(Some time during the second half of year 3)
"AHHHH!" the three children cried desperately, trying to stay inside the little canoe.
"Why did we agree to this?!" Fina shrieked as the rapids almost flipped their canoe over.
"Because it's fun!" Gerard roared over the crashing water.
"I'm gonna puke!" Link shouted.
"Not on me!" Fina cried. Their canoe bumped into a rock and they spun in a full circle. Link covered his mouth with his hands, sure that he was going to throw up. Fina squealed in terror and Gerard cheered. And then, beside them, a zora appeared.
"Young masters! Use your paddles to steer the boat!" he called out happily.
"We lost them!" Gerard shouted just as happily as their boat crashed yet again.
"Oe, oe! That's never good!" the zora said as he took hold of their canoe and promptly guided them to calm waters.
Link climbed out of the canoe and dropped to his knees, his legs too shaky to support him.
"Haha! That was awesome! I want to do it again!" Gerard roared. Fina laughed.
"I'm good. I don't want to ride those rapids ever again" Link said, turning over on his back. He placed an arm over his face, letting the warm sun dry his clothes. Fina and Gerard joined him.
"That was rather pitiful maneuvering" said a voice. They sat up and turned their heads to see who it was.
"Princess Nimiane!" Fina said. "Good afternoon!"
"And to you" the princess said smiling. "Did you enjoy your ride?" she asked.
"I did" Gerard said.
"It was actually scary when we lost both our paddles" Fina said sheepishly. The Princess laughed.
"Don't worry. It is a tourist attraction and no one has died yet. We have zoras around at every turn in case someone has an accident" the princess explained.
"What do you mean, no one has died yet?" Link asked. Princess Nimiane turned to look at him.
"I sense something about you" she said to him. Link frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"There is something about you" Nimiane said simply.
"Something like what?" Link asked. The Zora Princess got near him. So close, in fact, that Link was sure for a second she was going to kiss him. But she didn't. Gerard nudged Fina with his elbow and Fina only raised her eyebrows.
"I don't know" Nimiane said, studying Link's face. Link cleared his throat and looked away, his cheeks turning bright pink. "Something good… in here" the Princess continued, stabbing his chest with her finger.
"Princess Nimiane. Come along now"
It was King Jabus. The three pages bowed their head respectfully as the majestic zora walked among them, motioning for the Princess to follow him. The king gave them a kind smile before walking away.
"Yes, father" Nimiane said, getting to her webbed feet.
"What was all that about?" Link grumbled once the royal zoras were gone. Fina giggled.
"Link has a girlfriend!" Gerard roared with laughter.
"I do not!" Link fumed.
"She did get pretty close to you Link, I thought you were gonna be kissed!" Fina squealed with delight.
"Don't be daft!" Link mumbled, turning bright red.
"When you get married your kids will be something to behold" Gerard teased.
"M-married?! I'm eleven years old! Knock it off you two! " Link said, his face hot with embarrassment. Fina giggled again.
"Invite us to the wedding Link!" she said, falling over with laughter.
Link rolled his eyes and was glad when Ernald came to tell them that break time was over and they would be training shortly.
Married to a zora… bah, they don't know what they're on about, Link thought. Still, the fact that Princess Nimiane thought there was something good about him made him feel ten feet tall.