Chapter XII: Veil

Waking up at the first pale light of dawn was a hard habit to break, especially for a Sheikah whose custom it was to rise that early, no matter how late he had been up the previous night. Some would call it a gift, but it seemed like more of a curse to Sheik rather than any measure of grace, though it wasn’t really anything worth getting irritated about. However, the young man decided to make the best of the early hours by checking on Link and the shadow.

Link was fast asleep, Navi nestled comfortably on the corner of his pillow as usual. But the shadow was nowhere to be seen. Sheik knew he would not have abandoned his post at Link’s bedside for anything less than a catastrophe, so he left the room and conducted an investigation of the house from bottom to top.

Sheik at last found him, standing high upon the observation platform overlooking Lake Hylia. A light breeze was blowing from the east, and the dark haired young man stood solemnly with his back to Sheik, gazing out at the warming colors of the pale sky as the sun rose from behind the canyon walls. Sheik approached and stood by his side, turning his head and leaning forward a little so to see the shadow’s face. It was expressionless, save for the awe sparkling within the gray eyes.

“Are you all right?” Sheik whispered gravely.

“A goddess approaches,” he murmured. “She is made of fire, and as she rises she is setting the sky ablaze. Her power is terrifying and beautiful.” He smiled, and the wind blew the dark hair from his watering eyes. “We cannot escape her glory, Sheik. But I will not flee. If this is the end of my life, I would go happily into her arms of fire rather than to return to the shadows for all eternity.”

Sheik could not help but to smile at the shadow’s endearing ignorance. “It is fortunate for us all that it is not the end of the world; it is merely the sunrise.”

“Sun-rise?”

“Yes, the sun. As it rises, the moon sets. It marks the end of the night and the beginning of the day. This cycle of day and night is how we measure the passage of time.”

The shadow looked perplexed. “Then, it is not a goddess?”

“No, although some people believe it is. It is a star, the brightest star of them all. It warms the earth and gives it light so that plants can grow and creatures can live.”

“So, without the sun there would be no life?”

“It’s safe to say there wouldn’t be.”

The shadow grinned. “The sun is the life-giver. I like that.”

“Reminds you of someone, does it?”

The young man nodded. “It reminds me of him.” He sighed easily, as if the mere thought filled him with everlasting happiness. “He is my life-giver. He is my sun. Without him, I am nothing.”

“Yes, well, I wouldn’t let him know that you worship him just yet,” Sheik said with a hint of humor in his voice. “A person can be rather put off by it.”

The shadow turned to face the Sheikah. “Do you think he will ever like me, Sheik?”

“It might take time, but Link is really a kind person with a loving heart. You haven’t seen that side of him yet, but I assure you it’s there. It’s just . . . missing at the moment.”

“Do you suppose he lost it?”

“Perhaps. But he will find it again.”

“I hope so. My days have already been so dark.” The shadow smiled hopefully. “I look forward to seeing the sun again.”

“Link. Hey. Link! Wake up!”

Link batted his eyes open and promptly went cross-eyed trying to focus upon the fairy sitting on the tip of his nose. “Yes Nav,” he muttered.

“Wow, your eyes look like roadmaps. Maybe you should go back to sleep.”

“M’ already awake. What do you want.”

“Only to tell you that it’s half past noon, and the professor is driving Sheik out of his mind. We thought we’d let you rest since you were ill last night . . . or something. Are you feeling better today?”

Link groaned in dismay and rolled over, pulling the covers over his head.

“Back to normal, I see,” Navi assessed cheerfully. “Well, I suggest you get woken up and ready to depart soon, or else Sheik might be forced to come in here and use ancient Sheikah methods of torture on you. Like a freezing bucket of lake water poured into your nice warm bed.”

“I’m going, I’m going,” came the grumpy, muffled voice. “Just give me ten more minutes and I swear I’ll be ready to go.”

“All right,” the fairy said reluctantly. “But if you’re not up by then I’m going to send the shadow in here to stare at you.”

The covers were thrown back and Link was up on his feet, staggering sleepily about the room and looking for his boots. “Did I leave them downstairs? Are the horses ready? Damn it, where’s my blue tunic? Is it dried out by now, you think?”

