The smell of freshly baked bread and frying meat greeted Mipha as she descended the stairs; a smile curving her lips, she hastened her steps. Link had come down here ahead of her to help the kitchen staff prepare breakfast while she bathed, and she was eager to reach the dining room and rejoin him.
A sweet scene presented itself to her when she arrived: the table had already been laden with food, and Link stood beside it, waiting for her. A warm smile spread across his face as he saw her, and he crossed the room to meet her as she paused to take it all in.
"Good morning, again." He slipped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. "You hungry?"
"Of course I am." Mipha leaned up to kiss his cheek. "How can I not be, when you've prepared something nearly as delectable as you are?"
Link blushed. "You're far too kind to me..."
"No such thing," she said softly, resting one hand on his chest while letting the other trail down his temple. "And you know full well that my words are borne of how utterly enamored with you I am." Mipha nuzzled him, letting out a languid sigh. "My dearest..."
Link's eyes lit up, as they did every time she spoke so affectionately to him. Ever since that day in Lurelin she'd taken extra care to initiate more things between them, and it wasn't hard to see how happy it made him, fueling her own joy. "Sweet Mipha," he murmured as he kissed her palm, making her heart flutter. He was fond of calling her that, particularly in bed, and it never failed to stir her emotions.
"Mm." She kissed his lower lip, tugging it into her mouth a little, and then looped her arm through his as she resumed her path toward the table. "Now, what is it you have made for us this auspicious morning?"
"Well, it wasn't all by my own hand." Link pulled the chair out so she could sit down, and then spread a napkin over her lap. The brush of his fingers on her thighs—which had to be deliberate—made her almost squirm in her seat. "If I'd wanted to be part of the bread making, I would've had to rise hours ago, and I'm loathe to leave your arms even a minute sooner than I must. My apologies if that disappoints you."
Mipha laughed. "Not in the slightest, for I prefer to remain held by you as long as possible myself." Her eyes went to the trays he now uncovered, revealing a meat and seafood fry, some gently poached eggs, and of course the bread. "Oh, Link, it looks delicious as always. Thank you so much."
"Of course." He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Anything for you."
When they were done eating, they headed upstairs to finish readying themselves for the day. That they were hurrying to go sit and wait wasn't lost on her, but excitement surged through Mipha's nerves anyway. Today was when Pikango would finally unveil the finished portrait of them; she would at last see how he'd drawn her and Link in the real thing. If the sketchbook page Link had kept of her—that she still hadn't figured out how to inquire about—was any indication, then it would be beautifully done. And she couldn't wait to see it.
Link held her hand as they sat in the foyer, on chairs they'd recently purchased for just such occasions. He stroked the back of it, and every once in a while would kiss it, or simply lift and clasp it to his cheek or his heart. The swift, steady thrumming she could feel when he did the latter told her he was just as anxious for Pikango's arrival as she was. Wanting to help soothe his nerves, as he was doing for her, she took his hand and kissed each finger, and then his palm. The lines there caught her attention, and she laid his hand on her leg to better examine them.
"What are you doing?" Link asked curiously.
"A few years ago, a terrible storm raged over the Domain, lasting for over a week; it made it too dangerous to travel, so some who'd come to see our land were stuck and unable to leave." Mipha traced her finger over a line on his palm. "One of them was a Sheikah woman named Steena, who made her living as a traveling fortune teller. I felt very sorry for her, and was interested in the mysterious powers she seemed to have, so I visited her every day. She was so grateful that she showed me a few things about how to read palms, and I am trying to remember them now."
"Oh, I think I had that done for me once at the market... I wonder if it was the same woman." Link bent his head closer to hers. "I can't remember what she said, though. What do you see?"
"Ah, well, I cannot remember all of it, but..." Mipha ran her finger over the topmost line. "I do remember that this is your heart line, and if I am recalling correctly the fact that it begins between these two fingers..." She indicated the index and middle. "Means that you are a very caring, nurturing person. And these..." Mipha touched the two small lines beneath his pinky. "These are affection lines. I think having one or two means that you have a relationship that will last your whole life." She leaned closer. "I think that is what she told me, anyway."
"... I like the sound of that."
His quiet tone caught her attention, and Mipha looked at him; he didn't meet her eyes, and bit his lower lip. She gently took his chin and lifted it so that he'd have to look at her, and smiled encouragingly. "I do too."
Link opened his mouth as if to say something, but at that very moment the bell rang, distracting them both. Heart racing again, Mipha grabbed his hand as they stood, noting that an identical excitement flared in his eyes as they glanced at each other. They proceeded towards the door together, hanging back as Chudley the butler opened it. A wise decision, for two Sheikah youths bearing the enormous framed portrait—hidden under a sheet of canvas, of course—entered. A young woman with a large, sturdy easel in her arms followed, and set it up so that they could carefully set the painting down.
Last came Pikango, and he nodded and bowed to them. "Sir Link, Lady Mipha. I hope this day finds you well."
"Exceedingly so, thank you." Mipha had to fight not to fidget, her scales struggling to contain the mass of almost overeager energy that she seemed to have become upon seeing the veiled portrait. "And you?"
"I'm doing well too, thank you." Pikango smiled. "Now then, are you ready to see it?"
"Yeah." Link's hand squeezed hers, his barely restrained anticipation a palpable thing. He'd paid Pikango extra to have the painting framed ahead of its delivery so that they could have it hung up right away. "We are."
"Then, without further ado..." Pikango cleared his throat, and the Sheikah men and woman who'd accompanied him helped him to carefully lift the cloth and dramatically toss it aside, revealing the results of his weeks of hard work.
