The New Chronicles of Hyrule: Shadows Joined

Rapid footsteps heralded the rushing green-clad form, speeding past sunbeams that slanted through massive windows, moments before hands encased in gauntlets lifted and unceremoniously shoved open the heavily ornamented double doors with a crash. Two sets of identical sapphire eyes collided as Zelda whipped around from staring out into the courtyard, to find herself looking into her brother's grave facade. She immediately knew something was very, very wrong. "Link? What is it?"

As Zelda crossed to stand in front of her desk, Link closed the doors behind him and rushed over, his low voice undeniably troubled. "The Water Temple is sealed up and no one can find Princess Ruto."

Silence reigned as the twins stared at each other with nearly identical expressions of barely controlled dismay, before Zelda sighed, leaning into her brother as his arms came around her. "I was afraid this would happen. She has always been so spiteful.. ever since you denied her."

"We'll find out what's going on and fix it. I promise." Lightly stroking his sister's golden hair, Link pulled back and pressed a kiss to Zelda's forehead, then turned and left the study. Zelda watched him go, then went back to the window, hands clasped behind her as she gazed into the courtyard. Everything hovered on the brink of destruction, and she didn't know what to do.

--

There was no sound, no light permeating the cold room where Elenna slept. Nothing to alert her to the fact that anything was even wrong. Abruptly, her eyes snapped open, and within the span of a heartbeat she was on her feet, unconsciously flicking a wrist and setting light to the candles within her room. Something just felt wrong, though what exactly it was, she couldn't say. As she went to collect her knives, the gleam of silver in her peripheral vision drew her attention to the far corner of the room. Slowly moving over, she carefully lifted the sheathed blade, gazing curiously at the small piece of paper tied to the hilt, which bore a short note in precise letters.

For when knives are not enough. Use it well.

The faintest of smiles quirked her lips. Sheik. It could only be from Sheik. Casting aside the note, she pulled the sword from its sheath, admiring the gleam of candle light on the four feet of slightly curved metal. It was the engraving just below the hilt that intrigued her most; the Sheikah eye, with the symbol from the Shadow Medallion beneath it. Giving a firm nod, she pushed the sword back into its sheath, then quickly settled a simple belt at her hips, attaching the sword to it firmly. Without a backwards glance, she ran into the antechamber, then into the Shadow Temple itself.

Whatever it was that her bond with the Shadow Temple had alerted her to, she didn't know, but as Elenna crept swiftly through the various passages of the temple, it only got stronger. The fine hairs on the back of her neck stirred and stood on end, one pointed ear giving a single twitch, before she abruptly dove forward, tucking her body in on itself so that she landed on her right shoulder and rolled, a mere hairsbreadth ahead of the two massive, crooked blades that slammed into the floor. Right where she'd been standing.

As she whirled around, her left hand pulled the blade from its sheath with the rasp of metal against leather, barely blocking the swipe of one Stalfos sword, and jumping over the other. Years of practice fighting the skeletal warriors, no matter it was with knives instead of a sword, made the next part easy. Dodging swiftly around one Stalfos, a single powerful blow severed its head from its neck; she backflipped to avoid a downward strike from the other, then rushed forward and thrust her sword just beneath its ribcage, severing its spine. As the two halves toppled, it was far from difficult to stab the bare cranium, ending the creature's pseudo-life.

Wiping sweat from her brow, she slipped the sword back into the sheath, and turned to continue deeper into the temple. But at the first step, she heard an ominous crack, and looked down just in time to see the stones crumble beneath her. A scream was torn from her lips when she began to fall into the chasm, only to gasp when strong hands curled around one of hers. Looking up, she found herself gazing into a crimson eye that blazed vibrantly. "Sheik!"

There was no reply from the stoic Sheikah warrior as he hauled Elenna out of the bottomless pit, right arm wrapping around her waist once he had her on her feet and steady. She was given no chance to respond as he kneeled just enough to put his shoulder to her stomach, and when he straightened again, she was draped over him like a sack. Ignoring the young Sage's indignant sputters, he took off out of the temple proper at top speed, heading back to her room, where he set her down, his hands coming to gently grasp her shoulders. His single visible eye seemed almost to gaze into her soul. "Are you all right, Elenna? You are not harmed?"

