Rito Village

The bed at the inn had been comfortable, paid for by Revali of course. Mipha awoke in the morning to sunshine through her window and the sound of birds chirping. Getting up from her bed, she opened the window to breathe in the crisp, cool Tabantha air. It was very bright outside, but far from hot. She had to admit, this village would be a very pleasant place to live if things between her and Revali worked out. Speaking of Revali, as she had brought no Rupees with her, she was depending on him to pay for her breakfast. They had agreed to meet in the dining room at 7:30. Looking at the clock next to her bed, she noted the position of the hands: 7:15. She was cutting it close.

Making her way into the dining area just beyond the clerk's desk she found the Rito in question sitting patiently at a table, sipping from a wooden mug of tea. Revali noticed Mipha and motioned for her to join him. She pulled up a chair across from him.

"Been waiting long?" She said, unsure whether to be flattered by his punctuality or disturbed by the fact that he could have been waiting for her for what could have been hours doing nothing else.

"Not really," he said, and she felt instant relief. "I get up to train at the flight range at 6:00 every morning. I just made my way here five minutes ago."

Well, Revali definitely believed in keeping in shape. Another score for him in the plus column. Now Mipha turned her eyes to the menu.

"It's all in Hylian…" She said, relieved but a bit surprised, expecting some of it to be in Rito.

"Naturally," Revali said. "This is an inn and most of our guests are Hylian, and even if you aren't a Hylian, it is still 'everyone's second language.' Most of the dishes, though, are Rito specialties."

"Do you have any recommendations?"

"Salmon meunière is probably the best course for a Zora's first venture into Rito cuisine, unless you don't like fish."

Mipha laughed. "Revali, I'm a Zora. Of course, I like fish. That is our main source of protein."

"Good. Over ten thousand years of divergent evolution can't change the Zorakin's basic nutritional requires. Freshwater fish are a main staple of the Rito diet too and combined with exercise are how I keep my devastating good looks," he smirked.

Mipha laughed softly, as Revali briefly re-entered boast mode. As usual, he could back up his boast. Even non-Rito had to admit Revali was handsome.

"I believe I'll be having the Salmon meunière, then," Mipha said.

"I'll tell the waiter to make it a double," and cast his eyes in the direction of the nearest waiter while Mipha read the other items on the menu.

When a tan-feathered waiter finally approached the table, they were greeted by an overly formal, "Good morning, Champions. How may I serve you?"

"The Princess and I would both like a Salmon meunière. I already have a drink," he turned to Mipha, "What would you like, dear?"

"Do you have green tea?" She asked, noting the black color of Revali's tea.

"We are almost out, but we should a few left. I shall return with your orders." He left and Mipha smiled at Revali.

"Enjoy," her date said.

Mipha and Revali spent the morning sightseeing and showing off their affection all over Rito Village so that all the Rito hens knew Revali Quilson had eyes only for Mipha virkh Dorephan.

As they stood on the landing by Revali's house, about to use his Sheikah Slate to return to Lanayru Tower, Mipha walked to the wooden railing on the right-hand side and looked down at the lower levels of Rito Village. She had truly not expected this place to be so beautiful and had only hoped that Revali's company would be as enjoyable as she had expected. In the case of Revali's company, her hopes had been fallen far short of the reality. Not only was his company enjoyable, but everything seemed to be…well, fun when they were together.

"It's time for us to get you home," Revali said.

"I know," she said looking into the distance before turning to face him and smiling. "I had fun, Revali."

"As did I," he returned her smile. Then he turned his back to her. "I'll remember these visits with pleasure long after our ruse is over."

"Will you be content to rarely see me after that?" She knew he felt something to. Why couldn't he admit it.

"It will be hard." He continued to look away. "In truth, I will miss you, but it's the best for your sake. I'll only let you down in the end."

"That's nonsense, Revali!" Mipha said walking to him as he slowly turned his head to make eye contact. "You've already said you like me and that if you ever took a wife, I would be the first on your list, so you can clearly see the possibility." Her eyes were pleading.

"Don't get your hopes set on me, Princess. You already have at least four potential Zora boyfriends waiting for you back in the Domain!" he angrily said as he held up four feathery fingers. "See how happy they can make you."

Now it was Mipha's turn to get angry. Fortunately, she had a bit more self-restraint.

"Oh, I wouldn't just decide to spend the rest of my life with you because we had a few pleasant days together—and I'm giving any male I hit it off with in the Domain a fair chance. I'm not desperate for your affection, Revali! But I am angry that you close the door to what could be a good possibility for both of us because of your self-doubt!"

Revali felt the rage boil within him as he glared at her angrily, and then quickly closed his eyes and turned his head away.

"Don't make me say something I'll regret."

Mipha decided it was best to let sleeping Hinoxes lie.

Zora's Domain

Mipha's last words to her Rito pseudo-suitor when he dropped her off at the gate of Zora's Domain after their teleport to Lanayru Tower had been, "Thank you, Revali. It was fun."