Mipha gasped; she couldn't help herself. Beside her, Link gasped too, his fingers tightening on hers. The portrait was even more beautiful than she could've imagined. Whatever Link had paid for the luminous stone paint was worth it, for in the shadows cast by Pikango deliberately blocking the light for a moment, the embroidery in her dress glowed just as it had in the dusk of that wonderful Goponga evening. Her heart fluttered as she recalled it: the slow sweep of the gondola through the canals, the lantern swinging gently in the wind to light the way, and Link waiting alone for her at the end of the ride, as per tradition. She'd been so nervous, her feelings still a bit mixed at the time, but now she looked back on that day with only joy, knowing what she did now about how Link had felt.
Pikango had done justice to her face, too, capturing her happy smile and portraying her with accuracy and respect. She hadn't expected anything else, but it was still so moving to see herself drawn so well by someone who wasn't a Zora. His attention to detail was nothing short of impressive—she couldn't see any errors in how he'd recreated her likeness.
And then her gaze moved to his depiction of Link, and Mipha nearly gasped again, her mouth falling open as she gaped at it. Not only had he perfectly illustrated his handsome visage, but the expression portrayed there shook her to the core. It was one of radiant, incandescent joy, and if she looked at it from a certain angle it almost seemed like he was looking down at her. She'd heard that particularly skilled artists could make a portrait seem like it was looking at you, but this was unusual in that it could appear as though Link was either looking straight ahead, or at her painted self, depending on the angle and lighting. What a lovely illusion, if it indeed was one.
What mattered most, however, was how it felt simply to see that level of happiness on his face. He'd been displeased with his initial expression in the sketch, the lack of a smile, and his relief when Pikango had told him he could assume a different one for the real thing had shone through like the sun breaking clouds apart. With that in mind she'd figured that he'd be smiling, but not like this. Not so heartrendingly joyous that it made tears prick at her eyes. That he too had been clad in his wedding clothes made it hit all the harder. There could be no doubt in her mind that he really did feel this way about being married to her, and it made her want to fall to her knees and weep with joy of her own.
All that time... all that time, I never guessed at how he truly felt. What he'd done. If we hadn't moved forward by now the way we have, what would my foolish mind have made of this sight before me? I cannot think. Perhaps it would have served the same purpose as other things did much sooner, to propel us into more honesty. That I could ever have worried that he felt trapped or resented a loss of choice in marrying me feels like the height of silliness in hindsight, given what I know now. Link is thrilled to be married to me. And I am beyond grateful and happy to be married to him.
"It's... it looks wonderful." Link spoke in a hoarse voice that rippled with emotion he couldn't conceal. "You portrayed her perfectly."
"And yourself?" Pikango glanced at the painting, and then at Link, wringing his hands. "I know you were unhappy with your expression in my sketch—is this more to your liking?"
"Yeah." Warmth filled his eyes, flooding out in a torrent from that one word. "It's perfect."
Pikango relaxed visibly. "Good, good. Now, let's get this hung for you two."
His assistants, with the help of some of the household staff, got the portrait hung on the wall above the entrance to the dining room, where it would be in view of everyone who came into their house. Once that was done Link paid Pikango the final installment, along with extra for the people who'd come to help him. After everyone else had gone they stood together in the foyer with their arms around each other, gazing at the painting.
"I'll never forget seeing you come up the canal that night in your dress." Link kissed the corner of her eye, his fingers skimming over her tail. "That first glimpse of you nearly stopped my heart, and my knees went so weak I thought I would fall over."
"Just... just from looking at me?" Despite everything she knew now about his attraction to her, she felt lightheaded from hearing such a thing.
"Yeah." He moved her ear fin and kissed her temple. "You were so beautiful. Somehow even more than you usually are—that dress and the light of the luminous stones just enhanced it all. That's why I wanted to pay for that paint. Don't say 'just' from looking at you... that's not fair to you or the effect you have on me."
"I..." Mipha swallowed, her eyes stinging again. "To be honest with you, I had thought to myself earlier in the evening that the gown did not flatter me. That it only drew attention to what I lacked, to a figure that would not be as alluring to you as what Hylian women possess."
"An unfounded fear." Link's hand traveled down her back to her caudal fins, dangerously close to the derriere she knew by now he had quite the appreciation for; her breath hitched. "I hope you know that now, even if it doesn't erase the pain I wish you hadn't gone through back then."
"I do." Mipha cupped the back of his neck, her clawed fingers threading through the loose hair beneath his ponytail, and gently pulled him towards her for a soft kiss. Link sighed against her lips, his wandering hand moving south again and squeezing ever so lightly. She shivered, humming into his mouth at the feel of him touching her there. The fact that he found her body so appealing exactly the way it was had yet to stop feeling surprising; she knew her figure, so small up top and yet so curvaceous below the waist, was considered oddly proportioned by most Hylians, but Link had made it clear he didn't share that opinion. His enthusiasm for her never ceased to be flattering and thrilling all at once.
They shared a few smaller kisses after that one ended, his hand moving back up to play with her flukes as he leaned his forehead against hers, his eyes closed. "There's something I want to tell you," Link murmured.
Mipha nipped at his lower lip, enjoying the tremor that went through him at the brush of her teeth. "Oh? Please do."
"That day we had our first portrait sitting... after it was over, and while you changed out of your dress... when I paid Pikango for the paint, I also bought that sketch he did of you." Link opened his eyes, a mix of guilt and shyness shining in them. "It's hidden in the desk upstairs."
"I know. I found it." She blushed as his eyes widened. "The day after the garden party, I wanted to write letters to Father and Sidon, and I decided to use that desk, and so when I pulled out some paper I happened to find it in the stack." She bit her lip. "I'm sorry, I did not mean to... I put it back and said nothing because I thought you wanted it as some sort of surprise for me."
"No. Sorry." He shook his head. "I just... wanted to keep it, because of the way he'd drawn you. You looked so lovely in it, and it was another reminder of our wedding." His hand found hers. "You don't mind, do you?"
