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Chapter 13: The Beginning of The End

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Sheik's POV


I mentally yell at the Gerudo's who came to escort us to see the Elders. I don't doubt Lin's ability to prove his survival abilities in most situations, and, with everything Gwyn has explained, I don't feel too worried. However, something did give cause for Link to hesitate slightly at whatever test he thinks they will give him. Pushing the thoughts from my mind, I concentrate on keeping my composure, whatever the test is they force him to go through. The guards lead them to just outside a large pair of doors, motioning for Gwyn and I to stop while they open the door and motion Link in alone. Anger flits through my stomach as they motion once more for me to stay put since I had started to move forward as Link crossed into the room. The guards closed the doors behind Link and stood outside it with us, guarding it against our entry. I look to Gwyn pleadingly but she shrugs her shoulders and grabs my arm lightly and pulling us off to one side of the doors.

The doors open a short time later and Link follows the Elders out, surprised, I stand and begin to move towards them but Gwyn grabs my arm, keeping me from moving closer and I see Link shaking his head at me. A firm, determined look set on his face as he follows behind the Elders, walking towards the exit of the fortress into the large, empty dunes. Gwyn pulls me back down to sit next to her again. Unhappily, I let myself sit back and wait. And wait. A few hours later, Link finally returns, but it is not the way I wanted him to return. Four of the women from the fortress each had a corner of a stretcher that Link was laid out on and the coloring of his face did not look too good.

We lead the four healers, as Gwyn had identified them, to Link's room and they laid the stretcher directly on top of his bed, stating that he was still in no condition to be moved by hand to the bed yet. Gwyn and I asked what had happened but none of the ladies were able to tell us what had caused him to sustain such injuries. The four left while Gwyn and I looked over Link a little more closely. He had bruises all over most of his body, more than a few bandaged cuts. Sand was sticking to his face and hair from where sweat had trickled down his face before during the test, or so we assumed.

I noticed after a few minutes of sitting near him that he had started sweating again. I felt his forehead and noticed that he felt a bit feverish. I went and got a rag along with some water and placed it on his head, trying to help his body cool back down some. For the next couple days, Gwyn and I sat next to his bed. Though Gwyn left a couple times to take care of a few different things and see some people she hadn't seen in a while. Link's fever broke the second day I had watched him and color returned to his cheeks slowly after that. On the third day he was able to sit up, eat some solid food and talk to us for a bit before he became too tired again.

On the fourth day, without any help from any kinds of potions, Link had made nearly a full recovery. The Elders were notified and came to visit him. Smiles broke across their faces and they sent one of the younger girls in their entourage to go schedule a party for the entire fortress. The Elders wanted to be sure that he was the true King and hadn't just gotten lucky in surviving the final part of their test, which they still would not explain. They did however give Link permission to explain if he so desired. I gave him a look that clearly said he better. From the corner of my eye, I was Gwyn send a tamer version of the same look to him. He smiled slightly and nodded to the Elders. The group swept from the room after a few more short discussions and comments, leaving Gwyn, Link and I alone.

The three of us settled in for a long discussion. Link explained that the first parts of the test were truly, quite simple. They tested his stealth, wit, his knowledge of their laws and history. They tested his strength by having him spar against multiple opponents at once, hence the cuts and bruises. From there, they explained who they thought he was, as he had no idea who his mother and father were. They told him that a final test would prove it for sure. Before giving him the potion to drink, they explained that if he was the true King, there wouldn't be much to worry about, if he was not King on the other hand, the potion would kill him.

He explained that drinking the potion was almost as bad as being sick however long he was after he drank it. He said that it burned like sun baked sand being poured down his throat and churned his stomach like the wind sweeps over the dunes in the Haunted Wastelands. Shortly after those two wonderful experiences, he passed out. The way he figured it, he thinks he reacted badly to it because though he is of Gerudo heritage, his mother was only accepted into the tribe and not born into it. The only thing that truly saved him from dying is the spell that had been cast over it by the Desert Goddess made it so that the true King could not be killed by it.

