You are What it Takes to Shatter Me

A/n : Dear Life, why do you suck?

I am so, so, so very sorry that this chapter has taken this long to get written and posted. But as always, life happened. And everything sucked. Badly. I hope that you can all forgive me.

But here is chapter 16 despite all of the suckiness :D

A huge Thank You to all you those who have read, favorited, alerted, and reviewed for this story thus far. You all make my world a less suckish place lol

A giant Thank You to the ever lovely Mermaidella, who is full of awsome and who kindly had beta'd this so you don't have to struggle though my horrid grammer. :D

Happy Reading

Chapter 16: Bells of War

Tension was heavy in the air of every day. Unease crept sluggishly through our veins. The Princess had doubled the guards and watchmen, in both Kakariko Village and on the ramparts of Castle Town. Her army trained for hours at a time every day, as did we. Every one of our fighters pushed harder and harder to ready themselves for the battle that would determine the fate of our lands.

Days turned into a week, a week turned into several, but still there was no sign of the Lanthium forces. They had seemingly disappeared from the ledges where they had previously been spotted.

They were simply gone, which left us all on edge.

Now and then, Zelda would abandon her meeting rooms and her hours of talking strategy with those in command of her forces. She would make her way to the training grounds that we practiced in and silently watch the display of multi-colored and deadly blasts of magic, at the gleaming swords as they slammed together. She joined several times during our archery and in hand to hand combat.

During those times I was reminded that the Zelda that ruled the people now was so different from the child in the Palace garden, or even the one that I had trained with for seven years. When she fought with us, when Nabooru or Impa or Link gave her advice or help she took it without argument. The whole time her face was grim, her lips pressed together tightly and her eyes smoldered like ice as she practiced and perfected her arts.

Arts that she should never have had to use.

There was a dull ache for her in my heart. Gone was that little girl. The clumsy, aloof girl that smiled and lit the room with her happiness. Gone was the girl that played the harp horridly, and forgot the lines in jokes. Who danced around the hidding room when she was bored, who looked sad when we had to catch and kill fish to eat because they reminded her of the pets she kept in the small pool in the courtyard.

In her place was a woman, readying herself for battle and fully prepared to do whatever it took to ensure that her people remained alive and free.

But the look in Lady Impa's eyes was that of pride when she watched the Princess fight. And there was another light when they fell on the dark skinned woman who was showing Zelda how to wield her short sword better. The way her gaze softened and lingered, I wondered that perhaps Nabooru's affections, despite that fact that Impa often brushed her advances off, were not entirely unrequited after all.

I had seen the two of them nag and argue with each other every time they met, but never had I witnessed my Lady look at anyone with that look in her eye. And it made me wonder too how long Impa had felt for her, and why she had not shown it before.

Shuddering realization had hit the moment after that thought. Of course, the war loomed ahead. Impa knew, just as I knew, this could be the last chance for any of us.

My eyes flickered, searching for the chance that I had grabbed hard a hold of and still had not relinquished my grip on.

Link was settled back against the stone wall, cooling down. Bright blue eyes caught mine, echoing the sky above as the sun began to descend into the mountains. The invitation in them was clear, and I needed a breather as well. I excused myself from Locktam's discussion with Venna, who grinned at me as I made my way to Link's side.

A soft smile greeted me and a steady heartbeat greeted mine as I settled down next to him, pressed close. An arm wrapped around me, pulling me closer. I rested my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes. The cool of the shadow and stones let me sink into a comfortable sense of ease. And with the coolness and the warm body next to me came the memories of night air and moonlight and heartbeats.

Without a second conscious thought, I drifted off to sleep.

My eyes snapped open, trying to take in the darkness and make sense of where I was. Someone shifted next to me and I tensed for a moment until the scent of cool water, rich earth, and lemon grass drifted over. I settled back at Link's side as I tried to remember what had woken me.

Most nights I was too tired to dream. Training sapped me of a lot of energy during the day, and at night what was left of my energy was spent with Link.

He had surprised me the second night, rolling over and pulling me on top of him. Soft, low pleading for me to claim him as he had claimed me. Heat had coiled through me at his words, and I complied to his request, just as gently and as thoroughly as he had with me, lips pressing soft kisses and light nips to every inch of his skin, our heartbeats creating a unique tempo to a dance that we had every intention of attending as often as the chance came. Low moans and sharp breaths poured from us, mingling with the hazy pleasure in the cool night. Deep golden and light honey toned skin gleamed in moonlight as we surrendered ourselves to one another.

Some nights it seemed as if we never slept and the night stretched out forever.

Some nights there were no words or actions needed as we lay awake next to each other, wrapped in silence and our steady heartbeats for hours.

An image flashed through my head as I allowed my gaze to linger on Link's still sleeping form. Fire brushed through my mind, relentless heat searing into my skin. Then it shifted from phantom heat to real heat. I jerked my arms back to my chest, the movement startling Link into wakefulness.

"Sheik?"

I couldn't find the words to answer him as I tried to push the pain from the front of my mind. Tears filled my eyes, but I managed to hold them at bay for a few moments more. I barely registered the noise and the movement of Link as he scrambled off the bed and disappeared into the wash room.

