Chapter 8 – The Spirits of the past
Sparks flew as Link parried another hit and send the trident flying in the air. His opponent used the momentum and spun around slashing horizontally after Link. Link reacted fast as he brought up his shield and again parried the hit, throwing the trident away from him. He could hear the weapon vibrating after it hit the metal. With this opening Link diagonally slashed at his opponent, ending the fight. The Zoras around him all watched in awe at the swordsmanship of their new captain. He had fought against all of his new subordinates, testing their skills. Not one managed to defeat him. Although they were well trained, they still had lots to learn thought Link. They almost seemed slacking he would say, which surprised him. He thought they had enough to do, defending the domain to not get out of shape in the 100 years he was asleep. At least that wasn't something that couldn't be changed. Ganon's minions may be getting fewer from day to day, but especially Link knew that it was never a good time to slack in his defences.
It had been long since he was last in charge of security, so even he had to adapt first to this new, but somewhat old feeling. Of course training guards here was different than training them in Hyrule Castle. First of all the simple anatomy of his man and women. The Zoras ,although being quit similar to Hylians, were a complete other species. Their aquatic abilities and their sometimes sheer size is completely different to what Link was used to. He had to keep all of this in mind when he trained them.
Second was the Domain itself. Hyrule Castle was a big and booming place with hundreds of visitors daily, and maybe thousands of places you need to check. Zoras Domain was no small place too, but it is quit different. It wasn't such a booming place as Hyrule Castle. Things were more laid back here. That also transitioned to the guards. Link was faced with quit a few new challenges here.
And third. This time he wasn't just training guards to protect the royal family. He was also training the guards that would protect his friends, and above all else his beloved Mipha. He would make sure with every fiber of his body that those guards would be the best trained guards in all off Hyrule before he entrusted them with protecting the life of Mipha and her family.
Link snapped back from his thoughts before he turned around and addressed the men and women he would be in charge of, as of now. He had never been good at speeches and stood a bit awkwardly before the gathered Zoras before he cleared hits throat and began speaking.
"As of today I will officially oversee the guards of Zoras Domain. You have been trained good, but not good enough in my opinion. Although the threat of Calamity Ganon has been vanquished, his minions are still around. Only because the threat isn't as present any more does not mean that we should slack on our defence. I will do my very best to get you up and into shape. I won't let anyone except the best guards in all of Hyrule protect the royal family. I hope I have made myself clear."
The crowd echoed back in approval.
"All right. I am no man of much words. We will start with the new training protocol today. I will work out the new guard schedules in the next few days. That's it for now. Return to your posts, if you are not assigned now start sparing with each other. One uses a Trident, one another weapon of his choice." Link said, ending his speech.
The Zora's split up and either went to their posts or started picking up weapons and began sparring in the courtyard of the palace. Link was happy he was done with his speech and for now could return to simple paperwork. He never liked speaking to a lot of people. He had always been the man who let his actions speak for themselves, but sometimes even he couldn't get around of holding a speech. Link walked through the lines of sparring guards as he made his way over to his workplace. He went to a door leading to the part of the barracks where his office was positioned. He opened the blue metal door and went inside. Like the rest of Zoran architecture it looked very smooth and almost natural. The blue and silver colours were prominent with luminous stones being integrated into the walls and ceiling, trailing little patterns over them. There was a desk at the end of the room, and behind that a few bookshelves were lined on the wall. The office otherwise looked empty. Link closed the door and went up to the desk. He drew some bits of paper out of one of the shelves and sat down while he began doing the new schedules. He first would start with minor changes. He still needed to get to know his new subordinates, and before that he just mixed some of them together to see how they would do. At least he didn't have to teach them as much discipline as he had to with the Hylians. The guards all seemed to respect him for what he had accomplished. Of course he would still enforce discipline on them but he at least he didn't have to start from zero.
