Bring me to Light

Thanks for the reviews! I got quite a few for the last chapter.

PLEASE READ:
Um, secondly (this is quite important) I'm studying at university at the moment, and so have to access the internet through the uni's intranet...which is monitored. Sites like aff.net are blocked by a firewall...and I don't know how to get around (or even if I want to...may lead to problems). So...basically what I'm saying is this fic is ongoing and will be completed...but it may take a while since I can only post when I visit home. It's likely I'll only be able to update every month or so. There is a full, completed version posted on fanfiction.net if you want to see it immediately. It's under the same title, but a slightly different user name: Link_luvr
Anyway, I'll post a couple of chapters now for you.

Enjoy!
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Revelations and Realisations

Sunlight flittered into the room through a tiny, glass paned window, decorative iron shapes casting wide arcs onto dull grey walls, the sunrise colouring them. Black curls and swirls on a blood red walls, gothic, dramatic, but beautiful.

Link rolled over beneath rough cotton sheets, letting his bleary eyes trace the patterns and contours that were being cast on the wall in an attempt to wake up. Finding the colours and patterns vaguely disturbing in his only semi-conscious state, he turned away and sat up, rubbing sleep from his eyes, groaning when the thin cotton sheets that had offered a little warmth fell away from his body. It was just too early, but he had a feeling that if he didn’t get himself up soon, Sheik would. The man had constantly woken him early in the morning for the past 3 days that they had been here, because according to Sheik, although Link needed to recover his strength so that he was fit to enter the temple, ‘slothing’ in bed all day wasn’t going to help with that. Apparently.

Despite the fact that Link hated early mornings he had to concede the point. His strength had returned enough for him to start sword training again, if not to a full degree and so he had spent the past few days going through training exercises. The Gerudos had only let him out of his cell to do their work, leaving him exhausted at the end of each day so that he couldn’t do anything else, even if he had had the choice to. Which he didn’t. Goddesses forbid that a male have some freedom in Gerudo society.

Shaking his head, Link looked to the other side of the room, expecting to see himself reflected in the shard of broken mirror. He flinched back in surprise when instead he found Sheik sitting in the rickety chair that accompanied the desk, his arms folded on the top of the chair’s back, his legs straddling it as he sat backwards.

“That can’t be comfortable,” Link commented, sliding out of the bed and pulling on a white undershirt that lay nearby on the floor.

Sheik shrugged “It’s not particularly.” He lifted his head as he watched Link pull on a pair of boots “You seem to be becoming accustomed to rising early.” He observed, offering a conversation up first, something he was slowly starting to do more frequently.

“Yeah, well, we have to adapt right? Besides, if I don’t get up of my own free will, you’ll drag me out of bed.”

“In the nicest possible way.”

“Hah!” Brushing a strand of hair into place with his fingers, Link grabbed the Master Sword and walked into the main room of the house, fingers still pulling his hair into something that could be vaguely called neatness.

Sheik followed slowly. “I’ve been thinking,” he started as he walked into the room, watching as Link picked up an apple and nibbled on it.

“Hmm?”

“Your strength has returned quite quickly…we should go to the Forest Temple.”

“Sure.”

“Today, hero.”

Link slowly chewed the chunk of apple he had just bitten off as if the action was helping him come up with a response. Eventually, he swallowed.

“What if I’m not ready?”

“I have seen you train. You will be strong enough to take on the beasts at the temple, I’m sure. The enemies there are the weakest…”

“Gee thanks. And besides, I didn’t mean physically.”

“You will have to confront your fears and past one day, hero.”

“Look Sheik, I’m not a hero, so will you quit it?! I swear, you’ve got the wrong guy.”

“You were able to pull the master sword from its pedestal, that is proof.”

“That I can pull a sword from a chunk of stone means that I have the strength, courage and will etc. to save the world? Sheik, a week ago, I was locked in a cell in the Gerudo Valley and I couldn’t even save myself let alone Hyrule!”

“You have recovered sufficiently…that aside, you do not have a choice in whether you are the hero or not…or whether you break the curse on the temples. It must be done, or Hyrule is doomed.”

“I’m fairly certain that I’m not the only person who can save it.”

Sheik narrowed his eyes, growing tired of his companion’s protestations and he slid into a chair at the table so that he could stare directly into the young man’s eyes as he spoke.

