The hours crawl by, and I get steadily more impatient.

Has Link gotten that message yet? I ask myself for the hundredth time. Where is he? Why has no-one else come to see me? Ciela brings me lunch, and then dinner, but both times she only stays for as long as it takes me to eat, and politely avoids my attempts at conversation. I sigh, starting to feel lonely again. Eventually I decide to go to bed, more out of boredom than tiredness. But just as I'm about to blow out the candle, the lock clicks open and Zelda comes in.

'Oh, are you going to bed?' she asks, backing out.

'No! Please, don't go!' I tell her frantically, scrambling out of bed and rushing over to her.

'If you're sure,' she replies, coming back in and locking the door after her. I sigh behind her back as she does so.

Does she really think I'm so desperate to leave that I'd run out the door while she's still here? Although… I decide that I really need to talk to Zelda about letting me out of this room. How long does she expect me to stay here? But before I can bring this up, she starts talking.

'I sent that message to Link, asking him to come up to the castle,' she says, and I brighten.

Finally, some human contact! But Zelda looks downcast.

'I haven't heard anything back, and no-one matching his description has come to the castle. It sounds like maybe he isn't so willing to forgive you after all.' I sit down heavily, my heart suddenly feeling as though it's full of lead.

Link… I'm so sorry, I think sadly. If you'd just come to the castle, I could explain everything! Please, just let me talk to you! Zelda watches me with concern, but after a few moments she coughs gently, attracting my attention.

'There's more bad news, I'm afraid,' she says, and I look away from her, wondering how much worse things could get. 'I've had people scouting around, and it seems like we've found out who cursed you.' I look up at this, eager to know.

Maybe this means I'm finally safe! And if that's the case, there's nothing stopping me from going to Castle Town and finding Link myself!

'Well, when I say we've found them, I don't mean that we've actually caught them,' Zelda says hurriedly. 'They're still out there and evading capture, so you're still in danger for the moment. But at least now we know who we're looking for.'

'Who is it?' I ask anxiously. Zelda looks down, as if she knows that I won't like the answer.

'It's… Impa.'

-o-

'Impa?' I ask incredulously when I've recovered from the shock.

'Yes. The night you disappeared, one of the maids, Ciela in fact, saw Impa leaving the castle. She didn't see anyone else with her, but it's possible that Impa had somehow hidden you. But there's one thing I just can't understand: Impa has been a loyal advisor to our father and to both of us for our whole lives. You trusted her, and if she'd told you to come with her you would have gone with her willingly. I can't believe she betrayed that trust. I mean, why would she do it?' I shake my head, completely at a loss.

'I don't know. I don't remember Impa at all. The only time I ever remember seeing her is yesterday, when you two were returning to Castle Town. Come to think of it, I think she saw me then.'

'It's possible. And anyway, it's been announced to the people that you're back, so Impa will have heard the news then, even if she didn't see you before.'

'Then where is she now?' I ask, hoping she isn't in the castle.

'She tried to get into the castle early this morning,' Zelda tells me, and my eyes widen. 'But I'd already ordered the guards not to let her in, and she vanished off into the town again. She probably realises that we're on to her now, so she'll have gone into hiding.' I frown.

'But you only just told me now that Impa cursed me. How did you already know this morning?'

'Back then we only had Ciela's word for it,' Zelda explains. 'I wasn't sure it was Impa, but I wasn't taking any chances, not when my precious sister is in danger. But since then other people have said that they saw Impa that night, so I think we can take it as fact now.' I nod, trying to take all this in.

I can't believe Impa would try to kill me. Why would she do that? What does she have to gain by my death? And anyway, is she even capable of committing murder? Anju spoke so highly of her, and surely she wouldn't be the leader of Kakariko Village if she was the kind of person who would kill someone else. But suddenly I remember something, or rather someone, and gasp.

'What's wrong?' Zelda asks, frowning.

'Link! He wanted to meet with Impa! And when I disappeared off here and didn't go back, he might have tried to find Impa so he could get some answers and also find me! And that means that he's in danger!' Zelda's frown deepens.

