i know, it's been a while, and all you out there reading this story, i appologize for the really late update!!
-Chapter 8-
The fields went by in a blur. The wind blew hard in his face, making his eyes water. He leaned forward on his horse, leaving his back open to the fierce heat of the sun. But the sun felt good, because it meant he was on the road again.
Dust flew up beneath the thundering of his horse's feet, signaling he had entered Kakariko. But this was just a short cut. It would have been easier just to go through Castle Town, but horses weren't allowed in.
The fields were there again, and he thundered across them, ignoring everything in his path. They didn't matter. All that mattered was that he was on the road again.
And boy did that feel good.
"You sure learn quick" the voice pulled him back to reality. Link looked at who had spoken. It took him a second to recognize who it was, but then he smiled.
"Yeah, I guess I do" Link said, pulling his horse to a halt.
Sheik laughed. He was leaning against the fence, just watching, but apparently having a good time. He did seem more laid back than usual, though. "So what are you going to name the horse?" he asked.
"What?" Link asked "doesn't already have a name?"
Sheik shrugged "apparently not, Maria over here said they never got around to it."
"Oh" Link looked at the girl, Maria apparently, and asked "Is that true?"
She nodded.
Link jumped off the horse and stroked its golden mane softly. "Is it a boy or a girl?" he asked.
"A girl" Maria laughed
"Ah. Hang on, why am I naming it?" Link asked
"It's a birthday present for you silly" Maria said
Link looked at Sheik, who just shrugged. "From who?"
"You're father" Maria said
Link's eyes went wide, and he stared at the girl in shock. "What?"
"I don't know. That's what my father told me though."
Link looked at the horse, and suddenly he knew what to name it. "Hello LiteHart" he whispered.
Sheik leaned back on the fence again, getting slightly tired of watching Link riding his new horse. He turned to Maria, who was leaning on the opposite side of the fence.
"He's good isn't he?" she asked
Sheik nodded. "Better than I would have expected."
"So what about you," Maria asked "do you ride?"
"Of course I do" Sheik laughed "what makes you think that I wouldn't?"
"I don't know, you just don't look like you would" Maria said nervously.
Sheik laughed, he seemed to have that affect on people a lot recently. Everyone got nervous when he asked them something "And Link does?"
Maria shrugged.
The sun was hot, and a small wind stirred the grass. The only sound was Link riding LiteHart around the ranch, and even that seemed quieter than usual.
"Do you usually talk this much to strangers?" Maria asked quietly
"No…" Sheik said, wondering where she was going with this. He turned towards her, and realized that her face was closer to his than it had been moments before. He backed away.
She turned away quickly, and Sheik could just see her blush. He rolled his eyes, girls these days!!
The sun was starting to set in the distance. Sheik squinted at it, and then called "come on Link! You've been riding long enough, we should be off!!"
Link pulled his horse to a halt, and looked at Sheik. "Aww…" he complained "Do we have to?" Sheik merely nodded. Link sighed and jumped off his horse. He led it to the stables. Sheik waited for him to get back.
"Boy am I tired" Link said as he came back. Sheik just rolled his eyes at him.
"Hey…" Maria said "it is getting late, and the trip back to Kakariko-"
"Is short enough that we'll get back before it's too late" Sheik said, cutting her off.
"Well… but…" Maria whispered
"Why not?" Link asked Sheik "why can't we stay for just one night?"
"Won't you're mother be worried about you though?"
Link shook his head "I'm sure she won't mind"
"That's what you think" Sheik said under his breath
"What?" Link asked
"Nothing, nothing at all" Sheik said
"Besides" Maria said "I heard there were monsters out at night"
"Well whoever told you that is a liar" Sheik muttered
"What?" Maria asked
"Oh! Nothing" Sheik said
"Even if there were" Link said "I'm sure we could handle it. Right Sheik?" he punched Sheik's shoulder.
"Yeah!" Sheik said, rubbing his shoulder. Link's punches had started hurting.
"Oh but look!" Maria exclaimed, pointing at the already set sun "all this arguing has kept us up later than need be! There's no way you could get home in time now!"
"I think we'll be fine" Sheik said
"And won't you just be back tomorrow anyways?" Maria asked "I'm sure Link wants to ride his horse some more."
"I know I'll be back, and staying here just seems easier than going back, getting a few hours of sleep and then just coming back here." Link said "I think I'll stay."
Sheik sighed. He always seemed to be fighting a losing battle.
"You don't have to stay Sheik" Maria said "just head off if you don't want to stay so badly. Spend the whole night by yourself--"
"Fine" Sheik muttered, annoyed. Maria beamed.
"Come on, I'll need to tell my dad before he falls asleep. Otherwise you'll end up sleeping in hay, and I'm sure you don't want that. Are you hungry? I would think you would be. When was the last time you ate anyways?" Maria's rambling went on
"Happy?" Sheik hissed in Link's ear
"She certainly is" Link whispered back, smiling. He followed Maria into the house.
Sheik sighed, but nevertheless followed.
