Mipha yawned lazily; beside her, Link kissed her shoulder, his fingers teasing the fin there. Her legs were draped over his, putting her almost in his lap as he showered her with affection. The morning sunlight that streamed in through the gaps in the blinds wasn't half so warm as his soft lips on her body, nor the feelings they stirred in her with each tender press. "What do you want to do today?" she murmured as he moved his kisses to her neck, sending shivers of pleasure through her. "And don't say stay in bed, we can do that at home. I want to see things while we're here."
Link laughed as he nuzzled her, his breath tickling her scales. "Don't tempt me." They'd already made love to each other this morning; restlessness borne of being in an unfamiliar bed had led them both to awaken earlier than usual, and when they discovered the other was awake too they began to let their hands wander, leading to an inevitable conclusion. "I do actually have an idea, though, that I was going to run by you."
"Were you, now?" Mipha turned, shifting herself so that her legs were now wound around his hips; she pulled him close so she could stroke his disheveled hair, kiss his face. "And what is it?"
"You expect me to think when you're doing this?" Link laughed again. "You greatly overestimate me."
She deliberately let her hands go still. "Should I stop, then?"
He let his fingers trail over her cheek and down her neck, and shook his head. "No," he said quietly, looking serious all of a sudden. "Please don't."
Mipha nodded and leaned up to kiss his temple. "Take your time, then," she whispered. "I am happy to continue."
Link sighed softly as she kept holding and tending to him with little kisses and teasing touches, her fingers threading in his hair. "I remember," he said at last, his hand gliding up her back. "I was gonna ask if you wanted to go see that pond nearby. The heart-shaped one."
"Mm." She kissed his earlobe, making him shiver, his fingers digging into her a little. "Lover's Pond, you called it? Where is it?"
"In the mountains outside town." He kissed her forehead, and then the spot just above her mouth; his other hand made a languid journey down her arm to the delicate fin that extended from just below her elbow."It's not too far, but we'd have to take a horse to get up there. Are you okay with that?"
"Yes." Mipha nuzzled his neck. "I think it sounds like a wonderful idea, I have wanted to see such a thing ever since you told me about it."
"Then that's what we'll do." Link smiled, and kissed her forehead again. "I'll go get dressed."
"See, now that is what I mind," Mipha said teasingly, reaching out to squeeze his bare butt just as he climbed out of bed. "Not you disrobing in front of me, but putting on clothes. You silly Hylians wear far too many."
"Hmm, perhaps you have a point," Link conceded, his eyes glinting. "But consider this: if I wore as little as you, it would deny us both the pleasure of you undressing me."
"Also a valid point." She laughed, though it was somewhat strained. "Are you, then... disappointed by how little you must remove from me?"
"Not at all." He'd only just put on his underwear, far from being done dressing, but Link returned to the bed anyway and cupped her cheek, looking serious again. "Please don't think I'm disappointed by anything about you. You should wear what you want, and no matter what it is I'll always enjoy taking it off you."
Her laugh was more genuine this time. "Now who is tempting the other?"
"I don't know." Link kissed her lower lip, sucking on it a little before releasing her. "It may be even. You have me reconsidering whether or not to finish getting dressed, after all."
"Oh?" Her heart fluttered. "Am I that much of a temptation for you, then?"
"Of course you are." He kissed her again, slowly this time, and then smiled tenderly before getting back off the bed. "Alas, though it pains me, I must resist you this time, lest we while away the day in bed."
"A very real threat, indeed." Mipha stood and stretched, aware that Link's eyes were on her; her pulse spiked as she felt his gaze, knowing his enjoyment of what he saw. "For the mere sight of you unclothed is a dire temptation that could easily lead me down that path."
"Is that right?" Link's tone was light, but held that same undercurrent from when he'd asked her not to stop being affectionate. "Little wonder, then, that you did not object to me changing in front of you."
"I did not, no." She slipped on her wedding ring. "The only downside was the thoughts that filled my head as a result. You gifted your poor besotted bride with temptation and frustration in equal measure."
"Yet you were capable of relieving that frustration, were you not?" His voice roughened in a way she knew well, reminding her of his reaction when she'd confessed to what she did in the bath while thinking of him. Her heart fluttered as she recalled his admission that he'd done much the same while thinking of her. "You did not require my assistance for that."
"True, but I do prefer having it," she said silkily, and was rewarded by Link going bright pink, all the way to the tips of his ears. "There is no substitute for being in your arms, I'm afraid."
"Careful." Link's eyes met hers, dark with fresh desire. "Such talk is likely to rouse me into returning to bed with you."
"That, my dear husband, is less a threat than it is another temptation." Mipha laughed, warmth flooding from her chest and spreading all through the rest of her. It really was such a joy to finally be able to flirt with him like this, to be open about how he affected her. "But I do see your point, and shall withdraw for now."
"I don't know if I should be relieved or disappointed." Link pulled a shirt on, to Mipha's regret. "But I suppose there is always later to have you again."
She slipped on a bangle. "I will take that as a promise, and hold you to it."
"Good."
Was it her imagination, or did his voice sound a little odd? Probably just whatever had him feeling in need of extra affection. Jabu knows that word is certainly fraught for me, but it is not the same for him, of course. I cannot hear it or speak it without remembering that day and what we swore to each other. I only wish he remembered too. Then everything would be perfect.
I can live with how things are, however, for even imperfect they are still wonderful. He holds me and kisses me and touches me in intimate ways, he brings me to heights of pleasure I scarcely dreamed of. He whispers sweet words into my ears, tells me of my beauty and his desire for me, tries to get me to see myself through his eyes. Even if it is not love, the feelings he holds in his heart for me are warm and tender. Given time it may yet become love, a thing for which I pray. It is a sign of how lovely Link has been these past two weeks that I can allow myself that dangerous substance known as hope. Before that night at the masquerade I was so reluctant to, but he has given me so much since then that that has changed. Not just physical intimacy, but other things too. He brings me little gifts and writes notes for me to find, takes me places and cooks me meals at home, all as part of the courtship he so shyly asked permission for. If that is not the beginnings of love, his wish to woo and win me, then what is? I still fear to speak my own feelings, so as not to disrupt things by moving too quickly, but... but oh, he fills me with such joy and wonder every day. Can it really be that he is starting to return my love? That even without his memory of our promise he still wishes to be with me, that our relationship is developing into what I have wanted so badly? It almost seems too good to be true, like it cannot be real.
Yet every night I fall asleep in his arms. And when I wake there he greets me with a smile and a kiss. Sometimes when he holds me, I think that I feel something more than mere attraction from him. I cannot explain it, but I do, and it is part of what gives my heart hope. So too is the look he often gets in his eyes when we are making love. It makes it even harder to breathe when I see it. Is it my imagination? Wistful thinking? Or is he truly falling for me? I have no idea how deep his feelings go; I can only wait for the answer to come from his lips, and hope that it is the one I long for.
