Stolen Innocence.

Long after the Hero had left the Temple, Sheik lingered about, looking at the high ceiling wistfully, torn between disappointment and pity. Oh, the boy was a Hero alright, the Hero, more accurately, but he was still a boy. And it pained the Sheikah to see the clear blue eyes, so filled with an innocence that was bound to die at some point.

Link was pure, as pure as few things remained in the desolated wasteland that was Hyrule, and as such was precious. Sheik couldn't spare him what would surely come his way - standing up to Ganondorf was not going to be smooth or gentle on him - but he could try, at least, to help the poor boy shoulder the weight of his Destiny. Link's eyes were like a child's, filled with wonder and awe, and yet, glinting below that, lay the unstoppable determination of a true hero and his vow to make the world right again.

The Sheikah felt the strangest urge then, to shelter and cuddle that fragile boy that was anything but, yet he realized that it was not going to be the case.

Seven years taken away, seven years that would not come back, ever. All the joy, all the new things he could have learned, all the friends he could have made, all the stories he could have told. All that was lost forever, and it caused the Sheikah to reflect on his own past for a moment.

Then he disappeared into the shadows and thought no more of what was lost, but what was to be gained.