SEVEN
THE CHAMPION FESTIVAL
I am so relieved to get to Zora's Domain.
The sight of the cascading waterfalls seems to wash away a thick layer of stress. I breathe in the fresh air atop Sari, my newly broken and beautiful mare.
After another night at the stables, we left the next morning along with Ashe and her father, and a few young men who offered to come along as support. The men turned up the previous evening, claiming to be travelling geologists, who greeted Link with excitement: he showed them the pictures on the slate, and they became quite rowdy and toasted him with large amounts of wine and food.
Pikango remained at the stable, promising to watch over it. I thanked him profusely before we left.
"May the Goddess go with you, Princess Zelda," he said, bowing and stooping so that the brushes in his topknot nearly tickle my face. I wanted to ask when and if I might see him again, but something stopped my tongue.
Although I am mightily grateful for the company, it does mean that Link and I haven't really spoken privately since that evening at the campfire. He draws Khalil alongside Sari, and smiles at me. I return his smile, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. New reasons to speak to him pop up in my head by the hour.
One of the other horses whinnies, and I stop and sit side-saddle. Ashe, her father and the geologists have dismounted, and they get to their knees and bow. Link does the same in turn.
"Thank you all," I say emotionally. "I am indebted to you."
"What will you do now, Princess?" asks Ashe, springing to her feet before her father can stop her. He palms his face lightly.
I face my band of subjects for the first time, and take a deep breath. Be stately, I command myself. These are your people.
"Please spread the word among the settlements, stables and villages," I say with a clear voice, "I intend to restore Hyrule to its former glory. To rebuild my Kingdom, lead my people, and extinguish every last trace of evil."
I have rehearsed this miniature speech so many times in my head that I didn't think how it would sound. Reactions seem to be mixed. Ashe tilts her head in confusion; while one of the young men dabs at the corner of his eye with his waistcoat. Link looks on, rather proudly.
Sudden applause breaks out behind me.
I turn to find the tallest Zora I have ever seen approaching us on foot. He is draped in regalia, has a chest broad as a barrel, and the whitest teeth and smoothest skin I have ever seen. Link whoops suddenly in delight, and then embarrassed, bows low.
"Beautifully spoken, if I may say so, your Highness."
Is it-? Could it be-?
The Zora Prince crosses boldly to Link, taking his arm and wrenching him off the floor with minimal effort. "Don't kiss the ground before me, old friend! We have been eagerly awaiting your return!" He turns to the rest of our party. Ashe's mouth is wide open: no doubt she has never seen a Zora, let alone one as…handsome?
"My thanks for escorting the Princess and her Champion safely to our Domain. I am Sidon, son of King Dorephan, and Prince of the Zora. My kingdom welcomes you. Will you be staying?"
"Yes," blurts out Ashe, over her father's polite refusal – clearly he longs to get back to his business. The geologists shrug at each other.
"At least stop to refresh yourselves at the inn?" Sidon beams, his sharp teeth glinting in the daylight.
Ashe and her father accept. I feel that there is something about the Prince's affable nature that makes it hard to say no to him. Sidon flexes his bicep – I wonder if that must be where Link picked it up from? – and beckons us to follow him. Everyone waits patiently for me to dismount, and I take my horse's reins and move on.
Approaching the bridge across the waters, the Zora guards spot us and bow. Sidon instructs them to take our horses, and they obediently seize the reins. I pat Sari's neck and fuss her mane as I bid her temporary goodbye. Link rubs the bridge of Khalil's long nose until his tail flicks back and forth like a metronome.
"Take care of them, please," I call to the guards, who stop and bow again. After all this time, I am going to have to get used to being bowed to again.
The reverence continues the further we get into the Domain. A deep rumbling fanfare sounds as we cross the first bridge, and all the inhabitants turn to see us approach.
"Princess Zelda!" I hear a small child whisper, before he or she is hastily hushed. Everyone drops to their knees. It is very strange to be recognised, but I remember that it is probable that most of the people here might have seen me before – Zora are known to have a much longer lifespan. It is not like meeting Hylians like we did at the stable, where most of my people will have only heard of me by description. I look at Prince Sidon, the muscles in his back flexing as he gestures to his people. He can't be the same tiny Zora child from before, can he? I remember being here with Link and Mipha long ago, trying to figure out the bizarre physiognomy of the Zora; the King must have been a fair bit larger than Sidon is now, and Mipha, although petite compared to Urbosa, was probably... Oh, Sidon must have been quite young when his sister was killed. My heart lurches with regret.
