The Legend of Zelda, its characters and locations are all property of Nintendo. Any and all OCs and original locations belong to me unless specifically stated to belong to someone else.

The Voice
7 - Diplomatic Incident

Whatever the denizens of Zora's Domain had expected to see when a hero arrived, Link was quite sure it wasn't his bedraggled, shivering, limping, muddy, and absolutely soaked-to-the-bone form. The rain had not let up at all, and by now not even his enchanted armour was able to keep it out. His breath kept hitching with each step, which made his ribs ache.

Had he not been so focused on trying to retain what little dignity he had left by not gasping and moaning with every step, Link would have taken the time to be properly impressed by the architecture of Zora's Domain.

A complex series of large domed platforms, interconnected by walkways and aqueducts, all built with the same blue-green metal and glass that had lined the roads leading here, crisscrossing each other in gentle curves, ending in artificial waterfalls from which the piscine denizens dove into the river below. All this, framed by several massive waterfalls coming down from the mountains.

As it were, however, Link was only able to focus on the path immediately ahead of him, and his goal: the biggest dome of all.

"All this," Sheik said, sounding unimpressed, "and not a single pair of trousers among them."

He was trying to cheer Link up. In his own special way. As usual, the effect was minimal. Barely existent. He still couldn't help the snort that escaped him—despite the stab of pain from his ribs. He'd rather they hurt from laughter than despairing tears, he supposed.

He reached the end of the bridge, about to cross onto the first platform, when he saw movement ahead. The familiar shape of Prince Sidon was hurrying towards him, head bobbing up and down with each excited step. Already now, Link could see the grin on the prince's face.

"Whoa!" Sidon said, coming to a halt a few paces away. "I've been waiting for you, Link!" he announced, clenching his fist and displaying his bicep (for some reason) in the same pose from before. "Welcome!" He splayed out his arms, spinning around once. "Behold the pride of my people, Zora's Domain! Now I shall introduce you to the king. Hurry, this way!"

Link stared helplessly at Sidon's retreating back before forcing himself to follow, trying to keep pace with the larger Zora. It was unfair, how much bigger Sidon's steps were than his.

"Is he blind?" Sheik asked quietly. "Can't he see you're injured?"

"He's e-excited," Link replied just as quietly. He passed several pairs of Zora guards, armed with spears and helmets. Their reactions were expected: wary, unimpressed...though one of them seemed to take an exceptional interest in him, leaning forward so far Link was worried he'd tip over. He'd stop and say hi, but he didn't want to leave the Zora king waiting—or Sidon, for that matter.

The prince was already ascending the grand staircase to the largest dome, which Link could only assume was where the king would be.

The Zora here—children and adult civilians—all gave him a wide berth, their looks full of curiosity. Some elderly-looking Zora, however, were glaring at him, muttering under their breath as he passed. Link tried to ignore them, but his chest was already thumping with the beating of his heart.

They see what a fraud I am, he thought. They can spot the cracks in the façade from a mile away. They know what a failure I am—

"Hey, don't mind them," Sheik muttered. "They don't know you. So what if you're a little muddy? It's not like they've been fighting their way up here on foot. Bet they wouldn't know which end of a sword to hold. And I'd like to see them go up against that...dumb electric thing. They'd be roasted by now."

Link didn't answer. He was sure the older Zora had a pretty good reason for glaring at him like they did, and he didn't begrudge them that. Maybe they'd had bad experiences with Hylians before? He had no idea about the direction the relationships between the different races of Hyrule had gone after his failure a century ago.

Still, Sheik's attempt at cheering him up was, if nothing else, appreciated.

"I take it I am to shut up for the time being?" Sheik asked sarcastically as they came closer to the throne room. "To avoid any diplomatic incidents?"

"Y-You're l-learning," Link said, hobbling up the stairs.

"Ah, you must be the Hylian that Sidon brought here, correct?"

Link nodded, trying not to look as intimidated as he felt by the king's massive size. He'd thought Sidon was big, but the prince's father absolutely dwarfed him in comparison, easily thrice his height (and width). Size aside, however, there was a definitely resemblance in their faces...and grins.

The king's, however, was a little more reserved. Wary. There was surely some sort of lesson he'd learned in the past, judging from the many scars that littered his face and body.

"You did well to come all the way here!" the king exclaimed, looking impressed. "I am King Dorephan, ruler of the Zora. I..." Dorephan paused, his eyes zeroing in on Link's waist. "Hm? That object upon your waist...is that not a Sheikah Slate? Hm?!"

The king's eyes roamed over Link once more, which made the Hylian feel slightly naked. He wished he could pull up his mask again, having left it down to be polite. After looking him up and down thoroughly, Dorephan's gaze then locked with Link's, and the light of...something...flickered in those slitted orbs.

Dorephan hummed. "Now that I have gotten a good look at you...it is all too clear who you are..."

Oh no, Link thought. He knows who I am. He's going to have me banished...or maybe just executed!

Dorephan laughed. "You are the Hylian Champion, Link!" When Link offered little else but a (hopefully) level stare in return, Dorephan's smile faltered. "Do not tell me you have forgotten me..."

Link must have been more exhausted than he'd thought, because he could have sworn the king looked more sad and disappointed than angry that Link had forgotten him.

