The Triforce Wars (6/15)

[spice_mix]

Chapter Five
All You Need Is Love

"To the left! Archers coming up!"

"On it! They're preparing something, what in the name of the Three is that?"

"I don't - ah, get water, fast!"

"I have ice arrows! They -"

"...Too late."

"Western wall is compromised! Repeat, the western wall -"

They were starting to lose ground.

The skirmishes in the past few weeks were no longer contained to just the lake region. Now, they spread - first, they had set Hylia in a state of terror, most citizens afraid to leave their houses, heavily-armed patrols at every border. No one would be getting in or out of the town, now - it was officially locked down.

And then they had moved on - up the northern road to Castle Town.

Now, they were caught in the middle of a full-on siege, and Link was doing everything he possibly could to help stop them.

Gazing down at where his ice arrow had failed to stop the explosives taking out a good chunk of the western wall, he grit his teeth and set the bow away, drawing the Master Sword instead. The gap they had blasted wasn't enough for all of them, but they were starting to stream in anyway - caught in a bottleneck, it was a vulnerable position to be in.

And he was going to take advantage of it.

Nodding across to Sheik, Link steadied himself at the top of the wall then gestured. Both jumped - Link tucked himself in to a ball and rolled, Sheik simply landed with his usual grace - then both started in at the rather surprised attacking party.

They hadn't even remotely been expecting it... it was almost too easy.

With the initial party disposed of, it was easy enough to cut them off as they entered, even as the Hylian guard started maneuvering huge blocks to dam the flow. They could serve as weapons, too, with a bit of creativity - with one block still unfastened, Link shoved at it hard and took out the raider who had been scrambling back up the new wall. He fell back with a scream, and didn't move again.

Link paused for a moment, half-doubled over - he had taken a hit earlier, blood trickling down his arm and making the Master Sword's hilt slick. Then he simply steeled himself again, and waded back in to battle.



They had won, but barely.

Now sitting in what had been dubbed the war room, Link slumped back against his seat, barely resisting the urge to fidget with the bandage around his upper arm for the thousandth time. He looked distinctly displeased, he wanted nothing more than to escape back to his room with Sheik, and he really needed to clean blood off the sword, but still, he sat and waited for Eldir to give his report.

"We have received evidence," the young king started, looking distinctly displeased, "That this is no mere raid by bandits. At most, this was a skirmish designed to test our defenses - and despite our victory, we still have a damaged outer wall and several dozen of our people dead."

Link grimaced at that. If their side had taken hits, how many were dead on the other side?

And how many at his hands? Link was utterly inexperienced with the death of fellow humans - while a monster posed little philosophical difficulty for him, taking the life of another person... well, he couldn't help but feel a little nauseous. Dropping his face in to his palm, he was dimly aware of Sheik taking his other hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"From our... informant," Eldir continued, and Link caught sight of a flash of discomfort crossing his face (he had a horrible feeling he knew how they had got the information), "We know that an army is being developed beyond the borders. We don't know their aims and goals - but we do know that they consist of enemies of Hyrule. Aggressive beasts such as Moblins, Lizalfos and Dinolfos, living weapons such as Iron Knuckles - and a large quantity of men and women with reasons to dislike Hyrule. Criminals, dissidents, and those who hate everything our culture stands for - there are hundreds of them, and they are heading in our direction."

Ringing silence met this announcement. Zelda, on Eldir's other side, let out a defeated sigh. "And we have no idea what they want?" she murmured, glancing up at her brother unhappily. "Can't we bargain with them?"

Eldir shook his head. "We could not... extract that information from our informant," he said awkwardly, "Although we do know they have plans to march on the castle - we have granted them a blow, but they'll be quick to reform. And we are running out of time."

"Then we should stop them while we still can," Link finally spoke up, and several heads swiveled to stare at him. "While they're still recovering." And no, he didn't like the idea at all - he had no desire to get involved in another war, no desire to see one army slaughter another. But if the option was Hyrule falling... then they had to do something. Protect Zelda, protect the citizens who were at no fault at all - anything was better than simply sitting down and ignoring the threat until they attacked again.

