Bring me to Light

Tremble

It assaulted each of his senses from every side. Fire. Heat. The air was thick with smoke and flame, pressing down heavily on the two warriors as they forced their way to the temple.

“I hate this place already,” Link muttered, coughing against a cloud of smoke that had just been blown into his face.

“Be that as it may, we still need to defeat the evil in the temple.”

“I’m well aware.”

“Then stop complaining. The temple is over that bridge.” A slender bandaged finger, pointed over to the half-burnt bridge, snapped in half, its first segment dangling a few feet above the bubbling lava.

“A wooden bridge…in a volcanic crater,” Link commented, squinting through the ash “Genius, total genius.”

“We are feeling sarcastic today aren’t we?” Link shrugged as Sheik stalked past him to the edge where the bride stood, staring out across the lava to a post above the bridge, judging the distance.

“You’re gonna show off and jump over there aren’t you?” he asked, catching up to his companion and standing beside him.

The Sheikah merely inclined his head to the Hylian before launching himself from the cliff edge, springing cobra like over the pit of lava below, managing to grab a post set into the cliff above the bridge that still stood.

Link watched quietly as the Sheikah pulled himself up by his arms, swinging his legs up to catch on the beam and back flipping onto it, quietly impressed by the physical display.

“Nice,” the blonde commented, pulling the hookshot out from the belt loop it was held by and aiming it at the post Sheik was crouching on. The arrowhead embedded itself neatly into the wood and with a press of the retraction control Link was hoisted from the cliff to the post, left dangling from the beam once the chain had retracted.

The Hylian tugged on the handle of the hookshot, trying to pull the head out from the wood it was buried in whilst Sheik turned around on the beam so that he was facing the young hero. He smirked as Link struggled to free himself and the smile grew into a chuckle as the Hylian flipped himself upside-down, planting his feet against the beam for leverage and tugging again.

With a groan of ripping wood he fell, the claw dislodged, sending him slamming into the wooden bridge below, wisps of lava reddened smoke and steam wrapping around him from the pool of molten rock below.

“Guuhhh…”

“Perhaps next time you should consider lowering yourself to the bridge with the chain, as opposed to dropping and almost breaking it.”

“Naff off.”

The Sheikah scoffed at the half-playful comment before flipping off the beam and landing lightly on the bridge. Giving the Hylian a ‘come-hither’ gesture he turned and strode down the bridge before waiting for the other man at the warp platform.

“So what’s the song for this temple?” Link asked when he had reached the awaiting Sheikah.

“It’s called Bolero of Fire.”

“Makes sense.”

“…you’re going to ask me to teach it to you regardless of the fact it’s pointless aren’t you?”

Link nodded “I have an affinity for learning pointless stuff.”

“I’d noticed.”

“Stop mocking and teach me the damn song!”

“Later. We’ll start cleansing the temple first. If we have a chance to take a break, I’ll teach you it then.”

“Fine,” Link sulked, scuffing the floor with his toe.

“Stop sulking.”

“If I wanna sulk, I’ll sulk.”

“Fine then, sulk, just do it whilst going through the temple.”

Sheik pointed to the entrance to the temple, overshadowed by a chamber carved in the side of the crater’s inner wall.

Link nodded slightly before walking into the cavern, Sheik close behind, before jumping down the hole that led into the fire temple, catching onto the ladder now and again in order to avoid slamming straight into the floor.

When he had reached the bottom he dusted himself off lightly, drawing the sword and shield soon after and walking into the temple’s entrance hall.

--

“So…hot,” Link panted, sliding down the wall they had stopped to rest against.

“Stop complaining, we’ve barely been here an hour.” Despite his cool demeanour however, the Sheikah seemed little better off than Link. The bandages around his fingers were slowly becoming soaked with sweat, blonde hair sticking to his face with it.

“Yeah, ‘cos you’re not boiling either.”

“I’m not complaining about it.”

“Well I’m a whiner by nature.” Link replied, folding his arms across his chest.

“Humph.”