Navi flew to him and landed on his head, beginning to groom the locks of golden hair still sticking wildly up in every direction. “I think you need to comb your hair first, silly. You look like you’ve been struck by lightning.”

“I don’t care about impressing anyone,” he huffed.

“You should. After what happened last night, you’ve plenty to do to earn back some respect, at least to Sheik, or so I’ve heard.”

Link frowned. “Why? What have you heard? What happened last night?”

“Well, if anyone should tell you it should be me. Or maybe not. Perhaps you’d be more comfortable if Sheik told you since he’s a man, but he was the one who was . . . eh, well . . .”

“What?”

“Forget it. I’ll let the professor tell you. He can describe it more scientifically than I can.”

“-sudden, inexplicable fits of unprovoked aggression, coupled with undeniable sexual deviance—directed towards your friend here—during which you were spouting a plethora of the most vulgar, immoral and debased utterances these old ears have ever heard, if what Sheik tells me is indeed correct. I do believe you would have made even pirates blush with shame, my boy.”

And then he began to relay the dialogue word for word while Link sat at the table with the most horrified look on his face that any of his friends had ever seen. It goes without mentioning that his cheeks was as red as the fiery chasms of Death Mountain, and probably hot enough to fry an egg on. He looked up across the table at Sheik, sitting rather uncomfortably with his arms crossed as he listened to Professor Eldwin recount the entire incident that happened last night. The old man seemed to be only too cheerful to oblige, and didn’t spare any of the juicy details.

When at last he had finished, Link hid his face behind his hands. “I’m so embarrassed I could die,” he moaned softly.

“There there, Link,” Navi said. “You’re only human.”

“He was definitely aware of that last night,” Sheik added, attempting to make light of the situation. “I had no idea your knowledge of profane vocabulary was that vast, Link.”

“Please, don’t bring it up,” he begged. “I’m ashamed enough as it is without you all rubbing it in.”

“It’s a good thing your shadow came in and saved you,” Eldwin said. “Otherwise you might be facing a situation right now even more awkward than this one.”

Link turned to regard the professor. “Who told you that he was my shadow?” He gestured to the dark haired youth sitting silently at the table and watching the others intently.

“I did,” Sheik spoke, his tone unusually formal and stiff, perhaps even slightly guilty. “I made the decision to tell the professor everything in hopes that he might find the cause of your ailment, perhaps even a cure. I would not wish to see you suffering again as you did last night, Link, not if it can be helped. I apologize if I was premature in disclosing this information to a civilian, but you must understand that I did it with only the best intentions—and your well-being—in mind. If anyone must be blamed, it is I.”

“Spoken eloquently indeed,” Eldwin nodded in approval.

“That is very noble of you, Sheik,” Link said with a slight smile. “But there’s no need to apologize. I understand your concern and appreciate what you did for me.”

The Sheikah’s face went blank. “Pardon?”

“Thank you.”

“Link, are you sure you’re feeling all right?” Navi asked in a worried tone.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“You’re not going to erupt? You’re not going to have a conniption and scream at your shadow and make him cry?”

“No,” the Hylian said hesitantly, gazing at his friends oddly. “Why? Should I?”

Sheik massaged the bridge of his nose. “Link, you were ready to kill your shadow yesterday, and today he does not bother you at all?”

“Of course he still bothers me,” Link said, casting a leery gaze toward his darker other. “Who wouldn’t be bothered by the discovery of their evil twin?”

“I’m not evil,” the shadow said in defense of himself.

“Evil’s in the eye of the beholder,” Link said coldly. “And as far as I’m concerned, that’s how you’re beheld to me.”

“Or maybe it’s because the beholder has an evil eye,” Navi snickered.

A single burst of laughter escaped the shadow’s lips; he seemed as surprised as the rest of the company, and placed his hands over his mouth in shock. “I’m sorry-” he began, but a low chuckle from Sheik caused him to turn his attention from himself.

The Sheikah was trying his hardest to keep his composure, hiding his grin behind his fist and disguising his amusement with a cough. “This is no laughing matter,” he said seriously, but one look at Link’s perplexed face sent him turning around in his chair and laughing in the other direction.

“It wasn’t that funny,” Navi muttered.