'It certainly sounds like it. I really hope nothing's happened to him…' I shiver, praying to the Goddesses to keep him safe. 'I've already sent people out looking for Impa, so if Link's with her they'll find him too. Right now, that's the best we can do.' I sigh, worrying about my friend.

If anything happens to him, it'll be my fault, I think mournfully. If it wasn't for me, he would never have left the Kokiri Forest. He'd be safe with Saria right now. I promised her I'd keep him safe, but all I've done is put him in more danger. What am I going to do if he's been hurt? Saria will never forgive me. And I don't deserve to be forgiven. Zelda smiles sadly and rubs my back.

'Try not to worry about it. We're doing everything we can to keep you safe and find Link. You have to have faith.' I nod and try to smile, but I can't manage it. Zelda sighs and leaves me once more, locking the door on her way out.

-o-

I sleep fitfully, unable to get comfortable. When I do finally lose consciousness, my nightmares are full of images of Link, injured or worse. Eventually I manage to enter a deeper sleep, and when I wake up it's already mid-morning. I let my eyes adjust to the bright sunlight, and slowly haul myself out of bed and over to the window. There's a sloping roof right outside, and I stare at it for a few moments, frowning.

I used to climb on that, I think vaguely. When… that's right, when Malon's father came to the castle to deliver milk, and I wasn't allowed to see her, so I used to sneak out onto the roof. There's a patch of vines on one of the walls, and it's easy to climb down that. Then I could run out into the gardens, and she would meet me at the gate. I smile at the memory. But my expression turns back into a frown as I contemplate my continuing amnesia.

The Great Deku Tree said that my memories would return more quickly if I went to places I knew and met people I was close to. But I'm in my old room, and I've met my own sister, the only person I had even the vaguest memories of after I was cursed. I ought to be triggering memories left right and centre, so why is my mind still full of cotton wool?

Then I remember what else the tree said, about how it would be harder for me to regain my memories when I'm close to the person who cursed me. I shiver, wondering if seeing Impa has done this to me. No, the contact was too brief. The fact that I still haven't remembered anything much means that she must still be around. At this point I'm stirred from my reverie by a soft knock at the door. I rush over, instinctively turning the handle before I remember that I'm locked in.

'Who is it?' I ask, wondering why Zelda or Ciela don't use their own keys.

'It's me,' a voice whispers, and I realise it's the maid.

'Ciela? What's wrong? Why don't you come in?'

'I don't have a key anymore!' she whispers urgently. 'Earlier this morning I was about to bring you your breakfast when Princess Zelda came up to me. She told me that she was worried about the possibility of Impa getting close to you, and so she'd decided that she was to be the only one with a key to your room. I'm sorry, Sheik! I didn't want to give her my key, but I couldn't disobey her.'

'Don't worry about it,' I tell her, but behind the door I'm frowning.

Am I really in that much danger? And surely Zelda doesn't think Ciela would ever do anything to hurt me?

'But then why are you here?' I ask. 'And why are you whispering?'

'I'm not supposed to be here!' she whispers back. 'But I wanted to tell you what happened with Zelda.'

'Why?' I ask, my frown deepening.

'Because I think something's wrong! I don't know what, but I'm worried, Sheik! Please promise me you'll be careful!' Suddenly I hear a gasp on the other side of the door, and the sound of approaching footsteps. 'I've got to go! Please don't tell anyone I was here!' Ciela begs me, before running off. I consider shouting after her, but decide that it would only alert whoever is approaching to her presence, which she clearly doesn't want.

I wait a few more minutes, wondering if the new person is Zelda, and if she'll come in to see me, but they pass by my door without even pausing. Sighing, I slump on the couch and resign myself to another dull day.

-o-

I look up when I hear the door being unlocked, wondering why Zelda is coming to see me; her coronation is tomorrow, so she must be very busy. I wonder if I'll be allowed out of my room to go to the coronation. I sigh. The way things have been going, I probably won't be. But when I see Zelda's face, I'm taken aback. She looks tired and drained, but she brightens up when she sees me.