“So you just abandon Hyrule and its people to do? The friends you have in this world…”

Link remained silent, lowering his head.

“The Kokiri are in danger, even as we speak. More and more monsters wander into the village from the lost woods, and you will not go and save them because you think you may not be the one to save all of Hyrule? You will not aid the people who helped to raise you from a child when you easily have the ability?”

“But I..”

“If you do not like the thought of being the Hero of Time, then at least have the decency to acknowledge that you can help these people who aided you when you were at your most vulnerable…you owe that to them and you know it, hero.”

“So you’re hoping that I’ll go help the Kokiri and then realise I am the legendary hero after all and start saving the world?”

“I’m hoping you’ll have enough of a soul to care that there are people who could die if YOU don’t do something about it. This is not your choice!”

Sheik stared at the Hylian, breathing heavily through his mouth, unable to believe that despite his usually sagely patience, he had just lost his temper with the boy. However, it seemed to have done the trick, for the blonde was staring down at his hands looking thoroughly ashamed of himself. Eventually he stood up from the table.

“I’ll get my stuff,” he murmured and disappeared into the bedroom, reappearing only moments later with his shield ready on his back and his hands in gauntlets. In his hands he carried the folded green parcel of his hat, containing the body of Navi. The Sheikah eyed the bundle curiously.

“You said while we were in the temple of Time that we might be able to return her body to the right place so she could be laid to rest.” He sounded strangely subdued, something Sheik was unaccustomed to from the blonde. Usually he was loud, boisterous and sarcastic and although he did clearly show his emotions, they rarely made him quiet, even when saddened.

“I doubt that you should carry her body around the forest temple with you.”

Link shook his head. “I was planning to leave her in the Deku Tree’s Meadow…she always stayed with him until she came to me.”

Sheik nodded “If you wish.”

He didn’t quite understand why the Hylian was still so upset about the fairy…it had been 7 years ago that he had lost her. He looked over to the other man as he tucked the parcel away. Link was far emotional than he himself had ever or would ever be, even after years of torture and isolation he was ready to accept, forgive and move on, even if the darkness still remained, lying dormant somewhere in his soul. Sheik rarely bonded with people and accepted them, and even less frequently still forgave them if they had done him harm… he doubted he would change after being raised in that way. Despite Impa’s love for him as her only living relative, she had still raised him as tradition dictated a Sheikah warrior be. Cold, distant and purely rational. There was little room for love or friendship in the Shadow race.

He looked over to Link once again, watching the young Hylian as he stared out of a tiny, slitted window, his eyes distant as he lost himself to his thoughts.

Keeping his own distance…not letting Link affect him, not letting him in was proving to be his greatest challenge. The youth’s spirit was infectious and his though his trials so far had dulled that spirit from when he was a boy, there was plenty left, even if it was tainted. The darkness that Sheik had seen in Link’s eyes in that cave was purely distrust…not unexpected considering his recent treatment, but it had faded quickly, giving way to the bright blue eyes he was becoming so accustomed to seeing.

In truth, the young man was so different compared to Sheik that he felt drawn to him, to that warmth that he seemed to emit, to the frequent laughs and smiles that he gave. To the lightness that he made him feel.

And Sheik realised that he was falling. Hard.

--

They had left the house and saddled up Sheik’s grey horse, Thara, shortly after Sheik had gathered what he deemed to be necessary supplies and had travelled down a back route from the secluded grove. The rocky slope was a direct route onto the plain of Hyrule field that came out near the steps to Kakariko and was considerably shorter (especially considering they were on horseback) than the way up. The path was treacherous though and Sheik made it quite clear that if he didn’t think time was of the essence, he wouldn’t be coming down this way. There were several other paths that were longer, but safer, especially for poor Thara who was holding his ears flat against his skull, whinnying with displeasure on occasion at the steepness of the path.

Eventually, they came out onto flat ground under the overhang of the river, Sheik intending to travel straight onto the Kokiri Forest. Link, apparently had other ideas and he slid from the wide horse’s back silently, landing heavily on his feet.

“Something wrong?”

Link looked up to Sheik from the ground, where he was rubbing his inner thigh muscles and Sheik found himself glad the hard saddle beneath him was uncomfortable enough to keep his mind from wandering.