“You’re right, you’re right. I’m sorry, Link. It was just the look on your face. But . . . you might want to have the professor examine at that evil eye of yours before we leave,” Sheik managed to say before ending his sentence with a guffaw.

The shadow had his hands clasped firmly over his mouth, desperately trying to contain his giggles. Link silenced him with a scowl and Sheik at last succeeded in making a straight face; the Hylian rolled his eyes. “Now that the children have settled down, perhaps the adults can talk?”

He turned back to Professor Eldwin. “So then, you’re aware that . . . he is my shadow?”

“Indeed,” the old man said. “Born from darkness, forged by Ganondorf into your likeness. It is most fascinating, even for dark magic. How he became conscious of himself and survived the history that you have rewritten is still a mystery to even a man of science like myself. I find it strange that neither of you cast a shadow, which is physically impossible. I don’t know how to explain it. I cannot believe that I overlooked this fact; usually I take notice of the details before I see the big picture.”

“Maybe these are just details,” the shadow said softly. “Perhaps the big picture is yet to be seen by any of us.”

“Since when did you become a philosopher?” Sheik asked.

The shadow didn’t answer the question, but gazed pensively at his twin. “I am drawn to you, Link,” he said. “And I don’t know why. Perhaps it is merely a part of who I am, but what kind of person am I? I don’t know.

“Navi told me of you, your history, your childhood, your home . . . I know all about you, yet I know nothing of myself. Am I not human, like you? Does my flesh not bleed, like yours? I breathe as you do and my heart beats as yours does, yet death evades me and wounds cannot hurt me, save only those which you have given me.”

He reached up and touched the long scab across his cheek. “I cannot bear for these questions to remain unanswered. I just want to know who I am. I want to know what I am. I want to be given a name and a place in this world of yours, more than anything else . . . because this world is so beautiful, and I would like to stay here. With you.”

Link stared back at his twin, listening to his words for perhaps the first time since yesterday. Or perhaps it wasn’t so much as listening as feeling. A knot formed in Link’s throat and made it hard for him to swallow, so he looked away. He was filled with many conflicting emotions: mercy, bitterness, sympathy, anger, longing . . . longing? For what? What could this shadow possibly have that Link would long for? Nothing! He wasn’t even human!

The shadow was doing something to him. Controlling him. Link felt it. Something ominous was hiding behind that seemingly innocent façade, a terrible soul-draining energy. Yes, that monster was out to claim his soul like some sort of hellish leech, to suck it from his body until he was nothing but a shell. That thing was Ganondorf’s legacy, and had set out to accomplish what even the Gerudo Lord himself could not . . .

“Link?” Navi asked, seeing the blue eyes go distant.

But he did not hear her.

“Link!” she repeated.

Eldwin rose from his chair in alarm. “Is it happening again?”

“I don’t know,” Sheik uttered.

The shadow, seated a safe distance from Link, reached over and placed his hand upon the Hylian’s shoulder.

Link suddenly shook his head, as if snapping out of a daze. “I’m sorry. What? What’s happening?”

“Short term memory loss,” the professor diagnosed.

Link turned to face his twin, who still had his hand on his shoulder. “What are you doing?” he asked, though not unkindly.

“Your thoughts were misleading you,” he whispered. “I would never steal your soul. I needed you to know that.”

The hand upon his shoulder felt warm and soothing, and Link felt that invisible veil of peace flowing over his body as he stared into the gray eyes. He opened his mouth and did not even realize he had spoken until he heard himself say the words: “I know.”

Sheik turned to face the old man. “You must help him,” he whispered urgently. “He is changing, and we haven’t much time to work with. Professor, I implore you-” He clasped his hands together in a gesture of prayer. “-please tell us how we might be able to help him.”

Eldwin sighed heavily. “I am afraid my knowledge of this type of science in terribly limited. If the answer were there for me to find, I surely would have found it by now. But it is veiled from my sight, hiding somewhere out of my field of expertise.” He stood from his chair and placed his hands upon the table.

“You will not find the answer you seek from any professor or physicist; you must go to one who possesses scientific knowledge and wisdom, but who is also learned in the mystical arts—magic of both nature and religion. The ancient spiritual mages . . .”

Link gazed at the professor, his face pale. “The druids,” he murmured.

