Chapter 10 - Zora's Domain
Summary: After Link escorts Mipha back to Zora's Domain, it is finally time for a heart-to-heart talk.
Next morning Mipha suggested they take the raft back to the domain as far as they could. As the winds were favorable, the weather mild, and the river calm, it made perfect sense.
"Did you ever enjoy sailing?" said Mipha.
"I did it a bit," said Link. "I had to use a large Korok Leaf to get anywhere unless the wind was blowing the right way. It was slow going and took a lot of energy. But it was the only way to reach some islands. I used to wish I could swim like a Zora. It would have made things much easier."
It was a smooth sail under the Thims Bridge, and then they traveled to the East of a small island and onward past Zelo Pond and Mercay Island and then finally to the mouth of the Zora River.
"This is where our journey on horseback to the Great Plateau began," said Link. "We've come full circle, from here to the Great Plateau to Rito Village to Gerudo Town and then north of Hyrule Castle to the Lost Woods and now back to the domain. We've seen a good deal of Hyrule together."
"Yes, and I will always remember it," said Mipha. "I wish it was under happier circumstances, though."
They made their way along the North bank of Zora River on foot for now. The Zora River current flowed against them so travel by water would be more difficult. But Mipha offered to help pull him along and even up waterfalls if necessary. There was a tall Sheikah Tower atop a mountain to their south. Link wished he had time to visit all the towers and shrines, but it would have to wait. They could see Ruta's targeting beam overhead above the tower, still locked onto Hyrule Castle, awaiting her pilot's order to strike at Ganon.
As they reached the Inogo Bridge, they decided to rest for a moment and climbed up into one of the two Zora built structures there. It offered seating, modest shelter and a view of the surrounding area. A light rain began to fall as they sat together, and they had to move to the center of the structure and sit on the floor leaning against it to avoid getting wet. The rain dripped onto the top and down the sides. Link looked over at Mipha and could see the excitement in her eyes as she neared her home.
"You certainly look happy to be coming home!" said Link.
"Yes, I am," said Mipha. "I love it here in the domain! And I miss my family. These two structures mark the entrance to the domain and the first sight of home for me in quite some time. Do you mind waiting here for a bit while it rains? I'm enjoying sitting here with you."
"No, there's no hurry, I'm enjoying it, too," said Link. "I like the sound of rain. I hated trying to climb in it, but we're already up here. Forgive me, but I sometimes used to think of the domain as my home as well. I never really had a permanent home as long as I can remember. When I had time, I always thought of coming to see you. It was the closest thing to coming home I had. And the domain holds a lot of memories for me."
"And for me, too," said Mipha. "And I'm glad you felt welcome enough to think of here as your home."
"You and your father always made me feel welcome," said Link. "When I was small I didn't think anything of it. But later, when I was older and realized how important a person you are, I felt almost ashamed that I took up so much of your precious time and took your friendship so for granted. You were very kind."
"Thank you," said Mipha. "But I wasn't just being kind, I enjoyed your company too. And I wish you would not think of my position so much."
They sat quietly for a few more moments as a steady rain fell.
"When you get to the area by the slumber pools you should complete the shrine there," said Mipha. "It will speed your return here anytime you wish. And I like the idea of a speedy, safe return for you here."
"Yes, that's an excellent idea," said Link. "I will do that when we get there."
The rain was letting up, and it was time to go.
They made their way partly on foot and partly in the water. Enemies had not had time to infiltrate this area yet, and so their passage here was safe, only the odd Water Oktorok proving a mild nuisance.
When they passed the Oren Bridge, Mipha took Link's hand and helped him swim. The giant blue fish sculpture that announced the domain's location came into view as they rounded some cliffs and passed under Luto's Crossing. Link could feel Mipha's excitement as she pulled harder and increased her speed. He had to keep his mouth closed to avoid swallowing water from the splashing her rapid movement caused. A guard waved to them from above as they passed by the Great Zora Bridge and approached the last waterfall. A family of ducks took to the air, scattering from out of their way as they approached the final waterfall. Mipha held Link's hand tightly and pulled him up the waterfall, then landed with him in the water on the lower level of the domain near the ladder. She was finally home!
"I'll meet you in the plaza!" said Mipha as she prepared to swim up one of the artificial waterfalls that ringed the domain. Link climbed up the ladder, and Mipha was there waiting for them.
"Let's go see my father!" said Mipha excitedly. "And let's see how angry my little brother is with me. He'll probably be angry with both us since he will blame you too for taking me away."
"I hope he can forgive us!" laughed Link. "But let him blame me if it makes it any better for you."
They made their way up the steps to the throne and room past the guards who acknowledged them. And when King Dorephan saw Mipha, he got up, and they hugged each other.
