A/N: Okay, a few quick questions to help me in future writing:

How are the characters' personalities, particularly Link's and Zelda's? This is, after all, my first Zelda fic, and I've never played any of the video games, save Super Smash Bros. Brawl. I'm just kind of… judging by research and what I gather from collaborated fanfics.

Is the plotline still holding your interest at this point?

Is anything in particular cheesy or OOC, or just needs a bit of work?

I'm not sure any of these will get answers, but… It's worth a shot. Happy reading!

Chapter Six:

Draconic Appearances

"For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness." ~ Isaiah 59:3

Shem's eyes opened slowly, and then quivered against the rain-spattered wind. His head rested against cold stone, and columns loomed to his right. The sky was notably dark; the sun must have begun to set. The torches provided the most light over the white stone walls. What… What had happened? He and Arron had had retreated under the protection of the overhang of Time Hall, then…

A flash of black. Flaming blue eyes. A sword hilt.

The prince!

The prince had attacked them! Anger and indignation welled up in his chest as he moved to sit upright. Pain made his skull throb and he brought a hand to his forehead. Ugh, that kid packed quite a punch! He pried off his helmet and felt along the roots of his hair, wincing as his fingers came in contact with a very tender, very large bump. Yes, quite a punch, indeed.

The king would hear of this. Shem swore to that.

He scrambled to his feet, and shuddered at the loud clomping of his heavy boots. Arron still lay on the ground behind him, a trickle of blood running down his forehead, most likely from the blow that had been dealt to him. Poor fellow; Shem knelt at his side.

"Arron!" He bit his lip, and shook the other soldier's shoulder. The other man groaned and swatted Shem's hands away, and Shem couldn't help breathing a sigh of relief. At least he was alive.

"Wht… Wht-hppend?" came Arron's slurred voice. Shem pried off his comrad's helmet to examine his wound.

"Prince Caine happened. Knocked us both over the head. He probably went into the hall." Shem grimaced at the good-sized cut that oozed blood on his friend's head. "Got you pretty good, by the looks of it."

"Thhha prince?" Good; he was a bit more coherent.

"Yes. Can you feel anything? Are there two of me?"

Arron still sounded very groggy, and garbled as he spoke. "There's on'y one o' ya…" He frowned, as if concentrating. "An'… My head 'urts."

He frowned at the grin that spread over Shem's face. "Believe it or not, that's a good thing."

Arron took a few moments to glance about, and his gaze paused when he looked at the entrance of the hall. "The door's open…"

Craning his neck, Shem looked and saw that the doors were indeed hanging open. The blasting wind whistled as it rushed inside and whirled around the circular room within. That could only mean one thing… The prince hadn't left yet.

"You don't suppose he's still there…" Shem stood, motioning for Arron to stay put. "You stay here… I'll take a quick look."

"Careful, the li'le bugger's armed…" Arron groaned as he attempted to sit up. Shem chuckled and drew his sword, making his way to and through the great doors into the Hall.

All was silent, save for the soft clip of his heels on the stone floor. Something in the air made his hair stand on end, and a chill raced up his spine. If the prince had been in here… wouldn't he see him? And yet, there was no movement, no sound, no evidence at all to the presence of anything living. The hall was empty as a graveyard, or worse, like a void. Through the open Door of Time, Shem could see into the next room, to the Pedestal of Time. The stone platform was empty. The Master Sword was gone.

"Why, that little…" A glimmer caught the soldier's eye.

There was the sword. Lying on the ground, alone, as if someone had dropped it.

A frown took hold of Shem's features. "What in the-"

An ear-shattering shriek reverberated about the hall, and Shem dropped his sword, clapping his gloved hands over his ears. Something large and hulking moved to his right. Just as he staggered back to avoid it, a blast of red-hot flames poured from the shadow, revealing a horned, toothy head behind it. Shem raised his hands to shield his face as the simple force of the outburst threw him backward, off balance.

"Dragon…" he managed to wheeze as he peered over his gauntlets to the hideous beast that stalked toward him.