"Link," Eldir told him, discomforted, "We don't have an army. We have the castle guards, the Sheikah, and an auxiliary guard, but we can't take on an army unless we introduce conscription."

Oh. That certainly complicated things. Link sighed - it was rather counterproductive to protecting the people of Hyrule if they themselves had to fight.

Around the table, the assembled generals and strategists began their debate, suggesting this and that. Perhaps they could introduce a reward for anyone who volunteered to join the army (impractical, Eldir said, the treasury just wasn't that full), perhaps they could ask their neighbours to lend them a hand (dangerous, Zelda frowned, what if they suffered losses, it could be diplomatically worrying), perhaps they could find a powerful magic-user to end the battles themselves (but where, one of the generals pointed out, would they even find one)...

"What about asking others in Hyrule for help?" Link suggested halfheartedly, raising a hand to add to the discussion. "The Gorons and the Zoras and the Gerudo..."

"Not an option," Eldir said immediately, "They wouldn't help us."

The argument resumed.

Finally, Eldir stopped them and spoke again, looking resigned. "We do know of two small encampments," he said heavily, "One in the desert beyond Gerudo Canyon, the other buried deep in the Eastern Woods. There is a chance that a small party could make their way in and take care of the forces there - sabotage them so that we have more time to prepare to take them on. I will be leading one party myself."

And then he turned directly to face Link. "I know I distrusted you upon your arrival," he said steadily, "But in the time you have been here, you have proven yourself to be a warrior capable of the stories you told. Will you lead the other party?"

For a moment, Link sat there, stunned. Then, slowly, he nodded, ignoring the way that Sheik's hand tightened on his. "I can lead the one in the woods," he said almost in resignation. "I know the area really well - it's really easy to get lost if you don't know it."

Sheik made a quiet sound of distress, then sighed and slipped his hand away. Link turned to glance at him curiously - and that was when Eldir continued, "Then it's confirmed - in one week, I will lead the raid on the desert encampment, along with Sheik and a dozen men, and Link will lead the raid on the forest encampment, with a dozen men of his own."

And that was when Link realised why Sheik looked so pained.

The worst part was, he couldn't even retract his words. Of course Sheik would have to go with Eldir - he was the king's sworn guard. He couldn't go with Link no matter what either of them wanted.

Zelda, who had been watching the exchange in some consternation ever since Link had volunteered, suddenly dropped her hand against the table with an audible bang. "I'm going with Link," she announced, not giving anyone room to protest it, and gestured to her own Sheikah protector. "Along with Sheik."

Eldir glared at her. "Out of the question! This is a state of war, it is not any place for a princess!"

"I can fight, Eldir, you know that. I can almost beat you, and you have formal training!"

"And, most likely, so will these men," he told her bluntly, "You're too short, too thin, and, well, I doubt Link would want to babysit you while he's attempting to stop an invasion, and -"

"I don't mind her coming along," he said quietly, and Eldir stopped short. "We can spend the next week training - I'd appreciate it. And she'd have her guard."

Again, Eldir hesitated. After what felt like an eternity, though, he nodded in resignation. "You will be responsible for training her," he said, voice terse and brittle, like he was actively struggling to keep any emotion out of it. "And you and her guard will be responsible for ensuring she remains safe."

(From his other side, Zelda muttered in irritation, "I'm still here, you know.")

"And if she dies," Eldir continued coolly, "Then I will personally ensure you're held accountable."

There was another, very long, very tense, silence. And then he snapped, "Dismissed!" and rose from the table, stalking out of the war room.

Link was slower to move, shuffling out, not looking at anything. Thanks to his own hasty actions, he and Sheik were to be split up, and he was to be responsible for Zelda, and...

