Rain splattering against the glass penetrated Mipha's hazy state of half-consciousness; her eyelids fluttered a few times before finally opening. The gray weather outside made things more shadowy than usual this morning, especially within the confines of the bed's curtains, but it was balanced by the fact that someone had come in to stoke the fire without waking them. It lent a soft crackling to the soothing melody of the steady drizzle, as well as a soft glow to the room. Thanks to that, she could easily see the wonderful position she found herself in.
Her head was resting on Link's shoulder, with her arm draped across his bare chest and one of her legs entwined with his. Both his arms were around her, holding her securely, his head leaning against hers. As usual, he slept soundly. Mipha closed her eyes. The even, rhythmic sound of his breathing would've been enough to lull her back to sleep if her thoughts weren't so fully occupied by memories of what had happened between them the night before.
They'd finally consummated their marriage, in a burst of passion she'd never expected. She'd fantasized about it, of course, countless times during her private moments in the bath; but to actually have it happen had been a shock. The entire evening had been full of shocks, really—to have him flirt with her so warmly, so similarly to the way that stranger had spoken to her... that in itself was hard to wrap her mind around, before she even reached the explosion of physical intimacy it'd led to.
The things he said to me, the way he looked at me—I am still reeling. I had been longing to have a night just like that with him ever since we received the invitation, but even in my wildest dreams I did not think it would truly happen. Yet it did. It did. Link gazed at me exactly the way that stranger did, spoke to me in that same sweetly flirtatious manner that so charmed me... but the feelings that other man stirred in me were nothing compared to how it felt to have Link say those things. To have him call me beautiful, saying that he was smitten with me... I barely drank a thing, but I felt intoxicated anyway, just from his words and his gaze. Not to mention dancing with him like that. Oh... that was something of a prelude to what happened when we got home, wasn't it?
Mipha shifted a little, rubbing her cheek against his skin; Link made some sort of soft noise in his sleep, but didn't stir. Gratitude flooded her—that he was such a heavy sleeper was working to her advantage this time. After all, the longer he slept, the more time she had to stay snuggled up in his arms. Before the inevitable conversation about the previous night that might just bring an end to her quiet joy right now.
What will he be like when he wakes up? Embarrassed? Regretful? Will he be able to look me in the eyes? Oh, I hope he does not regret it, my heart could not take such a thing. Last night was... it was unforgettable, in the very best way. All of it is burned into my memory: the way he kissed me, how he touched me, the sounds he made as I touched him, all that he said and the look in his eyes every step of the way. He wanted me. Me. And he did not mind the parts of me that would be unusual to him as a Hylian. More than not minding, he was clearly... excited by certain things about me. I doubt he would've asked me to bite him if he wasn't. And he certainly wouldn't have kissed me like that afterwards if it didn't arouse him. What a strange, yet wonderful thing; I never expected him to make such a request, nor for him to enjoy it so.
He asked other things of me too. He begged me to kiss him, and wanted me to show him how to touch me to remove that barrier. I'd feared he would find it inconvenient, but he didn't, which meant the world to me. And then, when we were done... he pleaded with me to stay with him. Mipha's lower lip trembled, and she had to swallow down a lump in her throat. He sounded so... plaintive, and his hand shook when he took my wrist. I cannot imagine what got into him. I had nearly cried in the wake of our lovemaking, from the emotional overload of such a release and what it meant to me to have done that with him, and I had only just gained control of myself when he said that. If I hadn't made myself laugh, I would have burst into tears. That he wanted me close even after we were spent, that he didn't want to let go... it is so very like Link, now that I think about it, yet it is still so... oh, what is the word I'm looking for? I cannot think. He showed me sides of him last night that I'd previously only hoped were there.
And I want more. So much more. I want to have him again like that, over and over for the rest of our lives. The way he made me feel, the pleasure he gave me... it is quite beyond words. I couldn't bear it if that was my only taste of him. I don't know what spurred him to behave that way at the ball, to take me in his arms and do all those lovely things here, but it was a gift whose value cannot be measured. After all these weeks of being married to him, of seeing him disrobe night after night, sleeping beside him, being so close to him and believing I couldn't act upon my growing feelings... I needed that so badly it was beginning to hurt. My own hands are no substitute for being kissed and touched so intimately by the man I love. Please, I don't want that to be the only time I get with him like that. I need more. More to give, more to receive... we have barely begun. Please, please let it not be the end.
The rain continued to fall steadily outside, the fire crackled away, and Mipha kept lying there. The temptation to lift her head and look at Link's sleeping face was great, but not enough to overwhelm her desire not to disturb him. Let him sleep, let them stay like this. Just being in his arms, listening to his breathing and feeling his soft skin, the gentle rise and fall of his chest under her arm, was bliss. She'd had a brief taste of something like this on the ship that carried them here from the Domain, but even that paled in comparison. For one thing, they were both fully unclothed under the sheets; but even more importantly, it came after a night of incomparable passion.
And oh, he treated me with such caring and affection. Not just desire, though there was plenty of that, but—he was so concerned about my comfort, my feelings. I truly do not think I could've had a better partner for my first time, not in any way. Link, he... there is no one else for me. Not in my bed, not in my heart. Which goes beyond just not wanting that awful Astor, for I do not believe that any of the other foster sons, nor anyone else, could ever be so dear to me as my sweet Link. He is all that I have longed for, ever since I knew what it meant to love another romantically. That I have been allowed to have him after all is a divine gift in itself, but now to have known him intimately? I can scarcely thank the gods enough. I pray that we will continue to find such joy in each other's arms.
Mipha had just begun to drift off again when Link stirred. Judging by the change in his breathing, wakefulness had claimed him, and sleep was no more. Reluctantly, she extricated herself from his embrace and sat up. Yawning, Link pulled himself into a sitting position and rubbed at his bleary eyes; when they focused on her they lit up, and a soft smile spread across his face. "Hey." He touched her arm. "How'd you sleep?"
Mipha blinked. "I... very well, thank you..." It was true—she'd fallen asleep almost the instant she settled herself in his arms after that last kiss, and hadn't woken up until just a little while ago. Not only that, but she felt more rested than she had in some time. "What about you?"
"Better than I ever have." Link blushed, his smile becoming shy. "Thanks to you." He leaned in and kissed her forehead.
Mipha's eyes widened, even as they began to fill with tears. "Then... then you don't..." Oh, it was so difficult to breathe, especially with her heart beating so hard. "You don't regret what we did?"
"No, of course not, I..." Link broke off as her expression registered, his smile fading. "What's wrong? Do you? Did I hurt you somehow?"