‘Oh Goddess no…’

“No. Just I’d like to get the circulation back in my legs before I get on him again.”

“You’ve never ridden before?”

Link scoffed.

“Not even the Gerudos taught you?”

“Yeah right. With the Gerudos I was the horse.”

“You got ridden a lot?”

Link raised an eyebrow at the innuendo. Sheik, to his credit, had the decency to look completely mortified at what he had just said and he turned his head away quickly. It was the greatest display of emotion Link had seen from the blonde so far.

“We shouldn’t linger too long,” Sheik continued, changing the subject “But if Thara is proving too difficult for you to ride for long amounts of time, we should go to the ranch and get a horse better suited to you.”

“What about the black one back up at your place?”

“…Mohin belongs to someone else. I’m merely caring for him in her stead.”

“Her?”

Sheik sighed Link’s nosiness. “Mohindar, to use his full name, belongs to Impa…my aunt.”

“Really? She’s your aunt?”

The Sheikah nodded.

“Cool.”

“Yes, well….shall we get moving?”

Link looked sceptically at the horse. “I guess.”

Sheik leant down, holding onto the horse’s mane with one hand as he offered the other to Link, helping to pull him back into the saddle behind him. He felt Link squirm to find a more comfortable position in the hard saddle and rolled his eyes while the Hylian settled into place, waiting for him to secure himself by holding onto him.

He seemed reluctant, however, and Sheik eventually had to reach back and pull the other man’s arms around his waist so that he held on, finding himself very aware of Link’s position behind him, legs framing his own.

Uneasy, he squeezed Thara into a trot, then a canter, focusing on the rhythm of the moving horse as they started to gallop towards the ranch, the sky darkening ominously as they approached it and Sheik spurred the horse to run faster. Billowing clouds were rarely a good sign in this time and place. They seemed to know where ill-intent lingered and so gathered to increase the tension surrounding the area, as if they were sentient.

Leaning back into the saddle as the horse moved up the slope to the ranch, Sheik felt himself slip slightly, his upper back bumping gently into Link’s chest and the Hylian lifted his hands to Sheik’s shoulders, stopping him from slipping back further and the Sheikah was silently grateful.

The ranch was quiet, the cuckoos that usually roamed free outside nowhere to be seen. Even the horses which could be heard from a good distance away were silent and Sheik had to wonder what had gone on here. Just 2 months ago the ranch had been as lively as ever and the Sheikah had commented to the ranch girl that it had been a comfort to see a place that was unaffected by Ganondorf’s evil. It seemed that he had jinxed it by saying that.

“If you want to dismount, you can.” Sheik told Link and the Hylian jumped off the horse gratefully landing close to the stable door.

Sheik clicked his tongue to Thara keeping the horse moving when Link called for him to stop. The blonde had just enough time to turn and see Link disappear into the stable and he rolled his eyes before leading Thara back to the stable and following his companion inside.

She was weeping.

Sheik stood back, watching the Hylians from a distance. Malon was stood in front of Link, her slender shoulders shaking slightly as she poured her heart out to the blonde young man standing in front of her. Link, to his credit, had resisted pulling her into a hug or some similar action and was patiently listening to her, one hand resting on his hip, the other brushing a couple of strands of hair from his face. Unfortunately (although who it’s unfortunate for is debatable) from the angle Sheik was watching Link from, the Hylian appeared to be staring at the sobbing girl’s chest, and he sincerely hoped that it was just the fact that Malon was so much shorter than him and that he was having to look down at her that was giving that impression.

“And if I try anything Mr. Ingo will be so cruel to the horses, so there’s nothing I can do…”

Link tilted his head as he watched the girl explaining the situation. “There may be something we can do…”

He walked away back towards Sheik to stand by him, meeting eyes for a second and rolling them in a callous backwards glance to Malon before leaving the stable.

Striding past Thara, Link walked into the main pasture of the ranch, not failing to notice the large prints of Ingo that adorned the newly installed gates that flanked the gateway.

‘Stuck up prick, probably can’t even see his own feet he’s so far up his own…’

The ranch had changed radically and it wasn’t just the small differences like the lack of cuckoos that made it noticeable. Grey clouds billowed overhead, the air hung thick with the smell of ammonia and the horses that stood in the now sectioned pasture stood still and silent, heads down and ears flat.

