A couple hours had passed after the incident with Murphy. Link sat with Mipha outside of the throne room. They were on a couple of stairs that lead up to the throne itself. It was an intersection of four hallways: one lead to the keep door that was in front of them. Opposite of it was the throne room. The other two hallways just lead to different parts of the castle.

The large door ahead of them was made with thick pieces of wood that were bound together with steel. On the other side of it, Link knew that Epona was already able to move. He and Mipha sat silently with each other as they waited for time to pass. Link wasn't sure if the King was ready to send them off yet. So he was waiting for a messenger or any other indication that they were ready to leave.

Link was bored since he was unable to work on any guard duty or supervision. Mipha had noticed and made sure to keep him company, but they couldn't do anything sufficient with how little time they had before they would leave Hyrule castle.

Link and Mipha sat in the dead silence. She never knew how to break out of silence without being awkward. She looked at Link; he sat in deep thought. He had his elbows resting on his knees. His hands were clasped together with his fingers interwoven with each other. He rested his head on his hands as he stared off into blank space. Mipha thought he looked much like a gargoyle as he continued to go over the plan for the road.

Mipha jumped out of her thoughts when she heard Zelda shout out both of their names. Mipha smiled and reluctantly let go of Link's arm as he stood up. She stepped over and hugged Zelda with a smile. Link realized it was just Zelda and slowly sat back down cautiously. After the incident with Murphy he was still a little on edge. He took a deep breath and looked at his brand new shield. He noticed a speck of dirt on it. He frowned at the benign spot on the front of the shield. He shook his head as he wondered how it even got on there. He shrugged and began to wipe it off. He kept shining it incessantly as it finally gave him something to do. This let Mipha and Zelda speak for a moment.

Mipha opened her mouth first, but Zelda was the one who spoke first.

"I heard what happened in the courtyard. Are you okay?"

Mipha nodded politely saying, "Don't worry about that, it's not your fault."

Zelda let out a sigh of relief but tried not to show it. She couldn't have the princess of the Zora's blaming the Hylian crown for Murphy's actions. However, Zelda still felt overly apologetic for Murphy's actions. She spoke with an accompanying tone, "well I would still like to apologize for his behaviour, we've never had this happen in Hyrule Castle before. I've also heard a lot of talk about Link from the guards recently. Was it that bad of a beat down?"

Zelda glanced back at Link as he sat patiently and wiped at the new shield. Zelda suspected him of listening in on their conversation and she squinted at him. She stopped when she remembered that he wouldn't dare eavesdrop on a conversation between two members of royalty—even if they are his best friend and girlfriend. Zelda looked back at Mipha as she saw her move slightly.

Mipha grinned as she remembered the humiliation of Murphy. "Link only hurt him when he kept getting back up."

Zelda rolled her eyes saying, "He probably shouldn't have stepped in. You could have handled it by yourself."

"I could have. But I'm not the best without a weapon."

Zelda tilted her head thoughtfully, it made sense she guessed. Either way she wasn't going to press for any answers. Mipha looked back up with her large, golden eyes.

She continued in a quieter voice, "I actually enjoyed it. I've never had anyone protect me before, especially not with that amount of emotion." Mipha blushed as she glanced back at Link.

Zelda raised an eyebrow saying, "He's got quite a voice on him when he needs it. I had a feeling it wasn't my father's voice that had rung through the castle walls earlier."

Zelda grinned at her over-emphasis. She knew that she was half the reason that all of the stories about Link were so out of proportion. She had too much fun telling stories to children and describing battles to adults. Her smile dampened slightly as she realized how similar she was to her father. She looked back down at Mipha as she responded about Link's authority.

Mipha agreed with Zelda. "It's quite impressive. I never would have expected it from someone who stays silent most of the time."

Zelda nodded and decided to change the topic hastily. She wanted to ask Mipha this before they left. She spoke in a similarly hushed voice, "How's he been treating you?"

Mipha looked up at Zelda in surprise. She squinted slightly at the question. Zelda hadn't expected the accusing state from the small Zora. She was actually surprised that Mipha was so defensive of Link.

Zelda took half a step back saying, "Sorry, I just wanted to be sure he wasn't a Murphy in disguise…"

Mipha saw the reasoning and slowly nodded. She still felt slightly provoked from the insult to her Champion but she forced the feeling away.

"I understand that. And thank you for the concern, but he's had plenty of chances and hasn't tried to grab me like he did." Mipha hissed the word that she had used to refer to Murphy with.

Zelda raised an eyebrow as Mipha blushed more. She hadn't realized how Mipha had been treating Link. Zelda leaned forward with her hands on her hips. She grinned and asked, "You've been testing him?"