And suddenly there is Mipha, or rather her beautiful effigy, in the centre of the two staircases we are about to ascend.
A notion crosses my mind. "Wait," I call ahead to Sidon, and he turns in puzzlement. I step off the staircase and down to face the pedestal. Mipha's head is held aloft, her gaze pointed outwards to her people. I kneel on the stone before her, and wonder if she can hear my thoughts:
Mipha. I am grateful to have known you, and my heart is heavy with your loss. Please bless our visit. A pause, and then a reluctant addition that I still hope she hears: And please grant me some of your wisdom and patience.
Footsteps to my left, and Link kneels beside me. I look over at him, and he smiles encouragingly.
I stand, turn to the reverent crowd of Zora, and nod. Slowly, gracefully, they all get to their feet. I turn back to Sidon, who I am surprised to see has tears glistening in his eyes.
"Come!" he calls loudly, by way of composing himself. "Please come and meet with my father, the King."
The rest of our party drops off as I ascend the staircase with Link and the Prince. I look back at Ashe, who tears her eyes away from Sidon for a second to give me a gleeful thumbs-up. I chuckle, hoping her father doesn't notice, or he might have a fainting fit.
As I enter the throne room, I try not to register my surprise: the King sits on his throne, easily ten times the size I last saw him. His colossal frame seems to dominate the very room, and upon seeing us, he beams like his son.
"Princess Zelda," he booms, with warm affection in his voice. "You honour my people and I with your presence."
I bow low again, aware of how I must look, still in my riding gear. Not to mention how I must smell! I wonder if Zora senses are particularly acute?
Focus on your duties! "Your Highness," I bid the King, "We thank you for your warm welcome."
"And look who it is!" King Dorephan turns his beaming smile to Link. "The Hero of Hyrule!"
Although Link stays perfectly still, the corner of his mouth raises. I witness with glee his inability to accept even the most deserving compliment.
"It fills me with great pride and encouragement to see you both well, so soon after your single-handed defeat of the Great Calamity," he continues, and his face turns sombre at a speed that grips my heart. "Regretfully, I know this has come at a great price."
"I share in your grief, your Highness," I say, suddenly overwhelmed, dropping to my knee once again. Dorephan nods and raises a fin and I stand. "Without the aid of Lady Mipha and the other champions, we would not be standing here today."
I pause for a breath. "I know a little something of loss, myself. It is not something that should be taken lightly. For a century, Hyrule has suffered more losses than either of us can fathom."
Link is watching me. Under his cool, supportive gaze, I feel the words I am speaking will hit their mark. The elders watch me with a great deal more scrutiny; their heads bowed, their brows raised.
"My wish is that our kingdoms will be united again, with the help of yourself and your people."
Dorephan smiles. "We have much to discuss, Princess. But first, we would like to ask something of you."
Something…of me?
"Anything," I reply, pushing the puzzlement away.
"Tomorrow marks the date of our Champion Festival," he began to explain, voice cracking in places, "A festival to mark the sacrifice made by my beloved daughter and your friends. We would be honoured if you would stay and join the festivities."
How could I decline? The impatient part of me, the part I so loathed and tried dearly to repress, was eager to continue with official duties. But another part of me lit up with excitement at the thought of seeing a real Zora ceremony.
"I would love to," I beam. The King returns my smile.
"Then it is settled! You will be honoured with a great feast this evening, to start the celebrations." He turned his great head to Sidon. "Make sure that the Princess and Link are taken to the Royal chambers. They must rest and refresh themselves."
"If I may interject, Highnesses," began Sidon, patiently awaiting his father's nod of approval before continuing, "I would like to thank Princess Zelda for the reverence shown towards our Royal family. It is touching to know that you remember my dear sister as fondly as our people do."
Link suddenly looked somewhat uncomfortable. I realised how hard it must have been on him, having to earn his memories back, one by one.
"Please," he continued, "Allow me to escort you to the chambers."
