Neither Mipha nor Tekmo could hardly sleep that evening. Excitement mixed with terror swirled in their stomachs. Throughout the night, from their quarters high up in the castle, they could hear the soldiers and Sheikah members deep in preparation outside. Through the night they heard the roars of battle commands, the simultaneous footsteps for formations taking place, the scratching and clashing of weapons as the castle's finest troops prepared themselves for an almighty battle. None had ever fought Lynels in their lives before, and Mipha knew from her own past battles that Lynels were not to be taken lightly.
Morning came quickly, and two guards entered Mipha and Tekmo's quarters as they were getting ready.
"Queen Hylia requests your presence, milady." the guards spoke. And so Mipha and Tekmo were both escorted to the Sanctum once more, where Mipha's speech had set in motion the most feverish period the castle denizens has witnessed in decades.
Inside the Sanctum, Queen Hylia was swamped by a number of her advisors. She was deep in conversation with a tactician, pouring over a map of Zora's Domain and its surrounding mountains. It was clear to Mipha as she walked in that they were strategizing their attack on the Lynels. Upon spotting Mipha and Tekmo (supporting Mipha with his arm) walking in, she dismissed her advisors and stepped forward to greet them.
"Thank you for coming to see me at this early hour." Queen Hylia spoke.
"Think nothing of it." Mipha responded. Despite this, Queen Hylia could tell she looked very tired. She felt tired herself, and she considered herself to be a fit and healthy person, therefore she couldn't imagine what it was like for someone of Mipha's advanced age.
"I thought it best to tell you about our plan of attack before you go back to Zora's Domain," Queen Hylia explained. "The idea is that we use the element of surprise and strike as quickly as possible. Therefore we will be using these."
Queen Hylia produced a small gem encased in stone, with a couple of buttons protruding from it. She handed it to Tekmo, who recognised the device at once. "A Sheikah Teleporter."
"That's correct," Queen Hylia confirmed. "These devices are the latest innovation of Sheikah technology. It's a teleportation device, using the same technology as that of the Sheikah Slate. The only difference is that the coordinates of the teleportation have been pre-set, and it holds no other functions. The advantage is that the device allows for much faster teleportation, which will give us the advantage in terms of striking first... hopefully."
Mipha could already see how the plan was going to go. "Am I correct in assuming you'll teleport your finest soldiers to Ploymus Mountain and attack in one fell swoop?"
Queen Hylia nodded. "Exactly. We have to do it this way. Nobody is under the illusion that battling the Lynels will be an easy task. They are among the most fierce beasts Hyrule has ever had the displeasure of knowing. But not only this, but swift teleportation will prevent any potential delays that may be caused if we were simply to march. The Zoras may interpret our approach as an act of war, therefore timing this correctly is crucial."
"And may I ask when you plan to launch your attack?" Tekmo cut in.
"Tomorrow at dawn." Queen Hylia replied.
There was a brief silence after Queen Hylia spoke. The words sank in. Tomorrow at dawn. They weren't wasting any time at all, Mipha thought.
"It will still be difficult, though," Mipha sighed. "I may have only met Repherhan very briefly, but I can tell he is a strong-willed man. Should he see your troops on Ploymus Mountain...then I don't know how he will react."
Queen Hylia smiled. "This is where you come in, Lady Mipha. I need you to be at Zora's Domain prior to our attack...and request that the Zoras aid us in defeating the Lynels."
"A-aid?" Mipha asked, almost incredulous. Queen Hylia nodded.
"I have been thinking long and hard about this," Queen Hylia spoke. "We may be able to defeat the Lynels ourselves, but there is still a great risk that the Zoras will consider our act one of trespass. Our efforts could yield nothing in terms of peace. To give ourselves the best chance of bringing our hostilities with the Zora to an end, we must work together in an act of unity. Zoras and Hylians, side by side, battling against a common enemy."
Queen Hylia then took a deep breath, as if preparing herself. "Even with our best fighters...it may not be enough if we go it alone."
"I understand how you see it working," Mipha said, somewhat low. "But it's such a big ask. I would be ending my exile...and even then, it is a very big ask. I don't know if my people will still listen to me…"
Queen Hylia gave a warm smile, noticing Mipha's confidence dipping. "I'm sorry to make such a big ask of you. I feel that I have no real right to ask it. But it is without doubt the Zora people still regard you very fondly. And the very fact you have travelled from the domain to this castle alive shows what power you still hold there. I need you to speak with your people, speak with Repheran, and warn them that this is going to happen. And once you have done this, we will need help. If there are any Zora fighters who could join us on Ploymus Mountain, petition their aid. I have no doubt we will be in for the fight of our lives, and we'll need all the help we can get."
Mipha closed her eyes. It was a tall task, to be sure. "You mean to ask my people to defy their king?"
"I fear only you can do it," Queen Hylia. "This is a battle we cannot lose. I saw how you spoke yesterday, Lady Mipha, and how you convinced even the hardest councillors to back this cause. If you could do that, then I believe in you. I know you can turn the tide at Zora's Domain. If we work together with the Zoras to rid Ploymus Mountain if the Lynels...that act of collaboration alone could mark the end of the tensions that have been brewing between our people."
Mipha thought long and hard. She thought of any lines she could use to fight back against the notion of defying King Repheran, but deep down she knew it was the right thing to do. She also knew the trip to Zora's Domain would be an incredibly difficult one: it was possible with speed to reach there in a day, but there would be very little rest along the way, and Mipha's old bones were already worn out from the travelling.
But was there any other choice?
Eventually, with a sigh, she agreed.
.
.
.