"No, I.. I got the feeling something was wrong, in the Temple. I went to go see if I could find what it was, and.. and I got attacked by two Stalfos. Then the floor.. it.. well, you know. You saved me." She stared up at him, licking her lips.. then frowned as her brow furrowed. "How did you know where I was? How were you able to grab me before I fell?"

"I was in the temple. I was not far away when I heard the Stalfos attack, and saw as you killed them.. it was a good thing I came when I did." Elenna was shocked when he pulled her close, his arms wrapping tightly around her. She was even more shocked to hear what sounded like worry in his voice. "You should be more careful. Had I not been there, you would have died."

"I know.. I'm sorry. That.. that's never happened before. Ever. There's something in the Temple, Sheik. I can feel it. I don't know what, or where, but.. it's like a taint of evil, rolling over my skin." She shuddered, her arms coiling around him as she closed her eyes. For several minutes, they simply stood there like that, not arguing for the first time since he'd started training her. Slowly did he pull back, looking down at her as he lifted a hand and smoothed her bangs away from her face, then let his hand fall to rest on her shoulder. He wasn't expecting what she said next, though it didn't show, aside from the fact that he went still as a statue. "Sheik, I want to know why I feel such sadness from you. Will you tell me? Please?"

Sheik stared at her as he argued with himself. If he didn't tell her, he might lose what little of her trust he'd gained. But did he really want to open up to her that much, let alone cause himself such pain as would come from telling her of his past? After a moment, he sighed, and nodded as his hand came to her lower back, guiding her towards a pile of pillows in one corner of the large room. As she settled herself comfortably, he sat next to her, legs folded beneath him with hands on his knees and his eyes fixated on the floor. Several long moments passed, before he took a deep breath and began his tale.

"I was born many long years ago, when the land of Hyrule was still newborn. When the Golden Goddesses created Hyrule, they also created another realm, that exists parallel to Hyrule.. touching only just barely, enough for certain people to pass through. This realm is the home of the Sheikah.. it is where we originated, where we go when our time to protect Hyrule has passed. For that is what the Goddesses charged us with.. protecting Hyrule. They knew that evil would exist, because that is the balance of reality. Where there is light, there must be darkness.. and the Goddesses decreed that the shadow would guard the light from darkness.

"I was but a young man when I met her. Zhera... I was but a simple farmer, then. Zhera was the daughter of one of our chieftains. And yet..." Sheik looked so wistful. Elenna leaned forward, peering intently at him, silently urging him to continue. "She loved me. And I.. I loved her so deeply."

He fell silent again, his hands clenching into fists. Elenna's heart ached for him as she leaned forward, lightly placing her fingertips against his arm. He looked at her, and the anguish she saw in that single crimson iris made tears well in her own dark eyes. She almost begged him not to continue, that she hadn't meant to make him relive such pain, but before she could open her mouth, he was speaking again.

"We were finally going to be together. Her father had consented to our marrying, and we were to be wed within the month. Then.. it struck. The Darkness. It destroyed our village. Most of the villagers were killed.. Zhera among them. I cried out to the Goddesses, begging them to grant me vengeance. What they granted me.. was eternal life, on the condition that I would fight, and devote my eternity to battling the Darkness. They promised that one day, I would be reunited with her.. I would be given peace, with Zhera.

"Throughout my lifetimes, I found her again and again. Her spirit, in the body of another.. I could see it. I could feel it, feel her. And I loved her.. I loved her from afar, always watching her love another, marry them, and die, an old woman. Once.. only once did I attempt to love her, to get her to love me... She died in my arms. So now you know, young Elenna.. you know my sadness, and why I continue to live, and fight. I fight.. to be with Zhera again."