Link immediately demurred, stating that he was more than happy to stay at the inn, but Sidon was having none of it. He led us out of the throne room by way of a well-guarded entrance I had not previously noticed, and as soon as the three of us were alone together, Sidon's whole demeanour seemed to relax.
"You two must be exhausted!"
Link and I shared a glance, before agreeing with sighs.
"Princess, I would like you to use my sister's room. It has been kept in pristine condition, with only a few additions to accommodate your stay. Link and I will head to my quarters."
A few more paces, and Sidon stopped in front of a large, ornate door. He bowed and moved away, gesturing that I should enter. With a last glance back at the pair of them, I pushed the heavy door and stepped inside.
The first thing I noticed was the bed, a clear indicator of how exhausted I was. It sat opposite a small pool of water – that's right, didn't the Zora sleep upright, in water? How kind of them to think ahead and provide me with a Hylian-style bed.
Before I could take in any more of my opulent surroundings, I lay down on the enticingly soft covers, and closed my eyes for what I swore was a few seconds.
When I awoke, the light had changed. I had barely moved position, so deep had my sleep been, and my head felt a little hazy.
On a marble table behind the pool was a jug of clear water, a bowl of fresh fruits, and what looked to be a bundle of clothing. I walked over to investigate, my footsteps echoing in the empty room, and my hands went straight for the water. I decanted a drink into the provided goblet, saliva rolling over my tongue in anticipation at the sound of the pouring water. It had been so long since I had drunk from a proper cup!
I share my appreciation of Zora architecture from my mother. I don't recall much, but I know she loved the Domain. My father claimed it made him feel cold, all blue tones and sharply carved stone, but I saw elegance reflected in every pillar and beam, beauty that seemed to encapsulate the spirit of the Zora. I wondered idly if there were any Zora architects; how they would feel about renovating part of a Hylian castle.
I scoffed at myself. How could I think about interior improvements when my people needed guidance?!
I picked up the first garment of clothing in the neat pile, and as I felt its soft material, I couldn't help but feel stale. It would be a shame to put such an opulent garment on my body as it currently was. I glanced towards the tranquil pool. Would it be right to refresh myself in what was essentially Mipha's bed?
Running a hand through my lank hair, I decided I couldn't wait any longer. If there was to be a ceremony, I needed to appropriately represent my people. I couldn't spend the whole visit in my riding gear, and I had wished for a change.
I stripped and slipped into the water, finding it refreshingly cool. The pool made me think of my mother again, and the times I had witnessed her preparing at the start of the day, or of an evening when she went to meet with my father. Her handmaids surrounding her, one of them holding me in their arms, others brushing her hair or bringing some tool or other over to aid in her bathing. I wonder if she felt embarrassed, as I did when Father insisted I had my own maids, and they started to follow me around, endlessly bringing me things.
I shook my head, wetting my hair, before dipping the back of my head into the water. The sharp coolness helped to knock away residual fatigue from my nap.
After a few more minutes of languishing, I washed myself as best I could, and stepped from the pool. My extremities tingled in the cool air. I waited to dry, walking slowly around the edge of the pool, combing my hair with my fingers.
I dressed once I had dried. With no mirror to speak of, I looked down at myself – the clothes were a remarkably good fit, assuming they had been made for me ahead of time by Zora tailors, who were possibly not used to making full items of clothing. The cloth was high quality and soft against my skin, and a bright radiant blue like the tunics worn by the Champions.
I pushed the door open to find two blue-skinned guards outside, waiting for me. They bowed respectfully, and in turn I inclined my head.
Excitement suddenly fizzled inside me. I followed the guards, eager to reach the throne room.
Once I did, I was shocked to see that a table had been brought in, placed so that the King was at the head of it. There was no sign of the elders, instead Sidon sat at the right side of his father, and Link to the left. The tips of my ears burned. I hoped they hadn't been waiting just for me.
As I passed the arches of the throne room, I looked down to see that more tables had appeared down in the courtyards, stretching out in a long line with Zora weaving in and out with dishes and plates. Nobody had touched the food yet, and there was a hum of anticipation and excitement. Ornate shell-like lanterns hung everywhere, and everything was the blue of the Champions, or red like the hue of Sidon's – and Mipha's – topscales. How long had I been asleep?!
