Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Zelda Franchise... I wish I did.

Chapter 33 - Lagrimas de Sangre

The darkened silhouette of a horse speeds across the plains of Hyrule Field. Galloping in a straight line, it kept an astounding pace across the faded path.

A loud neigh sounded off as Sheik gave a strong pull at the reins, making the horse raise both front legs in protest.

"Sshh… quiet boy, quiet…" The Sheikah gave a pair of soft pats on the horse's neck, enough for the animal to shake his head and settle down.

Glancing back to the road he came from, he waited for the signs of any sentry or patrol that may have caught sight of him. After a few deliberate moments, Sheik sighed and turned his gaze to the giant wall in front of him.

Once upon a time long into the past, the young Sheikah used to love climbing onto those light-gray bricks, challenging himself against the mighty height of the capital's walls. Now the blackened stones only make him wince and frown.

Ganondorf's touch of depravity proves itself so intense that even cold-shaped stones are susceptible to such a twisted change.

"Those look moisty and cracked…" Sheik voiced his thoughts as he inspected the same place he used to climb, then his eyes eyed even far up. "Birds so far high at this time in the afternoon?" He observed the flock of pure black wings flapping around the city like a vicious locust. "Tsk… this is no path inside anymore."

Sliding from the saddle into the withered grass, Sheik took a few steps forward and kneeled on the edge of the small waterway running along the borders of the capital.

The water is darkened and stained with a pungent and sickly green color. A glimpse flashed in front of his eyes of the pure blue water that once ran there; his right hand clenched in a small fit of anger.

He quickly regained his composure, making his rational mind work as it properly should. Then, instantly his gaze shifted to the busted steel grates at the closest intersection of the channel.

Shuffling a little on his spot, Sheik tried to lean as most as he could to the left to get a glimpse of the gate without being seen. As always, the gates are closed shut and at least six guards are standing right in front of it. Looking down at the running water, he noticed that the grates there are completely missing.

Pulling back, he pressed one hand to his covered lips and began working a plan in his head. Turning his attention to the ruined grass on his side, Sheik turned around and began pulling a few blades of grass in an estimated layout of the city market. As he cleared out the borders, he pulled out his dagger and began cutting a few paths across the picture, marking the streets and alleyways as best he could.

After a few minutes of pulling and scratching he made a mockup of Hyrule's capital city and placed a small pellet in the westmost corner of it.

"If I could get in from this access point, it would take less than four turns to get into Astra's shop." He mulled over the idea, trying to imagine the worst possible outcomes and how much resistance he would find on this path. Then his eyes traveled up the wall again, fixating on the cawing monsters flying far up in the sky. Then a small sigh escaped him. "Not like I have many choices."

Pulling up, Sheik quickly made his way to the horse that brought him here. After getting the large pouch he had trapped into the saddle, he grabbed the reins of the horse and turned it back in the direction they came from.

"Sorry, boy. Sadly, you will need to find your way back alone, it would be too dangerous to leave you here where they could find you." Brushing his hand fondly on his companion's mane, Sheik smiled under his mask when the horse made a small noise at him.

Stepping back, he let go of the reins and walked back to give a firm slap onto the animal's backside. Another loud neigh flew out, and then his companion took off; galloping at full speed in the direction of the Kokiri Wilds.

Walking over to the edge again, Sheik stared down into the dubious water. "Right then… if the Goddesses will it, this will work." A sigh escaped him as he fixed the pouch on his back. "Please… just this time, no surprises on the way."

Taking one step forward, he allowed gravity to pull him forward, and with a tilt of his body, Sheik folded his arms before crashing into the water.

Using the momentum of his dive, Sheik swam across the moss-infested waterway until he crossed the broken grates right behind the standing guards. Gliding with almost no noise, he continued until he tapped the cracked grid filtering large objects from the sewer beneath the city.

Pulling out one dagger, he gave one soft tap to test the fortitude of the bars. Just one soft blow was enough to make the thing wobble, showing weakness at the rusty joints.

With one glance back at the talking guards more than a few squares away, Sheik shifted his hold on the dagger, yielding its handle like a makeshift hammer he took a stronger blow at the grid. The metallic thing screeched an ugly drowned sound, wobbling and bending but not yet breaking.

Trying to pull the spot he bent back, Sheik almost managed to get it off but the grid still stood in place. Pulling his mask down, he took a long breath in before diving down. Holding his eyes closed, he tapped the grid with one hand until he felt the left bottom corner.

Pressing the tip of the dagger against the joint, he forced his weapon into the metal, and after he managed to pierce and stuck it in place; he brought the side of his hand down, dislodging the grid completely, making it slide and fall to the bottom.

Swimming quickly into the newly opened hole, Sheik snuck into the sewer with a lot more ease than expected. Crossing the length of the long waterway, he kept going until he reached a larger area where quite a few pipes poured the same moss-green water into a giant pool that ends in a long waterfall far in the distance.

