Sorry this took so long. Been a long two weeks at work.

Please read and review. I don't own Legend of Zelda.

The vision haunted me throughout the day. If Ruto worried, he didn't voice his concern. Instead opting to stay closer to my side.

The river bed widened, but the water didn't. We stayed in the middle away from boulders and jagged shelves of rock. We stopped hours before sunset. The river fell away, plummeting over a hundred feet before continuing to wind through a red canyon.

Ruto put a hand on my shoulder where I sat. "Rest here. I'm going to catch us supper."

I was still bothered. I walked the river bank trying to clear my mind. It didn't work. I felt my anger rise. Why show me what might happen without any hint about how to prevent it? I let out a frustrated shout.

The canyon echoed back to me. As I sat, the hilt of the master sword knocked painfully against the back of my skull. I slid the whole thing off and stared at it. The scabbard glowed in the light of the canyon. The hilt slid out revealing gleaming metal.

I glared at it. "What do I have to do? How do I speak with you?"

Navi touched my cheek comfortingly. "She was forged by the goddess in a time long forgotten."

"My father said her name was Fi," I sighed.

"No one remembers who named her or what their name was, but the feats they accomplished are legendary," Navi explained. "When darkness covers the land, the true wielder of the master sword is born to bring back the light. Your actions will be added to the legends."

I frowned. "But what if I can't do it?"

"I know you ca-"

A distant laugh made him stop. He flew to the edge of the waterfall. I crawled beside him and looked down. Where the river widened into a shallow beach, a group of women and children walked toward the water.

The women laughed with each other while the children ran ahead. Several men followed behind armed with spears. The men were bare chested, their lower halves covered with loose pants. The women wore revealing outfits in a spectacular range of color and style.

I spied on the gerudo. They played in the water. The men stayed on alert. It didn't seem like they were holding the women against their will. Their focus was on the water. At one point, a woman pretended to fall into deep water and when the man came to her aid, she pulled him under to the guffaw of the others.

I shook with contained laughter. Navi flitted in front of me. The gerudo gave a shout of alarm. The men turned as one to look in my direction. Navi dove for cover and I dared not breathe. The women quickly left the water and returned the way they had come. The men followed slowly, still suspicious. When they were out of sight, I crawled backward until I was out of view of the river bed.

I returned to where Ruto had left me. He had lit a small fire. A plume of white smoke and steam rose from a spear with three fish gutted and roasting. A delicious smell met me.

"Mmm, those look good," I sighed.

Ruto looked up from where he lounged. "You think so? I didn't have much to work with."

I sat beside him and curled into his side. "I didn't know you could cook."

Ruto wrapped an arm around me. "I don't recall you asking."

We sat in silence listening to the fire crackle and the fish sizzle. After a while, Ruto said, "You've finally relaxed. Was the nightmare the cause?"

I looked into the fire. "Yes."

"Do you want to tell me about it?" Ruto coaxed. I didn't answer. Ruto added, "Giving it voice, doesn't give it power."

I reached for his hand and squeezed. Ruto held me tighter. It was another few minutes before I mustered the courage. "It was fast. I might have blinked and missed it entirely. But I didn't, and now I keep seeing it. And I don't know what to do."

"Tell me what you fear. I will protect you."

I turned and looked into his eyes. "Can you protect yourself as well? The thing I saw was your death. You were motionless in the water before me. There was blood. I knew. I knew you were gone and there was nothing I could do."

I buried my head in his chest as I fought back the sobs. Ruto put a hand on the back of my head. "I don't know what to say. Part of me feels infinitely flattered."

I looked up into his face shocked. He smirked down at me. I rolled my eyes. Ruto continued more soberly, "I am a soldier of the zora. There is a very real chance that I will die in battle. But I am also your betrothed, Link. And I promise you, as long as you are by my side, I will fight death to the last breath. Nothing will separate us."

"My father was a soldier," I volunteered as a subject change. "He was a knight. He hated fighting. He died during the last war."

Ruto absentmindedly ran a thumb across my arm. "My father died during the great war, too. When she lost him, my mother sealed off the domain. The rivers were nearly dry before the battles came to an end."

"I was under the impression the zora and hylian people were allied," I mentioned.

"I was a small child. I barely remember my father. But I'll never forget the day the Queen of Hyrule came to beseech my mother." Ruto sighed in memory. "She had been turned away five times. My mother was out for an evening walk. From atop the waterfall, she saw the queen sleeping by the entrance.