It felt like the moment that I had received the marks all over again. I just couldn't comprehend as to why. Then cool hands grabbed mine and pulled out and then down. I gasped sharply as the ice cold water met with my hot hands. The pain intensified for a moment and then dissipated slowly.

I glanced up at Link, the sadness in his eyes echoing my own. His eyes moved back to my hands and mine followed. The water was putting of steam as it cool my hands. After a few minutes I withdrew them from the water, settling them into the soft cloth that Link had grabbed.

The lines on my palms had darkened even more, looking like fresh dark ink. A foreign sensation brushed my mind and I shuddered. Din's presence filled my mind for a moment and then flitted away without a word.

But then again, there were no words needed. I knew what she meant.

I rose from the bed and turned to the window.

Dawn was beginning to rush the deep blue night sky, streaks of pale light painting the horizon. Link brushed against me and wrapped warm arms around my middle. His chin rested on my shoulder as he watched the sky with me.

And in the moment before it happened, his arms tightened on me, as if he had heard it before it even sounded out in the quiet sunrise.

The trumpet's warning call.

It seemed so distant, nearly mistaken in my mind for a flash of dream. But as it echoed louder and closer, I knew why my hands had woken up feeling as if they were on fire. It sounded out again in the otherwise silent air.

My eyes never left the light beginning to spill up at the edge of the land.

It was time.

He was here.

The sun burst over the edge of our world, and for a moment everything seemed as though it was alight with fire.

And then it was gone, replaced with gentle, warming beams.

I turned around in Link's hold, wrapping my own arms around him as chaos erupted in the courtyards below us. I knew there was little time, and that we should be getting ready now, but I kept my place.

This could be the last time I ever would have this, and I allowed it to sink into me, to seep into my skin and etch itself onto my bones. Gentle fingers lifted my chin and soft lips settled against my own.

For a few minutes, we lost ourselves in each other with gentle desperation.

A soft knock sounded out against my door, and Link broke our kiss. Arms tightened around me once more before releasing me. I straightened myself, allowing the feeling flowing through me to steel my will and to give me the courage that I needed.

I shifted from on top of the Lanthium horse I was riding. It broke my heart not to ride into battle on Ember, because she was my partner, just as Epona was Link's. I glanced over at him, blond and deep blue on black. He too had been given one of the spare horses from the fallen Lanthium from mountain battle.

Jahjin shifted nervously under me. He could feel the tension that was thick in the air. Nabooru, Impa, Zelda and several others were seated on giant black horses as well. They knew what was coming and were ready to charge forth and bare us into the thick of battle without shying from either sword or magic.

The sun was nearing its zenith in the middle of sky when everyone was settled into place and ready for the oncoming battle. There was a moment of silence and then I heard a whinny echo from the mountain path, and then the thunder of hooves and feet.

And when they came into sight, I froze momentarily, and from next to me I could hear Link swearing.

I looked along the line and then over a few paces to Zei, Kailut, Locktam, and the others. From the expressions on their faces, they had not expected this either. They had expected a force of less than fifty and nearly all of them Wielders, but here in front of us there were four hundred at the least. Villagers with spears and short swords held firmly. Youths dwarfed by the large horses they sat upon. Nearly all of the front ranks had a bag of sorts that they settled on the ground in front of them.

A dark thought entered my mind at the sight of nearly one-hundred of the unknown bags in front of grim faced villagers. I glanced over at Kei and saw the same grim look on his face. He knew exactly what the bags contained and I could take a guess at the contents, but for that to happen...

My eyes roamed over the Sheikah standing there, waiting for orders. And I knew that theirs wouldn't be a forward attack. Theirs would be a sacrifice.

For several moments no one moved or made a noise. Silence hung heavy over every soul. And then the Lanthium ranks parted, a lone horseman moving from the back.

There was no doubt in my mind. I had no reason to look to the others for confirmation. This was the Naha'lo, the leader of the Lanthium. And in the silence, I could hear the slightest crackle of magic along with the flick of a hand. Dark purple raced across the air.

With a quick tap to Jahjin's side, I moved in front of Zelda and raised my hand. The magic he sent at us slammed into the blue of my own, showering silver sparks. A slight smirk appeared on his lips as he stared me down.

I felt Din's magic stir in me, heat flooding my veins like fire.

I raised my hands in the air, palms outward.

Their leader's smirk faded into a snarl as he flicked his hand again, but this time no magic was issued. Instead, they all moved forward as one.

I glanced at those around me one last time.

Zelda sat straight, her eyes smoldering. Zei and Kailut grasped at each other's wrist, before reaching out and doing the same to the other Lanthium around them. Out of the corner of my eyes I caught Impa's movement as she reached her hand out to Nabooru, who gripped it tightly. Then I caught summer colored eyes for what could be the last time.

I flicked my heels down and Jahjin reared up, the stallion's war cry echoing shrilly through the air.

Heavy hooves landed hard upon the earth, leaving deep imprints.

With Link's love and courage in my heart and Din's own magic in my fingertips, I started towards the enemy, with every intent to meet them halfway.

A/n : I hope that you all enjoyed the chapter. The next one is half-way written already, so hopefully it will be up soon. I would love to hear your thoughts, comments, and opinions. Thank you all so much for reading :D

Love and Kisses,

beautiful lies