Prince Sidon attached the saddle to himself as they stood on the shore of East Reservoir Lake. The weather was warm and sunny, and the waters perfectly reflected the clear blue sky.
"Sidon, the lake is breathtaking! I never imagined these waters could be any more beautiful than I've seen in pictures, but just like everything else in the Domain, it is even more beautiful in person. This feels like a whole different Realm!"
Sidon grinned at her. "It warms my heart that you love Zora's Domain as much as I do, my dear. Maybe someday..." He suddenly stopped.
"Maybe someday what, Sidon?"
"I...er...didn't mean to say that aloud."
She walked closer to him, placing a sweet kiss upon his side, since that was all she could reach. "What were you going to say, my prince?"
He loved it when she called him that, and she knew it. Now it was his turn to blush.
"I was going to say...maybe someday you could...live here."
Her heart leapt. "Oh, Sidon! That would be a dream! But for now I help take care of Grandmother in Kakariko Village. I don't want to think about it, but I probably need to leave Zora's Domain in a little less than a month. I don't want to stay away from Grandmother any longer than that."
"I understand, sweet one. Let us enjoy the time we have together!" Sidon immediately jumped into the water with the saddle on his back. "Climb aboard, my sweet flower. I shall take you for a ride around the lake!"
She giggled as she excitedly ran toward him, jumping into the water, swimming to him expertly, and climbing up into the saddle easily. Sidon gazed at her in amazement. "A strong swimmer, just as you said! Very good, Paya!"
She grinned at him as she secured herself into the saddle.
"Would you like to go fast or slow?" Sidon asked behind him.
"Fast, please! As fast as you can!"
"Oh, you're daring. I like that! In that case, please hold on tight. You're secured well, I hope?"
"Yes, I am." She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. "I'm not hurting you, am I?"
The prince chuckled as his memory was jogged. "The princess once asked me that same question. No, you're not hurting me at all, my sweet flower. I suggest you lower your head. We don't want any whiplash injuries today."
She nodded and obeyed as he readied himself to shoot like a rocket through the top of the water. "Are you ready? I will count down from three."
She was nearly trembling with excitement. "I'm ready, Sidon!"
"Three...two...one!"
The Zora shot forward like a cannonball as Paya held onto him tightly with her head lowered against him, and she howled in pure enjoyment of the thrill she was experiencing. Sidon was an even better and more graceful swimmer than she had imagined. They circled the entire lake several times within minutes, and she was enjoying every second of it. Suddenly Sidon slowed, and he turned his head back toward her. "How are you feeling, Paya? Are you enjoying this?"
"I'm feeling amazing, Sidon! This is incredible! You are so graceful. It's really a sight to behold, and an even better feeling to behold as you race through the water like that! You are a remarkable Zora, my prince."
He blushed at her words and could hardly get his own out. "You...greatly honor me, Paya. Thank you. Would you like to go again?"
"Yes, please!"
They circled the lake several more times, with the Prince repeatedly breaching the water like a dolphin. She loved the thrill, never wanting it to end. After nearly an hour of this and circling the lake several more times, she tapped Sidon on the shoulder.
"My prince, I am beginning to feel a little sick. May we rest before we continue?"
"Absolutely, my flower."
He swam gently to the shore, taking care not to make her nausea any worse. He had packed a picnic lunch and plenty of water to drink for both of them, and they sat on the shore together. He offered her water first, and she gladly took it, and they proceeded to eat the food he had packed.
"Feeling better, sweet Paya?"
"Yes, actually. I think I just needed to eat and drink something."
"Good, I am overjoyed to hear that!"
Paya scooted closer to him, lifting her arms to his face, and she gently pulled his face so he would meet hers. She looked him in the eyes and gave him a passionate kiss.
"Sidon...thank you so much for taking me out on the lake today. This was probably the best day of my life."
"Oh, it's not over yet, Paya. I have another surprise for you."
Her eyes lit up. "What is it?"
He grinned and stood, reaching for her hands, and he helped her to her feet. "It's a surprise. Come now, follow me."
He led her to the tallest waterfall nearest the Domain, the same waterfall where his sister once taught him how to swim straight upward when he was a tiny Zora.
"Oh Sidon, how is it possible for anything this beautiful to exist?"
"Well my dear, you exist...so it has to be possible."
She blushed at his words, and her heart swelled with...was that love she was feeling? She reached for his hand, squeezing it tightly. "Sidon...your words flatter me. I...don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything, my sweet flower. Just having you here with me is enough." He bent down and kissed her once more, his tongue enjoying every taste of her. He reluctantly pulled away, and he reached for the saddle again, placing it over himself and securing it tightly.
