A month passed since the battle on Ploymus Mountain.
Mipha spent her time gently recuperating from her efforts in the battle. She held a quiet lament for the slow progress in which her body now recovered from such a physical trail, always reminded of her youth and the lost ability to be able to rise and meet the morning as if energy were a limitless resource. As a young woman, she would have risen to ride the waterfalls and hone her spear work. But it was mostly bed rest these days. That, and walks around the domain, which filled her with no end of pleasure.
However the slow burn that was now Mipha's life was lost on those who now witnessed her every day. The fable that was Queen Mipha among the domain's denizens had suddenly become a reality. Mipha was initially hesitant at first to be treated with such reverence, but as the days passed, her fellow Zora began to relax around her, and she soon felt herself becoming one with her people again.
Amidst walks and talks with the various domain dwellers, Mipha also spent a lot of her time in the throne room, alongside Repherhan, working tirelessly to carve out the next steps for the future of the Zora. Days after the battle, the domain awoke to the news that Queen Hylia had survived also, and was recuperating. However, for those who saw Queen Hylia knew that her idea of recuperation was to be working just as hard alongside Mipha and Repherhan, to set a course for a future of peace.
In terms of its king, a decision had been reached: Repherhan would remain as king of the Zoras. He accepted a significant fine from the kingdom of Hyrule and Queen Hylia for the hostility that the Zoras had shown. Repherhan accepted the punishment with no resistance, fully accepting the responsibility for his role in the near-total war with the Hylians. Some of the gossip mongers at the edges of the domain spoke of Repherhan's bitterness towards such a punishment, but those with eyes close to the throne room saw a different story: a kinder, warmer Repherhan with glow in his eyes, smiling alongside Queen Hylia as they worked to sort out their differences.
Following the agreement, Repherhan set out on his next official business as king: reversing Mipha's exile. Though Mipha had decided that she would return to Hateno Village, she was welcome to come and go from the domain all she pleased. In addition, all of her family members were set to have their exile lifted as well. Mipha glowed with happiness as Repherhan spoke of the legal processes that were required to untangle the terms of the exile: it would take a while, but Mipha felt nothing but unbridled joy at the prospect of finally being able to see her family again.
Shortly after the agreement was set, Queen Hylia returned to Hyrule Castle to finish her recuperation. She left with parting words for Repherhan:
"It has been a long and difficult road, King Repherhan. But know this, despite what we have agreed over these last few weeks, I will work tirelessly on my end, on behalf of the Hylians, to ensure that relations between us and the Zora return to a prosperous state. And I am sure you will do the same. If you ever need any support, then please know you can reach out to us at any time. For it is that which brings us together, which makes us strong."
With Queen Hylia's departure, the news of the changes that King Repherhan and Queen Hylia had brought in together was sent to Kakariko Village and to Impa, who's returning correspondence spared no expense at the glee and elation she felt that the situation had finally been solved. She had certain words for Mipha:
"Please give my best regards to Mipha, whose efforts have been pivotal in bringing this most troublesome time to a positive conclusion. The strength she has shown has been immense, and she's certainly taught this old lady a thing or two about what we're still capable of despite our advancing years! I will be very keen to see her again at Kakariko Village when she is able to come, so we may celebrate this new relationship between the Zoras and Hylians in earnest."
Soon after Queen Hylia's departure, Mipha began to make plans for her own departure. She loved the domain so, and knew that she would return regularly to visit her grandson and her people. But the call of Hateno Village was too strong now, the comforting chair and log fire beckoning strongly. She yearned to be beside it, her feet in a bucket of nice, cool water, reading a book peacefully.
That final night before she left, she took one last walk around the domain. Taking in its beautiful turquoise architecture, she allowed herself one more fond walk down memory lane. She eventually made it to the statue in the middle of the domain, and looked upon it.
Mipha gazed into the eyes of her former self. She's walked past the azure pedestal a number of times already, but as she stared at it that evening, she felt something stirring within her. The woman standing on the pedestal no longer remesbled the old lady who looked upon it, she thought. This young woman was strong, brave, and had courage in her convictions. She almost seemed like a different person.
"Lady Mipha…"
Mipha turned her head slowly, recognizing the voice at once. It was Tekmo, who was walking towards her side.
"Good evening, Tekmo." Mipha said with a smile. "Care to keep an old lady some company?"
"It would be my pleasure." Tekmo replied, the smile returned. He then gazed upon the statue himself, almost spellbound by the beauty of its subject. The two stood in silence for a while, admiring the statue amidst the steady whoosh of the falling waterfalls around them. It was another clear night, with a half moon shining brightly amidst the twinkle of stars.
