Disclaimer: The Legend of Zelda, its characters and locations are all property of Nintendo. Any and all OCs and original locations belong to me unless specifically stated to belong to someone else.

Shadow and Thief
Part 3

"Shit," Sheik muttered under his breath. Their voices were close, and getting louder as they approached the outcrop, correctly assuming Sheik would have taken shelter here. "How'd they find this place? I thought I'd wandered way off the grid..."

Atiya didn't answer, and when Sheik looked at him the Hylian Gerudo's eyes were wide and fearful, his hand gripping the handle of his scimitar so tight his knuckles were going white. This must have been his worst nightmare, cornered by an entire team of Sheikah, all of whom were sworn to fight his kind. If Kafei and the others found out who Atiya was...then it was all over. He was starting to breathe fast, looking to Sheik with pleading eyes.

Sheik looked out of the hollow. The cliff was in the way, preventing him from seeing where exactly the rest of his team were, but their calls were increasing in volume and clarity with every moment. Not much time at all!

"Stay here," Sheik told Atiya quietly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Don't make a sound."

Atiya nodded, and Sheik took a moment to compose himself before climbing out of the hollow, wincing when a particularly sharp edge ripped through the material of his shirt, just below his ribs. Pain bloomed, and a small streak of blood was smeared on the stone. Just his luck, really.

The air outside was still cool, the sun having yet to heat up the surroundings, but Sheik could already tell the rays would be scorching hot soon enough when they hit him. Below them, the old oasis had changed considerably after the dust storm. Several of the dead trees had been broken, snapped clean off at the trunk, and new sand dunes had formed where previously the ground had been more or less flat. Atiya's pack and spear were gone, presumably buried underneath the sand, never to be seen again.

Just below him, his team were already climbing the outcrop, checking every inch for signs of their missing member. Sheik felt a little awkward, unsure of how he should announce his presence, but that choice was taken from him when he heard a gasp...oddly close. He looked directly down, spotting a very familiar head of purple hair clinging to the cliffside.

"Sheik!" Kafei exclaimed, climbing up with renewed vigour. "Guys, he's here!"

Damn it, too close, Sheik thought, realising it'd be strange to ask Kafei to climb down. He could do little else but offer his elder cousin a hand when he reached up, helping him over the edge, careful not to get scratched by the blade of the spear Kafei carried on his back.

Atiya's spear.

Son of a...

"Good to see you, cousin," he offered weakly, aware it was far from the sort of greeting reserved for these occasions. Kafei was having none of it, pulling Sheik into a tight hug, squeezing so hard Sheik could swear he heard his bones creaking.

"Thank the Goddesses you're okay," Kafei muttered before drawing back, looking Sheik up and down. "You're not hurt, are you?" He eyed the newly acquired scratch his middle suspiciously.

"I'm fine," Sheik assured him. "Really, just a few scratches from climbing..."

"Ah, that's good," Kafei said, smiling in relief under his mask before rearing back and socking Sheik square in the jaw. Not hard enough to knock him down, but definitely enough to make his displeasure felt. "What the fuck were you thinking, wandering off like that?! Do you have any idea how worried I was?! I woke up, and you weren't there! No message, no note!"

"S-Sorry," Sheik said, rubbing his jaw a little as he let Kafei draw him into another embrace, indulging his cousin's rather volatile mood swings. "There was a Yiga, and—"

"I know," Kafei said. "We found him yesterday, just before the storm hit. Tried to take him alive, but he resisted. Paya's got his mask." Only then did Sheik notice that the fifth member of their team, Paya, had something white on her belt...a mask, decorated with an upside-down version of the Sheikah eye, the porcelain splashed with red stains. Kafei shook Sheik slightly. "You went after him on your own, huh? Now what kind of idiocy was that? No food, no water..."

"I didn't think he'd be so fast," Sheik said lamely, aware it was a terrible excuse. "I wasn't...wasn't thinking. By the time he lost me, I was too far gone to find my way back."

"I'd act surprised, but I'm not," Kafei said drily, pulling back and studying Sheik closely once more. "Only you, cousin. Only you." He let go of Sheik and turned to the team below. "Secure the perimeter," he told them. "We're heading out soon!"

The other Sheikah nodded, beginning to circle the area around the outcrop, making sure it was safe. Kafei reached into his pack, withdrawing a flask of water and handing it to Sheik. "You must be parched," he said. "Drink up. We've got more."

Sheik took it and made a show of drinking from it—it'd look suspicious if he wasn't thirsty after an entire day with no water. He tried not to eye Atiya's spear too obviously. Drinking deeply, he let out of a gasp of relief that he hoped didn't sound too fake, smiling gratefully at Kafei.

"Thanks," he said. "Ran out of water yesterday." He glanced up at the spear, feigning curiosity. "That's new," he stated.

Kafei nodded, pulling the spear out and letting Sheik take a look. "Found it sticking out of the sand just over there," he said, pointing to a seemingly random dune. "Owner must have lost it recently—blade's perfectly intact and razor-sharp, and the wood is still well-oiled. You haven't seen any Gerudo around?"

Apart from the one I fucked last night? Sheik's treacherous mind supplied as a possible response, which he stamped down immediately. Instead, he shook his head. "Haven't seen anyone other than the Yiga," he replied.

"That's good," Kafei said, shoulders relaxing just a little. "We've minimised our presence here as best we could—if we're spotted in Gerudo territory, we can kiss that peace agreement goodbye." His eyes narrowed. "We can't tell Impa about this, or she'll kill us both."

"Agreed," Sheik said, carefully positioning himself so Kafei couldn't look inside the hollow. To anyone else, the darkness within would conceal Atiya, but a Sheikah could quite easily spot the hidden Gerudo. He pretended to inspect the spear, not surprised at the sheer quality of the craftsmanship. He hadn't even noticed the delicate carvings in the metal, depicting sand-like patterns. Fit for a prince, after all. "How did you find me?" he asked.

"At first, we followed your tracks," Kafei said, turning away to observe the dried oasis. "But the wind quickly erased those, forcing us to just pick a random direction and follow it. At first it seemed like we were wandering in circles, but then we found your greaves at the bottom of a dune, so we made that a sort of starting point?" He drank from his own flask, running a hand through his hair, which had come loose from the usual ponytail he kept it in. "When the storm started building, we had to abandon the search temporarily, and sought shelter in the basement of an old outpost of sorts." He pointed to the east. "About an hour's walk from here. We saw this place from a distance before the storm hit, though, so we knew where we'd search next...and here you were."

"Thank you," Sheik said. "For coming after me."

Kafei blinked. "No one gets left behind," he said. "Even when they kind of deserve to be after doing something incredibly, monumentally stupid."

Chastened, Sheik bowed his head. "I know...I'm sorry."

"I'm just relieved you're still alive," Kafei said, punching Sheik's shoulder. "Going back to Impa without you just wasn't an option—I don't even dare to think what she'd do to us then."

"I believe she still has that flensing knife of hers," Sheik said, shuddering at the memory of her sharpening it. "Been a while since she's had to use it."