"No, not at all, I am just..." Mipha smiled through her tears. "I was so afraid that you would wake up and be embarrassed or—or regretful about what happened between us last night."
He laid a gentle hand on her cheek. "Are you?" he asked quietly. "Was it painful for you in any way?"
"No." She shook her head. "It was... it was wonderful." A blush of her own filled her face with warmth, matching the pink that returned to his cheeks as he sagged with visible relief.
"Then there's no reason for me to regret it." Link gave her a small kiss. "So please don't worry about that anymore."
"I won't." Mipha didn't bother restraining her contented sigh as he wiped the tears away for her. "Oh, Link... last night was so... shocking, and yet incredible. I have no regrets at all."
"I don't either, but..." His brow creased in a slight frown. "What was so shocking about it?"
"That it happened at all. That you wanted it to happen." She touched his face, her thumb moving slowly over his cheekbone. "Until you spoke to me like that at the ball, I had been convinced you would never want me."
"I can't imagine not wanting you." Something in Link's voice, his eyes, sent shivers running through her. "But I know what you mean. I'd been pretty convinced of the same thing—that you wouldn't want me."
"You?" Mipha's eyes widened again. "But... but you are..."
Link took her hand from his cheek and kissed her palm. "However you see me, I've never seen myself that way," he murmured "And... you're a Zora. I didn't know if you'd find a Hylian like me attractive."
Mipha's heart thrummed in her chest. "What about you?" she pressed him, suddenly breathless. "I have worried that as a Zora I wouldn't be appealing to you... were my fears groundless?"
Link nodded, his eyes fixed on hers. "You should never have had to worry about that, and I'm sorry. I only hid my attraction to you because I was scared... not just of rejection, but of jeopardizing our friendship and making things awkward for you in a situation you couldn't escape."
"... Ha." Her eyes began to sting again, but Mipha blinked the tears away. "I... I have been doing the same thing, so no wonder we both misunderstood and worried." Taking his other hand, she leaned closer and brushed her lips against the corner of his mouth. "May I ask what changed to make you so bold last night?"
"I... guess you could call it a happy accident." Link laughed, the sound full of the same wonder she'd seen in his eyes when they gazed at each other in the wake of their climaxes. "I accidentally touched you here, remember?" He let go of her hand so he could ghost his fingertips over the underside of her tail, making her breath catch. "And the way you acted afterwards... it gave me so much hope. For weeks I'd been trying to figure out if you felt as I do, and that made me think you might."
"I do." She laid her now-free hand on his thigh, all too aware that he was still completely naked under the sheets. "I have been attracted to you since we saw each other again in Goponga, but I carried the same fears you did. Still, though... I had begun to wonder, and you confirmed that I was right to do so when you started flirting with me like that."
"I meant it." Link slipped his arm around her waist, his other hand cupping her face and tilting it towards his. The air between them seemed almost to pulse in time with her racing heart. "Every word. And I..." His voice shook. "I want you more than I can say."
"I feel the same way about you," she breathed. "I've wanted a night like last night ever since you walked into the room at the governor's mansion. I prayed earlier, that it would not be all I ever have of you. I am so terribly greedy, you see. I want more."
Link smiled, his gaze still heated. "Not satisfied with only one dance?"
Mipha shook her head, returning his smile. "No."
Just as it'd been last night, they moved at the same time to kiss each other. It was a soft, slow kiss, so different from the hungry ones they'd shared then. Yet still her heart quickened, recalling how he'd looked at her, how he'd touched her, his words from a moment ago echoing in her head. Then and now, he'd made her feel so beautiful, so desired. Whatever uncertainties lingered between them, at least this wasn't one of them anymore. She no longer had to fear that he didn't find her attractive.
He hadn't said anything about love, of course, but that was fine. This was a start, and a good one. She refused to let it dampen her joy over this development in their relationship. It wasn't love yet on his part, but hope still lived in that word: yet. If fate was as kind to her as it had been already, then in time it would be. And it had already been so, so good to her. She'd nearly lost out on marrying him, had almost been trapped in a union with someone else, someone horrible, but his intervention had prevented that from coming to pass. Rhoam had been convinced by his argument, thank the Goddesses above, and granted her the gift of being united with the only man she'd ever wanted to marry.
Besides, even if he didn't love her, it still had to feel good to know that his wife wanted to be intimate with him, that he was desired. He needed that as much as she did, needed to be held and kissed and touched, and she'd been wanting to do all of those things ever since she'd first seen him again. To actually be able to, to show him physical love and receive it in return, was such a precious gift that she refused to take for granted.
Ever since that day at Veiled Falls during our honeymoon I have known that he carries his own insecurities within him, just as I do. His height seems to have become a sore spot after enduring so much bullying, and after that encounter with Astor it became clear that he views that scar with revulsion and expected me to do the same. Not because he consciously thought less of me, but merely out of his own fears and opinions of how it looks. It feels, though, as if they have never been laid so bare as they have been now. Even with so little said, his feelings and worries came through as if he'd shouted them. I must do what I can to alleviate them, as he so clearly wants to do for me as well. Link deserves to feel good about himself, after all, to truly understand how I see him, as he put it. Whatever I can do to help him achieve that I am more than happy to do.
They held onto each other after the kiss ended, smiling as they stared into one another's eyes. Everything felt so new now, reborn almost—in the space of a single night, so much about their relationship had been utterly transformed. Neither of them would have to hide their attraction to the other anymore, they could enjoy both their close friendship and the sexual intimacy they'd longed for, that was expected of married couples. It was a huge leap forward into an unfamiliar world that was scary and yet inviting at the same time. Hope was still dangerous, but her heart couldn't help but cling to it now, having been given so many reasons to let it flourish. Link wanted this, just as she did. There was no reason not to be happy and hopeful, under the circumstances.
"What now?" Link asked after another little kiss, his face so close to hers that their lips brushed with each word; pleasant shivers went down her spine. "Do you need to take your bath?"
Mipha nodded. "I do. You don't have to wait for me, though, if you're hungry—go ahead and have breakfast."
"Actually, um..." He looked shy again. "Would you mind if I joined you?"
"I..." Mipha paused. It was on the tip of her tongue to politely say no, given that she used her baths to also satisfy herself, but... with the way things had changed, she no longer needed to do that in secret. "Yes. Yes, of course you can."
Link frowned slightly. "You don't have to say yes if you don't really want to."
"No, no, it's not that." She squeezed his hand. "I was just surprised, that's all. Please join me, I would love it. Although I do hope it won't keep you too long from eating—you can get out before me if you need to ."
