"Ow!" Revali cried, throwing his arm across his body and away from the Zora doctor treating his wound, "You petulant child of a doctor! What would you know of treating these sorts of ailments?"

Having torn the final verbal lash across the doctor's back, the older Zora grumbled as he slammed shut his crate of tools, shaking his head before turning to leave in a furious stampede, "Enough to know when to quit!"

He threw open the curtains to leave, allowing Revali to pull his arm up to his eyes in examination as the other Champions watched the scene playing out, catching Revali's attention as he shouted in defense, "Well, what would he know?!"

"More than us, at the very least," Urboss shrugged, "But one of your feathers- he said the calamus had split and threatened infection."

She frowned as Revali licked around the patch of inflamed skin to soothe the pain, the Gerudo only speaking up with a gradually excited tone in her voice, "Without the doctor, I suppose it can't be helped."

Revali's eyes widened in shock, whipping to the side to find Urbosa approaching him. He immediately flinched upward out from the cot he'd been laying in, only for Daruk to quickly wrangle him back down onto the cot.

"You wouldn't-! Doctor! Return to me at once!"

Urbosa cracked her knuckles, "Now hold still; you're only making it worse."

"How would you know?!"

Shrugging, Urbosa replied simply, "I don't, I suppose. You're just making it worse for me."

"GAH!" Revali cried out, wiggling furiously below Daruks grip, "Unhand me, now, Goron! I may yet allow you to bask in the more pleasant air of my presence if you release me this instant!"

Daruk couldn't help but chuckle as Urbosa simply removed the torn feather from his arm, Revali's thrashing proving to be a suitable anesthetic at the moment, the Goron watching him continue to wail.

"I demand that you-!"

"It's done, you imp," Urbosa chided, unable to hide a grin as she lay the feather atop Revali's sheets, "Just keep the wound clean and you'll recover in due time."

As if it were a source of infection itself, Revali threw his hand across his torso, sending the feather to the ground, "The weakest link should be the first to be stripped away, anyhow. The feather that replaces it shall be stronger by ten fold!"

"Hey, I don't care what you do with it," Urbosa shrugged, "We're just trying to help you out."

Rather miffed by such an admission, Revali frowned, his arms crossed in defiance as Urbosa turned to leave while Daruk did the same, forcing Revali alone with his thought for a brief few moments before a heated groan left his nostrils.

"Thanks."

Daruk turned slowly with a massive grin stretched across his face, causing Revali to sputter, "-and don't you dare tease me, rock man!"

As slowly as he'd spun around, Daruk turned away, still with the sizable smirk atop his face while Urbosa did her best to hide her own amusement. Despite how silly it might have been for it to have been this long for such an admission of thanks, it was rather heartwarming, at the very least, to hear something as humble as that from Revali.

Urbosa sighed, sitting beside Zelda before watching Link in his own cot, eyes closed as he slept. She turned her attention toward Zelda, who hadn't said much of anything since helping coordinate the recovery of her Champions, and had since kept to herself, curled up with her knees up to her chest like a shadow in the corner. The Gerudo relaxed, taking in a waveringly deep sigh while taking care to keep her arm from straying too far from where it grew intolerably pained.

"He'll be fine," she assured lightly, "Weren't you the one with the tale about how he flew halfway down the length of Akkala and into Zorana on a horse in just a couple days to win you aid for a sickness?"

Silence.

Breathing deep, Urbosa reached her arm across Zelda's shoulders, a seething groan leaving her as she did so, though she felt the gesture to be quite worth it as she pulled Zelda against her. Without Zelda's input, Urbosa decided to press on alone, drawing upon her many years' experience when it came to this young woman.

"I know you, child. Perhaps too well for situations like this," she began with a smirk, "I understand the bitter irony of this journey."

Zelda tilted her head to the side, allowing her sidelong glance to escape the enclosure of her posture, her curiosity beating out her anguish.

"What?"

