Bring me to Light

Hello all and thanks for the reviews :) Greatly appreciated as always.

There will only be one update for now because I am, officially, home for Christmas, meaning I have full access to aff.net so I can post regularly for a month. I usually aim to post one chapter a week on other websites, but I want to get most of this fic up for you who don't want to go onto ff.net, so I may look at two a week.

Oh and by the way: very very long and very very important chapter. If you have plans to go out in the next, oh say half an hour, either cancel or read this another time because this is llloooonnnnggggg. By my standards. Which means it'll prolly make most people's eyes bleed with it's length.

Enjoy!
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Shared experience

It whispered through the air, the calling of the hero, the duty that awaited and Sheik lifted his head to listen to the message flowing through what the Hylians’ called ‘gossip stones’. He turned away, losing interest after a minute, knowing everything already it was telling him…the words to accompany the warping song as fresh in his mind as the moment he first heard them when he was 12 years old and being prepared to accompany the first candidate for the Hero of Time.

There had been many, men of different ages and backgrounds all stepping forwards to take on the mantle of the saviour of Hyrule. Sheik had known as soon as he had laid his eyes upon them that they wouldn’t make it no matter how hard they would try. To be the Hero of Time, you had to be chosen by the Goddesses.

The Sheikah shifted slightly in the tree he was perched in, changing the angle of his head so that he could see the true hero through the window. Still sleeping soundly and Sheik could see the smile flitting across his gentle features as he dreamed of…something. Most likely him and he smiled at the notion before flipping off the tree to land neatly on the floor, patting the flank of Thara who was already awake and grazing quietly.

He chuckled. As he was to Link, Thara was to Epona. Except that in that relationship, it was Thara who was doing the nudging.

Speaking of Epona, Sheik strolled past her stable to find her flat on her side, asleep. And they say horses were supposed to sleep standing up.

Shaking his head, he returned to the house, giving the ‘gossip stone’ one last glance to see if it had any new messages for him. He was hoping to hear from the Princess and Impa…but news from them was few and far between no matter how many updates he sent them. Perhaps it was for the best. He was sure that if either of them found out about his and Link’s undeniably blooming relationship, they would not be best pleased.

He pushed the wooden door open, glad that he had finally got around to sorting the squeaking hinges and glanced about the kitchen, noting suddenly the newly acquired furniture. Though he had been gathering it for the past few weeks due to his new companion he hadn’t actually realised how much space it took up….how homely it made this formerly empty shell look. There was a near constant fire in the hearth now, always some piece of clothing thrown on the floor (due to Link, of course), a pile of equipment in the corner. It finally looked like someone lived here on a permanent basis and it was thanks to Link.

Tugging a little at the mask, he brushed the curtain to the bedroom aside, walking into a room bathed in the light of sunrise flame-like colours painting the walls and Sheik walked to his sleeping partners side and looked out the window at the glorious sunrise. It was promising.

Usually, he felt that the sunrise had a foreboding about it in these times, but today it was different. Smiling again, he looked down to the sleeping Hylian, noting the way his blonde hair was sprayed across the pillow, pulled away from his face by gravity and displaying every contour of the hero’s face. The strong line of his jaw trailing up to pointed ear, the slight dip in his cheek, the subtle ridge of his high cheekbone, the thick fringe of dark-golden eyelashes. The soft curve of smiling, coral lips.

Sheik pulled back slightly, well aware of where that train of thought was leading to and aware that it wasn’t appropriate right now…if ever. Link might feel the same as him but the question was really whether they would carry out their desires.

His oddly upbeat mood disappeared with that thought and he reached out to gently shake Link’s now healed shoulder, reluctantly waking him.

Golden lashes fluttered, revealing distant sapphire eyes and the Hylian turned, shifting his body to face him, already aware of his presence despite the recent return to consciousness.

“Hey,” he greeted, voice fuzzy with sleep eyes half-mast and still struggling to open fully.

“Good morning.”

A hand reached up and rubbed at his eyes tiredly before running through tangled blonde hair. The Hylian yawned loudly as he worked his hand free of his hair.

