Chapter 15 – A Cold Swim

The water was rushing past them as the Zora's where zipping through the river, each of them at impressing speeds. It sounded as if Link was standing in one of the giant waterfalls near Zora's Domain. Their last break must have been hours away as he glimpsed at the horizon, the sun beginning to fade behind it. The sky had turned a light red as the day came to its end. It would probably take one hour before the night set in completely. By then they would already be at the castle, which had long ago popped up in their field of view. A splash of cold water hit him in the face as they took a sharp turn in the river to avoid crashing in a protruding stone. Link coughed as he was hit by surprise, trying to get the water out of his lungs.

"Are you okay back there?" a worried Mipha asked him. Since he was still busy with coughing he gently patted her two times with his hand, which he had slung around her waist.

After a few coughs he had it all out and he again tried fixing his gaze on their destination. He was trying to guess how long it could take them to reach the castle. His mind had become dizzy by now, his limbs stiff. The only reason he could see the castle now was because they where moving straight towards it. Past Mipha's head the first towers and walls appeared in sight, becoming bigger and bigger with each minute that passed. The temperature did not disturb Link that much any more, he lost the feeling in his limbs a few hours ago. His arms had become stiff from the lack of movement and cold water rushing against them. His neck had become pretty stiff by now too, since he just rested his head slightly above Mipha's shoulders. The only thing going through his head besides the occasional thought about the time was the storming sound of the rushing water. His eyes sore from all the splashes they had taken weren't even relieved any more when the stone quay walls of the castles harbor came in sight. The convoy got slower as they where swimming past the grey walls. Before them Link could make out a few figures that presumably where guards standing on a dock that reached into the water. The guards at the front of the convoy where the first ones who entered the dock, greeting the Hylian guardsmen and themselves assuming position. The guards at the back spread around the dock while King Dorephan and and Prince Sidon where the first of the passengers who got on the dock, using a stair reaching into the water.

Link and Mipha where slowly drifting in the water as another set of guards went up the stairs and past the other ones down the dock and out of sight. Now it was their turn. Mipha changed her position from drifting on her stomach to swimming upright. She turned around gripping Links stiff hands of off her torso and pulled him onto the stairs. As his feet where making contact with the lowest step Mipha let go of his hands and stood next to him as he used every bit of strength he could bring up to move his legs. Step by step he went up the stairs, fighting against the water trying to keep him from moving and his stiff joints. As the water was about knee high his left leg gave in, not being able to keep up his weight after so long of them dangling in the cold water unused. And if Mipha wouldn't have reacted so fast and grabbed his arm he would have smashed into the cold grey bricks of the dock.

Mipha took hold of his arm and brought him standing upright again as they made the last steps together. She changed her grip on his arm, supporting him while it wasn't that obvious how weak he was. With her sticking closely to his side he made the first wiggling steps towards the end of the dock at the walls. In the dimming sunlight he could make out the giant figures of Dorephan and Sidon talking to a person in front of them, which was hidden by their size. The water was dripping of his rubber armor in little streams, leaving small puddles where he and Mipha walked. His steps becoming more steady with each one he took, Link rose up, assuming a more confident pose, his sore head high up and his chest out. He fought down the urge to shake as his body realised it is no longer in cold water. The sound of the streams of water rushing past them still in his ears they left the dock and walked towards the giant Zora's. They followed the stone path past saluting soldiers in full suit, the banner of Hyrule on their lances, the winged golden triforce on red background with blue rims. Even with the ringing in his ears Link could make out Princess Zelda's voice in the distance. He was confirmed as the two walked around the two Zora's, standing next to Sidon.

Zeld was just done greeting Dorephan as she noticed the two.

"Mipha, Link welcome to Hyrule Castle. I hope your travel has been pleasant." Zelda said as soon as the two where standing still.

With all his remaining power Link forced his cold, stiff body to bow before Zelda. Mipha loosened her grip a bit on his arm as she did the same, both of them greeting the princess.

"Thank you for the warm welcome. Yes our travel has been very pleasant princess." Link told her.

"Don't be so formal Link. I told you multiple times to call me Zelda." she angrily replied, puffing her cheeks.

"I am sorry prin... Zelda." Link muttered out.

"Please forgive him Zelda. He is just tired that's all." Mipha added with a smile while she reached for Link's hand.

