Sway
By Silvertress
Disclaimer: I don't own Zelda
Author's Note: The ultimate pairing will have to do with further plot devices.R&R
Wisps of what was-- they all were memories, spirits, and forces. They came to him as whispers, colors, shivers, visions, and annoyingly persistent specters.
"I'm sorry, I can't help you," Sheik sighed.
"I am the King of Hyrule. Do as I command. You must help me find her." His pleas were more out of desperation then an order.
"You may be… But you are no longer in power." The Sheikah grabbed for some of the bandages that lay on the table.
"What is the meaning of this? Your insolence is intolerable. You will be punished the moment I can find my guards," his yells bounced off the stonewalls.
"You my late lord will do nothing," Sheik sighed as he tucked in a stray bandage.
"I am always perfectly on time."
"Hmm, they always said you had a twisted whit. You, my lord are trapped. You're being punished for your reign of terror over two hundred years ago. I cannot help you because you are trapped within your own angry and deplorable death."
In a huff, the large wisp of air fled through a cracked window. Sheik sighed. Some were beyond his help.
"We are ready to begin," Impa said from the doorway. "Are the bandages working? I heard you talking…but I see no real…"
"People?" Sheik interrupted. "There was no one in here, only a disgruntled lingerer. No, the bandages no longer block energy." Sheik said with a sigh. "I've only been wearing them to calm your nerves." Sheik lowered his crimson eyes as he unwrapped the turban. The symbols of the Sheikah "all knowing" eye flickered as Sheik's hands touched them. "I am being overcome. The magic and matter of this realm are having less and less of an effect on me."
"How long were you in the Sacred Realm for?" His Mother asked, now resting her weight against the doorway.
"You know that any amount of time is too long. When one walks among the land of the sacred, and does not belong, they punish you." Sheik tangled and tore the bandages in his hands.
"You may heal with time here."
"Nevertheless, there is nothing we can do now…." Sheik turned over to the window. "Don't we have a crisis of some form to meet about?" He easily slipped past his Mother as he avoided her gaze. He decided to take the long way.
The political talks must be going well. Sheik had to dance and dart in a graceful dance of avoidance. He sighed when his hood fell back and a group of missionaries saw his crimson eyes…
The far west side garden of the Temple of Time was off limits to even the high priest. It was a strange season, the roses refused to escape out of their buds, but the dandelion's seeds happily drifted through the air. The sages were seated at different spots around the garden; excluding the water and fire Sage who were playing the diversion to the visiting diplomats.
"Sheik, what took you?" Impa questioned.
"I decided to take the direct route. There are some well-to-do missionaries or diplomats that have never witnessed one with 'eyes red like maetos.' They seem quite concerned and now are spinning in circles hitting one another in the town square." Sheik sighed as he entered.
"Maetos?" Nabooru questioned. The Gerudo slipped her cloak closer to her body. "That is the deeper desert country G'eosh way to say tomato. A fruit…"
"The G'eosh are avid carnivores," Zelda sighed.
"It's great timing," Link smiled as he entered from the garden. "We have diplomats, thieves and…." He stopped mid-sentence when his sapphire eyes saw Sheik.
"you—"
"Yes hero you have me," Sheik smirked and interrupted the hero. In one fluid motion he brushed his hair back and placed on the hood.
"I'm sorry but your presence is never a good tiding." Link's leather gauntlets cracked with the extra pressure he exerted to grasp the Master Sword. "You're also…" The hero's words cracked and sizzled in the air.
"Hero I know my presence isn't appreciated but I am here to help." Sheik interrupted before the Hero of Time revealed his condition.
"I might be so inclined to ask, what are you doing here? I left you at the Ranch." Saria chimed in jumping down from a branch. Link had to run quickly so he caught her, he shifted the sword so it wouldn't skewer her upon landing. The whole movement was much more awkward then the Hero's usual movements.
"Rauru said I was needed. I thought you may also want to look at this." Saria quickly jumped down from his arms. Link retrieved from his bag Navi.
"Navi!" Saria exclaimed. "How long has she been like this? I don't think fairies are supposed to… whatever she is doing."
The fairy was in links hand twirling and turning around his thumb, all the time happily hiccupping. Each hiccup produced a cloud of fine dust that glimmered like particles in the sun. "Hey, watch it," Link cried out as she bent his thumb back to support a dip. "She just woke up and was like this… Nothing works on her." The fairy started to now dance very close to his thumb and sneak a feel every now and then.
"Link, stop this non-sense. We do have more important things at hand…" Naboru chimed in hiding a shiver.
"Don't worry Link…" Saria giggled as Navi got more forward in her pursuits. "Her body is just expelling the toxins. Those little clouds of dust are the downers that are making her act wonky." Link nodded, and allowed his thumb to lead Navi back to her bag. Quickly he tied the struggling bag to his belt.
"So we were at the point where the Heavens are at war…" Sheik looked around at those gathered. "Something is happening. It is beyond anything a mere simple creature of the mortal realm can fight. He is coming… He is gathering forces which are beyond the tri-force." Sheiks voice gained a physical presence as he spoke—He always had a dry whit and talent to bring the reality of doom on a situation. Zelda had made such a more idealistic, poetic version of Impa's son. Sometimes Link wished that Sheikh would just…
Link could see a light breeze of white energy envelop the Sheikah. His crimson eyes turned a full deep shade of ruby.