"My mother took pity on her and brought her in. She was feverish. While the healers tended her, she went into labor. Prince Sheik was born early. It was a miracle he survived."

"I didn't know that," I admitted.

"It's why the prince's lullaby is- was the royal messenger's code to enter the domain. My mother and her grew close. But the day they made their pact, the hylian queen knelt before my mother." Ruto frowned. I leaned into him in comfort. He continued, "My mother told her we would not enter war again while her line was on the throne. So the hylian queen asked that we only protect the source of water for the land. We accepted. If anyone ever threatened the river, we would fight."

"Did you ever meet the prince after that?" I asked.

"A few times. But I was a spoiled brat. And the age difference made it hard to play together." Ruto leaned forward and turned the fish.

When he settled back, he gave a start and reached behind him. He pulled out the skeleton of a fish. It was a little longer than his arm and fully intact. The head had strings attached that went its length to the tail.

I asked curiously, "What's that?"

Ruto held it out. "This? I found it when I was fishing. Thought I'd turn it into a lyre. That's as far as I'd gotten."

I strummed it. The noise that it made sounded like a dying bird. Ruto tweaked a few strings at the tail. "It's not tuned very well. I've always struggled with that part."

He worked at it until it was on pitch and wistfully began to play. I put my head in his lap and watched the stars begin to appear. We ate and watched the river. Ruto tossed a fish bone in. It swirled in the back current before being swept away.

The next morning, I woke up as Ruto donned his armor. He smiled at me. I gave a sleepy smile in return and ran a hand through messy hair. Ruto instructed, "You should get dressed. This last leg of the journey will be the hardest and most dangerous."

I yawned and nodded. Ruto triple checked that my armor was buckled correctly before we entered the river. He asked, "Can you handle the waterfall? It is deep at the bottom. My people cleared away the danger long ago."

"I can handle the drop."

"There are two turns before the river widens. The current will slow. That's where I'll wait for you." Ruto turned and swam away before I could reply.

I watched as he went into form and dove. There were seconds before I would follow. I turned underwater until I went over feet first.

My stomach flipped as I was suddenly free falling. The water fell around me like a rainstorm. The roar of the waterfall filled my ears.

Then I hit water. I descended nearly thirty feet into the dark. The hole beneath me appeared to go forever. I kicked toward the surface. The current grabbed hold and towed me along.

I controlled my direction as the speed surprised me. The canyon was especially narrow here. I corrected my course around one corner and the second before I could catch my breath.

Ruto floated before me, his dagger drawn, eyes searching. I shouted to him. He turned and smiled. I kicked back to slow myself. Ruto reached for my hand.

An arrow pierced the distance between us. I pulled back. Ruto's eyes shot to the surface. He swam around me, faster than I could see, a hand on my back pushing me deeper. More arrows shot before me.

"They're driving us to the surface!" I shouted.

Ruto grimaced, a snarl on his face. Another arrow hit the water. Ruto lifted an arm to block it. The arrow aimed for my chest glanced off his arm. We floated toward the surface as the barrage of arrows prevented escape. Before we breached, Ruto said, "Stay behind me. Don't lower your mask."

Ruto positioned himself in front of me, a hand holding my arm. He shouted, "What's the meaning of this?"

I looked over his shoulder. Ten gerudo men stood on the beach with swords drawn. Another half dozen stood knee deep in the water, their bows trained on us.

One of the gerudo closest to us shouted, "Come to the shallows, zora!"

Ruto tucked his chin defiantly. I pressed into him, afraid of what would happen if we didn't obey. "Do what they say, please."

He squeezed my hand in answer and slowly kicked toward shore. The gerudo circled behind us. I stood close behind Ruto, my eye on the slowly approaching men.

Ruto raised his head. "I demand an answer! The zora and gerudo have an understanding. We didn't set foot on your lands."

"We intend to uphold the compact. But only if you do. Turn over the hylian. No matter how you dress her, she is no zora. She has no part of the deal between our peoples."

Ruto pulled me to his side as the archers closed in on us. "We are affianced. We are of one flesh. That's enough."

The man threatening us stepped into the water. "Does that make you part hylian then?"

Ruto backhanded the man across the face. Swords were brought close, one inches from Ruto's throat. He held his composure and glared. His voice was a low growl. "I am Prince Ruto of the Zora tribe. You will let us pass, or face the consequences."

The man put a hand to his jaw and wiped away a line of blood. He held Ruto's glare, debating the threat. Movement caught my eye. I looked down to see a red tentacle wrap around the leg of the gerudo at my shoulder.

