((Sorry for such a long wait! Hopefully you'll be reassured that this chapter is actually Getting On With the Plot, and from here on out, chapters will be picking up speed. Anyways, happy reading, and I hope you enjoy it!))
The following morning, Sheik and Link packed everything up onto Epona. Their departure wasn't without some tearful goodbyes, however. After not seeing Link for a month, neither Ilia nor Telma seemed ready to let him go just yet. Still, with enough farewell hugs and well-wishing, Link managed to pry himself away.
Though Sheik couldn't help a tinge of jealousy, she didn't say a word about it. He had a family waiting for him, even if neither were blood relations. How could she begrudge him just because she no longer had a family? So instead, she merely hopped up onto the horse and waited for Link to join her.
When he finally did, Sheik was quick to dig her heels into Epona's side and start off. Though it wouldn't be nearly as long to Sarin and Ise as it had been to Marr, it'd still be a few days' journey. Not to mention they'd be lucky not to freeze on the way.
Winter was approaching, after all. And Ise was deep within the snowy part of Lanayru.
Sheik's worries started to set in not long after they left. Though they'd gathered plenty of supplies to keep warm, and they'd likely be getting help from a so-called 'Resistance,' she couldn't help but be nervous.
As if Link could sense her nervousness, though, he soon leaned forward till his chest was warm and solid against her back. It wasn't till she leaned against him that he wrapped her arms around her, but when he did, she felt just a bit less tense.
They continued wordlessly to Ise. And for once, Sheik almost felt good about it.
The days passed far faster than they had on earlier trips. But that, Sheik noted, was because the days were starting to grow shorter, and the nights, longer.
Which was a problem, considering how cold it was already starting to get.
Now that they were riding up into higher elevations, there was ice on the ground, and instead of rain, the clouds gave snow. Epona had to slow considerably, partially from the icy roads, and partially from the steep elevation.
When they settled down for camp the third night—a day behind schedule already—it was finally too cold to sleep.
After lying awake for an hour and pretending she wasn't shivering, Sheik finally sat up. Her first instinct was to just continue on the road, but when she looked at Link, other ideas came to mind.
Link seemed to be thinking the same.
"Cold?" he asked, sitting up as well. "I don't think we'll freeze to death if we sleep out here, but…"
"I'd rather not risk it all the same," Sheik finished. Without waiting for explicit permission, she stood and brought her sleeping mat and blankets closer to him, lying her sleeping mat next to his. "Move—just for a moment. If we pile the mats on top of each other, we can block out more of the cold from the ground."
"And lose the warmth I've already built up?" Despite the teasing tone, there was a genuine forlorn look on his face as he pushed the blankets back and stood. Sheik didn't keep him waiting, though, and soon piled her mat on top of his.
Together, they laid down on top of the stack, then piled their combined blankets on top of themselves.
There wasn't much room to lie down, but honestly, Sheik couldn't care less. It wasn't as if it was the first time they'd had to share.
It was, however, the first time they'd be consciously sharing such a tight space. Sheik remembered waking up with her head against his middle back in Marr, but it wasn't as if she'd fallen asleep in such a way.
Now, though…
"I don't think we'll fit if we're both lying on our backs," Link said, pulling his cold elbow back inside the comfort of the blankets. Without much warning, he turned, his back towards her as he settled closely against her.
The cold was seeping in from Sheik's side, too, and she hesitantly turned towards him. It would be entirely too awkward to turn with her back to him, after all, and she tended to curl up her legs in her sleep. If she did that tonight, chances were she'd wake up with feet outside the blanket and thoroughly frosted.
At least Link didn't seem to mind the closeness.
To Sheik's surprise, as she was starting to fall asleep, she felt Link shifting closer. Unsure if he was asleep and aware of his movement or not, Sheik didn't protest or push him away.
Instead, she found herself reaching for him.
Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around his waist and settled closer, knees tucking against the back of his legs.
Though she was certain she'd woken him from the movement, Link didn't protest. If anything, he seemed more relaxed than before. It didn't take long, then, for her partner to fall asleep once more. Sheik, warm and comfortable, was quick to join him.
The next day, they came to Sarin. The city, far more spread out than Oxon and Marr, was completely overgrown with vines and trees. Despite its foliage, though, no animals had come to it. It was eerily silent save for Shek and Link's own footsteps and the wind in the trees.
It was also startlingly hot—especially compared to the cold just a few hundred feet back. Though it had been a comfort at first, Sheik soon found herself uncomfortably warm—particularly before they stowed away their winter clothes and cloaks.
Because of the eerie nature to the city, Link tied Epona to a small gate outside the city to keep her safe while they explored. Once they unpacked a few essentials—water and weapons and rope—they continued forward on foot.
Though most of the cities had been relatively calm (save for the guardian spirit), it was still dangerous to walk around unarmed. The further they walked inside, though, the warmer and more humid it got, till they were sweating bullets even in the shade of the jungle's trees.
"And here I thought I'd enjoy the temperature change," Link finally said, leaning against the trunk of a particularly large tree. "But it looks like it's just something else trying to kill us."
Sheik wiped her forearm against her brow. "I don't think Hylian bodies are meant to switch temperatures so abruptly," she said. "Or Sheikah ones, for that matter."
Link nodded. He reached for a canteen of water, then took a long drink. "We need to find somewhere to refill this soon," he said. "Or we'll run the risk of dehydrating."
"If I see some, I'll let you know. But something tells me whoever created this place isn't all that interested in our wellbeing." Slight paranoia set in, and Sheik wondered just how much the spell-caster wanted them dead—and just what lengths they'd go in order to kill them. Would they go as far poisoning water systems? Or just leave water out of the land entirely?
As they trudged on, Sheik found herself moving slower and slower.
It wasn't until she looked down and realized her feet were half submerged that she realized something was amiss.
And by the time she realized the problem wasn't getting any better, she was covered up to her calves, and sinking further the harder she tried to get out.
"Stay back," she shouted. "It's pulling me under!"
"Isn't that more reason for me to come towards you?" Despite her warning, Link came closer. He only stopped when he felt a pull on his legs as well, and quickly backtracked. "…Alright, so it'll pull me down, too," he said. "How am I supposed to get you out of there, then?"
Sheik pursed her lips together. "I don't know," she admitted. "It—It doesn't want to let me go. And the more I struggle, the faster I sink."
Link took a deep breath and took a quick survey of the environment. "The trees," he said. "We should've been using the trees to move around."