Link shook his head. "That's... something else I wanted to ask you. I haven't gotten to cook for you yet like I said I would, back when we went to get the scales for the armor... so I was thinking, this might be a nice day to give the kitchen staff a day off and I can make our meals for us?" He twined his fingers with hers, seeming to make sure to touch the webbing between them. "I'd love to have a day all to ourselves... share something special like that with you." His voice dropped. "The way we shared something special last night."
"Oh, Link, I would love that," Mipha whispered, her heart swelling with affection for him. Gratitude flooded in half a beat later—did he truly understand just what he'd done for her when he stormed into Rhoam's throne room to demand he be the one to marry her? The idea that he'd imposed himself on her was so absurd it was almost laughable, or would be if it weren't so sad and wrong. Gifted himself to her was a better way to describe it. Again came that thought: that no one else in the world would do for her except her lovely, sweet Link. "It sounds wonderful."
The smile that lit up his face took her breath away. "I'm glad."
They shared another brief kiss, and then finally climbed out of bed and made their way to the bathroom. Mipha couldn't resist stealing glances at him, at the body she now knew so very intimately. A fresh wave of heat roared up inside her at the memory of being pressed against him, their limbs entwined as they finally joined themselves the way she'd been longing for. So many fantasies had been made real last night; she couldn't wait for more of them to be fulfilled.
Mipha settled against him as he reclined at the back of the tub; it was more than large enough to comfortably fit the two of them, but having him actually be here with her made it seem smaller, cozier. They laid together much like they had during the night, just basking in the hot water and each other in a peaceful silence while the rain kept pouring outside. The world beyond the walls of their house didn't matter right now—all she cared about was enjoying this time with Link, and she could sense that he just wanted to be with her. The awkwardness and pain she'd been so afraid of before he woke up was no more real than any fleeting dream she'd ever had while slumbering. He was happy. Happy to be with her, to have done that with her, to keep on sharing himself like that. The bar for what she'd thought she could reasonably ask for had been raised. Their marriage had been irrevocably changed for the better, and she couldn't be anything less than ecstatic about it.
"I've wanted to do this with you for a while now," Link said quietly. "I'm glad you don't mind."
"Of course I don't." Mipha snuggled closer to him and sighed. "Oh Link, it makes me so happy to hear you say things like that, I hope you know that."
"I do, yeah." He kissed the top of her head, his fingers moving leisurely over her tail. "I used to think you wouldn't be... I've never been so glad to be wrong."
"I know the feeling." She closed her eyes. There was a separate fireplace in here, a smaller one, and a gentle blaze crackled away in it now, adding to the warmth of the room. It would be so easy to fall asleep, ensconced in Link's arms again in the soothing water, but she didn't want to. She wanted to stay awake and savor every moment of this magical day with him. "I too am grateful to have been mistaken."
"Mm." Link kissed her head. "So... is this what you do in here? Just sit? Or do you get cleaned up too?"
"I—oh, yes, I do get myself cleaned up." Heat suffused her again, and she was glad he couldn't see her face. She didn't mind the idea of him knowing what else she did in here, but she wasn't sure this was the moment to discuss it. "Why?"
"Oh, I was just thinking..." He cleared his throat. "Maybe we could... help each other with that too?"
Mipha lifted her head to look at him; he smiled shyly at her, and she returned it, wanting to encourage him. "I would like that very much."
They soaped each other up first, their breathing quickening as hands roamed over bodies, spreading the lather over skin and scales in ways that bordered on the sensual. Mipha's eyes grew half-lidded, as did Link's, and they took turns stealing small kisses from each other, laughing softly at every one. Joy and desire blurred into a beautiful haze, thick as the steam clouds that filled the room. At times it was all Mipha could do not to break down in tears again at the sheer bliss of it all. For hadn't she yearned for exactly this kind of relationship with him? Even if he'd forgotten their promise, he still wanted this with her, and that was enough. This happiness was more than enough.
Once that was done, they moved so that Mipha could sit behind him as she washed his hair. She wrapped her legs around him, and gently worked the lather through his long locks. "You have such gorgeous hair," she murmured. "I've always liked it. And it looks even better like this."
"... Covered in soap?" Link sounded amused.
"No, silly." Mipha laughed. "I meant that it looks lovely grown out like this." She kissed his shoulder, not missing that there was a tiny scar there from where she'd bitten him last night. Just thinking about that—about how he'd asked for it and reacted to it—made her heart pound like it had then. Even more so when Link seemed to shiver, as if he knew exactly where she'd kissed him and was remembering that moment too. "You look even more handsome this way, I think."
"Thank you," he mumbled. The tips of his ears were red, giving her a good idea of what his face looked like now. "I'm... glad you like it."
"Of course."
She helped him rinse it out, and then they shifted again—her legs were still around him, but now they were facing each other. Link slipped his arms around her waist and tugged her in for a kiss, a soft, lingering one that seemed to carry hidden emotion in its depths. Mipha wound one arm around his neck, holding him close, while her other hand roamed over his chest. His soft, beautiful skin was soaking wet, his heartbeat racing beneath her fingers as she caressed him. That she affected him the way he affected her was knowledge she would need some serious time to get used to, but oh, would it ever be fun. As it was now.
Her hand moved upward as they parted for air, over his neck before she breathlessly kissed it, and then sliding into his damp hair. "You said you like it when I do this?"
Link nodded. "More than I've been able to say," he said huskily. "I can't explain why, it just... it feels really good." He sighed as she continued to stroke it. "Like that, yeah..."
"No wonder you agreed to let me start brushing it for you." Mipha kissed his neck again. "I was—oh!" Her sentence became a gasp as Link's hands moved up her sides, his thumbs gently massaging the mounds of her chest.
"You were what?"
"I... I don't know..." Her breath hitched as he kept fondling her. "It's hard to think with you touching me like that..."
"Sorry." Link nipped at her lower lip. He didn't sound apologetic at all. "You're just hard to resist."
"I..." He softly squeezed her, making her brain blank out for a moment. "I didn't think you'd... that you would..." Link paused, and she struggled to breathe and think in the respite he was granting her. "I know that my... that my body isn't like a Hylian's, there are... things I don't have, so..."
Link shook his head. "You don't need to worry about that. I..." He looked serious suddenly. "Mipha, um... can I be honest with you?"
"What?" She blinked, a sinking feeling growing in her. "Yes, of course..." What is he going to say? Something I will not like?
"Thanks." He took a deep breath and let it out. "Okay, so... the truth is..." His face reddened and his gaze dropped. "I'm... more attracted to Zoras than to Hylians."
For several long seconds Mipha simply sat there, stunned. Had she really heard that? Had Link really said that? "You... do you..." Her voice sounded squeaky in her shock. "You mean that?"
