If there appear to be any "cuts" anywhere they are intended. I just have no idea how to format gaps into this website XD

Chapter 11: All's fair in love and war

Zora's Domain was, to put it lightly, a masterpiece. A sculpted symphony of water and engineering brought together through the diligence of the Zora people. It truly was a marvel to behold and I could not wait to be back there among the never-ending beauty and grandeur of it all.

Geographically however it is a wildly different story.

Situated in between Mount Lanayru to the south and an impassable cliff face to the north; one that looped behind the city making it near impossible to bypass, it was safe to say that not just anyone could reach the Palace of King Dorephan. Luckily, my appointed knight was not 'just anyone' and while highly reluctant to tread within a swords throw of the place, he trudged along beside me all the same.

"Any reason you recommend this road from the east Link? I'm sure there must be a more direct route than this very winding path…" I said, dejectedly as we met yet another bend as the road drifted slowly upwards.

"This is the only route capable on foot your Highness." Link replied keeping his eyes firmly on the road "It would be unwise to traverse the lakes at this time of year."

I sighed at his reacquired use of my title and pondered my knight's strange behaviour.

He had always showed great interest in all parts of Hyrule and was never one for turning down a visit anywhere. So why was Zora's Domain such a hardshi-… oh….

"Link." I suddenly said coming out of my stupor "How did you meet Mipha?"

At the sound of Mipha's name I could feel him stiffen slightly before replying.

"Has Mipha not told you the story yet? It seems everyone in the Domain knows by now as well as all of the Champions. Revali included…" He muttered under his breath.

"She mentioned something about you asking for the Zora Sapphire, but didn't give too many details." I said innocently. "I just wondered if there was more to the story is all."

He shifted uncomfortably before speaking once more.

"To be honest Princess that really is the full story."

I scoffed very loudly and gave him a withering look to which he almost cracked a slight grin.

"Fine fine." he sighed, "I must have been very small because the memory is somewhat distant. Of course if you ask Mipha she would say it was like yesterday but you know how the Zora are with time; they cannot and will never be able to gain perspective on the Hylian life span." I nodded my assent; Mipha could be somewhat irritating at times where things like age were concerned.

"It was coming up to my mother's birthday and I overheard her speaking with one of her friends about how she'd never really had any special jewellery her whole life; not even for the engagement or marriage to my father. So…"

"You did what any young child would have done and made the trek to Zora's Domain?" I said almost in hysterics at the ridiculousness of a young Link walking hundreds of kilometres to get his mother a present.

"You bet!" He said enthusiastically and I brightened at his reinvigorated tone. "It only took a few days if I didn't stop for food and ate along the way. I told my mum I'd be staying at a friend's home over in Hateno and she didn't seem to mind. Anyway once I started to climb the bluff I noticed what looked like a girl floating down the river. I panicked slightly and called out to her hoping she would wake, but when she didn't budge I got very worried."

A grimace wiped the grin I had been supporting and I gasped at this sudden turn in events. "So what happened?!" I asked with impatience in my voice.

"Well I jumped down-"

"Down the cliff face?!" I cut in with a shocked tone.

"I mean she looked like she was going to drown Prin- I mean Zelda. So I swam as fast as I could and flipped her over so she could actually breathe; a common misconception, while the Zora can breathe quite well under the water it's a conscious effort which means when they are unconscious they can no longer perform this function."

"Hmmm that's odd…" I muttered before returning my attention to Link.

"I managed to drag her out further downstream, getting a few bumps and bruises along the way mind you, and contact a Zora Watch-Guard who managed to take the situation from there. It's quite lucky I found him really…" Links face paled as he said these words and he looked uneasy.

"Anyway I was taken to Zora's Domain to answer some questions; they seemed to think that I was somehow involved with the girl's trauma. This girl ended up, of course, to be non-other than Mipha. The sentinel and I informed the King otherwise and I was given a 'Royal Pardon'". He gave a small curtsy at which I let out a soft giggle.

"It wasn't long after he asked me my purpose for being so close to the domain. Young me being stupid and naïve I talked openly that I had come to retrieve the legendary Zora's Sapphire to give to my mother and everyone around started laughing." Link's voice was getting smaller and smaller with each syllable and I was waiting for what I assumed was the inevitable collapse of his voice.