Mipha didn't respond but just looked down shyly at the ground. She shifted her feet and nodded ever so slightly to Zelda.

She let a large smile open across her face and asked hurriedly, "And?"

"And what?"

Zelda huddled closer so that Link wouldn't hear them. She asked hurriedly, "Well, how does he react? Because I noticed you never slept in any of the guest rooms."

Mipha opened her mouth but shut it again as she felt her cheeks burning brightly. She took a second to compose herself. She chose her next words extremely carefully.

"He hasn't tried anything… but he doesn't shy away either. And I'll have you know, I didn't want to go into a guest room by myself. I didn't feel as safe."

Mipha looked up to Zelda as her pale cheeks began to match the red skin on the sides of her head. Zelda smiled caringly saying, "Okay, maybe I shouldn't have asked. I know he wouldn't be like that."

Mipha nodded saying, "I would think that's a wise observation. But I trust him. For some reason after last night, after being so close to him for so long, I feel more comfortable than ever around him. And the whole situation with Murphy…" Mipha drifted off and crossed her arms around her chest and looked down at the thought of the perverted man.

Mipha shivered and then shook her head. She let her arms relax saying, "Well it's quite embarrassing actually." She looked up at Zelda, who just nodded for her to go on.

Mipha smiled nervously saying, "I... I actually liked him protecting me. I may be the Zora Champion, but I have my own Champion. I…" Mipha looked down and scuffed her feet along the ground whispering, "I've never had anyone that has wanted to protect me like that before." Mipha purposefully avoided saying 'other than my father'at the end of her sentence.

Zelda looked down at the female Zora and glanced at Link as she whispered, "I don't have any experience myself, but it seems like you two have something really special. Because I know that Link feels the exact same way you do. He would travel around the world for his friends; I can't even imagine what he would do for the girl he cares most for."

Mipha hated how easily flustered she was as she glanced back at Link. She quickly averted her gaze as he stirred. He looked up out of a sixth sense and saw the flutter of movement from Mipha. She didn't want him to see her cherry red cheeks at the moment. He shrugged off the notion and went back to unnecessary polishing.

She looked back up at Zelda before saying, "Well, I think seeing him put that pervert in his place is just the start of things."

Zelda grinned sheepishly. "It wasn't the start," Zelda leaned in and whispered even more quietly, "You absolutely could have taken the river when we came here. He wanted you in the saddle with him for a reason."

Mipha looked up surprised. "What?!" She exclaimed, louder than she had intended. She turned around as Link stirred behind her. She smiled awkwardly at him as he stood up suddenly in alarm. She apologetically stated, "Sorry."

She saw the alarm fade from his eyes as his body relaxed. He slowly rested himself back onto the stairs. Once Mipha was sure he wasn't looking or listening anymore, she turned back to Zelda. She continued in a quieter tone, "He did? He wanted me with him?"

Zelda smiled fondly and nodded saying, "He will take any chance to get close to you, any chance to hear your voice. On the entire ride here, I could swear that he looked at you more than he did the road ahead of us." Mipha twiddled with, and rubbed, her fingers fondly at the thought. She didn't know what Link's comfort zone was like. He was always so silent and mysterious which made people avoid getting too close to him. But now Mipha knew that he enjoyed being close with her.

Zelda noticed the subconscious motion of Mipha's hands and said, "I thought you'd like to hear that. Trust me when I say that he will treat you right. Just make sure to return the favour, will you?"

Mipha looked up and nodded saying, "I will, don't worry."

Zelda stood up straighter saying, "good, because he's like a brother that I never had. I would hate for his heart to be broken." Zelda stared at Link for a second but shook her head, looking back to Mipha. She said fondly, "you should probably get back to him. My father is outside waiting to see you two of anyways."

Mipha nodded but before she could turn around Zelda stopped. She spoke with a playful expression, "and I liked the trick with the wine. I might have to use that sometime."

Mipha looked back with a gasp, not realizing Zelda had seen that incident. Zelda smiled and placed a finger over her lips. She whispered, "I won't tell him. I'll meet you outside."

Zelda spun lightly on her heels and strode away towards the large double doors. As she opened them and exited the keep, golden sunlight filtered through. It cascaded through the hall as Zelda's footsteps echoed one last time. The large oak doors closed with a click behind her—cutting off the golden light.

Mipha recomposed herself and took a deep breath. She tried to flush the red out of her cheeks from her conversation with Zelda. Mipha noticed how she blushed all too often, wondering if she blushed too easily. She shook the thought away and gave Link the benefit of the doubt. She looked down and straightened her silk scarf, making sure it was tied properly around her waist and above her shoulder. She didn't show off as much of her body as a normal Zora, but she liked the way she looked with the silk and silver jewellery. She stopped fussing over her looks as she realized she might be overdoing it. She shrugged the thought away and turned back to Link.