Beside the king, Sidon's eyes had widened as he let out a gasp. "The Hylian Champion?" he asked. "You can't mean the Link? That champion?!" His eyes narrowed. "So that's where I have heard your name before..."

Here it comes, Link thought. Condemnation and banishment.

He could only hope Sidon wouldn't be punished for this...

"What a fateful coincidence that we should cross paths!" Sidon said, seemingly more excited than ever.

Dorephan laughed again, his voice booming. "I cannot believe it," he said. "The Hylian Champion, Link, has appeared before us..." He leaned forward in his seat, and Link had to force himself to remain standing, rather than shrink back. "We have met numerous times, I'll have you know."

"A-Ah..." Link said uselessly, unable to form a coherent response.

"Ah, so many memories! My mind is overflowing with nostalgia, my friend," the king said in a tone that was nothing but...fond?

Why isn't he yelling at me? Link wondered. Why isn't he angry?

"I had heard a terrible rumour that you had fallen in combat, but it appears you managed to survive. Extraordinary!"

Realising he actually had to say something this time, Link cleared his throat. "I've...b-been s-sleeping..."

Sleeping? Sleeping?! What is wrong with me? Link screamed at himself. What sort of answer is that for a king?

Dorephan leaned forward once more, and Link hated himself for being unable to lower his head slightly, his body preparing for a strike that never came.

"Come again?" the king asked. "Sleeping, you say? Hm...is that why you do not seem to remember me?" Sighing, he straightened up, fist clenching around the armrest of his throne. "But surely...surely you must remember my precious daughter, Mipha, yes? You do, do you not?"

His tone was almost desperate enough, which only made Link feel worse. He wished he remembered. He really, really did!

"I...I'm s-sorry..." he offered.

Dorephan frowned, and the joy seemed to evaporate, leaving behind a face that looked a lot older than before. "I cannot believe it," he said. "Have you truly forgotten my Mipha as well?"

The name didn't strike any bells, and Link looked to Sidon in the corner of his eyes. The prince was looking at the floor. Mipha was his sister...

"You and Mipha were so close...yet, you do not remember her?"

"Link..." Sheik whispered.

"Young hero...please look upon the beauty of Zora's Domain." He gestured towards the square just below the throne room, where a statue of a female Zora warrior, armed with a spear, stood. "Do you see that statue? Does upon Mipha's immortalised form still not jog your memory?"

Link wanted to say he hadn't even noticed the statue to begin with, having been too busy trying not to collapse on his way here, but that would be...heartless, wouldn't it? All he could see was the back of the statue—perhaps if he saw its face...

"Well," the king finished, "perhaps your memory will return in time. I dearly hope so."

"A-As d-do I, y-your majesty," Link replied, feeling like the scum of the earth.

Sidon cleared his throat. "Father," he said with hesitation, "I do not believe discussing my sister is helping matters at the moment. Link seems confused."

"Understatement of the century," Sheik muttered, thankfully only loud enough for Link to hear.

"Oh...yes, of course," Dorephan said, inclining his head in an apologetic manner. "But first, it is worth noting how remarkable it is that Sidon brought a Champion here without realising it! That is quite a feat, my boy!" He gazed at his son with pride, laughing. "That is a good one!"

Link surreptitiously moved his hand to his side, pushing at his aching ribs. It hurt like hell, but it forced him to stand up straighter and not slouch like a drunkard.

"Link," Dorephan said, "I doubt not that you have endured a great many trials. Still, I must ask you to hear my plea."

"Here we go again..."

The fourth person in the throne room, an older-looking Zora with a large, flat head named Muzu, was not happy with Dorephan and Sidon's decision to enlist the help of Hylians.

Link felt his spirits steadily deflate more and more as he listened to Muzu, Dorephan, and Sidon arguing, with Muzu blaming the Hylians for the disaster a hundred years earlier, and the loss of the Zora princess, Mipha.

He's not wrong, Link thought. He just hadn't expected his personal failure to taint his entire race, forever giving them a black mark in the Zora's book. He appreciated Sidon standing up for him, he really did, especially since his tongue was absolutely refusing to cooperate right now—every time he tried to get a word in edgewise it just shrivelled up, not moving at all.

Luckily (depending on the perspective, he supposed) the argument was soon interrupted by a loud, trumpet-like cry that echoed across the domain.

The Divine Beast, Vah Ruta.

The sound of it shook Link to his very bones, and by the time he recovered from the shock, he realised he'd been hold his breath...and his side was on fire. He gasped, trying to draw in as much air as he could before he passed out...which only made his ribs hurt even more. He moaned, legs giving out beneath him.

"Link!" Sidon yelled, stomping forward and crouching beside him, hands reaching out but not quite touching him, as if he was afraid. "What's wrong?!"

"Link?" Dorephan intoned, concerned.

"He's hurt, you idiots!" Sheik shouted. "Can't you see? He's been dead on his feet for the last hour!"

Link wanted to badly to reprimand Sheik, to tell him to shut and apologise for speaking out of turn and so rudely to royalty, but his vision was swimming and darkening, his hearing grew muffled. He felt his cheek hit the blissfully cold metal floor of the throne room, realising he had nothing left to give at the moment.

He let himself fall further, out of consciousness. The last thing he saw was Sidon's face—which looked close to panicking—and all he heard was the shrill, piercing tone of Sheik's voice, likely yelling at full volume.

Short chapter this time - the next one will be longer, I promise.