"And that helps how?" Sheik closed her eyes, forcing herself to stop moving. It would just make her sink faster, after all, and if Link needed time to plan, then she'd need to give him as much as she could.
Link's eyes flashed with an idea, and suddenly he was scrambling up the closest tree.
Sheik tried not to feel anxious, but it was hard not to worry now that he was no longer near her. Even as she looked for him, she could barely make out the green of his tunic against the leaves.
Still, he didn't leave her for long. Soon he made his way onto a branch hanging over her, and carefully unpacked the rope from his bag. He tied it onto the branch as quick as he could, then made his way back to the trunk of the tree.
"Climb up onto the branch," he said. "It won't hold us both, so you're on your own for this one, but—"
"I think I can handle climbing a damn rope," Sheik said. Once the rope was low enough, she grasped hold of it and climbed. Though she hated the feeling of the sand seeping into her suit, she had to admit, it was better than drowning in it. Still, the ground resisted her progress, and it took far more energy than usual to pull herself free.
Once she finally reached the top of the branch, she heaved herself onto it and made her way to the center of the tree, where the branches were stronger.
Link pulled her into a hug as soon as she was close. "Goddesses," he said, letting out a sigh. "I should've been paying more attention."
"I was the one who walked into it," she muttered as she pulled away. "Don't worry about it. I'm fine now, so let's keep moving."
Now that they were up in the trees, Sheik decided to use it to her advantage. Though Link looked more than a little put out by the gruffness she was showing him, she paid him no mind. Instead, she climbed as far up the tree as she could, peering out into the distance.
"Looks like we have some work to do," she shouted down to him. "The Jungle stretches a long way from here."
"See any enemies?"
Sheik squinted, looking for anything to present itself. Unfortunately, she saw nothing, and shook her head. "Just a lot of trees. Plenty of space for it to hide itself."
Before climbing down, she took one last look to determine where they were and where they ought to head. From the looks of it, they were perhaps a fourth of the way to the center. With all the effort they'd put into walking though Sarin, she'd expected them to be further in than they were. But she supposed between the heat and the wet soil trying to drown them, it made sense that they were behind schedule.
So she slid down from the center and landed near Link, already reorienting herself to the proper direction.
"I think we ought to stay in the trees," Link said, catching her wrist before she could go too far. "The ground might get worse the closer to the center we get."
Sheik nodded. "Good idea—but I don't think the far branches can support both of us. We'll have to split up." The look on Link's face was one of immediate dissatisfaction, but there wasn't much choice. "We don't have to go far," she said, "But if the ground really does get worse, we might both fall in and get stuck together. And then no one will be there to come to our rescue."
Link hummed his assent, but he still didn't look very happy. "Just make sure we're both going the same direction," he said. "We can call back and forth to make sure we stay close. The foliage is so thick I could barely see you up there—I'd hate to get too far apart."
"We'll figure it out," Sheik said. Before pulling away from him, she glanced at the hand still gently pulling on her wrist. Though it would have been easy to press a kiss to his hand again, Sheik thought better of it. So instead, she used his hand as leverage to pull him closer, then pressed a quick kiss against his cheek. "I'll take the right—you can go left."
As Sheik walked away, Link stayed put for another moment. It wasn't until she'd already started to leave that he started to move again, and even then, he was slow and unsteady.
"You good?" Sheik asked, searching for the next study branch to leap onto. It wasn't easy to leap from treetop to treetop, and though they weren't excessively high up, the branches still weren't meant to support their weight.
Link jumped into the next tree, raising his voice to be heard. "…Yeah."
Sheik glanced at him, surveying the way he was testing the branch beneath him. "You sure?"
"Ask later," Link said, carefully treading to the center of the tree, then working his way to the opposite side. "Kind of busy right now."
The last thing she wanted to do was distract him, so Sheik merely kept moving. Every time they moved to the next tree in the line, they called to each other just to make sure they weren't veering off course. The path Link was on veered slightly too far to the left, but for the time being, they'd be safe.
Or so Sheik had hoped.
Long before they reached the center, the monster's guardian suddenly made itself known.
And, as Sheik watched its long, lithe body slither between the foliage—big enough to knock over trees if it so chose—she felt all the air leave her lungs.
"The monster," Sheik suddenly called. "It's—oh, goddesses."
Link's voice was further off than Sheik remembered it being. But all the same, he shouted back to her. "Stay where you are," he called. "I'm coming!"
But the snake, hearing their voices, suddenly turned towards Sheik. For a moment, she froze, praying that it wouldn't notice her if she didn't move. But it was a vain hope, and in her inaction, the snake had a head start. Sheik only had enough time to jump to the next tree before it rammed into and knocked over the one she'd just been in.
With a sinking heart, Sheik remembered that they wouldn't be able to beat it without first destroying the object that gave it power.
And last she'd checked, they were still ages from the jungle's center.
"Just go to the center!" Sheik shouted. "I'll hold it off! I don't think it realizes you're here yet!"
Link was still too far away for Sheik to hear him stop, but she knew he was conflicted. "What about you?"
"I'm going to lead it as far away from you as I can! Now get out of here before it hears you and switches targets!"
That said, she leapt to the next tree and let the snake follow her, leading it as quickly as she could. The ground was still treacherous after all, and the last thing Sheik wanted was to fall. She'd be completely at the snake's mercy if she mis-stepped even once.
…And it was certainly big enough to swallow her in one bite.
But no matter how fast she jumped through the treetops, she wasn't fast enough.
The snake was catching up to her, and it wasn't long before it rammed into the tree she was taking refuge in. Sheik made a desperate leap for the next tree over, narrowly catching a low-hanging branch before she hit the ground. As she pulled herself up, the snake was already rearing up to strike again.
There was no time for her to cross the tree and jump to another one.
All she could do was attack.
But though she wanted to attack as soon as possible, the beginnings of an idea were forming.
Every time it knocked into a tree, the snake seemed temporarily disoriented, and there was a few seconds' pause in its chase.
Sheik would have to avoid being knocked out of the tree, but… she'd deal with that when it came.
So she waited right where she was, just for a moment, and waited for the snake to rear back. The instant before its head made contact with the tree, she leapt from it and flipped through the air. With her katana drawn, she stabbed it into the snake's neck, then twisted.
But, skilled as she was, nothing could be easy in these magically tainted cities.
Though any other creature would have been killed or at least severely weakened, this one hardly flinched. Sheik supposed it was because its life was tied to whatever object Link was trying to find.
As the snake reared back and tried to shake her off, Sheik could only pray that he was having more luck than her.