"Right, well, glad I didn't give her a reason to, then," Kafei said, laughing as he turned back to Sheik, looking over his shoulder. "So, this is where you spent the night, huh?"

"Ah...yeah," Sheik said, cursing inwardly. "Little more than a hole in the wall, really. Nearly had to sleep standing up."

Don't look closer, don't look closer, he prayed. For the love of the Goddesses, just let it go!

"How the hell did you fit in there?" Kafei asked incredulously. "I think even Paya would have trouble squeezing inside..."

"I nearly didn't," Sheik said, pointing at his new scrape. At least it was good for something. "The less said about it, the better. It was a very embarrassing ordeal."

"Well, at least your lack of mass came in handy," Kafei said, chuckling. He turned away, and Sheik had to keep himself from breathing out in gratitude, happy that the Goddesses had, for once, heeded his prayer. "Right, let's get the hell out of here before it gets too hot to move."

"Do you know where we are?" Sheik asked. "The map wasn't very helpful..."

"We're somewhere to the south-west in the Gerudo Desert," Kafei said. "Not entirely sure of the exact position, but I figure that as long as we head east, we'll find our lines sooner or later. I think that's our best bet."

Atiya would know where to go, Sheik thought, still holding the Hylian Gerudo's spear. He wished there was a way to get it back to Atiya without drawing attention to himself, but there really was no way to leave such an exquisite weapon behind without looking suspicious. Kafei probably intended to present it to Impa as an apology for taking too long to finish their scouting mission.

"You got everything?" Kafei asked.

"All I brought with me, yeah," Sheik confirmed. All he really had to his name was his empty flask and his sword, everything else he'd either dumped or left behind in their camp.

"Reno's got the rest of your things," Kafei said. "Come on, let's go."

He went to the edge and sat down, turning around to let himself down...and paused, his gaze landing on the hollow opening. His eyes widened. "What the—?"

Sheik's heart stopped beating for a seemingly never-ending moment as Kafei climbed back up, eyes narrowing as he studied the opening in the cliff. "Is someone there?" he asked.

Stay quiet, stay quiet, Sheik thought, opening his mouth to deny it...but then he heard a quiet gasp, amplified by the rock, and he knew the jig was up.

Kafei gave Sheik a brief, narrow-eyed look before drawing his sword, pointing it at the hollow. "I know you're in there," he said loudly. "Come on out—if you're a friend you won't be harmed."

"Kafei, don't—"

"Quiet, Sheik."

Kafei's voice had gone cold, his cousin's easy-going attitude disappearing in an instant at the prospect of enemies being near. Kafei was utterly terrifying when he got like this, and Sheik found himself seizing up in the face of it.

"Well?" he asked when Atiya remained silent, and did not emerge from his hiding spot. "I'm going to have to insist you show yourself, or I'll be forced to smoke you out."

He reached into the holster on his belt, withdrawing a small, egg-sized pellet. When thrown with sufficient force, it cracked, combining two chemicals whose reaction gave off a noxious, foul-smelling smoke that caused one's eyes to sting and tear up, blinding and choking whoever was unfortunate enough to be exposed to it. It took hours to recover from it, and was thoroughly unpleasant.

"You have to the count of three," Kafei announced, rolling the pellet between his fingers. "One...two..."

"Atiya!" Sheik exclaimed. "Please...it's pointless to hide. Come out."

Sheik sounded so defeated, and as much as Atiya wanted to remain hidden, he knew the newcomer—this Kafei and apparently Sheik's cousin—would make good on his threat. Sheikah were full of tricks like that. Beating himself up, Atiya made sure his robes and turban were in order, keeping his face obscured. Kafei would see through his disguise the moment he saw Atiya's blue eyes, but that didn't mean he was going to just out himself immediately. He kept his scimitar sheathed, but visible, and said,

"I'm coming out."

"Slowly," Kafei demanded. "And keep your hands where I can see them."

"Kafei, don't—"he heard Sheik begin, but his cousin cut him off.

"Stand back, Sheik," Kafei hissed. "Paya! Get your ass up here! We've got contact!"

Blinking in the sharp light of dawn, Atiya kept his hands up as he crawled out of the hollow, finding himself being appraised by the Sheikah he presumed to be Kafei. He was taller than Sheik, with a broader build, wearing the same uniform and face mask. He had a similar blade to Sheik's—slim, and slightly curved—which was being pointed at Atiya. The most eye-catching of his features was his hair, however, which was dyed a deep purple—a sharp contrast to Sheik's blonde tresses.

"Well, what do we have here?" Kafei asked. It reminded him of the way Sheik had said it during the night...though in a wildly different context. "Atiya, is it?"

Slowly rising to his feet, Atiya nodded with a grunt.

"Want me catch me up here, cousin?" Kafei asked, not taking his eyes off Atiya. "Because I don't recall you telling me you had company."

Sheik visibly flinched, speaking slowly. "Kaf...this is Atiya. We met yesterday, when I got lost, and ended up in the middle of a horde of Leevers, and Atiya came to my rescue and found this shelter for us. I'd have been dead if it weren't for hi—her."

Atiya swallowed at Sheik's accidental slip. Again, his identity wouldn't take long to figure out, but mistakes like that would cut the already short timeframe down to size. Luckily, Kafei didn't seem to notice, nodding slowly.

"In that case, I owe you my thanks, Atiya," the older Sheikah said. "I appreciate you looking after my idiot cousin and keeping him alive."

Behind him, another Sheikah appeared over the edge of the cliff, this one female. Her hair, a shade of blonde so light it may as well have been white, was kept in a bun, crimson eyes sweeping over the group as she took in the situation.

"It was...no trouble," Atiya said, trying to make his voice sound a little higher. So far, none of them seemed to have noticed his eyes, presuming he was Gerudo from his clothes. "I am glad you found him."

Not so thrilled you found me as well, though, he added to himself.

"I take it that is yours, then?" Kafei asked, jerking his head to the spear Sheik was holding. Atiya nodded. "Right...well, I'm going to have to ask that you give me your scimitar as well, along with any other weapons you may be carrying."

The female Sheikah was slowly circling around Atiya, putting herself at his back. Her weapon wasn't drawn, but her hand lingered at the handle, ready to spring into action. Her movements were slow and deliberate, delicate in a manner that spoke of years of training. The bloody Yiga mask hanging on her belt indicated she was far from a rookie. Her eyes betrayed no emotions whatsoever, neutral as the cloth mask that covered the lower half of her face.

"Kaf, Atiya is the only reason I'm alive," Sheik tried, still gripping the spear. It wasn't much use in a close-quarters fight, but Atiya still wished he had the comforting weight of it in his hands. "Surely we can let—"

"—her go?" Kafei finished, shaking his head. "Sorry, Sheik. We can't risk her running off to report our presence to her people. We'll have to take her with us."

"What? We can't! The ceasefire—"

"Will be preserved," Kafei said. "We'll only keep her until the peace accord has been signed, and then we'll release her." He shifted his weight slightly. "That is...unless we just kill her right here, right now, and leave nothing to chance. No witnesses to our incursion. Certainly the easiest option, if she won't come quietly."

