Bring me to Light

Hello to all. Thanks very much for the pleasant reviews :)

Here're the next two chapters for you.

Enjoy!
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Kindled Flames

“Wake up.”

“Wake up, hero.”

Link rolled over to face the voice, tugging sheets off his head a squinting in the morning light. “Sheik, we’ve been through this. It’s Link. Not hero, don’t regress on me now.”

“My apologies, Link.”

“Good…now let me go back to sleep.” The Hylian slid beneath the sheets again, attempting to settle down into a cocoon of warmth for the rest of the morning.

“No, you must rise.”

“Why?”

“Because the world needs saving, we should aim to reach the Fire Temple today.”

“Ugghh, can’t someone else do it?”

“Yes, we’ll leave the villagers to do it shall we?”

An arm worked its way loose of the sheets, giving Sheik a thumb up. “Sounds like a good plan to me.”

Unseen by Link, Sheik rolled his eyes and approached the bed. “Arise, Link or I’ll drag you out and throw you into the lake to wake you.”

Grudgingly, Link pulled the covers off again, glaring at Sheik to show his displeasure. “Ok, Sheik? You can’t use words like ‘arise’ and then threaten to throw me into a lake, it doesn’t work.”

Sheik stooped suddenly, scooping something off the floor before throwing it at Link. The towel hit the hero in the face.

“Get up, bathe, have breakfast, then we’re leaving.”

“Ok, ok, sheesh.”

He slowly pulled himself vertical, throwing his legs over the side of the bed, stretching and shivering in the cool morning air.

“You expect me to go out to the lake in this temperature?” Link asked the figure retreating into the kitchen, grabbing a clean pair of under-shorts from the chair by the bed.

“It’ll be good for you.”

“Catching hypothermia is never good for anyone.”

A snort followed the statement. “Be quick then.”

Grumbling, Link picked up the towel and shorts before walking into the kitchen, padding barefoot onto the cold stone floor. Sheik was standing by the stove, his back to the Hylian as he prepared breakfast.

“It’s been nice knowing you, by the way.” Link commented as he walked to the door, opening it. Cold air rushed into the room and he shivered violently.

“Enjoy your bath.” Was Sheik’s only response and the Hylian glared daggers at the other blonde’s back before sprinting out of the door.

The lake was only a few hundred meters from the house, but it felt like miles, considering the temperature. Link dropped the towel and shorts by a rock near the edge of the lake before leaping into the water, plunging into breathtakingingly cold depths.

Kicking out, he swam to the surface and to the side of the lake, slipping off the shorts he had worn in bed and leaving the sodden fabric on an old pillar, before grabbing the brush, cloth and soap that Sheik had left for him. He washed quickly, not wanting to be in the biting morning air for much longer despite its wonderful crispness, and then dried himself vigorously with the towel, roughly towelling his skin in an attempt to create some heat.

Once done, Link grabbed the clean shorts, slipping them on and collecting the items lying around before dashing back to the house.

“You were quick.”

“Do you know how cold it is out there?” Link panted slightly, moving close to the stove in an attempt to feel the warmth of the fire cooking breakfast.

“Yes, I bathed out there 2 hours ago.”

“…It was night 2 hours ago!”

Sheik shrugged. “I’m accustomed to it.”

“Man, I’ve got to say that you Sheikah are tough…and masochistic.”

The shadow warrior smirked “I suppose our customs may seem that way to another race.”

“And you probably see us as soft, huh?”

“We see you as a more…domesticated people.”

“Thanks.”

“It wasn’t meant as an insult.”

“…I know.”

Sheik turned away from the food on the fire to look at Link, noting that the Hylian was only wearing his under-shorts, and that beads of water from his still wet hair were sliding down his bare torso. Red eyes traced the contours of the body in front of him, taking in all its details. True, he had seen Link fully naked before, but that was strictly professional, a means of checking for injury. Now it was something more…personal, having seen the boy in a different light.

Except he wasn’t a boy, he was a man. The torso proved that.

“It’s rude to stare you know,” Link commented.

Sheik pulled his eyes away from the smoothly muscled stomach, meeting Link’s own blue gaze. “I was merely checking that your wound is healing properly.” He gestured to a red scratch across Link’s abdomen that he had picked up somewhere in the Forest Temple.

“Uh-huh, right.”

Sheik turned back to the food, flipping it over in the pan.

“I’ll go get dressed then.”

