Disclaimer: Don't own it.
Warnings: Minor violence in later chapters and boyxboy (Link x Sheik). If you're not a fan please don't read.
Last Chapter guys! Only an epilogue left! Thanks for sticking with Revelations of Lies!
~*~*~ Chapter Thirteen ~*~*~
Sheik pulls the saddle down from Calibri's back and the little grey mare groans and shakes before trotting off to a dirty patch of dusty ground. She sinks to her knees and proceeds to roll in the dust, kicking up a cloud dirt and grinding the grim into her grey coat. Sheik watches half annoyed and half amused. It's nice to see the mare enjoying herself but he knows he will be the one brushing the dirt from her hair later.
"Don't you be getting any ideas," Link says quietly to Epona as he slips her bridle off and allows her to roam freely. Despite Link's warning Epona ambles over to the same dirt patch that Calibri gave herself a dust bath in and she too proceeds to roll.
Link rolls his eyes as he watches. "Horses," he says with an exaggerated sigh at the end. They stand side by side and watch the horses frolic through the field like they were youngsters again, bucking and kicking and rearing all for the joy of it. They're happy to finally be out of the desert too. After a while they settle down and begin to graze and Sheik and Link gather some fallen wood to start a fire to cook a small meal on for the evening.
Sheik gazed around the surrounding area periodically, cautiously. He always kept an eye out for danger, but for some reason he felt inexplicably jumpy. He was normally very cautious, but never to this extreme. Shifting, he looked back down and tried to focus on chopping the roots they had gathered for dinner up. He jumped when Link dropped another pile of firewood next to their small cook fire. Link glanced at him concernedly
"You okay?" he asked as he knelt beside Sheik, resting his hands on the Sheikah's shoulders and squeezing gently. "You seem super jumpy."
"I just feel a bit off, I suppose," Sheik said.
Link kissed his cheek. "It's not like you to admit when something's wrong," Link said, jokingly. "Are you sick?"
"Worried," Sheik admitted, setting the knife down on the ground and sighing. "About what will happen when we return."
"Nothing," Link said fiercely. "She will never take you away from me again, you understand me?" He sat beside Sheik and tugged him close, hugging him tightly.
Sheik nodded, meeting Link's intense azure eyes. He tried to mask his expression. Sheikah weren't supposed to be emotional…but Sheik didn't care about the traditions anymore. Nothing seemed to matter to him anymore besides for Link. For once Sheik was valuing his own happiness over his duty without feeling guilty about it.
"I know it's hard to believe, but Zelda truly was sorry, so very sorry," Link said softly. "I would never endanger you. Because…because I love you too much."
Sheik couldn't hold back the small smile that played on his lips as he looked up at Link. "I love you too, Hero," he said softly, and Link smiled back.
"I use to hate being called 'Hero'," Link said, wrapping an arm around Sheik's waist. "I never realized I would miss it so much."
Instead of replying Sheik leaned in for a kiss, which Link was happy to oblige, sealing the distance between them and wrapping his arms around Sheik and holding the Sheikah close.
Sheik took a deep breath, his face pale. Link squeezed his hand reassuringly as they walked towards the castle. They crossed the bridge and entered through the large doors to the courtyard. The Guards nodded respectfully at Link, and took their horses when Link requested. Sheik stayed close to Link, warily eying the surroundings. The whole place was completely different. Castletown was built up and expanded, much better defended and livelier than Sheik had ever seen it before. The castle too, was also unfamiliar. Sheik had spent a good portion of his youth in the castle, but this new castle was nothing like the one he remembered.
Another set of guards stood stationed at the doors of the castle and their presence made Sheik break out into a cold sweat and grip Link's hand tightly. He darted a cautious glance over his shoulder to make sure they weren't being followed. Link squeezed his hand back.
"You're fine," he said softly. "They won't touch you. Not again."
Sheik nodded, setting his mouth into a grim line. "I know," he replied, trying to sound as confident as Link was.
They walked into the grand main hall, which was large and ordinate, much more so than the old castle was. There were many doors and archways leading to various other parts of the castle and Link led him across the tiles towards the eastern side of the castle and towards a winding stair case leading to the upper levels of the castle. Sheik glanced around and studied the many fastidious tapestries and painting that lined the walls. The windows were stained glass with an array of beautiful colours that would surly look marvellous with the sun shining through them.
The castle had been expanded so greatly so it could house guests when Zelda did business with foreign nations. It looked spectacular but it was too over the top for Sheik's taste.
