Authors Note: Reoccurring reviews! That's a promising feeling. I am honored by the kindness of my reviewers! Cảm ơn bạn rất nhiều! Thank you very much! I feel humbled by this~ Well enough with my gratitude. Please enjoy this next installment! It focuses primarily on Zelda and Sheikah in his Labyrinth of Memories. No worries though, for those of you who are tied onto the adventures of the Rancher, Wolf, and Resistance Member. They have their time to shine as always. Now please do read! Tôi yêu tất cả bạn rất nhiều! Cám ơn bạn! Many thanks and much love!
-Speil
Warning: This story has homosexual relations between two men. The main pairing of this story is Sheik and Link. It goes without saying that this story has other pairings though. This chapter contains no lemons. The next chapter will most likely contain a small lemon from a memory.
-Skyward Sword AU on this. The game isn't released for another fifteen days so I have plenty of time for speculation!
Disclaimer: I don't own Zelda~ I merely own my OCs if and when they appear.
Now without further waiting, please enjoy!
Chapter III.
Antique and the Broken Promises
In which the Wolf , the Rancher, and the Resistance Member head to the Castle, and the Princess learns of the Antiques heartaches.
Patterns were there to maintain order and order was easily broken. Zelda hummed in a pleased manner as her eyes cached on a single hieroglyph that hadn't appeared before. She smiled and walked up to the door. "Good hunting indeed! It seems that I need to wish you good hiding." The words came out bitter on her tongue leaving her a little shocked. The boy had already left such a negative impression on her!
It was strange!
Silently she hefted her thoughts aside and drew her attention to the door. Time for another go before she would have to hurry onto the next. She had wasted enough time cracking this mystery! Slowly she placed her palm to the door and dug her fingers into the deep grooves that served as a handle. She curled her fingers into them as well as she could and pulled the door to one side, walking back and grunting slightly with the force. This was her chance to see more! She eagerly ran through the door, hearing it slam shut behind her and seeing the darkness of the room erupt with light.
"Hero, I have been sent to guide you." The boys voice wasn't harsh like it had been when she had first heard it in front of the labyrinth. It was soft and gentle, almost timid and would be so if it hadn't held a underlying strength and warmness to it. It sounded like a voice you could trust. The Link look alike turned slightly and raised an eyebrow.
"What…?" The confusion was evident in the nearly silent question as the Hero offered a shy, cheesy grin. The desert dweller merely smiled and bowed his head.
"My mistress Lady Zelda told me to guide her brother to her. I have faith you will follow. She has something very important to give you…" The voice dropped and became deep and dark as Sheik opened his eyes to their full intensity, bearing down on the Hero. "For the Goddesses don't wish to bless you just yet. Come, Link Harkin." Zelda felt the air grow tense.
Zelda Harkin had been Zelda I. And this was twice that the two blonds had been mentioned as siblings. She felt a growing upset in her belly. The sound of leather soles hitting metal picked up and she looked up. Link was walking along the mine tracks towards the knelt down Sheikah. Sheik smiled in a pleased manner. "I don't understand," Link spoke up.
Sheikah frowned and looked up at the man. "What don't you understand?" A long silence enveloped them until Link looked up.
"Why you would help her whenever your king is trying to take her." The red-eyed boy seemed taken aback by this. Slowly his teeth drew back in a grimace and he hooked two fingers in his cowl, dragging it down to show it.
"That man is no king of mine! Ghirahimn can die for all I care!" A bitter laughter boiled up in Sheiks throat. "He has betrayed the dark tribe by throwing away our interest. If he wants to meddle with the Light Tribesmen then meddle with the Light Tribesmen we will!" He smirked viciously at Link.
"Don't be a fool Hero. I have every goal gained by helping you." Sheiks smirk soon dwindles away to a slight frown. He stood up tall and dusted off his legs slightly. He took in Links appearance and expression. The Hero's eyes were widened in surprise and his lips were slightly parted as if he wanted to speak. "Don't ask things if you are not willing to know Hero," Sheikah finally murmured.
Link looked away in embarrassment and huffed. "Fine. Tell me your name then." Sheik frowned and stepped back.