The day following the visit from all of the Elders, one returned and requested a private audience with the King. Gwyn and I stepped out and waiting to figure out what was going on from Link later. After the Elder left, Link asked that he be left alone for the day. While we were worried, we respected his request and went walking around town. It was astonishing what all we saw. People were rushing about, here and there decorating, working on some item or other, and dancing through the street on their way to whatever their destination was. Gwyn and I laughed with joy at the pure excitement rolling off of the ladies who lived in the fortress. We spent a couple hours, interacting with people around the fortress as they worked on preparing for the party that was scheduled to happen the next day. I was skeptical but Gwyn was very sure that it would be done.

Link and I were impressed that within two days of Link's recovery, the Gerudos threw the party that had been mentioned, sure Gwyn and I had gone out and seen them decorating, but the fact that the town had made this much of a change in such a short amount of time was plain impressive. I was quite sure I heard Gwyn muttering about how surprisingly quick things can be finished without guys around to slow things down. I giggled in agreement. The excitement Gwyn and I had seen yesterday was explained when someone explained that it was the first party the Gerudos had planned since Ganondorf had holed them all up within Hyrule Castle. The fortress had gone from bland, tan and covered in sand to a very festive looking city. Banners were strung up everywhere, music and singing could be heard from outside of different buildings and homes. The city seemed to come alive for the first time since Link had been there. Smiles covered most people's faces as they walked by Link, and all of them were bowing when he drew within a few yards of them. Those he was close enough to, he reached out and lightly gripped their hands in recognition before moving on. A wide smile was on his face, but every once in a while I could see that something more was going on behind his eyes. Something had been said yesterday and I wasn't sure what or why it was having this kind of effect on Link.

The party lasts well into the next morning. The first rays of the sun, breaking over the horizon finds Link and I sitting next to each other, backs against the wall and playing our instruments together, whether it was improv or trying to replicate songs we had heard throughout the party. Gwyn had gone to get some of her friends home, as many had just passed out in the streets, the rest had been of sound enough mind to make it there on their own. Needless to say, the city was quite quiet now; only the notes coming from the ocarina and harp could be heard in our area.

My eyes are drooping and I slightly lean into Link some. He brings the Ocarina from his mouth, my harp already sitting limply in my lap and he sighs. My emotions seem a little more free and raw right now, probably because I still haven't quite caught back up on my sleep, and because of how long today has been. I feel Link turn to look at me and I let my head roll to the side to return his look. No words pass between us as we continue to sit and look at each other. After a few moments, his hand slowly moves to the bottom part of my shawl and moves it down, just far enough for him to move in, still slow enough that I have the chance to stop him, and places a soft kiss on my lips.

My breath catches slightly and my eyes flutter closed, enjoying the feel of it. He leans back, and as I open my eyes I can see the smile on his face before he wraps his arm around me and pulls me a little closer. Just because it feels right, I lean into him and lay my head on his chest, my arm drapes over his midsection easily and I sit, losing track of time, just enjoying the closeness.

Link buries his face into my head wrap before muttering to me, "My father was a Shiekah. His name was Serven Barrhem. The Elder who told me all of this said that he may still be alive. My mother's name was Savina, she had been exiled from Hyrule before she became a Gerudo. Apparently, she had been able to fight against a well respected woman in the Tribe, lost because she broke the rules of engagement, but was still allowed to be adopted into the tribe because of her honor and the fact that the women respected her ability to fight and accept death as her punishment for breaking the rules of the spar."

My breathing stops for a few seconds as thoughts rush into my mind; Gwyn and I knew, about both of his parents. and we didn't tell him. I can't lie to him about this also, my heart probably wouldn't be able to take keeping more from him than I already do on a daily basis. My voice barely more than a whisper, I tell him, "We knew. Gwyn and I, we didn't figure it out until recently though. We were talking about the fact that you could be King of the Gerudos because Gwyn was getting confused and—"

"Whoa, whoa, wait." Link said, pulling away rom me some, "You both knew and didn't say anything? Do you know how long I have wondered who my parents were?" He had stood up at this point with hurt completely visible on his face, "I have wanted to know my entire life! I bet you even know my father don't you?" He asks.

My face had turned to the ground in shame and frustration at myself, "I did, but he died a few years back… I'm sorry, you were gone while we talked and I forgot…Please, don't be upset with me, I didn't mean to keep it from you…"

Link looked on for a moment, "How long have you known?" He asked softly after a short time had passed.