Black as night, it was, and just as fearsome. Its eyes glowed white as its teeth and even in the dim light, its armor-like scales and cruel spines and spikes glinted like polished metal. Its pupil-less gaze was fixated on him, and its wings quivered with each deliberate step. Those eyes… The drew him in, like a whirlpool of wickedness. They glinted with bloodlust.

Shem's gaze fell to his sword, which lay on the floor just at the dragon's feet. Why, oh why had he dropped it? He rather needed it at the moment…

"Arron!" The word had barely left his lips when the dragon leapt at him, gaping jaws open and jagged teeth glimmering.

~-LoZ-~

Arron jumped to his feet, and grimaced as blood rushed to his head, making the wound throb insistently. He rubbed a hand over his face in hopes of waking himself up. Had Shem just screamed? Or was he losing his mind?

A long scream of agony easily answered for him, and he shuddered as it was cut off with what sounded like a gag. What in heavens name…

Still disoriented, he lurched for the doors and stumbled in like a drunken man. If only his Lilah could see him now… His feet rooted themselves to the floor. Bile rose to his throat.

Blood. Red, hot, and sticky. Everywhere. The place stank of it! All centered about the mangled body of a man. Shem!

He would have rushed to his friend's side if not for the rumbling growl that came from the devilish creature that loomed over the body. The dragon loomed tall; Arron could only guess it to be twice as tall as he – at least twelve feet, perhaps more. It regarded him with white eyes – cruel, sightless eyes.

Now, Arron didn't think himself a coward. He had been awarded medals by his beloved king and queen for bravery, and honor. But the sight of the beast's claws drenched in blood, Shem's blood, and the sheer size of it… His hands itched for his sword, but he knew that to do battle with the monster alone was suicide, whether he was injured or not. And if he was slaughtered as well… This entire happening could go with no clues and no witnesses. And with the prince missing, they needed all the information they could get.

So, with a pang of guilt, the soldier turned and fled. He fled Time Hall, into the drenching rain. He fled the Sacred Grove, fled Faron Field, fled the permanently etched memory of that creature crouched over his friend's body. Though he heard no sounds of pursuit, he kept running, ignoring the lightness of his head, determined to reach the Keskus castle as soon as was humanly possible.

~-LoZ-~

The night had dominated Hyrule for many long hours by the time Link and half of his soldiers returned to Keskus – the other half had stayed behind in Ordon, just in case the dragons dared attack again. All of them were soaked to the bone, dirty, and tired, and quite miserable. The initial glee at the long-awaited rain had washed away like so many particles of dust off their armor. Now, the only thing Link – and, he could only guess, his men as well – had on his mind was supper, a hot bath, and crawling into bed with his sweet wife. But, of course, his men would be thinking of their own wives, not his… Or, they should be, any how… He must have been tired. His thoughts were rambling.

After dismissing the soldiers, Link and Epona trudged through the Inner Wall's gates, which the sentries had opened, thankfully, without being asked. The rain continued to fall heavily on them as Cam the stable boy came to take Epona to the stables. Link trusted the boy to take care of his beloved horse, and went straight inside to the warmth of the castle.

Servants immediately hounded him, babbling on about catching fever and what not. Link simply strode past them, and retreated right away to his chambers, where he replaced his drenched clothes for warm, dry ones and started a fire in the fireplace. When flames licked eagerly at the logs, and after he had hung his wet clothes over the mantelpiece with his boots aside the bricks, he sank into the plush chair beside the hearth and propped his now bare feet near the fire, letting the warmth flood over him like a blanket.

He didn't even stir when he heard the creak of the bedroom door. Only when he felt a warm body climb into his lap, and soft lips touch his own, did he crack open his eyes. Zelda rested her delicate head on his shoulder, her big, beautiful eyes gazing up at him from under her thick lashes.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, reaching a hand up to stroke his face. "I didn't mean to wake you."

He smiled, and shook his head. "No… No, this is just about what I need right now…"

Her hand slipped over his shoulder and began to massage the taut muscles at the back of his neck. He sucked in a deep breath, letting it out with a moan, as the tightness began to ease away. Ah, yes, he very much needed this…

"Abyll woke up." Zelda's voice was still quiet, and her lack of enthusiasm damped his response.

"Really?" He opened his eyes further, and looked down at her. She nodded.