In the next following hours messengers walked in and out of his office. He had lots to do with all of the paperwork he already had, but the pile of papers just grew larger and larger over the time. He ran trough them and completed them one by one. He wanted to get this done as fast as he could so he didn't stop for a break and worked trough the entire afternoon. The piles of documents decreased over the hour and he kept working while the luminous stones in his office began shining ande the sunlight outside of it decreased as the sun set behind the big blue rocks that surrounded the domain. But he didn't even notice it. He was so sunken into his work. He heard as the door opened another time and internally sank together at the thought of even more work.
"Just put it to the others." Link said without looking up.
"Well you seam to really grasp in your new position." A familiar voice said.
Link looked up from his papers and just now saw Mipha standing in front of his desk.
"Mipha? What are you doing here? I thought you were..." He started before she interrupted him.
"What do you think I am doing here? I am coming to get you home!" She exclaimed with puffed cheeks.
"But why its in the middle of the day." Link answered, still confused about the situation.
"Link it is around nine in the evening."
Link suddenly looked even more confused as he looked outside of his window to see the moon already standing high and shining its light over the domain.
"I didn't realise it was that late..."
"That is why I am here to pick you up. Or would you really let a princess walk alone in the night trough the dark alleys?" She slightly teased him with his protector instinct. Link knew exactly wat she was going and sighed.
"Just let me finish this paper and we can go, all right?" He said, giving her a lovely but exhausted smile.
Mipha nodded in approval while Link continued the last bits of the schedule he was working on and started sorting the papers on his table before he stood up and went over to Mipha.
"Okay, we can go now."
"Finally." Mipha said as she locked her arm into his, their elbows rubbing together before they stepped outside. It was actually pretty dark already. The luminous tones lightened the way as they walked out of the courtyard. Link hadn't realised how tired he was. His back and eyes were hurting from all the work and his head was feeling heavy. He didn't notice that he began dragging his feet over the floor more and more.
By the time they were home his eyelids were as heavy as lead while he tried staying awake. Although he tried to hide it Mipha noticed how he slurped more and more over the ground and started hanging on her arm. She opened the door to their home and brought Link in the bedroom. By now he was nearly sleeping standing upright. She placed him on a chair as she helped him taking of his tunic ,boots and trousers before she took of her jewelry and the blue silk cloth she was wearing that indicated her status as Zora Champion.
By the time she was done Link had already fallen asleep in the chair. He looked so peaceful when he was sleeping she thought. She went over to him and gently nudged him but no reaction. He was really a fast sleeper. Mipha grabbed his arm and lifted him out of the chair, laying his arm around her shoulder. She nearly fell to the floor as she noticed how heavy he actually was for such a small Hylian. He definitely eats to much, she thought to herself. With all her strength she managed to get him into the slumber pool and laid down, bringing his head in the usual position next to hers. She liked sleeping like that very much, having him so close to her, but she she knew that it was quite a hassle for Link to do so. She needed to find an alternative for him, and she already had an idea, even tough she didn't quite enjoy the thought. But she would do anything she can to support Link and with that made her decision.
It was the next day and Link was already back in the barracks. He had handed the new schedules out and was now observing the different people he worked with and how they interacted with each other. They all seemed to get along well with anybody and didn't squirm as he read out the new schedule. They went off to their posts, or to training in the courtyard. Before disappearing in his office again Link observed the training of the guards. Most of them used Tridents but he also saw a few with short swords and great swords. Link went around the yard giving a few tips here and there, showing someone a better stance or correcting some thrusts. The Zoras took kindly to his help and listened closely when he explained something. Their style of fight was something completely different from his one. It was much smoother and sometimes seemed almost like a dance, going from one position into the next. Maybe he could learn a thing or two himself.