Though Sheik managed to stay on it for a few minutes, eventually it got the idea to ram its side into a tree. The wind was knocked completely out of her, but she couldn't afford to just sit there. So she forced herself up off the ground, grateful that she'd landed on the tree's roots rather than the muddy, slippery soil surrounding it. Before the snake could come back around, she scrambled up the tree and resumed her routine of hopping from treetop to treetop.
After being knocked so hard against that tree, though, Sheik couldn't move quite as fast as she had before. And that meant, just as before, that she had to change tactics.
But rather than trying to land on its back again, she decided to try zig-zagging her path. It'd throw the monster off for a while, at least, and give her a better chance of staying out of its path.
After a few minutes, she finally caught her breath again. As nice as it was to breathe, though, she was still running out of steam. She'd already been hopping from treetop to treetop for what felt like ages—not to mention how dehydrated she was from the humidity. Sheik might not have been using magical energy, no, but there was only so much she could do before she was too tired to continue.
Goddesses, she hoped Link was close to breaking the object.
In the meanwhile, Sheik would outrun it as long as she could. So she ran, leaping from treetop to treetop, as fast as she possibly could. She nearly mis-stepped more times than she could count, but by the grace of the goddesses, she was kept in the air. As she worked, though, she slowly lost track of time, trapped in an endless cycle of the green leaves and the endless exertion.
In her exhausted state, it was only a matter of time before she missed her footing.
Having dealt with magic most of her life, she knew her physical limits. The humidity was tearing her apart almost as much as the exercise—and without even water to replenish her, she would run out of energy long before the monster was vanquished.
But she refused to become easy prey, either.
After going at it for what felt like hours, Sheik knew she needed to wrap things up. So with the last of her strength, she threw herself at the snake once more.
And, was it her imagination, or did it seem just as exhausted as she was?
Sheik's arms shook from exertion, but she forced her katana into its neck once more. And then again, and again, and again, till it finally stopped struggling.
It took several minutes for her to realize it was dead—and even longer to realize that Link must have destroyed the object tied to it.
And, in a flash, the monster disappeared—along with most of the foliage.
Suddenly the jungle had turned back into ice, and the sand into snow. At least, she thought, she didn't have to worry about the sand enveloping her anymore.
But that didn't mean the snow was any good to lie on, either.
It took several minutes for Sheik to even muster the energy to pull herself up. And even then, it was mostly because her worry for frostbite was greater than her exhaustion.
With the foliage gone, it was far easier to find her way, and she realized with no small gratitude that she wasn't far from the city's center. That meant Link must be close by, too, since the artifact must have been placed in the very middle of the city.
Now that thoughts of Link were filling her mind, Sheik's weary pace doubled. Though she couldn't quite manage a run, she tried nonetheless, nearly tripping over herself in the process.
By the time she reached the center of the city, she was so tired that she sunk onto the first bench she found, oblivious to the world around her. Because of that, it took a while for her to realize someone was calling her name.
It was with tired, unfocused eyes that she searched for the one calling her. And when she finally recognized the voice, she let out a long sigh of relief.
"I'm h-here," she managed, her chattering teeth taking her by surprise. In an effort to warm herself, she stood and started over to him, though Link met her more than half-way. "I t-take it you broke the cursed object?"
Link nodded. He was, however, less set on talking than he was on looking her over for injuries. As he searched her, he must have found something he disapproved of, and it took a moment before he replied. "It wasn't too hard to break, but it took forever to find. I'm sorry I kept you waiting so long," he said. "How about the snake?"
"P-Persistent," she said. "Very, v-very persistent."
"You look terrible," he said, coaxing her closer. Once she was within arm's reach, he pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. "Just relax. You're freezing—and probably dehydrated if you spent so long running from that monster."
"I'll be fine," she managed, even as she sagged against him. "Just want to get going to Ise. It's not far from here… and the sooner we g-get there…"
"Sooner you can get a hot bath," he said. Still, he didn't pull away from her, instead just rubbing his blessedly warm hands over her back. "Think you can make it to Epona?"
Sheik nodded, though she doubted it. Although Link could probably see right through her, he didn't contradict her. Instead, he just gave her one last hug, arms encircling her far too tightly.
Sheik couldn't help her wince. As her organs protested the rough treatment, she remembered all too late that she'd been squashed between a giant snake and a tree. Though adrenaline and constant motion had suppressed the pain before, it was all too present now. Despite her attempt at hiding her wince, her pained gasp gave her away, and Link abruptly let go of her and pulled away.
"You're hurt?" he asked, looking her over with concern. "Where? What happened?"
As his hands reached out to tend to injuries, Sheik gently swatted them away. "Nothing you can do about it," she said. "Just need—just need some red potion and I'll be fine."
Link bit his lip, eyes darting around him.
"You shouldn't do any hard riding if you're hurt," he said. "Especially with how icy it is."
Sheik closed her eyes, letting out a long sigh. "So, what, we stay in the city for the night?" However, as she considered it, it became quite tempting. "M… Might be good to give Epona somewhere warm to sleep tonight before we head out."
As Link looked around, his eyes settled on a building nearby with a huge chimney. "How about that one," he said. "If it's got a chimney, it's gotta have a fireplace."
Sheik nodded. "I can go get Epona if you want to break in—"
"Or you could go inside and lie down," Link interrupted. "That way you won't pass out in the middle of the snow, and—"
"If I managed to keep jumping through the trees and drag myself here after getting hurt, I think I can handle getting the supplies." Sheik drew herself to her full height, protectively crossing her arms over her chest. "I can manage on my own just fine."
Link pressed his lips into a thin line. "You didn't have to go after the monster at all."
"What, and leave it to chase after you? I was closer," she said. "Now, can I go get Epona before we both freeze to death out here?"
As Sheik turned and started towards the city gate, Link followed behind her. It seemed he was unwilling to let her go on her own, which might have been endearing if he wasn't being so stubborn.
Still, she didn't stop him, so they walked to Epona together.
Once they found the mare—covered in a thin layer of snow—Sheik was quick to search for their cloaks. Once she found them, she handed Link his and threw hers over her shoulders. Somehow when she put them on, she felt colder than before. But until her body-heat warmed it, at least it could serve as a block to the wind.
No sooner than she'd started to lead Epona back to the center of the city, though, Link stopped her.
"Red potion," he started, handing a bottle to her. "You should drink it before you get any worse."
Sheik merely shook her head. "It's frozen," she said, noting how it didn't slosh in its container. "We can heat it up once we're inside with a fire going, okay? But I'll be fine 'till then."