Pulling himself up on the ledge of an aqueduct, the Sheikah completed his first objective of getting into a firm ground inside the sewer.

"It can be right…" He said in a whisper as he glanced around the fog-filled tunnels.

He then carefully trailed along the path until he reached the inner wall serving as a connection to a larger tunnel.

"They can't possibly keep this place so untended." He grazed one hand at the burned-out torch hanging on the wall. "At this rate, the entire city will turn into a ticking bomb of diseases."

As per his observation, the sewers are most likely very much unattended. The signs of it are clear on the unlit torches and the clogged smaller pipes on the wall dripping a disgusting black goo on the green-stained floor of grey bricks.

Shifting his attention to the ceiling, more precisely to the deep cut lines running along with the stone, he tried to recall the small sketch of the city and compared it to the lines and pipes running below the city.

After working on the differences between the larger ones that run across the city center and the smaller ones coming from the other districts, Sheik got the visual path he needed to get to his destination.

Pulling the torch from the wall and repairing it with a small bottle of oil from his porch and a few rolls of cloth; he made a source of light to guide his steps along the slippery floor.

For a while, Sheik heard only the sounds of his steps and the occasional dripping of water around him. However, the closer he got to the second junction of the sewer, a third sound become a bit louder little by little.

It came at first like a small breeze. Sheik even disregarded it as just a small gush of air coming from one of the pipes. Then it rolled out against the bricks line an unpleasant note of a low-sounding flute, grinding in his senses just enough to make his skin itch.

However, as Sheik got close enough to this new doorway for him to see the glint of his torch reflect against the large pipe rising to the ceiling, his entire body came to a halt.

Like a terrifying chant of dread, a choir of moans rushed from the room. Broken voices gurgling gibberish with the intensity and yet stillness of a corpse. This sound is so vile and twisted, that it makes Sheik's body recoil back in an unsettling jolt.

Feeling his senses so heightened by the sudden surge of adrenaline, Sheik can hear even his own breath escaping his lungs.

Growing weary of that room, he pulled the arm holding the torch and then tossed it forward into the center of the next area.

As the glowing stick passed by spinning in the air, the light shone brightly against the form of a dozen brownish-grey-skinned humanoid creatures with deep black holes for eyes.

When the torch collided against the pipe, its light reflected like a flash in the room; then an uproar of screams exploded everywhere. These tall zombie-like creatures began to scream with pain, every single one of them curling into a ball, scratching with their long thin fingers at the empty sockets of their eyes in a fury to try to keep the light away.

Gathering his thoughts in a hurry, Sheik used the distraction of the light to rush past the room. As he ran past them, zigzagging along the floor to evade the monsters, he got a closer look at the creatures and felt his heart chill for a single moment when he caught the sight of a dim-orange light from within one of the creatures' empty eyes.

Almost bashing against the corner of the second doorway, Sheik left the large room as fast as he could, leaving in hurried steps until the screams of pain of those things faded away from the distance he made.

"W-what in the blazes were those things?!" He pressed his back onto the wall, resting one hand over his chest, feeling his heart beating like a frenzied drum. "No… stop! I have to concentrate. This is no place to get lost." Pushing himself away from the cold support on his back, Sheik resumed his steps, now without the aid of his torch.

"These are divided in three." He said aloud as he ran a hand long a slightly larger pipe on the ceiling. "Not so large as to take to another fork, but above the average ones."

Sheik kept following the pipes until two of them diverted into a dark turn to the left, leaving just the one going forward along his path. He then pulled his dagger and scrapped at the dripping spots on the pipe.

"Darker color… purple?" Getting a small portion of the liquid on the tip of his tool, he brought it close and took a careful sniff. "Strong and acid… citric?" Then a strong sneeze came onto him, enough to make him shake the dagger-wielding hand and drop the liquid on the floor. "This has to be the one."

Wiping the stain on his weapon on a piece of cloth, he put the dagger onto its sheath on his back and continued going forward. After pacing for at least three more minutes, he reached another intersection with a larger room; this one housing a moss-covered metal ladder at the back rather than a large pipe going up from the floor.

One small grin came to his lips. "At least this horror show is over." He stared at the ladder with relief, finally the exit he was looking for from the sewer.

But with his first step inside the room, Sheik heard a long and heavy shuffle across the floor. The same terrifying moaning from before echoed in the air, but with far less intensity than the room from earlier.

Taking his dagger back in hand, Sheik proceeded to take very quiet and slow steps forward, glancing left and right as he tried to reach the ladder.

As his right foot pressed onto a small puddle, it slid forward making him slip and fall on the floor, his dagger grinding against the brick floor. The sparks flying from the weapon cast a short boost of light in the room, illuminating enough to allow Sheik to see two of those creatures curled on the corner close to the ladder but also allowing the creatures to notice the Sheikah too.