'Sorry I haven't seen you in a while, Sheik,' she tells me, closing the door but not locking it this time. Seeing this as a positive sign, I smile back and gesture for her to sit next to me on the couch. 'Brr! It's freezing in here!' she says as she sits down, rubbing her bare arms. I shrug, feeling pleasantly warm myself.

'Are you alright? You look stressed,' I tell her.

'Well, I am being crowned Queen tomorrow!' she says with a slight laugh. 'And there are a few last-minute hitches. Oh, don't worry,' she says quickly when I look anxious. 'It's not a big problem. I'll still have my coronation tomorrow, you'll see. It's just that the Royal Council are being… difficult. But I'll sort them out. I know exactly what to do. I'm not going to let anything or anyone ruin my coronation.' Her smile broadens at this and mine does to. Despite the severity of her words, I'm glad that Zelda has everything under control.

'I don't think I'd be able to handle all this as well as you're doing it,' I tell her honestly.

'Of course you couldn't! That's why I'm being crowned Queen and you're not,' she replies brightly. I frown slightly; that seemed a little harsh, and not what I'd expect from my usually kind sister. 'It really is cold in here. Do you mind if I build up the fire a bit?' she asks, and I nod. A small fire burns in the grate and I'm happy with it as it is, but if Zelda's cold I guess I don't mind having some more heat. She kneels down in front on the hearth and starts to stack more logs on the fire from the pile next to the fireplace.

'I'm sure we could ask Ciela to do that,' I tell her, getting up, but she waves me back down.

'I don't mind. Oh, and there's news on your attacker,' she replies, not turning around. I wait expectantly, hoping that her men have found Impa. 'I'm afraid you're not going to like it, though,' she says, but I stay silent. The worst the news can be is that they haven't caught Impa yet. I'm prepared for that. But I'm not prepared for what Zelda says next.

'I don't know how to tell you this but… Link is involved too.'

-o-

I sit there in stunned silence, unable to believe my ears.

No, there's no way! Link would never hurt me! He couldn't possibly have cursed me, or helped to curse me… right? I mustn't start doubting him! But my faith in him is shaken, and it isn't helped as Zelda continues.

'People have reported seeing Impa with a boy of his description. It seems like they're working together. And when you think about it, it makes sense. When you first woke up with amnesia, you had no idea who Link was or whether he was even really helping you. And it turns out he wasn't. I've had people asking around, and several of them remember having seen Link around with Impa before. So that means he lied to you about not having left his forest before, and he was working against you the whole time.

I guess he must have been pretending to help you get back to Hyrule Castle so that you'd be back near Impa, and she could finish the job. And that's probably why he was so eager for you to wait until the morning and meet Impa, rather than rushing off to meet me that night. He knew that if you found me before Impa found you, you'd be safe. And he didn't want you to be safe.' I stay silent, having nothing to say. Zelda, having by now built the fire up into a mass of roaring flames, turns to me.

'I'm so sorry, Sheik,' she says, the concern evident in her eyes. Something in my mind shifts again, as it did once before. But again, I ignore it.

Link… how could you? I think, tears gathering at the corner of my eyes. Zelda sighs and gets up from the fire, rearranging the hearthrug so that it's right up close to the fireplace.

'I'll leave you for now, if that's alright,' she says, briefly resting her hand on my shoulder as she goes. 'I know you probably didn't want to hear that, but I had to tell you the truth. I'm sorry.' I nod, not looking at her.

-o-

It's only once the key has clicked in the lock that I wake up from my daze.

No! No, I refuse to just accept this! I know Link wouldn't betray me like that! I shake myself, and focus.

Ok, Sheik. It's time to think. You still have all your memories, even if you can't reach them right now. Think hard. Think about Zelda, and about Link. They can't both be telling the truth. I want to believe Link… but I know Zelda isn't lying. I pause. Do I? I think back to the mental shift I felt before, when Zelda consoled me. And again, the first time I felt it. What were we talking about? Oh yes, I'd just been telling Zelda about my travels with Link. I think about the conversation. What was strange about it?

