**Authors Note** Please leave reviews! I hope you're liking this story!
Chapter Two
"It is all my fault!" The Princess cries as she sits on the edge her guardian's satin bed. She buries her face in her hands as she weeps.
"Stop that!" Impa says, crossing over to the young girl. She was so fragile.. so young. The only way to keep her safe was to bring her back to the Caverns.. The place Impa had thought to have left far behind when she chose to stay at the Princess's side at all times without a race to lead.
"M-my father.. He's gone and it's all my fault.. And Link.. oh I never should have sent him to the Temple!" Impa places a hand on the girl's shoulder and forces her to look up from her hands.
"The fault of your father's death resides on neither you nor I. He did not believe our tale of caution. The only way to save you from the King of Evil's grasp was to release the Triforce.. and pray it fall into the right hands." Impa gestures to Zelda's right hand, where the golden triangle of fate has left its mark. "Link is destined to be the Hero of Time. You and I both knew this the moment he made his way into your courtyard.. He will right the world."
Sniffling, the blond girl nodded. Her lip quivered as she tried to pull herself together. "What will come of my people? If I must hide.." Impa looks down somberly, and the Princess feels her throat knot. "We cannot hide.. We musn't! While everyone else suffers! How long must we wait before-" Impa holds up a hand to silence the girl.
"Seven years.. It will take seven years for the Hero to come of age. Until then you must hide and pray your people know well enough to take refuge outside of The Market.." Impa explains, knowing full well it is more difficult than she can imagine for the small girl to comprehend. "Have faith, child."
"I do." Zelda whimpers. "My people.. it feels as though there is a dagger in my chest. I pain for them.. and I feel the guilt upon my spirit even if it is not my burden.." Impa stares at the Princess for a moment, then stands abruptly.
"Rest Princess. You will find my bed to your comfort.. It has not been slept in for ages." Without another word, the Sheikah crosses over to the door and exits the room. Closing the door behind her, she has to glance at it twice because her mind plays a trick, and she swares to see the door mangled like it once was.
Deep within the Caverns, the Sheikah finds the shrine. On top of a tall, stone pedestal is a bottle filled with red. She climbes the stone steps, and kneels before the shrine, the Symbol of the Sheikah engraved just below her.
"My son." She whispers, bowing her head. "Sheik.. " Saying his name brings a familiar feeling to the room. She may very well imagine the ghostly figure.. but for the past decade she often finds herself speaking to the ghost, and it becomes harder to believe that he is not real.
"Is it time?"
The Sheikah woman nods, looking up to face her son as he crosses from the far end of the room. Impa rises to one knee, and looks to him. "I believe it is.. The Triforce has been separated as the Goddesses willed. The Princess, The Boy of the Forest, and the Gerudo King have been chosen.. Zelda must hide, and the boy must sleep for seven years.. In that time the King will reign evil over the land.. I can feel it."
The blond boy nods, crossing his arms over his bloody chest. "In seven years, the ritual takes only six... I can hide the Princess better than these cavern walls.. If she accepts, my spirit will become one with hers, and I will stand again.."
Impa nodded. "Yes my son.. It is my duty to protect the Princess. Soon the Gerudo King will find us.. I came to you to ask for your permission.. To do what must be done to save her life.. To protect Hyrule." Sheik paces over to the pedestal, and runs his hands over the glass bottle. He looks over to his mother.
"I accept."