Springing up with a jolt, the monsters opened their lipless mouth, making a loud gurgling sound as some sort of blackened goo came out and slid down to their chins.

Jumping to his feet, Sheik rushed to the ladder with wobbly steps because of the slippery floor. He leaps to the metallic bar, attaching himself to the middle section of the ladder. Glancing up, he saw the color of the wooden trapdoor standing between him and the exit.

Kicking one of the steps, he tried to reach the trap door in one single motion. But one strong pull took his momentum away and almost made him drop to the floor again. Glancing down and behind him, Sheik saw one of the monsters attached to his pouch, those long and bony fingers in a death-grip onto the fabric, almost ripping it open from the sheer force of that hand.

Shifting around on the ladder, Sheik tried to kick the monster away, but this only made him feel heavier as the creature continued to pull down at his bag. Noticing the other one almost reaching him with slow and terrifyingly firm steps, Sheik pulled the second dagger from his belt and slashed at the leather strap of his bag.

This made him feel a lot lighter as the monster tumbled back to the floor still holding his pouch. Using this moment of freedom, Sheik climbed up the ladder and bashed his shoulder against the trapdoor.

The first hit made the trapdoor jump and bounce back down, something holding it close. Taking a bit more distance and support, Sheik gave another bash onto it, this time snapping the lock and making the trapdoor flap open.

Climbing up to the streets, Sheik slapped the wooden door close again and reached over to a large pile of broken things to pull over a heavy beam of wood and press it tightly onto that entrance.

Taking two steps back, Sheik pressed his back against the wall of a house and slid down into the floor. He watched with rapid breathing as the trapdoor banged a few times against the beam of wood until it stopped into a chilling silence.

Slowly the gurgling and moans faded away as if they had never existed in the first place.

"F-Fuck… that was too close…" Sheik ran one hand over his damp hair, pressing a cold digit against his forehead. Feeling the adrenaline and terror fade away, he lumped back onto the wall furthermore, allowing him time to adjust his breathing again.

Raising his head slowly, he took a glance around him to bask in the dubious glory of Hyrule's capital city. And just one proper look to the right was enough to see what this place has plenty to offer.

Tossed on the corner, with a bottle still in his hands, a man is laying down on the cold floor with his hair drenched in his puke, too drunk to feel bothered by the smell of it.

Getting up to his feet, Sheik let the drunkard to his own, and turned to the dead-end of the alleyway. His eyes landed on an open barrel, promptly feeling a light tug at the corner of his lips. "At least one small silver lining."

Feeling rather icky for a couple of reasons, the young Sheikah made way to the barrel full of clean-enough water for him to wash away the dirt and memories of the small trip in the sewers.

From behind a larger counter littered with all sorts of vials filled with different colored potions, a small woman with very-long bushy white hair is working with her tools to brew another batch for her stock.

Her attention was totally devoted to the task at hand, that is, until the small bell at the entrance of her shop rang softly, warning her that someone just walked in.

"Stay away from the counter and don't inhale any stray fumes." She warned with a dismissive hand, her voice so hoarse that almost sounds like it hurts when she speaks. "Which venom are you needing? Salve for those burning itches of summer? Or perhaps something about herpes, hm…?" The last bit she said with a cackle.

"Herpes?! Goddesses, is that what Ganondorf reduced you to? A healer of intimate disease." Sheik's voice came in the reply, his words being enough to make the old woman lean back and look at him.

"Have you taken a proper look around the city? Even the windows in the castle have herpes these days." Another cackle flew from the woman.

"I will take your account as truth." Sheik said with a little chuckle himself. "How are you holding up, Astra?"

"Why, the same as always. People are dumb and do dumb things; then they came for old Astra to fix their fuckups." Astra did an exaggerated roll of her eyes. "I am of no threat to Ganondorf, little Sheik. That frog even has his lackeys come here to buy from me."

"Ganondorf is one of your clients?" Sheik asked with an annoyed frown. "What does that prick need? Doesn't he have a court full of alchemists and warlocks just for his usage?"

Astra let out a loud snort. "Sure, a bunch of greenhorns that mix herbal leaves together and say some mumble-jumble while at it. Bah! Even his royal awfulness knows only a master brews something worthwhile." Stirring at the pot, she gave a little hum and pulled back. "As for what he buys; well, his goons mostly come for healing potions and salves. The strong stuff, ya know? Quick to heal, hurt like hell and leave nasty scars." She then pulled a small book from beneath the counter and dropped it open in front of her. "Hm… and they came twice last night. Bought my entire stock of the thing, hence the why I'm brewing more."

"An entire batch of healing potions… Why?" The young Sheikah breathed out the question, half-knowing the answer.

"Oh boy, please. For the same reason you are here standing in my shop today." Astra gave Sheik one appraising look, shaking her head a little as the boy frowned at her. "Ganondorf has found a new prisoner to torture, and one he doesn't want to break too easily." A mellowed sigh escaped the old woman, her age features holding the faintest hint of sadness. "What an unlucky soul that one is. Those inquisitors are quite skilled in ripping people apart very slowly."

