Chapter Seven

Zora's Domain was the most lavish of places, even prior to the Calamity. Now that most of the settlements that could have once rivaled its beauty had been destroyed, the striking pillars and endless array of luminous stone stood out even more against the endless trees and wooden cabins of most of Hyrule. The Zora lived far longer than any other race, so to see the amazing detail put into every inch of the Domain was no surprise. They had no need to rush the perfection that made the area as awe taking the 100th time as the first.

But Zelda had little time to admire the architecture that had stayed the same as when she last visited, because soon enough they were spotted by a group of waiting Zora.

Their arrival went exactly how Princess Zelda had expected. Link was met with praise, tackled into hugs by his old friends, and greeted with lovestruck gazes of the younger zora she'd never met before.

All attention was on the hero chosen to wield the sacred blade, and for once, Zelda didn't seem to mind. Prior to the calamity, it was moments like this that made her blood boil. That made it hard to even look Link's way, but now that her powers were free and known, she rather enjoyed stepping back at the celebration.

It wasn't long before the group around Link pulled away long enough for the knight to breathe. His cheeks were flushed from the laughter the group had shared, mixed with embarrassment from the unending praise he'd been receiving.

Then their gazes met. The Princess and the Hero's, and the attention was turned on her.

Now this wasn't how she'd expected to be welcomed. A dark scaled zora was the first to recognize her, bending to one knee, but only briefly before he was sweeping the Princess up into his arms.

A surprised yelp, followed by a string of laughter escaped as she held onto and finally recognized her old acquaintance, fearful of falling despite his strong grasp. "Bazz! It's so good to see you!"

"And you, Princess!" He cheered, followed by the applause of those around them before he set Zelda back to her feet. "To think, it was you this whole time that kept us all from feeling the true wrath of Ganon!"

"I only wish I was able to access my power before losing the other champions," Zelda paused, her hands clasped in front of her as she looked up to the enormous statue of her lost friend.

Princess Mipha, the statue of her at least, stood proud in the middle of the Domain, trident in hand and her familiar calming appearance carved in the details of her face.

Zelda took a moment to step away from her old friends, walking closer to the statue to truly appreciate it in all of its glory. She wouldn't cry. She refused to, as she did the day of her mother's funeral. Mipha was strong, and Zelda was so desperate to be the same.

Link was soon at her side, ignoring the distance he usually kept when playing appointed knight, to look up at the statue as well. "Princess," his voice was low, and for a moment Zelda wasn't sure whether she was being addressed, or the statue was. "I don't remember much of her. Do you remember anything of my time with Princess Mipha?"

"I don't know a lot, but I'll share all I do know with you after our meeting with King Dorephan and Prince Sidon." Zelda turned to her knight, a careful, timid smile on her lips. "As long as that's alright with you."

"I've waited a hundred years to remember her. A few more hours won't make it any worse." Link smiled back, though it was sad. Somber. A feature Zelda had never seen before.

But Bazz was approaching once more, falling to a one knee bow in front of the Princess. His playful welcoming was soon forgotten as traditions and expectations came back into play. "I'm to escort you to your chambers before your meeting."

Zelda gave a sturdy nod to Link to follow, allowing Bazz to rise and lead the way.

It was clear to the Princess that the royal accommodations of the past had been left forgotten for some time. It was clean, of course, most likely tidied when the King received word of her future arrival, but beyond that it was unchanged. Even the notebook she had used when helping Mipha with her divine beast was left in a drawer, frailed with the moisture from the domain and wrinkled with time.

What also caught her eye was the closet she'd used when she would visit. The families had been close, so it wasn't uncommon for her to leave her royal garb here for her future visits. An arrangement of attire, from pants she'd wear on the Divine Beast Vah Ruta, to night attire she'd use to keep warm during the chilly evenings the Domain presented. Alongside them all was one of the dresses that had become her royal signature.

She pulled the blue dress from the closet, admiring the gold details, the white corset and the long, extravagant sleeves. She'd worn a similar one often back in her own palace, but the dress would change depending on where she was. Back home, the inside of her sleeves were red, to remind those around that she carried the red blood of the goddess. Here, in the Domain, they were an aqua colour, similar to the appearance of the luminous stone found throughout the region. It was also shorter, one of the few garbs that was allowed to show her ankles, considering the inches of water that covered the Domain's floors.