"Yeah." Link met her eyes, and lifted one hand to cup her face. "I do. You're..." His voice caught. "You're so much more attractive to me than any of them, exactly as you are. That's why that rumor was so absurd." He kissed her forehead. "So please don't worry about what you think you don't have. You don't lack anything. Not to me, anyway."
Tears filled her eyes, blurring her view of him. "I—I never... I never imagined you would say that... that you would feel this way..."
Link laughed. "I spent a key part of my life in the Domain, I think that made a difference. Hylian girls have never held the same appeal for me. I like this. " He ran his hand over her tail, the other one moving down her side again. "I like all of you." He kissed her. " You're who I want, Mipha. Not Zelda, not anyone else. Just you."
He pulled her close, letting her bury her face in his shoulder as she released the tears that at first wouldn't stop flowing. "Just when..." She hiccuped. "Just when I thought you were done surprising me, you go and say something like that... " Mipha let out a watery laugh.
"I want to make up for letting you think I wasn't attracted to you." Link moved her fin so he could kiss her temple. "You deserve better than to think I didn't want you."
"So do you." She pulled back to look at him, touching his face with a shaky hand. "I've felt the same way about you, I've been wanting you and I was so afraid to let it show that I made you fear you were unappealing to me. I don't want you to think that anymore. You don't lack anything to me either."
A slightly pained smile came over him. "Not even height?"
"No." Mipha shook her head. "It makes you easier to kiss; what can the flaw be in that?"
"... Huh." Some of the sadness went out of his eyes. "I... never thought about it like that before."
"Rest assured that I have." She leaned up to kiss him; Link sighed as her scales rubbed against his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, returning her kiss with the same quiet intensity she was putting into it. Mipha pulled back before he seemed ready for her to, though, and interrupted his attempt at restarting the kiss with her next words. "I like all of you too. Don't forget that."
Link gave her a lopsided smile, and unlike the last one it reached his eyes. "I'll try not to, I..."
He broke off, gasping, as she idly ran a finger over his ear; Mipha's eyes widened. "Link, are you okay?"
"Yes... yes, I..." He swallowed audibly. "They're just... they're really sensitive. Like this for you." He touched the underside of her tail, making her squirm.
"Oh... so... so then, when I've touched them while doing your hair..." Oh no... I've been doing to him what he did to me last night... so many times...
"Yeah." Link cocked his head, a look of amused comprehension coming into his eyes. "You were... doing it on purpose, weren't you?"
"... Yes." Mipha ducked her head, her cheeks on fire. "I... you know I don't have them, so..." She risked a glance at him; Link looked like he was on the verge of laughter. "Would you... find it insulting if I said I think they're cute?"
"Not at all." He blushed a little too, looking so boyishly adorable that her heart swelled again. "I have to admit, I kind of wondered if you meant to keep doing that over and over... I thought it was just accidental, but obviously not."
"No. It was not." Mipha covered her face. "I... wanted to find ways to touch you more, that would seem accidental... but I had no idea what I was doing to you, I'm so sorry..."
"You didn't know, any more than I did before last night." Link pulled her hands down and kissed her fingers. "And I did enjoy it, it was just... hard to hide how good it felt."
"You did a much better job than I did." She blushed. "All those times I brushed your hair, or put in your earrings for you, and I never guessed... but one brush of your hand, and I gave it away."
"I'm glad you did." Link kissed the corner of her eye. "It's what gave me the courage to try last night, remember?"
"I do." Mipha smiled. "So yes, I am glad too."
Another lingering kiss passed between them before they finally climbed out of the cooling water. Mipha wrapped a towel around Link, helping him dry off; his eyes meeting hers, he proceeded to do the same for her. Once that was done they headed back into their bedroom, where the larger fire was still going strong. Link got dressed, and then sat on the rug in front of the fireplace to finish drying his hair with the towel he'd brought out. Mipha laid down with her head in his lap, and he gave her one of his hands to hold while he worked on his hair with the other. Mipha kissed his palm and closed her eyes.
I cannot get over it. Any of it. So many things I thought I knew were wrong. It is as though I was blind to the world around me, and have only now had the cloth lifted so I might see the reality of my surroundings. Link... he wants me as I am. Neither Zelda nor any other Hylian woman were ever a threat, because he prefers me. All of me. I have despaired over my figure, my features, thinking they would surely be unappealing to him, when the opposite has been true the entire time. Perhaps I should feel foolish for having misjudged him, but I don't, not when I couldn't have guessed. I feel only wonder and joy. I have met very few Hylian men who found me attractive, and to think he is one of them, as I have so yearned for... I can hardly believe my luck. I wished for him to behave like that stranger did, and without knowing it he fulfilled my dream. What a sweet miracle.
And now that I know how he really feels, I feel compelled to replay certain moments in my memory, to search for clues in hindsight that I surely missed. But there are so many... a staggering amount of them. I shall have to start some other day, for right now I wish to focus solely on cherishing this time together.
"What do you want for breakfast?" She heard the towel hit the floor just as Link began to stroke her fin. "Is there anything I should avoid cooking for you?"
"I can't think of anything." His fingers on her fin were so soothing that she almost could've fallen asleep, if not for the hunger gnawing at her stomach. "I am open to anything you wish to make. Pick something you enjoy cooking."
"I enjoy all of it." He kissed her forehead. "I want to pick something you'll like too."
"I'm sure I will." Mipha opened her eyes to smile up at him. "Don't worry so much."
From what she could tell at this angle, he didn't look convinced. "It's hard not to when I've never cooked for you before, and you don't typically eat cooked food."
"But you will be making it for me, with care." She lifted her hand to touch his face. "That is all that matters. I will enjoy it no matter what, so please try not to fret over it."
"Alright."
He kissed her forehead again, and then they got up and headed downstairs hand in hand once she'd donned some jewelry and a sash. There was a fire going in the dining room as well, but no food had been set out; a glance at the mantel clock revealed it was still barely nine. Link let go of her hand to tie his hair back, and then touched her shoulder.
"I'll try not to take too long, I promise." Link ran his thumb over her fin. "You're okay with waiting for me here?"
Mipha nodded. "Thank you." She kissed his cheek. "I look forward to finally trying your cooking."
Link smiled softly. "I'll do my best."
He gave her another small kiss, and then disappeared down the hall to the kitchen. Mipha watched him go, and then wandered over to the window beside the fireplace. The pouring rain outside should've been gloomy, and probably was to most people right now, but not to her. It was calming, cozy, like a protective wall around their house that created a private world for just the two of them. Magic had happened between them last night, and now they were being enabled to take this day slowly, revel in each other's company as they continued to dip their toes into this new reality together. She pulled her tail over her shoulder, but more to hug it as she wrapped her arms around herself, her eyes on the sodden garden outside and her mind casting back into the past.