"He told me that only his daughter could bestow such a treasure and that the individual had to be a very special person indeed. I… I said that I wanted to meet his daughter and get to know her better so that she may think me worthy at some point. He laughed at me and said that I should go home the following day, but he would request my presence in the near future to meet his daughter; the girl I had rescued."

"And thus a budding romance began!" I said in a dreamy tone "How romantic!"

If I had thought that these words would have cheered my appointed knight up or make him laugh I had been severely mistaken. Instead, his whole body seemed to lock up and he turned his head toward the floor like a dog that had just been berated.

"Link" I quickly tried, "Link I didn't mean-"

"It's fine Princess. While Mipha and her father may have wanted that at some point… maybe still…I have no intention of accepting the Sapphire." Link finally looked back up and into my eyes and I thought I saw moisture flicker then vanish around his irises. "Mipha is a wonderful person and I would never wish any harm upon her, but I will never love her in the way she wants. I told her this many years ago after I had matured enough to understand what the Sapphire represented. One Hylian already broke that pact many years ago and I did not wish to be the second…"

"And your mother?" I hesitantly asked, nervous I would upset him again.

To my great delight he let out a wolf-like laugh that could almost have been a cheerful bark.

"Yeah she was devastated." He said with all the sarcasm he could muster while grinning. "She told me to get right back there when the King asked and start to network in with the higher Zora!"

"I would have liked to meet her she sounded like an amazing woman."

"Yup that she was!" Link agreed as he jumped on an octorok that had been brave enough to venture too close, promptly bursting it all over the floor.

"LINK!" I screamed as Octo juices flew in every direction and Link emerged from the chaos almost doubled over with crying laughter at the sight of me.

"Oh you better run…" I said in a dangerous voice which had just the effect I had hoped for.

Link's laughter was wiped from his face as fear overcame it and I chased him up the curvy roads leading to Zora's Domain.

-


We reached Zora's Domain a good three hours before anyone could have predicted due to a combination of my decent stamina, Link's impressive ability to stay at least four metre's in the lead at all times during our chase and a technique my knight called 'Shield Surfing'.

'Shield Surfing' turned out to be just what it said on the tin, so let me take you back a few hours to where the fun began:

"I am not going down on that." I stated bluntly looking first from the steep hill below me and the steel knight's shield Link was holding in front of me.

"Oh come on Your H- ZELDA!" I laughed and he looked sheepish. "Sorry I just… anyway there isn't really anything to be afraid of. I asked an old friend of mine to put a spell on this one" and he pointed to the shield he was holding out for me "so that the shield is always stable and will not let the user fall. I'm fairly sure it's self-steering as well…. Maybe not, I can't remember if I paid for that…"

I gave him a withering look to which he simply replied "It was extra alright?!"

"Okay fine, I'll give it a try but can we not find a smaller hill? I feel you're throwing me in at the deep end here!"

"Sorry Princess no time." He said in a mock hasty voice "all you need to do is grip the shield here to start then just push off. The rest is all instinct."

Then without any warning he got a running start then jumped down the slope and landed on the shield. I heard the small yelps of enjoyment as Link got smaller and smaller.

"What- Never- Mad idea…. No way I can- oh what in Hylia." I grumbled under my breath before taking a seat on the shield instead of 'surfing'. If I was going to do this it would be on my own terms!

I lined the shield up with the last flat area of the hill and started down. This could've been the last thing I ever saw…

"COME ON ZELDA!" I suddenly heard from way down near the river mouth, so I took a deep breath and pushed off from the grass.

It turned out that the shield was not self-steering.

It hurtled uncontrollably down the hill as I screamed at the top of my lungs seeing trees, bushes and various animals blitz past my vision.

Then it all stopped.

As if I had been caught in a huge net, the shield began to rapidly decelerate while still on the hill as I looked around for the source of the friction. Seeing it, or him may be a better term, I thanked the goddesses for his ingenuity for had I maintained my velocity there was no doubt in my mind I would have landed in the river.

It seemed that while the shield was not self-steering it was in fact self-braking, a feature for which I was immensely grateful for at the moment. However, I had a matter of principle to uphold.