Revali had paused for a moment, debating with himself on what to say before finally settling on, "You're welcome. I'll see you soon," and teleporting back to Tabantha Tower.

Now that Mipha was back home, she could turn her mind to her other suitors, but she knew it would be hard to stop thinking about Revali.

You need to give the others a chance, Mipha told herself, but she knew that the Rito had set the bar incredibly high. Something in him just "clicked" with something in her. This was different from what she had had with Link. She had admired him and still did, but he seldomly made her happy by just being around. He definitely caused her physical feelings—which some would question were appropriate for a Zora to even have for a Hylian—but it had not usually been the carefree enjoyment she felt when she was around Revali. Revali put her at ease, and she seemed to have the same effect on him-at least they had this effect on each other when he wasn't confronting his personal issues, whatever they may be.

She could not seriously have a relationship with him if he did not want one with her. But that's was what made the whole thing so frustrating—he could seem himself with her and liking it, but he was too afraid of letting her or any other potential mate down to risk a romance.

That was Revali in a nutshell. For all that he talked about expecting near perfect standards of others that only few could live up to, he demanded those standards of himself.

Mipha knew that they could be together and Revali knew it too, but he was so afraid of what may go wrong to truly give things a chance. It was so frustrating and made her quite angry with her fellow Champion.

That scared her a bit. She wanted to be around him, but she was angry with him as well. She had never had such confusing and simultaneously contradictory feelings about anyone else before.

This was very different from what she had had with Link. Around him she had only felt felt desire in one direction though friendship and admiration had run both ways. Whatever this was between her and Revali clearly ran both ways, as he seemed to be as confused about her as she was about him. Did they want each other or not? Was this confusion a normal part of love or not?

The more and more Mipha thought about, the more it seemed that Revali was the first person to make a mutual emotional investment with her. Link had definitely been Mipha's first crush, but it seemed that Revali may actually be her first love.

She knew what a dangerous position that put her in, with him being so confused about whether he wanted love or not, so she couldn't place all her hopes in him—not until she had met the others.

Mipha's first date with a male Zora occurred within a few days. She took an evening meal with a blue-scaled male she had met at the concert hall, Ahrt Secro. Secro was a merchant from Goponga Village, one of the Zora's westernmost settlements. Still, to keep his store supplied, he made regular visits to the capital at Zora's Domain, so Mipha could be confident of running into him at least once every other week.

The two now sat at the Silver Seashell, an open-air restaurant in the Domain whose back wall was shaped like a clam shell. It was expensive and while Mipha was a princess and Ahrt was a wealthy merchant, he seemed to be overly concerned about the prices they were paying. Like Revali had in Rito Village, he paid for her meal as well as his own—as was customary for courting males. The constant complaining about prices was not, however. He had ordered seared Stealthfin Trout with a side of Fleet-Lotus seeds, the least expensive item on the menu for himself, but when Mipha ordered the same for herself—wanting to help keep the cost down, he insisted that she order something more expensive.

"Please, Your Highness. You are a princess and deserve only the best."

"But, Ahrt—"

"Please, Your Highness, we are in public. It would not do for ust to call each other by our given names. What if someone overhears?"

"But I am not here as a princess, and you are not here as a subject. We are simply two young Zora trying to get to know one another."

"Your highness you must not be so forward with me. I am honored that you would take an interest in someone so far below your station, but people will say unflattering things about you if we speak as equals."

"Only our ranks are unequal," Mipha said. "If we cannot address each other openly, how can we get to know each other?"

Her point was obviously lost on Ahrt, or rather Mr. Secro, who only said to her, "Please, Your Highness, I don't want you to come into disrepute."

Mipha could not believe she was hearing this. "Please, I am the pilot of Vah Ruta, Champion of the Zora, sworn to serve and protect. I am that before I am a princess."

"I know, and I am but a lowly merchant."

"Then tell me why you are a merchant. Becoming a Champion was something I spent my life preparing for. I had no say about being hatched a princess and would often rather forget that I am one."

"Why would you wish to forget that? No one can coerce you-"

"Affairs of state can coerce me in a way that they never could coerce you. By becoming a Champion I am able to help people. Why are you are merchant?"

"I suppose because it enables me to afford a comfortable life."

Mipha was a disappointed. If had said just one word differently, it would have been enough. If he had said "To lead a comfortable life," instead of to "afford" one, she would know that he valued peace and quiet, something that was worthwhile. His word choice, though, let her know he was after luxury.

"Mr. Secro, do you want to get to know me?"

"Of course. You are our princess."

Mipha politely smiled, but lightly shook her head. She had gotten to know Ahrt Secro well enough. She crossed him off her list. At least Revali called her "Mipha." At least he liked her for who and not what she was. But it was best not to despair. She still had three Zora suitors to meet, and they couldn't be as bad as Secro, could they? But, more importantly, could they be better than Revali?