Disclaimer: Nothing own I.

Link ran out of the Fire Temple, grateful that the monstrous heat had dissipated. The last lights of the flames licked his red tunic before the doors slammed shut, much to the elf's delight. The temple had been difficult and the heat made it even more excrutiating. Making his way over to a rock, he leaned against it, catching his breath. Sliding his back down it, he collapsed to the ground and closed his eyes, thoroughly worn out.

"Farore... never again." He muttered sullenly. Navi flitted around him, probably thinking up a witty (at least in her opinion) retort. Whilst he rested on the ground, he stopped to take a mental note of his injuries. Apart from a scratch or two and a couple of bruises, he was all right. All that was really wrong was that his tunic was starting to stick to his skin with his sweat, making him rather uncomfortable.

"If only that were so." Spoke a familiar, amused voice. Link frowned and wiped the perspiration from his brow.

"Sheik. I guess seeing me like this amuses you, no? 'Hero of Time' exhausted beyond his wits?"

Sheik calmly looked at him from his perch, a nice shaded scoop in the cliff-face. Silence prevailed them for a few moments, before the man chose to speak.

"No. Heroes endure perilous circumstances for the greater good. Most of those circumstances are death defying. That does not amuse me."

Link shivered at the word 'death' and looked down.

"Well? Aren't you going to do what you're here to do?" Link called up to the Sheikah, a bit remorseful he had been so harsh. Sheik winced inside at Link's words. He knew what Link meant... he came here, taught him a song and left without any trace. Why did Link trust him anyway? He growled and tried to push those thoughts to the back of his mind. 'That's not important at the moment... the important thing is getting the job done that Impa set for you,' He argued with himself. Leaping down from the cliff-face, he landed neatly next to Link (as always) and looked the Hero in the eyes.

"It is something that grows over time, a true friendship," Sheik spoke, launching into one of his speeches. Link just grinned inwardly. "A feeling in the heart that grows stronger over time. The passion of friendship will soon blossom into a righteous power and through it you will know which way to go." Link had the slightest feeling he was being seduced from the words in which Sheik said to him. Waiiit a minute...

"This song is dedicated to the power of the heart. It is time for you to learn the Bolero of Fire."

Sheik indicated, presenting his harp. Link, although in a sour mood, loved to see the Sheikah play his instrument. It seemed like a second nature to him, something he did without thought and yet... the music he played was amazing. It drifted through the wind and danced straight into his soul. Link closed his eyes as he listened to the other man play his harp, letting the notes surround him. He always felt safe when he heard music from Sheik... he couldn't quite say why. Drawing out his ocarina, he copied the tune Sheik had played for him.

It took him two or three times to get it right, but it was worth it. As soon as he played it perfectly, Sheik finished off the song with a two-bar solo that Link always enjoyed, ending the song in ways he could only dream of. When the music stopped, he felt a sudden pang of depression. Sheik would be leaving now, for how long Link didn't know... wait, why was he even sad at the Sheikah leaving? He certainly enjoyed his company, for the short time it always was, but... maybe he enjoyed it too much? Maybe he had an... attraction to the blonde haired man standing in front of him?

"I must leave now-"

Unfortunately, Sheik never got to finish his sentence.

"No," Link shouted, a little too abrupt. "Stay longer..."

Sheik was taken aback at this. Stay longer? He never did... though he –had- gotten the job done. Zelda expected him back soon, however. Looking into the cerulean eyes of his companion, he noticed something else. Longing.

"...Please?" Link finished, somewhat unsure of himself. Sheik looked down to the young blonde.

"I can't." As much as he hated to say those words, they had to be said. If he wasn't back to the palace in time, Zelda would come looking for him and then she would be put in danger...

"I'm sorry...goodbye, Link." Link didn't bother to look up, for he knew that all that there would be to greet him was a lonely breeze where the Sheikah once was. Getting up from his seat on the boulder, he cursed himself inside.

Why did you ask him, o Hero? You knew what the answer would be. You made yourself open, venerable...

Link tried to ignore the argument going on inside his head. The main question that was pestering him now was, did he really mean it...?

"Link?"

The elf jumped. He forgot that Navi had been with him. Of course, she had just witnessed that entire conversation...

"Yes, Navi. What is it?" The faery flew up close to his face.

"There's something you're not telling me, isn't there?" Link growled and moved to swat her, but she was too quick for him.

"I don't need to tell you everything, Navi. If you hadn't noticed, you're not my mentor. Anyway, there is nothing TO tell." And with those parting words, Link hauled himself up off the ground and started to walk down the gravel path that led away from the temple. Navi smiled to herself, used to this.

'Hmm... there –is- something going on.'

Zelda sat next to Impa in the small inn they had stayed at for the past few months. The two flitted place-to-place, always just escaped Ganondorf's ever-watchful eye. The princess tapped her nails impatiently on the chair, a frown furrowing her brow.

"He's late." She stated bluntly, changing the rhythm of her tapping. Impa sighed.

"He'll be back soon... don't be such a worrier." Zelda scowled at her and was just about to launch a counter-insult when Sheik appeared in front of them. Instead, Zelda directed her death glare at him.

"You're late." Zelda repeated. Sheik just raised an eyebrow at her.

"So I realised." As much as Zelda wanted to wallop him with a 2 by 4, she restrained herself, just wanting to hear about her friend.

"So... how did it go?" She said through gritted teeth.

"Fine. He's rather exhausted, but as eager as ever to walk the path set out for him by destiny." It took the princess several minutes to digest this information.

"Okay..." She said, when she had finished thinking. "Anything else?"

Sheik looked at her thoughtfully. Apart from Link asking him to stay (which, Zelda would never find out about even if she beat him within an inch of his life) nothing much else had happened.

"No... it went entirely to plan."

"Good." The princess said, again rather blatantly. "Dismissed."

The Sheikah inclined his head politely and started to leave the room.

"Oh, one more thing, Sheik..." The blonde haired man stopped in his tracks, waiting to hear whatever verbal abuse Zelda had in store for him.

"Don't be late again, or I will be forced to take... action." Sheik turned around and looked her squarely in the eye before anyone spoke again.

"As my lady pleases."

----

Whee, first chapter donners! That took me ages, it never looked right and I had to keep re-reading, and re-re-reading and such... but any feedback is good feedback.