"Link, we—" I started not wanting to tell him it had been over a week now.

"No, how long?" He demanded a little louder this time.

I look at him finally for a few seconds, tears now welling in my eyes, "Since before we got here. Shortly after you left Gwyn and I to talk before we started this direction." I answer honestly looking back at the ground once more.

I don't see his facial reaction, but after a few moments of silence, he turns and walks away without another word. Gwyn would find me an hour or two later, lying in a puddle of tears.


Fear had become a constant companion for me over the past couple days. Link had been seen heading off in the direction of the Desert Temple one morning over a week ago. It was the same morning that he had found out Gwyn and I knew about his parents. Gwyn didn't fully understand why he was so upset until I explained that he had been longing to know his entire life, that he probably felt upset that he had to hear about it from a complete stranger rather than his friends, and that he was probably about as emotionally fried as I had been which was pretty intense. We didn't talk much past that incident though because I had shut down, worrying but unable to do anything for the time being.

There had been no dreams or visions so I assumed that everything was alright, or terribly wrong since I never felt a pull to the Temple when Link first left. Confusion and worry ran rampant through my mind and emotions. What I found somewhat funny, however, was that for as worried as I was, the Gerudo women seemed to be in an even worse state. Link was, after all, still decently young and their brand new and much nicer, as many had told Gwyn and I, King. The Desert Temple was a sacred place, but also very dangerous and a place most Gerudo women, fierce or not, though twice about entering. For their new King to enter there not even a full day after being recognized as King, they were very worried about him.

Three days later, we finally heard a report that someone was seen returning from the Temple. An hour later the figure had moved to within seeing range and it was confirmed that it was indeed Link. Deciding to ignore my worries of his rejection in favor of making sure that he truly was alright for myself, I sprint out in the direction he will be coming from and don't stop running until he comes into view. My chest heaving heavily from the exertion, mouth dry from the hot, sand air I was breathing, and relief throughout my being as I see Link walking, slightly injured, but whole.

I continue moving towards him without slowing my pace, and while he falters slightly with a couple steps, he doesn't halt his progress either. I stop as I get to within five feet of him and wait to see what he does next. He stopped about the same time that I did and looks at me for a few moments with an unreadable expression on his face. "I'm still hurt that you didn't tell me, but I do forgive you." He says, just loud enough to be heard over the wind. "The hardest part for me to accept was that I understood to an extent. You are a very secretive person, and you keep your secrets very well, but…that wasn't one of your secrets to keep." He says slowly.

I nod in understanding, "I know, and I truly didn't mean to keep it from you, well, not for as long as I did, but it was tough you know? How do you tell your friend that his father had been alive but died while he was sleeping for seven years? How do you tell him that you spent a couple years in the group his father traveled with? I didn't keep it from you to hurt you, I kept it from you because I didn't know how to tell you without causing you pain."

Link seemed to think for a few moments before nodding and taking a couple more steps towards me. Once he gets to within arms length, he reaches out and pulls me closer to him, wrapping me in a hug. "For future reference, you tell him and then stay there to help him through the pain that comes with that knowledge." He takes a deep breath and seems to debate with himself as to whether he should continue. I feel him shrug to himself, very lightly since his arms are wrapped around me still, "I missed you this past week. I know I left without warning, but I needed to get away. Killing those monsters seems to have a way of helping me clear my mind. I'm sorry if you worried. It took a little longer than usual because I had to do it twice."

I pull out from his hug and look at him questioningly. He chuckles and wraps an arm around me, walking the both of us back towards the Fortress. "Let's get back so I only have to explain once."

We walk in silence mostly until we get back to the Fortress walls. Link stops walking as the gates come into view and his jaw drops slightly.

"Oh, yeah, you have a welcoming party, I think the town completely shut down while you were gone. Most of the ladies were worried you wouldn't be able to handle yourself in the Temple. You know, you being young…and a guy and all." I state with an almost evil smirk playing at my mouth.

Link groans and slaps a hand to his head in response, "Yes, I forgot us males are weak, terrified humans who cannot take care of themselves at all. I thought I had gotten enough respect from defeating all those people in the test?"