Sheik turned away slightly, pulling a few strands of hair away from his face and staring out across the room they were in. A large pit of lava made up the base of the room, girder and wire platforms suspended over the pit by chains, the platforms leading around to the right of the room. A door stood on the left hand side.

“Get your breath back, then we need to move on.”

“Yeah…ok…I take it we’re heading for that door?”

Link pointed out the door on the left side of the room. Sheik nodded.

“Yes…however..,.”

“There was a Goron in that maze room we were just in.”

“And the room below it.”

“Which means we have to find our way into that other room first.”

Sheik nodded again. “If you still have that map, it should be a relatively simple task to find a way through.”

“Should be,” Link commented, rustling around inside his tunic.

“…I really don’t understand how you keep so many items in there.”

“Me neither, it’s one of life’s great mysteries…aha!”

With a flourish the Hylian pulled out a piece of rumpled, sweat soaked parchment, triumphantly handing it to the Sheikah.

“That’s….”

“Gross?”

“For lack of a better term, yes.” Gingerly, Sheik took the paper, unfolding it with the very tips of his fingers, tutting at the ink that had run slightly with the moisture. He studied it for a moment before turning back to Link, handing the parchment back.

“This room curves around to the right and leads back into the maze on a different level.”

Link clambered to his feet, tucking the map inside the tunic once again before straightening it out.

“Guess we’re going on then?”

“If you’re recovered.”

Link shrugged, batting a piece of ash off his shoulder. “We need to get on no matter what so…”

“Very well, but don’t blame me if you need to run and can’t.”

“I’m not that tired, Sheik.” A defiant light glinted in the hero’s blue eyes and Sheik smiled beneath the mask, finally comfortable with the expression.

“Let’s continue then.”

With a shared affiriming nod the two blondes leapt from the stone platform to the metal platform, staggering upon landing when it swung with the sudden weight.

“Guess we should’ve expected…”

Link paused mid-sentence, eyebrows furrowing. “Do you hear…?”

He turned quickly to face the back wall, starting at the sight of a 7 foot high wall of fire flickering towards them.

“Oh sh..”

Sheik grabbed Link’s wrist “No time, run!”

The Sheikah tugged before setting off, Link following close behind as he hurdled onto the upper step of the platform, sprinting smoothly over the wavering metal surface.

Link clambered up the step, ever conscious of the fire’s proximity, climbing to his feet and dashing across the surface. His frame, more muscular and sturdily built than Sheik’s lithe, slender form made the raised area shudder and wobble as he ran, throwing him off balance so that every step was staggered, costing him valuable seconds. Up ahead, Sheik had neatly flipped onto the second framework and was sprinting across it, the chains barely moving with his slim frame.

The Hylian picked up his pace as he approached the end of the first platform jumping shakily onto the ledge ahead, spurred on by the crackle of flames behind.

‘Not going to make it. Goddesses I’m going to be burnt alive in this god-forsaken place, if Sheik lets me die here I’m so going to come back to haunt him.’

Fire erupted in front of him and Link back peddled, drawing his sword to smash the fire bubble out of his path, its fleshless face grinning mockingly at his seemingly inevitable death.

‘Stupid undead creatures!’

He didn’t bother to look behind him or even check the sword for damage, but took off again, trying to quicken his pace, looking up to see Sheik pulling himself onto the brick platform on the right, safely out of the fire’s path. As he slid the Master Sword back into its sheath he could feel that intense heat blistering the skin on his fingers and he almost cried out in panic, his lungs burning as they heaved, trying to bring more oxygen into his body. His throat was dry, heart pounding as he leapt for the next platform, distantly hearing Sheik calling to him.

‘I can’t die here, not now…I’m supposed to die in some great battle against unstoppable evil not burnt to a cinder by some stupid trap and…’

Sheik called to him again, his voice cutting through air that was thick with ash and smoke, his image blurred by heat haze.

‘I refuse to die here! For the sake of myself, the people of Hyrule and…for Sheik.’