"My darling Mipha!" said King Dorephan. "You are safely home at last! And Link, you are safe as well. Thank you for looking out for my dear daughter."
"You're welcome, Your Majesty," said Link. "But she looked out for me as much as the other way around. I am glad she is safely home with you. I know she missed you and her brother."
And speaking of her brother, as expected Sidon was standing nearby with a frown and when Mipha looked over at him, he turned his back on her.
"Dear Sidon," said Mipha approaching him as he stood with his back to her and a frown on his face. "I missed playing with you so much, and so did Link. We were so looking forward to being home with you again. I hope you can forgive me for being away, but we needed to take care of some things. Perhaps Link could tell you a story about one of his battles?"
At that Sidon turned around and gave Link a glare. He liked Link's stories but wasn't sure he was ready to forgive him for stealing away his sister again.
"Or maybe I can tell you the story another time," said Link pretending he was about to leave.
At that Sidon decided hearing a story would be better than sulking. He rushed over and took Link's hand, but with a glare at his sister. He still hadn't forgiven her!
"Let's sit over here," said Link. "I will tell you all about the battle we had with a terrible giant one-eyed Hinox!"
Sidon's eyes grew big with excitement. He had to admit Link told good stories. Maybe that's what his sister liked about him too. He knew she couldn't love his swimming.
Link sat down and told an eager Sidon the story of their battle with the Hinox at the Digdogg Suspension Bridge, making it sound exciting but not too scary. Sidon gripped Link's hand and seemed to hang on each word.
Mipha looked over at them and smiled. Sidon was clearly enjoying the story, and she could see he was holding onto Link's hand. Well, at least Link was forgiven. This gave her a chance to speak with her father about all that had happened.
When Link's story ended, the sun was close to setting, and it was getting near to Sidon's sleep time. Sidon felt better now and understood that if they had not gone away, there might not have been such a good story to listen to. He permitted Link to give him a goodnight kiss on the head. And, in a generous spirit of forgiveness, he even allowed his neglectful sister to kiss him on the head as well. Then he went off to bed, thinking about how he would battle a Hinox next time he ran into one.
"Father, Link will be staying overnight at the inn here, then he goes off tomorrow to Hyrule Castle," said Mipha. "I would like to spend some time with him."
"Yes, of course," said King Dorephan. "And my prayers and the hopes of all of us go with you, Link. May you return here safely soon."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," said Link. "And good night."
"Why don't you try that shrine now," said Mipha.
Mipha and Link left the throne room and walked down to the plaza. Then Link entered the shrine on the floor below. The puzzle consisted of maneuvering a giant sphere into a receptacle while avoiding a cascade of giant stone balls and a beam of energy. Link had to use Cryonis and Stasis to complete the shrine and turn the structure blue.
The sun was just starting to set when Link emerged from the shrine and explained what he had done.
"Now you truly have no excuse not to visit me often," laughed Mipha. "And I expect you will do so."
"Gladly, Princess," laughed Link.
The sky was a beautiful golden color now, a bit like the beautiful gold in her eyes, Link thought as they walked together.
"Come, I want to sit and talk with you," said Mipha. "You are not feeling too tired?"
"No, not at all," said Link. "You did all the work pulling me here. I'm amazed you aren't exhausted!"
"I know a nice spot we can talk," said Mipha. "We've been there before, but I like it."
Mipha led the way up the stairs and toward the western bridge. A Guard patrolling the area bowed her head in acknowledgment to Mipha, and she greeted her back. At the end of the bridge, they followed the path to the left and up a hill and passed some pine trees until they reached a pond at the foot of a waterfall. Several ducks were swimming there but flew away as they approached. Sunset Fireflies could be seen flashing near the trees. The sound of the waterfall and the occasional cry of a bird returning to its nest for the night were the only other sounds.
"Sit with me here," said Mipha as she led Link to a large rock in the middle of the pond and they sat down next to each other facing the waterfall. An occasional fish jumped from the water. It was a beautiful spot, close enough to the domain to be an easy walk, but far enough to offer some privacy.
"You were very good with Sidon," laughed Mipha. "If you hadn't been there with one of your adventure stories I don't think he would have forgiven me."
"He's so cute!" laughed Link. "Sulking first and then all too eager to hear a story. He's adorable! You are so lucky to have a family like that, though that was probably an insensitive remark since I know you lost your mother soon after Sidon hatched. I'm sorry. But I often wished I had a family, a brother or a sister. So I appreciate the chance to play with him when I can."
"So, tomorrow is your big day," said Mipha. "I wanted to spend some time together with you and wish you well. And I wanted us to have a chance to talk before you go."
"Yes, I'm glad we have some time together now," said Link. "It feels like old times again. Even better in some ways. I always enjoy talking to you. Though I will agree with you, you often did most of the talking, and I was often all too quiet."
