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

Chapter Five

Crossing Borders and Hearts

Zelda roamed around the streets of Ferrin with Link by her side. This was the last town before they crossed the border into the Foerin Kingdom, where her future-husband lies. In roughly two weeks, she'll meet him and get married—she hoped he'll looked good to look at.

"What's on your mind, Shelia?" Zelda smirked at the little cover name he gave her when they went into public.

"Nothing much—just thinking what my future-husband looks like."

"Wait… You're marrying a guy you haven't met? Not even once at a party or something."

"No. It's common for the betrothed of the higher-ups to not see each other 'til a week or two before the wedding—sometimes 'til the day of wedding."

"That's… Different. So you'll marry a complete stranger. Do the betrothed fall in love eventually?" Zelda hesitantly answered.

"Well… No, not really. It's rare for love to bloom between two people that have been forced to couple. Most of the time, the husband, wife, or both will take a lover on the side because of the lack of love between them—and before you ask, yes, the lover would be known to the other partner and nothing would be done about it."

Link's face showed shock at that statement. "But why? Shouldn't the betrayed partner leave their faithless other or something?" Zelda shook her head.

"No. They could, but these arranged marriages are for the benefits to both families that arranged the coupling; nothing matters but social status and wealth—if they leave, then civil war would happen between the families and that's something no one wants, so they pretend to live a happy life for the sake of their families."

"And what does marrying you off to some stranger prince that'll benefit the two kings?"

"Hyrule will have a king and heir off-springs; Foerin will have a strong ally—it's a perfect arrangement for the two kingdoms."

"I see. And would you take lovers on the side?" Zelda thought for a moment, her wandering down that path of possibility.

"No, I wouldn't. While that is a possibility in the future, it's best that I or my future-husband don't. For us to take a lover on the side and have everyone find out, it'll be such a scandal that there could be an uproar and that there'll be tense meetings between the two kingdoms which could lead to war in later years—higher-ups hold grudges for years and years."

"You rich folk are messed up."

"Yes we are."

They shared a laugh as silence fell between them. Each were lost in their own thoughts and Zelda worried about the potion she took; would it allow her to have off-springs? She didn't spot any blood coming from her nether regions—Impa taught her the innards of the female body. Perhaps the potion didn't work and now she was a barren female with no way to bare heirs, which could cause problems for the future of Hyrule and her Sheikah kin.

"How would you have children?" Zelda was brought out of her musings, staring at Link like he grown an extra head.

"W-what? What kind of question is that? You're a young a man—you should know about where children come from."

"Yeah, I know where and how it happens. I'm asking how would you have children—far as I know, you aren't capable of it."

Zelda smiled a bit. "I took a potion to help with that."

"Oh? What crazy brew was concocted for this to happen?" Zelda playfully placed her finger on his lips—his surprisingly smooth lips.

"Ah, ah, ah; women don't reveal all their secrets to men."

"What about to men they know?" Link placed his hands on hers, taking a step closer. Zelda smirked and slightly leaned up.

"Well, it depends on how well the woman and man know each other."

Link smiled and slowly brought their hands down, leaning in, his breath mingling with hers. Zelda's eyes started to shut, her lips getting closer to his—

"Ahem."

Both Hylians jumped at the voice, moving a few feet from each other. They saw Reven leaning against a building, glaring at them—correction; glaring at Zelda.

"Hey knight; I need a moment with Shelia—make sure no one comes to alley." Reven then moved into the darken pathway, Zelda following her—Link stood watch at the entrance. The Sheikah stopped about ten feet in, nodding for Zelda to go deeper in the alleyway.

Zelda walked farther into the dark alley 'til she reached a turn in the path, where she saw Lithe round the corner.

"Hello."

"Hi…" Zelda looked him in the eye, but knew she was in deep trouble by the calm, but scary look in his eyes—something he learned from Impa.

"You know what you almost did and what consequences could have occurred," He's voice cold as steel, "I can't fathom what you're going through, but you agreed to leave the life of Sheik and become Princess Zelda, soon to be Queen of Hyrule. Don't let your emotions distract you form your eternal mission; you have the lives of our people in your palm. End this with the Hylian before it goes too far. You understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

"Good. And I'm sorry, Sheik." And Zelda could see the sincerity in his eyes—he meant well.

Lithe disappeared behind the corner as Zelda walked calmly back towards the entrance of the alley, seeing Reven following where Lithe went. She exited the alley and passed Link, not giving eye contact—he wordlessly followed.

Neither said a word to each other for almost a week, beside the formal conversation. They already crossed the border and were a three-day ride from the capital of the Foerin Kingdom. They stopped in a town called Verzhik with its mayor, a polite old man that had the best manners they ever came across.

As Cloria was again dinning, Zelda took the chance and snuck out, dressed in a simple shirt and pants, going deep into the nearby forest. She came across a small meadow; it would have been beautiful sight if the moon was out, shining with the stars. Zelda sat in middle, trying to calm her mind.

Soon… Soon she'll meet her betrothed and they'll marry... Share the bed together. She'll now be able to bear children, having her first bleed this past week—such traumatizing time that was for her. Even Cloria mentioned that she should have been used to the pain. How can anyone get used to that?! Women were on a whole another level than men when it came to levels of pain.