"Excuse me?"
"Your name!" Link repeated and crossed his arms cockily. "You know mine but I don't know yours. If we are traveling together what am I going to call you?" The hero thrust out his hand a little impatiently to shake the others. Sheik just stared. The boy was a soldier through and through.
He took a step back away from the other and smiled mysteriously. Finally he turned his head away and closed his eyes, pulling up his cowl. "My name is Sheikah which means Little Shadow in my language. Don't forget me hero." And with that he disappeared in a plume of smoke leaving a very disoriented hero.
Zelda blinked groggily as the room faded into darkness. She slightly felt fingers on her arm and looked up. Blue met icy cold red. "Get out! I don't want you here!" Zelda gritted her teeth and took one of her hands to grip his wrist.
"No! I was told to speak with you and I shall do as much! Why are you so desperate to escape me?" She spoke strongly and narrowed her eyes at the stubborn man. Sheikah grimaced and tugged away from her.
"When will you Royals be done toying with me! Let me go!" She didn't understand though, as he had tugged free beforehand. She didn't have time to question though as the boy once again high tailed it. She lowered her head and shook it. "Children… By the Three!
"Was I this stubborn as a teenager? I don't understand him at all!" She didn't want her question answered as she quite explicitly remembered a young soldier carrying her as a eleven year old over his shoulder. Her appearance had been less than tidy and Aurus mood during the following studies had been less than pleasant.
Zelda shook her head as if to get rid of the thought and left the room. The pattern trick worked nicely as she would find out. Opening the doors however, would not remain as simple. The doors began having reliefs on them that one could push down. Currently she stood in front of another door with the odd hieroglyph above it, observing the reliefs on the door. They confused her to say the least. They seemed to form a compass rose or a four petal flower.
This wasn't a very good clue for her. Well, she could only guess. If you were finding your way home you…. Look for the direction north? She pressed the North relief and hissed as nothing happen. Try some more. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west?
She pressed east and west. This time it clicked and hissed, the door rumbling to its side of its own will. She smiled- it was a three out of five lock. It was a good thing she tried the night way before the morning way! She walked into the room like she had the ones before. She was almost used to the way the scene enveloped her out of nowhere. This time was odd however.
She had no ability to move though she could feel herself walking. She sat down on a bench and sighed, "It will probably be twenty minutes or longer. I'm her guardian but they won't even let me in there." She almost startled; it was Sheiks voice coming from her. They were very straight forward memories then if she was looking through his eyes!
"Don't feel bad." Link sat down beside the Dark Tribesman and grinned. "I'm her brother and I have to wait to hold an audience with her. It's silly if you ask me." Sheik smiled bitterly and nodded.
"It is rather silly. She never wanted to be Queen of these lands in the first place. She belongs with you and your sky-people." He flailed his fingers of one hand in the air dramatically before bringing them back down to rest in his lap. "Hero, I'm not here for pleasantries you know."
"I know," Link replied a little sullenly. "Are all of you really breaking from the Dark Tribe?" He watched Sheik anxiously as the man nodded.
"Yes. And unfortunately, I'm the one they elected as leader. I have to represent my people, the Sheikah, to the Lady of Hyrule. I can only hope she'll accept us." He shook his head at Links neer-sheepish look and bowed his head.
"They actually named themselves after you, huh?" Sheik looked up at the question. He couldn't hold back a chuckle as it boiled in his chest. "What?" Link asked with a soft laugh.
"I find it absurd myself! I don't understand in the least. What good is a small shadow that a tribe must follow it blindly?" He smiled as he leaned back against the wall the bench was placed along. "I'm beginning to think my people were foolish!" Link shrugged and replied bluntly.
"Naw. They just think you're a great person and admire you for it~" Sheik shook his head at Link.
"I think admiration isn't something I should be proud about," he dead panned. "I don't really want this responsibility. A great shaman should be chief. I can't cast any more then a simple warping spell." He snorted and crossed his arms. "This is the most ignorant move they've made in choosing a leader!" Link laughed at him and shook his head, dirty blond tresses flying with the movement of his head.
"Your too hard on yourself!"