I giggle, "You may have gotten respect because of what they were told, but just respecting you and realizing that you do more than enough to deserve that respect are two different things. I think if you let Gwyn and I talk to them, you wouldn't have a single worried lady left in the Fortress." I say jokingly.

"Right, except all those who let their mothering tendencies kick in and then they'll say that I shouldn't be doing all that." He groans as I force him to continue walking towards the gates.

Deciding to try to take his mind off of the daunting task ahead of him I ask, "So I suppose you freed the Spirit Sage then since you're here and not still there?"

He smiles at he, half knowingly, half gratefully, "Yes I did, but that will also have to wait until we get back with the Elders and Gwyn." He says with mock sorrowfulness.

Gwyn catches my eye as Link and I come into view fully of those at the gates. She eyed our walking arrangement and smirked deviously at me as we came closer. I scowl at her but can't hold the look for very long. The past week had really opened my eyes to a few things. While some girls would have broken down and said that they gave up on relationships and love and emotions and all that, I had to admit that even dealing with the pain that came from it, experiencing that pain was worth the minutes of joy I felt in Link's arms. Sure, there would be things that will drive the other crazy between Link and I if it ever became more, but it would be the same with anyone else also. My mind still elsewhere but trusting Link to not let me make a fool of myself, I moved a little closer to Link.

As we passed through the gates and he motioned for the Elders to join him. I nod my head in the direction we were walking while I was still looking at Gwyn and she caught the meaning and followed us as well. We made it to one of the rooms within the main building and moved inside. Once we were all seated, Link began to explain about what all happened while he was gone.

He told us about how he went to the Temple, but had to go back in time and go through it as a kid since he didn't have something he needed. He told us everything about his trip through time. The Elders gasped when he spoke of the witches kidnapping Nabooru. He spoke of what all he did the second time through, that he had seen and rescued Nabooru from the mind control of the witches and then his ultimate victory over said witches. Gwyn was broken that Nabooru wouldn't be around like she had been, but knew that she would be the best Sage for the Spirit Temple. I comforted her since I had just experienced something that was almost the exact when Impa took her place as a Sage.

Gwyn and I had moved off from the small grouping and Link watched us go with concern but looked back to the Elders gathered there. For a young man being thrust into this position, it seemed like he was doing a good job of leading. I couldn't tell if it was because it was Link, of if, like the knowledge of laws and history, it came to him because of his heritage. Link finished up his business with the Elders and then slowly makes his way over to where Gwyn and I are sitting.

He doesn't come too close, uncertainty is clear on his face. I smile at his concern and nod for him to head off without us; we would join up with him after Gwyn settled down some. He gave a soft and still worried smile and turned to walk from the room after the Elders who had just recently left. Gwyn mellowed out after a bit and the two of us just sat with each other, enjoying the silence around us. She looked over at me a little while later though and all traces of sadness were gone, "So, I saw things have gotten a little cuter between you and 'the Hero', or is it just Link now?" she asks playfully and I groan.

"Why are you pestering me already?" I ask, rubbing my head with my hands. Even though I enjoy it and have been dying to tell her, I can't let her know that yet.

"Well, while I am very sad the Nabooru is gone and I will miss her, it helps to know that she is more or less the guardian for our people. She may even come back every once in a while to visit us. It hurts a little bit knowing that she wont be around much, but I can live with it. Especially with you and Link around to keep life interesting." She looks around her pointedly, "I definitely doubt that things around here will ever be the same again. Now, enough with all of that, what happened, once you found out he disappeared, you shut down on me more or less. Worse than this place did when they heard the news."

"I was worried you know, especially as we went longer without any word. Worse than that, I didn't have a vision or pull towards the Temple this time so I didn't even know if he had reached it already or not. The only time he had taken that long on a Temple was the Water Temple, and he came out of there pretty beat up. I didn't want to think of what could happen to him in there. Especially when I thought about how things had been left between us." I pause for a few moments. I had been excited to tell, but now I was scared to continue. Gwyn seemed to understand and rubbed my shoulder encouragingly.