Outstandingly the pale young man turned a little paler on his face. Biting his lower lip in angry exasperation Sheik stepped over to the counter. "Do you still have my trunk?"

She eyed him with a quirked eyebrow. "Of course, boy. There in the back room." Astra pointed to the door on the right side of the room.

In a swift motion, Sheik turned on his heels and disappeared to the back room.

Left to her own devices for a while once more, Astra continued to work on her potion again. She continued to stir with the occasional counter-clock stir until the texture of the liquid changed.

She then leaned close enough to get a snuffle of the colorless steam. "Perfect, now just need to let it cool off." Putting on a heavy mitten, she pulled the cauldron away from the fire and placed it to rest on a stone plate to the side.

Pulling out the mitten, Astra wiped the sweat from her brow. Moving over to the entrance of her shop, she locked the door and hung up the 'closed' sign on the big window. She then walked to the back room and saw Sheik finishing changing into a new set of clothes.

Standing in front of the open trunk with pieces of clothing littering the ground, Sheik has departed from his Sheikah uniform, instead choosing to wear something that could stand to the very opposite of the spectrum of attires.

For starters, his turban is gone, together with his mouth mask. His hair is still tied in a long braid going as long as his middle back. The formal Sheikah tunic is now replaced by a sleeveless light blue shirt that has a very long neck cut, showing a lot of his lean chest and leaving most of his belly right in the open. Instead of his battle padded leggings, he is wearing not so long pair of silky teal shorts, with a thin line of gold fabric at the bottom that is pressing very tightly at his thighs. His footwear is just a simple pair of grey sandals with the design of three different straps going from the bridge of his foot to his toes and one larger one wrapped around his ankle.

"Spirits above, you look like a prostitute." She said with a disgusted snarl, glancing up in down at the rather revealing attire of the Sheikah.

Sheik turned to look at Astra, the rather beautiful aesthetic of his facial features slightly startling the older woman. "Good, that's the whole point." The young Sheikah then pulled down the bottom of his shorts, already growing annoyed at how much of his pale skin is exposed. "I need to get inside the black castle. And the only way to get inside…"

"Oh, there's plenty of whores going inside that place alright." Astra snorted again, angrily waving one hand in the air. "Still, I have to ask boy. Are you sure about this? I know you are a spunky ninja and all that. But there's nothing much you can do in that state in a place surrounded by soldiers."

"I may not be able to fight against a battalion of them, but I can still snap one neck or two without getting caught." Sheik offered back, then one of his hands went to his back and came back with a small dagger. "And I'm not totally defenseless."

Making an ugly face at him, Astra leaned to the side, trying to get a look behind the blond boy. "Where did that come from?"

A soft chuckled escaped Sheik as he hid the dagger once again. "A Sheikah has his secrets."

"Uhum… just answer me, Sheik. Has Zelda requested this of you?" The old alchemist wobbled forward to stand eye to eye with the blond. "Has that girl finally lost her marbles after enduring so many years of this war?"

He stood there in silence, doing his best to hold his gaze without faltering at the peering look of Astra's brown eyes.

"I guess she doesn't know then?" Astra shook her head, moving toward a cupboard on the left wall. "Even as a small little thing you never left the girl's side for very long, not without good reason. If you are risking this much coming here, doing this!" She nodded at Sheik's attire again, not failing to snarl one more time. "Then I guess the rumors are true."

"Rumors?" Sheik tilted his head with interest. "Care to share?"

"Even if I don't you will learn about it pretty quick." As she turned around and saw the glare on the boy's pretty face, she sighed. "The entire city is in an uproar about it. They say Ganondorf has captured one of the big players on the Princess's side. Most people are betting on General Val being the one." She hissed like an old cat, slapping the small door of the cupboard closed. "Those cretins are making bets on this, bets against the man many of them praised their adoration not ten years ago." She then walked over to Sheik again, her tired eyes staring firmly at his. "Isn't the old wolf, is it?"

"No." Was all that Sheik offered, but was enough for Astra to sigh in relief.

"Good. Hyrule would truly collapse if we lost him." She then pushed one hand forward and presented a small vial holding half its capacity with a golden liquid. "However, they still have this big player in those horrid dungeons, for two days no less… When you find this person, believe me, they will need this."

Taking the small vial in his hand, Sheik lifted his shirt, revealing a set of bandages wrapped around his chest, and placed it within the rolls, as he rolled the shirt down, not even a small bump is visible.

"Thank you for this… and for helping us, always." Sheik gave a small respectful bow, making the woman laugh rather loudly.

"Stop that boy. I hate Ganondorf as much as anyone that isn't kissing his boots for fortune." She then wobbled her steps toward a chair, letting out a long and tired sigh as she sat down. "So? Who is this big player getting his skin peeled out like a banana?"