"Watch out!" I shouted as I drew my sword. The gerudo was yanked off his feet as I swung at the octoroc's limb. I grabbed his forearm and pulled him back up in time to see the beast thrash around from the minor damage.

The gerudo shouted, "Form up!"

Ruto spun, raising twin daggers. He raced to my side, shoulder to shoulder. The gerudo stood in an offensive formation. Their archers aimed at the octoroc. The arrows stuck but didn't seem to do anything.

Ruto rushed forward and dove into the water. I saw him swim under it. He was fast! I could barely keep up with his movements. He was pushing the octoroc toward shore. I shouted to the gerudo, "Swords to me! Archers aim for the back of the head!"

I ran forward as the octoroc finally reached the shallows. Its fat tentacles roiled in the sand, churning the crystal water to cloud. I swung the sword, cutting the tentacle at the base. It fell, twisting around. The gerudo jumped in beside me.

The beast turned one giant eye toward me. Its teeth were loud as they searched for flesh. It lunged for me, a death blow. I lifted the master sword and embedded it in the soft optical tissue.

The octoroc writhed against me, my arm shaking. Then came the twang of the archers and the creature went slack. I withdrew the sword and the octoroc fell back into the water. It deflated and began to drift away.

I lowered my blade to clean it as Ruto returned. He lifted my helmet and tilted my face. I smiled and reassured, "I'm fine. It didn't hurt me."

Ruto hugged me, not letting go. I heard a splash and turned to see the gerudo approach. "Woman, step forward."

Ruto glared. I smiled up at him and tapped his chest. I took a step toward the gerudo. I asked with a raised eyebrow, "Yes?"

He bowed his head. "You have my thanks. I would have lost more than one man had you not noticed the creature."

I nodded. "I don't care who the monsters turn against. I would protect anyone from such a fate."

"Tell me, were you the one who helped one of my men outrace the sheikah about a week past?"

His question caught me off guard. I answered slowly, "I trust the woman and child are safe."

The man nodded. "Indeed. The man wouldn't stop talking about the sword of the swordswoman who challenged him. We could hardly believe it. To think, a swordswoman in Kakariko with the skill to hold her own against him? But I would recognize the sword from his description. Your reputation precedes you."

He turned to Ruto. "Zora, you and the woman may pass. I am bound by honor in return for her help. Go."

Ruto pulled at my hand. I turned and followed him back into the river. When we had put some distance between our encounter with the gerudo, I asked, "Did you know that would happen?"

"I may have," came the quick answer.

"You shouldn't have antagonized them," I chided.

Ruto held a hand to his heart. "You doubt I could handle them? You wound me!"

I turned to face him. "I fought one of them. I know how strong they are. You should have told me."

Ruto stopped swimming and let the river carry him. "I'm sorry. I hadn't even considered..." He reached for me, pulling me to his chest. "I'm so sorry, filorinet. You must have been scared. And after I said I would protect you..."

I put a hand to his cheek. "We protect each other. But I can't do that if you don't tell me."

Ruto put his forehead to mine. "It will never happen again."

We dropped over a small waterfall. I let out a surprised yelp. I looked around. We had entered Lake Hylia. The water level had dropped significantly since I had come here as a child.

Slightly above water level near the middle of the lake were structures. Dead corals and the skeletons of long dead fish were littered around and on them. Ruto led us toward them.

He explained, "My people used to dwell here. Homes surround the temple. We'll have to swim through the ghost town to reach it."

The water was earily silent around us. I twitched at movement to my left. Ruto put an arm around my shoulder. "Pay no heed to the relics of the past."

The deeper we swam, the closer we were to a large dome shaped building. Impossibly large pearls and sapphires glittered despite the algae clinging to them. At the base, Ruto touched the wall and the front door opened.

I swam through in awe. The hall was beautiful and intact. Unlike the other temples I had been in, this one had been used until only recently. Ruto pulled me along.

The main room was mostly submerged. Ruto led toward one side. A statue of a woman with a water serpent curled above her on the ceiling dominated the floor. Ruto let out a small curse. "The bridge switch must have been damaged. It should have activated when I opened the door. We'll have to do it manually."

"Why have a bridge that's not permanent?" I asked as we descended.

Ruto replied without looking back, "To deter looters. Unless you know the way, there's no way to the valuable treasures."

He swam through a doorway. I followed close on his heels. "Are there any large fish here?"

"No. There shouldn't be. All the water in here is filtered through thin grates."