Zelda laid the dress down on the waterbed she'd be sleeping in that night, turning to the two boys that stood watching in the doorway. "It may be a hundred years, but I do believe it's still custom to allow a lady privacy when she's dressing."

Bazz cleared his throat awkwardly at that. "Right, well, I uh, I suppose you'd need help with the gown. I'll go find one of the female zora to assist you." He bowed, taking his exit promptly to find someone suitable to aid her.

Link, on the other hand, remained in the doorway. He didn't step into the room, his own eyes wandering as if searching for something. Or perhaps, someone.

"Sir Link," Zelda spoke up, pulling Link from his thoughts, "You ought to change into the zora armour you were gifted. For both your sake, and my own. The Champion's tunic will provide far less respect here than the garment created by the late Princess."

"I'll change the second I know you're safe. I refuse to leave you alone, Princess."

"So is your duty." She gestured to a chair in the room, "You may as well get comfortable. I'm sure Bazz will have trouble finding any zora that knows how to properly tie a corset."

Link seemed hesitant, but eventually took the invitation, settling himself on the chair. His eyes once again explored the room from the new angle, still searching for something even he couldn't pinpoint.

"It's doubtful you'll remember anything from the royal guest chambers," Zelda flipped through her old notes, taking a seat on the bed as she made it look like she was focusing on the old journal and not Link's fascination with his surroundings. "You never stepped foot in this room. It was forbidden by Princess Mipha that you come anywhere near my chambers."

Defeated, Link leaned back in the chair, his eyes landing on the Princess instead.

"What is it?" Zelda looked up, meeting his gaze, "You want to say something, don't you?"

"I-" He started, before nodding, "Yeah. It's just, being here with you is a lot different than when I came to free Vah Ruta."

"And why do you think that is?" She closed the book, setting it aside to give him her full attention. He always seemed to talk more freely when she did.

"Obligations, I guess. When I came alone, I knew nothing of the Zora Princess. I didn't regret taking the armour in order to free the people here but...I also didn't feel anything. It was like, this big piece of my life never existed. I could take her gift...her proposal… without hesitation because I couldn't place what in the world doing so meant. Did I like her the same way back? I still don't know. Now, with you here, it's not this itching need to figure out, because how I felt back then doesn't matter when you're around."

Zelda looked at Link for quite some time, not saying anything, afraid of the words she may speak. It seemed as though he was feeling the same thing, just sharing her gaze before getting up from the chair and turning to Bazz the second he arrived.

"I found someone! A gerudo visiting the Domain! A seamstress at that."

Behind him stood a tall, muscular women with flaming red hair, exactly like the Gerudo were signature to adorn. The typical puffy pants and heels were present, but the woman had chosen to cover her upper half in the thinnest of shirts Zelda ever thought possible. She was dripping in gold, as most of the race was known to do. Instantly, Zelda's heart began to ache for Urbosa, but she spoke nothing, just watching as the woman entered.

"Rhondson." Link nodded to the gerudo who stepped into the room as Bazz spoke. "What are you doing here?"

"Link. I haven't seen you since the wedding." Rhondson replied, "I'm here to expand business. I'm looking into making zora stuff in the future, you know?" She continued before looking at the dress on the bed next to Zelda. Her eyes widened briefly before she looked to Zelda and gave an awkward bow. It was clear she hadn't done much bowing at all in her life. "Your Highness."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Zelda stood off the bed, her poise and posture returning like the royal she was trained to be, "I see you are acquainted with Sir Link."

"Yeah, I am. He introduced me to my husband."

"Playing matchmaker, was he?" Zelda looked to Link with a raised brow, biting back a smile as she shook her head. "Go. You need to change as well. Return a few minutes prior to our scheduled meeting with King Dorephan. Until then, I trust Rhondson will make a very informative companion."

Link seemed hesitant at the idea, but Bazz was already pulling the knight from the royal chambers, shutting the door to allow the girls some privacy.