She strode over gracefully and sat beside Link. She didn't realize it, but she being a little more demure in style than usual.

Link asked without looking away from his shield, "What was that all about?" He had noticed how they had been quietly talking most of the time. He wasn't trying to listen in, but when the only sound in the room is their conversation it's hard not to block it out. He never noticed any of the words, just the change of volume from friendly to secretive. His curiosity was getting the better of him.

Mipha looked at him nervously, too embarrassed to explain that she'd been rattling on about her feelings for him. She stammered saying, "Well we… I… we spoke of…"

Link looked over with a raised eyebrow at the suddenly flustered Zora. He noticed her nervous body language and decided the answer wasn't worth knowing. He exhaled sharply followed by a light chuckle. He stopped shining his new Hylian shield and put his right arm around Mipha.

She let out a soft, mellifluous oh! as Link lightly pulled her so that she slid slightly until their thighs touched. She leaned gratefully onto him and looked up at him lovingly. She didn't have the courage to do that herself. But she still enjoyed being as close to him as possible. Little did she know, Link was having very similar thoughts. He looked down slightly at her with a smile saying, "You don't have to tell me."

Mipha leaned her head forward to rest it on Link's shoulder. He tilted his head to the right to rest it on hers too. Mipha looked at the shield as she pressed her hands gently on the form fitting armour that she'd given to Link. The blue fronted shield seemed to gleam in the torchlight. She smiled softly as she lost herself in thoughts and daydreams. It's a shield meant for a hero. She stopped daydreaming as she realized most of what she had wished for was coming true.

Mipha looked up slightly at the large double doors, knowing they should be going soon. But she didn't want this moment to end.

She sighed heavily and hesitantly leaned back up saying, "we should be heading out." Link looked at her with a feeling of disappointment. It seems they can't get all that much time alone in this world. No time where they can just have a couple moments where they can take a breather. Not being chased by Dark Link or being pestered by lowly guards. He sighed deeply and said, "We should. Shouldn't we?"

She nodded and stood up, dusting off her silk and hauling Link to his feet. She noticed him slightly pull his hand away at first and she looked at it more closely as he slung his shield around his back.

She grabbed it suddenly and, in a worried tone, said, "did you punch a wall or something?!" Most of his hand was bruised and the base of his ring finger was slightly swollen. He hadn't been wearing the gloves and had coincidentally not looked at; even when he shining his shield, he had been using his forearm to hold the shield with the inside strap. Actually, he wasn't able to remember if he had just avoided using it or pushed the pain out of mind like usual. Maybe it was due to the fact that he didn't want to inconvenience her with asking for the healing. He always felt guilty when she needed to heal him. But little did he know; Mipha very much enjoyed taking care of her Champion.

Link looked at his injured hand and spoke nonchalantly, "oh that? That's what happens when you decide to punch someone who's wearing a metal helmet." Link grinned at the memory of feeling Murphy's jaw breaking beneath his fingers. He jumped back into reality as a needle of pain shot from his hand.

"Hey! Careful!"

Mipha looked up softly at him. "You could have told me about this you know."

Link simply shrugged as Mipha gently wrapped her hands around his saying, "I didn't notice it until now."

Mipha simply hummed mhmm, assuming that he had just not wanted to reveal any injury. She knew how much he hated to show any kind of weakness to someone. She quickly began healing it while saying, "You could have made him remove the helmet beforehand you know."

Link stepped down the last step towards Mipha saying, "I could have, but either way it was worth it."

Mipha smiled at the memory saying, "It was, wasn't it?"

She shook her head and let go of Link's hand saying, "There. Good as new."

He flexed his fingers and nodded his thanks to her and looked at the large double doors. Link sighed as he looked at the iron-studded wood.

"Time to hit the road again."

Mipha nodded and looked up at the intimidating doors. An idea fluttered into her head as gently as a butterfly. She looked sheepishly at Link for moment. He was looking at the doors, thinking about the plan for the trip once again. Mipha raised her hands nervously up near her chest and shimmied towards Link to stand beside him. The top of her left hip gently gazed the middle of his right. She looked up expectantly at him.

To her disappointment, Link barely moved as he stared longer at the door. Unknowingly to her, he was lost in thought about any possible dangers along the allotted path. He rolled through the plan over and over in his head, trying to find a mistake. He wanted to protect Mipha and his guards as much as possible and wouldn't let a foolish mistake endanger them. He hadn't even noticed Mipha's adorable shimmy or her expectant look.