The blond visible shuddered at her words, making Astra furrow her brown. Sheik glanced at her and then turned to rearrange his trunk. "Maybe it's best if you don't know." He said simply, with a flat voice.

"Boy!" Astra chided him. "I ain't one for riddles and runaround words. Just spill it over, and stop with the theatrics."

Closing the lid of the trunk, Sheik shook his head and looked back at her. "He has… Ganondorf has the Hero of Time in his dungeons… I think…" The last part he said with the faintest whispers, evading Astra's ears completely.

Pushing her back against the padded cushion of her chair, Astra stared at the blond with very wide eyes. "Well… spirits! then we are fucked, aren't we? That frog would never keep the Hero alive."

"I have reason to believe that Ganondorf is keeping him alive… even if barely." Sheik replied.

"What reason could be good enough for the man to not destroy the only person destined to crank his molded neck?" Astra genuinely asked, but quickly waved one hand in the air in dismissal. "Bah, you were right. I'm better not knowing any of this. My days of running around worrying about the world are far long past me."

"Really? But you look just like a peach." He said with a small smile, but still earned him a book flying on his head.

"Just get out of here, you little punk!" Astra yelled at him, waving one arm at him. But as Sheik bowed and turned to leave again, she cleared her throat loud enough to get his attention. "How is my rebel disciple? Is she alive still?"

Sheik gave her a small nod. "Doctor Rose is alive and bullying everyone that comes into her clinic. She still has the same taste for wine as before, hence why she is a little meaner than ever now that she has almost none to enjoy."

One loud and healthy laughter exploded in the room, the old woman having the time of her life with the news. "Rose is a mean flower, that she is. But the girl has a good heart, if not why would she become a healer?" She then hummed and waved one hand to dismiss Sheik yet again.

"Do you still have the engraving my master gave you?" Sheik asked.

"Yeah, yeah. In the second floor at the guest room." She saw the sideway glance the boy gave her, which made her snort. "I know about the safety area, boy. Nothing is blocking that stupid drawing of yours."

"Wish me luck." He said with a hand wave of his own.

"Bah, just shut up and leave, you brat. You Sheikahs don't believe in luck anyway, stop pestering me already." Despite her frown and yells, Astra watched as Sheik exited the room. As she heard a ring at the entrance again, she shrunk a little in her seat and smile softly. "Good luck, boy."

Sheik's quick trip around the capital was short and thankfully uneventful with only the occasional harassment from drunkards or scumbag soldiers that felt in the right to try and coerce him into a back alley.

Dodging any aggravation with excellence, the young blond man arrived at the most popular and depraved establishment of the previously known Market Square, now renamed to Entertainment District.

Right at the door, two giant men dressed in fancy robes welcomed him, one of the brutes leaning over to open the door for the pretty blond, even giving a quick wink at the Sheikah, who replied with a shy smile.

Stepping on the red carpet at the entrance, Sheik felt the instant shift in the air as soon as he crossed the boundary of this glorified cabaret that people call a restaurant.

Despite the fancy candelabrum on the ceiling, or the pristine furniture decorating the huge salon, the stench of false nobility baked with the heavy scent of promiscuity in the air are clear indications of how far down Hyrule as a whole has fallen.

Taking slow and mindful steps, Sheik used the time to peruse the company spending the evening in their vices.

Closest to the entrance rests the small round tables, with the common people trying to emulate the new nobles, using shabby robes and spending all their rupees on expensive drinks they can only taste one time a month. Most people at those tables spend their time gossiping and gawking at the people at the back.

This group, the ones for whom the large tables are reserved for, are composed mostly of high-ranking members of Ganondorf's legion or even worst, the noble houses that betrayed the Royal Family in favor of the tyrant.

Within these tables, there are one or mostly two of these people per set, each of them surrounded by a few drones, men and women trying their desperate best to get into these people's good graces.

Now, standing in the middle of the saloon, getting more than a few gazes focused on him, Sheik found the ideal prey sitting on the luxurious counter at the far end of the building. Surrounded by a lot of attention seekers, prostitutes, and boot lickers, is one of Ganondorf's chancellors; a man as powerful as he is fat, someone that does everything to get his greasy hands onto anything he deems worthy of his attention.

Someone that Hyrule would be better off without.

Pressing his hands together in front of him as he walked toward the counter, Sheik focused firmly on his laced fingers trying to reign in his inflaming temper, but with his attire and shy demeanor, it looks to others as he is just a little startled by the attention he is receiving.

Putting enough distance between him and the target, Sheik sat on one of the padded tall chairs in front of the counter, with a perfect angle to get a side view of the man, and as soon as he noticed the chancellor glance at him without interest, he faked an abashed look on his expression and looked away.

One little glance back and he felt the man practically disrobing him with those sickening greedy eyes. 'Should be bait enough.' He thought as he permanently took his gaze away from the rich pig.