I took a deep breath and continued, "I…I realized that life looks brighter when he is around, and not to just be some defender or savior of Hyrule but as a friend. I was so scared to let anyone close though, and still am, honestly. The times I had let my guard slip though, mostly that morning following the party, I understood that I was practically cutting off my access to life by closing myself off. I hadn't missed experiencing life until you came around and then you kept on trying to get me to open back up to life with Link as a doorway to it. The biggest realization that I had this past week though…was that, as much as I wanted to blame it on me being sleepy and not in control of my filter or actions as well as I usually am, my actions that night were my true feelings. I really do like him. Probably have since I first really met him and talked to him, and that fact added on top of me having more than a slight crush on him when we were younger. It's probably the reason I worried about him so much and was so upset that he never checked in with me to tell me how he was doing."

I look over at her, "Thank you, for all of your help. It probably would have been years, or maybe not even happened at all, for me to get back to how I needed to be to truly live life. Your nudges, or punches and shoves sometimes, helped…I think." I reach over and pull her into a hug with a smile on my face. It may have been a crazy fast change, but I feel like it was just time and everything clicked after having built up for so long. I hugged Gwyn tighter to me for a moment as I enjoyed the embrace of one of my closest friends since…well Impa when I was growing up in the castle and then later when I was training to become a Sheikah. The smile grew a bit wider till it felt like my face would split if it became any bigger when I thought about the fact that Link fit into that same friend group, well, maybe not the same, but about that same level.

We pulled back from the hug and smiled at each other. Not much else needed to be said, so we stood and walked to where we figured we could find Link. We moved to the top of one of the walls around the Fortress and, as we came closer, watched Link going through his meditation. It was a fighting style that I and the other Sheikah used when fighting against a single, close-range combatant. We watch for a couple moments, and then I spring forward shouting, "En garde!" Link flows seamlessly through his most recent movement and settles into a ready pose. His eyes lighten and he smiles as he sees me and notices the playful smile I have on my face. We dance around some, playfully striking here and there but not truly trying to land any punches. Link laughs while still dancing around before he suddenly lunges towards me and scoops me up. He locks his arms around me in a way that makes it to where I can't escape or even move around much. He walks us over to where Gwyn is watching with an amused smile on her face.

"Hey Gwyn, how are you doing?" He asks with serious concern slipping into his face and tone. She smiles and nods without hesitation. Link smiles in return and draws her in for a hug as well, giving me free reign to move again. He drapes his arms over both of our shoulders and lightly lead us back down off the wall and we walk together through the streets of the Fortress. We end up meeting up with the Elders again, which I thought was strange since we had left them not too long ago. Link leads us in and we sit down at a table the Elders were studying a few pieces of parchment at.

"I need to leave." Link announced to the Elders, "I have a task that is still incomplete and I must complete it soon. I must return to the Temple of Time. The urge to go has been growing stronger since I came back from the Spirit Temple. All of the sages have been freed and I must confront Ganondorf. I leave you in charge until I return, and I promise I will; Gwyn will remain here with you to act as an advisor from me. I trust you all to make the right decisions, but Gwyn knows me well enough that if you have questions or worries, she will be able to confirm whether or not it would be something I would accept. The main charge in this instance is do the right thing for our people, anything that will make their lives easier and better." Gwyn tried to argue but Link shook his head slightly, she would have to yell at him later, probably best for her since she was about to yell at her King in front of the Elders of the tribe.

"I shouldn't be gone long, and when I return, we will bring new prosperity to our people, and hopefully," he turned to look at me, "Better relations between us and those in the rest of Hyrule." I smile and nod, as do the Elders. Link stands, "Very well, I leave tomorrow morning, I will meet with you again before I leave and make sure you have everything from me that you need." He bows in respect to the Elders, Gwyn and I stand and bow as well before leaving the room with Link.

We don't make it more than a couple of halls down before Link quickly pulls us into an long unused room, "I know you are upset that I am asking you to stay here Gwyn, but this is a fight that you cannot join me in. It must be Ganondorf and I only. You will be more help here with our people than standing to the side watching. I trust you to follow your heart in any of the matters that the Elders may bring to you. I trust your heart and your desire to see our people bettered; that is the main urging I act on with anything I have done here or elsewhere. You know me better than the Elders do, and I trust their ability to lead, as I told them, but I also trust that you will be a strong addition to their ranks, even if you aren't old enough to join them by the common route. I will leave a list of the more detailed thoughts I have on things to do and implement if you would like, but just as I trust the Elders, I trust you." He said with a hand clasped on the top of her shoulder.