"You said you'd be fine on the way back from the warehouse," Link said. "And I had to watch as you almost bled out."
"But I'm not bleeding out this time." Sheik directed her gaze forward, leading Epona along. Though she could tell her complete indifference was irritating her partner, she wasn't just going to roll over and let him coddle her. "I'm not going to pass out and die before we make it back to the city's center. I can walk just fine."
"Just because you won't die from it doesn't mean you need to do it."
Sheik just continued walking and kept her back to Link. Though she'd never admit it, her torso was starting to ache after he'd hugged her so tightly, and walking didn't help. But it would only make him guilty to know that he'd exacerbated her injuries—and she couldn't give him the satisfaction of taking it slow.
So instead she pushed on to the house they'd agreed on, using some of her power to freeze and break the lock. Once the door was open, she walked in with Epona in tow, grateful that the doorway was large enough to fit the mare.
"Do we still have matches?" Sheik asked. "Or did they get snowed on?"
"They were in a match-box," Link answered. It wasn't long till he'd fished the small box out, and he was quick to light the wood in the fireplace.
Though it would take a while for it to heat up the home, Sheik was already grateful for the warmth it would bring.
"I'm going to see if they have heated plumbing," she said, leaving Epona where she stood. "If I'm not back in five minutes, they probably have it."
Link frowned slightly but nodded all the same. "I'll bring up red potion as soon as it thaws," he promised. "Just try to relax for now."
At the show of concern, Sheik grimaced. But though she hated being coddled, she couldn't pretend it wasn't at least a little warranted. Her ribs ached from where he'd held her, and she was exhausted from running so much. But her pride was strong, and there was no reason to worry her partner now that she was safe. "Don't worry so much," she said. "I'll be fine."
When Link opened his mouth to argue, Sheik turned and walked away. When he ended up staying quiet, Sheik let out a grateful sigh, allowing her pace to slow as she searched for the closest room with a bath tub.
When she finally found one, she tensed in anticipation of warm water. And to her immense gratitude, when she turned the faucet, it slowly warmed till it came out with steam. She let the tub fill, already feeling leaps and bounds warmer from the steam alone.
As she started undressing though, she found that her cracked ribs were preventing movement. It was, perhaps, the greatest problem with a skintight suit. Great for flexibility and ease of motion, but with her ribs as they were, she felt trapped.
It took ages, and the tub nearly overflowed before she managed it, but eventually the suit (with its many, many layers) came off.
The heat was, at first, too much for her. Though the heat was appreciated, being suddenly immersed in it was painful—especially since she'd been freezing just a few minutes ago. But she slowly thawed, her cold skin gradually accepting the change rather than resisting it.
But though the warmth revived her, she didn't want to keep Link waiting. And for all she knew, he needed to thaw just as badly as she did. So after casting a quick cleaning spell on her clothes, she slipped on her training clothes and made her way back to the main living area.
To no surprise, Link was waiting there. The sight of him brushing Epona, however, was unexpected.
Sheik knew most people didn't really appreciate being watched, but as she stepped closer, she couldn't help it. It was so rare that she saw Link so at ease and comfortable; it was too good of an opportunity to pass up.
Link had never been one to talk to himself while he worked. So as always, he brushed Epona in silence, making sure to wipe off the remnants of snow on her flank. He seemed peaceful for the most part, but Sheik knew him better than that.
Despite his silence, and despite his turned face, his body language told her plenty. Between his hunched shoulders and lowered head, he made for a rather lonely figure, even if he was doting so tenderly on Epona.
And, though she couldn't see his expression, Sheik knew exactly what face he was making.
Sheik leaned against the wall, face softening as she called it to mind. His brows drawn together, lips set in a frown—troubled, though he'd try to hide it. He was a worrier by nature, and she didn't doubt that when he had trouble sleeping, his worries had something to do with it. For now, though, she didn't know what he was dwelling on.
There was quite a bit to choose from, after all. Unlike Sheik, he had a family back home, and friends that he probably cared deeply for. Or was it the safety of the kidnapped girls—or even the ones that were safe and now resided with Malon?
But, more reluctantly, she knew he was probably thinking on what had happened earlier.
If there was one thing she had learned about her partner, it was that he wanted to do everything dangerous, if only to keep someone else from getting hurt.
Sheik knew that others were far better at comforting their friends. But she was the only one there at the moment. And, after months on the road together, she certainly hoped he trusted her enough to actually talk to her when he was upset.
So, resigned to her fate, Sheik sighed and walked forward, releasing the silencing spell only when she was almost upon him.
"You don't have to feel bad."
Link whipped around in an instant, left hand automatically reaching for his sword. Sheik caught his wrist before he could draw it, giving him time to look at her before resorting to violence.
Once he realized it was only her, his shoulders sagged and his head drooped along with them. "I almost…"
"Please, like you could've landed a hit before I would've blocked you," she said, releasing his wrist. However, her attempt at lightening the mood didn't go over well, and she watched as he turned his face away. "Link…"
"I'm sorry," he said. "I… I almost put you in danger again."
Sheik shook her head. "You have nothing to apologize for. And what do you mean, again?"
"I could've distracted it while you looked for the artifact," he said. "You—you probably could've found it faster, too. You were faster in the trees."
"But I was closer to the monster and it hadn't seen you yet." She placed a hand on his shoulder, leaning closer. "Besides, if I was faster, then doesn't that mean I was safer fighting the monster?"
To her surprise, Link leaned against her, resting his forehead against her shoulder. "And if you died, then… I—I would've failed."
"If I died then you'd still be able to finish destroying the artifact," she said. "And find the girls in Ise. Even if I wasn't here, that doesn't mean you couldn't still do your job."
"My job," Link managed, "Is to find Zelda."
Sheik pulled away, unable to hide the tired look on her face. "Don't you think it's turned into something more than that?"
As Link finally looked up at her, there was something almost sad in his eyes. "We have to find her," he said. "She's… Paz, the old Sheikah woman at the castle… She told me Zelda would be the key to all this."
"And right now, you're the one who's actually helping them," Sheik said. "Isn't it better to save the ones you can actually find rather than spending all your time looking for one girl?"
Link looked away, clenching his hands into fists. "You're making it more complicated than it has to be," he said. "My job seemed so easy until you—"
"You would've stayed in Solen," Sheik said, cutting him off. "You said you wanted to find her. At least I got you out of there so you could actually expand your search."
"It just…" Link let out a sigh. "It just feels like she was never your priority in the first place."