“So…today’s the day we head out again huh?” He pulled himself upright, sheets falling from his bare torso as he stretched and looked at the other blonde, gracing him with an impish smile.

Sheik nodded “We need to break the curse on the water temple but…”

“There’s somewhere else we need to go and check on first and we’ll probably end up having to solve a new problem we’ve discovered?”

“Actually, I was simply going to suggest we get you a Zora’s tunic first so that you can breathe underwater.”

“Ah-ha…and let me guess, your outfit comes with built in breathing equipment, right?”

The shadow warrior looked out the window uncomfortably.

“No…I’m not equipped to accompany you through the entire temple. I’m afraid I will only be there some of the time.”

Link’s eyebrows rose a little in surprise, then lowered. “Ok. I mean, it’s not your fault you can’t come…and I’ll be fine…”

“You are the Hero of Time, Link. There is nothing you can’t face alone.”

Link nodded. “Yeah…”

The uncertainty in his voice was unmistakable and Sheik slowly reached out to cup Link’s cheek in his hand, a mirror of the supportive gesture Link had given him a few weeks ago.

“Have faith in yourself, you are not the boy you were when I rescued you all that time ago.”

“All that time was only about 2 months.”

“And you have grown since then,” Sheik tilted his head, meeting Link’s eyes “I have faith in you…is that not enough?”

Link smiled suddenly and nodded almost viciously. “Yeah, it is.”

“I’ll let you get dressed and make sure you are prepared for the day…we’ll leave at noon. ” Sheik stated, sliding from the bed and entering the kitchen. Link watched him go, eyes locked onto his figure as he walked, tongue running along the edge of his upper teeth at the sight as the Sheikah disappeared.

--

“Uh….Sheik…”

“Yes?”

“Princess Ruto isn’t going to be here is she?” Link asked uncertainly as he and Sheik stood before the showery veil that protected Zora’s Domain., ocarina halfway to his mouth.

“She may be…why?”

“Uhh…”

“Link?”

“Well…y’know I got the spiritual stone of water from her?”

“Yes…” Sheik tapped his foot as if impatient.

“…She said it was an engagement ring essentially and uh, I’d really rather avoid her for…well forever if I’m honest.”

“Running out on a binding marriage contract, Link? I’m ashamed of you.” His voice deadpan the Sheikah lifted his head to look at the sky, trying to find the sun so he could work out the time. Snow collected on his eyelashes and hair as he stared up, and it brought with it a feeling of foreboding.

“But Sheik…she’s, I mean…”

Sheik lowered his head turning to look at the Hylian who was trying to sputter out an excuse.

“Link…calm yourself. I wasn’t being serious…”

The hero stared at him suspiciously. “Besides, by Hylian law, you are not allowed to marry into a species that would not produce offspring.”

“Huh?”

“You’re not allowed to marry a Zora…or a Goron for that matter. The offspring would not be viable, therefore your ‘engagement’ to her is void.”

And Goddesses didn’t it feel good to know that that was true, Sheik thought, smirking at the Hylian who was almost panting in relief.

Link looked up at him and launched himself at Sheik, gripping him in a tight embrace. “You’re my hero!” he exclaimed, giving the other man an increasingly over-zealous hug.

Sheik coughed in response and Link slowly loosened his grip, allowing the Sheikah to breathe again. Sheik, for his part, didn’t fail to notice that Link’s arms were still around his waist and he rested his hand lightly against the Hylian’s forearm before pulling himself free. Link smiled in understanding and turned back to the waterfall, playing Zelda’s lullaby.

The notes drifted out, and the waterfall thinned and quietened, as if soothed by the song’s lulling qualities.

“After you.” Link swept his arms towards the entrance and Sheik rolled his eyes before jumping across the gap.

“Link she is not going to attack you the moment you enter.”

“Better safe than sorry!” Link called back as Sheik walked through the passage. There was a definite chill in the air, the younger blonde observed and he squinted his eyes through the temporary darkness of the tunnel before stepping into the main cavern. His face fell into its usual neutral position at the frozen state of the domain.