Gwyn looks at him for a few moments and then nods, "I understand. Thank you for this honor. Be safe." She says and hugs him tightly, "You're going to be a great king, already are honestly. I don't want to lose the future you are sure to bring us."

Gwyn turns to me after she released Link from the hug and gives me the same treatment, "Keep him safe, and keep yourself safe. You two are going to the front lines of it all." She leaned in and whispered quietly, "And I feel you have a larger roll to play in all this that even you and I know. The two greatest leaders of Hyrule stand in this room with me and I don't want either of them, my friends to be taken from the world before they can do the good they were destined to." Link had moved to the other side of the room while we hugged, it had been a much longer hug. I glanced over at him and noticed that he didn't seem to have heard anything as he looked at some of the artifacts in the room. I nod at Gwyn and we pull back from each other.

"For some reason, I doubt Link will let me get too close to the frontlines. The only reason I'm not being told to stay behind is likely because he knows he can't pull the King card. I'd be more likely to follow if he told me not to." I said to Gwyn, loudly enough that Link would be able to hear. He chuckles, I wink at Gwyn and then Link turns and walks back over towards us.

"You know me all to well, Sheik. That's dangerous for me it you keep outmaneuvering me like that I would think. The ladies of the Gerudo might overthrow me and put you on the throne if they learn that I'm being bested so easily." Link says jokingly.

"Or we may decide to join her and make sure you remember your proper place as a man." Gwyn chimes in moving closer to my side in a show of support, a smile flaring on her lips. Link sighs and drops his head in resignation.

The rest of the day passed quickly with Link and I packing our things. The next morning we double-checked that everything we needed was packed and moved towards the group standing near the gates of the Fortress. The Elders, Gwyn and over half of the city members were standing there, waiting to see us off. With a few final words and matters of business attended to, Link and I set off. Gwyn had caught my eye before I turned to follow Link and she winked at me with a smirk on her face and I shook my head with my cheeks flaring up in a strong blush.

Conversation came easily as we traveled. Link and I rode Epona back to Hyrule Castle since I didn't have the same handy way of calling my horse like he did and my horse seemed to have wandered back to Kakariko between the time we left him here and now. Not that I would say it aloud, especially not around Link or Gwyn, but I didn't mind the transportation set up one bit. It took us a day and a half to return to Castle Town and I was getting myself okay with the knowledge that Link would be facing Ganondorf alone soon. 'Sure the Sages would be there to back him up but…Ganondorf is a however old evil ruler who has at least a small amount of magic powers that he can use, none of that bodes well for Link.' I shake myself and take a few mental steps back and reevaluated that train of thought. 'I have no real reason to worry quite this much; Link has faced off against plenty of extremely strong monsters some of which have the ability to use magic. The most recent pair of witches he fought were actually the ones who stole Ganondorf and cast spells over him to extend his life, make him more powerful and give him that small amount of control over magic.'

I squeeze my arms around Link's waist a little tighter as these thoughts run wildly through my head. It was late afternoon when we came to the gates. We dismounted from Epona and crossed over the broken bridge but Link stopped us just as we stepped into the city. Link turns to me, "Do you think we should look for Zelda first or go after Ganondorf first and hope she is fine? I need to go to the Temple of Time first for some reason though. I still feel the pull, even more strongly than before but there also seems to be a small pull towards something else. But I can't tell what it is pulling me towards."

My face goes pale though, with my shawl and the darkening sky, Link wouldn't be able to see it. 'How do I tell him that Zelda is safe without tipping my hand? I hadn't really mentioned that either, Zelda being safe for sure and all. Why is he feeling drawn to the Temple of Time? There is no sage there that needs to be freed as far as I know…' My mind stops thinking about everything else and one question comes into my mind, 'What is keeping me from telling him who I truly am? We are about to go face off against Ganondorf so the main thing that was going to cause me danger is about to be dealt with. What other reason do I have to keep my disguise? Surely he won't be upset with me for keeping my identity a secret for all of this time. It was absolutely necessary and now that it isn't as much I am willing to tell him. No, I am going to tell him. After travelling together and him trusting me for the whole trip, even after finding out that I was actually a girl he stood by me. Nothing should change here…I hope…'

I turn to him, steeling my mind for hat I am about to do, "Let's head to the Temple first, there may be a couple more answers for us there." I say as my mind rushes ahead of us, 'Might as well tell him there, it was where the very beginning had ended so it will be a good place for us to begin the conclusion of these dark days.'

