurt really badly and she needed to get him some help.

The blood was spilling faster. Navi studied her Hero's face and noticed how pale he was getting. This was bad. This was very, very bad.

His eyes tried to focus on her but his lids were getting heavy. Navi floated right near his face. "Link, try to get up! We need to get you to the fairy!"

The fairy. She was just outside…but he'd have to swim to get there.

"Nav, I'm not sure I can do that," he stuttered. Navi frowned, tears clouding her sparkling eyes. "I'm not going to let you die here, Link! Get up!"

She pulled his sleeve with all her might but he was too heavy and didn't budge. Navi cried from exhaustion and frustration. Link wasn't going to cooperate. Either that or he was going to sit here and rest until he died of hypothermia. Lifting herself into the air once more, Navi sniffled. "Wait here and I'll find you some Hearts. If you can get some, do you think you can make it to the fairy?"

Link blinked slowly. "Why are you doing this, Navi?"

Navi paused. Because I love you, Link, and I don't want to see you die. Because the fate of the world is resting on your shoulders. Because I don't want to be alone anymore. Because…you mean the world to me. Because life wouldn't be the same without you…because I couldn't wake up in the morning without seeing your beautiful face.

"Because a lot of us need you, Link. Saria, Zelda, your friends in the forest…we need you to stay here with us. Alive."

Link closed his eyes. Saria. She'd throw a fit if she found out he'd given up.

Looking at the bloody wound in his chest, he glanced at Navi. "Well, hurry up, I don't have much time."

--

Navi flew, fighting her tears and dodging falling icicles. She wouldn't die trying to save him. She couldn't. Nothing could be afforded here.

Finally, after breaking a bottle, she found a heart. Carrying it carefully, she hurried back to Link. She didn't get lost.

When she rounded the corner, she was shocked. Someone was kneeling next to Link. Link's eyes were closed. He'd probably fallen unconscious.

The person was dressed in dark blue with a mask over his face. Blonde bangs barely concealed mysterious red eyes. Sheik.

Navi rushed up to him. "Sheik! We have to get him to the Great Fairy!"

Sheik nodded, scooping Link into his arms. The Hero was heavy when he was out of it.

"Come on, little fairy, let's get him some help."
No formalities, not even a greeting. Navi held the heart to her chest, hoping Link wouldn't need it. Sheik didn't appear to think that Link needed it.

Navi flew behind as Sheik hurried out of the Ice Cavern.

There was no possible way to carry Link to the Great Fairy without getting him wet, but getting his blood in the water was a surefire way to have some Octoroks navigate towards them at least. Sheik swam as fast as he could with one arm, holding Link with the other. Navi flew next to Link's peaceful face, whispering encouraging words into his ear.

Lifting Link out of the water, Sheik carried the Hero inside the fountain.

The Fairy appeared immediately. Navi was stunned. Who was this man that he didn't even have to identify himself to the fairies?

The Fairy smiled. "You bring our Hero to me in his time of greatest need, Sheik."
Sheik lay Link before the Fairy. "You know what needs to be done, Great Fairy," he said softly, glancing at Link. Navi stood at Link's side, unmoving.

The Great Fairy spread her arms over the Hero and began to heal him.

Slowly, as Navi watched, color began to return to his face. His eyelids moved and he opened his eyes, blinking several times. He struggled to sit up.

The wound was gone. The only reminder was the bloody tunic he wore. Good thing it was his blue one. This one was replaceable, at least.

Navi hugged Link as best she could. Her tears went unnoticed by everyone else save for one. Link sat up and picked up his fairy, holding her out before his face. "You were that worried about me? Come on, Nav. I can't be defeated that easily."

His ignorance made Navi smile. She wiped away her tears and smiled wider. "Well, Link, let's go!"

Link turned to see who had gotten him there, but Sheik was gone. The Great Fairy smiled.

"When battle has made you weary, please come back and see me."

With that, she was gone. Link and Navi remained at the fountain for a very long time, resting. "I think I should gather some better remedies before I go," Link said. "Just in case."
Navi smiled and pulled a Heart from her pocket. "I…did find one, but…Sheik found you before I got back."
"Sheik brought me here?" Link asked, flabbergasted.

Navi nodded slowly. "He can carry you, at least…I'm too small."
"In size, maybe, Nav. Your heart's in the right place, though." His attempt at a joke made her laugh and the two got up and headed on their way.

In silent shock that it was Sheik who had gotten him to a safe place, Link decided he wouldn't ask him about it. Sheik never stuck around long enough to answer questions anyway. After a riddle or two, he was gone. Always.

Link figured he'd never get the reason why he'd done this for him.

As Sheik watched Navi and Link head on their way, he smiled faintly.

I did it because the weight of the world rests on your shoulders, Hero of Time. You can't do this alone.

With that, he disappeared into the shadows and returned to where he would wait, hours upon end, for his and Link's next encounter.

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