He already knew that it was in this situation of course. He had visited a couple of days ago while Link had been having a final long rest to make sure he was fully recovered for the trials ahead. The water had not been completely frozen at that point though, only in certain places from which he had rescued the Zoran Princess was it solid ice. Ruto had, as far as Sheik knew, left for the Water Temple and Sheik had returned home to Link, sure the Zoras would have the sense to leave their home as it turned into a glacier. He noted a white, humanoid figure in the ice below.

Apparently not.

“Sheik? What’s…” Link, understandably, trailed off his eyes wide as they traced the room. Frost clung to the walls and floor and the pool was completely solid. The Hylian’s face crumpled when he noticed the Zoras trapped under the ice.

“Goddesses…”

“They’re still alive,” Sheik informed him, meeting his eyes “Their bodies are usually sensitive to temperature change but in the case of freezing, they can survive for up to a week.”

“How do you know that it hasn’t been like this for over a week?”

“…I was here a few days ago, I had need to speak with the Zoran Princess.”

Link’s mouth closed into a firm, unhappy line. “Uh-huh.”

“Link…”

The elder blonde shook his head “Doesn’t matter. It’s not like you’re conspiring against me…anyway, we should do what we can to free them…”

“The only way to do that is to break the curse on the temple. We should speak with King Zora.”

“For the tunic, right?”

Sheik nodded, leading the way up the stairs. Link followed slowly, noting a spider web in the corner of the tunnel as he walked up the stairs. It was perfectly preserved by the frost that had settled over it, the spider in mid-walk towards its frozen prey, two legs lifted.

Shaking his head, the Hylian trotted up the stairs to catch up with Sheik, noting that the man was standing, silhouetted at the top…just standing there.

“Sheik?! Don’t tell me you’ve frozen too?”

And despite the fact it was meant as a joke, he quickened his pace to reach the top of the stairs stopping dead next to Sheik.

“Ohhh…this is a problem.”

Sheik nodded, red eyes roaming over the large block of red ice that was encasing the Zora. Link turned to face Sheik pointing at the ice that seemed to be shimmering in a way similar to fire.

“It’sred.”

Sheik nodded again “Red ice has the properties of both ice and fire. It freezes and burns simultaneously.”

“Damn…how do we get him out?”

“You have to melt red-ice by using blue fire.”

“That’s novel.”

Despite the situation, Sheik chuckled and Link grinned back at him.

“We need to free him,” Sheik stated after a moment. “There’s a cavern at the back of the fountain where there’s a supply of blue fire.”

Link nodded. “Let’s go.”

--

Cold, was the first word that sprang to mind. White was the second and Link shivered violently in the freezing air of the ice cavern, his breath appearing in white clouds in front of him.

“It would be a good idea for you to remove your hands from beneath your arms…unless you’ve learnt how to fight by holding a sword in your mouth,” Sheik commented, his own blades already in hand. It seemed that outfit was suitable for every purpose imaginable.

Link shot the Sheikah a glare, slowly drawing his hands out from beneath his armpits, flexing fingers in an attempt to increase the blood circulation.

“Sword goes in hand.” The shadow warrior repeated.

“Sword will be lodged in Sheik’s head if he’s not careful,” Link warned, drawing the sword nevertheless.

Sheik flicked his hair out of his eyes. “The blue fire should not be too far within the cavern.”

“Good, that means we won’t be here long.” The Hylian stepped forwards clearly eager to get out of the cavern as soon as possible. Sheik followed at a slower pace, watching out for anything that Link might blindly rush into in his will to get through the cavern.

It proved to be a good job that the Sheikah was watching out for the Hylian when he darted forwards to pull the hero out of the path of a large icicle that had just fallen from the ceiling.

“Ok,” Link breathed, not failing to notice that Sheik’s hand was pressed over his hammering heart “Maybe I should take it a bit slower?”

“It might be a good idea.”

The hand released him slowly and Sheik stepped up to Link’s side, noting the slower pace the Hylian was taking, the way blue eyes took in the surroundings carefully now.

A noise like a fiercely blowing gale caught Link’s attention and he motioned his head towards it as he slowed his pace and drew the Sheikah’s attention as he pulled the shield onto his arm.