Link disappeared into the bedroom, creating various rustling sounds as he dressed, cursing when he stubbed his toe on something before reappearing in the kitchen fully clothed, except for the hat. It seemed he preferred not to wear it nowadays, though whether it was due to the garment being Navi’s last home, or Link’s own fashion sense, Sheik didn’t know but he had to admit, he looked better without it. Blonde hair, currently darkened to brown by the water in it curled slightly at his collar, bangs hanging around his face, framing it.

“So, why don’t we just warp up to the temple? I mean it’s got one of those pad thingies outside it, right?”

Sheik, grabbed a plate on his right, sliding the fried eggs in the pan smoothly onto it.

“Because you will not be able to stand the heat in the temple as you are now. We’re going to have to go to Goron City first to see if we can get you some more suitable attire.”

“What about your attire?” Link asked, jokingly mocking Sheik’s language.

“Mine is fine,” Sheik stated, placing the plate of eggs in front of Link before sitting down opposite him.

“How so?”

“It’s resistant to temperature, for the most part.”

“Including the cowl?”

The Sheikah nodded.

“Wow,” Link commented, biting into a piece of egg and chewing thoughtfully before swallowing it “Practical and alluring.”

He looked down to his plate to avoid Sheik’s surprised gaze, trying to stop himself from smirking and focusing on his meal instead.

After a moment of silence Sheik stood, pushing back from the table. “I’ll get our equipment and meet you outside.”

Link nodded once, keeping his head down as he continued staring at the eggs he was eating.

Sheik stalked into the bedroom, trying to keep his gait as confident and easy as it normally was, pulling the cowl down and tucking it under his chin as he exhaled, blowing his fringe out of his face, catching himself in the fragment of broken mirror on his desk as he gathered the weapons.

His cheeks were red, stained with a blush at Link’s words, and he raised his fingers to his face, feeling them to be quite cool against the flushed skin. He bit his lip. He was not supposed to feel this way about anyone. Hero, peasant, royalty, male, female, it didn’t matter who, it wasn’t allowed by his people, but for it to be Link…not only was he male and the Hero of Time, made untouchable by his divine connection to the Triforce, but he was Sheik’s charge. Sheik may have been in control and teaching the older man all he needed to know, but the other blonde was essentially his superior. A named warrior whose name would be sung in praise throughout the ages if he succeeded in defeating Ganondorf.

Sheik himself was…a Sheikah, and that in itself resigned to a back seat to wither away in obscurity. His very existence ignored or rather…merely not known in the first place. Which was how it was supposed to be, and Sheik would not dare to even think about hating his heritage but…he knew that somewhere, inside his heart and soul, he longed to make an impression on the world. On someone in particular and maybe, just maybe he already had.

--

It had taken the two warriors a good couple of hours to reach the base of Death Mountain after leaving the shelter of Sheik’s home and by the time they had reached it, Link was in a rather foul mood.

It was only 8 or 9 in the morning but the day was already reaching an uncomfortably warm temperature. It reminded Link of the desert and that was always very very bad. Add to the this the fact that there had been whispers about the Hero of Time travelling around the village, that he couldn’t, wouldn’t save Hyrule and it was his fault in the first place that the country was in this state, well…it made for a very unhappy Hylian.

Needless to say the blonde was silent as they started the steep climb up Death Mountain trail, clambering over its rocky terrain and trying to avoid large boulders that randomly crashed down from the higher levels of the mountain’s winding path. More than once they had been forced to tackle one another out of the path of an oncoming rock and it was beginning to grate on both men’s nerves.

Eventually they came to the entrance to the Dodongo’s cavern and stopped just inside the mouth of the cave, resting, watching boulders fly from the trails above and crash onto the rocky ground.

“This wasn’t happening the last time I was here,” Link commented as another boulder slammed to the floor with a teeth-jarringly loud collision.

“You were only here 7 years ago, but no, I was here two days before I rescued you and it was relatively quiet.”

“Save for the Gorons, I bet.”

“Even they were unusually subdued but…”

“Now they’ve disappeared altogether.”

Sheik nodded “This doesn’t bode well.”

“So I guess we better get up there quick and have a look at what’s going on.”

“Yes, but we should take this opportunity to rest.”

“Thank the Goddesses.” Link fell back against the wall behind him, sliding down it, an expression of pure relaxation on his face. His bad mood seemed to have disappeared with the prospect of a break.

Sheik shook his head, this other man was so volatile, easily angered and easily appeased, though the shadow warrior would admit that the issues Link did get angered over were usually worth it…he just took it a bit too far. All a result of his treatment at the Gerudo Valley of course, for Sheik couldn’t imagine a Link who had grown up in normal circumstances being angry to such a degree as he had seen over anything. Every time he was angered, a black shadow seemed to be cast across the young man’s face.