Sheik's eyes widened at that, and Atiya felt his hand straying to the hilt of his scimitar, wondering if he'd be able to draw it fast enough. Possibly, but he was outnumbered. Sheik probably wouldn't fight, but Atiya didn't like his chances with one Sheikah at his front and another at his back.

"Don't even think about it," the female Sheikah said quietly. "You're not fast enough."

His hand rested on the hilt, not gripping it. The thought was tempting. If he died here, then at least he couldn't be used as leverage over Gan and the others. Sheik looked as helpless as must have felt, looking between Atiya and his cousin, the very image of indecisiveness. Atiya should draw. Atiya should fight. Atiya should die for his people.

...but he didn't want to die. He didn't want the last thing he saw to be Sheik's stricken expression. Didn't want to meet his end in the middle of nowhere, his grave unmarked and never to be found. He didn't want to just...disappear.

I'm a coward, he thought, deliberately and pointedly moving his hand away from his blade, nodding to Kafei.

"Paya, disarm her."

Deft hands swiftly removed the scimitar from Atiya's belt, tossing it at Kafei's feet. Then those same hands began to pat him down, looking for hidden weapons.

"There aren't any more—"Sheik began, but trailed off when Kafei gave him a dirty look.

"You have a lot to explain, cousin, but right now I'd like you stay quiet," Kafei warned.

The female Sheikah—Paya, presumably—continued to search Atiya for weapons, pausing slightly when her hands found his chest...and the distinct lack of certain features a Gerudo should have that weren't there. She paused for but a tenth of a second, before continuing her search. To her credit, she didn't go for Atiya's crotch to confirm, but when he heard her clear her throat, he knew it was all over.

I should have drawn...

"Uh, Kafei?" she said hesitantly. "We may have a situation."

"What are you talking about?"

She didn't answer verbally, but Atiya saw her hands moving rapidly in some sort of sign language. Kafei blinked in confusion, and then focused on Atiya's face...or more specifically, his eyes.

"Take your turban off," Kafei ordered. "Now."

This was it. It was all over. He could only hope they mistook him for a bandit or some other desert dweller, rather than what he truly was. Sighing, Atiya reached up and slowly unwound the cloth until it fell away, revealing his face fully. Sheik looked away, like he couldn't bear looking at him. Kafei's eyes remained narrowed, studying him closely.

"A Hylian," he said slowly, taking in every detail of Atiya's face and hair. "Or...perhaps not?"

"A bandit," Sheik said bitterly. "Nothing more."

"A bandit wouldn't have saved your life," Kafei said. "He'd kill you, strip you for valuables, and leave your corpse rotting in the sun. No...this is someone else." He stepped closer, and Atiya had to force himself not to flinch when Kafei reached out, running his hand through Atiya's hair. "What's your name?" the Sheikah asked.

"A-Atiya," he replied, realising too late that Kafei hadn't asked in Common, but the Gerudo tongue...and he'd answered without thinking. Where Kafei had even managed to learn to speak it, he had no idea, but he'd used it to devastating effect.

Breath catching in his throat, Kafei stepped back, hand clenching around the handle of his sword.

"That...is unexpected," he said, pulling down his mask, a frown marring what would have been an attractive face. "I'm sorry to say it, Your Majesty, but you are now a prisoner. Please come quietly, and you won't be harmed."

Sheik felt a phantom hand squeezing his heart as he watched Atiya wordlessly surrender to them without so much as a word. His expression remained neutral, but his eyes betrayed the fear and anger within. He obeyed Kafei's instructions, climbing down the wall after them, pausing at the bottom to let Paya tie his hands behind his back with rough rope, and followed instructions as they quickly left the dried oasis behind.

He wasn't allowed near Atiya now, forced to walk between Kafei and Paya, while Kiro and Juichi kept an eye on Atiya at the back of their column. Heading in a strict eastward direction, Kafei led the way expertly, not a single misstep or accidental circling occurring. For once, Sheik's cousin actually showed the skills necessary for a field operative of his rank, his attitude completely changed.

Had he always been like this, and just pretended to be the slightly goofy, laid-back older cousin Sheik had grown up with, or was he just acting like this because he realised he'd just gotten his hands on the rumoured Gerudo prince?

It was hard to tell, especially when Kafei refused to talk to him. Every time Sheik tried, he was either met with a stony silence, or found himself on the business end of a stare so calculating and strange it seemed to belong on a different person entirely. After a while, Paya simply put her hand on his shoulder, quietly telling him to stop.

Glancing back, he was unable to make eye contact with Atiya, whose gaze was firmly on his feet, looking absolutely miserable.

If only Kafei and the others had been a little slower—they might have parted ways before they were found. If only Sheik hadn't acted so suspiciously—Kafei wouldn't have had a reason to examine Atiya closer.

At some point in the morning, Paya left her position to walk beside Kafei, and they held a conversation entirely in the Sheikah sign language. It was a complex one, meant to facilitate a way to have advanced conversations without having to make a sound and give away one's position. Sheik wasn't able to read their conversation, their backs forming a solid wall preventing him from seeing what they were talking about.

Probably making plans on how to deliver Atiya to High Command, Sheik thought bitterly.

He was angry. Mostly at himself, but also at Kafei, and Atiya.

Kafei because...well, why couldn't he just look the other way, like he had on so many other occasions while they'd grown up? Why did this one time have to be the one where he decided to be a stickler for rules and follow them without question? Goddesses' sake, this was the man who'd talked his way out of a bar fight he had started!

Why couldn't Atiya have remained quiet? Why'd he have to move when he knew eagle-eyed Sheikah were standing just outside his hiding spot? Sheik had told him to be quiet, hadn't he?!

...that wasn't fair. Kafei would probably have spotted him in there anyway. It really was a terrible hiding spot...

They walked until midday, when the temperatures began growing unbearable, and they found a small canyon-like crevice in the ground that provided them with shade. An old riverbed, possibly, or just an area exposed to floods. Didn't really matter—all they cared about was getting out of the sun.

Even now, Sheik wasn't allowed near Atiya. He was forced to recount his story to Kafei over and over, and this time he knew he couldn't leave out details...or, most details. He refused to reveal they'd slept together. That just wasn't any of Kafei's business.

"You're conflicted, I get it," Kafei said, trying to sound friendly. "He saved your life, and you don't want to hand him over to High Command. You don't have to worry, though—I promise. He won't be harmed, and once Ganondorf agrees to surrender, he'll be returned—"

"He'll be a prisoner for the rest of his life," Sheik growled. "You know that as well as I. He's too valuable to let go! High Command will use him to leverage an unfair peace agreement, and then as a hostage to keep that peace. At best, they'll allow a Gerudo ambassador to meet with him every now and then to confirm his wellbeing, but he'll never set foot in his homeland again!"

He couldn't keep his voice down, the unfairness of it all scratching at his nerves. He'd promised Atiya he'd be free to go...and lied to his face.

Kafei sighed, scratching his chin. He'd left his mask down, claiming he couldn't breathe in the heat. Sheik managed just fine...plus, it hid the permanent scowl he was aiming at his cousin.