The horse nearest to Link, a dun with a black mane a tail, lay against the black fence, its head resting against the bars, dark scars lining its face and neck. Its breathing was laboured, its body thin and it was painfully clear that if the horse didn’t get some sort of attention immediately, it wasn’t going to live through the next couple of days.

Throwing a glance to where the ‘owner’ of the ranch stood by the gates, staring triumphantly at the caged horses, he crept over to the animal slowly noting with increasing anxiety that its legs were crumpled underneath it. Behind him somewhere, a door slammed shut.

Link ignored the noise and crept closer to the horse, talking lowly to it so as not to startle the dying animal. The dun looked up at him mournfully and with a weak snort lifted its head to his outstretched hand.

“I doubt there’s much that can be done for it.”

Link nodded silently to Sheik’s statement “I know.” Nevertheless, the Hylian pulled out an apple from his tunic that he had taken from the house, biting off a large chunk and offering it to the animal. It reached to the food cautiously and with what seemed to be a grateful nicker, took the piece of apple.

“Considering how much you seemed to disregard Malon’s comments about the cruelty these animals are being subjected to, you seem to be quite strongly affected by it.”

The Hylians shoulders tightened as he continued to feed the horse. He had known this was going to come up…it was just that he thought it would be later.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” he admitted “One minute I don’t care, the next I’m…me and let’s face it, it’s not mood swings caused by hormones…”

“I would assume that it’s due to your treatment at the hands of the Gerudos. You’ve lost your faith in humanity, to a degree. To be honest, I’m surprised you’ve managed to retain much of your nature.”

“So what am I supposed to do?”

“Carry on doing what you need to do.”

“As the hero of time…right…” Link rolled his eyes.

Sheik ignored the sarcasm in his companions voice. “Yes and you will regain your faith as time continues.”

“Time will heal, huh?”

“Or words to that effect, yes.”

“These wounds won’t seem to heal, this pain is just too real, there’s just too much that time cannot erase.”

“Pardon?”

Link shook his head “Just something I heard someone sing once.”
“…We need to get moving, hero. If we solve the problems here, then Malon may be able to attend to it.”

“Yeah I got it.”

Link stood, brushing his wet hand against the fabric of his tunic, drying it off. Silently, he and Sheik walked to the entrance to the paddock, the older blonde’s blue eyes narrowing at the former ranch hand that stood in front of the gate. The supposedly ‘great’ Ingo was dressed in a ridiculous display of finery which would have been at the height of fashion twenty years ago. Maybe.

Link noticed that even Sheik was having to suppress a smirk at the outfit, his eyes a little more alight than usual. It was currently the only way Link could tell whether the Sheikah was smiling or not.

“Is it me,” Link murmured “Or does he look like a bird that’s swallowed a plate.”

A ‘heh’ tinged with amusement was his only response.

“Hey there boys.” The ranch master shouted, having finally noticed them, his beetly eyes scrutinizing them suspiciously. “How’d you like to ride one of my fine horses?” He gestured to a saddled up dun mare just on the inside of the fence. Several more stood around the field, in various colours and sizes, all wearing heavy saddles and ill fitting bridles.

“Actually, we’re more interested in buying.” Sheik stated.

“Might be a problem there boy. None for sale at the moment…not for anything less than about 5000 rupees.”

“And what would we get for that?”

Ingo gestured to the collapsed horse that Link had been feeding earlier.

“That one’s dying.”

“How dare you suggest such a thing!? It’s resting!!”

“I sincerely doubt that.”

“Look here you…you….”

“Just a ride will be fine.” Link cut in, giving Sheik a meaningful glance.

“Very good. That’s 10 rupees.”

Grudgingly, Sheik handed a pair of blue rupees over to Ingo, watching the man open the gate.

“Give me the Ocarina,” Link asked.

“Why?”

“You’ll see.”

The younger blonde handed the blue object over, clearly bemused as to why Link needed a musical instrument to ride a horse. He remained silent, however, as he watched Link walk into the arena.

“Which horse?”

“Any you want.”

With clear intent Link began to walk over to the dark bay mare that stood in the centre of the field, picketed to the ground.

“I’d steer clear of that one, boy. She’s a wild one.”

“I’m good. Don’t worry.”