The master serving drinks at the counter spotted Sheik and moved over with an empty glass in his hand. "Good evening, cutie. New here? I don't remember seeing you before." He eyed Sheik from head to toe, not hiding for a moment the hungry look in his eyes.

Shrinking his pose as his shoulders pulled closer, Sheik gave the master a small glance and a shy smile. "Y-Yes. I'm new here, just recently I flew from home and got into the city."

A delighted hum escaped the man. "And you already managed to gather quite the attention. And THAT is quite good for our business here." He placed the crystal cup on the counter and leaned closer. "For that, I will give you one on the house. What drink can I get you, sugar?"

"Seriously?!" The thin blond beamed happily. "Then I'd like something sweet."

Tapping the wood one time, the master straightened on his feet and moved back to bring a transparent bottle with a rosy liquid. Pouring half a glass for the blond, he pushed the glass a bit closer and smiled. "To a pleasant night and interesting company." He then hinted with a nod to the chancellor, now sitting by himself and staring very intently at Sheik.

One more time Sheik dangled the bait in front of the man, in the form of a shy glance. He allowed his gaze to linger enough for the large man to give him a dirty grin and raise his cup at him, then the blond glanced to the side and smile even if it is killing him to behave in such a way.

'Come on you pig, I know your sins… take the bait, chancellor Gilliart.' He kept saying these words in his mind like a prayer, casually taking very timid sips of his drink as he waited for the target to move.

It was only when he has lifted the glass for the seventh time, that he heard the heavy steps coming from the side soon followed by the sound of the chair legs grinding against the floor.

"Would you mind sharing a little of your time?" Said a deep sonorous voice of the chancellor. The large man took a sit on the chair with a muffled sound of his backside plopping down on the cushion.

'Took you long enough.' Sheik molded his expression contrary to his thoughts, wearing a very pleasant face as he shyly looked at the man. "I-I would not, sir."

A very large grin spread over the man's large mouth, his big lips twitching in a surge of anticipation. "I deem myself a very avid enjoyer of the nightlife. However, I don't recall ever meeting your person here before." He then took a slow glance down Sheik's form. "Most certainly I would remember. What is your name, dove?"

"Dinn…" Sheik replied with a streak of red on his cheeks. "My name is Dinn, sir."

"Dinn…" Gilliart said the name as if savoring a new beverage, very slowly enjoying each word slipping from his tongue.

Apparently reaching the limit of his initial patience, the chancellor's right hand moved forward and ran over Sheik's leg, resting with a firm grip on the blonde's thigh.

"S-Sir?!" Sheik recoiled back, the sudden movement freeing his leg from the man's grasp; who looked very displeased about it.

"Hm… You behave very differently from the way you dress, young Dinn." Gilliart moved closer again, this time putting his hand over Sheik's resting on the counter. "Do you know who I am?"

The blond nodded franticly. "I-I do, sir."

"Is that so…" Gilliart said with a purr, the sensation of his breath grazing over Sheik's ear almost making the Sheikah puke in repulsion. "Then, who am I?"

"S-Someone too important… to be giving me an attention that I… don't deserve." With one glance up Sheik saw the effect of his words, the man by his side is almost inflating to the clouds with his oversized ego.

Letting out a small chuckle, Gilliart made another bold move, a lot bolder in truth as he trailed his hand all over Sheik's arm and then shifted down to explore the blonde's waist. "Well, I decide who deserves my attention or not. However, you are mostly correct about my importance within this room, within this country. Now, Dinn. Would you like to know how much generous I can be?"

Getting closer and closer to the limit of his self-control, Sheik raised both hands to stop the man's face from colliding with his. Once more, the denial made the man's face grow red with anger, but his outburst was still very silent with just a furious glare.

"S-Sir… I don't think this would be an… appropriate place." This sentence almost made the Sheikah laugh at himself. Even with the fat man blocking most of his view, he can still see a pair of prostitutes trying to swallow the tongue of a noble in the background.

"Sure, sure… Ahem, too many eyes privy to a moment of intimacy, no?" Said the chancellor, who smiled after the blond offered a small reaffirming nod. "Would a more private location quell your worries?"

"T-That… I would not mind, sir." The Sheikah almost felt giddy when the tall large man stepped aside and hoisted a hand to guide him out.

Gilliart grinned as the blond accepted his hand and allowed the chancellor to display to the people watching them his newest conquest. "Come my pretty dove, let me take you towards a night you shall never forget."

A playful giggle escaped the blond, emboldening the chancellor to let out a very pleased smile about his alluring skills. Little does the man knows that behind the sweet smile of his companion lies chilling intent to provide the man with a totally different but just as equally unforgettable experience.

"Have you seen a more majestic castle like this one?" Gilliart boisterous voice echoed the question, the man slightly drunk on the moment as his hand keeps massaging the shoulder of his blond companion.

