A/N: Woahkay here we go! So far we've been seeing teh back and forth views of Sheik and Malon as they became friends. Now's when things get serious.

Disclaimer: Still don't own Legend of Zelda. I'm not quite sure why anyone would think I do.

~9~

-Time passes, people move... Like a river's flow, it never ends...-

Sheik continued to visit Malon. He would normally come at night, about once a week, to keep her company while she sang. Sometimes he would discretely plan to be open on her free days. It was hard, because Ingo didn't have a pattern as to which days he'd leave and because Sheik had more work to do each month. But whenever they did meet in the afternoon, they would ride all day.

A year and a half passed. Their friendship grew strong. They talked about nearly everything freely, except about Sheik's missions or where he lived. He never told Malon much about his life, knowing the very knowledge could endanger her, especially with his connection to Zelda. He was happy that she never pressed him for more details. She begrudgingly respected his secrecy; that being the one of the greatest things he valued in her.

Zelda learned to accept his new and dangerous friendship. She even came to enjoy listening to their conversations. She realized that it was good for Sheik to have a friend. In fact, sometimes it motivated him to work harder on the numerous tasks she and Impa would have for him. Also, she even helped him come up with believable alibi to tell Impa, even though she was convinced Impa knew the truth.

Sheik snuck out of Kakariko. After nearly a year of scouring from clues, he had finally found the fabled Desert Colossus. He had spent two weeks out in the desert looking for it, mapping its location, and discovering its riddle. He even ascertained the tune that would help the Hero return there easily through time.

Impa was nearly happy when he delivered his findings. She let him sleep easily and told him that he could have the next day off. He was excited to finally have his first day off in months. But he couldn't wait.

He felt like he had to see her tonight. No, he needed to see her. He had never gone longer than a week between visits to Lon Lon Ranch, and he missed her like mad. He was concerned about her, how she didn't always take care of her health, how that slave-driver would work her until she passed out, how she would desperately need to talk to somebody, how she would feel lonely without another human to embrace. He knew she was probably worried about him too, even if she never stated it. He had unfortunately let her see and tend too many wounds for her not to worry. Creeping around Kakariko's entrance gate, Sheik sprinted to the ranch.

It was really late by the time he got there. Panting, the young man climbed over the fence. He hardly spent a glancing thought on Zelda's unusual silence and scanned the ranch for any sign of Malon. She was nowhere to be seen. Her voice didn't grace the sky either.

Sheik's chest twisted viciously at the thought of letting her down one more night. He was starting to hate that feeling. It had happened when he had thought of her in the desert, which had been very often. Trying not to lose hope, he jumped from the corral fence and wandered into the tall blades of grass.

To his delight, he found the girl. Malon was asleep in the middle of the corral, curled up in the dew-touched grass. Her beautiful face was calm and relaxed, but exhausted. She looked so very exhausted. Her gleaming copper hair was a mess and Sheik spied a piece of hay in it. Kneeling, he plucked it out of her hair carefully. He wasn't sure whether or not to wake her before a realization hit him like the side of an iron knuckle's axe. She must have fallen asleep out here waiting for him. The very thought made him feel dizzy and warm. He wondered how many nights she had fallen asleep outside like this.

Sheiks lied down in the grass next to her, sure not to get too close for modesty's sake. Putting his hand behind his head, he began to hum. He hummed her mother's song, just as he had during his lonely days in the desert. Zelda had come to hate it he had hummed it so much.

He heard Malon stir next to him, but kept humming. She peered over her shoulder, sapphire eyes drowsy. He watched her face light up slowly as she recognized him. She bolted upright with a happy gasp. "Sheik!"

He sat up with her, and she flung her arms around him. "Oh Sheik, I missed you! You haven't come in weeks! I was so worried." She pulled away and wrinkled her nose humorously. "You smell like hot dust."

He chuckled lightly, mostly to ignore the pain from his sunburns that she was irritating. "I'm sorry. I've been a little busy. Hold on." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. "This is for you. It's a week late, but…"

She examined it quizzically. Tenderly, she took it into her hands and, with slender, calloused fingers, unwrapped the gift. Gasping, she lifted a delicate necklace by a thin silver chain. The sapphire gleamed in the minimal moonlight and a silver bird wrapped around the small gem. Malon stared at Sheik.

"Happy birthday."

Tears touched her eyes as she smiled broadly. "Oh, Sheik, it's beautiful. Thank you!" She hugged him tightly. Hesitating for a moment, he wrapped his arms around her in response, his whole body filled with warmth from her joy.

"Sheik."

He flinched as Zelda's sudden interruption pulled his mind away from the present. Malon pulled away and regarded him with concern. "Sheik?"

Zelda's thoughts were distant and echoed in his head, like she was in a trance. "I can feel it. The seal - it's lifting. Rauru, the Sage of Light, is releasing him from his sleep. The Hero of Time is returning."

Sheik stood abruptly forgetting where he was. It was time. All the work he had been doing for the past seven years was for this moment. Malon stood up next to him, confused. "Sheik, is something wrong?"

"Sheik, you need to go meet him at the Temple of Time now."

Sheik nodded physically. Malon pressed him for answers. "What's wrong? How can I help you?" He wasn't listening. "Sheik, I want to help you. Just tell me how, please!"

"I need you to help me guide him. Go."

Malon was almost shaking him. "Sheik? Please, talk to me." It was almost as if he was not there, and was starting to scare her.

"So many things are coming together; it's making it hard to focus... Sheik, what are you doing? Go!" Zelda's consciousness pulled away sharply, causing Sheik to gasp, as if breaking the surface of water. He didn't realize that Zelda's vision trance was affecting him, too. The ranch seemed to reappear around him – the night sky, the fields of emerald grass, and Malon.

He turned to the girl next to him and grabbed her wrists gently to make her stop shaking him. "Malon, I'm sorry, I have to go." He was still having trouble registering the details of the present, and barely noticed the frightened look on her face. "I-I'll come back tomorrow. I promise." She stared at him, flabbergasted, as he hugged her tightly and sprinted away without looking back. He ran full speed to the Temple of Time.

Malon stood alone in the cold air for a few minutes, trying to understand what just happened. Slowly, she walked back to the house. He had finally come back to her. She had waited every night for him, and when he finally came back, he left her again without explanation. He had not told her what was wrong or why he left or anything. He even forgot his usual good-bye salute. Part of her argued back at her, saying she shouldn't wonder what he does. It was a secret he will tell her when he was ready.

Or never. He might just die out there first.

Malon found herself in her room. She collapsed on to her bed and sobbed. She was his friend! Why couldn't he trust her? Why couldn't he talk to her? He seemed so upset out there, after he had hugged her. Why didn't he let her help him? Didn't he know that she missed him so much, it ached?

Sheik, she thought, I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong. I can't tend a wound you hide. She sobbed, crying until she fell asleep.

I almost edited the last section here, where Malon's getting sad and frustrated, but then I decided to keep it: back when I had written this, I was going through a lot of those exact feelings - frustration that someone wouldn't open up to me and let me be there for them. So I kept it the way it was, because those thoughts still ring very true to me.

Oh gosh the angst! She'll get over it.

Malon: I will?

Shush! Spoilers!