After around two hours of this he went back into his office to resume his paperwork. He had most of the schedules done by now but saw that the mountain of papers had once again increased. He also found quit a few new applications in there. It seems as if many people wanted to work under the hero who saved Hyrule. Or maybe many of them just wanted to have an easy job, now that the Calamity was gone. This would be an excellent idea he thought as he invited them to a test training. He would let the former head guards handle the applicants. This way he could get an direct insight on how they work. He continued finishing the applications and went on with the normal paperwork. Mostly just stock or payment lists. Sprinkled in between were other defence and safety businesses such as the restoration and safekeeping of the road leading towards Zoras Domain, or merchants and travellers that requested an escort. It was tiring work but he made good progress. This time keeping an eye on the window as he regularly looked out of it to make sure he didn't work deep into the night again.
The work of the last day was still gnawing at him. He felt tired by the repetitive work and yawned often. His back was hurting, his eyes were sore,his head felt heavy and he just wanted to go to bed. Link made an effort to complete the paper he was working on, a permission for an escort, and laid down his feather after he finished it. He was done for today and began cleaning up his desk. He grabbed his things and went towards the door and opened it. To his surprise just before the door stood Mipha. Her hand raised as if she wanted to knock before he opened the door.
Links spirit sank a bit as he saw her in front of his office again.
"Am I to late?" he asked her, a hint of disappointment swinging in his voice.
Mipha looked surprised as she took down her hand. "Not quit. Farther let me out earlier so I came to get you. Don't worry you are not as late as yesterday." she answered him with a reassuring smile.
"Well then, may I take the Lady towards her sleeping quarters.?" he said sheepishly as he closed the door behind him and offered her his arm, which she gladly accepted, hooking her arm into his as they began walking. Link again was pretty tired. Maybe not as much as yesterday but his body was definitely more aching. He again relied more on Mipha then on his own orientating sense and because of that didn't realize that they were going somewhere else. They went over a few stairs and trough a few hallways until they stopped in front of two blue and silver doors. Link snapped back as he noticed that they weren't home. Instead they still seemed to be inside of the palace. He turned to look at the slightly smaller Zora next to him, with a questioning gaze in his face.
"Mipha, where are we?"
She looked up into his sky blue eyes before she answered. "I thought you would like a more comfortable resting place then our slumber pool. I know you are doing this for me but I think you deserved a relaxing nights rest." she said as she took her arm out of his and grabbed the handle of the doors before she opened them.
Inside was a big open room. It looked even smoother and more perfected then the rest he had seen around the domain. The ceiling was lined with blue and silver ornaments surrounded by luminous stones, circling in different patterns across the entire roof of the room. One side of the room was dominated by a large construction, which seemed to resemble one of the beds in the Seabed Inn. On the left side was a big desk with a few bookshelves around it and a small couch with a table and an opening leading to a balcony while on the right side one could see an entrance to another room. Mipha watched him as he glanced over the room before she went inside, pulling him after her before she closed the doors behind them.
"What is this room?" He asked her as his gazed once again wandered across the magnificent patterns on the ceiling.
"You should feel honored to enter the princesses bedroom, but instead of having only eyes for her you're just gawking at the ceiling." She said sheepishly.
Links eyes shot down to her, a confused look on his face before he opened his mouth to speak.
"This is your bedroom?"
"Yes it is. Now stop gawking around and come here." she said as she grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the couch. Link followed her, still being tired. A few minutes ago he just wanted to sleep, but now he wanted to know why they were in her bedroom. Or overall why they hadn't been here and instead in their house down in the domain the whole time. He was eager for a few answers.
"Come sit down." She said as they reached the couch and Link did as told. It was quite comfortable and seemed to be made out of some kind of silk which was very soft on the skin. Mipha sat directly next to him and propped her on his shoulder. Link liked to be so close with Mipha, but still wanted some answers.
"So, why exactly are we here and not in our house?"
"Can we talk about that after dinner?" Mipha mumbled into his ear.
He wanted to ask her what she ment when he heard a knock on the door on which Mipha answered to come in. A Zora carrying a silver tablet entered the room and came over to them.
"Lady Mipha. Master Link" The Zora said as he bowed to them and placed the tablet on the table. It was filled with different varieties of fish dishes, mostly being sushi.