“Is it me,” Link asked after a moment of reflective silence “Or is the lack of enemies around here disconcerting?”

Sheik turned raising an eyebrow. Link stared back at him for a moment before realizing what the strange gaze was for.

“What? So I used the term ‘disconcerted’ I can’t help it you’re rubbing off on me.”

An irresistible, cheeky smile tugged at the corner of Sheik’s mouth beneath the mask and he found his words tumbling from his lips without any resistance.

“In that case I shall have to rub you more often.”

The Hylian’s mouth dropped open, dumbfounded and Sheik found himself staring back at the other blonde in a similar state of disbelief over the words he had just uttered. After a moment, Link closed his mouth, a smug smile settling onto his lips, his eyes pleased at the Sheikah’s show of humanity.

“So you do have some flirt in you.”

Sheik shrugged and turned away, averting his eyes, yet despite his embarrassment, he found himself playing along with Link.

“What can I say, you’re rubbing off on me.”

Link’s smile was wicked as he regarded the other man, running his tongue slowly along the edge of his upper teeth. He could see the Sheikah was starting to loosen up, his words had just proved that, but there seemed to be a light in his eyes that said he was enjoying himself with the playful flirting.

It felt light, it felt good, Sheik knew that much. He also knew it was completely prohibited among his people….but then….who would know?

He and Link were completely alone, and Link himself was fully aware that Sheik was no longer acting completely in accordance with Sheikah law. Therefore, unless the Hylian had malicious streak that was aimed at the Sheikah, he would keep his mouth shut to everyone about the behaviour.

Link cleared his throat, his smile softening from wicked to friendly, the expression that Sheik was accustomed to.

“We should probably get moving up to Goron City.”

Sheik nodded “Yes, it’s nearing 10 already.” He still kept his gaze slightly averted as he spoke, but when Link shifted to get up, he turned it straight back on the Hylian.

With an almost daring resolve against his race, Sheik walked over to the hero, bending slightly and offering him a hand. Link took it without hesitation, allowing Sheik to pull him to his feet.

--

It was deserted, save for a solitary Goron rolling around the lower middle tier of the city in a frightened panic, the crashing noises created by hard flesh colliding with harder floor resonating around the enclosed city.

“What…?” The unfinished question was breathed by Link, and Sheik, for once, had no answer, except to suggest speaking to the Goron who was tumbling around the second floor at a frighteningly fast speed.

With no other option, the two dropped down a level, opting to ignore the stairs and leaned over the edge of the layer above the path the creature was travelling around.

“He won’t stop, even if he does somehow manage to hear us over the noise he’s making.” Link commented, watching the hard-skinned creature as it disappeared into the tunnel opposite.

“…Why do you assume it’s male?”

“Because I can’t tell the difference between male and female Gorons…if there are such a thing as female Gorons, and they all seem male to me anyway.”

“I suppose that’s a fair point.”

“…are there female Gorons?”

“You’re getting distracted. Focus.”

“What? Oh, yeah, of course….d’you think that a bomb would stop him?”

Sheik’s eyebrows rose at the suggestion “I think that’s highly unethical.”

“Sheik, these guys eat rocks, are practically made out of rock, can throw themselves at incredibly high speeds into walls without causing so much as a scratch to themselves…and more importantly, they almost broke my back last time I was here. It’s payback time.”

Sheik rolled his eyes, opting to ignore the last comment. “Yes, it probably will stop him and yes, you’re right, it is unlikely to cause him harm.”

“Good.”

With that simple statement the Hylian pulled out a bomb from the bag attached to his hip and grabbing a small glass charm out of the other. With a slight flick, the charm produced a flame at its tip which Link promptly pushed the fuse into before dropping the bomb at the opportune moment.

“Din’s fire,” Sheik observed “I’m impressed.”

“About?”

“The fact that you can control the size of the flame.”

“Ah, so not the effort it took to get it then?”

A loud explosion from below stopped Sheik from having to answer and the two men turned their attention to the dark smoke rising, waving it aside it an attempt to see whether it had hit its target.

It had.

Jumping from the tier they were crouching on the blondes landed next to the trembling Goron.

“H…how could you do this to me?”

The voice was deep but trembling, and coming from a creature that was cowering on the floor at your feet, it was hardly threatening. Link shared a look of scepticism with Sheik.

“I am Link,” the rock squeaked “Hero of the Gorons, hear my name and tremble.”