"No, not at all, I think it is sweet. But..." Mipha blinked, her throat hurting suddenly. "I wish I had one of you..."
Link grimaced. "It wasn't flattering, remember? I'm so used to having to keep a blank expression when lining up in front of the captains or the king that I forgot to smile. So his sketch of me didn't look that great."
"I remember you not smiling. But it is still your beautiful face." Mipha laid her hand on his cheek, right as it turned pink. "So it is hard not to regret not having such a keepsake."
"Well, tell you what." Link twined his fingers with hers. "When the armor is done, we'll commission him for another portrait, and I'll make sure to smile for the warm-up sketches so you can have that. Does that sound good?"
"Yes." Mipha's heart fluttered and she smiled. "That sounds wonderful." She squeezed his hand. "I suppose you are headed off to the castle now?"
"Yeah. But don't worry," Link added. "I'll be back in time to make lunch for us."
"I know you will." Mipha brought his hand to her lips and kissed it. "Have a good time, and be careful."
She accompanied him to the door, where they shared one more lingering kiss, and then watched him walk away, disappearing down the street. The air outside was still cool, but promised to be warmer later, as befit a summer day. Though it wouldn't get as hot as Lurelin, which she was glad for purely for Link's sake. He'd enjoyed their trip overall, but hadn't been impressed with the stickiness of the weather there. It was one thing, he'd explained to her one morning, to work up a sweat while training, or making love to her, those were pleasant (especially the latter, he'd said with a wicked smile), but another one entirely to be drenched simply by standing outside. That had helped her understand how uncomfortable it was for him, even if she'd never experience it herself.
Mipha returned to their room, her restless thoughts wandering in recursive loops between the past and the time yet to come. They'd arrived back home from Lurelin only a handful of days ago, after a couple days of traveling and nearly a week spent in the seaside resort itself, and in a week or so they'd be off traveling again, this time to Hateno to see Link's father. They hadn't seen him since the wedding, and Link wanted to take her to the town he'd been born in as well as spend time with his father. They too needed to reconnect after eight years during which they'd been apart for the grand majority of the time; the two of them had been able to see each other, which was more than what she and Link had had, but not very often, and as his father was a widower with no other children it had been terribly lonely for him. That she could more than understand—her own father was widowed, after all, and she couldn't even imagine the heartache it would cause him if they'd been forced to separate for nearly a decade the way Link and his father had been. At least he would have Sidon, but there was no one else to share that house in Hateno. For her part, Mipha was more than happy to see the kind man she remembered from his days in the Domain again, as well as tour the town Link was originally from.
The coming months were going to entail a lot of travel, and more social events as well. The social season was beginning to wind down, but there were still plenty of parties and functions to attend, several of which they'd been invited to. Most were at the castle, but others were at the homes of nobles who were starting to be interested in currying favor with the princess of the Zoras and her husband. As a result, their calendar was rapidly filling up, and Mipha found herself looking forward anxiously to the quieter days that awaited beyond this mad whirl of galas and glitz.
At least there would be respite in Hateno. The royal family maintained a small research facility there, in the hills above Lake Sumac, and Fort Hateno to the west helped maintain the security of the region, but otherwise it was simply a sleepy farming village. The Hylian nobility had the curious—and infuriating—tendency to look down on places like Hateno and Mabe Village here in Central Province, despite that the hard workers in those towns provided so much of the food that everyone ate. Where did they think their meals came from? Did they believe that the meat and vegetables on their tables simply sprang forth from the hands of their patron goddess, rather than being produced on the very farms they sneered at? Such snobbery was unheard of amongst the Zora; those who fished for the benefit of others were treated with gratitude and respect, not looked down on. Little wonder Link hadn't liked it much here, if his background had been part of what made him a target for bullying. He'd been so young when he and his father left Hateno, and he wasn't treated as lesser in the Domain for being the son of a soldier from a farming town. To suddenly be thrust into an unfamiliar land and mocked for his humble origins after having been allowed to befriend a princess without any objections (aside from Muzu, and his prejudice had been against Hylians in general, regardless of rank) had to have been quite the unpleasant culture shock. Being away from such snooty attitudes for even a few days would be a breath of fresh air.
Even so, it felt like they had barely unpacked from their Lurelin excursion and would soon be filling up their suitcases once more without much of a breather. Mipha's eyes strayed to hers where it leaned against her wardrobe; she'd meant to head straight to the desk to write more letters, tell her father and Sidon all about their vacation and the souvenirs she'd bought them, but now she hesitated. The clock on the mantle ticked away as she stood there, the second hand sweeping over the face in a nearly full circle before she closed the rest of the distance between herself and the suitcase. Kneeling beside it, she opened it up and retrieved an item she'd hidden in there and refused to unpack, feeling that this was the one safe place to keep it where no one else would find it.
Not for the first time, Mipha's heart clenched as she gazed at the opal brooch, the sunlight that streamed in through the bedroom window making the scratch stand out even more. It really did make it look like a broken heart, like the strange body of water Link had told her was up in the mountains above his father's house, and even showed her an illustration of in one of the many books in their library. Was the heart of that kind stranger who'd owned this broken too, at its loss? Guilt clawed at her from the hollow pit that'd opened in her chest at the sight of the disfigured jewel.
I wish I could return this to you. It feels almost like I stole it, despite that I know it was an accident. I even waited, hoping you'd realize its absence and return, but you fled into the night without allowing me to know anything about your identity so I could give this back to you. I still wish I could, you deserve to have your precious keepsake back, instead of having it sit hidden in this suitcase.
