Chapter Nineteen

We left the Temple of Time via the Ocarina of Time. I never thought I'd say that sentence. Other Link came back when he realized he hadn't told us how to leave the Temple of Time and get to Arbiter's Grounds. We can warp anywhere we want using the Song of Time on the Ocarina.

We warped out to Lake Hylia, since Arbiter's Grounds isn't too far from it. I treat Link's wounds (the potion didn't completely heal him, go figure), Navi sleeps in Link's hat and Sheik makes dinner. He's a pretty good cook too. Seems everyone here can cook except me.

After dinner me and Link are already yawning. I can understand why Link's so tired, but I don't know why I am. I guess it's because I've been crying. I always get tired after I cry. Sheik notices.

"Why don't you two get some sleep? I'll take watch." He offers.

"No," Link starts, but he's interrupted by a yawn.

"Yes," Sheik counters. "You need to recover from that fight, and Nicky's already taken enough watches. I'm fine, I can it."

I can tell that he's not going to take no for an answer, so I don't fight him. "Okay, thanks Sheik."

Link sighs. "Fine. Wake me up if anything happens, just because I'm a little hurt doesn't mean I can't still fight."

He smiles. "Yeah, I know."

I get a blanket and settle down a few feet from Link. I can already feel the tug of sleep. A few minutes later, I'm asleep.

~Sheik's POV~

I've scanned the bank for a few hours. As a Sheikah, I'm pretty good at holding still for long amounts of time. We're trained for stealth from the time we're born. The most I've moved is to scratch the back of my hand. My eyes move back and forth over my scarf,

I miss my Sheikah uniform. I feel strange in my current cloths: boots, pants, and a good shirt. To Link this is a normal outfit, but to me it's uncomfortable. Sure they're warm, but I'd take my uniform over them any day. I finger the sword at my hip. I'm used to using a knife or my hands and feet as weapons, I'm not as good as Link with a sword. I really want my uniform back.

I hear movement to my right, a little behind me. My hand tightens around the sword hilt and I focus on the noise. There it is again. It's intelligent, human. I can tell by the way it moves. Cautious, stilling every time it makes a noise. Then there's the sound of a knife being drawn. It's faint, whoever it is trying hard to be quiet. But I hear it. I pull out my sword and attack.

He's ready for me though, I try to hit him a couple of times, but he avoids it with swift, smooth moves. I try again, but this time he blocks it with his forearm, and kicks me. He fights like I do when I'm in my Sheikah uniform.

Wait... he is a Sheikah.

And he's not a he, he's a she. Her blue eyes burn over the scarf covering her features.

We fight for a few more minutes. She's definitely a Sheikah, and a good fighter too. But I think I've got the upper hand. That is, until she kicks the sword out of my hand. By then we're a good distance from Link and Nicole, having moved during the fight. She picks up my sword and puts her knife against my throat. I'm trapped, backed up against a tree trunk. And the ironic thing is, that's the exact move that I usually use to disarm my opponents. I stare daggers at her, and I can feel her smirk. I get a better look at her.

She wears a Sheikah uniform, standard issue outfit, a little plainer than mine, scarf wrapped tightly to hide her face. She has a long blond braid tied down back, and another knife tied at her hip. She has a golden necklace with a sapphire jewel hanging from her neck. I stare at it in surprise. I know that necklace. I bought it.

I gave it to her when I proposed. Since then she'd never taken it off. The last time I saw her, she wore it.

I stare at her eyes, and my heart starts pounding. It couldn't be... she's in the castle. She's trapped. This random Sheikah girl can't be her...

But her eyes. Those are her eyes, I know it. Those are the eyes I fell in love with.

"Zelda?" I whisper, not daring to believe it's actually her.

She stares at me in surprise, but quickly recovers. "The princess?" She laughs. Oh man, I missed that laugh. She's trying to deepen her voice, but it lilts higher with fear. "Of course not, she's locked up in the castle. Where have you been?"

"Looking for you," I whisper in disbelief.

"Oh really?" Her laugh's a little nervous this time. "Do I know you, boy?"

"Kind of,"

She presses the knife harder against my neck. "I doubt it. Listen boy, just because I'm a girl, doesn't mean I can't fight. I had an excellent teacher."

"Yeah, me."

She looks at me sceptically. "No, it was... my... good friend."

I realize that she can't see me well enough to recognize me, the moon is facing my back. Also, my outfit is probably throwing her off a little. "Zelda it's me," I take off my scarf.

She stares at me in pure shock and drops the knife in surprise. "Sheik?"

I smile. "Yeah... yeah, it's me."

Zelda stares at me for a second that feels like a year, and then lets out a laugh of relief and hugs me tight. "Sheik! I've looked everywhere for you, ever since I escaped the castle. I thought I'd never find you. I'm so sorry I hit you!"

I don't care that she hit me, all that matters is that she's back in my arms. I feel like I'm going to wake up and this is only going to be a dream. I hug her tight, not ever wanting to let go. She's okay. "It's okay, I'm fine, better than fine. Are you hurt? Are you okay?"

She pulls back and looks at me. "Yeah, now." She pulls me to her and kisses me. I never thought I'd be able to kiss her again. My brain melts and I pick her up, twirling her around. I never thought I'd see her again. She laughs and kisses me again. We stay that way for a while, enjoying being in each others' arms again.

"Sheik?" Link yells.

I pull away from Zelda. I guess Link woke up and found me absent. "Yeah, I'm here Link!" I turn and smile at Zelda. "And you'll never guess who I found!"