The remaining half of the Company didn't go far. After recovering Daruk and Mipha from the shallow path of land that curled atop the lake, they simply set up camp there upon the riverbank, but even that was merely comprised of a campfire and little else. Exhaustion, and a bit of fright, had caught up with them, forcing them to stand watch from the safety of the campfire as night fell, taking turns only as one or the others fell asleep upon the smooth rocks of the embankment.
Link didn't last long, leaving Urbosa the only one awake who could keep watch, as Revali fidgeted in his seated place, complaining to himself in whispers while he tended to his feathers, one by one, working out the mangy patches of strands that had resulted from the sweltering heat. Urbosa had little maintenance herself, though tire slowly began to creep back upon her as she felt her head sinking low.
Her eyes wandered across the fire, where Daruk, Zelda, and Mipha all lay, the lot of them still encased in a sleep so deep as render them all helpless. She ran her eyes along Zelda's body for what might have been the hundredth time since they had put up camp, still unable to understand what she had seen happen by the Princess' hand.
That glow. That ethereal movement despite her unconsciousness.
That moment of Zelda imparting life back upon Mipha.
Resting her arm atop her knee, her eyes remained locked on her little bird, absent-mindedly picking at the skin along her fingernails with her thumb. She knew of Zelda's, apparently, failed ventures that were meant to awaken some form of magic ability within her, and yet- She hadn't a clue it meant what it appeared to mean just a handful of hours earlier.
Her eyes slid away as Link's body began to stir, his head rising weakly before he pressed himself up, sitting there as he ran his hands across his eyes to relax the strain left there by sleep.
"Morning," Urbosa murmured sarcastically, indicating that it was, indeed, still the middle of the night.
Link only nodded in reply, his own eyes wandering over toward Mipha to examine the rocking of her chest, back and forth, indicating her continuing span of life. For how pained his body had become, his heart had weathered the worst of that previous excursion.
"Nightmares," he muttered quietly, dropping his face as his hand massaged his closed eyes.
Urbosa scoffed, "Well, you're a better man that I to attempt to sleep after everything."
She jerked her head toward Revali, "Not sure about him, though."
The Rito's eyes took a deep glance toward Urbosa, but beyond that, Revali simply returned to tending to his plumage.
Urbosa sighed, "I'd be too afraid of nightmares, myself. Best to take your mind off everything, meditate- Just hope for the best."
"Yeah," Link responded terribly weakly, almost as if in passing, taking another look at the others, still silent within a sleep all alone, "You think they're sleeping through nightmares?"
Shrugging, Urbosa replied, "No way to tell. Their minds might be too worn out for even that much."
She took a tree branch, carefully lowering it atop the fire, sending a chorus of crackling into the air, "Don't Hylians, when they dream- or maybe it was dogs. They mimic their dreams in real life while sleeping?"
Link smirked, "That is dogs, but some Hylians, too. Surely the Gerudo do as well."
"Nope," Urbosa confirmed, "That is, we can. It's not innate at all, but our priestesses well develop dream recall to better aid in clairvoyance and the like. As Chieftain, I'm required to learn some of their ways myself, so-"
She shrugged, "Most I ever see is- well-…"
Biting her tongue, she battled for explanation, sizing it up with a short, "-evil."
Link chewed his lip, waiting for the suddenly sullen air to clear before advancing simply, "Gorons don't, I know. Though, nobody can exactly know how their minds work at all."
"Some of them- maybe they don't work," Urbosa chuckled, smirking at the jab toward her snoozing rival.
"Perhaps," Link played along, a warm grin on his face, "Zoras do. There are stories- about as many as there are Zora- of them swimming away in emulation of some dream they're having. Part of why the young ones nap in pools atop the Domain."
Urbosa snorted in stifled laughter, "And here I thought it was to protect them from the outside world, not themselves."
"Ah, well," Link smiled lowly, "Some people only have themselves to blame for folly, anyway."
"You're one to talk," Urbosa charged flatly, "You know, you haven't said a single word about the Master Sword since we got down here. You know, ever since you simply abandoned it atop the mountain."