“Ice Knight,” Sheik murmured “It exhales clouds of ice to freeze its prey.”

“Quite literally Death Breath then?”

Sheik nodded distractedly as he pulled a chain from beneath the bandages, slipping the dagger back into its hidden sheath. He stepped forwards carefully, turning his body to the side as he did, pulling the chain tight in his hands.

He edged around the corner, watching as the ice knight blew out another cloud of ice crystals before pouncing when the spray had stopped, using the chain to smash the crude ice sculpture into shattered pieces that resembled glass.

But there was another one, somewhere, blending in with the icy surroundings and red eyes searched the immediate area almost desperately. He caught it. Behind him, his ears pricking at the sound of ice scraping on a rare patch of bare rock. His body turned slowly, eyes meeting the ice orbs that resembled the same organs, expecting to feel a blast of cold any second…

And then there was a sword smashing into the head of it, shattering it into a pile of glimmering shards. Link bent to examine the remains of the creature, picking up a handful of ice, crushing it. Sheik opened his mouth to thank is companion when he noticed the dark, distant look on his face.

It wasn’t the worst he had ever seen. He wasn’t as afraid of him at the moment as he had been before…but he had genuinely started to believe that anger had faded when his and Link’s close friendship that was turning into more had been kindled.

Link straightened, breathing out and looking to Sheik, aware of the almost trance-like state he had just slipped into and smiling uneasily, apologetically.

“Thank you…” Sheik murmured in the still air.

“Anything for you…”

Sheik stepped forwards, letting his hand rest on Link’s shoulder…for no reason other than the desire for contact, the reassurance that hisLink, yes his Link was still there.

“We should get that fire,” Link stated, Master Sword loose in his hand and Sheik agreed quietly as they started to make their way through the white, winding paths of the cavern.

--

“Y’know…even though I don’t like it here, I have to admit…it’s really quite beautiful,” Link stated, circling slightly as he stared up at the ceiling.

“I suppose the purity of the ice could be considered aesthetically pleasing…”

“C’mon Sheik, just look and listen.”

He waved a hand as if encompassing the room they stood in. It was silent and still, the air clear and pure, like that of the mountain range that surrounded Hyrule.

“Have you ever heard it that quiet before? Have you ever felt the air this still before?”

Sheik shook his head slightly.

“I mean, how often do you walk into somewhere this secluded? this…”

“Pure.” Sheik finished and Link smiled in agreement. “But it is a cold beauty…untouchable and it never lasts for long.”

“True…so I suppose it should be enjoyed.”

“…We have work to do Link.”

“I know I just…I’ve never seen it snow before. I’ve heard people speaking about it but…never experienced it myself…”

“Perhaps it will snow this winter.”

Link nodded, smiling again at Sheik, and the sight warmed him in the chilly environment. “There’s a lot of things I’ve never experienced though…” Link stated as they began walking down a corridor branching off from the main room.

“Such as?”

“Well…I’ve never seen the ocean before either and I know they say Lake Hylia is big but…”

“It’s nothing compared to the ocean.”

“Will you please stop finishing my sentences? It’s…kinda creepy.”

Sheik chuckled “I wasn’t. I was offering my opinion.”

“You’ve seen it?” the elder blonde asked, eyes scanning the room the corridor was opening into, drawing his bow and nocking an arrow to it.

“Yes…many years ago on a journey to Hyrule…”

Link fired at one of the ice-keese flapping almost lethargically around the room. “I thought you were from Hyrule?”

“I am. I was born in Kakariko, but I had to travel from place to place for certain…rituals of the Sheikah when I was younger.”

The Hylian nodded in understanding, wordlessly taking out another keese and aiming at the last one. It fell with a shriek, its icy flames consuming it and hardening it into a black block of ice. Link jumped to the floor below, picking it up by a frozen wing.

“…Is it me…or does ice just beg you to lick it?”

“It’s you.”

Link shrugged before experimentally letting his tongue wipe heavily across its surface.

“That’s…” Sheik was still trying to come up with a word to describe the mixture of amusement, disgust and disbelief he was feeling when he noticed that Link’s tongue had not come free of the ice. In fact, the Hylian had let go of the frozen bat and it was now hanging from his tongue, causing his eyes to water in pain as he seized it and tugged frantically.