Zelda let out a sigh of relief before smiling at Rhondson, who managed to smile back. The two went straight to work, changing Zelda from her road clothes to her royal ones. The duo talked about Link's adventures building the settlement of Tarrey Town. They spoke of how he had met Rhondson and the agreement she had to make with naming her future child in order to comply with the company her husband belonged to. They talked about Gerudo Town, of the Bazaar and the clothes Rhondson would sell to the men that passed through. It was all so fascinating to the Princess that she barely noticed how quickly the time had passed.

In what felt like only minutes, had soon become nearly two hours, and the knock on the chamber doors confirmed just that.

Link was alone this time, in his Zora armour - minus the silly hat - that Princess Zelda had requested. He took one look at her, and in an instant he was holding the wall, lost in the flood of memories the dress had shared.

He remembered the time she'd vanished from his view. It was their first visit and he had barely said more than five words total to her since they had arrived. He remembered he'd panicked only to find her minutes later diving off the Domain's bridge with the zora Princess.

He remembered how cold she got during evening meetings, and how he'd learned to bring gloves to give her once she was free from view of King Dorephan and his advisors. They still hadn't spoken much, but it was one of the few gestures that caught her by surprise enough to make her smile.

He'd remembered how she would curse when her crown would get caught in her long hair, especially on windy evenings. How she'd try to 'forget' it often on visits so she didn't have to deal with the hassle. How that was the beginning of her infamous hair braids. All due to the stubbornness of her hair.

He'd remembered the way she'd laugh when they were alone. It was rare, and only started a few weeks in, yet he remembered how much the sound had brightened any point of their endless journey. Yet, no matter which visit the Domain always made her weak. Made her seem smaller than she truly was.

He'd remembered how she'd open up to him as they would walk the Domain at night. One day, she even had the nerves to ask him about his time there as a child. He remembered how she seemed jealous of his friendship with Princess Mipha, though she never admitted to it.

He'd remembered her. Far more than just a nerdy girl with a frog obsession and a legacy to uphold.

And when the past became the present, he was greeted with the appearance of the crownless-short haired Princess in a completely new light. He stared at her, ignoring the worried expression on her face as her and Rhondson returned him to his footing.

"Princess I-"

"Hush. You frightened me." She and Rhondson helped him sit on the bed, the closest surface for him to regain himself. Still, his gaze from her never waivered.

Zelda stood in front of him while Rhondson rushed to get a wet cloth. "You look as though you've seen a ghost, and that's saying a lot considering how frequently you've met spirits in the past year."

"I just - Princess - I remember so much more. About you. About this place." He started to ramble, his words pouring out like champagne at a gathering. "I remember how you get cold here, during the nights. How you hated your crown. How...how…"

"Breathe, Link," She soothed, taking the cloth from Rhondson upon her return and using it to lightly dab at his forehead. "I'm beyond grateful your memories are returning, trust me, but I need you to live in the present for just a little longer." She knelt down to his shortened height from sitting on the bed, meeting his eyes as she carefully took his hand in her own and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "I promise once we get through with this meeting we can remember everything together. I just need my knight by my side."

Link blinked at her, searching her face once more. It seemed so different. So new. Like the gap of the past one hundred years had grown smaller. There was still so much more, he knew that, but in this second all he could do was get lost in the thought of her.

Eventually, he nodded, shaking his head free from the lingering ideas brought to light by the revelation. "I'm sorry, Princess, forgive me for scaring you. Let's meet the King. Then, perhaps, we can explore the Domain before you retire?"

"I think that sounds like the perfect plan, Sir Link." Zelda smiled, standing and briefly wiping her hands on the skirt of her dress before helping him stand. Rhondson watched the two curiously, but said nothing, only stepping away to let them pass.

"Oh, and Rhondson," Zelda turned to look at the woman, her pleasantries still apparent, "Thank you for all your help."

"Anything for a friend of Link's." She nodded sternly, watching the two depart with that curious look once more.

By the time they had reached the stairs leading to the royal courtroom, the nervousness that Zelda had forced from her mind had returned at full force. She swallowed it down, ignoring the knots in her stomach and the lump in her throat, staring at the steps leading up to the room. With a look to Link, and a shy smile, she finally faced the steps and took them one by one.

Link followed her, three steps back as always, her shadow in the Domain he'd once nearly called home. Two guards stepped out of the way of the top stairs, allowing the duo to enter the room.

