Chapter 3

The journey had been long and rather arduous for someone of Mipha's advanced age. Two evenings had been spent out on the road: the first in a stable, and the second roughing it out in the open. Despite this, Mipha had greatly enjoyed the change in scenery. After so long making her residence in Hateno Village, sleeping in the same bed, undergoing the same routine; sleeping in a different bed was an adventure in itself!

Even better was the fact that nobody knew who she was. She had spent a rather lovely evening in the stable during the first night, getting to know some of the travellers who were also there. Mipha's presence as a very old lady was a novelty for those who usually graced these stables, and so she was able to share her time with the stable-goers and spend the evening regaling tales to them, and vice versa. She took glee in the fact that none of the travellers knew her real identity. In addition, her old age meant that the owners of the stable waited on her hand and foot, and as such, she was given a very comfortable night's sleep with the stable's best bed, free of charge.

The second night was an altogether different experience, but to Mipha, equally as enjoyable. The night was clear, and Tekmo, Alannah and Mazia had packed a tent with them large enough for the four to sleep in. Even though the rain was falling heavily that night, the tent was sturdy and able to repel the rain. Even then, Mipha was happy to spend time out in the rain to remain hydrated before coming into the tent to rest. The four dined on a chicken and vegetable broth that Mazia had prepared back at Kakariko Village: a delicious and hearty concoction that warmed Mipha to her very bones. The bed was rustic: a roll-out on the uneven floor, but the three Sheikah helped to lower Mipha safely to a comfortable position to the ground, and she found herself drifting into a deep slumber within minutes.

The joy, however, could not last. The brief adventure came to an end that following morning, as the four packed up their camp. They had set off early, and Mipha could recognise from the peaks that were beginning to form around the carriage that they were not far from their destination.

Their next stop was Inogo Bridge: the official demarcation line for Zora territory.

Inside the carriage, Mipha kept the curtains shut for this last part of the journey. She focused her mind on the task at hand. Reach the domain. Speak with Repherhan. And at all costs, avert war. It was by no means an easy feat, but as they neared the bridge, Mipha built up the resolve to propose the near impossible to those who were once her people.

From outside, she could hear the conversation:

"Halt! Who goes there?"

"Peace, Zora gatekeepers! My name is Tekmo, I am here on behalf of the Sheikah."

"The domain is not receiving visitors at this time. Please turn around and leave at once."

"Please, gatekeeper. If just a moment of your time…"

"As I have said, we are barring all access to the domain at this time. You will not be granted entry."

Within the carriage, Mipha sighed. To hear of Indigo Bridge being used as a demarcation point, of all things. It was never built to keep people out, only to let them in. A sorry state of affairs we have descended into, she thought.

"Gatekeeper," Mazia's kinder voice rung out. "We wish to seek an audience with King Repherhan."

"Absolutely not!" the gatekeeper spat back. "The King will not be receiving any guests. You of all people should know why that is."

Mipha felt her blood boiling. It never used to be like this, she thought, To think that the Zora would address the Sheikah with such malice in their voices!

"We mean no harm..." Alannah piped in.

"No!" The gatekeeper shouted. "Step back now, or we will have no choice but to use force! You have been warned!"

No more, Mipha thought. She couldn't forgive herself if blood was to be spilled over this. She defied her weary and aged body and shuffled to the side of the carriage, before opening the door.

"Enough!" Mipha called out to the scene that lay before her: a pair of armed Zora guards, spears at the ready, confronting the Sheikah trio at the edge of the bridge, hands on the hilts of their blades. The two Zoras turned to her, and almost dropped their spears in shock.

"A...A Zora!" They both uttered, almost in unison. The taller guard turned his spear on the three Sheikah, who in turn drew their blades in defense. "What in Hylia's name are you doing with a Zora in that carriage! Explain yourselves immediately!"

"I said enough!" Mipha yelled as loudly as she could. She couldn't produce much volume at her age, but the tone of anger in her voice was enough to freeze the two Zoras in place. Gingerly stepping out of the carriage, leaning heavily on her cane, Mipha huffed and puffed as she slowly approached the two. Tekmo quickly ran to her side to support her.

The two Zora guards looked at Mipha with stunned expressions as she walked towards them, gripping tightly to her cane.

"Lady Mipha, are you okay?" Tekmo asked. Her name widened the guards' eyes even more.

"D-did you s-say…" the shorter Zora gasped. Pointing his spear at Tekmo: "What is the meaning of this, Sheikah? Answer me!"