Urbosa smirked, "You, who so desperately wants to find her place in this world. Such a personal, singular goal indeed; yet you seek the companionship of a Company. More bitter still, it so happens to be a crew of Champions."

"My dear little bird," Urbosa mused quietly, allowing her voice to soothe the nerves of her all but adoptive daughter, "Certainly you understood how futile your own, personal mission would be when paralleled by these far loftier goals."

Zelda returned to her enclosure, causing a wry grin to cross Urbosa's face, knowing such subdued behavior was because she had been spot on.

"All I wanted was to prove to my father that I could handle myself," Zelda admitted solemnly, "And yet, the thought of failure so haunted me."

Urbosa ran her hand along her shoulder, abandoning any care for her own discomfort, "Oh, child."

"And I saw you all down there- So- So close to- You know…" Zelda relayed with a bravely still voice, "I failed. You're all here because of me. I'm responsible for you all, and- and I couldn't- protect any of you."

Urbosa smiled, "Zelda. This journey of ours is not soon going to become any more easy. Perhaps you can't do this."

A shiver.

"But you've got five people surrounding you who would all rather die than find that out," she confirmed with a warm tone, "Because we're not unlike your father- We don't follow you because of who you were or what you lack. We follow you because we believe in you. because we see in you what you so troublingly fail to see in yourself. Potential. Potential to become the greatest ruler the Kingdom of Hyrule has ever known- one who has known loss and yet resolves to overcome such things."

Urbosa chuckled, "Listen to me talking like your mother. The real Urbosa would've said 'what're lives compared to- blah blah blah'."

That managed a tiny tremor from within Zelda's cocoon.

"You care more for the fate of Hyrule, than you do your own," continued Urbosa, a warm hopefulness in her breath, "You'd rather this journey to bring people together than go off on your own and find your own fate."

Zelda shrugged, "Well- Perhaps my fate lies with you all…"

"Maybe it does; who knows. But we're mere soldiers in the line of duty toward, not only you, but Hyrule as a whole," Urbosa triumphantly declared, albeit quietly, whispering further, "Even if Revali fails to act as though he does."

A soft whimper of a giggle.

"If you truly wish to partake in our protection, as well as your own- Once we leave here, I'll look to train you a bit. I'm sure Link will be happy to do the same. Mipha and, maybe Revali, too, but Daruk-?"

She turned to find the Goron picking unsightly sediment from his hands.

"Daruk, I don't think you can learn much from him. Brute force isn't exactly your thing, I don't think," Urbosa grinned knowingly.

Zelda's head emerged, a humored smile upon her face, "You mean I can't learn how to toss boulders?"

"You said that Sheikah Slate of yours is supposed to have properties that allow it to interact the world in such ways, right? Not all heroes need physical prowess, you know."

Shrugging, Zelda replied, "I suppose. I don't think I want to be a hero, exactly- just somebody who can protect their friends."

"There isn't much more nobler than that," Urbosa concluded with a gentle pat atop Zelda's shoulder, "Well that was a quick turnaround, wasn't it?"

Slight embarrassment painting her face, Zelda wearily admitted with a voice lined in whisper, "I mean- You talked like mom. and called me 'little bird'…"

"Ah," chimed Urbosa warmly, "When your mother left this world, you certainly were a little bird, weren't you?"

Another gasp leaving her as she raised her arm atop Zelda's head to give her a loving run of fingers through her hair, Urbosa finished, "You've stretched your wings rather far by now, haven't you?"

Zelda grinned as Urbosa promised solemnly, "To see you standing up for your friends the way you did- Your mother would be so proud of you."

"Of course," Urbosa continued, straining the heartfelt moment in an instant, "She would also kill you for doing such a thing, so-"

With a playful jolt, Zelda slammed her shoulder into Urbosa's arm, causing a jarring yelp from her as she recoiled, "Ow! Hey!"

"Sorry; my wingspan isn't quite what I remember it being," concluded Zelda wryly.

