Sheik plucked gently at his harp, perched contently on the windowsill. He had taken a liking to watching the town, perhaps because it made him feel useful.
Even at night the streets of the barren marketplace still seemed calm… peaceful.
He couldn't help but envy the blissful ignorance of the Hylian people; completely unaware of the danger they were in. The Queen liked to keep political matters out of the eyes of the public. She said they were better off.

The clanking of glasses and mild chatter, though quieted now, echoed from the bar downstairs. He heard Anju say "Last Call," and couldn't help but wonder if his comrade was present.

His fingers grew tired, and his melody dwindled.
He stared up to the heavens.

What a day it had been.

He sighed heavily.
Though he was grateful to have run into Link after all this time, this was not how he'd expected things to go.

Link was a different person.
… Cold.

And apparently quite cocky, as Sheik had seen first hand while he boasted about his…
...whatever he'd been boasting about to a group of younger girls in the bar.

If Sheik was being completely honest with himself, he had to admit, he was a bit jealous.
Link had always been so good at conversing with other people. It just came naturally to him.

Still, Sheik couldn't help but feel that it'd become more than him just being sociable.

A low creak from the western gate stole his attention. Setting down his harp, Sheik shifted his position to get a closer look.
He couldn't see much from his angle, but as the guards stepped aside, they let what looked like a band of travelers pass into the area.

Strange, he mused, sitting back on his ledge. It was a little late to be letting visitors into town, though it wouldn't be the first time.
The Queen had been rather lax on security in the towns as of late. She was more concerned with…

Well, to be honest, Sheik had no idea what Zelda concerned herself with anymore.
There was a time when Sheik had known everything that was going on in the castle, in Hyrule even, but…

Sheik sighed inwardly.
That was a time ago.

He could have mulled over that thought for quite some time, had the visitors not peaked his interest by stopping right in front of the bar.

The bandleader, by the look of him, motioned for the rest of his group to tether their horses, as he did the same. Sheik couldn't see his face, but he soon realized by his stature that the figure was clearly not Hylian.
Or Human.
Or Gerudo…
… Or any race that the Sheikah was familiar with, for that matter.

As they entered the bar, the Sheikah, now curious, leapt from his perch onto the soft grass below him. He quietly unlatched the lower level tavern window and nudged it open in hopes of staying out of sight, listening intently.

It wasn't long before he heard Anju address them.

"I'm sorry boys," said Anju sweetly, "The bar's closing. It's almost 3."

The leader chuckled, "No worries, miss. We aren't here to drink."

"Oh? Then I'm afraid you're in the wrong place."

"Yes, well," he said, glancing at his partner, "we'll see about that."

Anju gave a suspicious glance at the man's partner who started wandering about the place.

"Relax. We aren't here to cause you trouble. I'm looking for someone. A certain someone that I think you happen to know quite well."

"Who might that be?"

"I believe he goes by the name of Link around here?"

Sheik perked up.
This stranger knew Link?
He sure seemed to get around nowadays...

Anju, looking uncomfortable, shook her head.
"I'm sorry sir, but I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh, but I think you do, miss," said the stranger, leaning over the bar.

Anju moved towards the door. "Sir, I'm going to have to a-"

"You see, Anju," He stepped out in front of her. "May I call you Anju?" Her face went pale. He continued. "It's very important that I find this man. I don't intend to harm anyone, but if I don't find him, well…"

He lifted a blackened hand, threateningly.

"Someone could get hurt."

Anju shook her head again, slower this time.

"No?"

He moved his dark hand up to his hood.

"Are you sure? Because… I think you're lying to me."

And as he revealed his face, Sheik found himself in awe.
The man was unlike anything he'd ever seen.

His skin was two-toned, mostly black…
but the markings were what caught Sheik's eye.
They were green and vibrant. It seemed as though they were…?

He stopped his gawking as Anju gave a shrill shriek.