"You idiot," he told himself, slumping back against the wall as he left the room. "Idiot."

There was a light punch at his uninjured arm, and then Sheik dropped his head to Link's shoulder, wrapping an arm around his waist. "We'll work it out."

Link smiled back almost sadly. They would... he hoped.



The training wasn't going too badly, Link decided a few days later as he had to duck to avoid a swipe.

Zelda, true to her word, had proven to be a rather capable fighter. Oh, she wasn't quite one of the elite, she lacked the raw upper body power to truly be dangerous, but she was fast and accurate, sure handed with a sword, and, if her skill at the archery range was any indication, positively lethal with the bow.

"Good!" he called as he parried, making a nimble jump to one side to another blow, "If you can get in to a position like that again, you can use your opponent's momentum against them - like this!" And he abruptly spun back, throwing Zelda (already swinging at him) off balance.

Zelda stumbled, then stopped herself and grimaced. "Won't that leave me open?"

Link nodded. "Yeah, a bit, so make sure you have your shield ready to block your vulnerable side."

She nodded again, a sigh escaping her lips. "There's so much to remember..."

Lowering his sword, Link gave her a reassuring smile. "You're doing pretty well, though. Do you want to take a break?"

"Please!"

Both Hylians set off through the grass, flopping down somewhere near Zelda's Sheikah guard. Link settled back with a sigh, arms folded behind his head as he gazed up at the sky.

Only four more days until he and Sheik would be separated... and even now, they couldn't spend every moment together. He still had his duties to Eldir, was supposed to be at his side even more than he already was. No wonder their sort of relationship, between a Sheikah of the castle guard and a Hylian, was frowned upon - they spent so much time apart.

...Speaking of Sheikah, though. Pushing himself up again, he turned to give Zelda's guard a curious look. Maybe...

She gave him a look back, propping her chin up in one hand. "Do I have something on my face?"

He quirked a smile, then shook his head. "Actually," he started slowly, "I was wondering - do you have a nickname or anything? It just... feels sort of strange calling you 'Sheik'."

Much to his surprise, she laughed out loud. "Don't want to be reminded of glorious nights of passion around me, huh?" she teased, and Link felt himself flushing. How was it that practically everyone knew about him and Sheik? They had only been involved for three weeks!

"Well, it's just - it's kind of strange, and - I knew him as Sheik first - and, uh," he muttered, finding himself suddenly cut off when the girl reached across and pressed her fingers across his lips.

"You're strange," she told him, still looking amused. "You can call me 'Ziya, I guess - it's short for my real name. That's Naziya."

Link grinned a little, then shook her fingers off and held out her hand. "It's nice to meet you properly, 'Ziya."

She glanced down at the offered hand, then shook back enthusiastically. "Nice to meet you too," she laughed, "Never mind that we've been talking for nearly two months now."

Well. There was that.

Fighting abandoned for now, the three settled in to conversation - nothing too heavy, keeping things light and casual. He knew why, too - this way, he could avoid having to think about what was to soon occur, what was only days away.

Happily, he was broken from his reverie by the approach of someone familiar - sitting up so fast he nearly gave himself whiplash, a grin spread across his face. "Sa-- Sheik!" he called, gesturing for him to join them - with a faint smile beneath the mask, he did so, settling next to Link.

"Taking some time from training?" he queried, dropping his hand somewhat casually, but close enough that his fingers could brush Link's.

Regretfully, Zelda noticed the gesture, grinning and nudging her guard. "Look, 'Ziya, they're being shy," she grinned, and the Sheikah girl laughed.

The next words Naziya said were in Sheikah, but clearly, it was something mildly rude, if the colour Sheik turned was any indication. "What did she say?" Link asked him quietly.

Sheik spluttered for another moment, then murmured back, still scarlet, "She told me to sit in your lap."

"Oh," Link replied softly, then considered for a moment - and twisted around, lifted the Sheikah bodily, and dragged him in to his lap. Sheik actually squeaked (and Zelda outright squealed), struggling for a moment before sighing in resignation.