Once they'd dressed and readied themselves with what they needed for their excursion, they headed out of their room and to the inn's common room for breakfast. After eating a light meal there, it was time to prepare one of their horses for the trip up Tuft Mountain to the pond. Mipha hovered close as Link saddled up Epona and attached a couple bags full of things they might need, admiring the flex of his muscles under his thin, almost sheer shirt as he worked, the way his pants clung to him when he bent over to pick things up. At one point he paused and turned to look at her, seemingly sensing her eyes on him, and blushed at her expression. That he was still so adorably shy sometimes even a few weeks after their consummation was nothing but endearing to her.
Link helped her onto Epona first, and then climbed up in front. Once her arms were securely around his waist he tugged on the reins and set off. Having been fed a large, juicy apple and flattered by her master, Epona was all too happy to trot merrily along up the road towards their destination. Mipha, for her part, leaned her face against Link's back and closed her eyes. The weather was warm and humid, typical of Faron Province, and the soft shirt he wore felt good against her cheek. So did the knowledge that she could relax around him and show feelings she'd been concealing for months.
The trip to Lurelin was one they'd planned and arranged even before that breakthrough in their marriage, and she'd been looking forward to it even then. A chance to see a beautiful seaside resort and enjoy the ocean together was a rare gift, plus it would be nice to get out of the city in general and visit other parts of Hyrule Kingdom. There was so much of it after all, more than there was of the Domain, and if she was going to be living in it for part of the year she didn't want to be confined to just the capital. But with the change in their relationship its joys were multiplied tenfold, at the very least. Sharing a bed was more comfortable and comforting than ever, to say nothing of the euphoria they often found in each other's arms there before falling asleep tangled up. Their physical closeness outside of bed had increased too, as had their emotional bond. They were more open with each other now, and Link more freely let himself be vulnerable with her, deepening her affections for him. Between all that and his shy, sweet courtship of her, it felt like she was falling in love with him all over again. To say that such circumstances magnified her enjoyment of this vacation was an understatement. It was their first trip as a real couple, and she wanted to savor every minute of it.
It took them the better part of an hour, but at last they made it to the top. Mipha couldn't help but gasp as she peered around Link's shoulder and saw where he'd brought them. The little pond was indeed shaped like a heart, perfectly so, and was surrounded by countless flowers in every color, that swayed in the morning breeze. Even just that slight motion carried their scents into the air, perfuming the space. Far away on the other side she could see what looked like a Hylian man talking to a Gerudo woman, but other than that there was no one else around.
"I'm surprised such a lovely place isn't more crowded," Mipha remarked as they dismounted. "Especially since you said there are superstitions about romance around it?"
"Yeah, and a few local legends too." Link let his eyes roam over the pond and flowers. "Maybe we just got here at the right time. I'm certainly not going to complain."
"Neither am I." Mipha smiled. "Well, now that we are here... shall we swim a little?"
"Yeah, sounds good. You go ahead without me, though," Link added. "There's something I want to do first."
"Oh?" She laughed. "Something? Is it a surprise?"
Link nodded. "I'd like it to be, so try not to look at me for a while."
"That will not be easy, given how much I enjoy looking at you, but I will try." Mipha giggled as he blushed again. "Take your time."
She eased herself into the water, her back to him; it was a little on the cool side, but she quickly adjusted and soon was swimming around with abandon. Mipha was careful to avert her eyes from Link, however, even frequently closing them as she floated on her back. It was tempting to peek at him just to see if he was looking at her, but she resisted, not wanting to spoil whatever surprise he had in mind for her. Undoubtedly it was more of his courting, and she had no desire to ruin it. That he put his whole heart into everything he did for her never failed to touch her deeply.
Finally, a soft splash drew her attention, and she couldn't help but open her eyes and glance in its direction. To her delight it was Link, having shed all but his underwear and come to join her at last. A smile growing on her face, Mipha swam over to greet him. "At last, my errant husband returns to my side," she cooed as she wrapped her arms around him, standing in the small shallow area at the pond's edge.
"Forgive me, dearest wife." Link slipped his arms around her, and leaned his forehead against the crest of hers. "I did not mean to stray so long, but my surprise for you took more time than I expected."
"You have not done me injury, so there is naught to forgive." She kissed the spot just above his mouth. "I am merely happy to share this with you."
"As I am with you."
Link smiled, his eyes so soft and warm that it made her own eyes sting with happy tears. He pressed a gentle kiss to her lips, holding her so tenderly that she melted into his embrace. His hand cupped her cheek as they kissed, roaming over it in little strokes of his fingers, while his other arm clasped her to his racing heart. Mipha made a little humming noise into his mouth, her head spinning with a dizziness she'd grown familiar with over the past few weeks. Link broke it off just long enough to murmur her name, and then resumed kissing her.
He ran his hand over her tail as they paused for air, punctuating each heaving breath with a little kiss to some part of her face. That made it even harder for Mipha to catch her breath, but she didn't mind. Not at all. She reciprocated by touching his hair, his face, nuzzling him while he tried to steady his breathing and causing that effort to fail. Link only smiled when she did it, though, and let out a shaky little laugh full of wonder. Like her, he often seemed to feel that what they had was too good to be true.
Once they'd recovered, she took his hand and tugged him along into the deeper water so they could swim around a bit. Unlike their excursions to Veiled Falls, they didn't play or splash around; this place felt too reverent somehow, too holy for that. Mipha didn't know what the legends and superstitions around Lover's Pond were, but she could sense a significance nonetheless. Swimming here with him felt more like a sacred ritual than anything else, more akin to her purifying herself before her trip up Mount Lanayru than a romp at the beach. That Link showed the same respect for the water and didn't try to initiate any of their usual mischief with each other told her that her instincts were right.
When at last they had had their fill, Link took her hand and led her back out of the pond. He'd spread a blanket not far from the water's edge, with neatly folded towels sitting atop it. They each wrapped one around the other's shoulders, and dried themselves off just enough. Mipha sat down on the blanket, tilting her face up to the sun while Link kissed the top of her head and stole away to where Epona had been secured to a crooked post.
A minute later, he touched her arm; Mipha turned to see him kneeling beside her, a shy smile on his face and a bouquet of swift violets in his hand. "A token for my lady." He held the flowers out. "They do not compare to her beauty, but I pray that she accepts my humble offering all the same."
"Oh, Link." Mipha took the bouquet in one hand, lifting the other to touch his face as her eyes stung again. "I would be more than happy to, as always." She leaned forward and gave him a small kiss before bringing the violets to her face, reveling in their sweet, delicate scent. "I love these. Thank you."
"You're more than welcome." Link leaned in so he could sniff the flowers too. "I know you like violets, so when I saw them I decided to pick some for you. And..." He hesitated for a moment. "That's also one of the stories about this place. They say that if you gift the one your heart desires with flowers that grow here, your affections will not go unrequited."
"And am I, then?" The breath she drew trembled in her chest. "Your heart's desire?"