After a couple turns, we entered a room with a strange contraption on the wall. Ruto went to it and fiddled with a dial. He gave a frustrated sigh right as I heard the sound of stone grinding. He turned and flashed a smile.

As we swam back to the main room, I couldn't shake the feeling something was wrong. Ruto pulled me into his arms and spun out of the water. He set me down at the beginning of the bridge. I asked as we walked, "Is this the goddess statue of the zora?"

Ruto held my hand in his. "She is."

The hair on my neck stood up. "Does something feel off to you?"

Ruto stopped and looked down at me worried. "Are you having second thoughts?"

I shook my head. "No. Not remotely. But I can't put it to words."

"Then don't. You're nervous. Don't worry. I am too." He kissed me, his hands on either side of my face. "I'll be right beside you."

I smiled and nodded. We walked up to the statue. I folded my hands in quick prayer before we walked around her. Ruto went to the door behind the statue. When he opened it, water washed past our ankles.

"Huh?" Ruto muttered. He went in. "There shouldn't be water-"

The sound of metal was the only warning. Ruto turned and pushed me backwards out the door. I fell onto my back as a gate slid over the door. I hurried to my feet and rushed back to the door.

Ruto looked the gate over, anger and surprise mixed on his face. I struggled against the bars, trying to move them. Ruto shook his head. "It's no good."

I covered his hand with mine. "What do we do?"

The sound of a chain being drug across the floor made my blood freeze. Ruto looked over his shoulder before reaching through the bars and pulling me close. "Get out of here. I'll meet you again. I swear it."

"You're scaring me, Ruto." My pulse pounded in my ears. "I won't leave you."

"You have to, filorinet." Ruto's voice was rough with emotion. His hand reached for my wrist. He touched my bracelet. "Bring her to safety, Goddess."

Green light surrounded me. I looked at Ruto through blurry eyes. He gave a half smile. I landed hard on my knees. I was on the shore of the lake. Navi rushed to me.

Fear flooded my senses. I wrapped my arms around my stomach as I was physically hurt from it. What had Ruto seen? My throat constricted and my eyes stung. I bent over and cried.

"What happened?" Navi asked.

I shook my head. "Ruto is in danger. I... I have to get back. I have to..." I had to get back to him. I should never have left his side! "Navi, can you swim?"

"I'm a fairy. We live in wells. Of course I can swim."

I stood shakily and walked back to the water's edge. "I need you."

I waded until I could dive. Navi's wings beat as he propelled through the water. The front door was still open. Less than an hour had passed. Surely I wouldn't be too late.

I ran along the bridge back to the room we had been separated in. The metal gate was smashed. I slid through the bars. Ruto was nowhere in sight.

Navi flew low to the floor. "Here!"

I ran to him. Ruto's dagger! I picked it up. Had he dropped it? I cradled it to my chest and shouted his name. My voice echoed around the empty room.

"He's not here."

I walked forward. "Who's there?"

"That zora is gone. You'll never see him again."

I spun as I walked. The voice sounded so familiar, and yet so foreign. "Show yourself!"

"With pleasure."

She appeared behind me. I turned and stepped back. She smirked, a dark look that didn't belong on that face. "I suppose it is a bit of a shock, seeing yourself outside of a mirror."

I put a hand to my mouth. "Who... Are you... Where's Ruto?"

She cocked a hip. "You make me gag." She mocked, "Where's Ruto? I simply can't breathe without him. Only he knows the way to my hea-"

"Enough!" I interrupted.

She straightened up. "Well, well, well. You haven't gone too soft. Yes, I am you. And the one your precious Ruto faced was just like me. He has quite the inner demon, your zoran prince."

"So he's still alive."

She quirked her lip in annoyance. "For now. Beat me, and you might be able to save him."

I drew my sword and held Ruto's dagger. "If that's what it takes."

I closed the distance between us as she drew a copy of the master sword and my shield. Her black tunic flared around her as she spun. I used the dagger to block her sword and struck forward with the true master sword.

She brushed the attack away with her shield. I kicked the opening it left. She went flying five feet and rolled. She stood slowly, a grin on her face. "I liked that."

"Come and get some more then," I challenged.

We spun around in a dangerous dance of flashing blades. When we parted, we were both breathing hard. There was a small cut on my cheek, but she had one on her neck.

My copy blinked red eyes. "You'll never beat me like this. Too afraid to kill a person?"

I circled. She matched me. It was true. I had never killed anything resembling a person. Everything I had faced was just a monster. I had no sympathy, no hesitation. The only way past was kill or be killed. But could I kill myself?

"Look out!"