"Whatever do you three have against my dignity?" he muttered, slumping back against Link's chest.

Link gave him a consolation kiss on the back of the head, shifting so that his boot wasn't digging in to Sheik's thigh. "Nothing," he said soothingly, paused, then added, "But you are cute when you get flustered. Ow."

His lover, it seemed, pinched hard.

"You two are so weird together," Zelda said in amusement.

Sheik made a non-committal sound, then clambered out of Link's lap, offering Zelda a hand. "Here - why don't you show me what you've got?" he offered. "I'm sure a clunky Hylian is no problem for you -"

"Hey!"

"- But how will you go against a Sheikah?"

Zelda grinned and collected her sword and shield again. "Oh, I have a few tricks up my sleeves!"

And it was on again, Link fairly content to sit back and watch. Zelda was definitely improving, he mused - and, he decided, eyes glued to the grace and power in Sheik's flowing movements, watching Sheik was definitely a bonus he could live with.



It was the early hours of the morning, and Link was watching another sunrise.

This one, though - this had a tinge of melancholy to it that he couldn't quite shake. Settled on the soft, backless lounge in front of the window, the faintest hint of sunlight was rising on Hyrule - Link could have sworn that if the light had been a little greater, he could have seen all the way to the forest he was destined to march to later that morning.

Without the man lying in his arms.

Gently, Sheik twisted around to lie more properly on top of him. "Rupee for your thoughts?" he murmured, giving Link a gentle nuzzle.

Link sighed, reaching up to run a hand through Sheik's unruly hair. "I'm thinking I'm going to beg Eldir for some time off for you after this," he murmured. "And anyway, if we win, we both deserve a holiday, huh?"

Sheik was silent for a moment, then nodded against Link's shoulder. With, he couldn't help but notice, some resignation. "If we win," he echoed hollowly, then leaned in for a kiss that took Link's breath away.

"Sahil," he murmured, voice cracking a little in his surprise and confusion, "I don't -"

And Sheik kissed him again, shifting so he was straddling his hips, hands cupping his face. "Please, Link," he said softly, running nimble tanned fingers through Link's hair. "This - this is important."

He honestly had no idea what was going on, what was so important, what was causing that mix of resignation and sadness on Sheik's face. But if this was what his lover wanted, then this would be what he had - Link nodded slowly, drawing him in for a lingering kiss.

"Okay," he murmured, eyes closed as he stroked a hand through his hair, "Okay."

"Thank you," Sheik whispered, nuzzling Link's jawline gently, nipping at his ear. Link made a rather pleased sound, and the hand buried in his hair slid down, tracing the line of his spine, marveling at the smoothness of his skin over the contour of firm muscle.

If Sheik wanted closeness, then he'd have closeness. Link ran his hands over Sheik's back, arms, shoulders, legs, growing needy for touch as well - but Sheik was reciprocating in kind, a near desperation to his movements... almost like he knew that this parting would be for longer than he had ever anticipated.

"Need you," Sheik murmured, shifting his hips against Link's - abruptly, Link's mouth went dry.

"Oil?" he tried to say, the word dropping from his lips inelegantly. Better to get it now, before things reached the point of no return - Sheik merely leaned down to retrieve a bottle from beneath the lounge, setting it at the table close at hand and settling back on Link's thighs. "Okay. I didn't want to interrupt anything later..."

Sheik kissed him again, almost more fiercely this time. "I know," he said softly, and his hand drifted from Link's shoulder to rest on his abdomen.

Link exhaled unsteadily. His hand was so close to where heat was beginning to pool - if only he moved down those last few inches!

Still - he wasn't helpless, he was still able to make moves for himself. Shifting his legs to nudge Sheik closer and to bring him back in to contact, his breath caught as he reached down to touch them both - the Sheikah let out a moan and dropped his head to Link's shoulder.