That day in the governor's garden... I wanted so badly to kiss him, there among the flowers where no one could see us. When he leaned closer I did the same, hoping to pull something out of him. A memory, perhaps, of the kisses we shared the day we made our promise. When nothing happened, my heart was crushed a little because I believed he did not want to, that he didn't see me that way. I could never have imagined that he did, that he was held back not by a lack of desire, but by his own anxieties.
Of course, it now also makes sense of that moment at the inn in Lanayru Promenade. We were both nearly overcome by our attraction to each other, and if that knock on the door hadn't interrupted us he likely would've kissed me. How different might things be if he had? If I had had the courage in the garden to do something? At any point we might have put an end to this and stopped wasting time feeling undesirable, if we had just silenced our fears and acted. I am glad it's happened now, better late than never, but... oh, but I suppose there is no point lamenting lost time. It will not bring it back, after all.
She watched the rain for a while longer like that, holding her tail and letting her thoughts drift, until the door opened with a bang. Turning, Mipha saw Link wheeling in the cart that the staff always used to bring them their meals. Two covered plates sat on it, and he smiled as their eyes met. He pushed it the rest of the way to the end of the table nearest the fireplace, where they always sat together, one or the other at the head and the other in the chair beside it. Mipha followed him as he began setting the table with the other things he'd brought.
"Oh, Link, you thought of everything..." Mipha hugged her tail again. "You didn't have to go to all this work for me..."
"Yes, I did, because I wanted to." He set the last piece of silverware down and turned to face her. "You deserve something special." Leaning in, he kissed the corner of her eye. "Let me spoil my wife."
"You are special," she said as she leaned up to kiss him. "I am so happy to be married to you, I hope you know that. And don't say you're better than nothing," she added, her voice thick with emotion. "I cannot bear to hear you say such things."
Link went quiet for several seconds; when he spoke again his voice sounded unsteady. "I... didn't know it bothered you that much... I'm sorry."
"It is as you said to me last night: it pains me to hear you speak ill of yourself." Mipha touched his cheek. "You deserve to think better of yourself than that."
"I'll try." He kissed her fingers and smiled. "Come on, let's eat."
Link pulled her chair out for her, and before he joined her he poured some tea for her and sweetened it the way she liked. Only when she was completely situated did he sit down and tend to his own needs, and after that he lifted the lids off their plates, revealing perfectly cooked crepes filled with strawberry compote and topped with whipped cream and drizzles of honey. Fried sausages accompanied them, along with fluffy mounds of scrambled eggs garnished with shaved truffles.
"Oh, it looks delicious!" Mipha lifted her fork, and then hesitated. "Beautiful, too... I almost hate to ruin your hard work."
"You're too kind." Link was blushing, but she could hear a hint of pride in his voice. "But thanks."
"No, thank you." She took one last admiring look at the pristine crepe, and then dug her fork into it. To Mipha's surprise and relief she found that she not only liked it, she loved it, her eyes closing as she savored the appealing new flavors and textures. "Oh, Link, it... it really is delicious..."
"You do like it, then?" Opening her eyes, she saw Link looking at her with an anxious expression on his face; she nodded, and his shoulders slumped with relief. "I'm so glad, I was afraid you'd think it was gross."
"Not at all," she said fervently. "I love it. Thank you so much!"
Link's smile was as warm as summer sunlight. "You're welcome."
When they were done eating, he cleared the table and took everything back to the kitchen to clean up; Mipha once again went to stand at the window, watching the quiet gray world out there. Link joined her when he was finished, slipping an arm around her and holding her as they stared at the rainy garden together.
"What do you want to do now?" he asked her after a while. "We have the whole day ahead of us and no plans."
"Well... I was thinking I might work a bit more on your armor, but..." Mipha turned to look up at him. "Would you... be willing to keep me company while I do that?"
"Of course." Link smiled. "I'd be happy to."
"Thank you." She smiled back. "And... what about you? What would you like to do today?"
Link regarded her seriously for a moment, his eyes locked with hers. "Be with you," he said quietly. "Just be with you."
Mipha smiled, her heart swelling with fresh joy as she leaned up to press her forehead against his. "I think that can be arranged."
Mipha worked on the armor into the early afternoon, while Link lounged on a nearby sofa reading a book and occasionally stealing glances at her. When she finally grew tired, he escorted her back to the dining room and then prepared a quick lunch for them both in the kitchens. They returned to the library afterwards to write letters to their families, and while they did the seemingly never-ending rain let up. At Mipha's suggestion, they let themselves out into the garden once they were finished.
She held his hand as they walked outside, and Link gazed lovingly at her as they strolled out the doors. It felt both like a sweet dream and a replay of the day they'd officially reunited at the governor's mansion, only far, far different. For so much had now been revealed, that previously had been buried under layers of fear and insecurity. Last night he'd bared all of his body to her; today he'd bared nearly all of his soul. The only parts that still remained in shadow were his love for her, his memory of their promise, and his identity as the masked stranger from the festival. Everything else, though, he'd willingly put on display, wanting to finally unburden himself to her for both their sakes.
I was right. The words reverberated within him, as they had been since awakening this morning. She did want me. She... feels as I do, at least in that respect. I'm kind of an idiot for not seeing it sooner... but then again she was hiding it so well, for the same reasons I was hiding my own attraction to her. It's only natural that I was afraid, and I stand by my reasons for keeping quiet—it really would've been awful for her if she didn't feel this way. But it's also hard not to feel bad for inadvertently contributing to her insecurities. I should've realized she would've felt undesirable, after what she told me that night about other Hylian men being unkind to her. I tried, like when I told her she looked beautiful in her wedding dress, but it wasn't enough. Which is understandable. She didn't know which way I meant it. Now she does, though.
… Still. I wish I'd kissed her at the inn that night. Or any other time prior to last night. Let her know sooner that yes, I am attracted to her. Deeply so. Help her understand that she's not any less appealing to me because she's a Zora. The opposite, honestly. At least I've told her that now; I really do want to make it up to her. She deserves to know that she's wanted and appreciated like that.
"This reminds me of the day we met again in Goponga." Mipha stopped beneath a pergola laden with wisteria, touching some of the delicate blooms with her free hand. "Remember? You held my hand as we walked through the garden together, just the two of us." A nostalgic smile spread over her face. "It was so lovely hearing you call me your fiancee."
"I liked saying it." Link slipped his hand beneath her fin, turning her face towards his and leaning his forehead on hers. "I wanted to kiss you in that garden, away from everyone's prying eyes."
