Always Return Home

Disclaimer: Don’t own. The song is Always Return by Bryan Adams.

Author’s Note: Zelda and Sheik are separate people in this one.

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“You know what the first rule of flying is? Love. Even with all the math in the ‘verse, you take a boat In the air you don’t love, she’ll shake you off just as sure as the world’s turnin’. Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down, tells you she’s hurtin’ before she keens. Makes her a home.”-Mal(Serenity)

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I hear the wind call my name
The sound that leads me home again

Link saddled Epona, looking out at the forest that had been his home for the past few weeks. It reminded him a little of Kokiri Woods, but the trees were still and silent, the lively spirit gone. He’d wanted to go traveling again though. He’d grown to love it and couldn’t stay in Hyrule, the place where he knew every nook and cranny of. But the green clad youth had been feeling homesick for the deceptively fierce crimson eyes of his brother, and the familiar emerald fields.

It sparks up the fire
A flame that still burns

Sheik’s eyes flicked towards the doorway where Zelda stood silently before entering and sitting beside him. Sheik had one knee propped up with his elbow resting on it and the other leg dangling freely out the window.
“Is something wrong, Princess?”
Zelda glared slightly, something the Sheikah had known would happen. She hated it when he addressed her by her title.
“Does something feel different about today or is it just me?”
“Something’s different or we’re both crazy,” He agreed.
“Have you gotten any letters?”
Sheik could hear the plea in her voice, however slight it was. She needed to hear from him.
“No. Sorry, Zel.” He was in caring older brother mode, one he had slipped into more often since Link had gone traveling. Sheik understood, of course. Link wasn’t the kind of person to stay in one place too long and had been rather reluctant to live in the castle. Politics ruled too much there and it was too enclosed. It had taken even Sheik a while to find one of the few windows that had an unobstructed view of Hyrule Field.
“I think he might be coming back though. Remember his last letter? He was closer to Hyrule then.”
Zelda’s head shot up, aquamarine eyes alight with something that had been a rare sight since the Hero of Time had left: hope.

To you, I will always return
I know the road is long,

The strong, steady rhythm of Epona’s galloping had allowed Link to focus on everyone in Hyrule. How was Talon and had Malon gotten the nerve to ask out the one guy that she had met in the Market on a delivery? Were the Gerudos causing trouble and had the Zoras exposed themselves to more people? Had the Gorons kept trade up with Kakariko?
The sound of the galloping changed from the softer hoof beats on dirt to louder, clacking ones on cobblestone. Link’s face broke out in a grin and he spurred Epona faster.

But where you are is home.
Wherever you stay, I’ll find the way

Zelda raced down the stone steps so quickly that Sheik feared that she would trip. His worry was ungrounded however. The princess had been born and bred with grace and it showed. Sheik followed her, already knowing where she was going-out to Hyrule Field, where Link had spent so much time and had loved to stay out in until well past sundown.
Sheik unconsciously noted the difference in the air as they left the confines of the castle to the Market. It was louder, livelier out here. There were hundreds of different smells mixing together. The bakery’s sweet smell mixed with a farmer’s stand, making a delicious aroma waft towards them. Then he realized that Zelda had sped up and he nearly missed her pink skirt whipping around a corner. She really missed him. Not that Sheik didn’t either, but Sheik understood that Link had grown up living outside, trees forever surrounding him and the pure scent of the outdoors everywhere. That was why he’d left. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings, but he hadn’t been able to take it anymore. Sheik remembered the last conversation he’d had with the hero.
~ - ~ - ~ - ~ -
“I’m leaving.”
Sheik had turned to look at him. He had his traveling pack slung over his shoulder and his face and stance was set with determination. He wasn’t going to put up with it anymore. And from the slight guilt behind the dark sapphire eyes, he hadn’t told Zelda.
“I wish you good fortunes.”
“You’re not going to try to stop me?”
“I’ve known you long enough that you won’t be dissuaded on this issue. All I can do is hope that the goddesses are with you and that you remember to write.”
Link smiled at his friend…brother. He nodded and turned away and that was the last time they’d see each other for two years.
~ - ~ - ~ - ~

I’ll run like the river,
I’ll follow the sun,
I’ll fly like an eagle to where I belong.