Mipha shot a piercing glare at the shorter Zora, whose grip on his spear weakened in response. Stuttering, he wasn't quite sure how to react to the formidable old lady standing up to him (just).

"Your ears do not deceive you." Mipha explained. "I am Mipha. I was once...your Queen."

Both Zoras were dumbfounded.

"That's impossible..." the taller one uttered. "You...you can't be her"

"My statue" Mipha stated. "It still stands in the plaza, does it not? If so, then picture it in your mind and then look upon me. I may be a lot older now, but I am still the same woman I was all those years before my self-imposed exile."

The continued shock of both Zoras implied that they were slowly beginning to believe the old lady in front of them was Mipha. The taller one piped up, reasserting the grip on his spear: "P-prove it!"

Mipha sighed. "Tekmo, dear: please fetch me my trident from the carriage"

Tekmo obeyed and quickly sprinted to the carriage. After a brief rummage, he produced a beautiful, intricately designed trident. Though the tips of the trident were worn with battle and time, the design remained pure and untouched. Its jewels glimmered, its handle shone and it gave the air that no imitation could ever reproduce. Tekmo handled it like a museum exhibit as he brought it to the Zora guards.

"That...that can't be the Lightscale Trident, can it?" The taller Zora spoke.

"Are you sure this is not a fake? Perhaps it is a ceremonial trident." the other hummed.

"Take this trident to your finest craftsman." Mipha declared. "He will see the truth. I hope now you both realise who I am."

A tense silence hung in the air. The taller Zora's spear lowered, as if he were in a trance. "But I don't understand..." he hummed, his expression almost blank. "If you really are her...then why are you here?"

"To speak with my grandson," Mipha declared. "King Repherhan."

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The shorter Zora was dispatched back to the domain with the Lightscale Trident in tow to confirm if Mipha could cross into the domain herself. At Inogo Bridge, a tense wait followed. Neither party spoke with the other; though at the very least the weapons had been sheathed and out of the way, guaranteeing that no violence would take place. As they waited, Mipha's thoughts were firmly on Zora's Domain. She wondered: how much will it have changed since she last left it?

She looked upon the glistening canyon that served as the entry point to the domain, and closed her eyes. Time had not been too kind to her mind, and she could only make out faint images of the place she once called home. Her heart fluttered at the thought of seeing it again after so many years.

The taller Zora guard eventually returned.

"What news?" Tekmo called out as the Zora slowed his rushed pace at the bridge.

"Silence you!" he spat back. Mipha was about to give the man a piece of her mind before he turned to address her directly.

"King Repherhan has agreed to meet with Mipha alone. Please come with me and I shall safely lead you to the domain. The rest must wait here."

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The journey to the domain was one of exhilaration for Mipha. Travelling in the Zora River towards the domain, she recognised many various landmarks as she held tightly to the Zora gatekeeper, who swam gently (but still at relatively high speed) against the current. Her heart waved and soared at the views of Oren Bridge and Luto's Crossing; bridges that still shone as brightly as the day they were built, glistening with a coat from the gentle rain. The grey, craggy mountains started to give way to the serene crystalline peaks that characterised the Lanayru area, and from the corners of her vision, she could spot some of the stone inscriptions that dotted the region, foretelling the history of the Zora.

Mixed feelings of both extremes dwelled in Mipha's heart as she was taken closer and closer to the heart of the domain. On the one side was the joy one would feel upon returning to an old home: the joy of old memories, recollections of a happier and younger life, a life spent with much vigour and energy, seizing every moment. Mipha could remember her formative years through the sights she saw, running along the various rocks and peaks, swimming in the rivers, the friends she kept and the memories she made. She also remembered the sites of many battlegrounds: hours spent battling the forces of the Calamity, fighting for the safety of the domain and the future of her people. She relished remembering the exhilaration of combat, and ultimately, the euphoric feeling that accompanied every victory that she was a part of. All of this and more: they presented themselves to Mipha in visions, a whistle stop tour of a remarkable life.

But beside these feelings, hand in hand, sat darker feelings still. Mipha felt a great melancholy as she flicked back through the pages of her life. The joy and love she felt then only made the aftermath, her leaving of the domain and her people, even harder. She recalled numerous difficult conversations, with friends, family, colleagues and others, around the circumstances that eventually led to her exile. In her heart sat the burden of guilt: where things had led to now, and the very reason that she was ending her exile and returning to Zora's Domain. She felt the full weight of responsibility on her aged shoulders. That her people: once renowned and revered for their welcoming disposition and friendliness to all races, would now be mere steps away from war, shook Mipha to her core.