Mipha rolled her eyes slightly in annoyance and looked back to him. The feeling immediately faded and she decided she was going to be the courageous one this time. She unclasped her hands from on over her sternum and looked down timidly at Link's arm. She said to herself, "Screw it."

Mipha reached down and grabbed Link's arm. She pulled it gently up and around her back. She passed it from one hand to the other as she placed his hand gently on her hip. As she did so, she pressed gently into Link, making sure to get his attention. She looked up at him with a sheepish grin. She saw his embarrassed smile and a growing red flame in his cheeks.

She rested her head on his shoulder saying, "It's okay to make the first move sometimes you know."

Link scoffed with a smile. He readjusted his hand ever so slightly while saying, "But one wrong move and I'm just another Murphy." Mipha smiled softly at him.

She bat her eyelids provocatively saying, "Not with me you wouldn't be. And trust me; I'll let you know what I think."

Link studied her face and revelled for a second in her beauty. He let out a silent laugh. "Okay, I'll be a little more forward with you." Mipha kept her look of joy as Link tightened the grip of his hand on her hip by a miniscule. The royal couple strode towards the large doors.

Link looked down at Mipha. He decided to take her recent advice and asked, "so what about another ride on Epona?" He waited for her response with high hopes.

Mipha blushed slightly remembering what Zelda had told her about the ride to Hyrule. She looked up while speaking innocently.

"I'll give it another go."


Mipha regretted the first few minutes of the ride on Epona again. Link walked the horse around the small courtyard in the castle to get Epona warmed up for the long ride. He had strapped his new shield on the horse's chest again and kept his arrows strapped to his thigh. He wasn't going to let another situation of him falling off Epona happen again. If it were to happen, at least this time he would have the ability to utilize his arrows. Link lightly pulled on the reins for half a second and Epona gently came to a stop. The hooves stopped echoing off of the flagstones as they came to a halt near the rest of the caravan.

Link looked back at Mipha and saw her open her large golden eyes slowly. "Getting the hang of it again?"

Mipha hissed at him saying, "as long as we don't get into a chase like last time, I'll be fine. And this time… stay in the saddle." Link smiled at her harshness. He didn't take the snappy response to heart knowing how Mipha thought about riding horses. He was initially surprised-and delighted-that she had agreed to ride with him again. He drifted back into Hyrule as he saw Zelda walking over towards them.

"Enjoying yourselves?" Zelda said heartily as she strode over. She stopped and placed a hand on her hip looking up at the couple. Mipha looked over before Link did. She saw Zelda wink at her. Mipha suddenly felt very tired of Zelda's perverted humour and dirty mind. Suddenly Mipha wondered if Link's mind was in the gutter too. She squinted her eyes and knew she was gonna have to test him for that too.

Mipha looked at Zelda and forgot for a second that she was pressed up against Link as she said, "Not yet I'm not."

Zelda raised an eyebrow as Link turned around. He looked further back at Mipha and repeated, "Yet?" He turned as far as he could to look at Mipha. "So you do enjoy this?"

Mipha smiled confidently saying, "I wouldn't go as far to say that." She rubbed her hands slightly against Link's chest and held herself closer. She suddenly felt very selfish as she sat with him. "Well… I do enjoy parts of it." Link smiled as their eyes met. They both snapped their attention back to Zelda as she cleared her throat.

She put her hands behind her back as she said, "Anyways… you'll be leaving as soon as all the guards get mounted and ready to move. You know the plan, Link, so I won't repeat it. Hylia knows you've probably gone over it a hundred times already."

Zelda stepped closer as she continued speaking to him. "You may not be my personal guard anymore, but you'll always have a place in Hyrule Castle. You're a legend around here you know. I doubt it will take too long for you to become one in Zora's Domain either."

Mipha glanced at Zelda saying, "I'll make sure he gets lots of chances to show his prowess."

Zelda nodded her thanks to the Zoran. "Well that's all I wanted to say." She bowed deeply to them both saying, "we are thankful for your visit to Hyrule castle Mipha. We hope that it exceeded your expectations. We also hope that your Champion behaves himself." Zelda playfully glared at Link as she said his title.

Mipha smiled and said, "He will. Otherwise he will have to answer to me. Isn't that right, Link?"

"Don't worry, I know how to treat royalty if that's what you mean."

"But do you know how to be royalty?" Link shut his mouth at her question.

To be honest, he didn't know how to be a royal figure. Of course he'd been around Zelda to see it, but she never acted like royalty around him. He frowned as he realized he had a lot to learn. He looked at Zelda helplessly as he struggled to find an answer.

Zelda ignored the pleading gaze. She spun on her heels and waved while shouting, "Safe travels!"