"With best regards from the kitchen." The Zora said.
"Thank you very much. You may go now." Mipha answered.
The servant bowed again and turned around towards the door and left the room, closing the doors behind him.
"I thought you would be hungry, so I made some preparations." Mipha said as she grabbed a ricecake for herself and began nibbling on it.
Link was still a bit surprised by the situation, but wouldn't let good food go to waste. He grabbed himself a bit of sashimi on rice and began eating too. It was delicious and he grabbed himself one more after he finished his first while Mipha went for a riceball. They both ate in silence. Link was anxious to know what Mipha had been up to and as they finished the tablet he turned around to her.
"So, why are we here?" he questioned her with a stern look.
"I thought especially after your hard work yesterday that you at least earned yourself some comfortable nights rest. And before you try to interrupt me, I know you only sleep in that pool because of me. I have a waterbed here, so today we will spend the night here."
Link looked her into the eyes. He knew he couldn't lye to her. She knew him to good for that. And the best way to argue with Mipha was simple – don't. So he kept his mouth shut. But there was still another thing that concerned him.
"So I assume you liked your room and your bed here?" he asked.
"Yes. Very much." She answered before she took her had from his shoulder and sat across from him.
Slowly he began to connect the strings. He hadn't seen any bodyguard with Mipha since their arrival. She was royalty but didn't live in the palace. She liked her room here very much but for some reason didn't wanted to live here again. Something was wrong about this, and even a blind men would have seen this. He looked over to Mipha who seemed a bit nervous as she was playing with her fingers and avoided his eye contact. Something definitely wasn't right here, and Link wanted to know what it was.
"Mipha?" he said.
Mipha stopped fiddling with her fingers. She didn't raise her head as she answered him.
"Yes?"
"Since we arrived here I haven't seen any kind of bodyguard with you. You are Zora royalty but don't live inside the palace, although you very much enjoyed your time here. Why aren't we living here in the palace?" he said to her, all the time keeping a soft voice. Mipha didn't look up to him. She seemed to be lost in her thoughts. It took her a while before she answered.
"I don't think I belong here any more." she whispered.
Link was surprised by the sudden change of atmosphere. Even he could see that Mipha was suffering from something even tough she had been pretty happy just a few minutes ago. He inched closer to her before he began talking.
"Why do you think that?" he said in the most softest voice he could bring up. It was hurting him to see Mipha struggling with something he couldn't help her up to now. Mipha stayed silent.
"Please, talk to me Mipha so I can help you." he again said in his soft voice.
Mipha just sat there doing nothing. After a few moments he could see her hands and legs began shaking like crazy. Link had never seen her that nervous in his entire life. So he put one arm around her back and pulled her closer to him, resting her head on his chest while he used his other arm to pull her legs closer in. He didn't said anything to her he just kept her as close to him as he could. She was extremely shaking by now. After a few minutes she put her still shaking arms around his torso and buried her face in his chest.
"Everything here has changed. The people that were closest to me I don't even recognize them any more. I don't even feel like the same person as before all of this happened." She mumbled into his chest, sadness flying in her voice as Link noticed the first few wet spots appearing on his tunic.
"I really don't know any more who I am or why I am here. I don't belong here any more." she said beneath her sobs before the dam broke and rivers of tears began flowing from her eyes.
"I am scared of what they all think of me. They all see that great Champion in me that defended the Zoras. But I don't feel like I did any of that. I don't feel like me any more. All I am currently is scared ." she mumbled as she began crying uncontrollably. It was a horror for Link, seeing her so down like that. She carried that around with her all the time since they were in the domain and yet he only noticed now. He scolded himself for that but for now he had other things to worry about. He drew her even closer as he gently stroke her. He couldn't do much for now instead of being there for her. He simply didn't knew what he could say to make her feel better. He comforted her as he gently kissed her forehead. After a few minutes he finally managed to bring out some words.