"He's Hylian," Kafei said patiently. "Technically, Hyrule is his homeland, regardless of who raised him—"

"Are you kidding me?!" Sheik interrupted him. "He was adopted as a child—he has no memory of his parents or what little time he spent in Hyrule. As far as Atiya is concerned, he is Gerudo, and taking him to Hyrule would be like...like imprisoning Princess Zelda in their fortress!"

"Except Zelda isn't actually Gerudo," Kafei said, voice remarkably calm. "It will be something of a shock at first, certainly, but he'll learn and blend into Hylian society again before long—"

"Hard to do when he's a prisoner!"

Kafei sighed, rubbing his eyes with the backs of his knuckles. "Okay, I'm trying to be reasonable here, but Sheik, you have to meet me halfway, all right? There is nothing we can do about this—do you have any idea how much trouble we'll be in if we let him go? Impa's reaction will be one thing, but if High Command finds out we had the Gerudo prince in our custody, and didn't bring him in? Zelda won't be able to shield us, then. It's treason, Sheik. Are you truly willing to commit that for a friend?"

"He's not my friend, he's..." Sheik trailed off, looking down at the sandy ground, where his hands were clenched tightly in his lap.

The rock wall he was leaning against uneven and digging into his back, but he didn't care. The slight pain was keeping him grounded, stopping his mind from imagining the humiliation Atiya would suffer at Hyrulian hands. He'd seen what the military did to break their prisoners. Zelda tried to put a stop to it, but her influence only stretched so far during wartime, where the words and decisions of the upper-class colonels and generals were heeded above hers.

Kafei leaned in close, probably to offer more useless words of comfort, but he suddenly paused, breathing in through his nose. "Sheik," he said carefully, "what is he to you? Why would he tell a virtual stranger about his past?"

Sheik shifted uncomfortably, trying to get away, but Kafei trapped him against the wall.

"Sheik, I need you tell me everything, or I won't be able to protect you when we get home," Kafei said carefully. "There will be questions—and if we can't answer them in a satisfactory manner..."

"It's no one's business," Sheik protested, realising that Kafei could probably smell what they'd been up to during the night. There was no way to cover that up without a bath!

Kafei sniffed again. "Oh, cousin," he said slowly. "You poor, sweet, damned fool."

"Fuck off!" Sheik growled, pushing him away and standing up, stomping off in no direction in particular. Luckily, Kafei didn't follow him.

Atiya felt unnerved by his Sheikah guards. They hadn't said a damned word to him since he was captured, but remained glued to his side to make sure he didn't run off. Not that Atiya planned to. He wanted to, of course, but with his arms tied as they were, his chances of success were less than slim. Non-existent, really. He doubted speaking to either of them would lead to any sort of conversation, their severe looks unnerving him even more than Gan's when Atiya had done something wrong as a child.

Meanwhile, Kafei and Paya were keeping Sheik away, probably afraid he'd do something...unwise if they were allowed to interact. Smart, really. Atiya would probably have done the same, were he in their position. As it was, however, he wanted to talk to Sheik, if only to assure him that he didn't blame the other boy for this. It wasn't like Sheik had deliberately led them to their hiding spot. He certainly hadn't brought Atiya's presence to Kafei's attention—Atiya had done a fine job of that himself by spying on them through the crevice.

I'm sorry, Gan, he thought. I guess you were right—my wandering did get me into trouble after all...

"Take a break, guys," Kafei's voice suddenly said, the man himself settling himself beside Atiya, crossing his legs beneath him. His guards nodded and immediately left, walking a respectable distance away, lounging in the shade. "They're kinda scary, huh?" Kafei said. "They do the silent-but-deadly thing pretty well out in the field; you wouldn't think they were such goofballs off-duty."

"You do not have to speak to me," Atiya said, not really in the mood to play at being friends with his captor. "I won't run."

"I know you won't," Kafei said, jovial tone remaining. "I can tell you're smart enough to know you won't survive out here without your gear. Hell, you probably know that better than me, having grown up out here."

"What do you want?" Atiya really wasn't in the mood for this...whatever it was.

Kafei groaned. "I just...wanted to thank you, again. Properly. For taking care of Sheik. If it weren't for you, he'd probably have died out here. If not from exposure, then to the Leevers. Frankly, it's a bit early for him to be out here—we're usually not committed to the field until we've acquired some experience within our own borders, but he begged and begged until he was allowed to come."

Atiya nodded slowly. He could appreciate that, at least. "As I said, it was no trouble," he said carefully. "Though now I find myself wishing I hadn't."

"Understandable," Kafei said. "That said, I want you to know one thing—by saving him, you've made yourself a friend of the Sheikah. We take life debts, and the repayment of them, very seriously. Regardless of the war, or what happens next, I swear to you that no harm will come to you while you are in our custody."

Atiya nodded. "Thank you," he said. "Though I suppose the same can't be said when I am handed over to the Hylians."

Kafei's face fell. "Ah...well..."

"I suppose I can only hope that I am too valuable for them to actually put their hands on me," Atiya said. "I assume they're well-acquainted with my brother's temper..."

"One can only hope," Kafei said with a shudder. "I have heard what happens when King Ganondorf loses his patience..." He shuffled a little closer. "And speaking of patience: forgive me, but I have run out of my own."

"Eh? What are you—"

Atiya felt himself blush when Kafei reached out and carefully pulled the collar of his robes down, exposing Atiya's throat. He couldn't see them, but the tender skin told him that Sheik's teeth and lips had left plenty of marks there for the world to see. The blush only grew worse when Kafei studied them closely.

"So...my suspicions were correct," the Sheikah said, leaning back after pulling the collar back up. "If my cousin pressured you into it, I apologise—"

"He didn't!"

Atiya hadn't meant to shout it, but he did, his voice echoing through the small canyon. The silent Sheikah looked back at them from their position, but Kafei waved them down again.

"He didn't," Atiya said again, quietly. "It was...mutual."

Kafei stared. "You are sure?"

"Yes."

A nod. "All right, then. Thank you for answering my questions, Your Majesty."

Then he was gone, leaving Atiya more than a little confused. Surely whether or not Sheik had forced him into something didn't really matter? He'd heard the horror stories about prisoners of war on either side—if his night with Sheik was the only thing of that nature that happened during his captivity, he'd consider himself lucky.

When the sun began to set, they started moving again, intending to travel as far as possible before they were forced to make camp. Kafei's sense of direction was far better than Sheik's, and as far as Atiya could tell they were actually going the correct way...though in a somewhat roundabout manner, instead of a straight line.

"Avoiding known Gerudo patrol routes," was his answer when Atiya had voiced his observation.

I didn't even know we had patrols going through this region, he thought. There's absolutely nothing of value out here.

Soon after dark, they reached a series of rocky crags they'd have to pass through before reaching the front lines, and the fragile, temporary border between Hyrule and the Gerudo Desert. Atiya felt his chest clenching when he realised where they were, knowing that captivity was all that awaited on the other side of those hills.

He was surprised when, instead of rushing for the finish line, Kafei elected for them to make camp in the shelter of a natural cave.