We moved quickly and quietly to the Temple and slipped inside. Link moved deeper into the Temple to where the Master Sword had been placed for such a long time. He had just reached the first step leading up to the platform with the stand for the sword when he spun, his eyes wide. "The pulling that was so faint before grew slowly as we came back here. It just erupted inside of me when I came in here. It was like tug-of-war inside of me, a strong pull behind me while the other pull kept bringing me closer to the platform, when I reached this point though the pulls evened out. What is going on?" He demanded with confusion in his eyes and a small amount of fear or worry, I couldn't tell which from here.

"I want you to know, that even though I have waited so long to tell you this, I did it out of necessity for my own safety." Link takes a half step backwards and shifts into a defensive position watching me closely. He doesn't move for his sword yet so I figure that I still have the benefit of a little more acceptable doubt from him, but I need to tell him quick. I open my mouth for a second and words that aren't fully my own spring to my mind. Deciding to take bits and pieces from it I begin speaking again, "Link, you have done so much, over come so many hardships. You have been a true hero, whether you wore the title or not. You have given your trust to me, even when I kept so many things secret. This is a bit bigger than you finding out I was actually a girl, but it is for the same reason that I kept that fact a secret from everyone."

I saw him calming down some but he still seemed a little restless. Link… Before we go off to fight Ganondorf, there is something you need to know. Just as you bear the Triforce mark of Courage on the back of your hand, Ganondorf bears the mark of Power. When he tried to take it control of the Tri-Force, since he didn't have Courage, Power, and Wisdom in balanced measures, the Tri-Force split and Courage and Wisdom went to others as they were chosen by destiny. You are one as shown by the mark of Courage, in case you hadn't guessed. The bearer of Wisdom is the seventh sage, who is to be the leader of them." I pull the shawl from my head completely, letting my hair free for the first time in a long while. "I bear the mark of Wisdom Link, but that isn't the only secret I have kept. I move my hand down in front of me as if wiping something off an invisible wall right in front of me. Light flares from my magic and the next thing Link can see after his eyes readjust from the flash is me, Zelda, standing before him in a dress that is the exact same as the one he had seen me in when we first met.

Link stares for a moment before jumping backwards and pulling out his sword. "Don't mess with me, who are you, what have you done to Sheik and Zelda and why are you messing with me like this." He half shouts at me.

"Do I have to grab a sword and beat you like I usually do Hero?" I ask sarcastically, replicating the way I talked as Sheik so he could see I was being serious and was in fact the same person.

The Master Sword dropped from his hand and he looked at me with his jaw hanging open before he smirked, picked up his sword and sheathed it once more, "Right, you could hardly beat me in those Sheikah clothes, I highly doubt you could move in something as constraining as a dress, not that I would know but it doesn't look like it would give you very much ability to move." He poked fun at me, a sure sign that he had accepted the truth. He kneeled with a broad smile on his face, "Your Highness, may I say, that even though we have been traveling together for however long it has been now, it is an absolute pleasure to see you doing so well." I cross my arms and glare at him.

"Alright, now come on Sheik, tell me what's going on, or was that entire speech just a really extravagant build up? I didn't know that your magic worked like that, I thought you could only teleport and that kind of stuff. Can you impersonate anyone?" Link rattled off questions quickly with a wide smile still on his face.

"You think this is a joke?" I ask him. "You think that I would pretend to be Zelda just for kicks and giggles? I had to hide from Ganondorf for seven years and you think it is a joke? I left being Zelda behind the night Impa and I escaped from the Castle after finding out that my parents were killed and that I had to exile myself from my people, and you think it is a joke?" I shriek at him, a small part of my mind understood that he was probably reacting to how he thought of Sheik, a jokester who is 90 percent jokester, 8 percent mystery and 2 percent truth most of the time. But the rest of me was hurt that he didn't believe me when I showed him who I really was.

