Link woke up suddenly, as he did every morning. He looked around, frowning as he felt a familiar tugging at his forearms. He should know what was causing the sensation, but his thinking was still muddled from sleep. He looked down beside him, finding that his fins had somehow wrapped themselves around a tiny form in the middle of the night, or rather, the tiny form had wrapped them around herself.
"Alolu?" Mipha mumbled tiredly from the other side of the bundle.
He nodded. He wasn't sure at what point their daughter had wandered in and slipped in between them. She was always so quiet, likely worried that she would wake them up if she wasn't careful.
He had asked her once why she liked to bundle up in such a fashion. Apparently, she suffered from nightmares and wrapping herself up helped to lull her back to sleep. The golden scales acted like a shield from the thoughts that terrorized her at night.
A peaceful silence fell over the small family as they enjoyed the first late morning they'd had in a while. King Dorephan had insisted that they take a day and enjoy themselves, despite his and Mipha's protests. The Zora King had convinced them rather easily when he had reminded them that they had a duty to their daughter as well.
"Do you suppose she will be surprised?" Mipha asked suddenly, sounding more alert than she had a few minutes ago.
Link nodded again. He knew it was foolish to think that speaking would end the moment, but he continued to maintain his silence on the off chance the naïve hope was true. While he spent the majority of each day at Mipha's side, they had very little time alone together, and that was before they had a daughter that also required their attention. He loathed the idea of ending it before it had to.
Link felt Alolu shift around in her makeshift nest, as though whispering about her was enough to bring her back to awareness. He and Mipha watched with fascination as a tiny, ruby-red hand appeared, followed shortly by the head of a small child. She opened her mouth wide, exposing her small, sharp teeth as she yawned. Her head tilted forward as she almost fell back asleep, causing her tail fin to flop around as she flinched back up.
"Good morning, sweetheart," Mipha giggled as she leaned over and embraced her daughter, stroking her tailfin affectionately as she did so.
"Morning, mommy," Alolu replied with another yawn. The little girl rubbed her bright blue eyes as Mipha stood up and went to ready herself for the day ahead.
Link stayed where he was as she continued the long process of waking up. As ready as he was to get up, she was still tangled up in his fins. Any sudden movements could jerk her around, and that was dangerous for a young Zora. The weight of their tail fins combined with their longer, thinner necks made any sudden movements potentially damaging when they weren't wearing their chokers.
Link smiled as Alolu finally crawled out of her makeshift nest and leaned over to him, wrapping her tiny arms around his neck. "Morning, daddy," she cooed.
"Morning," he replied as he rubbed her back slowly. They stayed that way for a time before they both got up.
"I need to inform father that we'll be up at the Veiled Falls," Mipha stated as she set her headpiece on.
Link nodded as he made a small fire in the corner of their room. He then removed his beloved cooking pot, the same one that he had carried during his journeys through Hyrule, from its cupboard and set it over the fire. "Want to help?" he asked his daughter quietly.
"Yes," she nodded as she joined him.
Link took her little hand in his own and took her through the motions of cooking various dishes. Considering how vulnerable she was to heat, he would occasionally send her to take breaks, having her read her favorite stories to him as he continued preparing the food for their picnic. During one such interval, he prepared rice balls as she wasn't looking. Alolu knew who favored the delicacy and letting her see it was the quickest way to ruin the surprise in store.
"Let's go," he said as he finished packing their meal.
"Okay!" she responded as she closed the book she had been holding and leaped to her feet. Link grinned as he watched her race around to finish getting ready. It had been a while since he had seen her so excited.
Most of her days were spent under Muzu's tutelage. Though Mipha had abdicated the throne, all but eliminating any chance of Alolu taking it, the family was still expected to contribute to Zora society, especially since the entire country was undergoing the painful process of reconstruction. As a result, the young girl had to spend her days undergoing an extensive curriculum which involved learning the finer points of Zoran society, history, diplomacy and any other skills the elder found necessary.
He and Mipha had made polite comments about how hard Muzu was pushing her; however, the elder didn't quite catch their meaning, or he did and made no effort to ease up on the girl.
Perhaps her days may not have been so dull if she were coming home to parents who weren't exhausted every night. Even though he and Mipha did their best to hide it, Alolu was more perceptive than most. He knew she could see the exhaustion in their eyes.