And Sheik found it impossible not to laugh at the supposed hero, finally giving into the hiccoughing motions of his torso and throwing his head back letting it out as the Hylian managed to tug the ice off and throw it to the floor angrily.

He turned and watched Sheik laugh, miffed at first, but finding his mood lightening with the Sheikah’s hysterical laughter. It was the first time he had heard him laugh fully and properly, the sound still managing to be rich and deep despite the bizarre tone.

Link smiled shaking his head as Sheik regained himself, sniggering as he lifted his eyes to meet Link’s. He cleared his throat as he looked at the other man.

“There’s a…” he panted and bit his lip to stop himself from laughing again “a torch of blue fire over there.” He pointed to the blue flame, still hiccoughing as he stood beside Link to push the large block that they could use to step up to the flame.

It skidded across the icy surface and Link followed suit, throwing himself into a long skid, escaping Sheik’s dwindling laughter.

The younger blonde caught up with him a second later, having sobered up suitably and climbed up to the fire.

“How do we uh, store it?” Link asked and Sheik pulled a large stick of wood he had strapped to his leg earlier and thrusting it into the flame. “Ahhhh.”

Sheik smirked and jumped down from the platform, Link following him slowly, the passage to the right catching his attention and he hung back. Sheik turned, noting that the Hylian had stopped.

“What is it?”

“What’s down in that cavern?”

Sheik shrugged “I don’t know…we need to return to Zora’s Domain and save King Zora…”

Link bit his lip indecisively before drawing the Master Sword in resolve. “You go back…I want to see what’s down there... could be something useful”

The Sheikah sighed and nodded “I doubt it but… if you insist. Meet me back in King Zora’s throne room.”

The Hylian nodded “Thanks Sheik.” And his companion grunted.

“Just be careful.”

“I will.”

Link watched the Sheikah disappear up the way they had come before turning to the ledge, jumping and catching him fingers on the lip before hoisting himself up. Panting, he pushed himself to his feet, walking down the corridor that was growing steadily darker, the Master Sword clenched in one hand.

This was the first time Sheik had ever left him alone in a dungeon and he was glad that the Sheikah had enough confidence in him to do that. Perhaps if he got through this alright, it would ease both their nerves about him going it alone in parts of the Water Temple.

He continued walking, noting that there was a white wall ahead, sighing in defeat, think it a dead end. A narrow black line caught his attention though and he hurried up to it, realising it was the seam of a door carved from ice. He pushed at it gently and the door swung inwards smoothly and he walked boldly into the next room his eyes already entranced by its appearance.

Black walls surrounded him, flecked with flashes of colour, layers adding depth to it…it made the room seem endless…like the Great Fairy’s fountain or the Chamber of the Sages. He wondered why such an elaborate look had been given to this chamber in particular.

It grumbled suddenly and Link froze (excuse the pun) the noise startling him and he spun quickly, too afraid of what moving slowly would result in.

“…Oh no…”

It was the only thing he could think of as he noticed the pile of white fur he had just woken up and he hurriedly pulled out the Hylian shield as malicious red eyes in a mask of white alighted on him…and the wolfos howled, long and loud, rumbling the cavern until rocks pounded from the overhead.

With a growled bark, it lowered its head and charged at him, rearing back on its hind legs to swipe at him with long, black claws.

Link hefted the shield just in time, feeling claws clatter into metal and he flipped his body to the side as the claws slid aside harmlessly, darting forwards to strike at the creature.

It howled as hot, red blood spattered across the floor, its flank now bearing a long gash and backed off, circling around him on all fours.

The Hylian kept his shield up, turning with at as it paced around him, jumping back and lashing out when it tried its luck again, leaving a new wound on its shoulder. But instead of recoiling in pain, it struck at him again, slamming him backwards into the ice crystals in the corner of the room. They shattered, raining down on him like diamonds as he slumped in the corner, stunned.