He threw the words over his shoulder to Ingo, not even bothering to look back at the man.

“Hey girl,” he whispered to the horse, and she raised her head to look at the newcomer “You probably don’t remember me but it’s Link…”

Epona shook her head, snorting, as if she understood his words, watching as Link knelt down and untethered her. Standing up, he raised a hand to her neck, nodding when she backed away, expecting the movement. Instead of trying to touch her again, he lifted the ocarina to his mouth, playing the gentle tune of Epona’s song as if he had played it every day for the past seven years.

Near the gate, Sheik nodded in appreciation.

Epona instantly wandered over to Link and, after an initial moment of unease, let his climb onto her back.

It was impressive, Sheik thought, watching Link ride around the arena on the dark bay mare that Ingo claimed was so wild, so untameable. Yet here was the mare, changing from walk, trot, canter, gallop and back again seamlessly, with barely a word or a motion from Link, who had never ridden before in his life. Living in the forest, surrounded by animals seemed to have given Link an ability to bond with any non-sentient being instantly.

Even a dying pained horse had accepted him when it would be terrified of any other human.

“That’s….the kid’s got a natural talent.” Ingo was mumbling to himself and after a moment, he called Link over.

“Say kid, you seem to be learning quickly…how’s about a wager?”

Link nodded “Sure.”

“Fifty rupees says I win one lap around the track.”

Sheik watched with a sense of satisfaction as Epona rocketed away from the start line, leaving Ingo on his dreary dun gelding in a haze of dust and it was barely a minute later that Link was back at the starting line.

“Rematch!” Ingo called as soon as he caught up and crossed the line, fuming and glaring at Epona whilst kicking his own horse in the ribs. Not surprisingly, the horse reared slightly.

“If you win, you can keep the horse.”

Once again Link smiled, deceptively sweet and innocent and nodded. “Sure.”

In retrospect, it was a bad idea for Ingo to bet on the horse, Sheik mused as he watched Epona pull away from the start line again, reaching what was probably near to top speed in a few seconds. In fact, she seemed to be receiving very little guidance from Link, apparently just wanting to get away from this ranch.

Walking casually over the line, Epona glance behind her, watching Ingo almost fall from his own horse in disbelief, and the mare seemed to be sniggering to herself.

“You can’t leave with that horse!” Ingo proclaimed, brandishing his fist at Link “She’s going to Ganondorf!”

“I don’t think so.”

“I won’t let you leave!”

“You bet, fair and square. Blame your own stupidity.”

Turning a rather vibrant shade of red, Ingo steered his own mount to stand in front of Link and Epona.

“You’re not leaving.”

Sheik barely saw the movement, it was so fast.

One minute Link had been sitting placidly, and a second later he had steered Epona so she stood parallel with Ingo’s horse, the Master Sword in his hand, blade tip at Ingo’s throat.

Beneath Link, Epona tossed her head nervously, starting to lift her legs as if she intended to rear up, sensing the black anger in her rider that had rushed to the surface so quickly.

“I’m gonna take Epona now. I’m gonna ride out of this ranch on her, and you’re going to let me and not say a word about it and after I leave, you’re going to give this ranch back to its rightful owner and go back to being the pathetic ranch hand you always were…understand?”

Ingo nodded, wide eyed, his head almost flopping he was moving it so fast and the Sheikah noticed a warning spark of electricity fly from the yellow gem that created a force field against evil around the master sword.

“Good. See you again.”

With that, Link pulled the sword away, sheathing it and guided Epona out of the ranch, past Thara, leaving Sheik scurrying to the grey war horse and cantering after him to catch up.

--

The Kokiri forest was quiet and ethereal, lit by a constant green twilight that was deadly but beautiful and Sheik found himself understanding why Link had loved this place so much. Spirits danced in and out of trees, lush green plants flourished, entwining around pillars and trees that towered overhead, the gentle cries of forest wildlife trickling to them from all directions.

Small wooden huts littered the clearing, adorned with childish patterns and nature, an epitome of innocence.

It was such a shame that the quiet, innocent, pure atmosphere had been ruined by the presence of evil, dark malignant eyes watching from trees, glinting in emerald half-light.

Ahead a scattered wreath of autumnal leaves lay in the centre of the path, too violently coloured to be part of the surroundings. To the left where the small waterfall trickled into a shallow pool something dark slithered and darted beneath the surface.