"He can't see as well in the dark as we can," Kafei reasoned. "One wrong step, and he could fall and break his neck. I don't know about you, but I'd rather bring this particular prisoner back alive."

Sound reasoning, Atiya supposed, but he still would have taken the chance since he knew for a fact that this was an area the Gerudo patrolled fairly regularly.

The temperature was dropping rapidly, and it would soon be too cold to stay outside. A small fire was built at the very end of the cave, so far in the light couldn't be seen from the outside. A guard was posted near the entrance, to keep an eye out for enemy patrols. If need be, they could break up camp and be out of the area in minutes, apparently.

They didn't waste any time cooking. Instead, more of the ration bars Sheik had shared with him that morning were passed out among them. Atiya was offered one as well, Paya suggesting she could feed him, but he thanked her no. He wasn't hungry. Despair was starting to build within him as he realised he was a mere short climb away from the border, and the cage they'd stick him in.

He'd never again wake up to the scents of the market back home, the sounds of his sisters arguing about everything and nothing. He'd never again get to hunt alongside his brother, or spar in the training yard, perfecting his swordplay. He'd never play chess with Nabooru, or hear Aveil's poetry, or play hide and seek with Riju.

Before he knew it, tears were rolling down his cheeks, and short, hitching breaths were wracking his frame as he sat by the cave entrance, staring out into the desert that had been his home for as long as he could remember, the shining stars above turning into a blurry mess.

The current guard—Juichi?—looked uncomfortable, and torn between saying something or staying silent. To Atiya's embarrassment, he felt bad for the Sheikah, which only made him feel even more miserable. Why was he feeling bad for his captors, who were the ones taking him away in the first place?!

Luckily, Juichi's misery ended soon enough, as Paya appeared behind them, tapping Juichi's shoulder. "Shift change," she said gently, handing her companion a steaming mug of something. Judging by the scent, it was coffee. "Aren't you cold?" she asked moments later, once Juichi was gone.

"Not...really..." Atiya managed to say, realising he couldn't get any more pathetic if he kept crying with Paya there. "This is...nothing."

"Hm," Paya said, shivering slightly. "I could never get used to cycles like these—so hot during the day, and so cold in the night." She'd pulled down her mask, revealing a young, gentle-looking face. Probably no older than twenty, if even that.

"It's about...preparedness," Atiya said, finally convincing his eyes to stop leaking, forcing his misery down for later, when he was alone.

"Well," she said, smiling, "I suppose Sheik learned that lesson yesterday."

To his surprise, Atiya couldn't help but laugh at that. "I certainly hope he did," he said. "Or your commander should consider deploying him elsewhere..."

"I believe she already is, now that we're late for the rendezvous," the white-haired Sheikah said, drumming her fingers on her knees. "I suppose Kafei has already said so, but...we appreciate what you did for Sheik. I can't imagine anyone being willing to sick their neck out for a blood-eye, especially not a sworn enemy."

"I only did the decent thing," Atiya said. "What anyone would do in our situation." He shifted uncomfortably, his muscles beginning to knot from the position he was forced in because of his bindings.

"Not really," Paya said, shaking her head. She noticed his discomfort and, after a moment's hesitation, pulled out her dagger and cut the rope. "Better?" she asked.

"Much," he said, nodding. "Thank you...but..."

"Why would I do that?" she finished for him. "Well, I don't like what we're about to do, and anything that can make it easier for you...well, a little kindness never hurt anyone, did it? You're smart enough to know that running off without weapons or supplies of any sort is a bad idea right now, so..."

He agreed with her there. He could, technically, take off at a run and possibly leave Paya behind. He'd seen the way the Sheikah handled walking in sand—clumsy at best. In a life-or-death situation, he could outrace them...but then what? Even if he did manage to lose them, he was still in the middle of a particularly arid part of the Gerudo Desert, with no food, no water, no weapons with which to hunt or defend himself with...basically a dead man walking, unless he happened upon a patrol, which were few and far between.

No, running off right now was probably the stupidest thing he could do.

"You've made quite an impression on Sheik," Paya said, suddenly. "He's always been...passionate about things, but I have never seen him argue so fiercely with Kafei. He cares about you a great deal."

"He's...a good man," Atiya said carefully. Had they figured out just how far their first meeting had gone? Was this some sort of talk, or subtle threat for defiling their teammate?

"He is," Paya agreed with a nod. "I doubt he'll let this matter go, even when we cross the border. Whatever may happen, you know you can count on him, right?"

"However long he will be around," Atiya said, smiling a little. "Which probably won't be long. You are handing me off to the military, are you not? I doubt they will let him stay with me."

"Probably not," Paya said, smiling back, though a little more sadly. "Which is why I figured I'd let the two of you say goodbye now...in private."

"Eh?"

"You heard me," she said, standing up and patting his shoulder carefully. "I'll give you two a moment." She went back into the cave, leaving Atiya to stare after her...and then return his gaze to the open desert in front of him. The urge to run was strong...

...and if he was going to run...he wanted to say goodbye first.

"Sheik?"

He woke up to find Paya looking down at him, her voice a mere whisper in his ear. "Mwhat?" he asked groggily.

"We'll reach the meeting point tomorrow," she said, still whispering. Around them, Kafei, Juichi, and Kiro asleep on their bedrolls, circled around the fire. "There won't be much time for the two of you to talk." She nodded towards the cave entrance. "Perhaps you should say what needs to be said now?"

"What needs to be said?" Sheik repeated, sleep still mussing up his thoughts something fierce.

"Don't be daft, cousin," she said, tapping his nose lightly. "I know you far better than you think. You know exactly what I'm talking about. Go on."

She helped him to his feet, and then took a seat by the fire on his bedroll, pulling out one her daggers and a whetstone, immediately getting to work on sharpening it, paying him no heed even when he stared at her for a good minute.

She's not just fucking with me, then? And what the hell did she mean by that?

Clearly, no answer was going to be had from her any time soon. Sighing, he supposed she was just being kind, as she always was, and actually did want them to speak before Atiya was made a prisoner of Hyrule. Sheik was surprised by how eager he was to do just that.

As he headed for the cave entrance, which was behind a small bend, he realised something was off. There was a pack leaning against the wall, along with Atiya's spear and sheathed scimitar. Just sitting there. They hadn't before, when Sheik had gone to sleep, plagued by guilt. Narrowing his eyes, he looked back at Paya, whose back was turned, still working away at sharpening her dagger. One of Paya's greatest weaknesses was her inability to lie convincingly. In the field, it was a damn liability sometimes, but then...in times like these...well, she could also turn it into a strength.

Quiet as he could, he grabbed the pack and Atiya's weapons and hurried past the bend, finding the Hylian Gerudo sitting at the entrance, watching the desert in abject misery.

"Hey," he said quietly.

Atiya tensed slightly, but didn't turn to look at him. "Hey," said, his voice thick and rough. He must have been crying recently. It made Sheik feel even worse for dragging him into this...but hopefully he'd redeem himself now.

"You okay?" Sheik asked.

"Not really," Atiya said, still not looking at him. "But...if the Hylians are even half as nice as you and Paya...I think I will be eventually."