"Maybe…"
The two laughed again and Sheik felt a warmness pool in his chest. He glanced over at the other whose head was bowed slightly and whose arms were wrapped around his belly as if to ward of the still coming laughter. He was really beautiful and a kind soul. He sighed softly. If only one of them were a woman. They were both technically royalty now… Perhaps if their relationship escalated…
No. No it wouldn't. Sheik frowned and dug his fingers into his hair with a small scowl. No, that would never happen.
"Sheik?" Link murmured softly, "Sheikah? Are you alright?" Link slowly placed a hand on his back then flinched when a deranged laughter came from the other.
"I think I'm not. Too much stress for one day if you mind." Link smiled at this and nodded.
"Yah. You should get some rest after you talk with sis." Sheik nodded in agreement and stayed silent. It was several more minutes before a man in a leather jerkin walked out.
"Sorry for such a long wait." Long wait? Sheik thought for a moment and glanced towards the window. By the light level outside… Goddesses! He had been talking for an hour. "Her lady Zelda Harkin I wishes to see you now Lord Shaman of the Sheikah."
Sheik grimaced. Why did they pick someone who wasn't a shaman to be their leader? He wandered again with a sigh. Sheik stood up and turned to bow awkwardly to Link. "See you around Hero. Perhaps tomorrow? It will be far shorter for you to gain an audience with me." Link laughed softly and offered a grin.
"I'll see you."
"Farewell."
Sheik bowed fully now then stood straight. Very silently as a cat he made his way towards the door. Footsteps were not heard and Link nearly jumped at the sound of heavy oak doors being pulled open after the silence. Sheik walked into the room, never suspicious as the door was closed behind him. He walked up the length of red carpet then knelt by one knee to show his respects to the new queen. "As Lord Shaman of the Sheikah Tribe, I show my respects milady. My people have a proposition for you."
"So I have heard," Zelda nodded. Her whole body was tense and she looked worried. Sheik noted this as he pulled his head back and looked at her. "Sheikah, there has been a offering from your people." Sheik finally understood why he had been chosen. He would have a very short reign indeed…
"You… Sheikah you have been ordered to serve my family for all of time until Hyrule falls… Your people wish to show their undying loyalty in this move. Their offering is their King." Sheik felt his heart speed up with the last words.
"You wish to make me immortal my Lady…" The words came out quieter and huskier then he had hoped. He did sound afraid. She gave him a pitying look then glanced away and stared at a stained glass window. "Something like that."
Sheik frowned and began to stand. "What do you mean Milady? I'm afraid I don't understand you." She didn't look back at him. He could see tears burning at her eyes.
"Sheikah. You're dying today. He felt his heart shatter at the words and he quickly took a step back.
"What? But how can I se-hnnkk!" He had no time to ask. A man, a fellow Dark Tribesman had came silently behind him and had pressed a knife to his neck. Zelda jumped and look towards them at the sound. The sound of cool steel moving through flesh. Sheik made a sputtering sound as he fell to his knees.
He could feel the blood oozing from the gaping gash in his neck. This was really a damper in his day! Okay, maybe that was an understatement… He clawed at his neck then held too it, trying to stop the blood. He couldn't breathe, couldn't breathe! Hot blood poured into his lungs and he could see spots of light invading his vision He couldn't feel his legs and he felt o his side, curling up as he futilely clawed at his blood-stained cowl. There would be no correcting this.
He knew he wouldn't live but the instinct stayed strong. He had to fight to try. His cowl was tugged from his neck then placed over his chest. He blinked bewilderedly and coughed, trying to sit up. A foot made contact with his back and he jerked down with a strangled cry. No, he didn't have the dignity any more to stay quiet. Instead he drew his eyes up to take in a horrified looking Zelda.
His eye sight began to cloud over. Why couldn't Link be here? Things would be… He couldn't think anymore. He was drawing blanks. He was vaguely aware that the people who had moved his cowl were in a circle around him chanting. He didn't' notice as his vision went black and he drew his last breath.
Zelda shuddered as she found they were in a completely dark space. That had been terrifying even though she knew this wasn't really happening. Now it seemed they were in limbo, just floating around… and then… Their eyes opened.
