A/N: AHHH! Sorry it took me a while to get this chapter out! I had a LOT of school to get done with last week and I had exams, too! However I finally found the time to write this and then I also got a beta reader and so it took a few more days for that because my beta reader is awesome and took a great deal of time looking this all over. This also means I am going to try and have the past chapters beta read as well, so there could be a delay on the next chapter also. I want to have it out by early next week though. It's just that I really want this fic to be perfect and I am trying my best to make sure the past chapters are perfected before moving forward. This chapter wasn't that fun to write TBH. I had a hard time finding the correct words I wanted to do, but after googling stuff a million times, I think I got a good idea of what I am wanting to say. Don't be too harsh on me though. I have never written a story in this era...errr (timeline, whatever) before. I usually write things in current universe and time which is wayyyy easier for me. /sighhhh

Anyway, I am rambling far too much. Please enjoy this chapter ^^

Beta read by Lilo-chan

Locking up the Sun

By Sasurealian

Chapter Three

"What?!"

Link immediately threw a hand over his sister's mouth before she could say anything more, "You seriously need to keep your voice down!" Link whispered out as quietly as he could. Whilst Zelda glared and pulled Link's hand away from her mouth in dislike.

"I can't believe he actually killed the Guardsman. That comes as a shock to me." Zelda began to pace with her hand under her chin, "So maybe he is evil?"

"I don't think so. It just seemed like a facade or something."

"Or something? You don't think he killed him?"

Link rolled his eyes and stood from his spot under the tree. The morning was still fresh and the clouds above began to thicken and Link preferred it this way because it wasn't hot and humid, which would have made his attire stick to parts of his anatomy he dare not speak of, "I'm not saying that. I simply think there is more to the story is all."

"Link you have no obligations to the Sheikah. He is water under the bridge now." Zelda picked a flower off from the branch above her head and watched as the petals fell apart in her palm. Sighing, she closed her fist around the petals and glanced down to her brother who was lost in thought. His winter blue eyes flickered up to hers and she forced a smile as best as she could manage.

"Maybe I do owe obligations to him."

"To a man who committed murder?"

"To a man that has seen more than his fair share."

Zelda forbore any further words and released the petals in her hand. She watched as the wind whisked them away and into the breeze, "You're being childish, Link. If you told father-"

"No! He mustn't find out!" Link stood and gathered his books for the day. His brows were knotted and his lips downturned, "I just feel something is off about the whole thing. You should be taking my side!"

Zelda reached out to stop him, but he shrugged her touch away as he pushed past her and back towards the castle. Somehow she felt responsible for the whole thing.

Link wasn't at all surprised when a terrible storm swept in from the south that evening. He knew the ocean liked to bring in hurricanes and with summer ending and autumn approaching, there would soon be windier and rainier days filled with storms and (finding) proper shelter for the castle's animals was a requirement.

Link assisted the servants with all the animals, whilst he mounted his own horse that easily calmed at his touch. He spent most of the afternoon moving in all the animals and tying down the stacks of hay that tended to be swept away with the threatening winds.

"Is that everything?" Link shouted over the storm, resting a hand on Epona's neck and reassuring her that all was okay.

"All the animals are safely sheltered and their food has been secured." One of the servants answered, wiping his drenched face with his sleeve.

"Very well, then I will leave you to make sure they're fed and watered for the night."

"Of course, Prince Link."

Link dismounted Epona and whispered sweet nothings into her ear as he led her into her stable and gave her treats and a good brush down. Epona nickered at him happily and Link genuinely smiled, grabbing her nose and giving her butterfly kisses. He ignored the odd stares from his servants, telling himself that animals were just like family and they obviously didn't get the memo.

By the time Link had made it back into the castle he was drenched. Most of the lanterns had been turned down, leaving shadows through the corridor of the castle.

"That's odd…" The prince spoke out loud to himself as he shivered, wrapping his arms around himself and rubbing his shoulders in an attempt to warm himself up.