At Navi's warning, I ducked under the oncoming blow. I stabbed with both hands. The master sword and Ruto's dagger went into her stomach. She slumped over my shoulder. I heard the sword fall. She whispered, "Good attack. You might actually be able to do this."

She fell off my shoulder and became nothing upon hitting the water. There was no trace she had even existed. I gathered my strength before looking ahead. There was only one door.

I jogged through it into another room. This one had a pool of water maybe five feet deep. The water inside it was particularly blue. The form of a body caught my attention.

I ran to Ruto and checked for a pulse. It was faint. There was a pool of blood spreading into the water. I heard a splash. Turning, I stared at the water. "Navi, is something there?"

He flickered several colors ending on yellow. Before he could answer, the water inside the pool reared up. A giant mass of nuclei filled the center of the creature. Navi screamed, "It's Morpha!"

I rolled sideways as a tentacle reached for me. The whole thing shifted. I saw an opening and threw Ruto's dagger. It penetrated and struck the nuclei.

Morpha writhed, unable to scream in pain. The sound of my boots was the only noise as I raced toward Morpha. A tentacle slid around my waist. It picked me up and tossed me.

I rolled painfully before slamming against the wall. Morpha positioned itself between me and Ruto. I evened my breathing and raised my sword and shield. I waited. Morpha watched. An idea dawned on me.

I reached for my hookshot. This would take perfect execution. I sprinted toward Morpha with hookshot in hand. When Morpha reached for me, I aimed the hookshot at the nuclei. The tentacles missed me. I reached for the dagger hilt and aimed the hookshot at the door frame.

With a yell, I wrenched the nuclei out of the creature and flung it against the wall. It quivered where it lay. I turned to see the watery blob waver and struggle to hold form. Taking the master sword, I plunged it into the nuclei. There was a massive splash behind me as the nuclei stopped moving.

I stood slowly. I had done it. I raced back to Ruto's side. Holding his wrist, I couldn't find a pulse. My heart leapt into my throat. I pounded a fist on his chest.

He didn't do anything. I lifted the helmet away. His mouth was open, eyes closed. I leaned forward and put my mouth over his, breathing into him. His chest rose. I continued compressions. "Don't leave me!"

Blue light surrounded me. "No! I can't leave him!"

I blinked in the light of the chamber of the sages. I was kneeling. I choked on my tears. "Why now? I was saving his life!"

Rauru, Sario, and Darunia watched me. I couldn't read their expressions. From behind me, I heard, "Filorinet?"

I turned. Ruto stood in shock staring down at me. I stumbled to my feet and ran to him. I cried into his chest, "How could you? I was so scared I had lost you."

"I told you we would meet again. But, where are we?" Ruto asked.

I stepped back. Rauru came forward. She explained, "The water temple was cleansed. And the sage of water is you, Prince Ruto. You have been granted the power to help stop evil."

Ruto held me to his chest. "Is this true, Link?"

I nodded. "I have to stop Guinan before she destroys the world."

Ruto tipped my chin up. He leaned forward and kissed me. "Then I will do everything in my power to help you. I swear to you, Link. When all this is over, I will come back to you."

His hands slowly disappeared as I returned to the lake. I stood beside a giant tree as the sun rose. There was a rush of noise. I turned to see water gush into the lake. It began to fill before my eyes.

"You did it, Link." I turned. Zelda was behind me. "Pure water fills the lake once again now that the temple has been ridden of its plague."

"Zelda," I murmured before going to her for a hug.

I held her as I realized I hadn't lost Ruto completely. I would get him back. Zelda held me stiffly at first before realizing I needed comfort. She lightly stroked my back.

She said, "You and the prince were close."

I nodded. "He was supposed to be my husband by now."

Zelda stepped back. "I can't help you with that, but, I do have one thing." She pulled out her harp. "It's time I told you a secret. Prince Sheik taught me this song. It was one he learned long ago to contact the zora. Play the Serenade of Water, the lullaby of Prince Ruto."

She plucked out a few relaxing notes. I reached for my ocarina. I slowly echoed the notes back to her. When I lowered the instrument, I asked, "Is Sheik alive?"

Zelda answered, "I can't say, but what does your heart tell you?"

I opened my mouth. She shook her head. I nodded. I knew he was alive. I looked to the lake. "Ruto, we'll be together again."

I turned to Zelda and she was gone.

Done! The water temple is done! It makes me think about how much detail I put into the deku tree and hate myself. Honestly I debate whether I should rewrite it. It's format is so different from what I've come to use.