"For a little while. He'd just fallen asleep again when Impa came to tell me you were back."

The news lightened his heart, and he rested his head against the chair back, closing his eyes again. "Thank the Lord… Let him sleep, though. He needs the rest."

"His fever is still burning hot… But it certainly hasn't dampened his spirits. His first complaint upon opening his eyes was that he was hungry." Link felt Zelda smile as she leaned on his chest. "He had a little milk, and some crackers… Link… He will get better… won't he?"

The concern in her voice was nearly overwhelming, and he shifted to gather her in his arms. He rested his cheek against her hair. "Of course he will. He's strong. And the effects of the sword aren't lasting. He'll be back on his feet in no time."

Zelda sighed, and he felt her relax against him, but he knew she wasn't completely convinced. It would take more than mere words for her to be sure their son would make a complete recovery.

The door opened again, and both the king and queen lifted their tired heads to see who had entered. Impa stood, a hand on the surface of the door, her normally harsh, fiery gaze softened at the sight of them curled up in the chair.

"Abyll is awake again, Zelda." Impa was among the few within the castle walls on a first name basis with the royal family. "He's asking for the both of you."

Link and Zelda looked to one another, and he let her ease off his lap before he stood himself. He stretched, and suddenly doubled over as she jabbed him in the stomach, making the breath whoosh from his lungs. With a girlish giggle, the queen darted for her superior advisor, and the two women disappeared into the hall, their laughter floating back to the room. Link grinned wryly to himself and quickly followed after.

The threesome reached the door to Abyll's room at the same time, and Zelda pushed the door open quietly. There was Abyll, still lying on his back covered in blankets and looking rather pallid, but awake nonetheless. He turned his head as they entered, presumably since he didn't possess the strength to lift it.

"Mum, Dat…" His little voice was weak, but the precious smile on his cherub-like face chased away the worry in Link's heart.

"Hullo, precious," said Zelda, nearing the bedside and placing a hand on the boy's forehead, brushing his bangs back. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired…" Abyll's eyelids drooped.

"Understandable." She bent to plant a kiss on his forehead.

Link approached the foot of the bed, and Abyll gazed wearily up at him.

"I couldn't touch it…" Sadness tinged his voice. "I'm not a Hero… Not like you…"

Link frowned, and went to the other side, sitting carefully on the edge of the mattress. "Abyll… Don't worry about that. What matters is that you're safe and sound – or, getting there at least." He offered his son an encouraging smile.

Abyll managed to return it feebly. But it was quick to leave his face and he looked up at his father imploringly. "Where's Caine?"

Caine? "Caine? Uh…" He glanced at Zelda, who shrugged confusedly. "I don't know… I suppose we can go get him…"

"Can one of you stay?"

The innocence of the request brought a proud smile to his face. "Of course. Mum can stay; I'll be right back."

"I love you, Dat."

Link's eyes burned at the overexposure to his son's innocence. Oh, where did that pure faith disappear to… "I love you, too, son."

He stepped out of the room, and paused to gather himself again. The innocence of children too often faded as one matured into adulthood. The faith in others, and the ability to trust so easily died away as knowledge of the world and its sins crowded in. It was a shame, really. Though ignorance was not something to be coveted, there were times he wished he wasn't so scarred from his struggles as Hyrule's Hero. He'd seen things that even many adults would like to pretend never existed, had witnessed horrors of war and wickedness in very tangible ways. It was things like that that broke the hold of child-like innocence, and tainted one's mind to suspicion, lust, and vengeance.

Link's hand paused at the doorknob to Caine's room. Perhaps he shouldn't have been the one to come… He recalled the conversation he'd had with the older prince earlier. Caine most likely didn't want to even lay eyes on him, much less talk to him and come talk to Abyll. But still… Abyll wanted to see him. Link had told him he was going to get his brother, and get his brother he would.

He opened the door. Darkness greeted him, along with silence. The room looked the same as always, with the exception of one thing.

Caine was nowhere in sight.

Link noticed this immediately, and the first place he looked to was the balcony. It was second nature for Caine to be there, but alas, the prince wasn't there either. He searched the entire chambers, and came up empty handed. Going to the table, he leaned on it jadedly, hanging his head. His fingers brushed over something harsh, and he recoiled.