“Impossible,” Navi said. “The druids left these lands centuries ago. Nobody has any idea where they went, even I don’t, and that’s saying a lot. For all history knows, they died out hundreds of years ago.”

“Save one,” Eldwin said.

“You know a druid?” Sheik asked in awe.

“Not personally, although I’ve heard much about him.” The professor wrinkled his brow, looking suddenly very old and tired. “Falavus Talrhos was one of the last druids to dwell in the Lost Wood before the rest of his kind disappeared. As the legend goes, the druids used to keep the forest sacred and alive with magic; they nurtured plants with miraculous powers, and some say that they even blessed the trees with the power to speak. Fairies flocked to the forest, drawn by the magic and peace which the druids cultivated for all living creatures.

“But as the druids became fewer and fewer the forest slowly began to fall asleep, and the magic began to disappear. The trees became just trees once more, and the plants they had grown withered away with the passage of time.

“There was only one tree that remained when Falavus departed, the oldest, wisest tree in all the forest. He asked it to keep watch over the wood, to keep what little magic remained in it safe and sacred until the day when he would return again. And so when Falavus left and moved into the dark forests of the south, the tree used the powers that it had been taught to cast a spell over the entire wood, and some say that is how it became as it is now, the Lost Wood of Hyrule, the last realm of the druids of old.”

Link’s mouth hung open slightly as he said in a hushed whisper: “That’s impossible. I . . . I know the tree of which you speak. I was raised in Kokiri Village, in the Lost Wood itself. That tree was the Great Deku Tree. But…but that had to have been hundreds of years ago!”

“Long before the Kokiri people came to live there,” Eldwin said. “Sheik told me of your childhood living in the Lost Wood. I must say, I never believed in that old legend, but now it seems that you are living proof of it, my boy.”

Sheik frowned. “But you say this mage, this Falavus Talrhos, can help us, shouldn’t he be long dead by now?”

“Some say he is, some say he isn’t. Legend has it that he still dwells in the southern forest, the last of the druids, and one of the few beings who found immortality through divine wisdom and knowledge. Over the years many people have sought his counsel: Hylian kings and queens, wizards, warlocks, magicians . . .”

“But?” Link put in.

Eldwin made an uneasy face. “. . . But most who walk into the forest never walk out.”

“Charming,” Navi commented dryly. “Curiosity kills the quest.”

“I wouldn’t want to be killed,” the shadow said softly.

“You think I would?” Link muttered. “Besides, you’re not even alive. You don’t have to worry about being killed.”

The shadow looked hurt and offended. “I am so alive! Maybe not in the way most people are, but I’m a living being, too.”

“The question is-” the Hylian emphasized, ignoring his twin. “-do we have the time and the reason to risk traveling through the southern forests—the most inhospitable forests in all of Hyrule—in search of a man who is probably centuries dead by now?”

Sheik suddenly slammed his fist down on the wooden table, causing everyone sitting at it to jump in alarm. When they looked at him, his eyes were angry and shining with wetness; his gaze was fixed upon Link.

“You almost died last night before my very eyes,” he whispered hoarsely to him. “I don’t think you realize just how serious it would be if you were to be killed with your mission still incomplete. None of us were chosen to wield the Master Sword. We cannot finish the quest in your place, for there is only one Hero of Time. It all ends when you place that sword back into the stone from which it came. If you die before then, so does Hyrule.

“Link, there is some force at work here that none of us can understand or explain, and it nearly took your life. Any risk is worth taking if it means keeping you alive to finish this mission.”

A painful and indignant expression crossed Link’s fair features, and he said in a dark tone: “Is that all you care about? The quest? Is that why Zelda sent you to ‘watch over’ me, to make sure I completed all of my tasks?”

“You know I care for you, Link,” Sheik said angrily, “otherwise I wouldn’t be defying my orders for the sake of your well-being. You come first, not the quest.”

“So you were ordered to spy on me-!”

“I was ordered to keep you from straying from your main objective. That was only my secondary order; my highest priority is and will always be your safety, and if it were to become jeopardized as it is now, I was assigned to take all measures necessary in order to protect it, regardless of the mission.”

“That’s reassuring. For a moment I was beginning to believe I’ve been nothing but a convenient means to an end,” Link muttered.