Link pulled back sharply on the reins as he saw two figures running across the drawbridge. Golden hair flashed and his grin became so wide, he feared it would split his face. Somebody was running towards him as he dismounted, calling his name. The voice was sweetly familiar, a balm to the loneliness of travel.

I can’t stand the distance,
I can’t dream alone,
I can’t wait to see you,
Yes, I’m on my way home.

Sheik had to do a mental double take as he saw the auburn mare, and the green-clad person sitting atop her. Link’s skin was browner, his cobalt eyes contrasting as sharply as ever. Link dismounted, and nearly fell back as Zelda hugged him forcefully. Link chuckled and wrapped his arms around her.
Sheik himself smiled as he walked closer. Link released Zelda and looked at Sheik with his head cocked to the side. Sheik went forward and allowed himself to be held close.
“You got taller.” Sheik muttered so that only Link could hear him.
Link laughed and hugged him tighter.

Now I know its true,
My every road leads to you.

“It wasn’t your fault you know.”
Link looked up at Sheik, “What’re you talking about.”
“About leaving. Nobody can blame you. Although, technically, you could have refused to stay in the castle.”
“Where else would I stay? Kokiri won’t take me, I can’t live with the Gorons and I definitely can’t stay with the Zoras. And the Gerudos are out of the question.”
“You could have stayed in Kakariko.”
A slight smile was on Link’s lips. “Not really. It wouldn’t feel right. If anything, you should be the one living there.”
Sheik knew Link had won this one. “I have the same reason as you do for staying here. But I can bear it,” He sat down beside Link and kept his gaze on the horizon, “You can’t.”
“Maybe not, but I can’t travel forever either. I get homesick.”
This piqued the shorter man’s interest. “Why?”
“I don’t really know. It’s just little things, you know? The Zoras always swimming in the lake, the smell of the air, people’s faces…things like that.”
“That’s plenty to be homesick for.”
“And I thought I was being stupid.”
“You being stupid? I agree with that part, but it’s in the wrong context. Missing home isn’t stupid…it’s human.”

And in the hour of darkness,
Your light gets me through

“She did have a right to yell at you.” Sheik reasoned.
Link gave him a tired smile. “Yeah, but I never knew she could yell for so long.”
“Is it so hard to believe?”
“Actually…no. But did she have to go and hit me?” Link rubbed his very red cheek, wincing slightly. Not to self: Never EVER underestimate the power of a woman’s slap.
“Not really, but I think she just wanted to. You’re lucky she didn’t punch you.”
“Have you gone and taught her martial arts?”
Sheik stayed wisely silent, although he couldn’t help the smirk that spread on his concealed face. Link could tell though, and glared at him mildly.
“She’s going to be as dangerous as a lioness!”
“Worse probably.”
“What’s worse?”
Link had a slight annoyance with Sheik, but was happy that the following debate kept his mind from being angry with Zelda.

You run like the river,
You shine like the sun
You fly like an eagle,
Yeah, you are the one

“Did you two go at it again?”
The two young men grinned with their eyes, but shook their heads at Zelda. She knew the truth though.
“Do you always have to have such dangerous spars?”
The duo decided that there was no point in trying to keep the act up and nodded,
Zelda sighed. “Men.”

I’ve seen every sunset,
And with all that I’ve learned,
It’s to you, I will always, always return

“I think he’s gone traveling again!”
Sheik stared at Zelda from his position at the lake bed.
“Who’s gone traveling where?”
Sheik hid a smile (which wasn’t really all that difficult) at the princess’s reaction to the familiar voice. She whirled around and saw Link standing with a curious expression, holding three fishing rods. Link sent him a confused look as Zelda told him that she’d though he’d gone away again since she hadn’t seen him since two days ago. Sheik could only shrug.
Later that night, with their catch of fish roasting on the fire, Link looked at Sheik and asked, “Why didn’t you believe that I’d gone wandering again?”
“Wandering, is that what you’d call it? I’d have known if you went off on your wanderings. I’m not a Sheikah for nothing, you know.”
We’re brothers, remember? The words hung unspoken between them, but understood all the same.

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