"It must be quite odd," Tekmo said, breaking the silence. "Looking at a statue of yourself."
"You are quite right, Tekmo," Mipha said. "It is rather odd. I feel as if I'm a cautionary tale against the inevitability of growing old. Gosh...I used to be so much stronger!"
"Time waits for nobody, sadly," Tekmo sighed. "Why, I remember when my first child was just a babe in arms. Now he's growing into a fine young boy, and with sisters to boot! I just don't know where the time goes…"
"Your family…" Mipha said. "I expect you'll be going back to them once your duties with me have been discharged?"
Tekmo nodded. "I expect I'll get some time off from my duties to relax, though I don't think chasing after kids is quite what I'd call relaxing."
The two shared a brief chuckle.
"Still, I assume I'll be back at the domain before long," Tekmo continued. "Now that King Repherhan is lifting the embargo on Sheikah scientists and their work on Vah Ruta, I imagine I'll be coming here as part of the usual security detail."
"I am so pleased to hear that." Mipha sighed contentedly. "To think that Vah Ruta was one of the main causes of all the conflict that had arisen between our people and the Hylians. The embargo should have never happened, but...at least things are going back to the way they were before."
Tekmo turned to face Mipha, who spotted his turn and looked to him in kind. "And what will you be doing, Lady Mipha? Will you be coming back to the domain now that things have smoothed over?"
"Eventually, yes." Mipha replied. "But for now, I do wish to return to Hateno Village. It has been productive few weeks...but these weary old bones of mine are exhausted."
"So...you mean to say that the domain is no longer your home?" Tekmo asked.
It was so strange, Mipha thought. There was a time once where she saw the domain as nothing else but her home. There was a time where any other idea of what the domain could be was pure fallacy. But as Mipha closed her eyes and asked herself what home really meant to her, she thought of the fireplace. Her nice, cosy chair. And the inhabitants of the village that had done everything that it could to make her feel welcome, regardless of whether they knew her past or not. In the time of her life when she was in the greatest strife, it offered her refuge.
Hateno Village was a shelter from many storms, past and present.
"I'll always love Zora's Domain and my fellow kin," Mipha stated. "But Hateno Village is my home now. It's where I've spent most of my life. I cannot in good faith just leave, when its people have given so much to me. You understand, don't you?"
Tekmo turned to face Mipha, a smile on his face as his white hair rustled in the gentle wind.
"Of course I do," he said. "But there's something else I wanted to tell you. I wanted to say thanks."
Mipha felt taken aback by the comment. "What? But I should be thanking you for your exemplary service for all this time! I've kept you away from your family, and not once have you…"
"Mipha," Tekmo said. "The pleasure is all mine. It's been challenging at times, yes, but when I first met you, you were my mission. To keep safe and comfortable through these trying times. But now we've reached the end, I consider you...my friend."
"Tekmo…"
Mipha bowed her head, unable to suppress much of her emotion. As she looked back up, she wiped a tear from her eye and took Tekmo's hand in her own. "In you I have found a very dear friend indeed. I really, really hope this isn't the last time I see you."
"You're welcome in Kakariko Village any time." Tekmo asserted. "It would be an honour to introduce you to my wife and children, I'm sure the kids would love to hear all your stories! And who knows, perhaps our paths may cross again here in this domain!"
"Perhaps, Tekmo," Mipha said, beaming. "Perhaps."
The two shared a warm embrace. Tekmo then stepped away, looking up to the sky briefly. It had been night time for quite a while, and it was getting late.
"I have some last bits and pieces to attend to for your transport back to Hateno Village," he said. "Please excuse me."
"By all means, Tekmo," Mipha said. "And thank you once again for your service. I'll see to it that Impa gets a fantastic account of your services"
Tekmo smiled, and with a wave, turned to walk towards the great bridge at the entrance to the domain, where he kept the convoy.
Alone, Mipha turned back towards the statue of herself. As she gazed upon the likeness of herself, she allowed her eyes to close. A memory fluttered to her mind, as gentle as a butterfly, and she allowed it to play out within her inner vision.
.
.
.
"Here you go, my love."
She saw a hand place a freshly brewed cup of tea by her chair-side table. The fresh aroma of lemon and ginseng flowed out of the cup in spirals of steam, dancing into the air and dissipating into nothingness.
She felt the bristles of a beard brush against her cheek as lips kissed them. She looked up to the man as he walked to his own chair opposite hers. Many years had passed, and he was much older now. Though still strong of body, his thinning crown, rugged facial hair and worn face told the tale of time, and its brutal passing.