The White Wolfos howled, rushing at him again, raising its front paws to slash at him and he rolled aside, knocking its hind legs out from beneath it, dropping it to the floor. Link rolled to his feet and spun, turning to face the creature as it climbed to its feet and he ran at it, shield and sword in arms thrown out behind him even as the wolf swiped down at him. He dodged the claws easily, bringing the Master Sword up to puncture its stomach before wrenching it free and stepping back to watch the white beast.

It collapsed, legs giving out, red eyes staring up at him mournfully as it panted, its blood staining its white fur and white floor leaving a striking contrast in its wake.

Link stared at it a moment longer, making sure it was dead before replacing the sword and shield, wincing at a stabbing pain in his upper back. He reached round, twisting uncomfortably, finding ragged, wet holes in the back of his tunic, the wounds underneath blocked with something cold and hard. Ice.

He looked to the shattered ice spears that he had landed in, realising that the tips had punctured his back and then snapped off, leaving them embedded in his flesh. He fumbled at them, his fingers running over the wounds, trying to dig out the ice unsuccessfully. There was no way he could get a grip on it.

Groaning, the blonde realised he’d have to leave it until either it melted or Sheik could pull it out for him. Shaking his head he looked around the room a final time, noticing a chest in the corner where the albino wolfos had been sleeping and he walked across to it slowly, slipping slightly in the slick blood on the floor.

With a light tap, it opened smoothly, revealing two bizarre metal plates. They were both pointed towards the end and then had a plate that curved upwards and back on itself, forming a cup. He bent, lifting them, making a noise of surprise when he realised how heavy they were and dropping one on the floor as he pulled them out. It landed in the snow heavily, creating a white cloud that drifted over his left foot and he stared down at it, realisation dawning on him. He stood up, the other one still in hand, slipping his left foot into it. Something inside locked onto the fabric of his boot and he spent another five minutes trying to work out how to release it.

Still not understanding quite what they were for he shrugged and slipped them down the front of his tunic along with a pile of other junk before turning back to the door.

“Oh….damn.”

It was blocked by boulders that had fallen from the roof at the Wolfos’ howl and he felt like using a much stronger term than just ‘damn’.

He turned again, searching the room for another exit, sure that the wolfos didn’t come in through the door and noticing that the pool of water at the far side of the room seemed to have a tunnel through it.

Link approached it, swirling his hand in the water to test its temperature, shuddering at its chilling bite…but there was no other choice.

Chewing his lip worriedly he jumped, plunging into its icy depths and swimming slowly through the passage, hoping he would find the exit soon.

--

Sheik tapped his foot impatiently, worriedly as he watched the entrance to Zora’s fountain unwaveringly.

King Zora was alive and defrosted, jerking slightly in an attempt to keep his massive bulk warm following the thawing. Sheik had filled him in on the situation as it stood and the King in turn had told him to go to the Zora shop where they stocked the tunic Link required. He had even given him a slip so that he could get it free…how generous, considering they had just saved his life.

Sheik jostled again, murmuring words to the ‘gossip stone’ that sat (for some reason) in the throne room requesting the time. 5:30pm.

That was it. He had waited an hour for Link since he had left the cavern and he wasn’t about to wait any longer.

Climbing to his feet he requested permission to re-enter Zora’s fountain, barely waiting from the grant from the monarch before he was pulling himself up the ledge and into the water beyond.

By the time he was on the third disc of ice, Sheik was fuming at Link, ready to berate him for being so late as soon as he found him…and Sheik wasn’t the type to loose his temper easily.

Angrily, he turned, throwing a needle blade into the eye of an Octorok that had popped up ton investigate why the ice it had been resting under was rocking. And it was lucky that it had decided to…although not for the Octorok, admittedly.

There was a figure dressed in green lying by the isle at the other side of the fountain and Sheik called to him, growing even more irritated when the Hylian didn’t give as response.

Grumbling, Sheik headed back to the feeding platform for the late Jabu-Jabu, having to make his way around the area to reach the Hylian, lest he wanted to swim…which would be an extremely bad idea in water of that temperature.

Link was still in the same position as when Sheik had called him once he had come into view again, and the Sheikah felt his heart lurch. There was no reason for him to just be lying there, half in the water unless…

He broke into a sprint, splashing through the shallows across to the island that Link was collapsed on, squinting through the dark. Days drew in and gave way to night early nowadays.