"Now…"
The being had blocked her behind the bar.
"Let's try this again, shall we?"

But as he lifted that menacing hand again, there was a flash of light, and he retracted as an arrow whizzed by his arm and sank into the wall, still aglow.

Seemingly befuddled, the man turned towards the source of the arrow, meeting Link's gaze at the top of the stairs.
"Leave her alone," Link growled.

The man smirked. "I knew you'd be here, boy." He moved to the other side of the bar, his lackies behind him. "You seem to have an affinity for Hylian women and…"
He eyed the bottle they'd previously been drinking, his face showing disgust.
"… Zoran liquor."

Sheik couldn't help but feel a very small sense of agreement with his distaste for the stuff, immediately feeling guilty afterwards.

"What can I say, I'm a loyalist," Link said, his expression unwavering. "What do you want?"

Sheik could tell the conversation was about to get long-winded, and took the opportunity to sneak inside while the men were distracted.
He made his way over to the bar, where Anju was attempting to hide herself.

As Link and the strangers started debating over something or other (regarding a magic mirror of sorts?), Sheik grabbed Anju's arm.
She jumped.

"Get out of here," he whispered urgently. "Retrieve the guards."

She looked at him worriedly, shaking her head.

What?
"Go, now!"
What was she waiting for?

"I can't." She whispered back, glancing over at the men to make sure they couldn't hear. "This bar is all I have, I can't leave it."

Sheik sighed.
Hylians were too stubborn.
"And what will you have if you don't live through the night?" he hissed.

She thought about this for a moment, and then, deciding he was right, nodded.
Of course the second she stood, one of the larger men slammed a fist down on the bar, staring at her with deep red eyes.

"Where are we going?"

Sheik stepped in front of the cowering girl. "You have no business with her."

The bandleader slowly made his way over to Sheik, his disfavor prevalent.
His red eyes bore into Sheik's crimson ones, and look of realization crossed his features.
His mouth twisted into a grin.
"What do we have here?"

The other men chuckled. Sheik had to fight to hide his sense of degradation.

Looking around at his comrades, he gave a laugh.
"A Sheikah? In Hyrule?"

"Enough."
Link, who had made his way into the center of the room, gave Anju a look.
She didn't need to be told again, and promptly ran.

The man growled, eyes still on Sheik.
"I'll be damned."
His expression became angry.
"No wonder… I hate Sheikah."

"This does not concern him, Tirin."

Tirin, Sheik assumed his name was, glanced back at Link, and then at his men. "Oh, does it not? Have you forgotten what you've promised me?"
Looking at his men, he chuckled again.
"I've grown tired of our argument. And as for my payment…"

A dark glow started to emanate from his outstretched hand.
"What do you say, boys?" His red eyes glared hungrily at the bewildered Sheik. "I think a Sheikah would do nicely as compensation, don't you think…?"

Before said Sheikah realized what was happening, Tirin struck, hoping to catch him off guard with his dark magic.
But, thankfully, Sheik's reflexes were faster.

He dodged the blast, rolling under the bar and into the center of the room, noticing three more men coming at him.
He drew a dagger, ready for the battle.

"Stop!" Link yelled, notching a Light arrow in his bow.
The men stopped their advance, still staring at Sheik, prepared to take him down if necessary.

Not really knowing what the hell was going on, Sheik watched them intensely, ready for anything, his heart pounding as his adrenaline started to surge.

Link aimed the arrow at Tirin. "Tell them to stop."

Tirin laughed loudly. "That's sweet."

He motioned his men to stand down. "My boy, you've gone soft. A year of bloodshed and war has done nothing but make you weak. You return to Hyrule for no more than a day and you've already gotten yourself a pet?"

…

Now, Sheik, being a man of reason, took pride in the fact that he had a level head and sharp mind.
There were a lot of things that he could handle.
Being called a 'pet' was not one of them.

He gripped the hilt of his dagger tightly, a hot rage filling his body.
As he felt that familiar rush, his patience snapped.