“Right,” Link crouched down to so he was face to…random body part with the humanoid “Hey, calm down ok? We’re friends of Darunia’s…I’m Link, my companion here is Sheik.”

“What?” The muffled voice sounded as if it had steadied a little and cautiously, like a hedgehog unfurling, he brought his head up. Beetle black eyes looked up at him hopefully, tears of hope in welling.

“Your name is Link too?”

“That’s what I just said.”

The Goron suddenly unfurled fully, jumping to his feet and looking round at Sheik before turning his attention back to Link, an expression of pure awe on his face.

“That means…you’re the legendary hero and Dodongo Buster!!”

Link took a step away from the creature, anticipating an overzealous hug. Sheik, who was standing behind the Goron, shot the Hero of Time a look of sardonic amusement.

“My father is Darunia! He named me after you.” Darunia’s son stopped, looking up at Link with glistening eyes “It’s such a cool name, I really like it.”

“Uh, that’s great, thanks.”

“Your story has been passed down through the Gorons. I know it off by heart; my first word’s were Dodongo Buster…”

“If you don’t mind my asking…how old are you?”

“5 and a half, I’ll be six next month…”

“Thought so…So uh, anyway, where’s everyone else? I need to speak to Darunia about uh, my next uh…heroey mission…thing.”

“Well…that’s just it Link…two days ago Ganondorf and his monsters came and took everyone except my Dad to the Fire Temple. Ganon has revived Volvagia, the Dragon..."

Sheik stepped back from the two Link’s, and slid down a wall to watch his Link as he dealt with the younger Goron, taking in the information that the child was offering.

‘MY Link?...Oh Goddesses help me’

Eventually, Link gave the sniffling Goron a reassuring pat on the shoulder as a promptly burst into tears. Sheik tuned the noise out, picking up only on the words that were actually important to him “Darunia….Volvagia….revived….Gorons captured….to be eaten…Ganondorf…temple…..ancient weapon…”

“Hey, don’t worry. I’ll get them out I promise.”

Sheik pulled his attention fully back to the present at the sound of the Hylian’s voice.

“You will?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you…I really want Dad to be Ok….”

Link gave the Goron a gentle smile and nodded, heading for Sheik in an attempt to get the job started now that they had the relevant information.

“Oh Link! One more thing…” Link turned back to the rock-eater and he looked to the floor, trailing his toe against it in an embarrassed manner “I really admire you, so I was wondering…can I have your autograph and can you sign it ‘To my friend, Link, Hero of the Gorons’?”

Link’s mouth dropped open, before moving in a manner similar to a fish, his jawing working silently. Sheik smiled gently. The Hero of Time still had some believers after all.

“Look Link, this really isn’t the time for me to be handing out autographs…you understand that, right?”

The Goron nodded “You’re right, I’m sorry. Oh, by the way, take this.”

He held out a folded piece of red fabric to the elder Link who took it hesitantly.

“Goron tunic,” the youth explained with a smile “It’ll protect you from the heat of the volcano.”

“Thanks.”

From deep within the mountain a deep grating sound rumbled out towards them, the heavy stone doors to the ‘Big Brother’s’ room opening and Sheik jumped to his feet, anticipating an attack.

“Relax Sheik, it’s just the doors opening.” The Hylian offered the Sheikah a gentle smile, intending to put him at ease. Sheik nodded, falling back into a more relaxed stance as Link thanked the young Goron again and headed towards him.

“Let’s head into the chief chamber so I can get changed, huh?” Link suggested and Sheik nodded mutely.

They headed to the chamber in silence until Link pulled off the green Kokiri Tunic he was accustomed, a load of items dropping out of its concealed pockets as he did.

“Crap.”

“Your tunic defies the laws of physics, you know?”

“How so?”

“The inside seems to be bigger than the outside.”

Link chuckled “You have a warped perceptive of clothing, you know that?”

“Well if you had worn this garment,” Sheik gestured to the bodysuit “All your life you would too I imagine. Just as you think it’s fine for men to wear skirts.”

The Hylian shot a darkly playful look at Sheik “It’s a tunic.”

The Sheikah nodded, folding his arms as he watched Link pull on the dark red tunic, the rich colour complementing Link’s golden hair.

Buckling the last belt into place Link lifted the Master Sword from its sheath, comforted by its weight in his hand and Sheik’s presence.

Side by side, they exhaled in unison, before nodding in agreement to walk into the inferno of Death Mountain’s crater.

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There you have it, please don't forget to review this before you move onto the next chapter. Many thanks.