"She's pretty great, yeah," Sheik agreed. "But I think you'll like her even more after this." Crouching next to Atiya, he carefully placed the pack next to the Hylian Gerudo.

"What are you...?" Atiya began, pausing when he noticed not only the pack, which turned out to be filled with more ration bars as well as a full flask of water, but also his weapons. "Sh-Sheik?" he asked.

"As much as I want to talk about this, I'd rather not waste any time," Sheik said, pulling Atiya to his feet, realising his bindings were long gone, nothing more than discarded pile of rope at Atiya's feet. He handed Atiya the pack first, waiting for the Hylian Gerudo to heft it over his shoulder, then his scimitar.

"This is...won't they pursue?" Atiya asked.

"Not for a while yet—Paya's staying quiet," Sheik assured him, practically thrusting the spear into Atiya's hand once he'd placed the scimitar in his belt.

"But...you're committing treason—"

"Eh."

"You could be executed," Atiya hissed, refusing to move when Sheik pushed at him.

"I'm the Sheikah prince," Sheik said cheekily, his chest feeling lighter than it had all day. "I'll be chewed out, but not executed, I'm sure."

Atiya looked hesitantly between Sheik and the open desert, the conflict in his face as clear as day. In the pale moonlight, Sheik could see the tear streaks on Atiya's face.

"Atiya, I will be fine, I swear," he said, continuing to push at the Hylian Gerudo, who finally began to move, taking a hesitant step into freedom. "This is your only chance!"

Someone coughed inside the cave, and a voice spoke.

Sheik's patience snapped like a dry twig, and he immediately grabbed Atiya's arm, dragging the taller boy out of the cave with him, taking off at a run in the opposite direction of the border, ignoring how freezing it was outside, how his chest soon started to hurt from the exertion of the flat-out sprint, how his feet kept slipping in the sand. All he saw was the moonlit desert, and the starry sky above. Behind him, Atiya was breathing heavily, but managed to keep pace with him, his equipment rustling with each step.

Only when it felt like his lungs were about to explode did Sheik slow down, letting himself double over and just breathe until the taste of blood disappeared from his mouth. Next to him, Atiya was doing pretty much the same thing, leaning against his spear.

"You're...crazy..." Atiya said with a snort once he'd caught his breath. "Second time...you've run...off without...a plan..."

"What can I...say?" Sheik said, grinning. "I'm just...full of...bad ideas..."

That made Atiya laugh, loudly and brightly, and Sheik found himself enjoying the sound a lot more than he probably should. Hell, he liked Atiya a lot more than he should, even for a lover for the night. This was far from the moment to explore those thoughts any further, however. Any moment, now, Kafei would realise what had happened and give chase. Sheik loved his cousin, but he had no doubt that duty would win out this time.

Sheik couldn't let it.

The flask appeared in the tunnel of his vision, and he took it gratefully, taking as large a sip as he dared, knowing it was going to have to last Atiya for a while.

"Thank you," Atiya said, stuffing the flask back into his pack. "I...I really don't know what to say."

"You don't need to say anything," Sheik assured him. "I just want you to—"

Atiya had ideas of his own, however. He stepped closer and unceremoniously yanked Sheik's mask down, kissing him soundly. For someone so inexperienced, Atiya certainly knew how to make Sheik's knees feel weak, and he groaned when the Hylian Gerudo's tongue was the one to demand entrance this time. He let it.

He wasn't sure how long the kiss was, but he was out of breath once more when it ended, their faces flushed.

"Well...that works, too," Sheik said, aware he was grinning like an absolute idiot.

"I had a feeling it would," Atiya said, an equally stupid smile splitting his lips.

For a long moment, they stared into each other's eyes, neither willing to break it off. Once they separated here, they'd never meet again. They both knew this. Even if they somehow managed to arrange something, it was far too dangerous.

"You should go," Sheik forced himself to say. "Before they come after us."

"Yeah," Atiya said, nodding. "But...I just want to...I..."

"I know what you're trying to say," Sheik said, kissing him again, for the last time. "And I feel the same way. Now go."

Slowly, Atiya took a step, facing away from him. He turned back to look at Sheik closely, as if committing him to memory. "I'll let my sisters know they were wrong about the Sheikah," he said. "Gan, even."

"Just do me a favour and stay in the city for a while, yeah?" Sheik said, waving him off. He never had been fond of long goodbyes. "We'll be looking for you, now."

A nod, and then Atiya was off, running into the darkness.

In the end, neither of them managed to say goodbye.

Sheik remained where he stood, watching Atiya's retreating form until he disappeared among the dunes, and then counted inwardly to a thousand. He wasn't sure if it was enough time for Atiya to disappear, but he had a feeling the Hylian Gerudo would find it far easier to give them the slip now that he knew where they'd be coming from.

He made sure to take his time walking back to the cave, doing his best to wipe out his and Atiya's footprints in the sand, hoping to make it a little more ambiguous as to which direction the prince had gone. He'd expected to feel sad to see Atiya go, which he did, but more overwhelming was the relief and happiness that he'd gotten away. There'd be hell to pay for this, he knew, but he was more than willing to face it.

He paused when he saw someone waiting at the mouth of the cave, arms crossed and leaning against the wall. They were too tall to be Paya, so...yes, Kafei had discovered what was afoot. His mask was up, watching Sheik quietly until he was standing in front of him.

"You ran off again," Kafei said quietly. "I thought we'd talked about this."

"Y-Yes, but Atiya...he..."

Kafei blinked slowly, and then turned his gaze to the desert. "Got away, did he? Oh deary, deary me," he said in a dull voice. "What an absolutely unexpected and confounding outcome, damn it all. I am filled with rage, and wrath, and so on and so forth. It would appear our prisoner fooled us all, outthinking us at every turn at the very last step of our long journey. Damnation."

Sheik gave him an unimpressed look. "You fucking knew," he said, pointing an accusing finger at him.

Placing his hand over his chest, Kafei gave him a hurt look. "Why, cousin, are you accusing me of having a hand in committing treason by accidentally leaving a pack full of supplies and weapons near a prisoner? Why, I have never been so hurt. Never."

"I thought that was Paya," he hissed, annoyed that Kafei had pulled one over him.

"Nah, she took care of the ropes, that's all. Share the blame, and all that."

Sheik groaned in frustration. "Idiots—I'm surrounded by idiots! Why the lies?"

"What lies?" Kafei asked. "Up until this afternoon, I fully intended to bring him back."

"What made you change your mind?"

"Eh, this and that, not really important." Kafei pulled his mask down, giving Sheik a grin and a wink. "Anyway, you know what happens now, right?"

"We go home, report to Impa that—"

"Absolutely nothing of importance whatsoever happened," Kafei finished for him. "Well, we found a Yiga spy and eliminated him, but that's about it. The delay was caused by us giving chase after said spy. No Gerudo forces or individuals were encountered, meaning our mission was a success...or so I hope. Can we trust him to keep his mouth shut?"

"Yes," Sheik said without hesitation. "But...if Impa finds out about this—"

"She won't, because none of this ever happened, right?"

"Well...no..."