The castle usually wasn't this quiet this early into the night. It wasn't all that late and Link wondered why the lanterns had been turned down. Quickly Link waddled (himself) into his bathroom and patted himself down with towels, changing his clothes to his evening robe. He sniffled and sneezed in dismay, reminding himself to have something warm to drink before he retired for the night, but suddenly his thoughts halted at the sounds echoing from the throne room.

Link peered around the corner at the flickering light that poured out of the throne room. He could detect faint voices carrying back and forth, though he couldn't make out what they were saying. Shrugging his shoulders, he approached the light curiously.

The Prince hesitantly poked his head through the cracked door into the throne room and immediately jumped back at the scene before him. His mind began to race along with his pulsing heart and he brushed his fingers through his hair before furrowing his brows and taking another look, this time staying as quiet as possible so he could hear the exchange of words.

"On top of that, you have failed to come forward and claim your innocence on the whole matter."

Link stared at his father and then down onto the Sheikah who was at his knees and shackled, with Cornell at his heels. Why was Sheik before his father and why wasn't he given another day? Link stepped closer and his elbow knocked into the ajar door, causing it to squeak as it moved. Link winced frantically.

Cornell drew his sword and Link stepped into the light, confusion consuming his face.

"My son, what are you doing?"

"I should be asking you the same, father." Link crossed his arms and glared at the situation before him. The Prince had figured why the lights had been turned down early for the night and he was sure his sister must have already been in bed. He estimated his father had planned this meeting and wanted no one around to witness it.

"I am simply dealing with a criminal, like every good King should do!" Link watched as his father stepped towards the Sheikah and pulled his head back, causing his turban fall to the ground and long blond hair spill out, cascading down his shoulders. Quickly the King pulled his chin upward so his masked face was directly facing his and his blood red eyes reflected back in the King's with a stoic expression plastered in Sheik's eyes. Link noted that there seemed to be no life left in those eyes and wondered what all one had to have seen to be this way now. "Look into his eyes son. There is only the desire to destroy in them, that's why they're red; they're filled with the blood of those he has slain."

Suddenly Link's feet moved on their own and he slapped his father's hand away as he stepped in front of the Sheikah protectively.

"Stand away!" A gruff voice commanded, but Link shook his head at his father's demand.

"Father you have gone mad! You cannot kill a man without first holding a trial and confronting the council and you know it!" Link turned back towards the Sheikah who had his face hidden and cast towards the floor, "He is innocent until proven otherwise and that is the way of Hyrule!"

There was a short silence until the King growled under his breath, "You ridicule me, son. His trial is over and the verdict is death. You have no other word in this; you're just a Prince who has no sense in his head!"

Link shook his head as the King stepped closer. He pulled his son close to him, yanking him by his robe, "Good night my son." Then he shoved him aside into Cornell's grasp who lead him out of the throne room regardless of his thrashing. "Father you're mad!"

But his panic fell on deaf ears.

That night the Prince lay wide awake, knowing that Cornell was at his door. He tossed and turned and debated on whether to knock out Cornell with one of his study books, but decided against it because he already knew Cornell was in a bad mood and that wasn't something he wanted to test currently. Link groaned as he rolled onto his back and glared at the ceiling. His father was serious. He was really going to kill Sheik. Link frowned at the idea altogether, but at least he tried, right? He wasn't (the) King so he couldn't stop the inevitable. Would Zelda think her father was mad, too? Would she agree with him or side with the King?

Link's mind pondered thousands of things until the sun came out and he was allowed to exit his room.

The first thing he did was swing his door open and hit Cornell square in the face.

"Oh….I'm soooo sorry, I didn't see you there." Link sarcastically said with a smirk on his lips.

"You little-"

"LINK! There you are." Zelda's shrill voice called out as she ran down the corridor. She stopped and eyed Cornell suspiciously then glanced back to her brother who was still snickering, "Uhh…do I want to know?" Zelda shook her head, "Never mind that. There are much more important things we must discuss, now come with me." Zelda pulled Link along, ignoring Cornell who called out to them to stop.

"Zel, what is the hurry?" Link tried to catch his breath now that they were both in the gardens in their secret spot and Zelda decided not to beat around the bush.

"Father is mad! He has already prepared for the hanging of the Sheikah today and it is all a big deal! Most of Hyrule has been informed about it. Oh Goddesses Link, I am sorry."