"No offense taken. I guess you all are. Please follow me, I don't want to keep my tired guests standing all night." Zelda replied with a smile herself as she turned around, leading on the small group. Dorephan, Sidon Mipha and Link followed the Hylian princess. They came through a big gate and entered the inner parts of the castle. The lower areas had mostly been restored. Further up there where still scaffoldings on the castles walls, and around its many towers. Torches and lanterns light up the courtyard as the group walked past workers returning to their homes outside the castle, guards switching the positions and walking to their barracks and all kinds of carriers bringing crates in and out of the castle. The movement in the area stopped shortly as the group walked through it. Some rambling and whispering could be heard here and there. Gaurds they where passing saluted them hastily as they made space for the group to walk. Zelda continued talking to her guests, seemingly ignoring the crowd. Then the first few annoyed foremans and guard captains brought the people back into motion as they picked up where they had left of. Link was impressed by what the joined forces of Hyrule had reached in such a short amount of time. Still keeping his posture his mind straifed of off his freezing, shivering and tired body while his mind became dizzy. Even though he fought against it his body began shaking. His legs not sturdily supporting him any more he unconsciously lent more and more into Mipha's grip. He didn't pay attention any more to what was happening around him. Because of that he didn't notice that the group had long parted ways. Only him and Mipha where left, walking down a corridor until they came to a door. Link snapped back into reality as his loved Zora began calling his name.

"Yes what is it?" was the first thing he said, quickly followed by "Where are we? And where are the others?"

A lovely smile pacing on her lips as she grabbed the door handle and opened the door, letting them both inside.

"Don't worry, the others have also gone to their rooms." She said as she pulled him inside and closed the door behind them.

Links mind was not fast enough to react before Mipha placed him on something that felt like a cushioned bench. He had become dizzy and was exhausted. Very much so. It took him a bit to look for Mipha, who had gone to the other side of the room, seemingly testing something on the floor. Now that he had been sitting for a bit he really noticed how bad of a shape he was in. He was shaking uncontrollably from the cold of the water that had creped into his bones, and the pure exhaustion of clinging to a Zora in full speed for multiple hours.

Mipha turned around from the bathtub only to see the shaking Link trying to loosen the straps of his armor. His hands shaking so hard that he couldn't even grasp the strips right. Mipha knew he had lied to her about being well as she walked towards him and grabbed the strips herself, loosening the armor. She took of his helmet and threw it to the side. The same did she with his tunic. As she tried to grab his belt Link wished her hands away and opened it himself, taking multiple tries to grab the belt. He kicked of the trousers, now sitting in his underpants on the couch. He tried standing up but his shaking legs and Mipha hands pressing him back down thwarted his attempt. As he sat back down Mipha got on his eye level, looking him in the eyes. She rose up her hands and rested them on his palms. A warm, soothing feeling begin spreading in his checks as she broke the silence.

"Why did you lie to me?" her soft voice ringed through the air.

Link averted his gaze as best as he could. He opened and closed his mouth multiple times before he muttered out an answer.

"If I would have complained you would have just worried to much and we would have had to travel through the night." he muttered out.

"Didn't we agree to stop lying to each other?" Mipha's voice again rang through the room. To Link's surprise he could neither her anger no disappointment in her voice. Se was just talking in her most calming voice to him.

"We did. Mipha I...I am sorry."

"Are you really?"

"Yes I am."

"Where does it hurt."

With a bit hesitation Link answered her.

"I cannot feel my legs, my neck and arms are stiff, my chest hurts, my face is sore and everything is shivering cold and feels as if a thousand icy needles are jammed into me." he replied.

Another smile played across her lips.

"See? Was that so hard?"

Mipha stroke his cheeks for a bit more, letting her healing magic flow into his body and at least take the worst of the pain from him. As she released her hands Link was feeling a bit better. The cold in his bones remained but his limbs weren't that stiff any more. Mipha rose back up as she held her hands out for Link to grab. She pulled him on his feet after he took them. She walked backwards, pulling him after her, through the room until she reached the bathtub. It was raised in contrast to the rest of the floor so Mipha had enough place to sit down next to it as she let go of his hands. Link meanwhile climbed into the bathtub, ramming his feet against the stone in the process. He hissed as he slowly submerged in the steaming hot water. A sigh of relief escaped him as he laid down in the water, resting his had on the smoothed rim. He heard a ripple in the water as shortly after warm water run all over his face.

"You earned this, my Hero."

Alright thats another chapter done. See ya in the next one :P