They walked up the stairs until they reached a hall, which they walked down until they reached another door with a set of guards standing watch outside. Sheik took a deep breath. They finally reached Zelda's sun room. The walk had seemed both impossibly long and not nearly long enough. The guard opened the door for them as they approached, and Sheik squeezed Link's hand so tight he heard the Hero hiss in pain, but he didn't tell Sheik to loosen his grip.
They stepped inside; rather, Link stepped inside and dragged Sheik along in with him. Inside Zelda was pacing frantically. She looked frazzled and pale, almost more so than Sheik was himself. Her head snapped up when she heard the door open and she stared at them both intently. She was expecting their arrival. Link had spoken to her, with Sheik's help, through a gossip stone to tell her they were on their way back.
She stared at him intently for a moment before she took a few hesitant steps toward Sheik.
"Sheik," she said softly. "By the gods, what did I do to you?" She cried softly. The side of Sheik's face was still mottled and bruised; a greeny yellow colour. The cut had healed but the bruise was just beginning to fade. It looked awful; much worse than it really was.
"Princess," Sheik said stiffly, his heart beating faster than the wings of a hummingbird in flight.
"I am so sorry," she finally broke out and wept. She crowded against him and he tensed but opened his arms for her none-the-less. She pressed her face into his neck and squeezed him tightly. "I am so sorry," she sniffled again. "You did so much for me and I acted like…a, a spoiled little brat, unfit to be Queen…"
Sheik said nothing, just stood as stiff as stone as he held her. Link's presence behind him helped keep him calm. He had to remind himself that this was Zelda, this was the girl he grew up with playing in the gardens. This was the girl who he swore to protect even if it cost him his own life. He nearly lost his life to her, but for an entirely different reason than protection.
"Forgive me," Zelda said, "Please, forgive me. I know what I did was horrible, truly unforgivable, but it would mean the world to me if I knew you forgave me."
Sheik heard the command in her voice, and he prepared for the bond they shared to take over and answer her request for him as it had done so many times in the past, but this time nothing happened. There was no magic forcing his tongue to speak. There was no magic to mould Sheik to Zelda's will. There was nothing, just Sheik's own decision. Then he remembered the pain of her severing the bond, the agony of it all. He was no longer a puppet. She stepped back and stares at him, pleading.
"I forgive you," he says.
The decision is his and his alone and he basks in how good it feels to finally have a choice again.
The days pass slowly as Zelda and Link break off their engagement formally. Some of the townspeople are disappointed that the legendary Hero of Time will no longer be the king of Hyrule but Link reasons with them that he belongs on an adventure somewhere, not in a stuffy throne room. Zelda eases their worries by announcing a grand ball where she would be inviting neighbouring countries to attend. The people were thrilled at the idea of a ball and soon that was the talk of town, not Link and Zelda's broken engagement.
The longer Sheik spent around the castle the more he felt at ease there. The guards still made him wary but he was growing used to them. It angered him that he jumped so easily now and, no matter how much Link tried to reason with him, he was angry at himself for being frightened of something so insignificant. He had faced much greater foes while traveling with Link and he never feared them the way he feared the guards. It took Link awhile to get Sheik to understand that when he fought those enemies he wasn't bound, gagged and blindfolded.
Link often talked about traveling. He wanted to see if he could find Navi. He missed the little fairy greatly, but he put off search for her when he spotted Sheik in the market square. He decided he would go searching for her after the ball. Sheik had instantly agreed to go with him.
Sheik stood at the window in the room he shares with Link in the castle. It overlooks the horse pastures where the horses stay during good weather instead on being cooped up in a box stall. Epona and Calibri are grazing idly in the fading light of the sun. He smiles faintly as he watches them. When Link enters the room Sheik turns to greet him.
"Hero," he says softly and Link smiles.
"I used to hate that name," he says as he wraps his arms around Sheik. "Now I love to hear it from your lips."
Sheik grins. "I'm glad you've learned to love it because I am not going to stop using it, Hero," Sheik says and he laughs when Link tickles his ribs gently.
"I am happy to see you smiling more," Link says, cupping Sheik's cheek gently.
"I am happy," Sheik answers. "I've realized that my ancestors would want me to choose happiness over Sheikah law. And if they have any issues with it," he shrugs. "I love you too much to care."
Link grins and kissed Sheik's forehead softly. "Glad to hear it," Link says.
Sheik basks in the happiness he finds within Link's arms as he watches the sun slowly sink down in the sky. He knows he has found himself and where he belongs. He doesn't belong in Castletown, the desert or Kakariko Village. He belongs with Link It doesn't matter where the man is, or where he plans to go. Sheik knows that as long as he is in the Hero of Time's arms he is home. He knows he belongs. He knows he is loved.
And that's all he's ever wanted.
The End.
Just an Epilogue left - will be posted on Saturday!