Zelda was really specific in her questions about Link. Why? General interest? No, that can't be it. Why would she need a detailed physical description of Link just for the sake of the story? It was as though she needed to know what he looked like, so that she could find him later. Well, she did need that, when I asked her to send a message to him, and later when she started searching for him and Impa. But back during our first conversation, she didn't know that she would have to do those things. Unless she did… I shake my head again, my endless suspicion getting me nowhere.

Okay, what else? I told her about my memory of Kakariko Village, and she said she hadn't gone with me. Nothing remarkable about that. But I pause suddenly, thinking back to the memory of that day. A man was talking to Zelda. I think that was my father. And at the time I assumed he was talking to me, because we thought my name was Zelda. But my name is Sheik. So my father couldn't have been talking to me, he must have been talking to my sister. Which means that, whatever she says, she was there! I focus furiously on the memory.

'Zelda! Stop that! Come here, this instant!' Yes, my father said that. He told my sister that. And then there was the pain… I can feel it again, the sharp jolt at the back of my head. And suddenly I'm back in the memory, and it's like a fog has lifted.

'Ow! Zelda, that hurts!' I moan, reaching back and trying to get my sister to let go of my hair, which she yanks viciously.

'Zelda! Stop that! Come here, this instant!' Zelda just sticks her tongue out at our father, who stands on the bank of the river, unwilling to get wet. 'Zelda! Now!'

'You're really hurting me, Zelda!' I yell, but still she doesn't let go. Instead she just laughs, pulling harder. Then with one final tug she pulls me backwards completely, into the river. She scrambles up the bank to our father, still laughing, while I drag myself out of the water, soaked to the skin and trying not to cry.

I open my eyes, my mouth wide. The Zelda I just remembered is nothing like the Zelda I've known for the past two days. The girl from my memory is cruel and sadistic, while the girl who just left my room is kind and gentle. But then I remember what she said, about how I'm unfit to rule the kingdom while she is. That seems more like the old Zelda. And what Ciela told me at our first meeting, that people are afraid of Zelda. Back then I couldn't understand why anyone would fear her, but I can easily imagine people being afraid of the girl from my memory, if she was suddenly put in charge of their kingdom and all their lives.

But still I can't decide. Many young girls go through a more aggressive phase, but come out of it when they grow up. Just because Zelda used to be mean to me, it doesn't mean she's still like that. But I'm not entirely convinced, so I search back through my other memories. Like the one from Kakariko Village…

'You keep a really close eye on that pen and make sure no-one lets the Cuccos out again!' The Cucco Lady smiles and nods. I run off and grab another Cucco, sighing to myself when I return to see that the Cucco Lady is distracted again. But as I throw the Cucco into the pen I catch a glimpse of blonde hair, and frown as Zelda grabs another of the Cuccos and hurls it straight at Anju, who jumps in fright.

'Ah! I'm getting goosebumps again! Did you throw that bird at me?' she asks me, looking hurt. I shake my head quickly, but I'm hesitant to tell the woman about my sister. But why would Zelda do something like that? Not only is she causing a nuisance by letting the Cucco Lady's birds out, she's also deliberately triggering her allergies by throwing the bird at her! And I know she heard the woman telling me about those allergies, so she must be doing it on purpose! But why is she being so mean to a woman she doesn't even know?

I frown to myself. So it seems like Zelda was always vindictive. But still, that might have changed by now. I think about the one other memory I have: meeting Malon. I close my eyes again and focus.

I look up from my book at the sound of a wagon entering the castle. A quick glance out my window confirms my hope: it's the Horse Girl's father, bringing his milk. Which means that the Horse Girl will be waiting for me by the gate! I leap up eagerly, impatient to see my best and only friend again. But just as I'm about to climb out the window to freedom, I hear the door open behind me.

'Aha! I knew it! You're going to see that stupid Horse Girl again!' Zelda says triumphantly. 'You know you shouldn't be spending time with a girl like that!'

'She's my friend,' I mumble defensively.