"Without a doubt," Link murmured as he kissed her. She moved in to meet him, letting her fingers trail down from his temple to his neck. His hand came up to cover hers and hold it tightly, his skin warming under her touch. She set the flowers aside carefully, but only so she could wrap her other arm around him, pulling him further in. Link lifted his other hand to touch the fin on that arm as he had earlier, delicately running his fingertips over it and sighing appreciatively into the kiss. "My sweet Mipha," he whispered against her lips as they broke apart, stealing the breath she had only just begun to catch.
"My dear Link," she managed, her heart fluttering against her ribs like a caged bird. Link smiled, his eyes still closed, and he brought her hand to his mouth to kiss it.
He laid down with his head in her lap once they both could breathe steadily, and she stroked his damp hair with one hand, the other held gently in his grasp. Every few minutes she bent and pressed kisses to his forehead, and each time she did he would utter that soft sigh that always sent tremors through her heart. Surrounded by fragrant flowers, with her lover's head in her lap beside the waters of a pond inextricably linked with romance, Mipha found herself slipping into a sort of haze. There was a dreamlike quality to it all, as though she was living out a scene from a book. All her senses told her it was real, though, flooding her with yet more gratitude and wonder. How had she come to be so lucky, married to the man she'd always loved and capturing his heart as well, spurring him to do all that he'd been doing lately? The very thing she'd once despaired of—the political marriage her father had agreed to send her into—had become a joy beyond compare. She'd viewed it as a sacrifice she was willing to make for the sake of her people, her happiness and desires relinquished in favor of the safety of her kingdom, but it had turned out not to be a sacrifice at all. In fighting to keep her safe Link had, without realizing it, kept her from having to break her promise to him. Not only that, but he made her happy. Not merely content, but happy. It was all that she could've asked for, all that she'd thought forever lost to her. Somehow, she'd gotten what she wanted after all. A fact that would never cease to amaze her.
"Link, tell me..." Mipha skimmed her hand over his bare shoulder. "What other legends do you know about this place?"
"Well..." He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. "A lot of people come here alone, because they believe they'll meet their true love here. Obviously it's not that easy, but a lot of people buy into destiny and fate and all that."
"You don't, though, do you?" His father had made a comment about that at their wedding, as she recalled.
"No." Link shook his head. "I don't like the idea of not having a choice in anything. Especially love. The idea of falling for someone just because you're fated to is horrifying if you stop and think about it. I want to be with someone I've chosen to share my life with."
I did choose this. Mipha swallowed down a lump in her throat as his words echoed back to her. He certainly had chosen her, and was continuing to. "I see what you mean, and I agree. A shame so many others do not." She traced the line of his ear from the pointed tip on down and Link's breath caught, a shiver running through him. "Any other tales? Superstitions?"
"Besides those two? Let me think..." He closed his eyes, his brow puckering in concentration; it was so cute that she wanted to kiss him again, but she just barely refrained, not wanting to distract him. "There's local legends about lovers who met here, or who would come here in secret... I think one of them either comes from, or is in itself, the basis for one belief." Link took a deep breath. "Those who come here together are said to be blessed with a long and happy relationship."
Mipha squeezed his hand, her pulse quickening. "That sounds promising."
"Yeah." He smiled. "There's also a belief that you should propose marriage here, but that doesn't apply to us, does it?"
"No." She laughed, trying not to think about the day he had proposed. "But it is a lovely thought, nonetheless."
"It is, yeah." Link twined his fingers with hers. "That's all I can remember for now, sorry."
"Don't worry about it." Mipha kissed his forehead. "Where did you learn all of these, anyway?"
"Well, we were all required to learn the history of the kingdom as part of training. And I took an interest in this area from what we were taught, so I sought out more information about it at the castle library."
"About a heart-shaped pond with such stories around it?" She smiled. "What a romantic you are."
"You've caught me." Link smiled softly back up at her, laying his other hand over where hers rested on his collarbone. "In more ways than one."
"I am still not sure by what means I managed to snare you in my net, but rest assured that I am grateful I did." Mipha brushed some hair out of his eyes. Even the perfect Lurelin sky overhead didn't compare to their color, their beauty. "I have been blessed with joy since well before we came here."
"I'm glad to hear that." Link closed his eyes and rubbed his cheek against her palm.
They stayed for a while longer, sharing more kisses and enjoying a small picnic with the food Link had thought to bring along from the inn. Fish and fruit, and bottles of sweet coconut water; they fed each other as they had with the marzipan at the masquerade, letting fingertips linger on lips. While they ate, though, clouds began to gather in the previously clear skies. Sensing danger, Link quickly dressed again, and with Mipha's help loaded their things back on Epona. The violets he'd given her were tucked carefully into a pocket in the bag, and off they rode back down the mountain the second they were done.
And none too soon. The rain started slowly as they drew near to the outskirts of Lurelin, but quickly grew heavier and heavier, until it was an outright downpour as they ran inside the inn with their things clutched in their arms. By that time they were more soaked than they'd been after getting out of the pond, and had to be careful as they returned to their room so they wouldn't slip on the water that dripped from them with every movement.
"At least it is not a cold rain," Mipha commented as she unpacked the violets from their sopping bag and set them on the bedside table. Across the room, Link wrung out his hair with a towel as he stood in the bathroom doorway. "I would hate to feel chilled to the bone right now."
"I'm not sure what's worse, honestly," Link admitted. "All this humidity makes me feel kinda gross. But I guess it's different for you, since you don't sweat like I do."
"I suppose." Mipha eyed him. The way his sodden clothes clung to him, outlining the shape of his body, was very nice to look at indeed, raising her temperature further. "Do you want to take a bath together? That might help."
"That sounds great, actually." Link glanced down at himself. "Maybe you could help me get out of these wet things?"
Mipha grinned and sauntered over to him. "I thought you would never ask..."
"I remembered another one."
"Hmm?" Mipha lifted her head from where it rested on his chest to look up at him, her eyes bleary and half-lidded. "Another what?"
"Another story about that pond." Link ran his fingers over her tail, delighting in the feel of her scales, the motion that soothed them both. Mipha laid her head back down, making a happy little noise that sounded similar to whistling. His heart swelled at the sound of it; it was something she did only rarely around non-Zora, and he hadn't heard it in years until recently. Not until the night of their consummation, in fact. He'd wasn't sure what, but he'd obviously done something that had helped her feel comfortable enough around him, as she had as a child, to let him see and hear the parts of her that most Hylians found strange or even off-putting. He'd just about melted the first time he'd heard it again, and it still had the same effect on him. "Do you want to hear it?"
"Of course I do." Mipha idly traced patterns on his chest, her claws ghosting over his skin and interfering with his ability to breathe and think. The rain still hadn't let up, so they'd spent the afternoon in bed together. He could faintly smell the violets from the bedside table, mingling with the salty seaside air through the open window, and of course the scent of Mipha herself. "Tell me what you remembered."
"Okay." Link breathed in slowly, trying to arrange the words in his head. Mipha liked the way he told stories—had even said it to him when he'd been in disguise—so he wanted to get it right. After a few minutes of silence as he gathered his thoughts, he began.
