~Chapter 6~

Conner, Jakob and a few other Sheikah left a couple of hours ago. Both Sheik and I put up a fight, but we still got stuck here in Kakariko. So now here I am lying on a cot in Sheik's room not sleepy at all. Though I can hear Sheik's steady breathing, I know he's not asleep.

Sheik actually seemed really uncomfortable about me sleeping in here. I offered to sleep in a different room, but he said it was okay and that I'd been through enough already and that I didn't deserve to sleep on the stone floor. But for some reason he insisted that we both sleep in our cloths so we wouldn't have to change. He can be really weird about this kind of stuff.

"Sheik," I whisper.

"Yeah?" He answers immediately.

"Is there anything we can do? I know I'm not going to go to sleep."

"Me neither," Sheik sighs. "And no, there isn't. There's not much to do in here, and I'm sure Conner and Jakob told all the guards to keep their eyes on us. They won't let us out."

"Lots of trust," I mummer.

"Yeah," Sheik agrees.

We sit in silence for a few more moments.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" I finally ask.

"Yes, and I don't like it."

I grin. "So how are we going to do it?"

Sheik sighs and sits up. "Easy. Deku Nuts."

I laugh. I don't know what it is with Sheikah and Deku Nuts but they always use them.

"Deku Nuts it is."

We slip out of his room and silently make our way out of the building. Sheik was right, two Sheikah are positioned right outside the door. But Sheik pulls out two of the Deku Nuts and tosses them in the opposite direction. A huge bang rings out and flashes of color explode with a burning light. The guards cry out in surprise and run over to it. And while they're distracted, Sheik and I run over to the stable, quickly mount Epona and Shade, then fly out of the stable. Sheikah run after us and yell at us to stop, but we're already gone.

~X~

We shuffle through the Haunted Wasteland, sand and wind scratching our faces. I have a flashback to my dream. Was this the desert I stood in as Ganondorf criticized me? It would make sense.

"They're not here yet," Sheik yells over the wind. "We'll have to wait over by that boulder."

"We beat them?" I ask in surprise. "They had a two-hour head start on us!"

"I guess that shortcut we took helped." He leads the way over to the boulder. It provides some protection from the relentless winds. I cough and empty my hat of sand.

"I can't believe I let you talk me into this," Sheik says, beating the sand off of his uniform. "Now I have sand on every square inch of me and I'm in for a heck of a beating from Conner."

"Is Conner the leader of the Sheikah or something?" I ask.

"Kind of. Technically Impa is our leader, but since she's often away with the princess either Jakob or Conner fills in for her when she's gone. Which is most of the time."

"How long have you known Conner?"

"A long time. Him and Jakob are practically my uncles. Impa and them taught me everything I know."

"So you're close to Impa?" He's a lot more open right now then he usually is. Might as well take advantage of it.

He continues to pound at the dust. "Yes. She's been like a mother to me ever since I can remember. I owe her a lot."

"Are you close with the princess?"

He hesitates. "Um, yeah, I guess. We don't talk that much, but I guess I could consider her a friend."

"What's she like?" The topic of Zelda instantly grabs my attention. I'm eager to learn more about the princess.

Sheik shrugs. "She's nice. She's pretty, and she has good diplomatic skills."

"Is that all the compliments you can think of?" I laugh. He's really not good with girls.

He raises his eyebrows. "What compliments can you think of Prince Charming?"

I lean back against the rock and think. "She's beautiful, graceful and radiant. She'll make an amazing queen. The best Hyrule's ever had. And she seems like she's a great people person. And she has amazing eyes."

Sheik turns his head from me. "I'm sure she'd be flattered to hear that."

"Do you... um... know if she's interested in... like a guy or something..."

He laughs at my stuttering. "No, not at the moment. She's not particularly fond of the suitors her father chooses for her."

"Okay. That's nice." I smile at the news.

Sheik takes a deep breath. "Hey Link, there's something that I've been wanting to tell you..."

"What?"

"It has to do with Zelda."

"Uh oh. You interested in her too?"

He turns scarlet. "No! Definitely not! Link, I am–" He looks over my shoulder and his eyes widen. "Link look out!"

I don't even have time to turn around. My head is hit with something hard and I lose conscience instantly.

~X~

I wake chained to a wall. I struggle against my restraints, but it's no use. I look around. I'm in a prison cell, dimly lit by a lantern. How did I get here?

Then the throbbing in my head reminds me. I hope Sheik's okay.

"Oh hey, you're awake."

I start and turn towards the voice. A boy my age sits in the darkness of a corner, also chained to the wall. His black hair is matted with sweat and dirt is etched into the lines of his face. His bright green eyes add welcome color to his muted appearance. Despite being chained to the wall, he gives the feel of a powerful person.

He smiles ruefully at me. "Welcome to the castle dungeons. Lovely place huh?"

My headache gets worse and I groan. "The castle dungeons? We're in Hyrule Castle?"

His eyes deepen with sadness. "I wish. It'd be better than this place. No my friend, we're in the dungeons of Ganondorf's castle."

I groan again and kick at the ground. "I've been captured?"

"Seems so. You and about five Sheikah were brought in yesterday."

"Do you know where they are?"

"Probably in the other cells. Don't worry, I'm pretty sure they're all still alive. I haven't heard any screaming to suggest otherwise."

