My, its been a while.

Sorry for this very late update. I've spent the past month working 12 hour days, and with the little time I did have I was finishing up my other story, Link's, uhh, Awakening. If you're looking for a fun read, please check it out!

I've been working on this chapter for a while, so please let me know what you think.

The room felt much more somber than Zelda's light and racing heart had hoped it would be.

Did they know? Had they somehow seen her last night? Seven pairs of serious eyes nailed her expectantly. As always, the especially somber Tarin spoke first.

"Your majesty."

Never letting her calm exterior drop, she took a seat at the head chair. "Good morning, chancellors. This is rather early for a meeting. Is there trouble?"

Tarin eyed her for a suspicious moment. Her skin prickled when he finally spoke, for something in his voice was missing.

"Kakariko Village… it needs swift attention, highness." Zelda caught herself almost sighing in relief, having expected much worse from such a serious show. "Although having survived some of the worst of the damage from monstrous attacks- thanks to the Goron's form of protection and trade, they are still desperately lacking in food and supplies. The survivors have sent a request that at our soonest convince we come to their aid."

"Yes, I intended to travel there today with supplies and a few volunteers. Renaldo and I have much to discuss."

That was when she noticed the strange silence among the men. They all looked to Tarin, who nodded for them to leave, and when they were up and out, the only sound that had been made was their feet along the stone floor.

Zelda's quizzical look went to the only chancellor left, whose dark purple robes shifted anxiously about the room.

"Highness," he began slowly. "There is something more I am to inform you of."

More than suspicious now, she leaned forward in her seat. "Something that my other trusted advisors cannot share in ear?"

The old man seemed almost regretful to speak, for it took him a long minute to finally utter the small sentence. "It would be in your best interest to prepare a travel bag."

"A travel bag?" she questioned slowly.

"We must leave immediately, Zelda."

He had never called her by name before, and it caught her off guard.

He continued hurriedly. "There is a hidden village along the way to Kakriko that has also suffered some damage… and decline. However, they are self sufficient enough to lick their own wounds. Their chief has requested an audience with you."

Something wasn't right, she could sense. "May I ask what the rush is for if they are indeed sustained? And why they must come before Kakariko Village?"

"I will have Kakariko taken care of for now. I fear that this is a personal matter of yours to be discussed. She simply says that there is something crucial she must relay to you immediately."

"This is the Shiekah village, am I correct?" The knowledge of the village existed only to those within the royal family, and she had always taken a distinct interest in it despite the little intellect available on the place.

"It is indeed," was his simple reply. He seemed worried.

"This is all very unlike him..." She stepped to his side and took his old hand in her own. "Why does this vex you, Tarin? Are they to be trusted?"

"Yes-" he shook his head, letting out an almost bitter laugh. "Yes. It is simply the motive of the meeting that concerns me. She would not call you if it were not vital."

"You are aquatinted with the leader of the village?"

His weathered hand rested in hers for a moment before he took it back and returned to the foot of the stairs, his back facing her. Again, he was silent for a long moment.

"This village was once my home."

-.-

Link hadn't expected to wake up to such noise. Having slept in the castle courtyard to save himself from being hassled in Castletown, he had expected to wake to the calming sound of birds chirping in the foliage of the gardens, or the white noise of the little pond he had fallen asleep beside.

Instead, the sound of rushing hooves against the cobblestone jolted him up from his sleep. He jumped up, ready for an attack of some sort, but none came. Looking to the source of the noise, he composed himself slowly, confusion setting in his tanned features.

A dark figure was rushing out the gate leading to Castletown, followed by a man clothed in a dark, almost blue purple robe. As if sensing eyes watching them, the first figure looked back and their pale eyes met Link's.

It was Zelda.

-.-

Two eager horses flew through the city's gates over wooden drawbridges and onto grassy meadows. Their rider's eyes were given fully to the road ahead of them as they flowed in the silent wind.

Despite the supposed importance of this meeting, Zelda could not help but feel bad for leaving Link in the dark. He had almost looked betrayed, standing there in the gardens. He was so faithful, and here she was going back on simple plans but promised plans, into something she didn't even understand.

"Am I in some sort of danger to be sneaking off unaware to my kingdom?" she asked when they finally slowed a little.

Tarin looked as though he had something sharp he wished to say, but he held it back. "No, your majesty. This village is hidden for a reason, and it must stay that way."

The seriousness of her chancellor assured her that it could only be more sullen news, but she couldn't imagine what could be so impending that no one, including herself, could know it's reason.

When the meadows transitioned to dusty and rock laden paths, Tarin brought his horse to a trot. At the mouth of a cave he stopped, gracefully dismounting with agility that surprised her and sparked more unspoken questions.

"We are here." His voice was still strange; different.

Zelda's ears tweaked slightly at the large cave he motioned to. She carefully dismounted and tied her horse to a near by post, following her advisor into the dark contours of the cavern and letting her hands run along the wall until her eyes had adjusted a little.

"Have you ever found that the darkness creates certain fears within?" His lack of formalities and unprompted question caught her off guard, yet she found herself answering very bluntly.

