Chapter 14 – Swimming with the Zoras

They had gotten up early this day. Link was still a bit sleepy as they gathered at a pier below the Domain. A good deal of guards had been provided as escort for the royal family. Link was doing his best supervising them in his drowsy mind and without any really knowledge of how to command them in the water.

It took around half an hour to get everything in order. Long slim crates where being brought in the water that would be towed by Zoras, as Link sat down on the edge of the pier, his feet dangling into the cold water. Although he was wearing the rubber armor, he still felt the cold going up his legs. He hoped it wouldn't be to bad as he ever so slightly began shivering.

Meanwhile Mipha had swam over to him and lifted herself out of the water with her arms and sat on the pier right next to him.

"You think this suit will help you?" Mipha asked curiously as she poked him in the side, feeling the elastic material.

A bit surprised by her sudden appearance he answered the curious Zora as his mind finally began to clear up from the drowsiness.

"At least I hope so. This material seems to protect against the cold a bit. Unfortunately I don't have scales like you do, that would make everything way easier." he answered as Mipha continued poking the strange material the armor was made from.

Originally he found it in a shrine in the Gerudo Desert and quickly found out it protects him from electricity, but it also seems to protect its wearer from the cold. At least a bit.

"It's not only our scales but also the skin beneath them that protect us from the coldness of the water. In addition to that we have a lower body temperature than Hylians, which makes it way easier to life in water." Mipha said to him as she slid back into the water shortly diving under before she bopped her head out just in front of where Link was sitting on the pier.

She lifted her arms out the water as she reached for Links hands.

"Come on, it is almost time to depart. You still have some time to get acquainted to the water." She said.

Link grudgingly agreed as he took her hands and with a tug from Mipha was pulled in the water. The first thing he felt was the stinging of the cold water over his entire body. He shortly went beneath the surface before he came back up in front of Mipha. The splash in the cold water had not been very pleasant and he started shivering very soon.

Mipha used her legs and slowly paddled backwards away from the pier pulling Link after her on his hands. As they had been out around five meters Mipha slowly began swimming in circles while pulling Link through the water.

After a few minutes he had adjusted as good to the water as he could. The rubber armor actually helped a fair bit, as Link could feel on his bare face. But he could hold it out in the water, at least for the time of the travel. Mipha seemed to notice his adjustment as she stopped her back paddling and pulled Link in, placing her arms around his torso.

"Are you comfortable with the water ?" she asked him with a slight wave of concern for her dear knight swinging in her voice.

"Yes, am fine. It is quite comfortable actually." Link lied to her.

"I trust you in this." she said. It seems as if she wanted to say more as the Zoran guards began assembling around them in convoy formation.

Shortly after that King Dorephan and Sidon joined the guards, both warmly greeting Mipha and Link as they took place in front of the two.

"It is getting time. Come on Link we should get ready too." Mipha said as she broke their embrace.

She swam for a few meters before she rolled on her stomach , turning her head around to Link.

"What are you waiting on? Climb on." Mipha said to him, giving him a warm smile in addition.

Link closed the distance between them with a few strokes and stopped next to Mipha. He put one hand on her back as he wanted to climb on her before he hesitated and stopped.

"Is something the matter Link?" Mipha asked concerned as she looked him in the eyes, looking for anything that would tell her what's wrong.

"I cannot just climb on your back." Link said, almost whispering so only Mipha could hear it.

"You are a princess. I just cannot climb on your back as if you are some sort of horse." Link stammered out.

"Well you didn't seem to have any problems riding on my brothers back." Mipha snuffed out in played outrage.

"That was...something different..." Link mumbled, as he was interrupted by Mipha.

"No I got it, I am not good enough for you and you would rather travel an a guard then your princess. Don't worry I won't stop you." she said as she puffed her cheeks and turned back around, facing forwards.

Link couldn't help but stare at her after her performance, while Mipha desperately tried to not break out in laughter. Internally he sighed at her childish play as he knew talking back wouldn't make any difference and climbed on her back.

He flung his legs over her back and laid down, bringing his chest down to her shoulders. He gently grabbed her tailfin and put it over his shoulder so he wouldn't hurt it. He put his head down next to hers as he reached around her with his arms.

"Are you done giggling?" he asked her.

"Maybe" Mipha replied.

"Are you okay Link?" she asked him shortly after as they waited on the convoy to move of.

"Don't worry about me. I can handle this." Link said to her as he was fighting down the shaking in his body.

"Stop lying." Mipha said.

He wanted to react but only a cut of noise came out as he was interrupted by the signal horn as the convoy set in motion. Mipha followed suit and Link instinctively tightened his grip around her as she was following the other Zoras away from the pier.

The water was rushing past them as they quickly gained speed after only a few minutes they left the area beneath the domain and swam across the lake leading to the rapids and the river behind it which would eventually bring them directly to Hyrule Castle.

"Hold on tight." Mipha said over her shoulder as they came closer and closer to the rapids.

The first Zoras had already jumped over them as the duo reached the water currents. Mipha dove beneath the water and used her fins to jump out of the water and over the rapid, while Link was clutching on her to stay on. They quietly re emerged in the water of the river. Mipha dove for a few meters before she returned to the surface. And with that they began their way to Hyrule Castle.

Yeah I am back. I had some problems with motivation, which is also the reason why this chapter is so short, I just had to get over it since its concept is like 2 months old. I'll try and return to my normal scheme :P