"Good, glad we agree," Kafei said, patting his shoulder. "Now, since Paya nearly fell asleep with her head in the fire, I'd say it's your turn to keep watch. I'll be back in a couple of hours to relieve you."

"O-Okay," Sheik said. His mind hadn't really caught up with what had just happened yet, so he decided it was best to just go along with it for now. Taking a seat by the entrance, he waited until the sound of Kafei's footsteps stopped, and then let out a breath that took all the tension in him with it.

They'd made it. Atiya was free. Sheik hadn't had a damn thing to do with it, but the end result was what he'd wanted, and he wasn't about to start complaining that Kafei and Paya had acted without letting him know.

He felt another squeeze around his heart, unsure if it was from relief or pain that Atiya was gone. Possibly both. Very likely, actually.

Sitting down in a meditative position, he took several deep breaths, trying to calm down. It had been a busy forty-eight hours, and he definitely needed some time to process it all. He ignored the way he kept smiling whenever he thought Atiya—probably because the Hylian Gerudo in question did the same thing when thinking of him.

And that wasn't half-bad.

It took about half a day before Atiya spotted the cloud of dust rapidly moving in his direction, and felt the vibrations of dozens of hooves thundering across the ground.

Weary to the bone, both physically and emotionally, he decided to rest for a bit, taking a seat in the shade of a dune, finishing off one of the ration bars the Sheikah had given him. The taste was, as Sheik said, not the best, but they were incredibly filling.

He also needed the time to brace himself, because if that patrol was led by the person he suspected...well, he was in for it.

Soon enough (too soon, really) the dust cloud turned into a mounted patrol, seven Gerudo warriors riding in a wedge formation. Atiya had climbed higher onto the dun, hoping he was visible enough. He was.

The patrol came to a halt directly below him, the lead warrior practically hurling herself out of the shadow and climbing the dune. Atiya met her halfway, smiling when Nabooru tore her turban off, giving him a worried look.

"Atiya, are you well?!" she asked, studying him closely for signs of injuries. "When you did not return yesterday, and the storm—"

"Ru, I'm fine," he said, smiling at her. "A little tired and sore, but otherwise fine, I—"

Her palm struck his cheek, stinging as wickedly as it always did, before she hugged him fiercely.

"Don't you ever disappear like that again, understand?!" she hissed into his ear. "Have you any idea how worried the king is?"

"When isn't he?" Atiya said gently, hugging her back. "I am fine, I promise."

"You nearly weren't," Nabooru said, pulling away, only to take his hand and gently lead him towards the horses. The other Gerudo raised their spears and bowed their heads in greeting. Atiya returned the gesture. They'd been worried too. "Our scouts reported a clash between Yiga and Sheikah forces in the area yesterday. If any of them had found you..."

"But they didn't," Atiya said, shaking his head. "I wasn't in any danger, Ru. I know how to hide."

She sighed. "Perhaps, but with the ceasefire so fragile...I dare not think what would happen if Hyrule managed to discover you."

I got a taste of it just yesterday, he thought, letting her help him into the saddle of her horse with a minimum of eye-rolling. He could easily do it himself, but she usually insisted—had since he was a child. She climbed up behind him after handing his spear and pack to one of the warriors, taking the reins.

"Would it help if I promised to stay within the city walls until the peace agreement has been signed?" Atiya asked.

"That it would, Iya," Nabooru agreed, ordering the patrol about, turning them westwards, homebound. "I'd also like to know," she said sweetly into his ear once they were moving, "where the hell you got a Sheikah pack from. As would our brother, I'm sure."

...fuck, I was so close!

Six Months Later

The ceremonial signing of the Hyrule-Gerudo Peace Accord was held at in a newly built inn resting directly on the newly established border between the two nations. The negotiations had been long, and tensions had run high, but in the end, it was agreed that the Gerudo would take possession of a narrow strip of agriculturally viable land that once belonged to Hyrule, as a way for the Gerudo to not have to resort to thievery or raiding nearby villages for valuables.

This strip of land was far from the most fertile, and mattered little to the overall food stores of Hyrule, but to the Gerudo it would make a world of difference...and the nobles and military of Hyrule had been against giving them even that.

Luckily, Princess Zelda had more or less forced their hand by asking the public whether they'd accept a lasting, stable peace with their western neighbours in exchange for a paltry few square miles of farmland, or if they wanted more instability and possible wars in the future.

The public had voted in favour of peace.

And so, Sheik found himself standing next to his aunt, Impa, flanking Princess Zelda, as they watched the Gerudo procession filing into the main hall of the inn, a room large enough to host a ball if the owners so wished. Dignitaries from both nations lined the walls of the room—nobles and military officers, warriors and merchants. Each side eyed the other nervously.

The Peace Accord had already been signed weeks ago, of course. This was just a ceremony—a spectacle put on for the common folk. Still, the peace was a new one, and it would take quite some time before either side wouldn't regard the other with a little suspicion.

But that was what this ceremony was for. To start the healing. And what else could start the healing better than signing a meaningless piece of paper, and then a roaring party?

Someone gasped when four heavily armoured Gerudo warriors, covered head to toe in plate armour polished to such a sheen they nearly hurt to look at, marched inside the hall. The King's Honour Guard, armed with formidable-looking axes that could easily cleave a person in half. An intimidating sight, only the very best of the Gerudo warriors were chosen for the position.

They were followed by King Ganondorf himself. Unlike his guards, he was unarmed, and only wearing his traditional robes, as a show of faith. Princess Zelda was the same way, wearing a simple, dark purple dress. If there was fighting to be done, it'd be carried out by the Gerudo Honour Guard, and Zelda's Sheikah bodyguards.

The King had a serious expression on his face, golden eyes surveying the room carefully, as if looking for hidden traps or assassins. Which was fair. The Sheikah had tried to assassinate him before—and failed. No such attempts were afoot today...or so he'd been told.

Zelda began to recite a long, rehearsed speech that Sheik had heard so many times now that he could probably give it for her, welcoming the Gerudo King, saying how happy she was their nations could come to an agreement and blah blah blah.

Sheik focused instead on the various guests in the room, keeping an eye out for potential troublemakers or assassins. For once, it actually seemed like both sides had committed to a lasting peace, and all he could see were hopeful smiles and nervous glances. Important people everywhere, especially among the noble ranks. Sheik never could remember their names, the only difference between them all being the level of dullness in their personalities.

Among the Gerudo, he recognised several faces he'd seen at the peace negotiations of the past few months. Nabooru, the king's advisor. Urbosa, the—frankly—giant warrior in charge of Ganondorf's military, Aveil, who was something of a diplomatic attaché to Nabooru...

...and someone he didn't recognise. They were standing in a small huddle, flanked by a pair of Honour Guards. Nabooru seemed to be having a hushed conversation with them, looking a little nervous. Her head was in the way, though, so Sheik couldn't get a good look at them. He pointed this unknown out to Impa, who in turn whispered into Zelda's ear after failing to get a good look herself.

It was rude, bringing someone unknown to such an occasion without introducing them. Sheik could only hope they weren't a threat, and that Ganondorf hadn't been stupid enough to purposefully insult Hyrule by doing this.