'She's a commoner! You're not allowed to see her, and you know that!' I glare at Zelda, annoyed at her for once again crushing the small amount of joy in my life. 'I'm going to tell Father!' she announces smugly. 'And when I do, you're never going to see that girl again!' My eyes widen and I immediately run after her, but she's older and faster than me, and I can't catch up.

I sigh sadly. I remember that day clearly now. So that's why I stopped seeing Malon, and she never knew why. It was because of Zelda.

Wait a minute… Zelda said I used to stay in the castle and not see people! But that can't be true, if I was so keen to see Malon. So why would she say that? Another memory surfaces, and I smile grimly. They're coming thick and fast now. It's just like the Great Deku Tree said it would be; once I regain a few memories, the curse weakens and it's easier to remember more. I concentrate on the new memory, a more recent one.

'But Zelda, why can't I go out into the town? I want to see the people! I want to travel around Hyrule, like we did with Father when we were kids! Why won't you let me do that?'

'Why do people need to know about you?' my sister says, shrugging nonchalantly. 'You're not their next ruler, I am. So no-one cares about you.' I scowl at Zelda; how typical of her to be so self-centred.

'This isn't about making myself popular, this is about the fact that you keep me locked up in this castle the entire time and never let me see anyone! I'm lonely, Zelda!' But one look at my sister's impassive face tells me that my pleas are falling on deaf ears.

So I wasn't a recluse, like Zelda said! I wanted to go out and see people, but she wouldn't let me!

She lied to me, I think in shock. I think about Zelda's face, her earnest expression when she told me that lie. And suddenly I realise what I've been thinking was wrong this whole time.

Zelda has been lying to me. I used to be able to tell when she was lying, and even though I've lost my memories, subconsciously I can still tell. When she told me she hadn't gone with me to Kakariko, when she told me that I was the one who didn't want to go out and meet people. And I realise that the lies go deeper than that.

When she told me she sent that message to Link… yes, she was lying then too! That's why he didn't come to see me, not because he hasn't forgiven me but because he has no idea I'm here! How did I not see this before? And all those times she seemed as though she was concerned about me, that was just pretending. She's always been a good actress, I think grimly.

So what else did she lie about? About Impa trying to kill me? I strain my memory back, trying to picture Zelda's face exactly. Yes, that was a lie. And that means that what she told me about Link must have been a lie too! I practically jump with joy, realising that my best friend didn't betray me after all. But I'm still left with the arguably more worrying realisation: that my sister has been lying to me ever since she met me again.

Why would she do that? I glance sideways at the fire; the intense heat is making it hard to think, and I get up and throw open the window. A gust of cool air revives me, but I look back at the fire again. That's strange. Why did Zelda insist on having a big fire to warm the room up, when she left as soon as she'd done it? It can't have been for my benefit, I wasn't cold. I start to look for something to put the fire out with, but there's nothing nearby. Shrugging, I decide to let it burn itself out. I stare back out the window, thinking hard.

The way she constantly insisted on locking me in here… that's strange. Especially if she was lying about Impa trying to kill me. If she didn't actually think I was in danger, then keeping me in here can't have been for my protection. It must have been for some other reason. But what reason? Getting nowhere with this line of thought, I run my mind back through the last two days.

That first time I felt strange… it wasn't just because Zelda was lying to me. I have to trust my subconscious; it must have picked up on something I missed. Think, Sheik! What was she saying? Why did I get a strange feeling? Suddenly I remember.

'Whoever cursed you before may well still be around, and we don't want anything else happening to you!' At the time I thought Zelda's words were nothing more than honest concern, and I put the strange feeling down to my anxiety about Link. But now, thinking back, I realise what I noticed before but didn't acknowledge. The one word Zelda said which should have immediately set alarm bells ringing.

'Whoever cursed you'. She mentioned my curse. But at that point, I hadn't told her my story. All I had told her was that I had amnesia, but I never said anything about a curse.

There's only one way Zelda could possibly have known about my curse. And that's if she was the one who cast it.

-o-

A/N: I do like a good plot twist. Hopefully this wasn't obvious from the start!