I don't own Legend of Zelda. Enjoy! :)

Chapter Three

Secrets to Keep and Comforts in the Night

The staring was making Link uncomfortable. The Sheikah's red eyes seemed to bore into his soul—which, consider the rumors, could be true; though one question was buzzing in his mind.

"Um, I swore not to tell anyone about what you Sheikah are up to… But, where is Princess?" Link shifted his eyes elsewhere, searching again any signs of the Princess.

Link heard the Sheikah sighed. "I don't how to tell you this… But you do have a right to know, since you 'caught' me, per se."

Looking back at the Sheikah, the Hylian watched him make a movement with his arms, bright light forming around his hands. Then in a blink of an eye, the Sheikah turned into the Princess, her blue eyes staring at him nervously.

"Princess Zelda?! But… How… What in the Goddesses' names is going on here?!"

"Shhhh! Keep your voice down!" Zelda whispered harshly, "As for what's going here on here, well… I'm Zelda—technically I'm Sheik of the Sheikah—but in this form, I'm Princess Zelda of Hyrule."

"Okay… But… How are you the Princess? And where is she?"

He watched the Sheikah's—rather the Princess's mouth—form in a grimace, her eyes downcast.

"Well… She's… She's dead. She's been dead awhile now." Link could hear the sadness in her voice and he had the urge to go and comfort her, but the knowledge of the Princess's death kept him rooted.

"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you everything right now. Cloria should be back any minute now and I need you to act that nothing has happened."

Link nodded, internally suppressing his shock. He grabbed the chair and placed it next to the door as Zelda went into the washroom to dress in her sleeping gown. He heard muttering noises coming from the hall and he stood up as the door opened.

"Thank you Joshian, for escorting me to my room."

"You're welcome, Milady. If you need anything, just a bell for a maid and you'll be helped out. And," He's voice lowered, "If you need my help, I'm in the left hallway, second double-doors on the right." He gave a wink to her and wobbled off to his room.

Link could see the embarrassment at such a comment on the young lady's face as she closed the door. She saw her eyes widen and she gave a little squeak, to which Link bow respectfully.

"Sorry that my presence surprised you Milady, but Sir Oswyn ordered me to guard the Princess tonight."

"O-oh, yes, he did mention about that at dinner; thank you for your protection tonight."

Link nodded and sat again in his chair as the Princess exited the washroom in her sleepwear, discarding her previous clothing in a bag. She gave him a brief look and then turned her attention to her decoy, who was babbling about the dinner and the double-meaning of the Mayor's words. Link simply let the two women be, waiting for an opportune moment to speak with the Princess alone.

Hours passed since the decoy Cloria retired and Link kept watch over the Sheikah-Princess-person. Seeing the bed move, Link straighten up as the Princess silently climbed out of bed and closed the connecting-door quietly, careful not to disturbed Cloria. The Princess gave him a small smile and sat on her trunk and took a breath.

"So, let's talk."

"Yes, let us. Though, is it… Weird of me to ask that you be in your Sheikah form?"

Zelda shook her head. "Not at all." Checking that all the curtains were closed, Zelda transformed and Link lightly blushed as the slightly tight fight of the gown on the Sheikah's body. Luckily, the room was too dark for the other male to see.

"Alright," Sheik started as he sat on the trunk again, "You may ask any questions you have—and I assume you have a lot."

Link nodded. "You mentioned that Princess Zelda… Is dead. How and when did she die?"

"She died a year ago; found in a forest. As to how she died, by the horrid condition that my clan leader told me, she was most likely tortured by her kidnappers."

"Kidnappers? When was she kidnapped?" Link could hardly contain his shock.

"Seven years ago…"

"Wait… You've been the Princess for seven years? And no one else knows about it?" Link wanted badly to shout, but kept his voice quiet. Sheik nodded his head.

"Yes, except for my kin and now you."

"Why is this a secret? Shouldn't the King know that his daughter is dead?!"

"Shh! Keep it down a notch—and yes the King would have been informed, but considering the situation at the time of her kidnapping, the decision was made that I replace her until her return. But she's can't and if I don't keep this 'act'—as you call it—up, my kin would be in danger from the King."

"Why would the King be a threat to you?"

"Because he still harbors a mistrust of my kin. I'm sure you heard rumors and gossip about the Sheikah being spread around by other knights."

"Yeah…" Link defiantly heard rumors of the Sheikah that they're devils in disguise, waiting to for the prefect moment to kill the King and take over Hyrule and other such stories; Link believed them all to be rubbish. "But that's no reason for the King to be a threat to you."

"True and if we handle the situation differently, the King wouldn't want our heads. But, our plan has gone awry and now it's important than ever that the King doesn't found out his actual daughter is dead." Link watched the Sheikah stood and pace around the room, worry evident in his body.