She eyed the nearby pile of backpacks and satchels, finding the Sword resting listlessly atop the stack, "The first person to touch it in a millennia and you are so careless in its upkeep."
Link only half-heard her argument, only gazing upon the flickering flames of the fire with distant eyes, indicative of his wandering thoughts.
"If it knew I would cast it asunder," he muttered, "It wouldn't have chosen me in the first place."
Urbosa scoffed, rolling her eyes, "I know it's divine, but you'd think you've spoken to the thing."
"I'm not that stupid," Link retorted, forcing Revali to stifle a chuckle at the insinuation of Link being so insane, "But if it does know who's handling it- It knows I wouldn't abandon it."
He thought of Mipha finally taking hold of the Sword, herself, "Especially now."
Urbosa chewed her lip as she lowered her head, picking at her nails once again, "As you say, then."
Mulling over her words, she went on simply, "Knew better enough to start letting us carry it, now. I thought it was gonna tear my arm off when I finally tried to lift the thing."
Lowering her shoulders, unknowingly signaling a reserved air that was so much unlike her, Urbosa completed listlessly, "I suppose these trials have truly turned us into a Company. One that Sword even understands."
Link felt his hair striding along his forehead as a still wind blew, tickling his skin while he allowed Urbosa's words to pass by him, forcing an inquiring glance toward Revali, who paused his pecking motion beak-deep along his feathered arm.
"I know what you're about to say, Hylian," Revali mumbled through the pile of plumage, shutting his eyes astutely while he further worked through his feathers, "While I acknowledge my position amongst this Company in only suitable means -that is to say, I understand that I'm here merely to make a name for myself, if not simply by my Chieftain's direction. Beyond that, you both would be foolish to believe in such grandeur as me being anything more than a cog within this wheel."
Urbosa chuckled, "I don't know. Link said the same thing, once upon a time."
"Please stop," Link mumbled defeatedly, rubbing a tentative have across his face, "I'm nothing like him."
"Truer words," Revali agreed pithily, "Have never been gurgled."
Urbosa raised an open hand to the side of her face to hide her silent grin, shutting her eyes and shaking her head to signal her disbelief at Revali's continuing oddities when his diction ever made its arrival. She soon dropped her hand with a sigh, allowing her eyes to once again glance upon the licking flames of their fire, flirting once more with the idea of sleep herself.
Besides the crackling of incessant bursts of ember rising into the sky, she was lulled further on by Revali's equally-endless clacking of beak on beak as he bite at himself, tearing free from his plume whatever matted messes still remained. Despite whatever abrasiveness accompanied his voice, the piddling tenor of his self-care was rather pleasant, almost like wooden chimes clanging amongst one another within a breeze. It reminded Urbosa of home; resting outdoors as the infernal sunlight vanished, spending voracious moments of storytelling with her friends.
It seemed to her as though a year had passed since they'd trekked through her homeland, leaving her slightly homesick as she sat there battling sleep. More so was her distressed feelings about Zelda. Once upon a time, perhaps she imagined a life with her little bird, as mother and daughter, living happily wherever they please, if only to offer Urbosa a menial chance at leaving something upon this world worth garnering pride for.
Her mind flickered in a twinge of subtle realization, knowing that, after what had been witnessed earlier, such things could never be returned to.
"So," Link suddenly spoke up, his voice arising in a dodgy cadence as if ready to retreat should any objection arise, "Are we gonna talk about what happened..?"
Urbosa took in a deep breath, dropping her head back amongst her shoulders while running her hands across her face, "Do we need to?"
Link watched with subtle astonishment as Urbosa surrendered her arm to her sides, her head following suit as she took a glance toward him.
"Nothing happened that was not already known would," Urbosa explained in labyrinthine clarity, "There's little to discuss."
A stern stare meeting her, Urbosa returned her attention to the flames as Link retorted, "Little to discuss?"
"Yes. We knew that girl was capable of such things. She's the Princess of Hyrule, after all."