As I bowed my head and sat down, I saw Link had changed, too: he was wearing a kind of elaborate armour. Steel plates shone at his shoulders, gauntlets that glinted in the blue light covered his wrists and arms, and the plating was grouped around what appeared to be chain mail, but as I drew closer to him and stood before my seat at the other end of the table, I realised were layered scales, like those of a fish. Some of them caught the light and glimmered. At his throat was a small pendant inlaid with a larger, more opalescent scale which I thought I had seen somewhere before.
He and Sidon both rose. We all bowed to each other, then turned to the King and bowed low to him.
"The ceremony has begun," he boomed, his voice filling the throne room and echoing out across the domain. "May the feast commence."
A brief, happy fanfare followed his words, and the gentlemen waited until I had seated myself in the high-backed throne before taking their seats. The moment we were seated, various Zora in full armour rushed in to fill the table with various meals. Was it possible we were being served by the King's own guard?
I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen such a magnificent spread. Having spent one hundred years on an empty stomach, and then making do with whatever Link hunted and cooked up, my mouth watered again as silver platters bearing mountains of flaky fish, meat and soft cooked vegetables were laid out in front of us.
I watched the men first: surprisingly, the King did not eat with us, but drank from a goblet that was refilled whenever he put it down. Sidon took a decent amount of food from the plates closest to him while Link's eyes darted with delight across the landscape of food. He took a large cut of meat, then piled colourful vegetables atop it. I prayed he would resist the urge to stuff it in his face.
I reached out towards a tantalising platter of steamed fish to find it being propelled towards me. A tall, female Zora warrior with a diamond-shaped face brought it closer, and with a shaking hand, she slid a fish onto my plate with a nervous, subservient smile.
"Thank you," I said, as she bowed low and backed away. I reached for a plate of carrots and greens only to have the same thing happen again. Every time I made sure to thank the Zora who served me, and to look them in the eyes as I did so.
I had never in all my childhood seen Father thank someone who served him.
By the time my meal was plated, the men were on their second plate. I ate carefully, not able to meet the eyes of my dining companions. I hate eating while I am observed, and I was acutely aware that since the King wasn't eating, his eyes were free to roam. I glanced up to see him watching his subjects as I heard them mingling, scraping plates and clinking goblets behind us.
Sidon shared Link's hearty appetite: he barely looked up from his plate. He even managed a third, and a fourth, and then he picked at a bunch of grapes. Link chased him up until his third serving, where he reclined, one hand across his stomach. I cleared my throat with a small smirk and he sat upright again, stifling a small hiccup.
After we had finished, I was delighted to see that the many plates left – some of them untouched – were carried down the twin staircases for the people to enjoy. I was filled with respect once again. What a kind, generous leader, and a great example to myself.
The King drank deeply from his goblet, and the elder Zora holding the jug of wine refilled it before it had even touched the plinth by the throne. He smacked his lips and beamed down at Link, Sidon and myself. I smiled gratefully, wondering what would follow: surely that was the end of the evening? But it seemed too early.
Excitement danced in the air. The warriors stepped forward, and at equal distance from one another, they lifted the tablecloth from the table and deftly swept it away. I could hardly believe my eyes – the table had vanished! I glanced at the floor, noticing two symmetrical seams that I hadn't realised were there before. The table must have risen from the stone. How ingenious!
Prince Sidon took to the throne on the right side of his father, who gestured for me to take the right. I started forward as gracefully as I could manage, and Link came to stand to the left of me. For a moment I hesitated; then I remembered that, while a revered Champion, he was still not Royalty.
It was a strange thing to be reminded of, when in fact I think of him as my equal.
Just as my brain launched into the finer points of the Hyrulean caste system, I noticed more Zora climbing the stairs – musicians this time, judging by the instruments they were carrying, and their fine dress: headscarves for the women, and head jewellery not unlike Prince Sidon's for the males.
"Ah!" Cried the King suddenly, making me jump and turn. "My favourite part!"
The musician closest to us – a drummer – caught a beat, and the night was split with cascading music, filling the domain with triumphant sound. It was a steady, almost martial piece, and I tried to nod along. I had absolutely no gift for music, and I thought of my lyre which was probably laying in the remnants of my castle. I secretly hoped it was broken.