His eyes slammed shut, his mouth closing as he concentrated on running faster, shutting out anything other than the movement of his legs, clamping down on his desire to live.

“Link!” The desperate cry tore from Sheik’s throat at the sight of that fire almost consuming the Hylian. The hero’s eyes had slammed shut as he concentrated on running but it was still only just enough to keep him out of the way of the fire.

Sheik darted to the edge of the brick ledge he was resting upon as the Hylian approached, barely stopping himself from darting onto the metal platform. His presence would do little good.

“Link! Open your eyes and jump!”

Blue eyes snapped open at the order, judging the distance to the wall. It was too far, surely, but then if he didn’t try the alternative…

The Hylian made a lunging jump, his arms outstretched as he reached for the ledge. Sheik felt his breath catch, his heart stopping with sheer tension.

And then calloused fingers were gripping the edge of the wall, Link’s body colliding with the vertical surface, legs scrabbling against it for grip to steady himself, arms straining to pull his body up and Sheik grabbed him by the biceps, feeling them contracting under his hands.

Gritting his teeth and planting his feet against the floor he pulled back, labouring to pull his friend to safety as the fire burned closer.

Booted feet found a grips and Link planted them firmly against the wall, tensing them as Sheik pulled him ever closer to the area out of the fire’s path. His elbows grazed the sandstone surface and Link kicked at the wall, propelling himself over the threshold of the ledge.

Sheik panted as he lay on his back, muscles burning from exertion, heart pounding against his ribs from the sudden drama. He could hear similar panting from above him and his eyes flicked open to check on his companion.

He was right above him, his weight resting on his forearms, legs stretched out behind him so that their bodies were mere centimetres apart. Link’s breathing was heavy, his eyes squeezed shut, body trembling from the experience.

His eyes slowly opened as he adjusted to the new situation, blue lowering to meet red and they filled with gratitude. There was something else there too in those sapphire depths, a glimmer of emotion that Sheik could only hope it was what he thought.

Link shifted, body lowering slightly as he continued to tremble, his legs brushing against Sheik’s and the shadow warrior felt heat erupt in his stomach, raising his body temperature to near unbearable levels.

The Hylian pulled away suddenly, looking half-uncomfortable, half-pleased with something and he fell back to kneel in front of the other blonde as he pulled himself into a sitting position.

“You ok?” he panted, resting his sweating hands on his knees

“I believe I should be the one enquiring about your welfare.”

“If you say so…I’m fine, before you ask just a bit….”

“Shaken.” Sheik finished and Link nodded in an embarrassed manner, his face flushed, mirroring the colour of Sheik’s own cheeks.

“Thanks, as well.”

“You’re quite welcome…I can’t allow anything ill to befall you.”

A light, innocent smile pulled at Link’s mouth at the comment and the Hylian looked away suddenly.

“So…uh, that was…interesting.”

“I think terrifying would be more appropriate.”

“Probably…” Link looked up at the door above them that led onto the upper levels of the maze room.

“Sheik?”

“Yes?”

“…You mind if we wait a bit before we carry on?”

Sheik nodded “If that’s what you want.” Slowly Sheik climbed to his feet before turning and offering his hand to Link.

The hero took it gratefully, letting Sheik pull him to his feet and put an arm around his shoulder as he guided him to the back wall, as far from the lava pit as possible.

An inverse corner where two of the walls met offered a slight barrier against the heat and Sheik hurriedly pulled the Hylian over to it. Once in the shade, the two men slid to the floor, Sheik on the outside to protect Link from anything that might wander in.

The boy was still trembling slightly, the adrenaline in his system having worn off giving way to a cold shock, unresponsive when Sheik spoke to him.

Feeling useless and uneasy the Sheikah laid his hand on the blonde’s shoulder, surprised when he pressed himself against the comforting hand.

Sighing in defeat and distress for the hero he leant forwards, pushing his arm around Link’s back and using it to pull him against him, holding him as he trembled.

*******************************************************************************************************

As always, please review. And apologies. Will now be another 2-3 weeks before I next update. Hope this suffice's in the mean time