Link raised his hands in a calming motion, "Sorry Zelda, I…how…why, well I guess you just explained the why you became Sheik, but, why didn't you tell me. I can keep secrets you know? I knew you were a girl before you told me, there were too many things that I picked up on that couldn't just be explained away, that and I overheard you and Gwyn talking sometimes. Did you have any idea about that? Did you not trust me? Or…wha…" He sank to the ground in confusion. My eyes had been glaring at him, but they softened slowly, 'at least we are getting somewhere now.'

"I couldn't tell anyone who I was, not even the Sheikah and usually we don't keep any secrets from each other. I couldn't risk the information being leaked by anyone at all. Gwyn found out because…of some circumstances that were entirely accidental. This was the soonest that I could tell you, now that we are finally going after Ganondorf." I knelt down next to him and placed a hand on his cheek and tilted his head back to look at me, "Remember when I was talking to you about Zelda trusting you, and knowing that you would be able to keep her city safe. I was being honest. You were exactly right, I did trust you with my people, my city, because I knew that you would take care of them."

My thumb stroked his cheek softly, "And while unforeseen circumstances caused you to disappear for seven years, what you have done for them since you have come back proves that I was right to trust you. Waiting those seven years were so hard, there had been no word since you entered the city again. You left a trail of water to the Temple, but that was the last anyone saw anything of you. I worried about you, and then…then I hated you for leaving without any explanation of where you had gone, or why you had left. But then, you came back. You returned and showed up here and I saw you standing there with the Master Sword in hand, a fire burning in your eyes, and hope returned to me, though I didn't fully feel it or allow myself to feel it yet."

I stepped back away from him, straightened up and offered a hand of help up. He took it and stood, "I promise, I didn't keep this secret any longer than I needed to. Please believe me…" I begged him, pleading with my eyes as we looked at each other.

His hand was still in mine from me helping him up. He squeezed it softly and before I could return the squeeze, he pulled me to him and wrapped his arms around me like he had the early morning hours following the celebration in the Gerudo Fortress. I wrap my arms around him also and let myself be partially held up by his grip. "I'm sorry, for leaving you all for so long. I promise I didn't mean to…I can't even begin to imagine how hard it must have been for you, watching your kingdom be destroyed by Ganondorf. We will stop him. I promise you that. This will be brought to an end." He states firmly.

I nod into his shoulder before taking a couple breaths to re-center my mind. I step back from his arms and look at him, returning the determined look he had set on his face. Yes it will. The six sages will use their power to open the seal; I will join them and use my power to seal him away in the sacred realm." My magic built within me and knowledge was placed into my mind, "Here is a weapon that can penetrate Ganondorf's defenses, the Arrow of Light." The building pressure was released and as my arms flew out from my body, a burst of light formed in-between Link and I. The light dimmed to reveal an arrow completely incased in light. Link bent over and picked it up, looking it over. He looked up at me and I shrugged with the same amount of confusion as him. Sure, I am the bearer of wisdom, but some of this knowledge is above even my pay grade."

The two of us chuckled as Link stowed the arrow away in his quiver. I start to say something else but the entire temple begins to shake.

I look around us, "That rumbling…it can't be!" I say before my body freezes. A crystal with translucent walls forms around me and a harsh, booming voice sounds throughout the temple walls, "Princess Zelda…you foolish traitor! I commend you for avoiding my pursuit for seven long years. But you let your guard down…I knew you would appear if I let this kid wander around." I tried to break free, but each time my hands hit the walls around me, a painful shock ran through my nerves. I slowly start to rise and the booming voice grows quieter as my eye lids begin to close slowly. "My only mistake was to slightly underestimate the power of this kid. No… It was not…" I heard no more as my eyes fully closed and something akin to sleep claims my mind.

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A/N: Very quickly, there will be one more chapter. It will probably be about the same length because I don't do too well with fight scenes unless it is beating me on the head. If you want to throw in some advice for it, let me know if I should do just Link's POV without Zelda's POV, which is the main thought right now, or should I throw some of her POV in after the final battle? The scene is mostly set, as is a majority of the dialogue; it will just be tweaking it some to fit the new stuff I have added since I got it typed up…like three or four chapters ago… Thanks for reading! You all are awesome.