However, I know nothing about you. Which means I cannot return it. And so... Mipha traced the scratch with her finger, careful not to worsen it with her claw. And so I do not even know why I am hanging on to such a thing. It is plain to me that I will never see him again, and so he will never know what became of it. I will never know what became of him, I can only hope that he reunited with the person who gave it to him that was so dear to him, I will never be able to find out for myself. So why hold onto it? It is not even as though I need a reminder of that night to cling to—as enjoyable as it was, it was not what I thought it was when first I set out that evening. Far from being a last uninhibited night of freedom before truly submitting to a marriage I dreaded it was simply... a night of revelry in the company of someone who, though kind and charming, does not ultimately mean anything to me, certainly not the way Link does, at least. I'd been so upset, believing my promise to Link would be broken, wanting to forget my fears of what awaited me in the morning. But because of his actions I got to marry him after all, and now we have found something together that makes us both so happy. I have never truly longed for any other, even when I felt my love for him was doomed to be unrequited. If only he remembered our promise, so I could make that clear to him and banish the insecurities that pain him so.
Another twinge went through her heart, Mipha's eyes straying again to the suitcase. Link had recovered from the incident with Gildan on the third night of their stay in Lurelin, and enjoyed himself during their remaining time there, but it'd lingered in her mind ever since, and she couldn't help but think it lurked in the shadows at the back of his as well. The fear and pain in his eyes, his voice, continued to haunt her even now, even with her doing what she could every day to express her feelings for him and make him feel wanted and desired. That he'd been so scared of her preferring another had shaken her so badly she'd barely known what to do, blaming herself even when he'd insisted she'd done nothing wrong.
He denied it, but... he was jealous. I know he was. There are people whose jealousy makes them lash out bitterly with anger, and then there are those who take it within themselves and become sad and upset and frightened, feeling themselves lacking and all too ready to disparage their perceived shortcomings. Link shares that trait with me—I knew what I was seeing on the beach that evening because it was like looking in a mirror. He was sick with jealousy, terrified that he didn't measure up and couldn't make me happy, despairing at what he felt were flaws in him too deep to overcome. Just as I felt when I believed him to be in love with Zelda.
… That is the thing, though. When I slipped into that despair myself, only becoming angry when I thought he was directly lying to me, I was heartbroken because I knew I loved him, and thought that my feelings had no hope of being returned. He has not spoken of loving me, yet he behaved like that when confronted with what he thought was a former flame that I relinquished when I acceded to Rhoam's offer. How... how deep do his true feelings go, if such a reaction could be provoked in him by that incident? Does he even realize their real depth? He said this was more to him than just physical, but how much more? What is he not saying, what has he not realized yet? Seeing him so pained makes my heart ache, and yet it shamefully also rises in hope that Link is at the very least falling for me. If his display of jealousy and heartbreak is an indication that his feelings are even starting to match mine, then I can wait patiently for him to figure it out and tell me when he is ready. It would be unkind to rush him, after all, simply out of my own insecurities. I will continue to focus on building up his confidence and dispelling his fears, so he may feel secure in telling me of his feelings in time.
Although that still leaves me with the issue of this. Mipha looked down at the brooch again and sighed. In all honesty, I should throw it away. It shall never be returned to its true owner, after all, and keeping it only increases the risk that it will be found somehow, someday. And if Link should see it he undoubtedly would be hurt, thinking that I am clinging to memories of a stranger I only spent a short time with, wanting him instead of my own beloved husband. I cannot bear to do that to him. I've never wanted anyone else, never been tempted to break our promise and be unfaithful to him. There have been several that have sought my attentions, my hand in marriage, not just Gildan, but I have turned them all down. At times it seemed the height of foolishness, pining away for a Hylian whose preferences I would later come to be so insecure and frightful over, and rejecting all the Zoras who saw me as beautiful and desirable, and not just because I am the princess either. Some were sincerely enamored of me, I could tell. I couldn't muster up the slightest bit of interest in them, though, even if I'd wanted to. My heart still rested in Link's hands. It always has. It always will. My joy at being able to have him after all is immeasurable.
If he were to see this brooch, however... I would be hard pressed to explain its presence in my belongings without undoing all the progress I am slowly making at ridding him of the insecurities he feels. I cannot bear that. I should get rid of this. I really should. It serves no purpose, after all. What need have I for such a thing?
Mipha's fingers curled around it, blotting out some of its prismatic shine. The rest of it sparkled, catching the light and giving it a beauty that shone out despite the flaw. There was no chance of throwing it away in one of the household rubbish bins, for someone on the staff would surely find it and return it to her, exposing her secret to Link in the process should he be present at the time. Out in the city, however, it was a different story. Castle Town was so large and crowded that disposing of it by "accidentally" losing it would be a simple matter. She would only have to take it with her on an excursion to the markets, and see to it that it found its way into a planter or fountain. Out of sight, and out of mind.
But I cannot bear to. Mipha's lower lip wobbled, her vision blurring with tears. The man this belonged to does not mean anything to me, not in that way, and I will never see him again, but still. I cannot bear to toss away his treasured item all the same, regardless of the impossibility of ever reuniting him with it. Getting rid of it would eliminate the risks of hanging onto it, but would I be able to live with the remorse if I went through with it? I do not think so. Guilt and heartache seem to be on the horizon whichever path I take. It also does not help that it reminds me so very much of what my own opal might've looked like had Link returned it to me so it could be made into wedding jewelry. I think that that may be why I cling to it: less to do with the man who lost it, but with the one that I myself lost. Though that does not make it any less risky to keep.
… I shall return it to the suitcase. That seems to still be the safest place for it. Mipha exhaled slowly. I will simply have to be even more cautious when packing and unpacking, lest Link see it and draw the wrong conclusions. It is my secret to bear, and I must guard it vigilantly. Would that things had not happened to deliver this object into my unwilling hands, but have it I do, and conceal it I must. There is nothing for it now.