Even though Sidon had taken on the majority of the strains brought on by Dorephan's waning health, there was still a considerable amount of work for the two. Between constant trips to Hyrule Castle and back, hosting various ambassadors, and trying to help maintain stability as leadership was handed down the Prince, there was little time for family and rest, but they made do as best they could.
His smile deepened as she bounded over to him. A weight was taken off his shoulders as he saw her acting like a child for the first time in a long time.
"Are you and mommy finally going to teach me to swim up a waterfall?"
"We'll see," he responded as she took his hand and they left their quarters behind. He wasn't sure they would have any time to devote to teaching her. Not that it was a problem, seeing as he wasn't even sure she had developed the strength to perform such a feat yet.
They met Mipha near the northern entrance and began their excursion in earnest. Despite their eagerness to leave the city behind for the day, the family still walked with the grace that Muzu demanded of them. They would respond to greetings with a nod that he considered to be far too dignified; however, if it came to making the lives of his wife and daughter any easier, he would acquiesce to some of Muzu's demands.
As soon as they left the city behind, Link let Alolu climb up on to his shoulders and then took Mipha's hand as they made the long trip up to the top of the Veiled Falls on foot. They could have made it a much shorter journey by swimming up the falls themselves, but they had decided against it the night before. Walking on foot would give them more time as a family, as well as providing them more time to entertain their daughter which Link did by bouncing his shoulders, causing Alolu to shriek with laughter.
After a few hours of walking, they made it to the top of the Falls. They took a moment to enjoy the view before finding a small pond nearby in which to cool down. Link and Mipha continued sitting long after Alolu had become bored. They smiled as she explored their surroundings, coming back often to inform them of her latest discoveries only to leave a few seconds later.
"I wish more days could be like this," Mipha sighed quietly as she sank further into the pond's depths.
Link nodded in agreement. He had known that marrying into the royal family would be stressful, he just hadn't imagined that he would be exhausted all of the time. As the cool waters continued rolling over him, he felt his tension seep away, allowing him to relax.
It wasn't that he was miserable, but rather, that he didn't have as much time for the things that he considered truly important, such as his wife and child. While there was something to be said about the importance of negotiating trade routes and the logistics of infrastructure, he found most of it to be arbitrary. It wasn't so much about problem solving as much as it was about not stepping on anyone's toes. The way he saw it, if there was a problem, then it should be solved, not danced around with fancy words while the ones in power tried to find some way to benefit.
It left him feeling like he spent his days on useless endeavors while the most important of his jobs was left to a few hours at night when he was thoroughly drained.
As the sun continued its ascent, Link's eyes combed the skies above them, searching for a familiar sight, which he finally found heading towards them. "Alolu!" he called, "come help me unpack."
Together he and his daughter set down a blanket and placed the platters of food around the blanket.
"Daddy…" he turned, concealing a smile as she picked up the rice balls, "… why did you –"
She stopped as a familiar gust of wind blew past them. Link and Mipha exchanged an eye roll as they recognized the source immediately. It seemed that even years later, a certain someone hadn't lost his taste for grand entrances.
"Well, if it isn't my favorite niece."
"Uncle Revali!" Alolu cried excitedly as she raced towards the dark blue Rito.
"Mom! Mom, look out!" another voice called in mild panic as Medli landed not far away.
"We're fine!" Medli exclaimed as she let her son down. "I only overshot a little."
"I want dad to fly me next time!" Komali squawked as he shuddered violently.
"Now it wasn't that bad."
"You nearly killed us!"
"Don't speak to your mother that way!" Revali called sharply. He gave his son a pointed stare until the boy grumbled an apology to his mother.
"It's good to see you again," Mipha said in greeting as she gave Medli a hug, disappearing for a moment as the Rito's wings completely enveloped her.
"You too! It's been so long! Ah, how are you Master Link?" she asked as she turned to him.
"Good," he replied simply, figuring that he would leave Mipha to converse with the talkative mother.
He turned to find Revali approaching him.
"Link," the Rito said in greeting as they shook hands firmly.
"Revali."
"Still suck at breathing?" the Rito asked snidely, still shaking Link's hand.
"Going to name a child Falco?" The two Champions glared at each other as they entered a silent contest. After having won the last few of their bouts, Link decided to be a gracious loser and pulled away first.
The Rito smirked, enjoying his victory before turning to Mipha. "I still don't understand how you can put up with him every day."
"It is a struggle some days," the Zora sighed as she eyed the children. "At least I have it easier than Medli, though."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Revali asked indignantly.