Sheik skidded across the platform, using the water clinging to his footwear to allow him to slide and he jerked to a stop once he had reached the Hylian, falling to his knees beside him.

He was alive and still conscious, but barely and Sheik brushed the fabric of Link’s collar aside as he reached to check his pulse, finding it cold and wet.

‘Goddesses he swam here…’

“Link? Link? Can you hear me?”

A response was mumbled through numb lips, unintelligible and Sheik stood, grabbing Link under the arms and dragging him fully onto the land, into the recess of a cliff. It had been a full cave once…it was just a pity it wasn’t anymore.

Grabbing a charm from the front of the inside of his cowl, Sheik snapped it, igniting it, lighting the area with soft fire light, using it to check over the Hylian.

His eyes were open, but distant, and he was breathing….but his skin was pale and his lips starting to turn blue.

Cursing, Sheik grabbed an armful of dry scrub from a nearby dead plant, building a fire with it and setting the charm in its centre before pulling Link into a more sheltered spot beside the fire. He cradled him gently, supporting his upper body with one arm while the other brushed wet hair from his face.

There was no way he could move the Hylian in the condition he was in currently…and Zora’s domain, the nearest full shelter wasn’t anywhere near warm as it was. The few remaining Zora’s he had found wouldn’t allow him to light a fire down in there anyway.

With no choice, Sheik resorted to the most basic survival skills at his disposal to keep Link alive through the night…and that meant stripping him of the wet clothes first and foremost, noting the bloody tears in the clothing where something had punctured his back. Ice it was, half-melted, lodged in the flesh of Link’s back.

Laying the semi-conscious Hylian on the floor, he systematically stripped him of his clothing, until he was clad only in a pair of tight black under shorts…even they were wet, but the material would dry quickly with the fire nearby. With Link nearly naked in front of him, he pulled off the cowl that had got wet when he had held him earlier, before cuddling the hero against him again, using one hand to arrange the clothes by the fire, long blonde hair falling about his shoulders as he worked.

Once the clothes were arranged enough to dry, he sank well into the recess, pulling Link with him so that Hylian was all but lying atop him, his head resting on his shoulder, arms limply hanging in front of him, his back to the fire and Sheik pulled the fragments of ice out of his back slowly, not wanting to cause the young man more pain than was necessary.

Staring down at the Hylian whose eyes had closed, he felt that surge of protectiveness course through him again and he tightened his grip on him.

“Link?” he tried rousing him again and this time his eyes fluttered open fully, rolling upwards to look at him.

“…It’s c...cold…”Link stuttered, shivering in Sheik’s arms.

“I know,” his arm rubbed unconsciously up and down Link’s back “Link…I need you to stay conscious until you warm up…”

“…OK…” but even as the word escaped his lips his eyes drifted shut again.

“Link, eyes open,” his eyelids fluttered again, struggling to open, but somehow, he managed “You need to talk to me to stay awake…”

“…about….what?”

“Anything…”

Link nodded slightly. “Ok…”

“Link…”

“…wh…how…how about you…t-teach me…the next song for warping?”

“How will music help you stay awake?”

“..cos I’ll con..c..entrate to learn it…”

“You can’t play the Ocarina at the moment.”

“…teach me…anyway?”

“As you wish.” Sheik gave in, reaching for the harp that lay under his discarded cowl, rolling on top of Link slightly to grab it.

He rolled back into his previous position, his arm still around Link’s back.

“Link…I can’t play with only one hand.”

“s…sit up properly.”

Sheik stared at the top of Link’s head quizzically but did as told, realising what Link was planning when he lay back against him, pressing his back to Sheik’s chest.

The Sheikah wriggled slightly, all too aware of the position he and Link were now in and he took a deep, steadying breath before he positioned the harp in front of Link’s chest, his other hand reaching under his arm to reach the strings.

“…Wha…what’s it called?” Link whispered, watching Sheik’s fingers intently, just as aware of Sheik’s heat and body behind him as the Sheikah was of his.