There was something off about his tone. But Sheik was too tired to feel cold dread seep into her—all she could feel was numb. But she still managed the strength to push away from him, eyes held firmly to the ground. "I barely remember her," she said. "I don't want to talk about this anymore, Link. Please."
She didn't—couldn't—know why he listened, but he did. After staying quiet for what felt like ages, Link finally nodded, expression almost as tired as hers. But he didn't look upset, even if he looked disappointed, somehow. Sheik didn't know what to make of it, but… at least he wasn't angry with her.
"You still haven't had any red potion," he said, gesturing mildly to her ribs. Her middle, still bare from her bath, was already turning red and purple at the ribs. "You… probably ought to sit down and take some. Before it gets any worse."
After all the tension between them before, Sheik was more than relieved to see it go—even if it meant he was going to coddle her half to death. So she took a seat by the fireplace, wincing only minimally as she adjusted her place on the ground.
Link sat down close to her, pulling the bottle from its place by the fire. "Your ribs look awful," he said, lips pulling into a frown as he carefully ran his fingertips over them. "Did any of them puncture something inside?"
"Didn't cough up any blood, so I doubt it." Sheik gritted her teeth, unwilling to admit how much even his gentle probing hurt. "I think it just cracked them a little."
His touch was gentle as ever, but as his fingertips brushed over a swollen fissure, Sheik felt a jolt of pain and flinched. "Just a little?"
"Just a little." Sheik closed her eyes, hating how easily he could see through her. "Nothing's totally broken, so can we just hurry this up already? I want to put my suit back on. It's freezing in here."
Link was quick to hand her the red potion. "I can thaw some more if you think you'll need it."
Sheik downed the potion quick as she could, so accustomed to the taste that she hardly flinched. "I'll only need one for the night," she said. "I just want to sleep after this. It's… it's been a long day."
Once she was finished, Link took the bottle from her hands and set it by the fireplace. A softer expression finally came onto his face, and when he looked back at her, there was something kind in his eyes. He hesitated a moment, but finally brought his hand up, resting it on her cheek. "Yeah?"
Sheik leaned into the touch, then pulled her own hand up to rest atop his. "Yeah."
"Then you ought to get to bed," he said. His voice became hesitant for a moment, but he finally managed to add, "I'm sure they have one in here somewhere. Probably still cold, though."
Sheik knew an invitation when she heard one. With the red on his cheeks and the nervousness in his averted eyes, she knew she needed to accept or she'd probably never hear the offer again. So she gave a small, encouraging smile, voice almost (almost) flirtatious when she spoke. "There are a few ways to fix that."
Relief flashed across Link's face in an instant, and he was quick to stand and offer her a hand. Sheik took it without hesitation.
Though they'd yet to kiss properly, Sheik was becoming far too used to sleeping next to her partner. Especially when he was close enough that she could hold him in her arms. Last night, though cold and windy, had brought a comfort she hadn't known in years.
So when Link lied down next to her, she didn't hesitate to pull him into her arms, sliding close to him and looping her arms around his waist. Unlike last night, this time she was facing him—able to see his confused smile even in the darkness.
Still, despite his smile, he couldn't help but shift in her hold. "You don't have to hug me that tightly, y'know. I'm not going anywhere."
Sheik loosened her hold at once. "Sorry," she said. "I just… I didn't realize how—"
"I didn't say I minded." Link's expression softened, seeming to realize just how his words sounded. "Sheik… What I meant was…"
Sheik looked up at him expectantly. But though it was clear he wanted to say something, something was holding him back. The last thing she wanted to do was force him, though, so she didn't try to ask him what he meant.
After a while, Link finally found his voice again, but it was only to offer a small, hesitant, "Goodnight, Sheik," before falling silent once more.
Somehow, it felt like she'd failed him somehow. That he didn't feel comfortable around her enough to even say what was on his mind. Sheik knew she'd be a hypocrite if she complained, but… It still felt like she'd done something wrong.
But she didn't give voice to it. Even if they had a lot they weren't telling each other, maybe it would be alright. He felt right in her arms, and she knew he wouldn't be lying next to her if he wasn't where he wanted to be.
So she managed a small, "Goodnight," before closing her eyes and hoping that whatever Link wasn't saying, he'd find the words for someday.
The next day, they started having to read the map more carefully. Though the instructions were clear, the path was not, and with all the snow on the ground, it was difficult to find the landmarks referred to in the map.
As such, it was late into the night before they finally found the safe house. The fortress, a few miles north, would be too taxing to liberate in the night—especially without a plan or prior knowledge of the area. Not to mention they'd been riding all day and much of the night; they needed rest before they'd be of use to anyone.
Still, when they finally pulled up to the safe haven, they approached slowly and carefully. Though they trusted Ravio with their lives—er, Link trusted Ravio with his life—it was still possible that they were walking into a trap.
And so as they approached, they dismounted Epona and drew their weapons, walking alongside the mare towards the gate.
With no sign of life anywhere, they had to let themselves in. The lack of Hylians alone made Sheik nervous, but the atmosphere, if anything, made it worse. The snow, the dark, the way their feet crunched in the snow—if she didn't know any better, she'd think she was back in Ardock.
She wasn't quite ready to forget how easily she could have died.
But Link's presence was a steady reassurance that she was in the here and now. She walked a little closer towards him, just to feel safer.
Finally they arrived at the gate, taking their place on the stone steps leading up to the door.
Link knocked once, twice, three times, before they stepped back to wait. Sheik's heart almost couldn't take the waiting; she swore she could feel it trying to escape her chest.
Despite her fear, though, Link took hold of her hand, giving warmth and security in the cold. Though he said nothing aloud, she knew he was trying to ease her worries. After all, they were partners now—in more ways than just traveling. Knowing Link was probably just as nervous as she was, she gave his hand a quick squeeze for good measure.
When there was finally a pitter-pattering of footsteps towards them, Sheik felt infinitely more ready to face who, or what, was on the other side of the door.
To her surprise, though, when it opened it contained a man not much older than herself. His hair was darker, though; almost as dark as Link's, but honey where Link's was ashen. The man at the door was taller and far thinner than her partner, too, with glasses perched at the end of his nose.
And even if he was dressed in what appeared to be night clothes, they were fancier than anything Sheik had worn since childhood.
If Sheik didn't know better, she might have thought him a noble.
She pressed her lips into a frown, already ready to be disappointed. Any servant of the king, after all, would be of no help to them. Not when the king's servants' only purpose was to find his daughter.