"I am scared of the uncertainties that come with darkness, but darkness itself should not be feared. It is only an object, or more a state of being, I suppose." Echoes of their footsteps bounced from wall to wall.

"How would you feel walking this dark path alone? This place is foreign to you, yes?"

A worried look passed her face. Not that anyone could see it. "Yes," her voice held its regal tone, but the unease could be heard in it, too.

"It would be much more unnerving to walk it alone, especially without knowledge of what you're walking towards or what trials you'll have to blindly face to get through. But, I-" he was interrupted by the thump of the princess bumping into a wall. He cleared his throat compassionately. "But, I'm guiding you."

"Yes," she rubbed her forehead, embarrassed.

"So," a faint sigh came from his weary frame and disappeared into the nothingness around them like a flume of smoke. "Does that make the darkness less daunting? Or just less uncertain because you have a guide?" She didn't know how to answer him. "All you really have is my voice to follow, you know. I cannot guarantee I can keep you safe, no matter how hard I try."

A silence fell between them, for again, she had no answer. Such bluntness from any advisor was foreign, especially regarding her personal safety.

She asked the next question. "What of the darkness within the history of our country?"

"Many evils made their homes in our land; believe me, these old stones have seen darker days than those at present." She could hear his faint laugh somewhere ahead of her. "You know, it has been said that this fine country is cursed to eternal bloodshed- always some form of evil within to tear at the frail stitches of peace. Does that make darkness predictable, then? Or just more certain?"

Unwittingly, her hairs stood on end.

"…After all, history has a habit of repeating itself."

Never in her life had she heard this crusty chancellor hold so many words- so many fragile truths. Yet she had wondered these words herself and feared them even in the light. Here in darkness, they seemed to be sliding up behind her, following patiently, waiting.

His voice grew darker as he gave the last wisp of his ailment. "And what of the darkness within ourselves? Is that not the origin of all evil?"

The faint light of the outside world appeared before them again, and Zelda almost ran towards it, away from the consuming blackness and the chilling words.

"We are the homes of the evils, your majesty. We are vessels."

Her hands flew to shield her unadjusted eyes of the afternoon sun. Before her lay a silent town abandoned and looking as though it had taken its fair share of abuse. Only stray cats roamed the narrow street and occupied the empty houses. One with a glossy, white and silver coat ran towards her and she found herself picking it up. Its friendly purring seemed strange due to its environment, she thought, but all the same it stayed in her arms down the road. It was nice to have such friendly company after being through that dark tunnel.

When she realized she was alone, she looked back to Tarin, who held back at the entrance, nodding for her to continue on. Hesitantly, she kept her feet moving forward until she reached the end of the road. There was only a small house; nowhere else to turn.

"So," a small voice caught her ears, "royalty steps foot on this forbidden land once again."

-.-

"Why would she just take off like that?" Link wondered to himself as he mulled about the castle grounds. She couldn't be in danger; not without his knowing. Right? "Should I wait for her? Surely she would explain herself…"

But she was the princess. She had right to do whatever she wanted without need for explanation, and he now realized that there was a lot about her he didn't expect. Perhaps she would meet him there later? From what he had heard, there was still a group of volunteers going to the needy village.

All the same, Link couldn't shake the feeling that something was… off. That look she gave him didn't help clear things, either. It was the same as the first time they met, but the sharpness in her eyes this time said something more.

And that something more was what confused him most.

-.-

"Princess Zelda." Beside the torn up house stepped an old, withered woman. Her ashen hair and red eyes would have unnerved the princess if not for the overwhelming sweetness the little woman's smile held. "It is so very good to see you again."

An eyebrow rose, and she set down the white cat she had been stroking. Another cat ran up to the hem of her dress, rubbing against her legs. This one was black.

"Excuse me for my terrible memory ma'am, but I don't remember making an acquaintance with you before now."

She waved a hand. "You were much too young to remember me, dear. Such a sweet young girl, now a beautiful young woman..." she drifted off, her voice now becoming more serious. "Yes, it's for the best you don't remember, I suppose; that was all too grave an affair. But please, come inside. I have much to speak with you about."

The cat followed with the princess as she walked through the narrow door of the shack. It was a humble home, to say the least. Dirt floors and dust, tiny kitchen and tiny bed- yet it was cozy. A thick tea she had never tasted was placed in her hands, pre-made but still hot for the expected guest.

The old woman sat cross-legged on the floor with her cup, and so Zelda followed suit.

"I am Impaz," she began. Her eyes were completely on her guest and her voice never faltered. "I was the leader of this village at one time, but now there are none left to lead. In fact, only two of our kind remains."

"Of the Sheikah?' The princess felt her stomach jump.

"Of the Sheikah," Impaz nodded. "We were once a flourishing village- not that there were many of us to begin with, but we were strong people. What do you know of us, your highness?"

Zelda's bottom lip slid under her teeth, wondering why she referred to a dead race in a present tense. "Well… not very much, I am afraid. I know they were very important in the history of our country's development, and to the royal family."