Sidon leaned forward from his throne. "This piece is the Fanfare of the Zora," he explained to a patient Link and I. "It is our battle music, but tonight it is played to mark great triumph."
"We are proud to hear it," I said. Sidon pulled a face and I rudely almost laughed. Perhaps he wasn't so fond of the music?
The song ended with peals of applause, echoed politely by we of the court.
I thought that must be it, but almost immediately afterwards the musicians turned as one to face the throne room, and began to play a piece that was a lot livelier, to Sidon's barely concealed delight. He rose to his full height and flexed his muscles with vigour. "Now, this is more like it!"
To my amusement, he crossed to me and held out his hand.
"Would you honour me with this dance, Princess Zelda?"
A blush warmed my cheeks. Once again, I felt overwhelmed and unable to refuse.
I placed my hand demurely in his and he bowed low, pressing it to his lips. His skin was cool to the touch. I was suddenly all feet, and a bundle of anxiety sat low in my stomach: it had been years since I had danced! Of course, it was all a part of my upbringing, until more pressing matters arose, and then it suddenly wasn't. And try as I might, I couldn't suppress the childish thought: a Prince had never kissed my hand before.
As we crossed to the throne room under his father's gaze, I wondered how Sidon and I were ever meant to dance: he was almost twice my height. It was going to look comical: if I looked straight ahead, I was looking at his belt, and- oh, goodness me.
Sidon seemed to anticipate my outpouring of nerves, because as we respectively bowed and curtsied, he simply said, "Follow my lead."
He took me by the hand, and stepped neatly forward, passing me under his broad arm and twirling me as I went. We peppered our dance with lots of passing and twirling, and very little bodily contact. Bystanders, members of the court, clapped politely every time we executed a slightly varying or difficult step: sometimes Sidon would arch his back and slick past my face with a dip before straightening up again with a flourish. He danced like he was swimming through the air. At one point, he passed me under his arm, caught my hand with his other hand, and dipped and whirled around me so deftly that for a moment I thought I saw two Sidons.
As I laughed appreciatively at Sidon's antics, I caught Link watching us. Watching me. His expression was the same as it was whenever we had met a fork in the road on our travels, or when he couldn't get Khalil to perform a trick.
He felt my eyes on him, and immediately his brows lifted into a more neutral expression, but I'd already seen what he didn't mean me to see.
The music ended after a long note, and Sidon and I held our last pose. I burst into peals of nervous laughter from the pit of my stomach over the following applause, and as we bowed to each other once more I could honestly say it was the happiest I had felt in a long time… despite Link's strange look, which threatened to niggle at my head.
We sat ourselves down, just as the King boomed: "And now, with the commencement of the opening song, I declare the Champion Festival begun!"
Suddenly, more Zora poured into the throne room as lively music played. They began to pair off and dance as Sidon and I had danced, but faster and with more abandon. The King clapped and slapped his fins, laughing. I hoped I wouldn't be expected to join in: I was still full from the feast, and my leaden feet wouldn't keep up. Thankfully, Sidon remained seated, and thus so did I.
A gaggle of young women – or so I believed - suddenly appeared. The group parted to let one in the middle advance towards Link and I, and one encouragingly shoved her in the small of the back as she hesitated.
"Princess Zelda," she asked timidly, dropping so low in a bow that I was worried she might smack her face on the stone floor. The elongated fin on the back of her head swung over her shoulder as she lowered herself. "Would you do me the great honour of…of permitting me to dance with your Champion?"
I look at Link as he gazes back at me, waiting patiently. I cannot think quickly of a reason to say no.
"Of course," I say, waving my hand towards them in what I hope is a gracious, nonchalant manner.
With a quick nod of thanks, Link steps away from my side and takes the hand of the Zora. Right in front of me he stoops and kisses her hand, mirroring the gesture Sidon and I shared. I notice that her knees knock together as he does so. He leads her past a few other dancing couples and towards the centre of the floor.