Her decision to abdicate the throne and go into exile was designed to prevent hostility and promote peace. To see that her efforts were seemingly in vain: this is what hurt Mipha the most.

But from that pain sprung determination.

The Zora gatekeeper eventually reached the island rooted to the foot of the Great Zora Bridge.

"We have arrived." the Zora gatekeeper announced as he helped Mipha up to the foot of the bridge from the river below.

"Thank you, young man." Mipha replied. "And what was your name again?"

"Kodas." the gatekeeper replied. Mipha knew from the past that new Zora military graduates were often given gatekeeping roles as their first call to service. She gave Kodas a smile: "Thank you, Kodas."

Turning around, she breathed in the magnificent sight in front of her. Zora's Domain, in all its magnificence and beauty, lay before her. It had hardly changed since she'd left.

Taking in a deep breath, she started to walk across the Great Zora Bridge. Each step brought back another memory to her mind: a conversation here, a training session there. She looked down to the swirling bowl of water down at the floor of the domain and to her mind sprang all the laps of the domain she used to swim when she was younger. She sighed: she missed being young. She really had missed Zora's Domain.

As she walked, the denizens of the domain noticed this elderly lady walking beside a guard into the heart of the domain. At first, they didn't see anything out if place, but second and third looks started to reveal strange things to the Zoras. Who was this elderly woman? Had she always been around the domain? And the pale red and white skin she had: people couldn't shake the fact that something seemed odd. They had also seen one of the Zora guards earlier in the day rushing through carrying the famed trident.

Could it possibly be?

Eventually, Mipha reached the entrance to the throne room at the top of the domain. A row of Zora guards, all tense with the news that the gatekeeper had shared with them earlier, all watched Mipha with awe as she slowly climbed up the stairs, one hand on Kodas and the other on her cane, approaching them all. They blocked all possible sight of the throne, and the man who must have sat upon it.

Mipha herself felt nervous. She knew that behind the row of heavily armoured Zora guards was her grandson, and the one supposedly responsible for all of this. King Repherhan.

"My king!" Kodas called out, seemingly to the presence between the line of Zoras blocking their way. "As ordered, I have brought the woman in question to you."

A deep and booming voice responded from behind the row of guards:. "Bring her to me."

The line of Zora guards hesitantly started to move aside, opening up the way for Mipha to enter. As soon as they moved, she saw him.

A tall and powerful Zora sat upon the throne.. His skin was exactly the same as hers when she was younger, a light red and cream. The tail on his head was long and imposing. He was adorned with the royal jewelry, the designs of which Mipha knew so well. His face was proud and stern: he was undoubtedly of the same blood as Mipha. It was clear that he was also a battle hardened man, as could be seen by the many numbers of scars that adored his chest and arms.

"Gods…" Mipha thought. "He looks so much like Sidon...my brother…"

In his hand was Mipha's Lightscale Trident.

This was him, she thought. King Repherhan. My grandson.

"So it is true, then…" King Repherhan spoke slowly, his voice low and rumbling, eyes closed. "You...are Mipha. My grandmother."

"Repherhan…" Mipha uttered. "My grandson...I thought I would never meet you."

Mipha struggled to hold back a tear. But King Repherhan sat still and solid, almost statue-like.

"It is undoubtedly you." Repherhan spoke, as the Zora guards who had lined at the entrance now filed into the throne room, taking their seats around the edges. "This Lightscale Trident proves it. Only one of these exists: the rest are imitations. That you, of all people, would have this...there can be no mistake."

"Repherhan." Mipha started. "Please know that I have not come here for any light occasion."

"Nor are you to assume that you have been let in here lightly." Repherhan countered. "I...have been made aware of why you are here. It is regarding the Hylians, isn't it?"

"How did you know?" Mipha asked. Upon speaking this, she watched as Repherhan slowly stood from his throne, tightly gripping the Lightscale Trident, which looked as if it were a toy in his great hands.

"I am not dumb." Repherhan replied curtly. "There could be no other reason for you being here. We are on the brink of war, and there is nothing that can be done to prevent it. Even as we speak, I am making preparations."

"But it doesn't have to be this way!" Mipha pleaded suddenly. Repherhan was having none of it.

"Things may have been different in your time, but the circumstances we face are different now" Repherhan explained. "As we speak, the Lynels on Ploymus Mountain threaten our very existence. And the Hylians expect us to pay for our survival with the constant defiling of our most sacred artifact, Vah Ruta. Year after year, their 'technicians' and 'scientists' would demand access and resources from us, and for what?"