Before he even said a word, the man held a lantern up to their faces, checking their identities. However, it soon became clear that he didn't recognize them—and, worse, that he was quite suspicious of their intentions.
"And you two would be?" he asked. "State your purpose—you're arriving awfully late at night to be guests. It'd better be important if you come barging in at such an hour."
Link bit his lip and looked at Sheik for help, but Sheik made it clear that she would be of no use. So he looked back to the man at the door, tone mild and placating. "Ravio sent us," he finally said. There was a flash of recognition on the man's face, and, encouraged, Link continued, "He… gave us a map, and said it would lead to you. I'm not entirely sure what all it means, but he swore you could help us. Or, we could help you. Something of the sort."
The man held a hand up to his heart, obviously put at ease by Link's story. "Well, I'm certainly grateful that you're not thieves," he said. "My sincerest apologies for interrogating you, but you see, there's been quite a bit of trouble recently. But either you're the adventurers my partner and I have been searching for, or you make a terribly convincing act. My word, though, I wasn't expecting a Sheikah! Or for either of you boys to be so young! Though, of course, that mask of yours makes it hard to tell just how—"
"It's freezing out here," Sheik interrupted. "If you trust us, then let us in before we get frostbite."
"Oh, how terribly rude of me!" The man moved aside in an instant, allowing Link to pass into the warmth and safety of the home, though Sheik remained behind with Epona. "I'm Shad," he said, holding out a hand into introduce himself. "And that mare of yours… Beautiful, just beautiful—quite strong, too, to have carried your supplies all the way up the mountain. Is she—?"
"Where can we put her?" Sheik asked, once more cutting him off. Link shot her a sharp look, but she ignored him, far more focused on the safety of their horse and supplies than on offending their host.
Shad blinked owlishly at her. "You're a lady," he said suddenly. "Oh, my goddesses, I'm—"
The thought of being called a lady struck a nerve with Sheik, and she crossed her arms tightly over her chest. "Where can I put the horse?" she asked, ignoring his attempts at apologizing. "I just want to get her someplace warm."
"In… In the stables. There's a door from the outside just on the other side of the porch—it's marked," Shad said quickly. His face was turning pink, but Sheik didn't bother apologizing. Instead, she merely followed his directions and led the horse back outside (bitterly annoyed with the cold all the while), then around to the stables.
As she walked, she swore she could hear Link hastily apologizing behind her. Sheik almost snorted in amusement—it wasn't as if she'd led Epona inside. Although, admittedly, it'd been tempting. The doorway was so big and pompous that she almost wanted to mock it just for its lavishness.
Such a huge house was bringing up all the wrong memories, and being called a lady just seemed to make it worse. There had been too many soldiers and guards who'd called her 'little miss' and 'lady' when she was a child. Not to mention her father…
But there was no point in dwelling on those memories. Sheik took a deep breath and tried to re-center her focus before she lost it entirely.
Once she had finally reached the stable door, she was pleasantly surprised to find that it was warm inside. It had to be, of course; Epona wasn't its only tenant, and horses were almost as susceptible to the cold as Hylians. Still, much as she wanted to revel in it, she didn't dare linger while her partner was alone in unfamiliar territory. So she led Epona to an empty stall, then removed all of the gear piled on top of her. Without Link, she could only carry so much, so she decided to leave all but the essentials in a small cabinet near the door.
As she walked—loaded up heavily, without a free hand to so much as turn the door—she was so distracted by the task at hand that she didn't notice the girl watching her from the shadows.
It wasn't until she cleared her throat that Sheik even realized she wasn't alone. Given the last few months, the stranger was lucky Sheik hadn't thrown a knife at her—but she didn't escape having a katana drawn on her as Sheik's supplies clattered to the ground.
"Glad to see your reflexes work," the stranger said, watching mildly as Sheik held the blade to her throat. "But you're the home invader. I live here."
Realizing that the girl wasn't a threat, Sheik put her katana away and started reorganizing her bags. "I was invited in," she said. "And you are?"
"Ashei." The girl looked her over, her dark eyes suspicious for a moment more. "If Shad let you in, I take it you're one of the people who've been trying to help Hyrule?" As she looked Sheik up and down, her lips settled into a contemplative expression. "You don't really seem the humanitarian type. What do they call you?"
"Sheik. And I could say the same to you," she said. Though she was hardly sensitive to criticism, she didn't need to take insults lightly, either. If Impa had taught her anything, at least she'd learned to hold her head up high where it counted.
Sheik carefully sorted through the bags, and once she was finally finished, she piled them back onto herself and started for the door. All she could hope was that Ashei would leave her alone and not attempt anymore conversation, but it was in vain. The dark haired girl followed her out, and Sheik gritted her teeth to prevent her from telling her host to go away.
"So, a Sheikah," Ashei said. "I have to admit, it was kind of a surprise to see you."
"So you decided to sneak up on me and surprise me, is that it?"
Ashei picked up her pace, matching Sheik's longer strides. "No, but I wish I'd thought of that," she said. "So, where are you from? Kakariko?"
"None of your business," she said. Realizing all too late that she didn't know where Link and Shad had gone since they were no longer at the front entrance, Sheik's lips pulled into a frown. "Where's Shad? My partner's still with him."
"None of your business," Ashei parroted. At Sheik's burning glare, Ashei rolled her eyes. "I was messing with you, Sheikah. Lighten up." Seeing that Sheik had no intention of doing so, she added, "I think they're in the parlor. I'll show you the way, yeah?"
Sheik didn't answer, but Ashei took initiative regardless, walking a little in front of her and turning inside a different corridor.
"So," she started again. "You, uh, been in the hero-ing business long? Gotta say, I was kind of expecting two guys dressed in green or somethin'. You know. Hero of Legend stuff."
"That would be my partner," Sheik said, "Though he won't admit it."
"And you?"
"I was only named after someone interesting, don't worry." Hefting a bag higher up on her shoulder, she tried to look disinterested as she continued. "To be honest, I'm only in it to help the kidnapped girls. They're my priority."
Ashei's lips pulled into an appreciative smile. If they hadn't been discussing saving innocent victims, Sheik might have even thought it predatory. "Now that's what I like to hear." The dark haired girl turned as she said it, then gestured to the doorway Sheik assumed was her final destination. "Go ahead in," she said. "I'm going to grab the plans and bring 'em in here. Tell Shad I'll be back soon, 'kay?"
Sheik nodded once in passing, then started through the doorway. She didn't waste any time in setting the bags down on the ground, leaving her hands free to finally take off her damn cloak. Grateful as she was that it was warm inside, she'd had quite enough of intense temperature changes from Sarin.