"Long ago, in days that are no longer in living memory, Lurelin was a simple fishing village by the sea." Mipha made her little whistling noise again, and his heartbeat quickened, a smile curving his lips. "Their chief trading partner in those times was a little kingdom on Eventide, an isle small in size but blessed in natural resources. And once a year, every year, the royal family would pay them a visit."
She pressed a small kiss to him, and Link almost lost his train of thought before continuing. "Now, this is the part of the story where I suppose I should pause and tell you that the people of Eventide are seafaring Zoras, whose preference is not for the winding river, but the open ocean."
"Yes, that is true." Mipha lifted her head to look at him again. "Yet I am not familiar with this tale. Is this one of theirs?"
"I don't know." Link shrugged. "It might've originated there, but it's primarily a tale of Lurelin."
"I see." Mipha laid down again. "Sorry for interrupting."
"That's okay." Link stroked her tail idly. "And so it was that when this story happened, the king of Eventide had a young daughter. From the moment she could speak she begged to be allowed to visit Lurelin on the yearly excursion, but he would not allow her until he felt she was old enough. It is when he finally pronounced her so that this tale truly begins.
"On that fateful day, the curious girl, overwhelmed by her desire to see all that she had missed out on every year of her life up till then, slipped away from her father and soon became lost. Scared and alone, the Zora princess began to cry tears of despair, fearing that she would not make it home. But then, at that very moment, the young son of a fisherman took her hand, and promised to guide her through the town back to her family. He dried her tears, and kept his promise, and so she returned to Eventide safely."
"What a kind boy," Mipha murmured.
"Yes." He closed his eyes for a moment. "Such was the impression he made that she did not forget him over the course of the next year. When at last the time came for the next trip she sought him out, wanting to thank him again and spend time with him. He too was happy to see her, and thus a friendship was forged that endured over the years. She came to see him as often as she could, not confining their visits to one day a year.
"As they grew, the boy came to realize that he was quite in love with her, but now was his turn to despair, for she was a beautiful princess, and he only the lowly son of a fisherman, who was learning his father's trade that he might inherit it one day. And when he heard that the king was searching for a husband for his daughter, his heart broke into countless pieces."
"Oh no," Mipha whispered.
"Unfortunately, yes." Link paused to take a breath, trying to keep his voice steady. "So when next she came to see him, he asked her solemnly to come with him outside of town. She was surprised, and unsure of what he had in mind, but agreed readily, for she trusted him without question. And so he led her up Tuft Mountain.
"At the top of the peak there laid a mysterious pond in the shape of a heart, surrounded by flowers. The Zora princess was so entranced by its beauty that she did not notice the fisher lad plucking flowers. When at last he caught her attention again, he presented the flowers to her, and made his proclamation.
Link took another deep breath. "He told her that his heart would forever be hers, despite that they could not be together, and that he wished her only happiness with whomever she wed. The flowers were to be only a token of his affections and wishes, with a plea to never forget him once they'd parted for good."
"And what did she say to that?"
"Nothing, at first." He ran his fingers over her tail, tracing swirls of his own. "For in lieu of words she gave the heartsick young man a tender kiss, and as he stared at her in shock she declared tearfully that she loved him too, and wished to be married to no one but him. She begged him to come with her back to Eventide, to be her love and live with her until the end of their days.
"His newly mended heart ablaze with hope, the man agreed without a second thought. And so it was that the princess of the island kingdom married a humble fisherman, and lived happily with him for the rest of their time upon the earth." Link leaned forward and kissed her head. "The end."
"Oh, Link, that..." Moving carefully, Mipha propped herself up on her elbows beside him, smiling as she brushed some errant hair out of his eyes. "That was beautiful. I truly do love how you tell stories... wherever did you learn how?"
"I, well..." Link blushed. "The ones I read during the free time I had are all written like that, and I read so much that it kinda got into my head, I guess... and there were so many I wanted to share with you, so I tried to memorize them and would practice repeating them to you."
"How lovely of you." She kissed his cheek. "Was this one of them?"
"Yeah." I used to picture us as the couple in the story... I'd read it over and over and pray that we'd get that same happy ending together. "I always thought it was a sweet story."
"It is." Mipha slipped her arm around him and pressed her face to his neck. "Thank you for sharing it with me."
"Of course." He closed his eyes and put his arm around her, pulling her closer. "You know I like sharing things with you." It makes it all worth it. Those years were so hard and lonely without you... but now that I have you close the way I've always wanted, that hollow place in my chest created by being apart from you is finally healing.
"Mmhm." Mipha exhaled, tickling his skin with her breath. "As I do with you." She nuzzled him. "Like this afternoon. I must admit, despite what I said this morning, that it has been lovely to spend this time together in here today."
"Yeah." Link kissed her shoulder. "I think the rain's stopped, though. So we don't really have an excuse to laze around anymore."
"If my stomach weren't so frightfully empty, I would mind more than I do." Mipha laughed. "You must be starving as well."
"A little," he admitted with a laugh of his own. "What do you say we get dressed—again—and go get dinner? Maybe walk around after?"
She pulled back and brushed her lips against his in a light kiss. "That sounds lovely."
He twined his fingers with hers as they walked out of the inn; it wasn't too far from the shore, so they strolled down there. The scent of the sea mingled with that of the many carts offering local food, all of which looked incredibly appetizing in their current states of hunger. They finally ended up buying some roasted fish and vegetables on skewers, and sat down on one of the many benches to enjoy it together. Clouds still hung over the hazy skies, hiding most of the setting sun, so lamps and torches had been lit all over town.
One such construction loomed over their heads as they ate: made of slender logs, with an awning attached to it, it resembled one of the many palm trees that lined the streets and shoreline of Lurelin. It wasn't just for aesthetic reasons, though, as the taut fabric protected the lantern that swung gently in the salt-soaked breeze that skimmed over the waves to give them relief from the humidity. Mipha's scales caught the flickering golden glow, seeming to shimmer in the languid dusk. Link found his eyes drawn to her over and over as he ate; his instincts from weeks of having to hide his feelings from her made him start to glance away more than once, but he reminded himself equally as often of their changed relationship and allowed himself to stare.
Mipha didn't notice, anyway; her eyes were fixed on some point in the distance. Following her gaze, Link saw that it was a light, twinkling across the water from some faraway isle. He'd just opened his mouth to speak when she beat him to it. "Link, that is... Eventide, isn't it?" Mipha gestured at the light with the now-bare skewer. "From your story?"
"Yeah." He leaned his head against hers. "I've never been, but I've heard it's beautiful. I'd like to go sometime... with you, of course."
"That sounds lovely, yes." She turned, smiling, and rubbed her forehead on his.
It was impossible not to smile back, especially when the lantern light made her amber eyes sparkle in the growing gloom of early evening. Link kissed the corner of one of them. "What do you want to do now?"
"Well... I was thinking..." Mipha shifted slightly. "Remember that gambling house we passed by? I have never been in such an establishment before, so I am curious to see what it's like. Would you mind if we went in?"
Link shook his head. "Not at all."