“I was not lying when I said I would be willing to die for you,” Sheik said softly, “and that is not a part of my contract for this quest. It is my own decision, Link. I would rather die at twenty defending you than to live to a hundred serving the royal family. I mean every word of it, from the bottom of my heart.”

Link seemed stunned into silence, his lips attempting to form words that could begin to describe his deep appreciation for the incomparable loyalty his Sheikah friend had sworn to him, yet he could not speak for the power of it all. Instead, his cheeks colored slightly and he stared back at Sheik, blue eyes glistening with untold emotion.

And everything that he wanted to say was spoken wordlessly in his sapphire gaze.

Professor Eldwin conspicuously cleared his throat. “Right then. Perhaps I should go find a map for you to take on your journey into the southern forests, yes?”

With the sun passed its zenith and slowly beginning to make its path toward the west, the four travelers, rested and refreshed, readied themselves for journey once more. Professor Eldwin was kind enough to lend them some supplies, such as oil and two extra lanterns for their expedition into the dark forests, some blankets, a pair of machetes for cutting away thick brush, and enough dried fish to last them for several weeks, even though the shadow was courteous enough to point out to the old man that he needed no food to sustain himself.

Eldwin laughed it off, and said that the young man was more than welcome to keep the outfit he had borrowed. “Heaven only knows why I kept that thing around; I don’t think I’ve worn it in thirty years. Well, at least I’ve finally put it to a charitable use, and it looks much better on you than it did me, ho ho!”

The shadow, overcome with gratitude, threw his arms around the old man and embraced him as a son embraces his father. “You are the kindest, most generous person I have ever met,” he said as tears threatened to spill from his gray eyes.

The professor laughed. “Ah, but you haven’t met many people yet, have you?”

“None can be as wonderful as you,” he insisted.

“Bless you, lad. You’re going to make an old man cry if you don’t stop being so dear!”

Link happened to overhear the conversation as he was adjusting one of the horses’ saddles, and rolled his eyes while making a disgusted face. Luckily neither of them saw this display, but Sheik did, and he couldn’t help but to smirk: “Jealous, are we?”

“In your dreams,” he retorted. “Perhaps Eldwin would be willing to adopt him and we can all just go home.”

“And where is home for you, Link?”

“Where the heart is,” he said flatly. “And my heart belongs to the Lost Wood.”

“No wonder you’re so confused,” Sheik murmured under his breath, and then turned his attention back to loading the extra equipment into the saddlebags. A few moments later he was startled by a voice beside him:

“Horses are interesting creatures. I’ve never seen a real live one before.”

It was the shadow, standing by the horse’s head and gently petting it. Sheik refrained from demanding how on earth he had managed to sneak up on him like that, especially since a well-trained Sheikah is always conscious of his surroundings and any enemies that might be lurking there, particularly ones that approach quietly from behind.

“Uh, yes. Horses,” Sheik said uneasily. “Very interesting and useful, I agree.”

The horse neighed loudly and jerked away from the shadow’s touch, anxiously champing at his bit and stomping the ground. The dark haired young man was shaken slightly. “Does he not like me or something?”

“Horses are fickle. They like some people better than others.”

Navi flew in between them and said, “Or it might have something to due with the fact that you’re a shadow…oh, hey. I didn’t mean anything by that. Don’t be offended.”

“It’s all right, Navi,” the shadow sighed. “After all, it’s what I am, and nothing more.”

The fairy sighed gently, and flew over to check the maps Eldwin had given them.

The shadow turned to the Sheikah and asked hesitantly, “Sheik, I’ve been curious. What is this quest that you and Link spoke of earlier? Not the quest we are taking now, but the one you seemed to be on before I was rescued?”

“Oh…yes. That…” Sheik faltered for a moment, knowing that perhaps it was best that he not tell the shadow he was to be taken to Hyrule to face his judgment, and the decision of whether he should live or die would be made. No, the truth would have to be bent a little for the time being.

Once he had collected his thoughts, Sheik said lightly, “Our mission was to find you. I know it must sound surprising but the reason is this: when Ganon was defeated and time rolled back, all remnants of his reign were supposed to disappear; it would be as if he had never been born. Time was in the process of mending itself when something happened—it stumbled across the single remnant that gave proof of Ganondorf’s existence.”