Link narrowed his eyes, "Are you forgetting, or just playing stupid?"
"Neither, boy, and I should warn you of such lang-"
"Then you're just feigning ignorance," Link noted plainly, "Even you were shaken by what she did. Even him."
Despite not moving, Revali's eyes tensed at being dragged into such a trifling discussion.
"She has no powers- or she didn't," Link reminded simply, "Not only does she have them, apparently, now- she's reviving-"
His heart strung at the thought.
Urbosa drew her eyes slim as she confirmed lowly, "Still nothing unexpected, in time."
Link stared her down, utterly confused, as she made clear her intentions while meanderingly poking at the campfire with a nearby twig, speaking soft and matter-of-factly, "We've no reason to distress her further by telling her."
"Wait," Link rubbed his face, "So we're not even going to tell her?"
Urbosa nodded, "Correct."
Sitting there, wincing in astonishment, Link stood up in place, spinning around in place as he ran his hands through his hair in exasperation, "We- What?"
Urbosa shut her eyes to denote her relinquishing of attention toward the topic, though it didn't stop Link from turning back around to glare at her, speaking up almost in anger, "Have you no clue what that woman has put herself through because of those powers, or lack thereof?"
Not even a glance.
"That night at Robbie's, when she came in with that bandage around her arm- that was from me after she commanded me to do so," Link relayed with a biting tone, "Not even mentioning whatever else she's done to herself, trying to eek out whatever water she can from a faucet rusted shut."
"I'm aware," Urbosa noted lowly, "You forget whom she confides."
Link's brow screwed forward in frustration, "Then you know she isn't going to stop until she knows that's she capable of such a thing as magic!"
Finally, Urbosa sighed, her eyes sliding open before locking onto Link, her voice as still as a stone, "And how worse might she become were she to know that, yes, she has those abilities, but cannot wield them."
Link's eyes fell in consideration while Urbosa went on heatedly, "That doubt has been the single most inspiring thing she's had to cling onto. The only reason we're here, now, is because she's trying to do her best despite whatever ails her potential. We're here because, despite what we just saw, she understands that she had more to offer this world."
Shaking her head deliberately, Urbosa concluded, "I'm not you. I'm the closest thing to a mother that she has. I say this, not on a whim, but as somebody who has thought about this very moment, poured over it, found restless sleep because of it- I've spent years thinking of this moment."
"And as the closest thing to a mother that Zelda has," Urbosa finally quipped, wielding that maternal power to often left to her wayside, "I'm putting my foot down."
Her eyes coursed narrowly toward Link, "We remain silent."
Link felt a chill run down his spine from the utter finality of those words. His eyes deviated from hers, simply to keep from meeting those ferocious eyes that pierced through toward his soul, and he rubbed his arm in meandering activity.
"I suppose- you have a point," he shrugged, admitting defeat.
"Of course I do," Urbosa sighed, returning her attention once more to the fire, "However-"
She slowly rose to her feet, gaining Link's attention as well as Revali's, as his downturned head gradually rose up just enough for his eyes to watch in forlorn audience. Urbosa patted her hands together, rubbing the palms into circles before reaching out her right hand toward Link.
"Swear to me," she uttered, "On your life. and more importantly, on your stakes as a Champion. Zelda hears not a word of this."
Link's eyes examined her waiting hand. He still felt rotten about such a thing, knowing all too well just how tortured Zelda had become about her lack of abilities. He knew he wouldn't ever be able to look at her the same way again; that withholding such a revelation was akin to a betrayal- a thought that haunted the mind of a soldier. And yet, so far as authorities went, beyond the divine, Link knew that the word of one's mother was quite near comparable.
And in their time together, Link hadn't a doubt that Urbosa was no less worthy of the title than the woman who once bore Zelda herself.
He sighed deeply, shaking his head to signal his defiance, though reached over himself to close the gap, frowning as he did so.
"Still think it's a bad idea…" he grumbled.
Urbosa's head fell to the side, a smarmy sort of grin stretching across her face, "Zelda knowing is not the important thing."