Joking, laughing, and trying to get a handful here and there with little to no concern for the number of guards and soldiers watching them, the chancellor took his blond intended for the night in a small tour around the ground of his master's palace.

All the while being completely oblivious that the blond walking stiffly at his side knows more about this place than the man would ever discover himself.

Still, despite the murmuring voices and judging gazes coming from the royal armored guards, Gilliart kept going and telling 'Dinn' to ignore the brutes and just enjoy himself.

Sheik felt slightly amused by the situation, as most soldiers watching them are clearly from a different cut of cloth than the rest of the legion and by the look on their eyes, they deeply hate this man. Not that he can blame them, but the Sheikah holds little to no sympathy for those wearing the black colors of Ganondorf's army.

Mostly unbothered by the residents of the giant castle and thankfully also by the usurper as well, Sheik arrived at one of the upper wings of the castle, the right one at the forefront of the upper floor, that once he had known as the guest wing, that Zelda had so many times arranged for him to stay for the nights they would sleep together. Now, housing the living quarters of the self-dignified pig who holds the illusion that they will share any intimacy this night.

"Here we are, dove." Gilliart said as he turned on the heels of his expensive boots, standing in front of the door to his room where two soldiers are standing on watch.

Pushing his hands together, Sheik looked at the man with a little small glance at the two guards on the back, quickly the chancellor got the message.

"You may leave us." He turned and practically shouted at the man holding a spear. "As you can see, I've company for the night. And we expect to be left… unbothered."

The pair of soldiers traded a glance between themselves, one of them looked ready to say something but Gilliart growled at him and waved angrily at the man.

"Have you gone deaf?" He looked from one soldier to the other. "I ordered you to leave."

This outburst was all they needed to pay salutation to their superior and reply with a very loud and clear 'Sir, yes sir!' Quickly, the both of them made themselves scarce, leaving the chancellor alone with his new young flower, mostly ready to be enjoyed.

"Come now, Dinn. I promised you privacy and you promised me… cooperation, no?" The man moved to stand behind the blond, pressing both hands onto the young man's shoulders. He then leaned over close enough for his breathing to graze over the blonde's ear. "Not that I would mind a little bit of struggle. The trill of the conquest makes my blood boil."

Directly after those words, Sheik felt the man's hands sliding down across his body, one of them pressing very forcefully onto one of his bottom cheeks. The slowly building-up anger he was pilling up in his chest came to the boiling point. He can't take any more of this charade, of this pig taking liberties with his touches and proximity of his body.

No one should touch him like this, no one but Link.

As Sheik was preparing himself to pull his dagger and drive the blade deep into this pig of a man's neck, he heard the barely closed-door creak completely open. From within the room, a very tall man with long blond hair stepped out. This new person, wearing a pristine dark plate adorned with golden colors came into the hallway and made himself known with a disgusted growl.

Gilliart made an annoyed sound with his mouth and then raised his head to check the noise. At the glance of the newcomer, he stepped back from 'Dinn' in a haste, almost stumbling onto the wall.

"You made me wait…" The tall blond man said in a rich voice that is as terrifying as it is entrancing. "Four hours, chancellor. I am not one of your servants to be made a fool in my spare time."

"Q-Quit your yapping!" The chancellor tried to fight back with a stuttered hoarse shout of his own, but his shaky legs only make his attempt a pathetic little come back. "I already sent the envoy to Arturia, as I've put in the letter addressed to you. Have you forgotten how to read?"

Sheik's attention picked up to a maximum after the mention of the neighboring country, the same one that has sent their prince to Zelda's aid.

"And?! Have they sent confirmation? What is their status?! Will Arturia stand aside or ally themselves with us?" The strangely familiar blond man said in a calmer voice than the chancellor, but the edge of his voice is a thousand times more threatening.

Fumbling forward with two awkward steps, Gilliart waved an outraged hand in the air. "They aren't back yet, are they? How do you suppose I should contact them? Borrow a dragon from Arturia just to please your impatient arse?"

Sheik tried to make himself as small and inconspicuous as possible to see if he could take more information out of this bizarre exchange, however, his small shift in demeanor only served to make the blond man turn to glare at him.

Those bright blue eyes carrying heavy marks of insomnia under them made the young Sheikah almost trip and fall over his own legs. Never again would Sheik mistake those eyes anywhere, even if years have passed. He doesn't recognize the man staring a hole at him with that piercing gaze, but he would never mistake Link's blue eyes, even if they carry an entirely different light onto them.

One single step of the man and he was on top of Sheik, his sight fixated on the Sheikah's eyes as if he could see directly into his soul.

But before any of the two could say anything, an awkward chuckle escaped the chancellor watching the interaction. Getting a bit braver than moments before, he walked towards 'Dinn' and placed a firm hand on the smaller blonde's shoulder.

"My, oh my. Are my eyes deceiving me or is our upstanding general showing an unbecoming interest in a young man?" Gilliart's mocking chuckle transformed into a small laugh, his behavior making the other man's eyes shift back at him with a glare. "Move along, Leonhardt. This little dove is mine."