This was almost more intimate than the bed had been. Like this, Link could settle back against the arm of the lounge, Sheik on top of him, close enough to kiss and touch and hold. And they didn't have to move much to further things on, either - reaching one-handed for the oil, Link clumsily coated his fingers, trailing his clean hand down Sheik's spine.

"Okay," Sheik whispered, stifling a whimper against Link's lips as Link prepared him. Link practically moaned himself - the sounds he made were an intoxicant, sending his thoughts scattering like fireflies and heat rippling through him - the only thing in his head was Sheik, Sheik and his beautiful red eyes, Sheik and his amazing body, Sheik and his stories and songs and his hands that played both lyre and Link expertly...

His companion through a war no one remembered, his friend and lover in a place he didn't belong. Sheik was his constant, the one that grounded him - the one he had always needed and suspected he always would.

A soft moan escaped those parted lips as Link prepared him, and then it was Link's turn to jump - Sheik had reached for the oil himself, anointing the Hylian with it, his movements gentle and precise. "Please," he said, very softly, and Link could no longer hold back.

Even as their bodies joined, even as Link felt his mind temporarily white out in pleasure, he could not look away from Sheik. The room was dark, but the rising sun sent golden highlights over the Sheikah's skin, highlighting delicate fingers clinging to Link's arm, the curve and line of muscles, making a brilliant halo of honeyed hair that curled around his throat as he threw his head back in pleasure.

"You're beautiful," he whispered hoarsely, and pulled him in close, feeling a whimper against his lips as the friction of the movement of their bodies and the change in pressure sent the Sheikah shuddering.

"And you... Link..." The sounds Sheik was making was better than any music Link could imagine, more passionate, more true. He could press his lips to his and steal them away, keep them preserved inside him - a record of what they did here, of how much Link wanted him and vice versa, about an utterly unlikely bond that they had discovered and would not relinquish.

He could not keep his hands away. Nothing in Hyrule, not in this time or his own or any other, could keep him from Sheik now, to stop the worship of his body, to prevent this closeness.

And now things were building to a peak, pleasure building in to a white haze - he could see the tiny clues he had learnt over the past several weeks that Sheik was reaching his too, could discern it by the way he parted his lips, the way his eyes squeezed shut and his brow creased, at the little shivers running through his body.

Link reached up, buried a hand in Sheik's hair, drew him close. Mouth a half-inch from Sheik's ear, he murmured, "Come for me" - and he did, a hoarse cry erupting from his throat as his body shook and trembled on Link's lap.

And then, that was all Link needed to join him over the edge as well.

He wasn't quite sure when they separated - his arms stayed around Sheik regardless, letting the Sheikah use him as an oversized pillow as they stretched out on the lounge. Dimly, Link registered that they'd have to wash before they left - but Sheik seemed utterly disinclined to leave, and Link was hardly keen on the idea himself.

Sheik leaned up to kiss him again - slower, more lingering - and settled back with his head on Link's chest, and Link realised to his mild horror that he could feel dampness - tears in the corners of his red eyes. "Don't cry," he whispered, voice cracking and unsteady, "It'll be okay, we'll see each other again..."

"...We will," Sheik murmured, but Link wasn't sure he liked the hesitation in his voice.

"What's wrong?"

"Everything," the Sheikah whispered, then lifted a finger to Link's lips. "We shouldn't speak of things like this," he continued on almost hesitantly - a far cry from his usually confident lover. "It's an ill omen..."

Slowly, Link nodded. He couldn't fix whatever was bothering Sheik, but he could distract him from it - carefully, he tilted his chin up for another kiss. "We still have time before we leave," he said simply, and wrapped his arms around Sheik's waist. "Let's spend it together."

Sheik nodded too, and dropped his head back to Link's chest. And Link ran his fingers through Sheik's hair, forced his worry in to a box to be examined later, and held him close.

There was no escape from the morning - but they could protect themselves from it with each other as much as they could.


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