“I assume it’s not usually this quiet?”

“With a bunch of kids hanging out around here usually, no, it’s not.”

“They’ve been driven inside by the creatures that have come out of the forest.”

“You don’t say.”

Sliding from Epona’s back, Link pulled out the Master Sword, checking to see that Sheik was following suit before walking cautiously through the village, eyes scanning surroundings for danger.

“What do you intend to do here?” Sheik asked, wrapping a concealed chain around his wrist, watching the dark creature in the water slithering silently.

“I’m gonna leave Navi’s body by the Deku Tree…”

“Very well. I’ll stay here and keep an eye on the situation.”

Link looked surprised before nodding and hopping over the pond, disappearing down the dark corridor to the Deku Tree’s meadow.

The Sheikah sighed as soon as the Hylian was out of earshot and scanned the surroundings again, his eyes alighting on a small house with a balcony, recessed into a slight cove away from the other houses.

Curious as to why, he glanced back at the path Link had just taken before walking over to the tree house, hopping up onto the balcony with one jump, landing silently. He crept over to the entrance, listening for life and when none was forthcoming, pulled the white curtain that covered the doorway back, creeping inside.

It was small and cramped, the air heavy with the smell of wood and abandonment. White sheets lay in a crumpled mess on a tiny cot like bed, covered in thin layer of dust, shouting the lack of use they had received. The rest of the ‘house’ and Sheik could only use that term in its loosest possible sense was even less furnished than his own. There were no tables or chairs, just various pots and shelves with random pieces of stones, wood and bones, all objects that a child might collect in a fleeting moment of interest. A piece of parchment tacked to the wall was the only thing that stood out in the house and Sheik walked over it, squinting as he tried to decipher the scrawling symbols that were scribbled haphazardly across the page.

‘Link’s Records:

Bugs Squished: 12

Fish Caught: 2’

“This is my house, by the way.”

Sheik started at the voice, flinching inwardly at the idea that he had been caught off guard. Turning to the other blonde he straightened up to face him.

“Bugs Squished?”

“Mmmhhm,” Link nodded emphatically “You know those weird gold skultula things? Those. I killed like, 5, in one day once so I started noting it down.”

Sheik suppressed the urge to chuckle.

“What? You don’t realise how boring the Kokiri forest is! Sure it’s pretty, but you think that matters to a ten year old boy? It doesn’t believe me.”

“I see.”

“C’mon Sheik. When you were ten I doubt this would’ve interested you.”

“I’m not entirely sure you’re right about that.”

“Oh? Why? What did you spend your childhood doing that was so boring?”

The younger blonde turned away abruptly. “Did you make your peace with the fairy?” he glanced back to Link, his red eyes noting the lightness in Link’s movements, his eyes.

“I did.”

“Then we should be on our way.”

“...I visited the others in their homes.”

Sheik stopped mid walk, one foot already out the door, knowing what was coming but not knowing how to react.

“They don’t recognise me. They’re still kids.”

“The Kokiri don’t age.”

“No-one told my body that. Bit of a slap in the face for me.”

Sheik remained silent.

“You didn’t tell me this was how things were. You didn’t tell me I’m a Hylian.”

“It was not my place to say.”

“How was it not!?” Link yelled, his hand flying out to the side “You’re supposed to be my guide. How the hell do you expect me to believe I’m some great hero when I don’t even know my own race!?”

“Your race is irrelevant.”

“No, Sheik, it’s not.” The Hylian’s voice had dropped back to a normal level, cold and controlled “My race is part of who I am. It defines me and my life and you’ve just torn it from me.”

“I..”

“Sorry, no, you didn’t. You just let it be torn from me when you could’ve warned me.”

“I…”

“Forget it. Let’s go.”

The hero turned and brushed past Sheik, storming out of his house and jumping from the balcony, landing with a heavy thud and slinging his sword through the stalk of deku baba that had just popped its head up from the ground.

“My apologies, hero,” he murmured, watching the blonde stalk to the other side of the forest “But the shadows of a race do not speak of the light.”
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Hope, as always that you'll review and that you're not miffed by the state of affairs. If you don't know what I mean by state of affairs, go back and read point 2 of the authors note