"I wanted to kiss you too." Mipha let go of his hand, but only so she could put her arm around his waist and pull him in. "There were so many times we both should've set aside our fears and acted."
"Like our wedding night?" Their lips brushed as he spoke, sending electricity racing through him. "I wanted so badly to help you take off that dress and then take you to bed. Do what we did last night."
"So did I." Mipha's breathing quickened. "I looked at you, you know. When you got undressed. I have every time."
"I didn't..." Link's breath hitched, his heart racing. "I didn't know. And I only did that in front of you because I thought you wouldn't care if I did."
"I did, though." She laid her hand over his, caressing it. "You tempted me every night, and I should've given in."
"We both almost did at that inn, didn't we?" Link ran his hand over her arm. "I thought I was imagining it, but I guess not."
"No." Mipha shook her head. "You were not."
She leaned up to kiss him just as he leaned down, pressing her lips so eagerly to his that Link almost lost his balance and toppled into the pergola. The heady, sweet fragrance of the wisteria filled his senses, mingling with the natural scent of Mipha's scales as he clung to her, kissing her like their lives depended on it. Her other arm wound around his neck, her fingers threading into his hair and teasing his scalp with her claws; he moaned softly into her mouth. What more could he possibly want than this, than her? His imagination allowed him to spin so many fantasies and wishes about her, but reached an impassable limit when it came to picturing himself wanting or being with anyone else. Some things were just impossible to even conceive of. And honestly weren't worth trying to.
They were so caught up in kissing each other that at first neither noticed the rain beginning to fall again; only when they paused to breathe did it register that their faces were getting wet. Link's eyes met Mipha's, and she let out the most stirringly sweet giggle he'd ever heard, his heart swelling with affection for her. "We're going to get soaked if we keep standing out here."
"I don't mind if you don't." He nipped at her lower lip, making her shiver. "You keep me warm enough, anyway."
"Oh, you..." Her eyes sparkled, and she leaned up to kiss him again, but froze as a rumble of thunder made its debut. "That is... not good..."
"No, it's not." Link seized her hand. "Come on, let's get you inside."
Tugging her along, he led her at a run back to the house. Despite the danger of the thunder and what it followed, Mipha laughed as they ran. No sooner had they gotten inside and shut the door than a bright flash lit up the sky, and the light sprinkling turned into a roaring downpour. It was even stronger than the one that morning, and Link counted silently to himself as they waited for the requisite boom of thunder. Fifteen seconds—not close enough to have posed a danger to them had they still been outside, but better to be safely indoors now.
"We used to hide in my room or yours when the weather was like this." Her voice was very small, and Link turned to see her looking nervous, even as she tried to smile. "Remember?"
"Yeah." He pulled her into his arms and ran a hand down over her tail; Mipha shivered again, and then relaxed into his embrace. "You're safe here, just like we were then. I'd never let anything hurt you."
"I won't let anything hurt you either," she said, her voice muffled by his shirt. "If... if anyone ever tries to harm you again... then I will be there to protect you. I swear it."
Link closed his eyes. "And I'll do the same for you." Unbidden, the memory of Astor attacking her at that garden party drifted up; he shoved it aside as best he could. The sight of that monster typically made him freeze up, but seeing him do that to Mipha had set off a blinding rage in him, rather than his usual panic. It'd overridden everything and allowed him to act. That part was still something of a blur in his mind, but the sheer satisfaction of his fist connecting with Astor's jaw remained. "You have my word on that."
"I know. It's what we said we'd do on our wedding night, isn't it?" Mipha pulled back, smiling radiantly up at him. "Take care of each other."
"Yeah." Link laughed softly. "It's one thing we did do right that night."
"Yes." She sighed. "What a missed opportunity that was... if only one of us had been brave. We could've enjoyed each other so much sooner."
"I remember I wanted to at least hold you while we slept. Even that would've made me happy." Link kissed her cheek. "I'd like to start doing that, regardless of what we do beforehand. If it's okay with you, that is."
Mipha nodded, lifting her hand to trail her fingers over his temple. "I would love that."
Love. Link's heart stuttered at the word. If only he had the courage to tell her how desperately he loved her, how much all of this really meant to him. "Thank you."
"Of course." Mipha hesitated for a moment, and then plunged on. "Link, are... are we a couple now? Truly? Not just in... in name only?"
"I'd like to be." He ran a hand up her arm to touch the fin at her shoulder. "It's what I've wanted this whole time." I wished for it in Goponga—I touched that brick heart and wished with mine for us to be like this, truly married in a way that went beyond mere legalities. The way I've dreamed of since we were children. "Do you?"
"Yes." She leaned up and kissed him. "I have yearned for it too... it does my heart good to know that you share my wish."
"Very much so."
He pulled her into another kiss, gentle as the rainfall that had dampened their faces as they stood under the wisteria. Mipha's lips were so soft, so sweet, and he wanted to savor it slowly, the feel, the taste of them. Of her. He nibbled lightly on her lower lip, and then took it into his mouth to lightly suck on it before running his tongue over it, teasing her tongue and then her teeth. They were so much smaller and sharper than his, and his heart pounded under Mipha's questing hand as the memory of her biting him swept back into his mind; he barely even realized he'd made a sound until her claws dug a little more deeply into him. Link sighed, his hand skimming up her back to caress her scales. Her tail swayed as she moved against him, and he touched the underside, wanting to hear her moan. She didn't disappoint, and Link responded by deepening the kiss again, his other hand cupping the back of her head. The feel of her body pressed to his, of their arms around each other, holding each other so tightly—it was a joy like none other. Mipha stroked his hair as they continued to kiss and even after they pulled apart, and his racing heart felt like it would burst, unable to contain the sheer force of his love for her.
They returned to the library after that, curling up on a couch beside the fireplace and looking through a book on the meaning and uses of flowers together. Mipha had expressed her interest in it, and he was only too happy to indulge her. He thumbed through its pages leisurely, her head resting against his chest as they read, every so often pointing out something funny or interesting to each other.
"I kept some flowers from my bouquet, you know," Mipha murmured as Link turned another page. "It was Gaddison and Kodah's idea, they said it's a Hylian tradition I should try."
"Right, I think you showed me those." He kissed her head. "They came from Linebeck's gardens, didn't they?"
"Yes. Someone else picked them for me; I've been meaning to look up what they all symbolize, but it kept slipping my mind." She traced one finger over the page they were on. "Hence why I wanted to look through this together... now we can both see."
"Heh." Link ran his fingers over her hand. "What flowers were they? I thought I recognized at least one, but I don't remember the names."
Mipha yawned. "Dahlias, lily of the valley, and... ranunculus." She said the last one slowly, as if unsure of the pronunciation."