“. . . Me,” the shadow whispered sullenly.

“Yes, I’m afraid so. Time is not aligning as it should be. You were created by a man who is supposed to have never lived, and now we have to figure out how we can ‘correct’ this problem before time runs out. If we can’t get Time back on track before the moment of Ganondorf’s defeat . . .” Sheik trailed off.

“Will Link be endangered?” the dark haired young man asked.

“Yes. We all will.”

The shadow set his jaw determinedly, took a heroic stance and said, “Then I shall do all I can to help you. I don’t care if you say it is not my fault—I’m responsible for this situation, no matter how indirectly it may be, and I’m willing to do anything to return things to the way they should have been. For you, my friends, and for Link. For Hyrule.”

Sheik could not conceal his fond smile. “You speak like the Hero of Time.”

“I am glad to at least share that trait with him,” the shadow replied with a grin.

“Speaking of which, it looks as if the Hero of Time could use a hand,” Sheik nodded toward Link, who was trying to adjust the saddle strap on the other horse, which was being most uncooperative. The shadow smiled brightly at the opportunity to help his master, and trotted over to see what he could do.

The Hylian was cross and not in the best of moods when the shadow appeared over his shoulder and asked, “Need some help?”

“No, thank you,” Link snapped. “I’ve done this hundreds of time and can manage on my own. It’s just that this beast here doesn’t feel like wearing a saddle today.” The horse snorted loudly in agreement. “Besides, you wouldn’t even know what to do.”

“I would if you would tell me how,” the dark haired youth said gently.

Link sighed. “That would take even longer than if I did it by myself. Go make yourself useful someplace else.” He returned his attention to the stubborn horse. “Now be still so I can get this strap tightened, and don’t puff your belly out this time . . .”

Crestfallen, the shadow walked away and stood at the horse’s head, stroking its nose soothingly. “Does he have a name?” he asked.

“Glynfrid, I think.”

“Hello, Glynfrid,” he whispered to the horse, which, while uneasy, gave him its full attention. “It’s all right. I won’t hurt you . . .”

While Glynfrid was momentarily distracted, Link managed to properly secure the strap before the horse was even aware of it; the Hylian stood to his feet and sighed with relief. “Finally! You decided to cooperate, eh?” Then he noticed the shadow whispering to the horse, keeping its mind away from the saddle strap.

“I’ll be damned,” he uttered. “I guess you actually are good for something after all, aren’t you?”

The shadow regarded Link but said nothing, casting his gaze downward after a while. Link puzzled. What was his problem?

Even the animals have names to go by . . .

Link froze, unable to understand where that random thought that flitted through his mind had come from, but he understood its meaning nonetheless. “A name?” he asked the shadow incredulously. “Is that what you’re moping about?”

The young man seemed surprised, but he nodded in answer.

Link sighed. “Fine. You want a name? I’ll give you a name, then. Something that describes you for who you are.” He crossed his arms and mused while the shadow was riveted to the spot, breathless and motionless. A name! Was he finally going to receive a name?

“Who you are, what you are,” Link muttered his thoughts aloud. “Well, you’re dark, you’re a shadow. You’re strange, you almost killed me once . . . You’ve no color or family, you’ve no purpose . . . Damn, what are you? I can’t even think of a name for you. Your whole past is just veiled in mystery, and-” Link suddenly paused, and the corners of his mouth twitched upward into a barely visible smile. “Veiled in mystery. Your purpose and meaning evades you, but you seek to find the answer . . . don’t you, Veil?”

The shadow named Veil allowed his mouth to fall open slightly in shock and wonder. “Is that . . . my name?”

Link shrugged nonchalantly. “If you want. And if it keeps you from weighing us down with angst and gloom the whole journey, then yes. It’s yo-”

“I am Veil!” the dark haired lad exclaimed joyously. “I at last have a name, and it is Veil! Navi! Sheik! Professor! The Master has given me a name!”

“Shut up!” Link hissed, grabbing Veil by the collar and jerking him down. “Stop shouting! I thought I told you not to call me Mas-”

Veil grabbed Link’s face in his hands and said with tears brimming in his eyes, “Thank you, Master.” And then he pressed his lips to Link’s in an overwhelmingly passionate display of gratitude.