Link didn't respond, he opted to stare past Zelda at a bird that chirped on the branch of a tree before fluttering off to who knows where. He vaguely recalled a time years ago when his father was a wise King who made decisions based off intelligence and a gentle spirit. The only thing that pleased Link currently was that Zelda agreed with him about their father, on the other hand he wasn't even shocked that their father had prepared the execution of Sheik without informing his children about it. Go figure.

"Link? You can't beat yourself up over this. Prisoners die all the time." Zelda tried to reassure him with her smile, but he wouldn't look at her. His mind was elsewhere as he gazed into the sky wistfully.

"Link come on, talk to me."

"Zelda, we should go."

"Huh? You don't mean to the hanging do you?"

"I bet they're taking him to the gallows right now and I don't think we should miss it."

Zelda scrunched her face in dislike, "Link, you know I would never witness someone being hung. I must decline."

Link couldn't argue with her. He wasn't fond of watching either. In fact, he had only been once and that was years ago during the war when many of the Sheikah were hung as punishment. It was a much darker time back then and Link was kept sheltered from most of it, but there were times not even the King could protect him.

"Maybe father will listen to me this one last time. I have to try." Link pondered this, but no matter what he said he was sure it would be futile. He finally understood that his father's mind has gone absent and he was no longer the wise King he used to be.

"Hey, don't give such a glum look." Zelda wrapped her arm around Link's shoulder and pulled him close, "It's going to be fine. We can always go up into Hyrule field and ride our horses as the sun sets and pick some honeysuckles at Lon Lon Ranch." Zelda chuckled and Link found her laugh contagious. "I bet Malon would love to see you." Zelda sing-songed as she ruffled Link's hair. "I promise it's all going to be okay. Not every day is going to be perfect and sure father is acting senile by killing a man without standing trial, but when has that ever been news? You're having your feathers ruffled over everyday life and you don't even know this guy. You just need to take a deep breath and relax."

The prince nodded his head slowly and took a deep breath, but it didn't make him feel any different. Maybe Zelda just confirmed the problem. They were acting like children when they weren't any longer. Playing in the field and sucking honeysuckles was what they had done when they were ten. Shouldn't they be trying to make a difference now? Shouldn't they be fighting to make Hyrule better?

"Zel, you go ahead without me. I have stuff to do." He faked a smile and waved her off while she sighed and shook her head warily.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

The crowd of people was enormous as Link pushed past each of them not even apologizing to the toes he stepped on or the people he elbowed in the eye. They all smelled terrible and Link wondered if they knew what a bath was.

A moment later a hand closed around Link's shoulder and he jolted around to find his sister before him wearing a disguise. She had an old cloak thrown over her sporting a hood and with her head cast downward, you couldn't tell it was her, or even her gender at that.

"You idiot, why didn't you put on a disguise before showing your face here?!"

Link cocked a brow, "Because I am the Prince of Hyrule."

"Exactly! You're so dimwitted!" Zelda whispered out rolling her eyes.

Up ahead, both of them could see the top of the gallows and their father sitting in a chair that was likely pulled from the castle. The gallows were located outside the castle towards the outskirts of the town that nobody could get to without supervision. Not that anyone wanted to travel there for the fear of being hung themselves, but occasionally you'd find weeping family members trying to find their way back to the gallows to try and rescue the one they lost. Link had heard their cries at night before and it kept him up all night wondering where the fault really was placed.

"I can't see anything. What's going on?" Zelda murmured as she clung close to her brother. Maybe he was taller, but Link couldn't see anything but the backs of people's heads as they exchanged mumbles back and forth to each other; nothing of importance.

"I don't think it has started yet."

"So then what is your plan?"

"Uh…" Link scratched his temple in thought, "I have no idea."

Zelda exhaled in remorse as she dropped her head, "Link we're only going to get ourselves into more trouble being here."

"Hey, just relax."

Without warning everyone went quiet and Link could see the King step forward as his hand extended out to quiet the crowd. "Today we are here to witness the hanging of a man who brutally murdered one of my Guardsmen." Link scoffed at his father's words, but kept his head down trying to avoid being seen. He wondered if his father knew where his children were right now or if he even cared. Given how he spent the time dressing so elegantly today, Link decided the latter was up for debate.