Urbosa's face fell into a droll expression, groaning, "Gah. Leave it to you to mold roughness into cuteness. Daruk!"

The Goron rushed a glance toward her, "What?!"

"Help Revali to his feet," she instructed, "I think Zelda deserves some more of those tuna cannoli cakes we had the other night!"

Mouth agape, Daruk hurried to Revali's bedside, "Absolutely! I would speed to the edges of the world for a bite of-!"

"GAH! OW OW OWWW!" Revali shouted as Daruk rushed him along, "You deplorable bedside manner causes me nothing but consternation, you man of rubble!"

Nearly dragged from his bed, Revali threw his arms wildly in imbalance as Zelda rushed to his care, leaving Urbosa to inquire about Mipha, "Would you like to tag along?"

Having split her dutiful care between the recovering Champions, Mipha had largely focused on the still-quiet Link as the others recovered, and while it came across simply as a natural part of the practice of triage, for Mipha, it was an unfortunate opportunity to look over the man she loved for any complications. At Urbosa's behest, however, she knew better than to admit such things, instead appealing to her status.

"I apologize. As our host, it is my duty to ensure the safe recovery of you all," she explained with a dim, platonic smile, "So long as Link is unconscious, I cannot in good faith allow him to face this strife alone. Without these Zora issues, none of you would be injured, after all."

Urbosa nodded in understanding, "Alright then. I'll make sure Daruk doesn't eat them all on our way back."

"Girl's honor," she winked.

Mipha smiled brightly before nodding in reply, returning her attention toward Link as Urbosa wrangled the rest of the Company out from the covered partition atop the Domain, leaving their host to remain quiet as she looked over her Knight. Her smile, of course, didn't leave her.

"How long have you been up?"

Link began to stir.

"Long enough," he muttered exhaustively, pushing himself to where he was sitting up, "You all seemed to be having quite the boisterous time. I hated to break it up."

Despite some blinking of his eyes to adjust to the light beaming in through the curtains, Link remained with his eyes closed, massaging them gently as he took stock of the pain still riddling his body. He'd been bruised, he knew, but had healed quite well since the faint moments he had recalled sharing with Mipha beneath the Domain.

"Zora magic," Mipha spoke up gently, wearing a warm smile, "I promised you, years ago- I would let no harm come to you. In lieu of that, I will always care for you as best I can."

Link rotated his shoulder, "Gah… It's certainly improving."

Turning his sunken eyes toward Mipha, he spoke gently, "Thank you."

Turning her face downward, Mipha hid a tender grin there as Link worked his limbs, finding where any pain rested only to find much of it to have been salved by Mipha's handiwork, much to his pleasant surprise.

"The ringing in my ears has stopped," he noted lightly, "My lungs are- there. The dizziness has just about left me."

In a motion as graceful as it was swift, Mipha pushed herself up toward the cot, her hand matching the back of Link's head in ample time with her lips brushing against his. A sharp breath of surprise entered Link's nose before he settled in for the care meant for his heart.

Mipha pulled away to allow Link a breath, certain to remember his ailment, though she pressed her forehead against his in an attempt to keep them joined. An ache accompanied his lungs as Link breathed hot, humid breaths, eyes lost in captivating swirls within Mipha's own pair.

"-and now the dizziness is back."

Smirking playfully, Mipha accepted Link's direction as his hand found the back of her neck, pulling her in for another kiss, caring little for the aches in pains so long as he were joined in such pleasant union. Their lips met, only for Link to attempt and catch the whole of hers resulting in Mipha doing the same, stemming into a far more passionate ritual derived form that thought of being torn from such things, forever.

"Sorry," Mipha apologized between impassioned strokes of lips upon lips, "I was just checking."

Link pulled away for a moment, still clutching onto the back of her head as his chest strained, "Checking what?"

Her lips curled in devilish delight, "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"With how cryptic that all was, yes, kind of."