Light gashes on the table's surface caught his eye, and he furrowed his brow, rotating about the furniture to read it correctly. The words 'Come Time Hall Now' were carved in the smooth wood.

What on earth? What was that supposed to mean… And when, and who, had put it there? Caine surely wouldn't be so primitive… Not when his journal, ink, pen, and paper lay scattered about the floor.

Dread swelled in his gut, and he couldn't shake the ghastly feeling that something was terribly wrong.

Unwilling to linger there any longer, he hurried to exit the room and made his way back to Abyll's chambers. He quickly opened the door, and stood in the doorframe.

"Caine's not in his room. I'm going to check around the castle," said he, and Zelda stood from where she stroked Abyll's hair.

"How long has he been gone?"

"I don't know."

"Well, you might check the library, or the study. You know how he likes his solitude."

Link nodded. "Right."

As he left the room again, he could hear Abyll inquire of Zelda, "What's happening, Mum?"

"Nothing, love. You just rest now…"

Their voices drifted away, and for the second time that day – or perhaps in two days; Link wasn't sure if it was before or after midnight by now – he rushed down the stairs to the next level down, where the castle's library was. He had just reached for the knob when a voice stopped him.

"Your Majesty!"

Link whirled to face a royal guard who strode down the hall to meet him. Upon saluting, the soldier stood rigid.

"A guard from Time Hall has come, requesting your audience. He's… rather riled, sire."

"Riled?"

"Delusional, almost. He keeps raving about a dragon, and a dead man… I would fear him drunk if it weren't for the genuine… fear in his eyes."

"Well, it wouldn't be the first dragon incident today…" Link combed his fingers through his hair with a longsuffering sigh. "Take me to him."

The guard nodded and turned on his heel to lead him down to the main level, to the throne room at the front of the castle. There, in the center of the room, where four other guards surrounded one man. The Time Hall soldier. As soon as the man laid his wide eyes on Link, he pushed all the harder on the perimeter about him.

"Your Majesty!" He had a crazed look in his eyes as he managed to escape the other guards' grip on him. He stumbled forward, blood staining his hair, and fell to his knees at Link's feet. "Majesty… I saw it! I-I… Blood… He's dead…"

"Calm down, man." Link's voice was calm, and cool as he tried to make heads and tails of what he was saying. "No one can understand you."

The man slowly raised his head, taking a deep breath as he did so. His expression seemed to calm a bit. He reached his shaking hands up to Link pleadingly. "There was… A dragon."

"At Time Hall?"

"Yes…" The man nodded. "And… Caine."

Link furrowed his brow, and tilted his head with confusion. "Caine was at the Hall again?"

"Yes… and… h-he's d-dead…"

His heart quenched like someone had taken it and wrung the blood from it. "C… Caine is dead?"

Link didn't know whether to be angry or relieved when the soldier shook his head. "No… Shem… The other Time guard… is dead."

"Did Caine kill him?" Just that thought left a bad taste in Link's mouth.

"No. Dragon…"

"What about Caine? Is he all right?"

"Caine… Before… Before the dragon… Knocked us unconscious… W-Went into the Hall. When… Shem woke me up. He… went inside… The dragon… killed him."

It was starting to make sense, now, but the lack of one particular detail left Link feeling cold and near the verge of panic. "What about Caine? Did you see him? Where is he?"

"He… I… didn't see…" The soldier seemed to think a long moment, his eyes darting back and forth as if observing the scene in his memory. "He… wasn't there."

Link forced himself to be calm. "And… what of the dragon? Was it slain?"

He shook his head. "No, sir… It… I left it… I knew I had to come report it… Without getting killed myself…"

He was calming, that was good. Link could understand most of what he said. "All right; that's all right. Was there anything else? Anything else you saw that caught your eye?"

The man pondered a while longer, and suddenly his eyes bulged. He gripped Link's arm so tight that he winced, and stepped away from the again crazed Time guard.

"The sword… The Master Sword… Was drawn. Lying on the floor behind the dragon."

Link's eyes widened. The Master Sword… Drawn, and idle… The dragon…

Caine.