“Mmmmph! Mmmrrmph!” the Hylian wrestled to pull himself away from the unwanted ministrations of his twin, only succeeding in tripping over his own boots and crashing down onto his back, dragging Veil down with him.

Navi flew into the scene with a cry of, “What on earth is going on over here!”

Veil looked up at the fairy and smiled weakly. “I was just thanking Link for giving me a name.”

“A name? Really?” Navi gushed gleefully. “How wonderful! What-”

“NAVI!” the forgotten Link shouted, squirming on the ground beneath Veil. “Tell him to get off of me before I-! I-!” A strange look came into his blue eyes and he ceased shouting, feeling once again that strange sensation like cool water flowing over his body. Anger calmed, he gazed up into the gray eyes above his own and said softly, “Please get off of me, Veil.”

“Of course,” he replied, but not before giving another grateful kiss to Link’s blushing cheek.

“Don’t do that!” Link cried.

Veil laughed merrily at the red-faced Hylian, and helped to pull him to his feet. “Do forgive me—I just can’t seem to help myself.”

“Yes, well, you’d better learn quickly,” Link muttered. “The last thing I want is some queer twin of mine groping me this whole suicidal quest.”

“I’m sure you wouldn’t mind if Sheik did that to you,” Navi snickered from above.

“You little gnat-! I told you to never speak of that!”

Navi laughed, flying just out of Link’s reach as he shouted and snapped at her for bringing up the intimate affair of the previous night. All the while Veil was trying to ease his master’s embarrassment by talking to him soothingly, though his words were drowned out by Link’s bickering.

“PARDON ME, CHILDREN.”

All three stopped their squabbling and turned to see Sheik sitting astride the other horse, gazing down at them with an expression that was less than thrilled.

“Though I’m absolutely dying to join in the melee you’ve started, I thought it best that we get moving. The horses are ready and I’d like to reach the forest before next week. All right?”

“Sounds fine,” Link chirped. “Veil, you ride with Sheik. Navi, come with me.”

“Ah, you’ve named him?” the Sheikah said pleasantly. “Splendid. You’ll have plenty of time to acquaint yourselves with one another as you’ll be riding together.”

“What!?” Link spouted.

“Look, this horse is carrying twice the supplies as yours, and is not fit to bear two riders. Veil has not yet learned how to ride properly, so I thought he would do good to learn from one of Hyrule’s best.”

Link didn’t even bother to argue; he stared at Sheik through half-closed eyes before muttering. “Fine. He’ll ride with me. Come along, Veil.”

Veil looked as if he were about to burst with happiness, though his excitement was staunched the moment he tried to climb into the saddle. It took several tries and much shoving on Link’s part, but at last Veil was seated upon the saddle, though holding the horn for dear life.

“It’s so high up,” he whispered, hunching over a little.

Link sighed impatiently and griped, “Move back. The driver sits up front, so get your foot out of the stirrup.” And he easily swung up and into the saddle. Veil instantly wrapped his arms tightly about Link’s waist and laid his chin upon his companion’s shoulder.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Trying to keep from falling,” Veil said in a fearful voice. “I’ve got nothing to hold onto.”

“Well, ease off a little! You’re going to cut off the circulation to my lower body.”

“Squeeze him hard,” Sheik winked. “He could use a good numbing down there, especially since last night.”

“Again with the sworn unmentionables!” Link cried. “Would you all kindly get off my back for the rest of the day?”

“I think I’ll be staying here a while,” Veil said as he stared at the ground a few feet below, then turned his head to whisper in Link’s ear, “But I won’t say anything to make you uncomfortable, I promise.”

Link shifted uneasily. “It’s not what you say that makes me uncomfortable so much as what you do . . .”

“I’m sorry. I will try harder, Link.”

“And you can start by not breathing down my neck. And sit up. You’re not going to plunge to your death, so you’ve got nothing to be afraid of. You can be such an infant.” With a quick sigh and a roll of his eyes, Link took up the reins and nudged the horse’s sides gently.

They thanked Professor Eldwin once again for his hospitality and bid their farewells, and then began to make their way east, past the canyon walls surrounding Lake Hylia, where they would then turn south, travelling into the deep, dark, uncharted forest in search of Falavus Talrhos, the last druid to have dwelt in Hyrule.