King Dorephan was huge. Far bigger than the Princess had remembered. He took up more than half the room. His son, Prince Sidon, looked like a small doll by his side. Zelda supposed she and Link must look like ants from the King's view, considering how his son alone had a good 4 feet of height on the duo.

On the other side of the King stood one of his advisors. Unfortunately, Zelda remembered the elder quite well. Muzu. She only offered him the briefest of smiles as they passed, taking the stage centre of the room with Link by her side. They kept a distance between them, a good foot or so, but he was not the shadow behind her as he would play in most other royal settings. Here, he was her equal. Not a Princess and her knight, but the Chosen Duo of the Goddesses.

"King Dorephan, it's a relief to see you so strong after all of these years." Zelda started, looking up to the giant King before turning her attention to his son. "And Prince Sidon, you've grown so much. I have many fond memories of you when you were just a child."

"Yes, yes, well I'm glad the pleasantries have remained with you after your long departure from us." King Dorephan seemed bored already, uninterested in Zelda's mere presence. "But being friendly with our family isn't what you're here for, now is it?'

"On the contrary. Although I would like to speak of serious political matters in the coming days, I do not wish to start with such discussions as of today. Instead, I was hoping to speak of the late Champion and Zora Princess, Mipha."

The King looked a little more eager at the conversation. Even Muzu perked up, a questioning look in his gaze at Zelda.

"By all means. Whatever you can tell us of my daughter will always be appreciated."

Zelda nodded, her hands settled in front of her, fingers laced to steady her shaking. "There is much you already know of the Princess. Her kindness and the dedication to her people are known throughout the Domain, but there was so much more to her than her way with people and her strength with a weapon. Princess Mipha was one of my truest friends. She was someone I could look to during my times of need. When my mother died, although we were both much younger than when she was named Champion, she was by my side. I believe she was the only person who truly ever saw me shed a tear for my late mother's passing."

Zelda took a deep breath. Even now, admitting these things was hard. It had been well over a hundred years, but the loss of the Champions - of her friends - was a pain she never got to fully process.

"Princess Mipha took to her divine beast like the two were made for each other. Leading up to the Calamity, she was already assisting me with ideas on how to use the beast in ways that would benefit all. From the people of the Domain, to the furthest points of Hyrule, we had such big dreams for the machine when this was all over. Unfortunately, due to no one's fault but my own, that is a dream she will not see fulfilled first hand."

Was she crying? She didn't think so. Not yet, at least, but the threatening tears were evident in her eyes.

"If not for Mipha, I wouldn't be standing here today. None of us would be standing here today. She…" Zelda looked down, her hands no longer laced together, instead in fists at her sides. She was defeated by her own emotions. "She told me the key. The thing that unlocked the sealing power deep inside of me. Although I triggered it far later than would have been ideal, it was her words that made it happen. If not for her...if not for the direction she gave me after all those long, tiring years of prayer the Kingdom...everything would have been lost to Calamity Ganon."

"I know the pain you must have felt losing your daughter was beyond anything I could ever comprehend, but please, believe me when I say she did not die in vain. She fought, even in spirit form, for the people and future she held so dear to her heart."

She was definitely crying now, and she dared to look up at the three Zora before her.

"She aided me in sealing Calamity Ganon, and she gave Sir Link the abilities needed to defeat him. Without her by our side until the very end there would be no Zora Domain. There would be no Hyrule." Another deep breath, "And so, I wish you will grant me time this evening to see the Domain in which she saved in all of its glory. I wish to see the people who she protected all these years. With your blessings, I wish to say goodbye to my dear friend, for I never had time to before."

She fell silent then, just trying to regain her emotions. Her hands remained in fists at her side, trying to anchor herself in any means possible. There were sniffles in the room, ones which were not hers, but that of Prince Sidon and Muzu, the advisor.

"What was it?" Muzu spoke up before the King himself, "What did she tell you that saved us all?"

Zelda paused then, her hands returning in front of her as she looked down at them. Was this really the time, the place to admit the feelings she and Mipha shared for her appointed knight? At this moment?

She thought not.

"With all due respect, they were words in which Princess Mipha was embarrassed to share with me, and words I doubt she'd want to share with anyone else. Consider them private thoughts."