"Okay, I definitely know the first two, but I've never heard of the last one." Link turned a few pages, searching—thankfully, the book's contents had been organized in alphabetical order. "Alright, here's the entry on dahlias..." He skimmed over the list of medicinal uses, history and cultivation, until he finally got to the note at the end on their popular symbolism. "Forever thine," he read aloud, heat suffusing his face.
Mipha giggled. "Appropriate for a wedding bouquet, then." She turned her head to look up at him, smiling. "For we did swear ourselves to each other till the end of our days."
"Yeah." He couldn't help smiling back at her, even though his cheeks felt like they were on fire. "Lily of the valley next, right?"
"Mm-hmm." She nodded and returned her attention to the book as he flipped through more pages.
An artist's rendition of the little bell-like flowers he vividly remembered her carrying greeted him when he reached the right page; he ran his fingertip over the words below, searching for the section of its meaning. A new blush sprang up to replace the one that was just starting to fade away as he found it. "Return of happiness..."
"And so it was." Mipha's voice was so full of warmth that it seemed to penetrate his chest where her head lay on it. "You returned to me, and made me happy... though I had no idea then just what you'd done to ensure it."
"I'd do it again if I had to." Link laid his hand over hers and squeezed it. "Especially now that I know you're okay with it."
Mipha took his hand and kissed it. "I am forever grateful beyond words."
His own words deserted him, blocked by the lump in his throat, so Link moved on, turning pages till he got to the last flower. Ranunculus. This one was much further ahead, and oddly spelled; a quick check of the table of contents confirmed it was there, but the name didn't look like a real word. Delicate art of a flower with an immense amount of petals dominated the page, and he had to flip it over to get to the section on its meaning.
"I am dazzled by your charms," Mipha read aloud, beating him to it. "Oh... that's..."
"Something I should give you." Having recovered, he managed a laugh. "I wonder if there's any growing outside."
"Oh... you..." If her tone was any indication, she was blushing. "You have charmed me too, you know..."
"... Oh?" She used that word to describe me when I played the part of the masked stranger... I can't hear it anymore without thinking of that night. If I've somehow charmed her again as myself... then that's all I can ask for. "Have I, now?"
"You know you have." Mipha sat up straight, her expression more serious. "Last night, you..." She touched his face again, her fingers lingering at his temple. "I hardly know how to express how thoroughly you swept me off my feet with the way you spoke to me. It was... so new and exciting, and I enjoyed every moment of it."
"... I'm glad." More than you know. "After what happened before we left for the ball, I wanted... I wanted to let you know that I wanted you too. Because I was finally sure that you wanted me."
"You picked a wonderful way to do it." Her eyes shone. "I will never forget last night, not a single moment of it."
"Neither will I."
Link kissed her again, and for a little while that was all they did—share kisses with only brief pauses for air, until the rumbling of both their stomachs intervened, drawing laughter from them both. Mipha set the book back on the table, and then rose and took his hand.
"Come on." She tugged gently on his wrist. "Let us go have dinner." She paused. "You... do not mind cooking again? For me?"
"Of course not." Link stood too, and they headed towards the kitchen. The storm hadn't relented in the least, still drenching the outside of the house and making bright lights and loud noises. "I'm happy to finally do this for you."
"I'm glad." Mipha stopped just as they reached the doorway to the kitchen, and turned to look at him. "Link? Would it... would it be alright if I came in with you? I want to see what you do."
"Sure, of course." He squeezed her hand. "You don't have to stay if it ends up being boring, though."
She smiled. "I'm sure it won't be."
They separated once inside; Mipha found a stool and pulled it up to the counter, while Link gathered the ingredients and tools he'd need for the dish he had in mind. Once everything was assembled, he got to work. Preparing the vegetables and the fish came first, followed by the sauce that they'd be mixed into. When the filling was done, he took it from the heat and set it aside so he could work on the crust. Using his fingers, he mixed cold water and butter into the carefully measured flour, mindful not to over-mix it.
He'd just separated the dough into four evenly sized balls when he paused and looked up. Mipha was watching him intently, her eyes on the dough he was holding. Link tilted his head slightly. "You don't... find this boring?"
"Not at all." She shook her head. "I have never watched anyone do this before, so it is fascinating. Besides, I..." She took a deep breath. "I like your hands." A shy smile spread over her face. "Especially when you touch me."
Link blushed, a warm fluttering sensation filling his chest. Would he ever get used to hearing her say things like that? In a way, he hoped not—not if it meant taking her affection for granted, something he never wanted to do. "If they weren't covered in flour I'd touch you right now."
"Later," Mipha said huskily, her face reddening to match his.
His hands shook slightly as he started to roll out the dough. "Is that a request?"
"A heartfelt wish," she whispered, her eyes glinting in the candlelight.
"Then I will see it granted." He cut the dough into the correct shape. "My lady has only to say the word, and I will do whatever she desires."
"Be careful, sir knight." Mipha laughed, low and sultry. "Or she may yet be tempted to have her needs sated whilst your culinary efforts take their turn in the oven. And I would be loathe to see them burn and have your work wasted."
"A grave threat indeed." Link spooned some of the filling onto the first fish-shaped piece of dough. "For I am so inclined to take my time enjoying her that they would almost certainly burn to a crisp before we finished."
A quick glance up was just in time to see Mipha's eyelids flutter as she shivered with delight; his own body thrummed with anticipation and desire. "Hence my warning, for that is what she wants from you as well."
He smiled, though something was nagging at the back of his mind. "Then we'll both have to be patient and wait."
"Mm." Mipha nodded, a smile of her own growing.
Whatever it was continued to gnaw at him as he finished preparing the pies, decorating them with the bits of dough left over after cutting them into the fish shapes. It wasn't until they were in the oven baking and he'd begun to clean up and get things out for the dessert he'd make later that it hit him: the way Mipha had flirted with him last night and just now, was completely different from how she'd flirted with him when he'd been the masked stranger.
I can't believe I didn't notice it before. She... for all that she talked about casting aside inhibitions that night, I think she still held back a bit, whether she realized it or not. The way she's been responding to me last night, right now, when she knows who I am... it's been with much more abandon, more delight, more... passion. She got into it in a way she didn't when she wasn't aware of my identity. That's... huh. I wonder if she realizes it too. I still don't know why she lied about the festival, but... it's good to know that I got a better response out of her as myself. That she's more interested in me like this. That's a really good sign, I think.