"You don't have to be scared. I am here for you. No matter what I will always stay by your side." Link whispered to her.
"You are still the same you. Nothing has changed and the people love you for who you are and not for who they think you are. And I can confirm that. For I am still in love with you. You have not changed at all, and I love you for the person you are. No matter what others may think you are still my Mipha." he said to her in the softest voice he had ever spoken to anyone. He hopped he came through to her because otherwise he didn't knew what to do else.
Mipha was touched by him. She had not thought that he would stay here. Her biggest fear had been that he would simply stand up and leave her then and there. She had always buried her weaknesses deep in her heart when she was around him. She had been so scared on talking with him about this, but she felt like a rock the size of Death Mountain just fell from her heart as she heard Links comforting speech. Between her sobs a mumbled "thank you" escaped her lips.
"Happy to serve, my princess." he whispered back to her. And although she was still crying her eyes out ,Link could hear a small chuckle beneath her sobs which began to get fewer. Link continued stroking her and whispered into her ear how much he loved her over and over. Mipha loved hearing that so much. She was so happy she had the best man in the world beside her who stayed with her during her emotional breakdown. She now noticed how deep his emotions for her truly are She still wasn't feeling completely right again, but a lot of fear had been taken from her by her beloved knight.
Finally the last few tears rolled from her eyes as she lifted her had from his soaking wet chest and looked into those sky blue eyes. She had fallen in love with them, ever since she first saw him all those years ago. He looked back at her with such a pure look of love. A smile played across his face.
"Do you fell better now?"
"A bit. I am still unsure about all of this but at least my biggest fear is gone."
"May I ask what it was?"
"The thought of you just standing up and leaving me." She answered with a shy grin on her face. She knew now how little she actually knew about him even tough she thought she knew everything by now.
"If I would have done that your farther and brother would have personally searched the entire world after me to hang me on top of the giant fish over the palace." Link said which brought him a giggle from Mipha.
"Probably." she said as she wiped the remains of tears out of her now red underlined eyes. She leaned back into his arms before she spoke.
"You should maybe get a fresh tunic on."
"I don't have one here and I am definitely to tired to go home and grab one. For this night you have to get along with my bare chest." he answered sheepishly.
"Well even a princess cannot get everything she wants." Mipha said while she grabbed hold of the soaked tunic and got it of Link. She let her hand slide over his bare muscles, following every line and curve, and every single scar. Meanwhile Link took care of her silk cloth she had wrapped around her body. Once he was finished Mipha stood up and grabbed his hand to pull him to his feet. She clung closely to his left arm as they walked over to the waterbed. Mipha put down her jewelry before she went into the bed first , curling around on the soft mattress, while Link took of his boots and trousers and joined her. He mattress was so comfortable, it actually felt like sleeping on water. This bed was even more comfortable then the once in the Seabed Inn, which wasn't really surprising for this is a bed made for a princess and not for a tired traveller. Link robbed into the middle of the bed while Mipha still rolled around in it. Fortunately they were both laying on a big blanket. Link took hold of the blanket and pulled, drawing the goofing Mipha directly towards him. No mater when or where. If a Zora gets into water he will start playing around as if they were still a child. This seems to be the same for waterbeds he assumed. Mipha rolled towards him and Link stretched his arms out and kept her close to him as she softly bumped against his chest.
"Although I enjoy seeing you goofing around here after your breakdown I am still pretty tired and would like to go to sleep now." he calmly explained to her, a yawn following right afterwards.
"You have more then earned your rest tonight, my dear knight." Mipha answered as she pulled the blanket out from underneath them and tucked them both in. She wanted to say a goodnight to Link but as she turned around he was already asleep.
So another chapter has been completed. I have noticed the views literally shooting trough the roof in the last few days. I would be very happy if you let me know your feedback via a review. I will answer an review, but I recommend not doing a guest review, because fanfiction doesn't let me answer to those. That's all I had to say, see you in the next chapter :D