His brow turning curiously, Link's eyes suddenly went wide as Urbosa tugged on his hand, the sudden jolt catching him off guard and off kilter as he flew into Urbosa's torso, leaving her opposite arm to wrap around his shoulders, bringing him into a tactical hold rather than a mere embrace. Link's brow trembled with confusion while Urbosa lowered her lips toward his ear.
"You know," she noted softly, "There will come a time where you must choose between your life, and the life of the Princess."
A grin escaped her.
"Knowing what you do, now- Perhaps that choice will be easier for you to make."
A languid sort of confusion masked Link's abrupt wariness as Urbosa somewhat gently pushed him away from her, relinquishing her grip upon his hand. He watched his wrist as he brought over his hand to relieve it of the sudden rush of strain, looking up to find Urbosa watching him with a somewhat pious look upon her face, as though peering through a prophecy.
The illusion faded near instantly, as Urbosa spun around toward Revali, "Alright, birdbrain; you're next."
"Pah! Me?!" he sputtered aloud, "What have I to do with this?!"
Urbosa noted plainly, "You're a Champion, are you not? Despite our vitriol, I do not discriminate."
She reached out her hand, "On your life, and more-"
"What meaningless drivel," Revali charged, hopping to his feet, "I owe you nothing in the way of oaths."
Urbosa's eyes narrowed, "Then, what if it's not an oath? but a pact. between three warriors."
As though skeptical, if not disgusted, by her insinuation, Revali scowled while recoiling, crossing his arms as he turned to the side, leaving Urbosa to continue, "We've all left blood behind now. Regardless of any ill-will-"
She bit her lip, "You've fought for years for recognition amongst your peers. I don't particularly care about your parentage, or lack thereof, however-"
Her hand shook as if to catch his attention once more, "You've shed blood for this cause. for the woman I've come to see as my daughter. For that, you're a warrior amongst all the others."
Revali's face tensed for a moment, though grew almost peaceful as he peered off into the distance.
He frowned once again as he turned back toward Urbosa, lifting his hand only slightly, allowing his eyes to glance down toward his arm as if in consideration of his future actions.
"I suppose, for such a menial pact," he sniveled lowly, "I could make a concession."
Urbosa's hand never wavered, even as she awaited with baited breath while Revali took a step forward, his eyes constricting with distaste as he took her hand with his own, the two shaking upon the formation of this pact of silence.
"Thank you," Urbosa offered.
Revali frowned, "Nothing of the sort is required, I assure you. I would not have said a word, regardless."
He pulled his hand away, shrugging before turning away to leave, "Such a silly demonstration… Pah."
With Revali's eyes no longer upon her, Urbosa allowed herself to smirk, crossing her arms as she lowered her head against her chest, eyes shut while shaking her head in disbelief. She felt Link's presence as he stepped up to her side, though it did little to abate her amusement.
"I don't think oaths count if only one of you lends them an appropriate level of credence," Link complained.
Urbosa's smirk worked its way into a wiry grin as she turned her head to watch Link's sidelong face, "Then why haven't I felt as though Revali was truly a Champion until this night?"
With a silent sort of shock, Link's eyes narrowed feverishly as he attempted to understand Urbosa's words, leaving him unknowing as she stepped away toward the sleeping pack of Champions further down the riverbank, speaking up softly.
"You keep watch. I suddenly feel as though I'm able to get some sleep."
Link watched her, not bothering to answer, seeing as though she had already resigned him to accepting of the role. Still, he was confused by her insinuation that Revali was somehow closer to them now; even by the bird's own attitude, it seemed as though little, if anything, had changed. With Urbosa and Revali settling in for sleep, Link took a seat by the fire, catching wary glances toward Mipha's sleeping form, hoping to remain unhindered by the darkening thoughts creeping up the back of his mind.
Perhaps he wasn't so far removed from the others, Link thought of Revali, before returning his thoughts to Mipha, lest he offer the Rito any more benefits of the doubt.