"Yes, and you shouldn't be that way," said Mipha. "You should feel comfortable telling me anything, Link. Don't you feel that you can?"
"Almost," said Link. "But I have always felt that you were special and I needed to remember that. I mean you are a Princess, someone important with a future role to play with your people."
"And what if I was not a Princess?" said Mipha. "What if I was the same person but not royalty, and you were sitting together with me here in the moonlight. What would you say to me then, Link?"
Link turned to look at her, and she was looking back at him. She looked so beautiful in the moonlight. How else could he answer this? He had been making excuses for not telling her how he felt for a long time. Now she was asking him directly. What if she was not a Princess of the Zora, someone above him in life? What was there to lose now by telling her?
He took a deep breath and looked down at his hands as he clasped them in his lap.
"I would say that I love you with all my heart and that I want to spend the rest of my life with you," said Link.
Now it was Mipha's turn to hold her breath for a second. But she already knew what to say next.
"And if I told you I love you, too, and felt the same way, what would you say then?" said Mipha.
Link looked up at her in surprise, and she was smiling at him now. And his eyes grew wide, and his heart leaped in a way it never had before. He was trying to understand what had just happened. Was this even possible? He took another deep breath, but now one of excitement, not nervousness. He looked her in the eyes this time.
"I would say Mipha, I love you. Will you marry me?" said Link.
"And I would say yes, Link, yes I would gladly marry you!" said Mipha as she laughed in happiness and at the stunned expression on Link's face.
"Now can we do all that over again in the indicative instead of the subjunctive case?" laughed Mipha.
"Yes, of course," said Link too excited to remember his Hylian grammar class and what subjunctive even meant.
He looked her in the eyes.
"I love you, Mipha. Will you marry me?" said Link.
"Yes, I will, and happily," said Mipha as she took his hand.
Then they took each other in their arms and held each other as they shared their first kiss.
"I hope this is not a dream," said Link after their kiss ended. "It feels like one. If so, I don't want to wake up."
"Now you can finally stop worrying about your future," said Mipha. "It will be here with me, where you belong."
"And that makes this seem even more like a dream," said Link.
"Well, there is one way to find out," said Mipha.
She pushed Link off the rock and into the water as he sputtered and then burst out laughing. Then she dove into the water next to him, and they put their arms around each other. They looked into each other's eyes, and they kissed again.
"It's a Zora tradition that an engaged couple kisses in the water right after they declare their love for each other," laughed Mipha happily. "And since this will be your home, you had better get used to water!"
"I will get used to anything if you are there to share it with me," said Link. "This is the happiest day of my life!"
"And mine as well," said Mipha. "But come with me before it gets too late. We should say a prayer to Hylia to bless us and then I have something for you."
They held hands as they walked back to the domain. They were both so excited they ignored the funny look the guard gave them as they passed by. When they reached the small shrine of Hylia, they bowed their heads and prayed silently.
"Wait here, I will be right back," said Mipha when they finished. Mipha returned a few moments later carrying something.
"This is my gift to you with all my love," said Mipha. "It may aid you in your quest, as it will allow you to swim much like a Zora. I hope it will protect you and you will wear it in good health."
Link took it and held it out to examine it. It was an exquisite piece of armor made of blue and silver and contained a shiny white scale. It must have taken many days of painstaking work to make, and it looked like it would fit him perfectly. And Link knew enough Zora tradition to understand what it meant.
He looked back at her.
"I will cherish this always," said Link. "It's magnificent! But to make this, you must have known how I felt."
"I knew how I felt," said Mipha. "I suspected how you felt, but I needed to hear you express it."
"And now I can't say it enough," said Link. "I love you. And I can't wait to return here and start a life with you."
"Nor can I. Now try to get some rest if you can," said Mipha. "You have a big day tomorrow. I will see you in the morning before you leave."
They kissed goodnight. Link made his way back to the inn and collapsed. Who said dreams can't come true? His just did. Going to sleep now would be anticlimactic, but he soon did.
Mipha made her way back to the throne room. Sidon was already asleep, but her father looked up and saw the look on her face.
"Mipha, dear, you're glowing like a Stealthfin Trout. Whatever is it?" said King Dorephan.
"Link has accepted the armor, and we are to be wed, Father! I am so happy!" said Mipha.
She rushed into his arms, and he hugged her.
"And I am happy as well," said King Dorephan as he held her. "Not only for you, but because Link is a fine person and I believe you two can have a wonderful life together. I wish your dear mother were here to share this happy moment. But tell me all about what happened."
Mipha went over everything as her father listened and smiled. It was obvious she really did love him very much. It had been evident for some time. And he was overjoyed he loved her, too.
After she was done Mipha collapsed into the pool and closed her eyes. Finally, her wishes had come true! Soon they would be together.