"LINK!" I screeched to my right and he suddenly became serious and alert. "If you ever make me do anything like that and leave me again I will make sure to have you flayed!" I tried to inject some jest into my statement but it seemed Link took the message to heart as I heard a small gulp.

"I promise Zelda. Maybe I should bring the bigger shield next time so we can go tandem?"

"NEVER AGAIN!"

"Alright alright!" he laughed as we walked across the final bridge to our destination, Zora's Domain.

-


King Dorephan had always been a friend and ally to Hyrule and my father; he would always be the one to back proposals or projects that my father placed to the council. The story was they grew up together and became somewhat of childhood best friends. However while my own father was showing signs of his age the King of the Zora was just the same as all those years ago but with some "extra blubber around the middle" as my father so elegantly put it.

Even as we walked up to the magnificent throne room the full grandeur of Dorephan's domain was put on full show. Eternal ice winked at me from the stair rails and even the flecks of dust in the air seemed to twinkle in the setting sun's rays.

"Princess Zelda!" A booming voice called from directly in front of me; abruptly snapping me from my daze. "I wasn't expecting a visit any time soon. Is there a message from Rhoam?"

Finally locating the source of the voice I took a knee before Dorephan's throne and spoke.

"Unfortunately not your liege. I am simply her-" I stopped mid-sentence as the King gave a hearty laugh before speaking.

"My dear Zelda please drop the formalities! Have we not known each other since you were born? Now, continue."

"W-well…" I stuttered, unsure of how to phrase my request, eventually deciding on directness I asked "Where is Mipha, King Dorephan?"

"Ah you have come to visit Mipha and Vah Ruta I deduce! You will find them in the large lake further upstream. My daughter always seems to want to be with that Divine Beast these days… Maybe Link here can persuade her otherwise!" He gave out a chuckle and winked at Link who instantly turned scarlet.

"Thank you Dorephan!" I said before Link could do anything but stutter "We will head up there right away."

"My pleasure Zelda! If you decide to continue without coming back here I wish you luck on your pilgrimage."

And with that I gave a deep bow and dragged a still babbling Link from the hall leaving behind a tittering Dorephan.

I too had felt a flare of annoyance inside me when Dorephan had mentioned Mipha to Link in a rather suggestive manner and I did not like the way Link had blushed and become a cabbage when her name was mentioned; despite what he had told me on the journey here.

Did he still have any kind of fire for Mipha? Surely not… he would have told me!

Ah… but he wouldn't tell me if he knew that it may drive something between us and possibly disrupt my training… Yes that would be it. Link the soldier, always on my father's books would have been instructed to keep my mental state intact as well as my physical wellbeing protected.

Link isn't like that! He wouldn't lie to me about these things… Anyway why do I care so much? It's not as if anything can come from-

"Princess?" A small voice brought me out of my contemplations and back to the dirt track beneath me.

"I-.." I stuttered, still trying to regain my sense of surroundings. "Um- Yes what is it?"

"I just wanted to ask whether you wanted to stop for some dinner? We've been travelling all day and haven't eaten anything since breakfast."

Right on cue my stomach gave a small rumble which I bashfully laughed away, my cheeks turning slightly pink in the afternoon sun.

"I won't deny that I am somewhat hungry, but we need to get to Mipha as soon as possible! While that fairy healed the visible damage, you could still have internal injuries that may rear their heads at any moment!" I spoke in a feverish rush, getting more worked up by the minute.

"I- I'm sorry Princess I only meant-"

"Yes, well we'll eat on the way!" I snapped back and cursed myself internally as I saw his eyes cloud with confusion and hurt. "L-let's just grab some fruit and keep moving."

Anger. Anger was all I felt when I thought about Link's injuries. Was I angry at him? Or myself…

I knew the answer of course; perhaps I had always known. It was my fault he got in harm's way and he had, as always, paid the price for my stupidity. My father would say that it was his job, just another role for the Hero to fulfil but I knew better.

Then why did I always feel the need to vent my emotions onto my appointed knight who had shown me nothing but respect and kindness…

I had blown it. Right when we may just start to trust each other my mouth had stepped in. He probably despised me now. Maybe what pained me more is that he had every right to. He had after all just saved my life and how did I repay him? With nonchalance and anger.

We walked the rest of the way in silence; Link returning to his old position of directly behind me, a literal shadow of a few minutes before.