I sigh in relief.

"I'm Aiden by the way." The boy says. "And you are?"

"Link."

His face lights with recognition. "So you're the guy Ganondorf's been so intent on finding?"

"Seems so," I pull against the chains again. "Why are you here?"

"I'm the son of the General of Hyrule's Army, as well as a soldier. I went after Ganondorf when he escaped jail, but he's the one who caught me. I've been here for about a week. As you can tell, it's not a very pleasant place."

"It definitely isn't."

Suddenly the door is thrown open. In walks Sheik.

"Sheik!" I yell in surprise. "Are you okay? How did you get out? Did they knock you out..." I trail off as I look in his eyes. There's a steely glint in them that I've never seen before. His face is hard as stone, and it's not just his impassive, stone Sheikah expression. He looks... cruel.

"Sheik?" I ask in disbelief. This can't be my best friend. He isn't capable of that expression.

I stifle a gasp as a ReDead shuffles into the room. It stands next to Sheik, and stares at me with its black, glossy eyes. My heart feels like it's slowing down, but Sheik seems unaffected by the creature. In fact, he seems to be in control over it.

"Take him," He orders the ReDead, pointing to Aiden. His voice is cold and hard. "I'll take this one." He walks over to me and unlocks my chains. For a second I think he's breaking me out, but he immediately handcuffs me after he gets me out.

"What are you doing?" I whisper harshly as he shoves me out of the cell. Aiden, pulled by the ReDead and looking terrified, follows close behind.

"Be quiet." He says coldly.

They lead us into a large room. Then we're chained to the floor. I feel like I'm in some kind of a nightmare. Who is this hard man, and where's my best friend?

I turn my head to the side and I'm shocked to see Conner chained right next to me, along with Jakob and four other Sheikah. Conner looks at me first in surprise, then in confusion, then worry, and finally anger.

"Link? What in Hyrule are you doing here?" He asks. "And what the heck is wrong with Sheik? He knocked us out when we got to the Haunted Wasteland."

I stare at him in shock. "Sheik knocked you out?"

"Yes. The next thing we know, we're chained to a wall in a cell. How did you get here?"

"Sheik and I snuck out of Kakariko to help you capture Ganondorf," I say, my words void of expression. I feel numb and confused. "We took a shortcut, and got to the Wasteland before you. We–we were sitting by a boulder talking, when someone hit me from behind." I shake my head. "I don't understand. Why would Sheik knock you out? He tried to warn me."

"I'm afraid your friend might have different allegiances than you thought." Aiden says.

"No, not Sheik. He couldn't be." Conner says immediately.

"He couldn't be what?" I ask.

"It seems that he is," Aiden says, ignoring my question.

"He is what?" I ask again.

"No, you don't understand," Conner continues as though he didn't hear me. "I know Sheik. He couldn't betray us. I mean, he literally could not betray us. Not with him being who he is."

"And who the heck is he?" I shout.

Conner looks at me with sympathy. "So he really hasn't told you, huh?"

"Tell me what? Does this have to do with what he was about to say before I got knocked out?"

Before he can answer me, the tall ebony door on the other side of the room swings open. In walks a large man, and my blood immediately turns to ice. I recognize him as the man in the cloak. Ganondorf. He radiates power and evil. His eyes are the color of fresh blood.

Sheik and the ReDeads drop to one knee and bow at him.

"My lord," Sheik says.

Ganondorf smiles wickedly at him. "Well done Sheik. You've done everything I've asked, flawlessly might I add." He sneers at me and the others. "They never once suspected you. Quite a feat. You have my highest praise."

My heart turns to stone as I finally realize what I've tried to put off as impossible.

Sheik has been a spy for Ganondorf this whole time.

He set us up, led us into Ganondorf's trap. He set me up. What better way to trick me than become my best friend? Was he ever really my friend? All those trips into the forest and Castle Town, all the fishing trips to Lake Hylia... was it all a lie?

"Thank you, Lord." Sheik says, standing up. "Your praise means much to me."

Ganondorf smugly walks to stand in front of me. "The Hero," He sneers. "You do look so much like your father. Tell me, did the great Taylor really flee in fear of me like a coward?"

I spit at his feet.

He clicks his tongue in mock disapproval. "Dear me, where are your manners? Your uncle must have raised you like an animal."

"Where is he?" Conner and I ask at the same time.

"He's alive, for now." Ganondorf laughs. "He's served his purpose. I'm still deciding what I want to do with him."

"If you dare touch him, I'll rip you apart." Conner growls.

Ganondorf smiles. "Oh really? Tell me Sheikah, are you really as brave as you make yourself out to be?"

Conner stares daggers at him, but stays silent.

"I thought not." He turns back to me. "Forgive me, I forgot to welcome you to my humble home. That's the whole reason I had Sheik bring you out here." More like so he could gloat. "I hope your stay here will be pleasant. Or at least, pleasant until I kill you all.I look forward to personally stopping your heart." He gives us that wicked smile, then turns to the ReDeads. "Escort them back to their cells. Sheik and I have things to discuss."

The ReDeads slowly make their ways over to us and unchain us, taking us back to our cells. My last glace of the room is Sheik's crimson eyes. The eyes of my former best friend.