Despite the shy persona Sheik has adopted for this mission, he let out a genuine yelp when Leonhardt's arm flew past him like a gust of wind. His black armored gauntlet bashed against the fat man's face as his hand gripped the man by the head and smashed him onto the wall.

"Never say that name in front of me again. Did I make myself… clear?" The dangerous growl that escaped Leonhardt made even Sheik's back stand up straighter in fear of what that tone promised to deliver.

"Un… unhand me, you fool!" Gilliart tried to squirm his way out of the general's grasp, only to make that death grip get even tighter. "I will not tolerate your continuous bullying of us, those better than you! Have you forgotten the lesson Lord Ganondorf taught you after what you did to Loz?! Release me, brute!"

At the mention of their master's name, Leonhardt lessened the strength of his grip but still held the chancellor up as the large man kept flailing his legs in the air. "There is not a drop of blood in your that is better than mine, parasite." He then gave a forceful shove, tossing the man onto the floor to gather his wits as he coughed a few times.

"Y-You will regret this, you oversized mongrel." Gilliart snarled, glaring at the blond glaring right back at him. "Someday soon I will prove to Lord Ganondorf the traitorous scum that you are. On that day I will enjoy seeing you hanged by the guts on the great wall of our city."

Scoffing at the chancellor's threat, Leonhardt turned his attention once more toward Sheik. In an instinctive movement, the Sheikah jerked back and moved one hand to his back, the tip of his fingers touching the handle of his dagger.

"Boy, I suggest you finish whatever businesses you have here and then leave without looking back." The tall blond general warned with his composed and very terrifying voice. "This will be my only warning."

"Shut your trap, general! The businesses we have are ours alone to discuss." Dusting his pants and doing his best to regain this pompous composure, the chancellor took his place behind Sheik and began to push the blond in the direction of his room. "Go find someone that finds your presence at least tolerable. I heard the stables are a great fit for the likes of you."

Shaking his head Leonhardt gave a subtle smile toward the chancellor, or perhaps he intended it toward Sheik. However, before the Sheikah could understand the look the man gave him; Gilliart promptly shoved him inside and closed the door behind them,

Not too long after they were left alone, Gilliart rushed onto the blond with an insatiable hunger. His presence everywhere around the Sheikah, those plump hands assaulting the fabric of the blonde's shirt, pulling it up and aside, almost ripping the silk apart in their eagerness.

Struggling to get his arms free as the man began kissing his neck and groping his intimacy, Sheik felt sickened to the pit of his stomach, and the more he fought to pull away from those fat arms, the more the chancellor chuckled in amusement.

"So feisty and energetic." Gilliart breathed against the pale skin of the blonde's neck. "I imagine just how tight you will feel around me."

As the chancellor gave way with his left arm, when his left hand sunk itself within Sheik's shorts, it allowed the blond the freedom to bend his body uncomfortably strained to the side, and reach around his back onto the bandages beneath his crooked shirt.

"Fight a little more, dove." The man said with glee. "Let me break you into submission."

Trying to pull the blond back to his chest, Gilliart felt a little too much resistance from his partner, which made him growl and open his eyes to glare some senses into the blond. The sight waiting for him made the man stop and pull back.

However, his jerk reaction came too late, as Sheik is close enough to push his arm forward and sink his dagger deep into the neck of his target.

Letting out a short gasp of shock, the chancellor fell to the floor, pressing both hands to the handle of the dagger buried deep into his jugular. He opened his mouth to speak, but could only gurgle in panic as his 'little dove' stepped over his chest and leaned over to give one terrifying sneer at him.

"I never felt so sickened in my life before." Sheik spat the words, rubbing his neck with one hand to wipe away the man's saliva from his skin. "Look at me, trash. Look at me!" He took hold of the dagger's handle, making the man's eyes widen like two large saucers. "This is retribution for what you did to the royal family, to Hyrule… to my sister! You will never touch or harm another person ever again, you filthy pig."

Pulling his dagger back without a hint of mercy in his eyes, Sheik stepped back and just watched as chancellor Gilliart struggled on the floor, he watched as the flow of blood kept flowing out, staining the luxurious carpet of the room in a large bloody-red pool.

Sheik stood there as the man keep trying to speak, but instead only making guttural noises until the light of life left his eyes.

Only then, when his mark stopped trashing on the floor that the Sheikah wiped his dagger against the white sheets of the bed and walked towards the door, leaving behind the corpse of one of the men responsible for Hyrule's fall.

Chapter End.

AU: As a little side note, I had to cut a little short on the part at the restaurant because It really felt icky to write about that character and the grubby hands. It was supposed to be a bit longer of a section but I just couldn't do it.

Anyway, can anyone suggest a really good fic about Hermione Granger & Severus Snape? I've this 'itch' that I simply cannot quell for it.