They disposed of the remnants of their meal and then headed back the way they'd come, where bright lights, open doors, and the strains of live music beckoned tourists and locals alike into a house of chance. Back when he'd been a mere trainee, with a limited allowance and not much to his family name, Link had avoided such things in Castle Town. The mere idea of throwing his meager earnings away on something that in all likelihood wouldn't pay out much, if any at all, hadn't appealed to him in the slightest. It still unnerved him, even now that he was financially comfortable. But if Mipha wanted to check it out, he wasn't going to say no to her. Not like he had to toss money away if he didn't want to, anyway.
Spoilt for choice, they roamed around for a bit without committing to any tables just yet. There were various card games with different levels of complexity being played, treasure chest guessing games, and some sort of wheel with symbols on it that an employee spun around, among others. A well-stocked bar occupied most of one wall, and the scent of food wafted in from an adjoining restaurant. Most games were of chance, but there were a few that seemed somewhat skill-based as well, like the shooting galleries where people shot arrows at different types of targets.
Mipha nudged him as his eyes lingered on one of those very games. "You want to try that one, don't you?"
"Kind of," he admitted. "Do you think it's unfair, though? I've been heavily trained with a bow and I practice multiple times a week, unlike most people that come in here."
Mipha shook her head and leaned closer, speaking in a hushed voice to him. "They are undoubtedly fleecing so many other people that come in here—for example, I doubt that that one is not rigged." She gestured to a chest game called 'All or Nothing'. "So where is the harm in using your hard-earned skill to fleece them of a little money?" She winked.
Link laughed. "And you say I'm wicked. Alright." He squeezed her hand. "Let's see what I can do."
Unsurprisingly, it turned out to be exactly the type of thing most suited to him; a couple games in, his proficiency attracted the attention of several curious onlookers who wanted to see an apparent prodigy in action. He could hear grumbling from some older men complaining about being shown up by someone so young, which made him have to hide a smirk of triumph. Embarrassingly enough, he also heard some whispers from a few young women remarking on his skill and his looks, with disappointed sighs as they spotted his wedding ring.
Nearly a thousand rupees later, he handed the bow back to the slightly suspicious employee; he thought about explaining that he was a knight of the kingdom, but held back. Possibly that wouldn't have gone over well, or the man might've suspected it anyway. Either way, it was satisfying to slip his arm through Mipha's again, and to see her beautiful face glowing with pride.
"That was wonderful, Link," she whispered as they walked away. "More than one perfect score! You have a real gift, I hope you are as proud of it as I am."
"Yeah, I guess." His face grew hot. "It's also just practice, you know—a lot of that was muscle memory and training. Most of it, really."
"Even so." She rubbed her cheek on his arm. "You have worked hard to achieve that, so be proud."
"Th-thanks..." He scratched the back of his head with his free hand.
After that they wandered again; most of the card games seemed a bit complex, but they played some blackjack, and Mipha won a bit of money herself. The chest games they steered clear of—she was convinced they were rigged, and Link agreed with her. Having seen his fellow trainees get scammed out of their money in Castle Town by just such a game, he knew to be wary of them.
What drew Mipha's attention most, however, was one of the roulette tables. They seated themselves at one just as two other people left, and began to place bets. His first bet lost, but she won a fair amount of rupees, to her joy. Before long they'd played a few more rounds, winning and losing in equal measure. To his surprise, Link actually found himself enjoying the game. It was still a risky game of chance, but there was also something fun about it.
As the dealer swept away the losing bets after another round, Link stood. "I'm going to get something to drink, you want anything?" he murmured.
"Yes, please." Mipha smiled. "One of those lovely mixed ones made with the coconut, please—I did so enjoy that last night at the inn."
"I'll be right back, then." He kissed her cheek, not missing that it drew some stares from the Hylian tourists on the other side of the table. The Lurelin locals, meanwhile, didn't seem fazed. Interesting. There was likely something to that story, then, about their close relations with the seafaring Zora of Eventide.
There was a short line at the bar, so he had to wait a few minutes for their drinks. Finally, though, he headed back with them in hand, wading carefully through the crowds that moved in stops and starts through the gambling den. One such cluster of people blocked his way to the roulette table, and when they moved on after what felt like a year and a day, he proceeded.
Only to stumble to a stop himself, some of his drink sloshing on his hand, as he saw that a tall, green-scaled Zora man laden with expensive-looking jewelry was now seated in his chair. Not only that, but he was speaking animatedly to Mipha. Her back was to Link, so he couldn't see her expression, but the Zora man smiled and laughed in a way that made his stomach tie itself in knots, just before putting his hand on her leg. It was only for a moment, but it still caused his heart rate to go up in annoyance. He tried mostly unsuccessfully to tamp it down before closing the rest of the distance between them.
"Hey." Link set Mipha's drink down on the table, right beside her pile of chips. "Sorry I took so long, there was a line." He took a sip of his own, barely tasting it.
Mipha shook her head. "It is fine, I—"
"Oh, is this that Hylian husband of yours?" Link turned his head slightly to see the green Zora eyeing him with measured interest. "Not what I expected!"
"Yes, it is." There was something oddly stilted about her tone. "Gildan, this is my husband, Link. Link, this is Gildan, the duke of Horon."
"Pleased to meet you!" Gildan seized his free hand and shook it. "Ah, so this is the lucky man assigned to marry our lovely princess... how I envy you!"
"You do?" Link asked mildly.
"Oh, indeed! I do not believe there is a single man in the Domain who would not sit in envy of your good fortune." He sighed dramatically. "Many hopes were dashed the day our king agreed to the proposal put forth by your liege... not that I doubt Lord Dorephan's wisdom, of course," he hastily added. "To go to war would be a tragedy indeed... yet I doubt I am alone in cursing the fates that took our most beloved princess into the arms of a foreigner, instead of allowing one of us loyal nobles to have her instead."
"I'm not that foreign," Link said, careful to maintain his neutral tone even as his heart thumped with simmering irritation. "I spent several years in the Domain as a child, and Mipha and I were close friends during that time."
"Oh?" Gildan tilted his head, his gaze going past Link to Mipha. "My dear lady, you did not tell me of that during our time together! A Hylian for a childhood playmate... how unusual!"
"That is because it never came up." Mipha sipped on her drink some more. "Nothing more to it than that."
"... Your time together?" The knots in his stomach tightened.
"Yes, indeed. I'm sure you are aware of this, but Lady Mipha is the kindest of souls ever to walk this sinful earth." Gildan sighed again. "When my father passed into the next world last year, she accompanied the king on his journey to attend and oversee the ceremony passing his title to me. Her beauty and grace, as well as her kind and noble spirit, so entranced me that as soon as I was able, I made a visit to the heart of the Domain simply to see her again. And to pay my respects to her father, of course... but we both knew my real reason for traveling, did we not?" He winked at Mipha, sending bile racing up Link's throat.
"Yes, I do recall you making that clear to me," she said somewhat stiffly before taking another drink.