"Sidon, what are you doing? Where are we going to swim? That pool of water at the bottom isn't nearly big enough."
He grinned at her, keeping his mouth shut.
"Wait... Sidon! Are you joking? Are you really going to swim up this giant waterfall with me on your back?"
"Only if you would like to, my dear," he said with a grin.
"Oh, I would love to!" She could hardly contain herself as they made their way toward the bottom of the waterfall, and he jumped into the water with her swimming close behind. She climbed back into the saddle and secured herself again, taking care to lower her head as he began the countdown. "Three...two ...one!"
The Zora and the Sheikah shot straight upward. Water splashed in her face and she held her breath as Sidon expertly swam straight up the waterfall at breakneck speed. Their ascent seemed to last for eternity, much to her delight. It felt like she was falling in reverse as he climbed the waterfall up, up, and still up. She let out a loud whoop when they finally reached the top, and he gracefully landed on his feet, taking care not to stand up straight because of the rider on his back. He carefully crouched, allowing her to remove herself from the saddle.
She was breathless. "Sidon, that was the most thrilling, fun, crazy thing I've ever done in my life. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart."
He beamed at her. "Paya, really...it was my pleasure. I'm so happy we got to experience that together. There's only one problem."
"What is that?"
"We have to get down." He was still wearing the saddle and quickly scooped her up into his arms. He cradled her safely into his chest, and her stomach dropped as she realized what he was about to do.
"Sidon! Wait! Are you insane?" She was grinning, but she was very nervous.
"Whatever is the matter, my flower? Do you not want me to jump? I assure you the water down there is deep enough. We will be safe as long as I hold you tightly to myself."
"Okay, Sidon. I trust you."
He beamed at her, then cradled her tightly to his chest again. She was so small compared to him that his muscular arms covered over half her body, and he could easily tuck his knees around her to cover her completely. "Are you ready?" he asked.
"I-I think so." She was nervous.
"Three... two...one!" With a great leap, Sidon bounded off the edge of the tall waterfall, taking care to hug her tightly against him the whole way down. She let out a shout as they dropped, the feeling unlike anything she had ever felt before, and she absolutely loved it. After what seemed like ages, he hit the water, and his arms and legs shielded her perfectly from the hard impact. He was made to hit the water hard, and they dropped at least thirty feet into the water while Paya held her breath. He surfaced quickly, bringing her up so she could breathe again.
She was breathing heavily. "Sidon...that...was... AMAZING! Can we...do that...again?"
He beamed at her, loving how much she was enjoying this. He scooped her up onto his belly while he floated lazily in the water on his back.
"I would love to do this again with you, my dear. We still have a few weeks together, and we can go as many times as you would like. For today, my muscles are growing sore. I'm sorry I cannot fulfill your request."
Disappointment crossed her face for a moment, but she understood. "Sidon, you have already given me so much more than I ever dreamed. I look forward to swimming around the lake and up waterfalls and jumping down again more than you know." She bent down and kissed him sweetly on the lips, and he gazed into her eyes as he spoke again.
"My dear, how unfortunate for you that you weren't born as a Zora! Your love for the water and the thrills it provides honors me and our entire race greatly. I am so happy to have the joy of witnessing that radiant smile on your angelic face and to share in your elation."
Tears formed in her eyes from his words. She shifted to scoot up slightly more to reach his lips, and they shared a more passionate kiss than before as they floated together in the small deep pool in front of the waterfall.
She lifted her head to look into his golden eyes, and she saw him in an entirely different way. She knew she had not only fallen physically for him, but her heart had abruptly fallen in love with him.
"What is it, Miss Paya? Your heart is racing." She looked away, ashamed that she had fallen completely in love with him on only their second day of meeting. She couldn't possibly tell him yet.
"Sidon... it's just that this feels like a fairy tale. Is this really real?"
"I assure you, my flower, every bit of it is real. I am the luckiest Zora...no, the luckiest being in Hyrule to have you here with me, Paya. I never want to be apart from you."
Paya looked into his eyes again with deep love coursing through her heart. "Sidon, I never want to be apart from you either. It saddens me that this is not my home. I wish I could stay here with you forever."
"Sweet one, let's focus on the time we have together. We still have lots of time left."
"Of course, my prince."
They floated along the top of the water talking for hours, until the sun was beginning to set and both of their stomachs were growling hungrily for dinner. He led her by the hand as they walked together back to the Domain to the Champion's Quarters.