They were staring at Sheiks own dead body, curled up and cold. It seemed frozen in that grotesque position, fingers deftly pulling at something that wasn't even there anymore and eyes wide in drowsy horror. But the body was already paling and it was quite clear there was no breath. What… What is this… She heard a voice ring through their head and the sudden intense with to kneel down. Why is this happening?
The voice was soon reiterated in real words. "Why is this happening?" She could feel the tense movement of their body being pulled up into a standing position.
"Your highness, it was business of war." The five men who wore dark cloaks were notably Sheikah shamans.
"He had done nothing for my race except serve me and obey my orders!" The cloaked people seemed to stay silent for a bit.
"He is a true blood prince milady. All bloodlines to the last King needed to be cut off. We don't want bad blood in our tribe." Zelda shuddered as their head tilted down. She could feel angry tears on their cheeks.
"It is all of you who have bad blood! You just killed a innocent man! Injustice! I am ashamed of all of you." Their vision spun slightly as they turned on their heels.
"Milady! Please don't misunderstan-"
"I'm going to my room. Feel free to explain to me later but I am too angry right now and cannot think clearly. In short I will not understand." They fell silent at this and let her past.
Who… Who are you…? The soft, timid yet deep voice played in her head again. This was Sheik, diffidently Sheik.
"I'm sorry," his physical voice replied. "I had no clue they would do this. They just told me what to say… I'm so sorry…" She felt a tension built up and their physical form whimper from it. "Please don't be an-"
Lynch! Demoness! I did so much for you and you had me killed in cold blood! Don't possess me! Let me go, let me go! Both Zelda and their physical form flinched.
"There's nothing I can do Sheik! This is out of my hands!" Zelda felt for the other woman. She knew what it was like for things to escalate out of hands when you were a young ruler. The younger soul still refused to believe.
This is cruelty. Please just end this. Let me die… He sounded absolutely miserable.
"I can't…" The voice paused as the door opened. "You will live forever." They walked out it and Link stood up from the bench. Their eye drew to him as he frowned worriedly and hurried over.
"Are you alright? I hear you screaming!" He grabbed Sheiks shoulder and his fingers grasped the blood stained cowl, pulling it down. He was met with a stony expression from 'Sheikah'.
"I am flattered by your concern Hero. The Lady Zelda Harkin cannot see you today. Please do not waste more time." They nodded at the Hero then turned and left without further word.
"Sheik!" Links voice called but they did not turn around. "Why are you acting so coldly towards me!" They finally stopped. Their head turned and eyes met. "This is who I am Hero. Don't full yourself with your delusions! This is our goodbye and that is finale!"
They then began to march away. Demoness! Tell him I dead! How could you do this to him? Your own brother? You ruined him!
"They way I see it we are all ruined. I'll be haunted by your death and my own guilt, your cursed with immortality, and my brother…My brother will be cursed with heartache. None of us will escape out own prisons now. This is a curse that will last time Sheikah. I leave you." And their vision fell.
She found herself in one of the rooms of the Labyrinth, hot tears streaming down her face. Her chest felt so painful. How could this happen? How could they have let this happen? She became aware she wasn't the only one there. Sheikah was knelt down in front of her, forehead touching her own. "End this," He begged. A chocked sob escaped her lips.
"End this please." His eyes were the epitome of sorrow. "Please… I've suffered for a million years at least! Let me have my peace! My heart hurts from this betrayal and this isn't the first and may not be the last! Just end me!"
Zelda bit her lip. She slowly drew her hands up and pulled him into an embrace. "I don't know how…. I don't know how…" He shuddered and rested his forehead on her shoulder.
"Your crying… You are the first to cry for me… I don't understand…." She rested a hand on his back and rubbed it gently as her nursemaid used to do for her when she had been upset.
"I don't think it's fair you were curse like this… that was…extremely cruel. I wish I could help you." Sheikah pulled himself up, eyes hardening.
"I do as well… I'll allow you to wear my form I think. But you must promise to look for a way to end me. Until then I'll let you wander my Labyrinth in your sleep. I will not run from you. When the time comes I will spare you a secret." He bowed his head. "Hold your honor and do well to not betray me."