"Repherhan, this is nothing new," Mipha continued, vainly hoping that her voice and words were enough to pierce the steely front that her Repherhan had put up. "The Divine Beasts are powerful weapons that must be maintained! What if another Calamity would befall us like before? We need them!"

Repheran let out a defiant grunt. "So you would stand in favour of allowing Vah Ruta to be defiled, is it?" he questioned. "Our most sacred treasure, which has long since fulfilled its duty and now must deserve respect; you would happily let the Sheikah continue to tinker and toil within its hallowed space?"

"They are not defiling Vah Ruta…" Mipha spoke. In Repheran's powerful presence, she felt her own waning. She felt as if she were standing alone against an army.

"Grandmother," Repherhan spoke. "As I said, do not think me dumb. I know what you mean to the people of this domain...and to me."

So he knew, she thought. She still had clout in the domain, even after all these years.

He let out a sigh, his brow furrowed. "You are not my enemy. But you cannot change my mind on this. Over Vah Ruta, the Hylians refuse to aid us in our time of desperate need. And so before we are sentenced to oblivion beneath a cavalcade of shock arrows, we must make our last stand and fight. The people of Hyrule must know the injustice being caused..."

Holding back her tears, Mipha gritted her teeth. "Oh, Repherhan...and to think I piloted Vah Ruta...all those years ago...for things to come to this!"

She looked straight into her grandson's eyes with fierce determination. "I fought for peace in this land, as did my fellow Champions. The statue of me there, in the square: it doesn't stand because I sought to incite war, death and misery! I fought for peace, Repherhan!"

Repherhan closed his eyes. "And so do I. But peace can be attained in a number of ways. And as far as our situation here is concerned, there is nothing to be done."

"You're wrong, Repherhan." Mipha spoke quietly. "You of all people should know that the Hylians are not our enemies. Their blood flows within you, my grandson. Your grandfather…"

"Is someone I have never met before." Repherhan cut across. "Because of you. So please don't assume that my blood and heritage have anything to do with the present situation. If anything, understand this: we are not fighting for power, or for destruction. We're fighting for survival!"

Mipha refused to give up, painful as this encounter was for her. Taking a step closer to King Repherhan, she took a deep breath and summoned up her courage.

"Then let me try." she suggested. "Let me parley with the Hylians."

"Hah!" Repherhan spat. "An impossible task! They have already refused our requests for aid against the Lynels. They do not appreciate how sacred Vah Ruta is to us, and for that, they will not come to help us unless they defile her further. And as our impasse continues, more Zoras continue to die…"

A pained expression suddenly made its way to Repherhan's face. His head bowed slightly. "Only yesterday did I have to comprehend the loss of yet another of our own to the dreaded Lynels. I will not stand for it any longer."

"Then I will go to Hyrule Castle." Mipha declared, causing some commotion among the crowd. "If you won't seek compromise, then I will. I too, do not want to see my people hurt any longer, but the path you tread will only lead to death and destruction for all of us. I may no longer be Queen, but as long as I continue to breathe, I will do all in my power to prevent a Calamity of our own doing"

Repherhan slowly walked to Mipha, clutching the Lightscale Trident in his grasp. The murmurs around the crowd died out, and a sudden tension rose. Even Mipha felt compelled to step backwards at the sight of her mighty grandson approaching her.

He reached his arm out, clutching the Lightscale Trident, handing it to her. Mipha could only lay her hand upon its handle, as her other hand gripped her cane.

Kodas suddenly walked up to Mipha and also held the trident. With a knowing nod from Mipha, he took it into his hands, awestruck with the legendary trident he now clutched.

"Do what you want," Repherhan said solemnly, looking into his grandmother's eyes. "I won't stop you. But heed my warning, it will be a futile effort. Still…"

He looked down, and Mipha could see a tear coming to his own eye. "I'm glad you've returned to us…"

He then turned around and walked back towards the throne. "If you need to stay the evening before making your trip, then I shall make immediate preparations to ensure you have somewhere to stay."

"I...I will" Mipha uttered, wiping her eye. "Thank you, my grandson."

Repherhan clapped his hands. "Guards! Prepare a place to stay at once. I also want a pair of guards to go back to the Sheikah at the edge of the domain with supplies. They are barred from entering, but they should be given some respite from the weather overnight."

And with that, the members of the throne room kicked into action. As everybody moved about her, Mipha could only sigh. Without even a further glance from her own grandson, she wondered just how much she would need to do to prevent the impending disaster.