"My my, Link, you'll need to shave again soon." Mipha chuckled. Link brushed a hand across his large beard, pulling a sceptical face.
"You think so?' he said. "I don't know: I kinda like it."
The years had passed so quickly, she thought. And yet Mipha had barely changed: a slight wrinkle here and there, but otherwise no different to when she had first met Link as a young boy. But Link had transformed before her eyes: he had not too recently turned 60 in Hylian years. And though she still felt that same burning love for him that she had always felt through her life, she knew that with every passing year, it was one year less. One week less, one day less. Eventually, he would be gone.
"I wonder how all the children are doing…" Mipha murmured.
"I'm not too sure…" Link sighed, looking at the fire. "We haven't heard from them in a few weeks. I sure hope they haven't forgotten about us!"
"I'm...sure they haven't," Mipha hummed. "We'll hear from them in time: I'm sure of it."
"Mipha...can I ask you something?"
Link's tone of voice had changed from whimsy to one of a serious, considering tone.
"Of course, my love," Mipha replied. "Are you feeling well?"
"Do you ever regret the path you chose?"
Mipha was stunned. It certainly wasn't the kind of conversation she was expecting to have over one of her warm cups of tea. She cleared her throat, trying to gather her suddenly frayed thoughts together. 'Whatever do you mean?"
"I mean...me." he said. "And this. Our house in Hateno, only hearing from our children by letter…"
"Link, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying...that it's all my fault, really."
Link couldn't turn his head away from the fire. Mipha could see the flames flickering in his eyes: within them she saw a deep, deep sadness and pain. She had seen it on occasion before, but Link used to hide it so well. Until now.
"Link...what do you mean that it's all your fault?" Mipha asked. "You haven't done anything wrong…"
"Mipha, you could have had it so much better than you have it now, you know." he said, eyes firmly fixed on the fire. "Had you just...fallen in love with someone else, then you wouldn't be stuck here with me. You would be Queen Mipha still; ruling at Zora's Domain, with your husband and children and all your family by your side, and not kept hidden away from you. But because of me...because of my Hylian blood, I've forced you into this situation. It's not awful, but…"
Link gritted his teeth, trying to hold back his tears. "It's my fault. I took it all away from you. I-it's…"
He stood up, facing the fireplace. Wiping his eyes with the back of his forearm, he let in shuddering breaths.
"I'm the cause of all the agony you're feeling. It's because of me you had to leave Zora's Domain. It's because of me you can't even be recognised by your own name in the very village we call our home. It's because of me we cannot see our children and that you cannot see your family...your people…"
He knelt over the fireplace, his rugged hands sprawled on the wall above it. "And the fact that you chose me, a Hylian...you have to watch me as I grow older and older, more and more feeble. The fact that while you may only grow a little older, you'll have to become my carer. All the strength and power I once had is fading away…"
Mipha watched as his hands clenched against the wall. It was as if his entire body were convulsing in pain.
"I can't understand why you've chosen me, after all this…"
"It's very simple, Link."
Link turned his head to see Mipha walking to him. She stood by his side and brought a hand to his aged face. She looked into his pained eyes with her own, calm and true.
"The reason I chose all of this, Link…" Mipha started. "The reason I chose you...is because of you. I have always followed my heart, my dear. And what my heart tells me now, as it has told me all these years, is the simplest thing. I love you."
She pressed her forehead against his and closed her eyes, feeling his closing as well.
"There is almost nothing you could do that could ever change how my heart feels, Link. I remember the first day that I realised how I truly felt about you. And how I felt about you then is how I feel about you now. And I know you know what that feeling is too. My love for you is so deep that I would do anything to be by your side. Anything. Giving up the throne to Zora's Domain was nothing to me if it meant I could spend the rest of your life with you. I'll care for you until your dying breath, and remember and treasure our love forever, because I know you would do the same."
"M-Mipha…"
Unable to stop the tears flowing from her own eyes, she allowed them to trickle down her face. She brought her hands to Link's sides, and he responded in kind.
"I know I've chosen a difficult life for myself," she said. "But I willingly chose all of this because it meant I could share my life and my love with you. And as much as it hurts me to know that one day you'll be gone, the pain is nothing, and I mean nothing compared to the joy I feel in my heart every second I spend with you. So that's why I chose this life, and that's why I chose you."
She knelt in and kissed him gently. Even in his older years, his lips were just as soft as their first kiss many moons ago.
"Because you are Link, the only man I could ever possibly love this much."