Mipha helped him set the table while the pies baked, and poured wine for the both of them. It was hard to keep their hands off each other, but they mostly managed it and retrieved their food before it was overcooked. The sky outside had long since gone dark, the rain still beating against the windows and the roof; it lent an even cozier feel to their dining room, illuminated by flickering candles and the roaring blaze in the fireplace. Plates in hand, they assumed their usual seats, and dug in after toasting each other.
"This has been such a lovely day," Mipha murmured when they were nearly done eating, reaching out to take his hand. "Thank you so much for cooking for me—each meal has been so delicious, I am honored to share this with you."
"The honor's all mine." Link squeezed her fingers. "I know cooked food isn't your preference, but... the fact that you'd want to eat my cooking, and have enjoyed it, means a lot to me."
"There are some things I have shared only with you." She gave him a meaningful look. "And this is one of them."
Link's pulse quickened. "So... so you'd never..."
"No." She shook her head. "What about you?"
"Me either." I stayed faithful to you, he wanted to say. In my heart you were always my fiancee. And I didn't want anyone else anyway. "That was my first time too." He drained his wine glass. "I... hope it was okay..."
"I told you, it was wonderful." Mipha blushed. "You needn't fear a thing. It was all that I wanted and more."
"It was wonderful for me too." He could barely speak the words, his voice laid low by the feelings and memories washing over him. "So much better than I'd ever imagined."
"I am happy to hear that." Her face seemed to glow in the light, her eyes sparkling with it.
No one, Link thought, no one is luckier than I am.
They cleaned up together when they were done, Mipha taking over while he poached some fruit for them as a light dessert. Once they'd eaten and enjoyed that as well, they moved to sit on the rug in front of the fireplace. They'd doused most of the candles too, leaving them with just enough light to see each other by as they sat facing one another.
Link held her gaze for several seconds before lifting his hand to touch her cheek, running his fingers over it in long, gentle strokes. Mipha took his other hand, her grip on it tightening a little as he leaned forward to press soft kisses to her face, her mouth; she hummed happily against his lips and reached up behind his head to untie his ponytail so she could run her fingers through his hair. Her claws teased his ear, and Link shuddered, moaning into the kiss even as he deepened it.
He continued to give her little kisses on various parts of her lovely face after that one ended, pausing only after one to the corner of her eye; he took a moment to just stare at her before speaking in a reverent whisper. "You have the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen."
Mipha blushed. "Now that I find hard to believe, for I know you have looked in a mirror before."
"Mine don't compare to yours." Link leaned closer, despite that he could see her just fine from where he was. "They're such a gorgeous color, and I've always loved how they shine in the dark." He ran his thumb just under one of them. "I feel like I could get lost in them, and I'd never want to find my way out."
"I've heard people say it's creepy how they shine like this." She looked away. "Disturbing."
"They're wrong." Link kissed her cheek again. "Please don't listen to people who say things like that. There's nothing creepy or disturbing about you. All of you is beautiful."
Mipha found his eyes again, hers seeming to glitter with unshed tears. "You are so sweet I hardly know what to say," she managed in a choked voice. "I had wished that you might feel such things for me, but barely dared to hope, out of fear that I would only be disappointed."
"I wish I hadn't given you a reason to fear that." Link sighed. "I was scared too, I know that, but still..."
"Don't feel bad. Please don't." Mipha took his hand from her cheek and kissed it. "We were thrown into such an odd situation, being arranged to marry each other after eight years apart, not knowing much about what the other person was like after all that time... it is only natural that we should have felt confused and afraid by suddenly being so attracted to each other on top of all that, and not wanting to make things awkward. I cannot see how it could've happened any other way, and I do not hold it against you."
"I know." Link looked down at their laps, at where she still held his other hand. "I just hate that I accidentally made you feel unwanted, undesired, when the opposite is true." Heat blossomed in his chest as he looked up at her again, seeming to spread like wildfire all the way to his fingers, his toes. "I've been wanting you so badly I could hardly bear it sometimes." He clasped her hand to his heart. "I wish I could make you understand what I see when I look at you. How incredible you are inside, too. And I want..."
Mipha's hands shook, almost as badly as his voice just had. "Link?"
"Mipha, will..." Link exhaled slowly, feeling suddenly shy. His heart was racing again, and he had no doubt she could feel it, letting her know just how nervous he was in this moment. And that was fine. More than fine. He wanted to be vulnerable with her, to let his walls down and show her these parts of himself that he'd been hiding all this time. The terror of it was more than outweighed by the freedom, the relief. The joy that came of having her truly see him, and embrace him anyway. "Will you let me court you?"
Her eyes widened, and one of the tears she'd been fighting to hold back slipped down her cheek. It caught some of the firelight on its way, seeming to almost sparkle. "You... want to court me?"
Link nodded. "It's like you said: we were thrown into an odd situation. We didn't get a chance to do anything like it before we were married. So I want to get it right—I want to give you something you didn't get to have." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. "Will you let me?"
"I... yes." More tears slid down her cheeks, even as she smiled radiantly at him, stealing his breath away. "Yes, I would love that..."
Link kissed her hand again as he wiped her tears away. "Then... how would you like me to begin?"
Mipha moved one hand back to his chest, her other ghosting over his ear. "By taking me upstairs and doing what you said you would before dinner." She brushed her lips against his. "I have hungered all day for you and cannot wait any longer."
Link just nodded; how was he supposed to breathe, let alone speak, after hearing her say that? Did she realize the full extent of the effect she had on him? If she doesn't, then... I'll have to make it clear when we're up there. "Let us make haste, then," he managed after a moment. He rose to his feet, bringing her with him. "But only to our room, for as I said, I would take my time with you there."
"Good. For that is my wish too," Mipha breathed.
They all but ran upstairs, and once in their bedroom fell into each other's arms with a desperate abandon. Passion consumed them, and they lost themselves in each other again, just as they had the night before. True to his word, though, Link went slowly with her, savoring every kiss, every touch, drawing out the intimate act they'd craved for so long. Mipha's need matched his own, her hands roaming as freely as his did, her lips pressing kisses all over his fevered skin. The storm raging outside was nothing compared to the maelstrom of desire that engulfed them as they joined themselves with each other once again. Cries and moans of nothing less than pure euphoria rang out from both, names carried on ragged whispers into one another's ears. Skin and scales collided in a sweet dance of ecstasy that was old as time itself, yet made new again for them.
And when it was all over they laid in each other's arms again, as they had the previous night. No further words were spoken; they didn't need to be. So much had been said today, with their voices and their bodies, and now only a comfortable, blissful silence remained.
I love you, Link thought drowsily as sleep overtook him. I wish I could say it to you now. But it's too soon, I think. I have to wait. Or maybe you'll figure it out anyway.
Either way, though, I can't remember ever being this happy.