I am restless for the remainder of the song. With so many couples crossing the floor, the beautiful architecture, and Sidon sitting mere feet across from me, I can't seem to think of a better thing to occupy my time with than Link and his Zora partner. I can't tear my eyes away from them. I'm sure it's because I had never seen Link dance before. He is nothing like Sidon, who seems to add flair and flourish to his regular moves, instead he showcases his dance partner, who is only a little taller than he is. She moves well enough, but Link makes all the right shapes and holds as she twirls around him.
I realise their mouths are moving at almost the speed of their steps. They're talking very animatedly, and in fact, they even pass conversation with the passing couples around them. My ears and neck become very hot, and I guiltily try to remember the last time we properly spoke.
I recall with some shame that it must have been just after our climactic battle, when I asked if he truly remembered me. In the hours that followed, we walked through the wrecked castle town as he spoke of his quest to retrieve his memories, aided in no small part I realise by Impa and Pikango.
"Prince Sidon," I find myself asking, "Is there somewhere in the Domain that you would recommend for a private walk?"
Sidon rests his chin in his upturned hand, balanced on his thigh. "Sometimes I like to stroll along one of the bridges," he muses. "Would you like me to accompany you, for… safety?"
"I will wait for a moment," I answer with a glance at Link. "And thank you, but I should like a brief moment to myself, if I may."
It is assumed that I mean for Link to accompany me – after all, he is my protector. I wait until the song has finished and he has bid his partner goodbye with another bow.
"I would like to take a walk," I blurt out before he has barely reached me, and he nods.
As we step out, the night air is cool. I wish I were wearing some kind of outer garment, and I pray I don't start to shiver. We walk down the bridge, and I gaze into the water underneath, while I wait for the words to come.
Link waits patiently as well. I wonder if he expects me to say anything.
Why is this so excruciating?! I have been through every difficult experience with him, coming out of resentment right to the other side. I race through my memories as if I am flicking through one of my reference books, but I am left wanting. Vignettes of us flash up in my mind's eye: him saving me from the Yiga at the oasis, the moment when I started to see him as less of a reminder of my own failure. The moment in the woods, facing down the Guardian stalkers. Brief flashes of action that I don't recall, and must have somehow observed during some kind of out-of-body experience, but I don't know how that would make sense…
"I was thinking," I begin, not untruthfully, "of inviting Prince Sidon to accompany us to Kakariko."
Yes, that will do, I think. Now say something else.
Something else.
Time is of the essence!
I scramble for ideas, growing impatient with myself. Compliment his dancing! No, that would sound stupid, and imply I was watching him. Talk more about Kakariko! And say what, exactly?
A serene voice cut through the madness inside: He is your friend. Just talk to him.
"The Zora really are a fascinating people, aren't they?" I turn to him, my dress billowing in the breeze, and open my hands. "I am so surprised by Prince Sidon, most of all."
Link smiles and agrees. He tells me that Sidon is one of his closest friends outside of the Champions. He then tells me that the Zora girl he danced with was an old friend, and he hadn't seen her since childhood – not properly, anyway. Suddenly, he is telling me a story about racing along this very bridge with her and Mipha before sliding into some pottery and gashing his hand. Mipha patched him up straight after, but he opens his palm and shows me a silvery scar.
I am keen to reach out and touch it, but I refrain, aware that guards are stationed at each end of the bridge, and I wouldn't want them to witness such familiarity. He runs his thumb across it and smiles.
I feel relieved and foolish all at once. If I'd only thought to talk to him as my friend, as he is, I wouldn't have filled my own head full of such nonsense. It's comforting to see he views the Domain as he does: a place of comfort, and refuge. I pray that we will always be welcome here.
As the night grows darker and cooler, Link suggests we head back. The musicians have dwindled in size, and the music has moved to a more tranquil, background tune. I am suddenly very tired, lulled by the swaying, swooping melodies.
Once back at the throne room, I politely excuse myself, thanking Sidon and the King. Sidon looks a little disappointed as we leave, but he inserts himself back into the festivities as soon as we have traded bows.
Link walks me to Mipha's room in a more comfortable silence. I thank him at the door, and then wearily push it closed.
Once again the warm bed calls to me, and I am desperate for it. As I undress, draping my garment in a loose fold over the foot of the bed for tomorrow, I wonder idly if Link will stay at the inn with my other subjects. My last thoughts for the night are wondering if they enjoyed the feast, and what the rest of the Champion Festival will bring.