"What happened seven years ago?" The Hylian asked, seeing the other male pause in his pacing. Sheik looked at him, his blood-red eyes showing grief and guilt.

"It's not a memory I like to recall… It's also a memory I can never forget. Seven years ago, I received—infused more like—the Princess's power. Because of that I can transform into her. She often used devious methods to make me take her place in her studies as she frolics about wherever she desires. It was during those one of times that the Princess was taken…

The day was the Fall Harvest and Sheik heard the bustling noises of merchants echo to the castle. He knew the Princess loved the seeing the Harvest, but always was crowded by the citizens, wanting to meet her. And when he felt her approach him from behind, he knew what she was going to ask.

"Sheik—"

"No."

"But—"

"No. Princess I am not going to switch places with you again just so you can go and see the Harvest in town." Sheik could feel her eyes start to water before he heard her quiet sobs—a trick he won't fall for.

Turning from the window, Sheik sighed as Zelda produced tears, the drops flowing down her cheeks, but he could see in her eyes hope that he'll fall her poutiness.

"That won't work Princess—save your tears for a day of sadness or joyfulness." Zelda glared at him as she wiped her eyes.

"That used to work on you—it's not fair."

"Not fair that I see through your tricks? I am a Sheikah after all, trained to see through the enemy's deception. And for you, Milady, I can tell the difference when you're actually crying or faking it." Zelda stuck her tongue at him and then stood next him, looking out the window; a somber look on her face.

"I really want to go Sheik. I just want to see what it would be like if I wasn't the Princess of Hyrule—just an ordinary girl going to the Harvest."

"But, you're not an ordinary girl Zelda. You weren't born into that life—you're royalty and nothing you do can change that."

"I know, I know… You're right. I'll go to my lessons now…" And Sheik watched the Princess slowly walk away, a sadness encasing her body. Against his better judgement, Sheik sighed and gave in to her demands.

"Alright Zelda, I'll be you again." He was immediately crushed into a hug.

"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!" She placed a kiss on his cheek and quickly moved to the door, but Sheik grabbed her wrist before she disappeared.

"Hold on. Before you go, have a Sheikah escort you—I don't care who, be it Impa or Lithe or another Sheikah. I won't you have you go unprotected because I'm not there to watch you." Zelda smiled at him and nodded.

"I won't and I promised I'll be safe." And off the Princess went.

Sheik walked towards the Princess' room, popping his bones from the long hours of learning about Hyrule's culture diversity—no wonder Zelda wanted to skip her lessons, Scholar Lyron's voice kept droning on and on monotonously. But now he had job to inform Milady of what he learned so she'll be ready for tomorrow's study.

As he neared her room, Sheik saw his Aunt walking—no, running towards him, worry on her face.

"Sheik! There you are!"

"Aunt! What's wron—" Strong arms wrapped around him, squeezing the life out of him. His Aunt has never been the affectionate type, so when she did show that rare side, Sheik knew something terrible happened.

"Sheik, the Princess is missing," Impa whispered in his ear, shock jolting through his body, "But the King hasn't heard about it—and nor would he. You have to be the Princess for a bit, just until we find her. Can you do that for me?" Sheik nodded his training kicking in. Quickly transforming, Zelda looked at her Aunt with worry.

"You'll find her, right?" A small smile appeared on the older Sheikah's face.

"We will. Now, I believe it's time for supper young lady." And with that, they went their separate ways, hoping that the Princess would be found soon, but it would in vain seven years later.

"My kin searched everywhere for the Princess, but no trace could be found. And now she's dead… And my kin will be eliminated if the King finds out about the truth of his daughter. If only I had tried harder to convince her not to go…"

"It's not your fault." The Sheikah whipped his heads towards him, his red eyes showing disbelief.

"It's not your fault," Link said again, standing up and moving close to the Sheikah, "You should stop blaming yourself."

"It's my fault and why would you say the opposite? Shouldn't you disagree with me, throw insults my way?" The Hylian could hear the caution in the Sheikah's voice and Link slowly placed his hand on his shoulder and gave a little squeeze.

"I don't judge like my kin do and nor would I say words that would put you down—that's not me. And I'll say the opposite of you because it's true. You're not at fault here; the Princess did what she did and you did what she told you—nothing more to it." Link wrapped his arms around the lean frame of Sheik, giving comfort. The Hylian always had a soft a spot for people were in need—whither it be physical or emotional and right now he could feel the years of pent-up emotions in the Sheikah's heart and Link whispered words of soothing, taking all the wordless venting Sheik pour onto him.

Link held him for a moment longer before he pulled away. Sheik gave him a small smile and thanked him, then transformed. Each gave words of goodnight and Link watched the Princess fall asleep, still a smile on her face.