Vah Ruta is modelled after a creature that must have been long since extinct as there is not a single animal, insect or monster that walks this earth similar enough to be related to the Divine Beast of the Zora. It had an odd shape; 4 legged with a large and chunky muscle mass similar to a Great Horned Rhino yet instead of a giant horn it had a long trunk-like organ protruding from what must be its nose. I would often wonder what I would call such a creature if they were discovered in the wild yet my mind always draws blanks. Naming things is not my strong suit it seems.

By the time we reached the great lake above Zora's Domain, the sun was sending hazy orange beams over Lanayru Mountain which only made me more frantic to find Mipha as quickly as possible. We had already spent a full two days travelling from the time when Link had been hit and I wasn't lying when I said he could have severe internal bleeding or worse.

"Mipha!" I called desperately, there was no way I would be able to find the Zora Princess in such a vast lake and decided that simply asking would be a better solution. "Mipha!" I repeated, the echo of my voice travelling on the shimmering surface of the water.

Link then suddenly shifted slightly closer to me, but before I could wonder why the water before me began to vibrate. Droplets rose then fell as if held by some unknown magic and the very land I and Link stood on seemed to become that little bit less solid.

Then, after about ten seconds of this phenomenon, Divine Beast Vah Ruta escaped from the glossy surface, causing shock waves to be sent skating across the surface of the lake. It truly was an awe-inspiring sight which caused me to openly gasp and Link to simply stare, wide-eyed, at the sight before him.

Still slightly punch-drunk neither of us noticed as a crimson-red scaled Zora female hopped down from the now kneeling creature and approached us with a wide grin on her face.

"Princess! And Link too!" Mipha cried in happiness, causing both myself and Link to jump back in surprise; neither of us having noticed Mipha until this moment.

I was the first to regain the ability to speak and so replied "M-Mipha! How great it is to see you again!"

"R-Real great…" Link stuttered from behind me.

"Well to what do I owe the honour Princess?" Mipha asked sweetly. It was then I noticed how her eyes would quickly flash to Link every few seconds then back to me; another pang of something erupted inside my stomach quite unrelated to my hunger.

I swallowed hard; Mipha was my friend after all.

"Well you see it's Link here, he-" I started but was unable to finish as Mipha had already sprung around me to examine Link's body with a worried expression on her face.

"Honestly its really nothing to worr-" said Link with a nervous quake in his voice.

"I will decide that!" declared Mipha "You are always doing this Link! How many times did I have to heal you as a child hmm? Maybe if you weren't such an idiot all the time and stopped putting yourself in dangerous situations for your own amusement I wouldn't have to worry."

Coming to the sudden realisation that Mipha thought Link had been on some daredevil stunt I quickly intervened.

"No! It wasn't like that Mipha! We were ambushed by a group of monsters on the way here and Link got hit by a Lynel." I felt a brick rise in my throat at these words as I could vividly remember the scene all too well. There had been so much blood… "We managed to heal the surface wounds and stabilise him with a fairy but I was concerned there may be deeper injuries."

"A Lynel?! Oh goddesses… I'll get started straight away!" Mipha then began to half drag Link, who looked toward me apologetically, into the water where I now noticed the trunk of the beast had lowered as to allow Mipha to step gracefully onto it with Link still in tow.

"Also Princess" Mipha said, "I couldn't trouble you to take a look at Ruta's water flow system could I? It's been playing up lately and is only producing a trickle… I would take a look myself but it's all far too complex for me."

"I would be delighted Mipha! At least this gives some legitimacy to our trip here."

And with that we went our separate ways. I toward the main control unit using a crudely constructed pontoon-like bridge in the centre of the Lake and Mipha with Link were slowly elevated by that impressive trunk until they became smaller and smaller.

Giving a small hmph, I strode into the main chamber and for the second time in my life gazed around in wonderment.

The interior of Vah Ruta was a sprawling expanse of walkways and bridges but there was one feature which took centre stage. At the dead centre of the beast was an enormous waterwheel; much larger than the average Hylian watermill or even the largest Zora Dams. At the moment, however, it was completely stationary…

Mipha had told me in one of our frequent letters that the water from this lake would be sent upwards from Ruta's feet then be propelled up the trunk, which would in turn fire the water into this main chamber; thus spinning the water wheel. It seemed most of the main systems would not function without the spinning of this wheel…

I had always been interested in such a feat of engineering as the beast seemed to be powered by the turning of the wheel. Lighting, control panels and the like always activated when the wheel spun, meaning it somehow provided energy to the components.