“Serenade of Water.” He whispered back, his voice equally hushed.

His eyes drifted shut once again as he played and he leaned forwards, fingers plucking at strings, his chest pressed firmly against Link’s slowly warming back.

The slow, plucked notes floated around them and it lulled Sheik…until Link jerked in his arms.

“Link?” his voice was slightly panicked as he dropped the golden harp to the side.

“Just keeping you awake…too...if I have to stay…awake so do you.”

Link turned in his arms as he answered, turning so he could rest his head on Sheik’s shoulder again, curling his body up even as Sheik wrapped his arms around him.

“Are there words…to go with the song?” he asked, staring at the wall, his voice growing stronger as he spoke, as if the power of the music had leant him its strength.

“Yes…”

“What are they?”

Sheik cleared his throat. “A childish dream becomes noble ambition, young love becomes deep affection, the clear water’s surface reflects growth…listen to the serenade of water to reflect upon yourself.”

His body hummed with the words as he spoke them, their truth hitting him.

“Kinda…”

“..Corny?” Sheik supplied, assuming that would be Link’s response

“Deep and meaningful…was what I was going to go for…” Link shifted slightly, rolling his eyes up to meet Sheik’s, mouth open to say something further…and stopped dead.

“…Link? Are you OK?” The Sheikah asked, concern flooding through him at the Hylian’s stare. And then Link’s mouth curved into a delighted smile, his lips their healthy pink hue again.

“What?”

“You…you’re not wearing…”

Sheik’s eyes strayed to the cowl he had taken off. “…So it seems.” He turned his head away from Link letting his hair fall over his face, but then a cool hand against his face stopped him.

“Don’t…please, I want to see you.”

“Why?”

“…Because…I want to know you.”

“You do know me…”

Link’s hand applied a gentle pressure to his face, turning it back so he could take in the unveiled features.

“No, Sheik. I want to know you.”

He shifted forwards in Sheik’s arms, pressing himself firmly against him as his eyes roamed the tanned face.

“You’re…”

“I’m?”

“…sobeautiful” Link breathed

“What?” Sheik felt his eyes widen at the statement.

“You are…truly.”

“…The cold has numbed your brain…”

Link’s eyes narrowed slightly and he drew his cold body up slightly so that he was at eye level with the Sheikah. “So warm me up,” he whispered, leaning forwards “and then we’ll see if it’s just the cold…”

Sheik sat up, knowing what the Hylian wanted and finding himself leaning forwards just as eagerly, his hand straying up to the back of Link’s neck, holding him as their faces inched closer.

Warm breath feathered across his bare skin as Link rested his forehead against the Sheikah’s, staring into red eyes and he tilted his head to the side, edging forwards, letting his eyes fall shut as his lips brushed the other man’s.

Sheik’s initial instinct as a Sheikah was to pull away from the intimate touch, lock away the desire and push Link back to an appropriate distance…but then his deeper instinct kicked in, the animal that wanted to be touched and held and he found himself wrapping his arms more firmly around the warming body as Link’s tentative kiss ended.

Blue eyes opened, meeting his gaze squarely.

“…so…just the cold?”

Sheik grinned, shaking his head. Link melted.

--

Link opened his eyes slowly, aware of something wonderfully warm at his back as he stared up at a pink sunrise and he sat up, turning to look at Sheik sitting behind him.

He was awake, cowl still on the floor, a light smile playing across his thin lips as he turned to Link.

The Hylian leaned up in the Sheikah’s arms, looking for another kiss and Sheik obliged, leaning in and pressing his lips against Link’s with more confidence than the few shared the night before.

“We should get moving.” he informed Link once the kiss had broken, trying to pull himself from beneath the Hylian.

“Do we have to?”

Another smile, and gods, didn’t he seem relaxed this morning.

“Yes…the Zora’s are waiting for our help.”

Link snorted “Alright, fine.”

He rolled to his feet, pulling on the now dry clothes that Sheik had stripped from him the night before and stood, staring at the sunrise for a moment.

A warm hand pressed against the small of his back and Link turned, nodding to his partner. Another day, another adventure…and for once he was looking forwards to what the day had in store for them.