Comfort

I slowly woke to the mixed smells of something fruity and grilled meat.
Slowly, that is, until said smell triggered my memories.
"Mipha! NOO!" I sat up with a desperate shriek, my heart suddenly beating a mile a minute.
No, they wouldn't, they hadn't ... they mustn't...

"Mipha." My voice cracked into a hoarse whisper. Tears formed in my eyes and ran down my face.

My horror stricken mind needed a minute or two to register that I was resting on something soft, opposed to the hard flooring of our prison. A fresh evening breeze rustled the tarpaulins of the Gerudo style tent which formed my shelter. Someone whispered into my ear and held me.
"Zelda... Zelda, I'm here... we're safe... Zelda! ..."

"Mipha." I whispered again.
Joy.
Relief.

Guilt.
Shame.
I couldn't look her into the eyes. Again she was the one comforting me, in spite of all the things my arrogance had caused.

Wonder.

"How?" My curiosity be damned. "Sorry, I, ... I ..." words failed my weak attempt at apologising.
"Link." Mipha told me softly. "It was him who came crashing through that door, in all his blood stained glory."
How could she not be angry with me? How not yell at me for failing her, for dragging her into this?

The Zora girl sighed, and when I snuck a glance at her face I noticed a somewhat dreamy expression on it.
"Hylia alone knows how he managed to follow our trail, convince the Gerudo to raid this Yiga outpost and on top having the highest kill count on this expedition in spite of wearing those ... interesting ... clothes."

Mipha caught me looking at her and saw right through me, stupid curiosity and all.
"That vai armour definitely looks good on him." A most adorable blush adorned the Zora girl's face alongside this mischievous smile. "Link has a cute feminine side, don't you think? ... uh ..."
Her slight blush intensified into a pretty crimson, she clapped her right hand over her mouth and her eyes widened.

"Nevemind" Mipha mumbled into her hand.
I smiled. What a terrible person am I?
Honestly, how could I even think about making fun of Mipha's embarrassment after what she had been through?

"Oh, that's nice, you can smile. Looks much better on you than this dark frown."
"Mipha, I'm terribly sorry. I dragged you into this mess and nearly got you ..." I gulped, Words refused to form in my dry mouth. "I a...almost got you k...killed." I looked down.
"I don't blame you, Zelda. It was my choice to keep you company. And it was the Yigas' choice to hunt you down. ... Here, drink a little." Mipha put a small silver goblet into my hand. "You have been out for a day and you've not eaten properly for some more before that. Link is preparing something ... eggs with bacon and fruits, rice. Did you know he is that good at cooking? The Gerudo love it!"

Obviously, she was trying to distract me from my black mood and cheer me up. Oh how little did she know that Link had done all the cooking on our quest ... well, on my quest to the holy springs.
How good did it taste. And how little did I thank him. I would have hung my head even deeper in shame if possible.

After a few moments staring silently at the clear water, I took some small sips from the goblet. My dry throat was aching for moisture.
"Thank you, Mipha. And thank you for being here for me."
Better being grateful this late than never. "All of you must hate me. I am a failure, ... only cause trouble. Maybe, ... maybe it would have been better if the Yiga just had k..." my voice broke again "killed me." the last two words were barely audible.

"No, Zelda. We don't hate you. But this will not stop me from giving you a slap or two if you don't crawl out of this deep hole of emotional garbage you hide in, princess or not."
"Maybe you should, Mipha ... Wait ... what?" She didn't just threaten to hit me? Mipha, of all people? And what kind of lowly language was that? I must have looked at her in utter disbelief because her smile got a slightly mischievous tint to it.
"Seems I finally got your full attention. Zelda, we do care for you. Believe it or not."

"But Mipha, why?" I shook my head. "All of you Champions have your special abilities. And me? Nothing. I'm a failure. Pointless how hard I try. Even father says so. Without the power to seal ..."

Slap.

Ouch!

That hurt.