Her decision made, Mipha returned the brooch to its hiding place and rose. She glanced only once over her shoulder, at where she knew the fraught piece of jewelry lurked, and then proceeded to the desk so she could begin writing her letters. The knowledge that the sketch of her was somewhere in the stack of papers she drew from cheered her, and she tried to focus on that and not let her thoughts dwell on the brooch. That Link had kept it not for her but for himself—had even paid money for it—was even better than she'd thought when she'd first found it. She supposed she should've thought of that in the wake of their confessions to each other that day after the masquerade, but it'd somehow slipped her mind. Understandable, considering how many other moments there were to look back on, so much to enjoy in the present with their evolved relationship.
She wrote her letters in stops and starts, frequently distracted by the view out the window and the cool breeze that beckoned her with the faint scents it carried. When at last she finished and sealed the letters, she descended the stairs in a rush, the garden her destination. The promise of a walk through the perfumed air of a perfect summer's morning was calling to her, and she could not resist the temptation.
One thing did slow her pace, however—the sight of one of the maids, Mila, passing her by in the hall on the way. A sudden idea seized hold of Mipha's mind, and she turned back the way she came, rushing towards the young woman she'd just seen. "Mila, please wait!"
"Yes, Lady Mipha?" She turned, and curtsied slightly. "What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering—would you be so kind as to notify the kitchen staff to set the table outside for lunch, rather than the one indoors? I would like to surprise my husband when he returns home."
"Of course." Mila curtsied again. "Is there anything else you require?"
"No, thank you." Mipha shook her head. "You may return to whatever it is you were doing before, I am sorry for taking time away from you."
"That is fine." Mila curtsied one more time. "Good day to you, Lady Mipha."
Mipha thanked her again, and then headed outside after a brief return to the bedroom to fetch a ribbon from her armoire. A couple members of the kitchen staff were in the middle of setting the table already, and she stopped to watch them for a moment before continuing on her way to finally proceed with the rest of her idea. A sleepy-eyed gardener named Leif happily loaned her a pair of shears, and showed her how to cut flowers in the proper way, along with a brief lesson on caring for them that she listened to closely before searching for the ones she intended to gather.
Before too long, she had a modest but beautiful bouquet of violets, irises, and dahlias clutched in her hands. Their fragrance was heavenly, the petals beautiful and soft, and she'd made sure their colors didn't clash. Her heart swelling with joy, Mipha carefully arranged them in the vase and added a bit of water before stepping back to admire them. They were all lovely, and she found it hard to pick a favorite. Violets were very special to her as a flower she'd always loved, and even more so now after that day on Tuft Mountain, but so too were dahlias thanks to their presence in her wedding bouquet. Both had symbolic meanings of love, according to that book she and Link had read together (and that she'd gone back to later), while the irises meant you wanted to convey a message to someone. Hopefully this selection would, then, carry a message of love to Link.
I will not tell you in words, for I do not know how ready you are to hear it. But there are other ways to express this feeling, and I am striving to use them. Please bear with me.
Holding the bow as steadily as he could in his aching arms, Link took careful aim at the target. Once he was satisfied, he loosed the arrow and watched it fly in a perfect trajectory to the center. Letting his breath out, he lowered the bow.
It'd been a long morning. After leaving the house, he'd come straight here and gotten in some exercise and training with both sword and bow, looking to keep his skills with both sharp. The familiar soreness was setting in, as were twinges of hunger; it was time to stop and go home, and fix lunch for himself and Mipha as he'd promised. His heart raced again as he pictured her face, thought about what he intended to cook for them and what he'd tell her about the dish. There was sure to be another beautiful smile in store for him when he did, rousing his need to be home with her even more.
Wiping the sweat off his brow, Link retied his messy hair and then gathered up the arrows and returned them along with the bow to where they belonged. Someone from his year was sparring with a younger trainee, and they both stopped to watch him walk by.
"Is that..."
"Yeah, that's him." The knight spoke in a loud whisper. "Don't get too close, or the fish stench will rub off on you too."
Link's spine stiffened at that, and he stopped dead in his tracks as they laughed raucously. Heart thumping with rage, he started to turn, fully prepared to verbally tear them both a new one, only to be stopped by a hand touching his arm. Whipping his head around, he saw Pipit standing there. He opened his mouth to speak, but his friend shook his head.
"Don't," he said quietly, his voice almost drowned out by the continuing laughter and jeers coming from behind Link. "It's not worth it."
"He insulted her," Link said between gritted teeth. "If that's not worth it, what is?"
"Let me rephrase." Pipit rolled his eyes and sighed. "They're not worth it. Because you'd almost certainly end up in a scuffle, and you don't want that."
Link glanced over his shoulder; both of them were taller than he was, even the trainee that couldn't have been more than fourteen or fifteen. "I could take him." He had before, and had won easily.
"That's not the point." Pipit sighed again. "You'd get in huge trouble, especially if that kid leaped into the fray and you had to defend yourself against him too. I don't think your wife would be impressed by you having to spend some time in lockup for that, and I doubt you of all people would feel right about hitting a kid, even in self-defense."
"... You're right. I just..." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I can't stand hearing people talk about her like that."
"I know." Pipit slung his arm around Link's shoulders and led him off, back into the castle. "But you have to learn to pick your battles at some point, and that one didn't seem like a great idea."
"As if I've never heard that before," Link muttered.
"I know you have. And maybe you should stop to think about why, once in a while." Pipit gently elbowed him. "But speaking of picking battles, I didn't just show up to pull your reckless ass away from a dumb fight, I wanted to ask you something."
"Oh?" Link stopped walking and turned to face him. "What's going on, then?"
"The annual tournament, dummy!" Pipit rolled his eyes again, grinning. "Have you signed up yet?"
"Right, I almost forgot about that..." Link rubbed his face. It was true—between all the social engagements, traveling, and reveling in the new experience of being able to court Mipha, it'd completely slipped his mind. Trainees weren't allowed to participate, so he hadn't been able to be in one before, but now he was eligible to compete. "When is it again? Next month?"