Rather than answering him with words, Mipha replied yet again with action, bringing his lips into her own, rendering Link's objection rather meaningless in contrast. Her eyes held open only weakly while Link gave in wholly to the sensation upon his lips, allowing Mipha to peek upon his serenely calm face, such things seeming to be of far greater importance now that she might understand how fleeting such things were.

She pulled away again to offer him respite, once again remaining close to allow her study of his face, though as they remained there, intimate as they were, Link began to gradually realize that something was weighing upon her mind.

"I thought I'd lost you," he offered sincerely.

She shut her eyes, exhaling in some sort of relief, "I thought the same…"

Their lips tired, they simply remained closed, enjoying the attributes of the other; Mipha his warmth, and Link her cooled skin that fought back against the thick humidity clinging to his skin. Her hand remained atop his head, fingers closing atop his hair, feeling its fibrous strands against the in between of her fingers, allowing Link an intuition as to her current thoughts.

"I'm sorry," she managed shakily.

"For what?" Link asked with a muted chuckle.

She paused for a moment, thinking of whether such a thought were worth bringing up, though she recalled Link's words. Whatever ailed her mind, he was there to offer her the same care she had performed in his service.

Cautiously, she spoke up, "The crimson one- Dolare…"

Link's ears perked up in confusion.

"He said what he'd done- It had only been in service of the one he loved," she spoke up quietly, "And I- When I forced you toward taking the Master Sword, I didn't think I was-"

Carefully, albeit for his own body's sake, Link wrapped an arm around Mipha, pulling her into a hug, "Mipha? You've forced me to do nothing. You are not responsible for leading me to where I now lay. Everything has been of my own doing, and while I certainly allow a tremendous amount of stock to your thoughts and words-"

He paused, deciding to reload rather than continue, "I'm here because of them. Not you."

Mipha's eyes trailed away, "But even your Sword seems to believe I'm merely a detriment."

"Does-" Link quickly replied with a start, catching Mipha's curiosity as he began to chuckle behind a grin, "You aren't aware, are you?"

Her eyes now aflutter, Mipha recoiled, "Aware of what..?"

Link dropped his head to politely go on with his amused laughter, "Sorry, I-"

He raised his eyes to meet her own, "Which sword did you toss me before I fell into the basin?"

Mipha's brow furrowed in confusion, "I thought your Knight's-"

Her eyes lit up with astonishment, "You mean-?!"

Link smirked wider, "I thought you were aware of it. When I took it from the air, I immediately felt its mystic weight upon me- but it was unmistakable."

He turned to where he had left the Master Sword beside him when first coming to the cot, lifting it up easily and resting it atop his chest while Mipha's eyes watched in awe.

"Try it," he assured with a warm voice.

Mipha returned to him, "This isn't the same trick that we-?!"

"Of course not," Link laughed, "I'd be far too worried to risk such a game while I'm bedridden with you atop of me."

Her eyes glowing while trailing down toward his chest where the Sword's handle lay, Mipha gave a trembling breath, thinking over her lover's words- how she knew, already, that she could trust this person with every fiber of her being.

Her hand straying ever nearer to the Sword, a minute swallow left her breathless for a brief moment as she took the handle into her hand, exhaling in shaky cognizance as her heart tumbled and bound in happiness all at once. She peered up to Link's eyes as her own teared up above a smile most pure.

"I-!" she stammered, unable to verbalize the torrential flood of emotions swelling up within her.

The only thing giving her presence was Link's hand closing overtop hers along the Sword's hilt, pulling the two tightly against his chest as a tear formed in his own eye, smiling in the surest of love for this woman's infinite bliss at the moment.

"Our fates," he managed however cooly he could muster, though ultimately betrayed by a pang of shakiness in his own voice, "Entwined. Forever."

In a absolute moment of pure jubilance, Mipha fell into Link's chest, caught between tears and giddy laughter as she accepted the warm embrace of her lover's free arm curling along her shoulders.

"Forever," she managed plainly in between giggles, catching a sidelong glance along Link's chest to find his eyes.