Once she'd set it by the bags, she sought out Shad and Link, finding them in a small library within the room. As she sought them out, she realized just how badly she'd underestimated the size of the mansion—and the wealth within it. It was more than a little overwhelming… especially with the memories it was starting to resurface.
The very last thing Sheik wanted to remember was her early childhood.
But the tall bookshelves, and the smell of parchment, and distant, deep voices from across the room…
Sheik hid behind a well-stocked bookshelf for a moment to compose herself. She'd have to be careful, lest she start responding to the word 'Zelda' as if it were her name.
Once she was sure she wouldn't betray her own secret, she stood, keeping her back straight and shoulders squared. Her mask would have to stay for now, despite the heat, if only to help keep her emotions under control.
"Ashei will be here soon," Sheik said as she approached them. The pair turned towards her, and Sheik was grateful at how happy Link looked to see her. "…She said something about bringing 'the plans.'"
Although Link looked cheerful, Shad seemed quite put-out at the prospect. "This late at night?" he asked. "It's improper, springing work on so soon after guests arrive… But, I suppose there's no stopping her…"
"We are here to work, you know," Sheik said. "The sooner we know the plans, the sooner we can put them into action."
"Well, not necessarily," Shad said. "When we strike depends largely on the weather." At Sheik's furrowed brows, he waved a hand dismissively. "But I'll wait for Ashei to come back—I wouldn't want to skip over anything in my notes, after all."
"Just how detailed is this plan?" Link asked, a hint of a smile on his face. "Sheik and I have mostly been, um, playing things by ear."
"Well, I guarantee you that won't work for Ise," Shad said. "Ashei tried once before—it's a miracle she wasn't killed. It's… well, It's actually how we met, she and I. We both wanted to help, but it was clear we couldn't continue working alone. With her physical capability and my strategizing, we had hoped to liberate the fortress, but…"
When he trailed off, Sheik could only assume it was because of yet another failed attempt. "We'll help you," she said. "No matter what it takes, we'll get them out." As she said it, she felt Link's hand slip into her own, and she gratefully held onto it. After all, though liberating fortresses was nothing new—and Sheik remembered the warehouse all too clearly—it was still dangerous. And she couldn't imagine trying to do it without Link's help.
Shad expectantly at her, nodding his approval. But before he could open his mouth, they heard footsteps behind them, and Sheik turned to see Ashei.
Link spotted her just as soon as Sheik did. And suddenly the hand in hers was holding her in an unbearable grip. Sheik turned to look at her partner, only to find that he had paled significantly—and that she could feel his rapid pulse just from where he was holding her.
Shad, not facing Link, spoke as if unaware of the shorter boy's predicament. "Ashei, I'd like you to meet Sheik and Link. Though, of course, I expect you've already crossed paths with Sheik if she passed on a message of your impending arrival?"
Ashei nodded, setting a small briefcase on a round table nearby. "Yeah. Woulda taken my head off with her blade if she hadn't stopped in time," she said. "Good reflexes." As Ashei got a good look at Link, though, she furrowed her brows. "You alright, kid?"
Link quickly nodded, his death-grip on Sheik's hand abating somewhat. "Fine," he said. "Just. Just a little tired."
"You look like you're gonna be sick," Ashei said. "Did the snow get to ya?"
Sheik took the initiative to feel his face for a fever. Though he didn't feel warm—if anything, he felt uncharacteristically cold—she nodded anyways. "I don't think the frost has been good for him." Ignoring Link's baffled look, she continued onwards, putting a hand gently on his shoulder to steady him. "It's late. He ought to sleep so he'll be in fighting condition tomorrow."
"We probably won't be able to strike for a few days anyways," Ashei said, nodding her head. "The pass has to be in a greater snowstorm than this for the plan to work. And the skies will be clear for a few more days at least."
Link opened his mouth to protest, but Sheik shot him a warning glance. So he merely nodded, allowing Sheik to keep her hand on his shoulder.
"Is there a room we can stay?" Sheik glanced at the plethora of bags by the door of the parlor, lips quirking into a frown. "Preferably close by?"
Shad nodded, worry taking over his features. "Of course, of course. We have plenty of rooms." He glanced at them, a slight pinkness rising in his cheeks as he added, "And… would you like to be in the same room?"
Ashei shot him a deadpan look, but Sheik hardly looked up from Link. "Either," she said. "I'll be staying with him to look after him while he's sick, so for tonight I'll only need one."
…Not that she was planning on going back to sleeping alone, of course. After the past few weeks, she'd grown more and more accustomed to feeling Link close to her. Still, it was a bit too embarrassing to say aloud, so she was glad she had Link's fake illness to stand in for a real excuse.
"I…I see," Shad said. "Well, in that case, I suppose there's one just across the hall you can use."
That said, Shad was quick to lead them down the hall, with Sheik and Ashei bearing most of the travel bags. Once everything was situated, Ashei pulled Shad out of the room, allowing Sheik and Link to have some much-needed privacy.
Once Sheik was sure that the footsteps down the hallway were out of earshot, she turned to Link with a serious expression.
"So," she said. "What was that all about?"
Link sat on the edge of the bed, face still uncannily pale. "It's nothing."
"You look like you saw a ghost," Sheik said. "That's not nothing. You were fine for a minute, but then Ashei suddenly walked in and you…" She bit her lip, trailing off before she could say something she might regret. "If there's something wrong with Ashei, then I'd like to know before we partner with her and Shad."
She gave him a long look, her stare unwavering. It took a while for Link to finally meet her eyes, but when he did, it was with an uncharacteristically sober expression.
"It's just," he started, taking a deep breath before he could continue. "She just… looks a lot like someone I used to know."
Sheik furrowed her brows, trying to fit the pieces together. But suddenly they fell into place, and she remembered Ravio speaking of Hilda, and that night back at Ecchar. When she'd disguised herself with dark hair, Link had panicked outright, only able to choke half of Hilda's name before he recognized her and started to calm.
He'd been off-kilter for the rest of the night after that, too.
Ashei's dark hair must have set him off—and, from the looks of it, it was badly enough that working with her would be difficult in the upcoming days.
Sheik let out a soft sigh. The last thing she wanted to do was make him feel like a burden, so she gently sat down next to him. Though she felt clumsy as she tried to comfort him, she carefully laid an arm around his shoulders nonetheless. "I'm sorry," she said. "I should've figured it out sooner. It's about Hilda, isn't it?"