"Who is it?" Link went down and grabbed Sheik with his right hand. The hilt of the master sword brushed against him and started to glow green. Link could feel the mystical energy. Every fiber of his being hummed and chills wracked his weak body. The energy was going towards Sheik who was enveloped with a green aura; Link recognized it all too well.
"Who is it? The mortal asks these questions. Chosen-one, he is coming. Chaos. The Lord of Chaos has abandoned his one night of mischief for darker pursuits. He will tip the balance of creation and nothing will be safe."
"What are we to do then?"
"Stop him… We are too weakened at this time to give you more support. I cannot watch over you anymore." Sheik's hand came up and caressed Link's cheek. The cold escaped his cheek as he felt the molten heat of the Goddess's touch. He could feel his flesh start to break away and burn. He couldn't break away, with all the pain of his flesh he felt serene within that heat. He was at peace. There was nothing to fear as long as the Goddess touched him… Sheik slowly inched closer… "This boy will be your only link to us."
And then… It was gone.
"Link!" Saria cried, breaking into the barrier of magic that connected Link and Sheik. "Link? What happened?" Saria stood there her slight form frozen in place her jaw hanging as low as it could go.
The Hero of Time was inches from the young Sheikah; the skin of his left cheek was a deep crimson. Link's gaze went through both of them as if they were nothing. It was as if the world was coming to an end. Sheik looked upon the hero his crimson eyes back to normal but open very wide. He didn't even seem to realize the tears of red that leaked from his eyes.
"Sheik!" Zelda pushed past Saria and Link when she saw him. Without a thought she took her skirt and started to wipe the blood away. "What happened to you to?"
Raised with the question both men were speechless. "I think that our young Hero got a visit from his guardian." Nabooru answered as she casually walked up and grabbed the hero's left hand. Despite Link's weak protest, she took hand and sword together and displayed them for everyone present. "Your Goddess has abandoned you… The only reason you are safe is because of this." Nabooru motioned towards his arm. The mark of the tri-force hummed softly on the back of his hand. The master sword also displayed a faint green glow.
When Saria allowed herself a clear view of the hero, the aura from the sword enveloped the hero with an even lighter aura.
"The kid is protected." Nabooru exclaimed to the Sages who looked at her with various clueless looks.
"Where are you getting all this from?" Impa asked.
"I could see the Goddess in the boy. I've spent too much time in the desert staring at the sun. I could see through the bright aura." Nabooru smirked. "I'm also not clouded by affection." She muttered under her breath. Impa pushed past the Spirit Sage and went to the side of the princess and her son. The light and shadows never did mix to well… One always cancelled the other out.
Nabooru ignored Impa's hostility and looked to Link. "You were magnificent… the two of you."
Link seemed to be coming back down to Earth. His eyes focused on a seed floating down in the breeze. He brushed it from Saria's green hair when it landed. Her giggle fell flat… "Are you alright?" She asked, positioning herself on his lap.
"She's right… Nabooru is right. She visited us… They can't help us anymore." Link's voice was easily overpowered by the slight breeze which allowed more leaves and seeds to dance in the wind.
"What?" Saria rested her tiny head on the hero's hard shoulder. She blew away stray blonde locks as the mighty hero leant his head against hers. "What…"
"There is only what… What do the forsaken seek? What do we fight for? What do we breathe, live, die, and love for? What reason? What power? What if we lose?" Link's voice grew deeper with a ruff growl to accent each syllable. Saria had only heard this voice once… when he faced Ganondorf.
"Link… I don't understand." Zelda said tearing her blood stained dress. "What happened to you and Sheik?"
"Don't you understand, Princess?" Link asked as he raised his head to meet her gaze. His blue eyes were glassy. He slowly sheaved his sword, but would not allow his left hand to leave the hilt. The tri-force was a faint green that slowly started to flicker. "Can't you feel it? Or lack of it?" With Saria held in his right arm, the hero staggered to his feet and moved in front of the princess. "Wisdom, Zelda, wisdom, where is your symbol? Where is your visitation? Can you feel the pain? I can feel it now, the Goddesses are screaming."
"What has gotten into you Link?" Zelda straightened. "My powers are as they always have."
"That's what he wants you to think. I was fine, until last night. I would've been consumed if the sword hadn't called for me."
"I would've sensed this… There is no possible way I could miss that… They are Gods." Her speech diminished as her doubt increased. "Then what?"
"We are alone." Sheik said slowly. He felt empty. Farore had been him. The power that possessed him was serene. He knew everything would be alright. He didn't care if he was fading. Now he was empty. A husk of what was all the strength and love absent there was nothing left but for the wind to blow him into dust. "Sheik, are you alright?" Zelda asked. Her skirt was covered in his "tears."
"Give him a moment." Link whispered. "When the divine abandons you… It's like nothing in this world matters. This may now be a reality."
"Don't say that," Saria rubbed the tri-force mark on his hand and jerked away as it burnt her. "There has to be a way."
"We fight chaos is what we do," Sheik replied.
"We fight chaos by getting those who worship it," Link added.