"I think she means that she thinks you're harder to be married to," Medli answered thoughtfully. "I think I can see why she would say that."
"You're supposed to be on my side!"
"I am on your side."
"This is almost as bad as when you lost our sparring match," Link muttered mischievously.
"It ended in a draw!" Revali snapped as he rounded on Link.
"What about the second time?"
"There were no witnesses the second time."
"I think we should we eat now," Mipha interjected quickly, gesturing to the food that lay at their feet.
"Oh, thank goodness!" Medli sighed, "I was getting rather hungry."
After calling the two children over, the group began eating the large meal before them. Alolu and Komali each took turns informing each other of every one of their recent accomplishments and exploits. Unsurprisingly, Revali's son had taken up archery, and much like his father, was not a natural; however, Link had no doubt the child would become a master in time. He had inherited his father's spunk after all.
Revali and Medli took a great interest in the contents of Alolu's life, much to the young girl's pleasure. She was used to Muzu insisting on her silence when Link and Mipha were in the presence of other adults, including her uncle Sidon and grandfather. She relished the chance to be the center of attention for once.
After the meal was finished, the two children wandered off again, intent on exploring as much as they could before they had to leave. The adults had their own form of entertainment, though it was really more about a long-standing rivalry between Link and Revali.
"You're not going to win this time," Revali muttered as he dealt everyone their own set of tiles, as though Link won every single game they played.
"…" Link gazed at the Rito over his hand of tiles as he began formulating a plan.
"Is it my turn to start?" Medli asked as she frowned at her hand.
"Yes," Revali replied absently.
"Now Link," Mipha whispered as she set a tile down, "please don't do -… exactly that," she sighed as he set down a wild card.
"Call," Revali said smugly, only to have his face fall flat as Link showed him his hand.
"Draw six."
That was only the start of the Rito's misfortune that night. Though both he and Link had experienced morale-boosting triumphs and devastating losses, none was quite so absolute as Revali's loss that night.
"This isn't over," he growled as he glowered at Link.
Link just shrugged, not too concerned about the Rito's wrath.
"Komali!" Medli called as she and Mipha finished their fit of silent giggling, "it's time to go!"
"But mooom," the boy whined as he and Alolu came rushing back, "can't we stay a little longer?"
"Not this time."
"But –"
"No arguing," Revali interrupted firmly. "This time you can fly with me though."
"Okay," Komali sighed, the traces of a pout still scrunching up his face.
"It is time for us to be returning as well," Mipha said as she picked up Alolu, whose head immediately began to droop.
"Bye, bye Komali" she mumbled tiredly. "Bye uncle Revali… bye, aunt Medli…"
After a few more quick goodbyes, both families went their separate ways.
"I hope we can do that again soon. It has been far too long since I've seen her so happy," the Zora said quietly as she gazed down at the sleeping face of her daughter. "Perhaps we should talk to Muzu about allowing her more free time. I worry that she doesn't have many friends in the Domain."
Link agreed emphatically as they made their way down the cliffside and back into the Domain. "I think Bazz and I should trade off shifts guarding you," he added. It had been something he had been considering for a while, but he thought it was a sensible plan. It would allow Alolu more time with at least one of her parents, and maybe even allow for a few more outings, even if it was just the two of them.
"Hmm," she hummed, "I wonder if Muzu would allow me to take over for him a few days a week. It would allow me to teach her what I want her to know.
"... We should teach her to swim up waterfalls," he said suddenly. When she had asked earlier, he hadn't devoted much thought to it, but now it was eating away at him slowly.
"Yes, but not tonight," Mipha responded tiredly. "We need rest. We can make plans tomorrow."
Link nodded even as he started planning. Mipha may have wanted to wait until the morning, but he had grown tired of waiting for opportunities to spend time with his daughter over the years.
They passed no one as they made their way back to their private quarters, only stopping briefly to tuck Alolu in.
He lay awake long into the night, even after Mipha had fallen asleep. His life was a far cry from what he had imagined it would be, but he supposed that wasn't the worst thing. He kept busy and loved his family dearly. It was enough to make up for the parts that he wasn't entirely happy with.
He remained still as he heard a tiny pair of feet moving across the stone floor and felt the bed shift as it gained a new occupant. He smiled as he felt a familiar tugging at his fins. Sometimes, life was hectic and could be unsatisfying, but days like the one he'd just had more than made up for it. In the end, he had Mipha and Alolu, and that was enough.