"Of course, of course. And I tell you now, I shall never forget it." Yet another dramatic sigh, making Link's jaw clench. "The days and nights, all far too short, will forever live in my memory. I did genuinely believe then that I might one day be the fortunate man united in matrimony with you... ah, but it cannot happen now, can it?"
Time stuttered to a halt at those words; for an interminable moment Link stood frozen, his mind hurtling backwards to when he'd heard almost those exact words from a different mouth. "No," Mipha said, with a forced laugh that drove daggers into his heart. "It cannot."
How could he have been so stupid? How could he have let himself forget what she'd told him in Goponga? Caught up in his eagerness to court her, his euphoria over their long-awaited lovemaking, he'd allowed it to slip his mind: the cold, harsh fact that no matter how attracted to him she was, he wasn't the one she truly wanted. Her heart yearned for another. And that other man was right here before them, reminding her of all she'd had to give up. All that he himself wasn't.
I'm an idiot. I'm such a fucking idiot. I've made nothing but a fool of myself these past two weeks... how could I ever think I had a chance at winning her heart? I'm never going to be anything but her second choice. What we've been doing doesn't mean anything more to her than just a good time in bed, it's just physical. I can never compete with this guy, and I can't believe I let myself forget that. Stupid.
Link set his drink down on the table. "I'll... let you two catch up." He could barely hear his own voice over the buzzing in his head. "I don't want to intrude..."
He fled before either of them could say anything. Or if they did, he didn't hear it. He wove his way back out of the building and into the night, barely aware of his surroundings as he slipped on a puddle of rainwater, catching himself at the last second before he could topple over. His heart was pounding, his stomach churning and threatening to send his dinner back up his tight, aching throat. The skies were clear now, allowing the moon and stars to shine freely down on Lurelin. He didn't see them, though, didn't listen to the chattering of the people he passed. All he could hear as he made his way towards the beach were Gildan and Mipha's voices, blending into one awful echo of such similar words.
"Yes... but it cannot happen now."
She'd been fighting back tears when she said it, her heart broken over what she was sacrificing in order to keep her people safe. Now he knew what it was she'd been alluding to: a marriage to a fellow Zora, a nobleman she'd connected with while on a trip away from home, and then in a whirlwind courtship a short while later when he came to see her. Their promise forgotten, it must've been all too easy for Gildan to sweep her off her feet and give her hope of a passionate marriage. And then Rhoam's proposal had come along, making her—what was it she'd said at Veiled Falls? Trapped in marriage. To him, a low-born Hylian. She'd tried to assure him that she didn't see it that way, and maybe she consciously didn't, but deep down inside that had to be how she truly felt, for those words to slip out. These past two weeks were her continuing to make the best of a bad situation. That had to be it.
I'm so stupid. I'm so stupid. I can't believe I ever thought—
"Link! Link, wait!"
He turned. "Mipha?"
She was running towards him, an anxious look on her face. " There you are! Why..." Mipha pressed a hand to her chest as she tried to catch her breath. "Why did you leave, I... I've been looking all over for you, I searched inside and then finally someone told me they'd seen you walking out... what are you doing? What is wrong?"
"It's nothing." Link looked away, back out at the lights of Eventide in the distance. "I told you, I didn't want to intrude on you two..."
"Intrude?" Mipha laughed incredulously. "Link, you—he is the one who was intruding on us!"
"You don't have to say that." He looked down at the ground. "It's okay. You can talk to your... friend if you want to." Link swallowed down the bitterness that tried to creep into his voice. "I understand."
"No... no, you do not." Now he glanced back at her, startled by stricken she looked and sounded. "I have no desire to spend another minute with him. Ever."
"Ever?" His brow knit. "But you..." Link trailed off as understanding dawned; he winced. "Oh... it'd be too painful, wouldn't it? I'm sorry..."
"Painful?" Incredulity returned to her face. "Why in Lord Jabu's name would it be painful?"
"Because you..." His voice shook, despite his best efforts to control it. "You wanted to be married to him... didn't you? He said that you two..." Link's throat closed up around the words he couldn't bear to say, his eyes burning.
Mipha's eyes widened, her mouth falling open. "Link, you... are you... jealous of him?"
Yes. "No." He shook his head. "I just.. I..." Goddess, how do I explain this without sounding like an asshole? I mean, I am, cause I want her to love me and it hurts that she doesn't, but... fuck, I hate everything about this. Myself most of all. "I feel bad for... standing in the way of what you want..." Which is true, yeah, but... ugh. I'm just the worst. I'm sorry, Mipha. You deserve better than me.
"You think I want him?" Mipha gaped at him. "Link, I—with the exception of Astor, there is no one I have less wanted to be married to than Gildan!"
"... What?" Link blinked. "But... but he said..."
"His words are not to be taken seriously, I assure you." Contempt flashed in her eyes. "He is the most obnoxious, oblivious fool I have ever had the misfortune to meet. I tolerated him—barely—during my few days in Horon, believing him to be behaving irrationally out of grief, but when he made his ill-advised trip to see me I was set horribly straight. For nearly a fortnight I was forced to endure his company, his attempts to woo me, all whilst maintaining a polite front, lest I offend a vital cog in the Domain's trade." She all but spat the words. "Muzu advised me to accept his offer of marriage when it came, but Father understood my revulsion and said that I needn't do so. For which I am eternally grateful."
Link's head spun. "Then... then you weren't interested in him?"
"Not one bit." Mipha stepped closer to him. "Link, he... he is one of the most insufferable people I have ever known. I cannot begin to describe how uncomfortable he made me with his incessant, insincere flattery. He thinks he is terribly charming, but I saw right through his empty words and was put off."
… Oh. Oh, that makes sense... she liked me in Goponga because she could tell I was sincere in what I said to her, and she thought me genuinely charming... if she'd thought I wasn't being honest she would've rolled her eyes, I think she said? "Then... if he didn't mean it, why did he want to marry you?"
"I am the princess, remember?" Mipha let out a weary laugh. "And he probably does think I am attractive, to be fair... though not half so attractive as the throne I will one day inherit." She rolled her eyes. "That is all I see when I look at him: a self-absorbed boor fixated on marrying into royalty."
"... And me?" His voice quivered. "What do you see when you look at me?"
Mipha moved close to him; she laid her hand on his cheek, searching his eyes. "I see my best friend in the whole world," she said quietly. "I see my wonderful husband, who fought to keep me safe, to be married to me. Who makes me happy every single day."
Something inside him broke at that; Link's vision blurred as the tears began to slip out, running down his cheeks and over Mipha's fingers. "Your... your happiness is..." He drew a long, shaky breath. "It means the world to me, and I... I really don't want to keep you from being with who you really want... I..." I love you. And I'm too selfish not to wish that you loved me too. But I'll still let you go if that's what you want. "I'm sorry..."
"Link, I..." Mipha broke off. For a long, silent moment she held his gaze, her moon-drenched eyes glistening with tears of her own. Then she sighed. "I... see now that I have made a grave error these past two weeks..."