Sheik stared at Elenna, trying to gauge her reaction. He saw sadness, and hurt, and longing, and... His eyes narrowed as he leaned closer, peering through the fringe of dark blond spikes, to better identify that last emotion lurking within amethyst depths. His breath caught. That was.. love. She loved him? Shocked beyond measure, he wasn't able to react in time to stop Elenna when she moved closer, nearly on his lap by this point, her hands once again lifting and pushing that cap of bandages off his head, then dragging the white chest covering off to be tossed aside. Her words were soft, and choked with tears she didn't allow to fall, leaning her curvaceous frame into his muscular one. "I know.. I'm not Zhera, but.. I hope I can give you.. at least a little happiness."

"Elenna--" Whatever he'd been going to say was cut off when her lips pressed against his. For a moment, he was too stunned to respond, staring at her wide eyed as she gently embedded her fingers in his hair, and kissed him. Then millenia of anguish welled up within him in an uncontrollable flood, and his hands fell to grip her waist, while his head tilted. His eyes closed as he pulled her closer, lips tenderly moving against hers, coaxing them to part so his tongue could venture inside, skillfully dominating her own.

The quiet moan she breathed into his mouth rocked him to his core, making him shudder as he broke the kiss, nipping playfully at her lower lip. Both their eyes opened, and locked together as they gasped for breath. His hand lifted, tenderly cupping her face as his thumb caressed her cheek. Then, he sighed, and grabbed her hips, gently setting her aside. Ignoring her bewildered look, he pulled his chest covering back on, then wound the bandages around his head again as he stood, and moved towards the door. It was her voice, tinged with anger, that made him stop. "..So that's it? You're just going to.. leave? Just like that? Like that meant nothing? Like you didn't feel that connection between us when we first touched, and last night? ..Like I mean nothing to you?"

"..You do not mean anything to me, Elenna. You are my student." He tried to ignore her pained gasp, though his eyes closed as he pressed his hand to the wall next to the open doorway. He knew he'd just shattered whatever fragile trust she'd had in him, but he couldn't allow her to think that what had transpired between them would continue, or become anything more. He had to try and restore the proper balance of teacher and student, and keep it that way. Without looking back, he left, and Elenna was alone once again, with tears streaming down her face.

--

Fire roared in the fireplace, fending off the night's chill as Zelda stared into the crackling flames, enjoying the warmth and silence that enveloped her where she sat in the delicately carved, plush chair. However, her solitude was interrupted by a soft knock at the door of her bedchambers, and she muttered a soft curse as she stood, turning to look at the door as she spoke. "Yes?"

"My Queen." One of the guards opened the door and poked his head in, peering at Zelda, before he stepped into the room and bowed slightly. "Lady Elenna is here to see you."

"Elenna is here? Send her in." Pulling her pale blue robe more tightly around her frame, Zelda tied the belt and watched as the guard bowed himself out, then was replaced by Elenna. The young Sheikah stared at the Hylian woman, and Zelda was shocked to see how rumpled her friend looked, her hair disheveled, and her eyes rimmed in red. As the door closed behind her, Zelda moved over to Elenna, concern evident on her face and in her voice. "Elenna, what is wrong?"

"..You knew, didn't you." Those eyes which had darkened nearly to black stared relentlessly at the golden-haired queen, but Elenna didn't even wait for a response to the question that wasn't really a question at all, but a statement. "You knew what he's been through, what would happen if you put us together, what would happen to me. You knew and you let it happen! Why? Why would you put me through such agony?"

Zelda blanched as she saw fresh tears pouring down her sister of the heart's face. Ignoring the older girl's attempts to push her away, the Hylian enveloped her friend in a tight embrace, and sighed when Elenna finally relented, laying her head on Zelda's shoulder and sobbing helplessly. Zelda stroked her back and hair as she spoke softly, trying to soothe her dearest friend's sorrows. "Yes, Elenna.. I knew of Sheik's past. I did not know that you would come to feel so strongly for him, however. And for that.. I am sorry." As she pulled back, she lifted a hand to gently grip her chin and coax Elenna's head up, peering into the Sheikah's eyes. "But if you want something, you must fight for it. I will help you as I can.. but you must not give up."

Searching Zelda's eyes, Elenna pondered the young queen's words, then nodded slowly. She might not be his Zhera reborn, but she loved Sheik.. and she wanted whatever she could get with him. No matter the cost.