"The Princess wouldn't keep anything from her family!" Muzu broke, throwing his fins up as he argued, "There is no reason to keep it from us if it was so vital to the saving of us all!"

"Muzu," Prince Sidon spoke up this time, "I believe there is another reason Princess Zelda is choosing not to disclose the secret shared with my sister. She has told us so much today, and shared a large portion of herself. I believe she deserves the same amount of respect and privacy you would have given my sister, if she so asked it of you."

Muzu and Prince Sidon then turned to the King, waiting for his final verdict on the matter. Zelda remained as she was, and Link was ever silent, as always.

"Princess Zelda," Dorephan broke the silence, his voice calmer, softer than usual, "Would you perhaps be so kind to share this information with me alone."

Zelda fell quiet once again, looking between the duo of Zora, and then finally looking to Link. He simply looked back, as if wondering what she was going to say himself. What secret she had buried deep inside of her that saved him that day.

Finally, she turned her attention back to the King with a nod. "I owe you for allowing Link to assist in the retaking of Vah Ruta, which resulted in not only the defeat of Calamity Ganon but the prevention of the potential flooding of much of Hyrule."

"So be it," King Dorephan waved his fin, sending Prince Sidon, Muzu, and the guards who littered the room and surrounding area away.

It wasn't until Link got the okay from the Princess herself that he bowed, leaving the room empty beyond the Zorian King and Hylian Princess themselves.

"Come closer, child." Dorephan slowly stood, revealing just how enormous he truly was, "It's been so long since I've seen the daughter of my dear friend."

Zelda took a few steps forward, though they were timid each time. She was still a sniffling mess, trying to calm her unsteady breathing at the reality of everything around her. The loss of her dearest friend, and the great results Mipha's fight had provided the Kingdom with.

"The words you speak to me will not leave this room. They will not be used against you in the future, nor written in history books whatsoever. It is solely a father looking for more closure in regards to his daughter."

With a deep breath, Zelda nodded, "I understand. The words were hard for her to share, and even harder for me to speak."

"I appreciate your consideration in doing so. I assume your powers and those of my daughter's healing abilities are deprived from a similar source."

"They are. You see, after praying at the last of the springs I had felt defeated. Without a teacher, the guidance of my mother, I was chasing my destiny with prayer and hope. Princess Mipha provided me with action, thoughts that would prove to be exactly what I had been missing all these years."

"And what would that be?" He prodded once more.

"She told me, when she heals, it's helpful to think of the ones she loves."

"I see," King Dorephan reached up with a large fin, rubbing his chin, "and that love you hold is for the same individual as my daughter?"

"It is." Zelda took a deep breath before continuing. "We never spoke of such matters, but it was clear we both had eyes for the same hylian, yes. And both of us saved the Kingdom due to that love." She looked back down, scared of the King's reaction.

"I see. So Hyrules future King has already been decided."

"I wouldn't say so. I have much to do before reestablishing the Kingdom. I have yet to meet with any of the other races. Not only that, but the Yiga seems to be a problem we must solve. The castle is in ruins, as is the town surrounding it. But, more importantly, Sir Link has yet to recover most of his memories. I would never want to impose an idea of his future when he has yet to remember his own past."

"Are you suggesting I avoid the subject in tomorrow's meetings? You know that will seem very suspicious of me considering my position."

"I recognize that fact, yes, and you may ask all you wish. I will not speak of Sir Link in such a fashion in a royal court, no matter how much you intend to push the subject."

"I see. You've grown to be as strong as your mother." King Dorephan met her eyes.

Zelda only shook her head, "You're wrong. I'm stronger than she ever was. She died instead of fighting. I fought. I won. I lived."

"Then, Princess Zelda, I will give you a challenge for the sake of your own growth."

"Do as you please, so long as you keep this information between us."

"Consider it done. You are dismissed for the evening. If you wish to see the grave put up for our Princess it is in the East Reservoir where the beast last resided."

"Thank you, King Dorephan." She curtsied, "I bid you goodnight. Sleep well."

And with that, she left the room to meet her loyal knight at the bottom of the stairs.

This chapter killed me to edit, and I'm not sure I'm completely satisfied with it, but here it is anyways!

The next chapter is by far my favourite at this point so I cannot wait to share it with you Sunday!

Until then, please don't forget to follow, heart and comment!