Though tonight, she wanted to be herself one more time before she forever gave up her true identity. Transforming, Sheik breathed the crisp air of the night; freedom at last! He stretched his limbs and flexed his muscles before doing a series of flips and maneuvers he learned from training under Impa. It felt great again!

Pausing to catch his breath, Sheik heard the hissing of a blade being drawn and he immediately flipped to the side, dodging the blade coming downward. Sheik's eyes widen as he saw Link as his attacker, his sword posed to strike again.

"What's the meaning of this Sir Link?" Sheik questioned, using Link's title as he had been for the past week.

"I saw you sneak away and followed. As you know, starting tomorrow Cloria would stop being your decoy and you would no longer be hidden. We made to promise to fight again and seeing how you won't be able to do that after tonight, I want a rematch right now."

"That won't happen. I have no weapons and my bodyguards won't allow this."

"Oh yeah?" Link threw him a small bundle at his feet. Sheik picked it up and unwrapped it, finding his Tantō; his eyebrows going up in surprise. He thought his weapon was back in Hyrule, waiting for a new owner to wield it.

"How did you get this…?" Sheik whispered, watching it gleam a bit.

"Lithe had it. He gave it to me when I started to follow you and gave consent to our match. He and Reven are watching the edges of the woods; none would disturb us. Now, fight me!" And Link took a fighting stance. Griping the familiar hilt of his blade, Sheik smiled and took position, his eyes watching Link.

They stared at each other for a few moments, and then Link struck, swinging his blade at the Sheikah. Sheik easily dodged the blow, dashing out with a low-sweep kick, knocking the Hylian on his arse. Link grunted at the dull pain, but smiled, excitement filling him. He stood back up and parried the other male's attack, hearing the blades sing on impact. They exchanged blows, neither giving way. Link learned from his master that when blades cross, a fighter could sense his opponent's emotions and he felt Sheik's through the fierce strikes of his blade: joy, pleasure, warmth, sorrow, anger, pain, pride, shame, grief; all the feelings swirling in the Sheikah. And deep buried in his soul, Link felt the emotions the he knew that are there; desire, love.

Parrying another attack, Link started speaking

"You know that you're blade is singing, telling me what your feeling—especially what you feel towards me." Link swung at the Sheikah's side, the blow blocked by the short blade.

"I feel nothing towards you; your heart is playing tricks on you. I suggest you focus on the duel on hand, or else," Sheik shoved the Hylian back and quickly pouncing the man to the ground, holding his Tantō to his neck, "You'll lose the fight."

Link stared straight into those red eyes, eyes that haunted him since he met the Sheikah. The kiss they almost shared raced through his mind and without a second thought, gently moved Sheik's hand and leaned up, but the other male reacted quickly, snapping his armed-hand free his hold and jumping off him a few feet away. Link sat up and his heart clenched at the sight of his affections, the Sheikah in a crouch-defense pose.

"Why do you deny the truth of your heart? You know you have feelings for me." Sheik shook his head.

"I don't. Come any closer and I'll make sure you leave here crawling in your own blood."

"You wouldn't harm—you couldn't if you tried." Link stood up and slowly walked towards him.

"Stay back or else!"

"No." Link crouched in front of him and Sheik lashed out, but there was little force to it and Link easily caught his wrist and taking away the weapon. The Hylian could see the fear in his eyes; fear of being caught, fear of letting his emotions take over him, fear of the consequences what could happen should this continue. Link had the same fears as well, but he wanted to be selfish, wanted to taste the Sheikah before he lost him forever.

Link leaned in and pressed his lips against the Sheikah. He felt Sheik stiffen, but Link didn't stop and instead tilted his head and pressed harder. He knew he shouldn't be doing this with what the talking he got from Reven in the alley, but the desire to taste and feel the man before him was too strong to ignore and heed her warning.

Sheik's whole body was on shut down when Link's lips touch his. He didn't know what to do. The feelings he developed for the man was breaking at the seams of his walls while the walls themselves stood firm and not letting an inch give way. It was an internal war he was raging. Oh yes he so much wanted to wrap his arms the Hylian and give into the hot kiss he was receiving, but his sense of duty and the words of Lithe trapped him from doing so, logic halting his desire. He felt lost, his mind and soul torn in two—what should he do? He needed something—anything that would help his decision.

It's alright Sheik, there's no need to be afraid. You've done so much for me and my Kingdom—it's time you have what you want…

Whither or not he imagined Zelda's voice didn't matter to him for he saw that as a sign and took charge, wrapping his arms around Link's neck and pulled to the ground on top of him. In that kiss, Sheik gave all of him to the Hylian, letting him feel all his raw emotions. The kiss was hot, tantalizing. The desire and love the built up in them exploded and neither could enough of the other.

Link was the first to take a breath, his lungs straining for air. Seeing the Sheikah's face all flustered and his eyes heavy with desire made him grin.

"I see you enjoyed that—I knew you couldn't keep your love for me tucked away forever."

"Sh-shut up, Hylian." Link grinned even more. He wrapped his arms around the Shiekah, holding him close. Sheik leaned into his warmth, a contented sigh escaping his lips.

They crossed the forbidden line, letting their hearts connect. Sheik knew what would await him and Link when they leave the forest, but for just this moment, he wanted to relish in this private world Link had created for him.