"Yep." Pipit nodded. "There's still plenty of time to sign up, so if you're interested, you should enter. There's always good prizes, a chance to make a name for yourself, and you'll get to take Mipha to see Serenne, it'd be a nice trip for you both. You should definitely take a shot at it."
"Yeah, I've been meaning to, I've just had a lot of other things on my mind." He brushed a stray hair out of his eye. "Busy social season and traveling, you know?" And an incredible wife I can't get enough of. "I definitely want to, though."
"That's the spirit!" Pipit clapped him on the shoulder. "Come on, I'll take you to where they're doing the sign-ups."
His first instinct was to protest, but a glance at one of the massive grandfather clocks nearby showed that he still had enough time, so Link smothered his objection and just went along. It made sense to get it out of the way, anyway, now that it was fresh in his mind, instead of waiting and allowing himself to forget again until it was too late.
Still, he was relieved that it was a short process, and frustrated when another roadblock loomed up in front of him as he continued on his way back out of the castle, Pipit having headed to the practice yards himself. Schooling his face into a neutral expression, he bowed to the person who'd just appeared to bar his path. "Good day, Your Highness."
Zelda frowned. "Are you in a hurry? I promise this won't take long," she added, even as she grabbed his wrist and pulled him into a small reception room. "I just have a couple questions."
She shut the door, and Link rubbed his temples. "And what might those be?"
"Have you heard anything about Astor?" She wrung her hands. "He's been very quiet lately, and I'm more than a little concerned."
Link raised an eyebrow. "I haven't heard anything, no. But isn't he still on house arrest?" A fresh wave of red-hot anger flooded him at the memory of what Astor had done to earn that.
"Yes, but... it will be over sooner rather than later." Zelda glanced nervously at the door, as if she expected to be able to see anyone eavesdropping from outside. "I'm very worried about what he might try when it ends. Father and I have been working on loosening his grip on the members of the court, but it is slow going." She sighed. "No wonder Father's pace has always seemed so glacial... they are not easy to win over, not after all that that horrible man has done to ingratiate himself."
"I can imagine." Link took a deep breath. "Is that all you wish from me, Your Highness? My apologies for not being of more assistance, my wife and I have been very busy lately and haven't heard anything about Astor's activities."
"I understand." Zelda nodded. "And yes, that is all. I am sorry for wasting your time, and I assure you I will see to it that you and Lady Mipha are well-protected when the time comes."
She opened the door again, and waited for him to exit before following him. Motion caught Link's eye as Zelda closed the door behind herself, and he glanced down the hall to see Piero the court poet standing several feet away from them. Piero's eyes narrowed as he saw them together, and he gave Link a contemptuous glare before turning on his heel and stalking off in the opposite direction.
Behind him, Zelda sighed. "Oh, not him again..."
"He's such a creep." Link shook his head. "Sorry you have to put up with him."
"Oh, you have no idea." Resentment crept into her voice. "In all honesty, I have begun to suspect that he is one of the sources for that ridiculous Traysi."
"Traysi?"
"The woman who publishes Rumor Mill." Zelda sighed again. "She claims to have sources inside the castle, and given some of what she's written, it seems all too likely that that pompous man is feeding her information. Erroneous information, I might add."
Link scowled. "That would explain the rumors about you and I."
"Wouldn't it, though?" Zelda laughed bitterly. "After the masquerade, I could not stomach the thought of looking at that rag, for fear of what I'd see there after his dreadful poem. What sort of person writes and performs such a thing in public like that? Especially since it disparaged poor Lady Mipha, who has done our kingdom such a service in keeping the peace by marrying you."
"It's even worse than that." His lip curled in disgust. "She told me about meeting him at the garden party, and that she'd mentioned to him that she and I were friends as children, something he didn't know before. So he took that and used it against her."
Zelda's eyes flared with fresh anger. "Despicable man! He did much the same to me with that horrid thing." She lowered her voice and leaned closer. "To be frank, Sir Link, there is someone I have my eye—and heart—set on, but things are... complicated, and I have shed tears over it before where he could hear... methinks he misunderstood, and assumed, and now we have this awkward situation where others think I am pining after you, all thanks to his foolishness."
"That would make sense." Link sighed. "Anyway, I have to go now." He bowed "Good day, your Highness."
Thankfully, no one else came up to impede him as he left, and Link quickened his pace as he exited the castle at long last. As a result, he arrived home right when he'd wanted to, somehow avoiding being late. The sound of Mipha's webbed feet on the floor was more welcome than ever, and he turned, smiling, to see her approaching him.
"Welcome home." She took his hands and leaned up to kiss him. "How did it go?"
"Great, thanks." Link kissed her forehead. "I'll tell you about it while we eat. Sorry if I'm home late, I got delayed on my way out by a couple things."
"You are fine." Mipha looped her arm through his. "What held you up, though?"
"Well, first, Pipit stopped to talk to me about something I'll tell you about in a bit." They headed in the direction of the kitchen. "Then Zelda wanted to ask me if I'd heard anything about Astor, since his house arrest is supposed to be ending soon." He squeezed her hand. "But don't worry, she promised that you and I will be well-protected when that happens."
Mipha frowned. "That is good to know, but all the same I hope we are out of town when he is set free."
"There's a good chance we will be, given how much traveling we're going to be doing, so let's try not to worry too much." They stopped just outside the kitchen. "Now, do you want to watch me, or would you rather wait in the dining room?"
"Neither." An impish smile spread across her face, making his heart flutter. "I have already had the staff set the outside table with what we'll need, as I had it in mind to dine with you in the garden." She peered at him. "You don't mind, do you? It is such a lovely day, I could not resist the impulse."
"Of course not." Link smiled and touched her cheek. "That sounds wonderful. I'll bring our food out there, then."
"And I shall wait patiently for you."