Sheik was dragged out before everyone with shackles around his hands and feet. He looked dreadfully exhausted, like he hadn't slept in days and his hair was pulled back out of his face and tied in a knot. Link also noticed they kept his mask and cowl over his face which he found unusual since they were about to hang him.

"He will be punished before the Goddesses who frown upon him today." Link blocked out his father's words and shut himself off from his cliché words which he always spoke when he was about to hang a man. Sure some of the men hung deserved it, but whose right was it to cast judgment on someone? How can someone who is human know the right choice to make when it comes to life and death? The whole idea of it all made Link sick to his stomach. Additionally, Link hated these speeches because he knew his father did it out of two reasons: to shock spectators and to reaffirm divine and temporal authority, which seemed awful to Link who thought hanging a man should be a last resort after someone had been rightfully trialed and confirmed to be guilty of a crime.

And he only got sicker when the hangman stepped forward and pulled Sheik up to his feet setting a noose around his neck. Link was positive his heart was beating as quickly as the hooves of a hundred horses. Quickly he tried to think of a plan, but nothing came to him. If he attempted to stop his father everyone would think he was mad and that wasn't the impression he wanted to give everyone as the future King of Hyrule.

"Might you have any last words before your demise, Sheikah?"

Link almost wanted to block out whatever the Sheikah had to say because those last words would echo again and again in his mind for the rest of his life. He couldn't endure that thought.

"Your Majesty, the only words I have to say is that I am not guilty and the man I so called 'brutally murdered' was pitted against you as a traitor who was after the Prince of Hyrule for murder. I ended his life because he deserved death."

Link's face went white as a ghost and he felt as if he might collapse if it wasn't for Zelda who kept him upright. Everyone around him bickered back and forth and even the King was at a loss for words and had his mouth gaping open like a fish out of water.

"You are a liar!" The King spat back, but his words didn't sound convincing to even himself.

"Why would a man with a noose wrapped around his neck lie? I am standing before you without any gain."

"Th-then why didn't you say so before?"

"You made up your mind the moment you saw my eyes, your Majesty, don't play me as a fool." The Sheikah held the King's gaze, unwavering and without fear. Everyone gasped and talked amongst themselves, some believing the Sheikah while others hissed venomously at him in doubt.

The King glanced all around him at the uproar and Link could see the wavering expression on his face as clear as daylight. He didn't know what to believe.

"If I was sincerely a traitor then I would have fought against you; I would have killed you and your children days ago. There is no gain in me lying to you. However…" Sheik paused and glanced out into the crowd and directly into blue porcelain eyes, "….if you were to execute me today then you would lose someone who could offer protection to you, or the life of your adolescent son."

Link stared unblinkingly into the Sheikah's eyes wondering why he had lied to him before or if what he was saying was the real lie and that maybe the Sheikah really was a cold hearted killer. What was he really to believe? Link chewed on the corner of his mouth and turned towards Zelda who sent him questioning glance.

"I-I…." The King halted and cleared his throat before taking a deep breath, "I've decided to take you back to the castle for questioning. With this new…revelation, we have much to discuss."

Link released a deep breath that he felt he had been holding since last night. He pushed past the crowd, ignoring Zelda's plea for him to stop and he jumped onto the gallows and up the stairs towards his father who motioned for the hangman to release the Sheikah, "Father! Thank goodness!"

"My son, what are you doing?" The King quickly grabbed his shoulder and pushed him back off the stairs, "Your rebellious nature is going to get you killed! We have we have no way to tell the truth from the lies, return to the castle immediately with Cornell!" Link tried to protest, but he was pulled away much the same as he was last night and he didn't fight this time knowing his father for once was right.

Nightfall had come again and the Prince stood with his sister, pacing back and forth outside the throne room where his father was with the Sheikah and some of his councilmen. Nothing more had been said since everyone returned to the castle and while he was relieved the Sheikah wasn't executed, he felt like he wasn't through the storm yet.

