Chapter Five

Metus et Mysteria
"Fears and Secrets"

A day had passed and Link was doing much better than he had been the previous night. The unnatural black lines that crawled along his skin were still present, but the Hero was no longer feverish and now slightly less exhausted thanks to Midna carefully watching over him since the moment she found the Hero twisting in pain, eyes bright with fury.

The Princess had attended to both his and her duties while Link rested. Luckily there wasn't much to be done, but she did feel lonely without him, especially considering the day.

Every few days on a strict schedule, Link and Midna would spend an hour or so in front of the palace together, interacting with anyone that wished to share a moment in their presence. Aralie was their most popular visitor, as she greatly enjoyed spending time with the Hero and sharing what she had learned since the last time she saw him. Midna recalled earlier in the day how the child had seemed so disappointed that Link hadn't accompanied the Princess. Aralie's face was worried upon seeing only Midna approach.

"Is Link okay?" the girl had asked when the Twili ruler stepped out into the open on her own, expression serious. Midna's face immediately changed, realizing she would make others curious or fearful from her demeanor in addition to the lack of the Hero's presence. The Princess stopped before her young subject and squatted so she was looking at the child on eye level.

"He's tired so he's sleeping extra. Link had a nightmare and didn't get enough rest," Midna responded, bending the truth a bit. She didn't dare tell Aralie what really happened, but couldn't bear outright lying to a kid, especially one that held such genuine concern for Link's health.

"Tell him I said I'm worried and I hope he's better soon," she replied with a sad smile. Midna nodded solemnly and left to return to Link's side not long after her conversation. She didn't want to be lonely, and it seemed none of the other Twili wanted to talk to her, noticing she acted withdrawn and aloof.

As of now, the Princess lay on her bed next to the Hero. Although it was only roughly midday, the Twili was exhausted. Once he was conscious, Midna explained to Link the reason behind the arrangements they had woken up to. She insisted they stay in the same room just in case the event repeated itself, but knew it wasn't likely considering he'd just been through one major phase. Still, Midna wasn't willing to risk anything. She'd never seen this happen in person and only knew about the process from stories.

Link had stayed on her bed so far the entire day, mostly unmoving. Midna had offered to sleep on the floor, but he insisted it wasn't right for one of her status to doze on the ground. The Princess rebutted his argument, telling him she'd gone through much worse than having to deal with hard surfaces as a place to rest. She knew he was being chivalrous though, and feared for his health as his responses became vocally weaker with each word he spoke. Eventually they came to the compromise that the two of them would reside in the same bed, an awkward silence hovering between them.

Midna hated herself. If only she'd stayed awake and brought him back to his own room then everything would be normal, as he would have no way of knowing what had happened and instead she could reveal what he was going through in a cautious and timely manner free of tension between them. She feared instead of slowly closing the distance between the two, she'd rapidly widened it in a way.

They lay on opposite edges of the bed while they looked up at the ceiling in silence. Neither knew what to say to the other at this point, fearing the wrong words may scar them deeply, yet they still wished to express something as to simply hear the comforting voice of the other. Both were afraid, though they didn't know of what exactly.

"Aralie is worried about you," the Princess spoke, eventually breaking the quiet between them. "She wishes you the best."

Link didn't say anything, pretending to be asleep. In truth he felt terrible. Currently not physically, although his body was sore and fatigued from what he had gone through the previous night, an incident he didn't remember but Midna had informed him of after he had awoken. No, he felt terrible for making her worry, and now causing others to fear for him. The Hero couldn't stand to be pitied, never wishing to put anyone he cared for through any sort of pain, although his own suffering had inadvertently done so.

Midna explained that since he had broken the fever, what Link had gone through would be the worst of it for now. The Princess didn't let on much more than that, keeping some sort of secret about his condition. Link was fearful about what may come, but understood her actions. After all, the Hero could relate: he had more than one skeleton in the closet.

Link lifted his arm, reaching for the ceiling far above, his palm open. The lines on his skin almost came to his wrist, but not quite. He clenched his hand into a fist after a moment of stillness and the black streaks moved like snakes as his muscles contracted. The glow of the markings on the walls caught the symbol of the Goddesses on the back of his hand, reminding the Hero that he was one of courage and to not fear whatever might be happening to him now. After a moment of pondering the blessing that he sometimes saw as a curse, Link brought his arm down, resting it across his altered eyes.

"Midna…" he said pensively. She slowly turned her head towards his and Link remaining unmoving as he continued. "Am I… going to die?"

The Twili abruptly sat upright at his words, looking to the one lying next to her who had been through so much yet had never given up on hope. His arm slid aside the slightest, eye peeking out from beneath as the red edges of the iris glowed in the shadow cast by his limb.

"Link, you are not going to die. I swear on my throne and bloodli—" she stopped midsentence, slipping out of the bed and pacing about the room. Link turned on his side to watch as she moved around her chambers. After a moment the Twili stopped and faced him. "Link, you won't die," she spoke determined.

The Hero pushed himself up; sliding his legs over the edge of the surface he had been laying on a moment ago, elbows now propped atop his knees as he looked to the ground between his feet. Link was unable to meet Midna's eyes, fearing the distress they would show at the words he proceeded to speak.

"I don't want to worry you, but it felt like dying… I can't remember the event itself, but the pain… I-I never want to go through that again. Even my first transformation into a wolf was painless compared with…" he drifted, not knowing how to describe the incident. He didn't want to worry her, but at the same time Link felt he owed Midna something for everything she had done for him since the event began. Upon seeing her reaction, he instantly regretted even thinking of telling her.

The Princess of Twilight collapsed onto the chair in front of the desk; looking to the Hero horrified and not realizing just how much suffering he had to endure. Midna now partially understood his reason for feeling as if he would die. No one should have to experience what Link had gone through, if it was indeed what she thought. The Princess first had to confirm it though, still trying to deny the truth that tormented her.

"I know you've been living in this realm for quite some time now, and you've easily come accustomed to our ways," she spoke, slowly bringing her thoughts together as not to shock him with her conclusion. Link looked up, sight settling on a scratch along her forearm from his unconscious attacks towards her. She saw his gaze come to rest on the wound and shifted to hide her arm. Now that he wore the cloak and she was simply garbed in the sarong adorning her waist, it was difficult to conceal the minor wound. Midna continued,

"You've done well so far, but there is still much you have yet to learn about my people. Like all cultures, we have a strong mythos and history. You know of one of these legends, that of the blue eyed beast, our hero. You."

His gaze went to hers, the red that crept from the edges of his irises snuck up on the color of which she spoke, threatening to suffocate the calm with a wave hostility and hatred, just as what had come to pass between her people centuries before.

"But there are more. My Royal Family has closely guarded one of these legends. Even Zant knew nothing of it."

The Hero's pointed ears twitched as he listened attentively, reminding the Princess of his other form.

"Link, I believe it's about time I told you the Legend of the Sheikah."

A/N: I'm really sorry for this short chapter, and I'm sorry to leave you on a cliffhanger such as this (actually, I'm not. I like cliffhangers).
Please understand.