She shared another brief kiss with him, and then disappeared down the hall to let herself outside. Link watched her go, appreciating the view, and then headed into the kitchen to begin cooking. The staff, aware of his plans, had already gathered up the ingredients and equipment he'd need for the dish he planned to make. He gratefully thanked them, and then set to work. Though she'd taken the lead lately in matters of courtship, he still regularly cooked for them both; as he'd explained to her, it was something he enjoyed for its own sake anyway, and it often made him more comfortable to be able to work in his own kitchen, rather than being waited on all the time.
Once it was all done, he loaded everything onto a serving cart and carefully wheeled it outside. Mipha was sitting at the table, but stood, beaming, as she heard him coming towards her. He almost stopped walking as he saw the prettily set little table, but kept going until he was right beside it. A ribbon-bound bouquet of vividly colored and scented flowers sat in the middle of it, drawing his eye.
"I picked these earlier." Mipha picked up the flowers and held them out to him. "For you."
Link's eyes flew to her. "For... me?"
"Yes." Mipha smiled shyly. "I know it is not the same as being given flowers from Lover's Pond, but... all the same, I hope you appreciate them."
Link reached over and took the flowers from her delicate webbed fingers. "I appreciate everything you give me," he murmured. His gaze dropped to the flowers in his hand. Violets, irises, and dahlias. Two of which had romantic meanings tied to them, with one having been in her wedding bouquet, and the third meant, if he was remembering correctly, something to do with sending messages. If this was itself a message, then it was one of warm affection from her. "Thank you." It was hard to speak with his heart swelling so, but he somehow managed it.
"Anything for you," she said softly, echoing his words to her at breakfast and squeezing his throat shut. "So... what have you prepared for us today?"
"I..." Link cleared his throat, trying to push the flood of emotion down long enough to tell her what he'd cooked. "It's a soup, actually, but a cold one. Perfect for a day like today."
"Cold soup?" Mipha looked intrigued. "I have never heard of such a thing before."
"It's common in the Gerudo Queendom." He lifted the covers off their plates, revealing the bowls of pale pink soup that he carefully put on the table. "I learned this recipe when we did some training exercises with their army down near the border. It's called creamy heart soup."
"It looks lovely." Mipha peered at it. "What is in it?"
"Milk, voltfruit, hydromelon, and hearty radishes, mostly." Pieces of the fruits in question, as well as a slice of radish, bobbed invitingly in the soup. "Plus seasonings, you know." He took a basket of bread from the cart, as well as a pitcher and two glasses. "I hope you like it."
"I always like what you make me." Mipha pulled his chair out after he'd poured their drinks, and only when he was seated did she sit down. "Thank you, Link."
He toasted her. "You're welcome. I..." He glanced down at his bowl. "There's... a story about this dish, actually."
"Oh?" Mipha paused, her spoon having just dipped into the soup. "Do tell."
"Well..." His face heated in a blush. "The Gerudo woman who taught me how to make it, she said she teaches it in her classes preparing people for marriage, because it's said that sharing this soup with another person will bring you closer together."
"Is that right?" A smile even more radiant than the one he'd pictured earlier spread over her face, stealing his breath away. "Then it truly is the most perfect thing to eat with you."
"I—I'm glad to hear that." Link ducked his head, his face even hotter now. "I've been wanting to make this for you for a while now..."
"I am happy you finally did." Mipha took a spoonful and ate it. "Especially since it is delicious. Thank you, Link, I love it."
"You're welcome." He tore a piece of bread and dipped it in the soup. "What did you do while I was gone?"
"Oh, not much." Mipha ate some more. "I had letters to write, and then I picked these flowers and spent some time in the garden with a book until it began to be close to when I thought you might arrive home." She took a sip of her drink. "Now, what was it you were going to tell me about your training?"
"Oh, right." Link ate a little more himself, and washed it down before continuing. "When I was on my way out, Pipit came up and reminded me about the upcoming tournament in Serenne."
"Tournament?" Mipha tilted her head slightly. "What sort of tournament?"
"It's basically an exhibition for the knights, with competitions in various things—archery, jousting, a series of duels, that sort of thing. Nothing really dangerous," he hastily added. "Just friendly competitions for prizes and honor; you can make a name for yourself if you're really good. Only fully-fledged knights are allowed to be in it, though, so I've never competed."
"I see." Mipha didn't look entirely convinced of what he'd said about the lack of danger. "And... are you interested in attending?"
Link took a deep breath. "I... signed up to compete, actually," he said, his eyes fixed on his soup. "Like I said, I've never been able to participate till now, so I want to see what I can do. Prove myself a little."
"You what?" Mipha sounded alarmed. "Oh Link, I—are you sure it isn't dangerous?"
"It's... mostly safe." He winced as her spoon clattered onto the plate. "The archery contests aren't really any different from what I do when I practice at the castle, I'll just be aiming at a target, not another person, and in both the duels and the jousting the weapons are blunt, not sharp."
"But the jousting, it—is not the point to unseat your opponent?" Mipha's eyes were wide and brimming with horror when he finally dared to meet them. "You could be seriously injured or worse from such a thing!"
"I'll be fine." Link reached across the table to take her hand, and flinched when he felt how badly she was shaking. "I've practiced it before and I'm not bad at it, and I'll be wearing armor to protect me, and—"
"Armor?" Mipha's voice rose in panic. "Oh—oh no, I... I am not done with your armor, I... when is this occurring?"
"A month from now." He frowned. "Is that not enough time?"
"I—if we were not so busy, it might be, if I rushed it, but..." A nauseated look came over her face. "As it is, I do not know if I can... we have already been so busy, and I was delayed by having to translate the texts on how to make it possible for you to ascend waterfalls... I had been so rusty because my medical studies took priority over learning Old Zoran all those years ago..." Her lower lip trembled. "Oh, Link, I am so sorry... I will try my hardest, but I cannot guarantee anything... I do not know what you are supposed to do, is there any chance you can withdraw?"