"Would you stop that! You look like a father who is expecting."

Link snorted at his sister who was reading her book with her legs crossed over one another.

"I just want to know what's going on already."

"Link…just relax. They need to figure out the correct decision to make. You told me that Sheik said something completely different to the admission he gave father, so why in the goddesses name would he lie to you and not to father is beyond me. Regardless, we need to let them decide." Link knew she was right and sure he wondered what the actual truth was, but he decided he would confront Sheik about it later, if he was still alive that is.

It felt like days to Link, but after just a few hours had passed, the doors to the throne room opened up and several men emerged with a smug look on their faces. Their erratic movement sent shivers up Link's spine and he frowned once they passed without a word spoken.

"What's their problem?" Link peeked into the throne room and caught his father's eyes who motioned for him to enter. Zelda followed him, setting her book aside and brushing her hair behind her ears as she smiled gracefully at her father.

"We have come to a very difficult decision."

Link waited for him to continue and glanced to his side to delightedly see an unshackled Sheikah who kneeled before them.

"We were able to identify a witness at the pub that night who claims that my Guardsman was in fact a traitor." His father sighed as he sank into his chair in a slump, "It would seem that there aren't many details, but from what the witness says, the Guardsman had been spouting tales that match the Sheikah's statement for weeks whenever he would become too drunk to function correctly. According to the witness and Sheik's admission, there are possibly more of my Guardsmen who have turned against me and Hyrule, which has brought me to the difficult decision, along with the council that the Sheikah will resume work as your personal Guard dog, protecting you as the Sheikah once did for us a decade ago. This will go on until the threat is resolved." Link's eyes went wide and his lips eased apart, going dry. He almost couldn't believe his ears.

"Woah, wait what? You were going to kill him this morning! Now he's-he's-" Link was at a loss for words.

The King nodded his head slowly and groaned, "Listen son, I know. I made a mistake, but right now his words are the only thing we have as the truth and if they are the truth and there is someone trying to kill either you, me, or us both, you'll need watching supervision constantly and what better of a man to risk his life protecting you than a trained Sheikah assasian."

Link crossed his arms, "I don't need a babysitter, father I am extremely capable of protecting myself."

"And if you're asleep? Or in the bath? Or-" The King stood from his throne and grabbed Link's shoulder and pulled him forward, "You're my heir and if you're to perish then Hyrule is doomed."

Link could hear a scoff from his sister off in the distance.

"It's my duty to protect you and maybe you were right all along. I don't desire his kind amongst my people, but I know their skill in fighting is much better than any Guardsman I have to offer here at my castle. I will have Henry halt your training so he can be on full watch out for me and your sister, meanwhile Sheik will do the same for you. "

Link glanced to the Sheikah who appeared aloof. He wasn't sure how to absorb the new information. Was it true that someone wanted to kill him and his father? But why? The thought troubled him and he had so many questions and not enough answers.

"He hasn't given me any reason not to trust him yet and I was impatient to cast judgment on a man without much reason except for personal matters, so for now he is vindicated, but there will be no second chances if he makes any mistakes from here on." Link watched his father send daggers at the Sheikah was giving Link the impression the council members convinced him of something unspoken. Link's head hurt, he was thinking so much and he was pretty sure he was in for another sleepless night.

"So I guess that's it then." Link let out a deep breath and glanced to the Sheikah who sent him a penetrating gaze that seeped into his entire body, "I hope you're right about all of this, Sheik. Otherwise this is going to be extremely awkward."

Sheik rose to his feet and with stoic eyes took Link's hand gently and kneeled gracefully, "Your highness, I will protect you with my every breath and being. I shall devote my entire existence to keeping the future King of Hyrule safe and making sure no danger comes to you as long as I am viable."

Link swallowed back everything in his throat as he regarded the Sheikah before him, "Uhh…okay then…" Link pulled his hand back and tried to calm the heated feeling in his face. 'I suppose I spoke too soon, the Prince thought to himself as he tried to look anywhere else but at the man that kneeled before him.

A/N: Phew! Chapter done! ^^ Please guys let me hear your input. It's truly does help to know what you're thinking about it so far. =D I like inspiration!