It was a long ceremony, with several speeches being fired back and forth before both monarchs finally put their names on the unreasonably large piece of paper that symbolised the Peace Accord. The entire time, the unknown individual remained frustratingly out of sight, always hidden from view by various Gerudo.

Luckily, Zelda's patience was wearing thin as well, as she turned to Ganondorf after the initial round of applause after signing the document, and saying,

"Your Grace, I could not help but notice a new face among your retinue. Might I be so bold as to request an introduction?"

Ganondorf, to Sheik's surprise, seemed hesitant. He exchanged several looks with not only Nabooru, but Urbosa and Aveil, as well as the mystery individual, before he cleared his throat.

"Of course, Your Grace," he replied. "It is long past the time for me to introduce the two of you. Please, allow me to introduce to you, and all of Hyrule, my little brother: Atiya, Prince of the Gerudo."

Sheik's breath caught in his throat as Atiya emerged from the group of Gerudo, an absolutely lovely smile on his face. Unlike the outfit he'd worn in the desert, here he wore robes to match Ganondorf's, though his were a light blue as opposed to the king's dour, earthen-coloured ones.

His hair, fiery red, was done up in a series of complicated-looking braids that could rival the Sheikah in difficulty, his lovely, pointed ears decorated with blue and green gemstone-studded rings. A ruby circlet marked his relationship to the Gerudo, the large gemstone resting squarely in the middle of his forehead.

"Close your mouth, nephew," Impa whispered to him without moving her lips, somehow still able to see Sheik's reaction (beneath his mask, no less!) while clearly absolutely flabbergasted at the appearance of the rumoured Gerudo prince...out of nowhere.

Really, the entire room seemed to be in a state of shock. Sheik was, too. Why on earth had the Gerudo suddenly decided to reveal Atiya's existence when they'd guarded it so carefully in the past? Another show of good faith? But surely they realised that exhibiting a previously unknown prince of Hylian descent at this particular meeting was...well, ill-advised...unless there was a plan to this.

Sheik closed his mouth, watching Atiya bow deeply to the Princess, and then to the room in general, still smiling brilliantly. "It is an honour to meet you, Princess," Atiya said. "I am Prince Atiya of the Gerudo."

Zelda smiled, Sheik could tell she was just as surprised as everyone else. She was aware of the rumours, of course, but hadn't believed them. She exchanged the usual words of pleasantry between fellow nobles, having undoubtedly noticed by now that he did not possess the distinctive golden eyes of his people.

"As you can see," Ganondorf said, "Prince Atiya is of Hylian descent. He was discovered by the Gerudo sixteen years ago, and though we attempted to return him to his people, we found none willing to even speak with us. We decided then to make him a part of our tribe, and raise him in the hopes that he could, one day, act as a link between our two peoples, to further foster friendship and understanding, and build the bridges to the bright future that lies ahead of us. That process begins today, with the signing of this Accord."

For a moment, no one knew how to react to this. Even Sheik, who'd known about Atiya, was surprised by Ganondorf's words, which were clearly heartfelt and genuine, judging by how happy Atiya looked as he said them.

Sheik was afraid this would end in blood. With accusations of kidnapping and subterfuge, of slavery. The military was notoriously quick to make such claims. But it was Zelda who reacted first, stepping forward to take Atiya's hands in her own, smiling just as widely back at him.

"Your words are beautiful, Your Grace," she told Ganondorf. "And they ring true—I, too, hope that this young man can be the connection between Hyrule and the Gerudo that we've sorely needed. I very much look forward to seeing the future we can build together."

The room began to cheer, Hylian and Gerudo alike. He felt Impa nudging his side.

"I assume you have a story to tell me, nephew?" she asked.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Sheik said, unable to take his eyes off Atiya, who was being introduced to the Hyrulian High Command, some of whom looked uncomfortable at the idea of speaking to Atiya...but their doubts seemed to melt away the moment the boy began to speak.

Sheik couldn't hear him, but didn't need to. He was instantly cheered by the mere sight of him.

Impa groaned. "I'm going to kill Kafei, I swear..."

Ah, Kafei and his big fucking mouth.

"Want me to sharpen your flensing knife?" he asked.

"I'll do it myself," she said. "I'm going to check the perimeter guards. Stay with the Princess, understand?"

"Yes, ma'am," he said, feeling a pang of worry for Kafei. He was on perimeter duty.

He'd been assigned to Zelda's guard detail soon after they'd returned from the desert half a year before. They hadn't mentioned the Gerudo prince, of course, going with the Yiga story instead. Impa had believed it, and then claimed Sheik wasn't ready for that sort of active duty, deploying him at home instead, his assignment now to protect Princess Zelda.

It was not a position that saw much action. The Sheikah security network was good enough to catch any potential threats long before they got close enough to make an attempt on Zelda's life. Presumably that was why Impa had assigned Sheik to it—to keep him out of trouble. She hadn't said that, of course, claiming instead that she didn't trust him not to run off like a damned fool again, and that she wanted to keep him under her thumb for a while yet.

Impa had a strange way of showing she cared.

Still, the position had its perks. He'd gotten to know Princess Zelda a lot better—and she turned out to be the exact opposite of what he'd assumed her to be. Far from stuffy, entitled and obnoxious, she was bubbly, a little clumsy, easily excited...and always there to ask a never-ending series of questions about Sheik, the Sheikah, and just about everything.

It hadn't taken long for her to consider the two of them friends. Sheik was not opposed to that description.

His musing was cut short as he suddenly found himself being pulled forward—Zelda's hand gripping his lower arm firmly, dragging him to stand in front of Atiya.

"Prince Atiya, I would like to introduce a dear friend of mine," she said. "This is Sheik, of the Sheikah."

Sheik was certain his eyes looked like they were about to fall out of his head, so wide were they. His mouth opened and closed a few times, failing to make a single sound.

At least Atiya seemed just as surprised, though his shock didn't last nearly as long. Smiling he bowed his head to Sheik, who realised he should have bowed first!

"A pleasure, Master Sheik," Atiya said, a faint blush colouring his cheeks.

Sheik bowed hurriedly himself, incredibly relieved his mask was covering his own burning cheeks. "The pleasure is all mine, Your Majesty!" he all but bellowed at the prince.

Zelda, all smiles, didn't seem to notice the awkward greeting, nor how nervously the prince's Honour Guards were hovering behind him, as if they were expecting the nearest Hylian (that is, Zelda) to grab their prince and run off.

"The prince and I were just making arrangements for an extended visit to Hyrule," Zelda said. "He suggested that, in the spirit of cooperation, that his guard retinue should include both Gerudo and Sheikah warriors. I figured it'd be best to get the Sheikah's opinion on it, but Impa seems to have disappeared for the moment. What do you say, Sheik?"

He didn't really have the authority to make any such arrangements, but when Atiya gave him the smile, the one he'd given Sheik upon awakening in their little hollow after the storm, he found himself only able to nod along.

"Yes," he said slowly. "I'm sure we can come to an...arrangement."

"I look forward to it," Atiya said, his grin turning a little wicked.

Goddesses, I am so screwed!

The End