"The shadow folk." A bittersweet smile graced her thin, still red lips. "Yes, that is how we are called; seldom seen but always present. We have been the protectors of the crown for as long as it has existed. At the goddess' order, we were to watch over the royal family and guard them above our own lives, and for hundreds of years we have done this."

Zelda felt uneasy, but she asked her pounding question all the same. "What happened to them?"

Impaz hunched a little. "Many, many years ago a tragedy hit our village; a sickness that was birthed from darkness itself. It came so fast that we had no time to research it and find a cure. Most of our people died…"

Zelda's eager silence urged her to continue on. "We are forbidden to leave this place. This land was given to us by the goddess herself, and our only reason for stepping foot off of it was to protect the crown."

The young woman grimaced. "That's quite harsh, isn't it?"

"No," Impaz smiled. "The goddess' understood our nature and affliction. Their decision was wise."

She waited for more of an explanation, but the old woman said nothing more of it. "Those who were chosen as guards to the royal family left for the castle and returned only when their task was complete; those not chosen as protectors held our culture and sustained our ways. All were educated in Hylian history, magic, and trained as defenders. Anyone who rebelled and left without purpose denied their nature and therefore their duty, and would be forbidden to return."

Zelda's heart pumped heavily. "Why haven't I met a Sheikah before now, then? I don't recall ever having such a person in the castle."

"Your father brought you here during the time of sickness with intentions of meeting your assigned protector. He had been unaware to our condition until he arrived… and he was horrified when he saw us."

Zelda sat back, knowing she was about to learn something. The black cat which had followed her in curled up in her lap, and the old woman continued.

"I was worried that the sickness would latch itself on to you, or your father. He left so quickly that we had no chance to explain our crisis. My… my daughter was to be your guard…" For the first time, her eyes lost contact, focusing heavily on the door. "What is left of the Sheikah is a sad excuse of what once was, but no matter how far we have fallen from ourselves, I fear that with our extinction would come a serious fate to this land. You have witnessed already what could happen."

Zant. Ganon. Twilight.

The princess' looked to the wall. Impaz bowed her head. "I am sorry for our failure. I am sorry for my failure. I'm sorry we were not there for you, or your father."

"What of my father?" She jumped.

Impaz shook her head. "We could not protect him."

"Protect him from what? He died of a stilled heart in his old age." Her eyes slit suspiciously. She didn't like where this was going.

"No; despite all the problems we were facing, we are eternally linked to the royal blood, and something was not right with him."

Zelda was very still, not a breath escaping or entering her airway. "What was it, then?"

"I'm afraid I don't know. The day he died, the last of my people died with him."

"…" The princess could find no words. She was so young at her father's death that she hardly remembered him or the event. "I… I am sorry for you the loss you have faced, Impaz."

"But all is not lost!" she leaned forward, boldly contradicting her. "Princess, I have found the cure which could have prevented everything. If I had only been faster, I could have saved my people. Yet I believe… that there is still hope."

Reaching behind her, she pulled out a glass bottle. Inside, a violet bulb rolled back and fourth as she tilted the container. "This is a seed of a tree renowned for its healing assets. Legend has it that that the fabled hero cured one of the dying guardian spirit with its fruit. But… it takes hundreds of years to develop and grow before it can produce."

As much as she wanted to call this old woman and her ideas crazy, she looked into her weathered, red eyes and something inside wouldn't let her. Something inside understood what was going on, even though she herself did not.

Without missing a beat, the bottle was placed in the lap of the princess. Impaz slowly leaned back, examining her before she slowly stood.

"Yes, it should fit you…. She was about your size."

Now on her feet, she turned to her small dresser and rummaged around. After a moment, she pulled out a wrapped package, a nostalgic smile more than evident on her composure. Turning back the princess, her frail hands extended it for her to take, which she hesitantly did.

Zelda's finger ran over the material. Its texture sent a chill down her spine.

"The goddesses have always provided a way." That confounded smile never left her lips.

"How?" was all the princess could ask. This was too much to take in. Was it too much to ask?

"I know that there is a door to the past somewhere in this land. You will be guided there." Her soft, wrinkled hand planted itself on the princess' shoulder. "The seed must be planted in the past. Find the Sheikah leader, my ancestor- Impa."

-.-

Her feet had never felt heavier than they did as she walked from that building, back down the empty street to the entrance of that obscurely dark cave. Tarin stood, hidden in the shadows, saying nothing. Her change of garb didn't seem to surprise him, but he did examine it thoroughly.

"Did she warn you? About what you're wearing?"

"No," Zelda paused. "But I feel it. It's the darkness you were talking about, the darkness of the shadow people."

"Do not forget what I told you." The seriousness in his voice wasn't lost on her. "You go alone from here."

Nodding, she stopped just before the entrance, the black cat faithfully at her feet. "Where is the wisdom in tampering with what has been?" she finally asked, her voice low and sullen. "That is a danger in itself."

"Your wisdom has always held true, Zelda." He turned back to the cave. "But what has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done."

"And there is nothing new under the sun," she finished.

The sun was reading itself to set within the hour. The cat paced anxiously.

Hmm... sounds to me like Zelda and Link could do with a talk? Again, please share your thoughts.