He wasn't really sure that he was fully aware of what he was doing.
All he knew was he wanted this Tirin dead. And he was going to have that happen.
He lunged.

Drawing a deku nut, he slammed it down by Tirin's feet, creating a flash of light that gave him just enough time to get out of the center of the room.
He felt a sense of satisfaction at the bewildered stares of his enemies, and took the opportunity to launch his throwing knives.

They collided with two of the men, one in the neck and one in the shoulder. Link gave a discouraging shout, but Sheik was too driven by instinct to hear it.

One of them fell, his black blood spilling all over the floor as he sputtered.
The other took the knife out of his broad shoulder, livid. He grabbed Sheik's arm, which Sheik used as leverage.
A second later his body slammed into the floor boards, nearly cracking them.

Sheik, for good measure, kicked his wounded shoulder. The man yelped in pain, curling onto his side.

The last of the men, drawing a blade, swung at Sheik.
He dodged, knocking the blade out of the way and slicing deep into the back of the man's arm.
He dropped the sword, clutching his wound.

Three down.
Sheik turned on his heel as he heard a roar from behind.
One to go.

"Damned Sheikah!" Tirin yelled, coming at him. "I'll have your head!"
As Sheik was just about to attack, there was another flash.

Tirin screamed in agony.

The Light arrow had hit his hand. He clutched his wrist as his black skin disintegrated.
Sheik looked over at Link, who gave him a look, as though to say,
'If you're going to do it, do it now.'

Slipping behind Tirin as he howled in pain, Sheik grabbed his head of fire-red hair, yanked it back, and slit his throat. He watched as he struggled, clutching is neck, flailing in his own blood.
Soon, he was still.

Coming down from the high, Sheik's complacence was interrupted by a hand on his arm.
He turned to see Link, looking rather urgent.
"We have to go. Now."

As he said this, there was a loud knock on the door. "Tirin? What the hell's going on in there?"
"They heard us."

He looked around noticing another exit behind the bar.
"Come on."

They exited around the back of the Inn, listening for Tirin's companions. The knocking continued.
Link motioned Sheik to follow him, and they slid around the side of the building.

The knocking ceased and Link stopped. Sheik listened intently, his heart pounding in his ears.
A loud crash came from inside the Inn, accompanied by a moan.
One of the men Sheik hadn't killed.

"Sar," he called weakly. "Sar!"

Sheik, knowing that the men would soon see the devastation he'd caused, saw one of the horses tethered to the fence.
Tirin's, he remembered.

Nudging Link, he motioned to the horse. Link nodded.
'South gate,' he mouthed, before slipping into the shadows.

There was a loud crash from inside the place, and Sheik knew they'd broken in.
He heard muffled shouting and a rush of footsteps on the floor.
He used the distraction as his opportunity.

Glancing around the front of the building, he surveyed the area. Most of the men had joined their partners inside, while a few lingered by the doorway.

Now was his chance.

Slicing the horse's bonds, he used the fence to hoist himself onto its back.
The horse whinnied nervously, unaccustomed to his rider.

"Easy," Sheik said, attempting to soothe him. Once the horse obliged, he steered him away from the Inn and went around the back, headed toward the southern gate.

Link was waiting for him outside of town.
Seeing Sheik approach, he turned to the mountains.

"It's nearly sunrise. We should go quickly, before we're spotted."

Sheik nodded, ready to follow.
But Link did not move. He continued to stare at Sheik, eyeing him suspiciously.

Sheik stared straight back at him.

Link, after a minute of studying him, averted his gaze.
"If we leave now we'll reach the outer mountains by dusk."

"What was he?"

Link avoided Sheik's face as he contemplated the question, as if he'd been expecting it.
Sheik waited patiently, his eyes still fixated on Link.

Looking whimsical, he replied with a question of his own.

"Have you ever heard of the Mirror of Twilight?"