"I could, I guess, but I really do want to be in this." Link squeezed her hand. "It'll be fine, Mipha, really. I have my own armor already issued by the army, and I wouldn't want to risk damaging what you've been working so hard to make for me."
"But will it protect you as well as mine will?" Mipha whispered. "I am using scales from Naydra, remember?"
"... I remember." His heart skipped a beat at the memory of that ceremony on Mount Lanayru. That was the day after we almost kissed in the inn... and Naydra said... what did she know about Mipha's feelings? I haven't thought about that day in a while... "But it'll be fine. The weapons are blunt, remember? I won't need anything more than what I already have. So please don't feel worry about it."
"I will always worry about you." Mipha's voice quavered. "I have worried about you since we were children, and have never stopped. And now you tell me you want to compete in a dangerous thing like this, without my armor to protect you? How can you expect me not to worry?"
"I'm sorry. I just..." Link swallowed. "It's important to me. I want to test what I've learned, and maybe earn some respect. So many of them still look down on me, this would be my chance to prove myself a bit, like I said. I think I can do well in it. And..." He met her eyes again. "You'll be there with me, won't you?"
"Link, you know I will accompany you." Mipha's eyes glittered with tears. "If I am to keep you safe should something happen, I must be at your side to heal you."
He shook his head. "It's not just that. I appreciate you wanting to do that, of course, but even more than that..." His fingers tightened on hers. "I... want you to see me. To watch me do my best, and be proud of me."
Mipha reached across the table with her free hand, and touched his cheek. "I am always proud of you, Link," she said quietly. "Always."
"I know." A lump rose in his throat. "I just... I really want to do this. I want to see what I can do, and show you what I've worked so hard to earn, and..." He squeezed her hand again. "I'll dedicate every match to you, in your honor. I'll win for you, if I can, and either way I'll see to it that no one ever doubts my devotion to you and our marriage again."
A tear slipped down her cheek. "Surely there must be a less dangerous way of doing that..."
"Even if there is, I still want to do this." Link covered her hand on his face with his. "Will you support me? Please?"
"I..." A small half-sob escaped her. "I am loathe to allow you to walk into danger, you know that... but I cannot stop you, and I am equally loathe to discourage you from something that is clearly so important to you. So..." She took a gulping breath. "I... will ask only that you be cautious, and not give me a reason to have to heal you. In exchange, I will gladly be at your side and watch you, and cheer you on."
Link let go of her hands, but only so he could stand and move to her side, embracing her. Mipha pressed her face to his chest, and he could feel her tears beginning to dampen his shirt. "I promise," he said softly. "I swear to you that I will do my best to stay safe, and not give you anything to grieve over. Hurting you is the last thing I ever want to do." He kissed the top of her head. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be." Mipha sighed, her breath tickling his skin where he'd undone a few buttons to keep himself cool as he trained with a sword. "I am sorry, for being such a fretful worrier that nearly held you back from something that matters so much to you. You deserve to be able to do the things you want. I will try my best as well, to not fear so much, and to finish your armor as well."
"Thank you." Link stroked her tail. "It... means the world to me to have your support. I'm glad you'll be there with me."
"Of course I will." Mipha smiled at him through her tears as he pulled back to look at her. "I am proud to support you, and I will continue to be proud of you no matter the results." She dashed at her eyes. "You... said it is in Serenne?"
"Yeah." He hugged her again and then sat back down. "It's up north in Ridgeland Province, close to the border with Hebra. For that reason, it draws a lot of Rito tourists. Even though a lot of them sneer at our archery skills." Link laughed. "Or lack thereof, as some would put it."
Mipha huffed. "Well, from what I have seen, I think you are incredibly skilled, and will do very well in that one."
"Thanks." He smiled. "I figure, if I could do well at that casino game in Lurelin, I should do okay at the tournament."
"I'm sure you will do wonderfully." Mipha picked up her spoon again and resumed eating, to Link's relief. "I do not look forward to yet another round of packing and unpacking, though, I must admit."
"Hey, at least you don't have to pack as many clothes as I do," Link reminded her with another laugh. "It's easier for you since you don't wear as much."
"True." She finally laughed again, further easing his heart. "And it will be another place to gather souvenirs for Sidon from, at least. I do not know if we shall manage the two suitcases we promised him, but we are trying."
A wave of homesickness washed over him; dimly, Link wondered how bad it was for her. "I'm sure he'll just be happy with whatever we bring back, because the most important thing will be seeing you again."
"That is true too." Mipha stirred her soup and sighed. "I think I shall get straight to work on your armor this afternoon, if you don't mind... we do not have any appointments, correct?"
Link shook his head. "No. Not until tomorrow. But please don't rush," he added. "I really will be fine without it if you can't finish it. And rush jobs on anything tend to hurt the quality of the results."
"That is true." Mipha sighed again. "Still, if I can somehow finish it in time, that would be ideal. If nothing else, it would demonstrate most effectively your devotion to me, as you put it."
Link's pulse quickened at the thought. "It would, yeah... but don't hurry just for that." He took her hand and kissed it. "I can show that with or without the armor."
Mipha's eyes gleamed. "As you have demonstrated it to me many times without a stitch of clothing on at all."
"And I will again later, if you will but allow me." Another kiss to her hand. "I must earn my lady's favor, after all."
"You already have, but I shall never say no to more such displays." Mipha laughed huskily. "I shall await the evening eagerly, o handsome knight of mine."
"As will I," Link managed, his voice coming out hoarse. "I shall count down the hours until I am once again in the arms of my beautiful princess."
Because... yes. I am yours. I always have been. And in a month, I'll show that to everyone, and stomp out those rumors that caused you so much pain, if I can.
You deserve nothing less.