Zelda nodded and grasped his hands. "I'll try to find a way to bring you to rest. I promise it."
He smiled bitterly and pulled his hands away. "Wake up milady. I'm blessed enough by your tears."
And then she did wake up.
Link yawned as he rested his head on Rusls lap. Rusl was sitting in the grass, back against Links tree house. Ephona had been loaded up with saddle bags and a wood rack that had provisions packed on it instead. "You are very troublesome. You know that?" He grinned down at the wolf and scratched right above his hip. Link closed his eyes tightly as he leaned to one side with a soft whine.
His foot began to beat against the ground. He would have purred if he had the ability too. This was unbelievably good! Why hadn't Midna ever scratched him there? Rusl smiled awkwardly and brought his hand to a rest. He gently patted Links side, "Well then. I think you more pup the wolf." Link snapped at him playfully.
He caught Rusls sleeve in between his teeth and tugged at it teasingly. The man snorted and smacked him gently on the nose. "Be good will you?" Link whined in response. "I'll take that as a yes," he hummed and stood up. Fados form became visible as it moved through the gates.
"Your already here, huh?" He rubbed the back of his head with one hand. Both of his shoulders were occupied with a heavy pack and his other hand rested over a few canteens. "So, are we ready t' go? Rusl nodded and took his canteens, looping them over the saddle horn so they hung on Ephonas back.
"Yup. Good thing you came when you did. I think Link was growing antsy." Fado snorted lightly as he glanced down at the wolf.
"Is that so boy?" To his amusement Link barked and squirmed into a circle. "Guess so," He laughed lightly and grinned.
"It's time to start a journey then. To Hyrule Castle!" Rusl lifted his hand in the air.
Fado grinned and mimicked him, "To Hyrule Castle!"
Zelda groaned as she came too. Her head felt hazy and ached as if she had drank some of the strong ale from the cellars. Well this was certainly a pleasant way to wake up. She blinked tiredly as she sat up. "Welcome awake Lord Sheikah," she heard the old woman say as she bowed. She felt her body move as it stood on its own.
"Don't treat me with respect. Who are you?" The deep voice came and she knew she wasn't herself.
"Impaz," The old Sheikah lady said with a tired smirk. "So the little Princess was able to catch you?" Sheik lowered his head with a soft huff.
"Of course not. I showed myself to her and we made a deal. You'll want to have it where she isn't bothered at nights. Have her wear my cowl then. I feel something important will happen soon and I don't want to leave her to deep in the throes of shock to act." Impaz frowned at this and her brow furrowed.
"What do you think is going to happen?" Sheik drew his lips back in a grimace.
"It feels like the Imprisoned and the Interlopers. It isn't though and I know this. It's coming from Termias border."
"It must be where Snow Head and Snow Peak meet then." The old woman messed with her sleeves but didn't break eye contact with him. "I'll begin her training this afternoon." Sheik nodded in understanding.
"Good. She needs to be learned by the end of the month as a novice. I can train her through guidance from there."
"Very well."
Both bowed to each other with the touching of the foreheads, "Hashem!"
"Hashem!"
Sheikah pulled back then and pushed his conscious back. "I know you awake milady. Try moving now." Zelda frowned and lifted her hands to see they actually mined. "Now dig your fingers into my face as if you were removing a mask. This will remove my soul from you and deactivate the cowls magic until you put it on again." Hesitantly Zelda obeyed.
She felt a fleeting pain as she dug her fingers into the side of her face and the actual feeling of shrinking occurred. Suddenly she was the white skinned, brunet with bright blue eyes instead of the Sheikah man. She stared at her hands in wonder then looked down at Impaz. "That was…That was amazing…"
"No milady," Impaz smiled and bow with real respect this time. "What is amazing is that Lord Sheikah actually grew to trust you." Zelda felt a smile tug at her lips. She pulled the bloody cowl from her neck and folded it neatly before hugging it to her chest like a child.
"He needed someone to mourn for him." Her eyes showed a sad relief. "That was all he needed. Someone to feel sad that he died and console him. He doesn't think he is a great hero or that he's done anything great. He just thinks he is a man who has been hurt and betrayed." Her eyes sharpened as she narrowed them.