Link closed his eyes and leaned into the embrace. "You don't know the half of it."
And, admittedly, it was true. She knew bits and pieces, and she knew that whatever Hilda had done, it had left severe marks on her partner. But she didn't know everything.
For now, all she could do was be there for him and hope that it was enough.
"You can tell me what happened anytime," Sheik said. "It doesn't have to be now—it doesn't have to be ever, if you don't want to. But…" She bit her lip, praying the words were coming out right. "I'll be here to listen if you ever want to talk. Alright?"
Link nodded, then slowly pulled away. "Alright," he said. He was quiet for a while, staring for a long time at the ground. It seemed to take all of his willpower to sit up again, and when he did, he looked so tired that Sheik almost reached out to keep him upright. "We ought to get to sleep, Sheik."
As he said it, there was something off about his tone. Sheik, suddenly uncertain, stood and looked between him and the door. "Would you… like me to sleep elsewhere?" she asked softly. "I understand if you do, but…"
"No, it's," Link bit his lip, hesitating. "I just… I didn't know how to ask you to stay."
"Unless you ask me not to, I'll stay with you." Sheik stepped closer and cupped his cheek, just looking at him for a while before she could bring herself to move. She finally managed to press a soft kiss to his forehead, pretending she didn't notice his posture relax the moment she did it. When she pulled away, she was relieved to find that some color had returned to his cheeks, and that no trace of outright panic remained. "You look better," she said. "…But you still ought to lie down."
Link managed a smile. "You should, too," he said. "It's late."
Though she was reluctant to pull away—as if any moment, Link could revert back to that state of panic—Sheik let go of him. Without hesitating, she took off her suit, layer by layer, till she was left in her training clothes.
"Someday we've really gotta get you pajamas," Link said, lips quirking into a smile. Realizing that he didn't really have sleep-clothes, either, he sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. "Both of us, I guess."
"I think we have slightly bigger problems on our hands," she said. As she slipped into bed, she turned on her side, twisting to look at him. "But… Maybe someday. When this is all over."
Link couldn't help his smile. Now down to his underthings, he slipped in beside her and opened his arms. As she settled into them and pulled him close, he pressed a barely-there kiss to her shoulder. "Hey, Sheik?" he asked, waiting till she looked up at him to continue. "After… all this is over, do you think…"
He hesitated, and because of their closeness, she could feel his rapid heartbeat. Worried that he was getting pale and sick again, she looked up in alarm. Instead of a white, face, though, she found that it was rather pink, and could only guess what he was holding himself back from saying.
"Do I think…?" she prompted, trying to encourage him.
"Do you think you'll still be around?"
His question took her by surprise. But more surprising than that was that she didn't have an answer at all. It startled Sheik to realize just how little thought she'd put into her future. The only thing she could think about was rescuing the girls from Ise and possibly taking them back to Lon Lon Ranch. Sometime she'd go back to Kakariko Village and find out what was going on and hopefully save it, but…
Aside from those few things, she had no idea what she was going to do.
Her partnership with Link had opened too many doors. There were too many futures that she could have—too many ideas about who she could become, where she could live, what she could do with her life.
Her silence must have made Link worry, though, because his pulse wasn't losing pace.
"Sheik?" he prompted, worry obvious in his voice. "If—I mean, if you aren't… Interested, I understand. You don't have to stay with me if you don't want to. I'm… I'm sure you have other options."
Sheik met his eyes and tried to look reassuring. "It's not that at all," she said. "I just… I never… really thought about what I might do after this is over."
"Never?"
Sheik shook her head. "I… I guess I thought… Maybe I'd just… keep wandering forever. Like I was before… all of this."
Link was quiet for a while, expression unreadable. "Forever?" he finally asked. "That's…"
"But it's… not what I want to do now," she said. "And I… I still don't know what I want to do now. But I know it's not that."
There was obvious relief on her partner's face. Even so, it was mixed with a plethora of other emotions. Compassion, fondness… and a few others she couldn't place. "Well," he said, voice slow and uncertain, "If… If you ever need help finding your way…"
Though he couldn't seem to find the words to finish, Sheik knew what he was trying to say. She smiled softly, then pressed a quick kiss against his forehead. "We'll figure it out," she said. Even as she said it, though, she couldn't help the anxiety bubbling in her stomach. "But… Something tells me that this mess is a long way from over."
Though the worry had never left his features, a crease appeared between his brows once more. "Yeah?"
Sheik settled back against him, pulling the covers up to her chin. "Yeah."
Link just held her a little tighter, body a bit tenser than it had been just moments ago. "We'll be okay," he promised. "We just gotta stick together."
Even as he said it, Sheik got a strange feeling. It wasn't quite the invasive voice in her head that told her things she couldn't possibly know. But it was similar. And because of that feeling, she knew in her heart that there would be things they couldn't stick together for. There was no sense in worrying Link over something that hadn't happened yet, though, so Sheik ignored the feeling.
Instead, she merely closed her eyes and leaned closer. "Get some rest," she whispered. "Or you'll be tired tomorrow."
Link nodded, but that tenseness didn't leave him. Still, when he spoke, his voice was soft, and Sheik felt warmth pool in her chest. "Goodnight, Sheik."
"Goodnight."
And yet, even as Sheik drifted off, she had a feeling sleep wouldn't come as easily to Link as it did to her. All she could do was hope that her presence was a comfort, and that he would fall asleep eventually.
((Don't worry, readers. I know this has been moving quite slow (…and honestly, if I go back and rework chapters, there will be a lot that gets cut), but the pace will be moving faster from here on out. The repetitive way they've been traveling will change quite a bit, too—after Ise, there will be quite a lot that changes. There's a whole lot of fic left to write, and honestly, I have no idea how absurdly long this will be once it's done.
Hopefully Sheik and Link's relationship isn't too rushed for anyone. And I would like to point out that while they're sleeping next to each other, there's nothing more intimate than cuddling going on at the moment. Please bear in mind that they haven't even properly kissed. However, if you choose to interpret their sleeping quarters as such, feel free—just know that I won't ever write it out.
But anyways! Sorry for rambling so much, especially after such a long chapter. Hopefully you guys enjoyed and will be ready for the next installment soon! It shouldn't take nearly so long to write now that I have free time and inspiration again.
As always, thank you for reading, and please, whether or not you liked the chapter, I'd very much appreciate to hear your thoughts about it! Leave me a review and if you have any questions, I'll do my best to answer them! Thank you, and have a wonderful day!))