Turning a wheel to make energy that was used not just by the components directly attached to the wheel some would call magic, but I've always believed if we studied this technology for long enough we may someday be able to power artificial lights, stoves and heaters with ease.

Pulling myself out of the dream I was imagining, I set to work at the main control panel which, coincidentally, happened to have a direct view of the large trunk that was now suspended at least 10 metres in the air. Upon the very top sat Mipha and my appointed knight.

Mipha was speaking to Link while her hands emitted an azure blue light that was truly dazzling to look at. She was slowly caressing his right arm with that light and he was simply listening to her words and looking into her face; really looking.

He had never looked at me like that… Like I was the only thing in his vision… Like if he looked away for even an instant I would vanish. I wanted to rage and storm at the pair of them but instead I simply slumped against the main control panel and sunk into depression. I felt anger, jealousy… but most of all betrayal.


Link's POV

While I try not to pick favourite Divine Beasts, Vah Ruta has always been in my top two. Maybe it's the way it can so majestically rise from the water without a sound? Or the way its trunk is said to be able to rotate in all planes and perform a full turn in less than four seconds?

"You've been awfully quiet Link" said a small, high-pitched voice from my right and I snapped back to the present.

"Ah- yeah, it's been a long day is all…" I replied, turning my head toward Mipha who was already preparing to use her healing power. The signature glow of magic already surrounding her hands.

"I was thinking…" Mipha began "this reminds me of the time we first met. You were just a reckless child… always getting yourself hurt at every turn." Deciding now was not the time to bring up the fact that had she not been in danger of dying that day when we were younger, I would never have had to jump into that river to save her, I continued to listen.

"Every time I would heal you. Just as I'm doing right now." She then gave a pause, as if deep in thought. "I thought it was funny how, being a Hylian, you looked grown-up so much faster than I did." I started to panic slightly at these words and started going through scenarios on how this might play out in my mind.

"I was always willing to heal your wounds. Even back then." Letting out a silent sigh of relief Mipha stopped moving her hands over my arm and sat back expectantly.

Looking down to observe the wound I saw unblemished skin where once a deep gash had been. I looked up again, intending to thank Mipha for her work, but she started again.

"So if this Calamity Ganon does, in fact, return, what can we really do? We just don't seem to know much about what we'll be up against. But know this: that no matter how difficult this battle might get… if you- if anyone ever tries to do you harm… Then I will heal you. No matter when, or how bad the wound… I hope you know that I will always protect you."

Admiration? Awkwardness? Guilt? Yes, these were all the feelings that coursed through me. I was honoured, truly, that Mipha would say these words to me but deep down I knew where they came from. These were not the words of a good friend but of something more; something I could never return.

I looked at her, deeply. Trying to convey my emotions and thoughts; hoping she would understand my feelings without having to say them aloud. But… as is true of most plans, this one backfired spectacularly.

Seemingly enthused by my newfound 'interest' she went further, "Once this whole thing is over… maybe things can go back to how they used to be when we were young. You know…" A cold sweat was breaking over my face and I gulped. Then… "Perhaps we could spend some time together."

There it was. The words I had hoped never to hear.

I liked Mipha. She was one of my best friends, an excellent warrior and a superb choice as champion of the Zora but as a romantic partner? That was one category she could never take in my mind.

It was funny really… I always pick the impossible option. For the only person who filled my mind when Mipha had said 'spend some time together' was the one individual that, once this had all blown over, I would probably never be permitted to see again.

Hope you all enjoyed this chapter and I intend to update more often! Months-long gaps should be reduced.

I tried to make this chapter mostly character driven as there isn't really much story to be had, yet.
Zelda gets to show her nerdy side a bit and Link has to think of a way to let Mipha down lightly. She is a demon with a spear after all ;)
I want next chapter to be the first bit of "ZeLink" in this story but their characters still need a bit of work before we get there!

Thanks for reading!

As always please review if you liked or hated it as I always need inspiration and feedback as a writer.