"Do you know what it was? What they did to him?" Impaz shook her head sadly.
"I'm afraid not. It was some old process that sealed the soul of someone dying in a object. It would allow others to change their guise into another completely. He's considered odd though because his consciousness stayed behind. That wasn't supposed to happen from what the records have stated." She frowned and eyed the Princess.
"Be careful with him milady. He had been known to be passionate sometimes. He has raped a past Hero and had betrayed more than one wearer. These are things he has admitted too as well so they're not mere rumors. Be careful." She turned away from Zelda and gazed at the door.
"If he stabs himself it is you who dies and not him." She turned back to look at Zelda as the Princess approached her.
"I understand. But I trust him. He's angry with my family but I have a promise with him. He won't betray me. I feel it." She bowed her head slightly to Impaz.
"You can't be sure," The elderly woman said tensely.
"I am sure. I'll be taking my leave then. I believe you two discussed my training starting this evening. Whatever its for it sounds tedious. I shall get some rest before then."
"Very well milady…" Zelda bit her lip as she walked past her. She had the way to her room memorized and no longer needed to pay attention. Her eyes strayed down to the worn material clutched to her breast.
"I wonder how much you have ached and waited…. Have none of the other princesses really cared about you? I'd like to say we cared for you…." She gripped it tightly then eased her fingers, not wanting to damage it. She turned to the left down yet another hallway and frowned. "That look…" She began gently as if she were talking to Sheikah.
"That look she gave you… I think it hurt her just as much to kill you and deceive her brother… I don't think she meant to flay your heart as so." It was hard for her to accept that the first ruler of Zelda had allowed this to happen. She understood that it was hard to prevent such things but she also Felt Sheiks heart ache. "She loved you I'm sure."
It wasn't her love he wanted she recognized distantly. It was Zelda Is brothers love he wanted and couldn't have. She wrinkled her nose. She didn't quite accept same sex relationships though she wasn't so repulsed to stone a person for it. She still didn't want to accept it.
"I'll find away," she murmured slowly. "To bring you justice at least." With that she passed through a door into the Kings chambers- a separated area f the castle where the Royal Family lived. She walked quickly to her room, shoes clacking against the stone floor as she did so.
Link proved to be more of a handful then they had initially thought. He had a habit of wandering and forgetting on a total that he had two humans following after him. Rusl was constantly having to whistle and call Link over to get the canines attention. This had resulted in something that had put Link in an absolutely foul mood. A collar and leash. They weren't terrible uncomfortable or hurt or anything of that matter. It was just the principle of things!
He was being treated as a common dog and he couldn't stand it! He whined at them for more than the fifth time in the past hour. "No Link," Rusl sighed. "You're not getting lose. We gave you three chances already and you proved to be too antsy." This was answered by a snort from the wolf. Link was not a pleasant traveling companion.
Authors note: Tôi ngu ngốc như vậy! Hehe! I still didn't meet my 6,000 mark. Oh well! I have a busy day ahead and decided to go ahead and submit this. It is still a pretty big chapter! This chapter is more than 5,000 words. I'm not going to type to a mark anymore though XD Just until I feel satisfied with it. I hope this chapter enjoyable.
Thanks to LizzieHyrule0526 and Rinael again for the reviews. I'm thankful for all the watches as well! Don't be afraid to review though. I'm very thankful for every one!
Further Notes: I'm not sure what their ages really were in the game. In this story, Link has aged to 18, Sheik is in the appearance of being 19 but his real age can't be calculated. He is roughly a million years old. Neither knows their exact birth dates either. Zelda is 23 years old. That places her at being five years older then Link. More important characters ages: In this story Illia is 17, Fado is 19, Agitha is 10, Shad is 19, Ashei is 18, Telma is 38, Rusl is 31, Auru is 57. I think those are all fair ages for them!
Chapter IV
Wolf and Princess in a Meeting
In which the Princess and Antique open the doors to memories of the Antiques time with Zelda II through IV and then the Princess had a meeting with the Wolf and his 'pack.'
Until next time!