"... What?" It was a miracle he was able to get the word out—it felt like he'd been punched in the chest, driving all the air from his lungs. What do you mean, he tried and failed to ask, the sharp edges of his breaking heart blocking his throat.
"I have sat idly by and allowed you to court me... without once courting you in return." Her lower lip trembled, her face looking ready to crumple. "And that is so unfair to you. You deserve to feel as wanted as you have made me feel." Mipha wiped at his tears with a shaking hand. "Link... my dear sweet Link... my heart's desire... will you allow me to mend my error? To shower you with the same attentions you have bestowed upon me?"
"I... what?" Not for the first time in his life, Link found himself stunned speechless. To have Mipha, the woman of his dreams, standing before him pleading to be allowed to court him... what words could describe the feelings that that sent hurtling through him? "You..."
"Please." She cupped his face in her other hand. "Oh, Link, I... clearly I have been doing something wrong, if you could be feeling this way tonight... and for that I am so, so sorry."
"No, you..." He somehow managed to find his voice. "You haven't, I... the way you've responded to everything, I didn't..." Link sighed. "I'm sorry, Mipha. I'm an idiot who made an assumption without asking, and let myself get all worked up over nothing. You haven't actually made me feel unwanted, so please don't feel bad. I'm just stupid."
"Don't say that, you are not stupid." Tears slid down her face too. "And I want to do more than simply respond to you. I want to initiate things, to give you what you've given me. You deserve to feel wanted too, to be courted in return, it should not be one-sided. For your feelings certainly are not. Please let me do that for you. Please."
"I..." All he could do was stare at her, shock still rippling through him. I don't... she doesn't know what my feelings really are, so she doesn't know what she's saying. But... oh, Goddesses, I... maybe she's right. Maybe I do need this... I still don't think she's done anything wrong or been unfair to me, but... it would feel good to have her do that. I can't deny it. "You... you don't have to, but..." Link swallowed hard. "I think... okay. Yeah." He exhaled. "You can... but... I don't want you to feel obligated, okay? You haven't done anything wrong, I promise. You haven't hurt me or been unfair at all."
"I am glad to hear that." Mipha stroked his cheek. "And I assure it, it is no obligation. I want to court you, to show you my affections in return. You deserve it. Please don't try to say otherwise."
"... Thank you." He embraced her, his chest aching with love and relief as he tried not to cry again. "Thank you, Mipha."
"Of course." She held him tightly, stroking his back and his hair. "I only want you," she murmured. "Just you. The only way you could keep me from being with who I really want would be if you rejected me."
A tremor passed through him. "Never," he breathed. "You don't have to worry about that."
"And neither do you." Mipha pulled back just enough to give him a small kiss. "You have nothing to fear from Gildan, nor anyone else."
Link gazed back at her, fighting an internal battle to keep his swirling thoughts out of his expression. But who it is, then? he wanted to ask her. Who did you want to marry and couldn't? Have you forgotten or gotten over him? I don't get it. "... Alright. I'll... try not to be stupid about it again."
"Stop saying that about yourself." Mipha frowned. "I cannot bear to hear it."
"I'm sorry." Link sighed. "I just... I feel bad about all this, I ruined our night..."
"No, you didn't," Mipha said firmly. "He did. I tried to tell him that your seat was already taken and you'd be back soon, and he said he'd relinquish it when you returned... but he could not even do that much. And to say such things... even if they'd been even the slightest bit true, there was no need for it. I do not know how I kept my temper, but I do know we must do our best to avoid him for the duration of our stay here."
"Yeah, good idea." He sighed again. "Listen, is it okay if I go back to our room? I don't feel up to much of anything else right now."
"No, I understand." Mipha rubbed her eyes. "I too wish to return there... unless you would rather be alone?"
"No." His voice was barely audible, even to him. "I... want you close to me. If that's okay..."
"More than okay." Mipha kissed him lightly, and then took his hand. "Come. I shall begin my courting of you by taking care of you tonight. Whatever you want, you have only to say the word and I shall grant it." She smiled tremulously.
As much as he wanted to smile back at her, he found he couldn't force his face into that expression. "Thank you..."
"Of course." She tugged on his hand. "Let us go."
She led him along across the sand, back up to the inn and to their room. The staff had lit lanterns for them, allowing them to easily see by. His throat aching, Link watched as Mipha let go of him and lit a candle on the bedside table; she'd brought it from home, a purchase at one of their market trips. Soon the room was filled with a stronger scent of violets, accentuating the flowers he'd picked for her, and it clung a little to her scales as she returned to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and nuzzling his neck. Link returned her embrace, closing his eyes and leaning his head against hers.
"What do you want to do?" Mipha asked him, her voice barely louder than the crackling of the candle's wooden wick. "What can I do for you?"
"Just hold me." He smoothed his hand down over her tail, kissing her head. Goddess, he loved the feel of her scales. It was like nothing else in the world. "Let me hold you."
"I would be happy to." She nuzzled him again, and then kissed him, one of her hands gently rubbing his back. It was so soothing he almost felt ready to fall asleep standing up, but before he could, Mipha stopped and pulled back. "Shall I ready you for bed?"
Link nodded, his pulse spiking as she took his shirt off and started removing the rest of his clothing. Having her undress him was something he always enjoyed, but there was a different feel to it tonight. He already felt internally exposed after what had happened on the beach, his insides almost completely bare and so close to revealing how he really felt about her. Now most of his exterior would be on display, and after the events of the evening it was hard not to be as anxious about it as he had been the first time. Did she really like what she saw when he was like this? Did his short, scarred Hylian body really appeal to her? She'd shown such enthusiasm these past two weeks, but... part of his mind still quailed in fear, that he wasn't enough for her and could never be what she truly wanted, because he lacked all the features that Zoras found attractive.
But then Mipha spoke. "You are beautiful," she said softly. "I can see the doubt in your eyes, but I assure you there's no need for it. Ever since we met again in the governor's mansion I wanted to see you like this, and I have never been disappointed. Please believe that."
"It's not that I don't believe you, I just..." He blinked rapidly. "I don't want to be disappointing to you. I want to be enough for you, so I can make you happy. And not just physically either, this is more to me than that... you're more to me than that. You mean so much to me, I..." His throat closed up again.
"Oh, Link..." Mipha pulled him close, pressing her face to his shoulder. "You do. You are. I only want you. You and you alone, for all that you are."
"I'm sorry." He closed his eyes, his voice thickening. "I know—I know I don't have..."
"Shh." She hugged him tighter. "Please, try not to think such things. You have all that you need, and lack nothing. I would not change a single thing about you."
"Not even..." Link swallowed, his heart suddenly racing again. "I know you don't want Gildan specifically, but...wouldn't I be more attractive to you if I looked more like him?"
"No." She shook her head wildly. "I want you to look like you. Because it is you I am attracted to, exactly as you are. Every inch of you is perfect to me. And it is not only that." Mipha laid her hand on his cheek; she let her thumb ghost over the corner of his mouth, and he shivered. "You said something to me at the ball, about how you are smitten with my lovely heart as well as my appearance. The same holds true for me: I am enamored not just with your looks, but with your kind, sweet heart. More so, as you said of me. You too are so much more to me than what we do in bed, and you mean the world to me."
"I..." Link took a shuddering breath. "I'm not as special as you are..."
"You are to me," Mipha whispered. "You truly do make me happy every day, and I can only hope I make you happy too."
"You do." His exhale sounded more like a sigh as he shifted her hand so he could kiss her wrist. "Every day I wake up and I'm so grateful to have you beside me, I've never slept as well as I do with you in my arms. Sometimes I'm afraid I'll wake up and find that this is all a dream, that we weren't really able to have this with each other."
"I know what you mean. I have had those same fears." Mipha brushed some hair from his face. "But I know it is all real, despite that it often does not feel so. I have married my best friend, and found such joy in his arms, and he with me. I do not know how I have been so blessed, but I offer my gratitude in each prayer to Lord Jabu Jabu."
"... Really?" Link stared at her, his mind fighting to form a coherent thought.
"Yes." Mipha nodded. "It is as I said, Link. You are all I want and need."
"But... but I'm..." Not your first choice...
"Shh," she repeated, shaking her head. "Please. I know how hard it can be, but please try to quiet whatever voice is in your head telling you awful things about yourself. I wish I could allow you to look at yourself through my eyes, seeing what it is I see, but that is sadly impossible. I know my words are not enough, and for that I am sorry."
"No... no, don't say that." Link pulled her closer. "You're enough in every single way. That's why I worry that I'm not good enough for you."
"You are," Mipha murmured. "You always have been." She pushed her forehead against his, and he felt hers give a little under the pressure; when they were kids he'd been fascinated with how, well, squishy that part of her was, and sometimes it was hard to resist the urge to poke it the way she'd let him back then. Oh, how adorably she'd giggled when he had, thoroughly enchanting him even then. "I want you to believe it."
There was undoubtedly something he should've said; but his thoughts were almost gone at this point. It didn't help that she was so close, her eyes locked with his and so full of tender emotion that his tongue felt tied up in knots to match the ones that lingered in his stomach. He touched her cheek, almost melting twice over—first at the softness of it, and then at the way she leaned into his hand, rubbing her face against it. Link's breath caught almost painfully in his chest at just that little action. He knew she would never lie to him, and he had just over two full weeks of memories to look back on as proof, yet all the same it was hitting him all over again: she wanted him, body and soul. Whatever opinions he had of himself, she didn't share them. They agreed on so much, but not on this. Somehow he'd managed to win her heart, or at least was starting to.
My heart's desire, she'd called him, echoing his words at Lover's Pond earlier today. Wasn't that more important than whoever it was she had given up to marry him? The words she'd spoken to the masked stranger were months in the past. She wanted him now. That was what he should be focused on, wasn't it? That night was hard to forget, but if he wanted to find any peace he needed to figure out a way to lay it to rest.
"Link?" The sound of Mipha's voice was almost startling, breaking through the silence as they continued to gaze at each other. "May I... may I kiss you?"
Link blinked, his heart stumbling on a beat as her request registered. "Of... of course, I..." He took a breath. "Please do."
"Thank you."
She leaned up, and he bent his head to meet her. For a fleeting moment he found himself feeling the sting of insecurity again, that Mipha was so small and he was only slightly taller. Unlike Gildan, who he knew would've towered over him if he'd stood up. He tamped it down, though, forcing himself to remember her words in the bath the morning after their first time together: it makes you easier to kiss. If she didn't mind how short he was, then he should try to let go of his self-consciousness about it. Easier said than done, given the years of teasing he'd endured about it, but in the end Mipha's opinion of him mattered most, a thought that did help quiet his fears.
Their lips met, and he trembled as if it was their first kiss all over again. She brushed hers against his ever so lightly, almost torturously so, kissing first the top and then the bottom lip, as he so often did with her. Mipha sucked on his lower lip, stealing his breath away when she let her teeth graze it. Then she flicked her tongue into his mouth, prompting him to open it more, and covered it with hers when he had. Link shuddered, a moan making its way up from deep in his throat and into her kiss. It didn't have the same kind of hunger as the ones they shared before and during lovemaking, it was more of a—a yearning.
And oh, how he did yearn for her, in every way it was possible to. I need you, he thought desperately as they kept kissing, kept clinging to each other. Her scales felt heavenly against his bare skin, her heart pounding in time with his. Please stay with me. Please. You're all I've ever wanted. I love you so much. I always have.
It was a wrench when the kiss finally ended, but Mipha softened it by pressing tiny breathless ones to his mouth as they held each other. She stroked his hair, his cheek, touched his ears and made him shiver. "Do you want me to finish getting you ready?" she asked softly, sounding still slightly out of breath.
The kiss, and her attentions to him afterward, had robbed him of yet more coherency, so Link simply nodded. Mipha let him go slowly, seeming as reluctant as he was to pull apart; she found a pair of linen pants for him to wear, and when he'd put them on she tugged him along to bed after untying his hair. His mind was still in a whirl as he climbed under the thin sheets and settled himself down, watching as she shed her jewelry, her face and figure flattered by the golden light of the lanterns.
Was it his imagination? Or had she truly grown more beautiful the more time he spent with her? The better he knew her, the prettier she seemed, her loving, generous heart shining out through her eyes, her smile. Mipha was the most wonderful person he'd ever known; he couldn't help but love her, want to see her happy above all else. She deserved the best—she deserved the world. And if he could give her any part of it, he'd do his best to see it through.
Mipha doused all the lanterns but one, leaving the fragrant candle burning too, and then joined him in bed. They laid on their sides, staring into each other's eyes and taking turns touching each other's faces. Every once in a while they'd kiss, and Mipha's quiet joy and pleasure at kissing him was palpable. The knots that still lingered in his chest loosened a little more with each tender press of her lips against his, every happy sigh or soft moan. She soon took to whispering sweet nothings in his ear as well, pushing his emotions close to overload and making it hard to return the favor. He did, though, and was rewarded with more of her lovely smiles and affectionate touches. Wonder, hope, and a bit of lingering fear swirled in him.
Whoever he is that she wanted to marry... can he really be out of her mind by now? Has she decided she would rather have me? Goddess, do I dare hope for that? I want to be enough for her, I want to someday hear her say she loves me. I want to say it to her without fear and have it make her happy. It's selfish, but... I don't know how else to feel. I don't know if there's a way to not want to be loved by the person you adore. I'd let her go if she asked me to, if she'd be happier that way, but it'd still hurt. Is that wrong? I don't know. All I know is that I love her more than I know what to do with.
When the time came for her to douse the remaining lantern and the candle, Link almost sleepily asked for her not to let go of him, hating how the absence of her felt. But he held himself back, not wanting to look foolish again, and she was back soon enough anyway. A gentle, perfumed darkness settled in around them, as Mipha gave him one more sweet kiss before arranging herself in his arms. Link stroked her tail until her breathing evened out, and then finally closed his own eyes.
Someday I'll tell you. I hope you'll want to hear it.