She waited anxiously by the edge of the pier that stretched out onto the East Reservoir Lake. She thought of all her predecessors, the Zora princesses of the past, and imagined that she was going through the same emotions and feelings that she was going through now. She couldn't help but feel a sense of dread: her mind fixated on what could go wrong as opposed to what didn't. Did her past kin think the same, she wondered?
Mipha had always had a strong hunch that she knew Link's measurements. They were similar in height, and every time the two were together in the early days, Mipha had always cast an eye upon his figure. At first it was simply to entertain fantasies: what it would be like to be so close to such a body, but also what that body could be wearing in particular. Through the ages, a Zora princess always presented her beloved with a set of specially crafted Zora Armour as a means of proposing marriage. And of course, knowing how she felt for him, sizing him up always seemed to entertain that particular fantasy as well. But as the two got to know each other more, Mipha grew more and more assured that it was Link whom she felt her heart belonged to. And so, she crafted the armour.
She knew it was a titanic risk, but knowing the impending threat of the Calamity, she wondered if she would ever get the opportunity to tell Link how she felt before more pressing matters were to take place.
Sitting there with her legs dipped in the cool lake water, she recalled the moment she completed the armour, threading into its fabric one of her very own scales. She recalled how her heart pounded against her chest as she bound a piece of herself to it. She knew what it meant, and she knew it was no light gesture.
And it felt so right. Even if he hadn't felt the same way for her, she refused to feel regret for the love she felt.
As things had transpired after the Calamity, Mipha had nothing to fear. Marriage seemed more a happy inevitability, rather than a risky game. And Link had said 'yes' before she even had the chance to ask! So why did she feel so very nervous, sitting by the waters edge, as she waited for Link to return?
She wondered whether the armour would still fit. It has been a while since it had been crafted. It sat unworn throughout the Calamity and had until now had never seen the light of day. Would he like it? Or would donning the armour suddenly spark some sudden realisation in him that this was not meant to be? That Zoras and Hylians weren't suited as husband and wife? That the legend of Princess Ruto and her love for a Hylian was just some old wives tale?
Despite all that had occurred to the contrary, these thoughts still swirled in her head. Mipha watched her shimmering reflection in the water, and closed her eyes to try and dispel the thoughts. Her stomach churned, filled with butterflies.
"A swim…" she whispered to herself. "Yes, that will help me to be calm. Just one lap."
And so she slid into the water, and began to gently swim around the edge of the lake, circling a calm Vah Ruta, focusing her mind on the movement of the water around her as she cut through it with her characteristic grace. As she thought, she began to feel calmer as she swam, moving through the water like a dove soaring through the sky. Swimming had always been therapeutic for Mipha; as a Zora, she was always one with the water.
She completed a lap of the lake and shot out from the surface, spinning through the air before landing on her feet at the edge of the pier. Water streamed down from her, creating a big puddle beneath her feet. And as she looked up, there he stood.
Her beloved Link, garbed in the Zora Armour.
.
.
.
The journey to Zora's Domain that day was an incredibly uncomfortable one. In order to quicken the journey, both Alannah and Mazia had decided to remain at Hyrule Castle to help with the attack preparations. Tekmo and Mipha therefore set out from the castle together shortly after agreeing their strategy. The carriage moved with extra urgency, which led to a much bumpier ride for Mipha. She tried her best to remain calm, given that she appreciated all Tekmo was doing for her, but she couldn't help but feel fed up with it all. She was tired, exhausted, hurting, and most of all ashamed: years and years ago she used to make these backbreaking journeys all the time, but now she couldn't even fathom a carriage ride. Time was a cruel thing indeed.
The convoy occasionally stopped so the horses could be watered, but unlike previous journeys, everything was completed swiftly and with haste. Tekmo barely spoke to Mipha, so focused was he on getting her to Inogo Bridge to be received by the Zoras once again, before the dawn of the following morning. He knew that if Mipha wasn't there to forewarn Repheran about the impending attack, then he would easily misconstrue the Hylian effort as an act of war, and all would be for naught.
Eventually though, as the sun was beginning to set, they did stop more definitively by a small hill, and a series of ponds.
"We've reached Zelo Pond, Lady Mipha." Tekmo announced as they stopped.
"Why are we stopping?" Mipha asked, her voice laced with exhaustion. Tekmo opened the carriage door.
"I appreciate we have been travelling intensively, but we have made good time, so we have an opportunity to stop and rest. We need to eat too: I hope you're hungry!"
Mipha realised why she was so exhausted: she hadn't eaten since breakfast at Hyrule Castle. Letting out a chuckle: "Yes, I suppose eating would be a very good idea."
As Tekmo was setting up the campsite, Mipha wearily took herself to the edge of the pond and dipped her feet into the cool water. The night was a mostly clear one; the odd cloud lashed against the sky, but they could not obscure the brilliance of the stars nor the radiance of the moon. It was a full moon; shining brightly; its aura reflected off the surface of the pond. It was serene, Mipha thought; perhaps a final night of peace and quiet before the storm to come. The minutes passed quickly as Mipha allowed herself to be in the moment, thinking of nothing else but the shimmering pond before her.
Soon, Tekmo had finished setting up the campsite and invited Mipha to join him. As she approached, she felt her heart lift a little: Tekmo had set up a lovely little campsite. Pillows adorned with Sheikah designs were set beside a hearty fire, and above it, a cooking pot was suspended. As she approached, she could smell the food that was being cooked within.
"It smells like fish…" she said, smiling.
"That's correct, Lady Mipha," Tekmo said. "Staminoka bass skewers, topped off with some rock salt. I know it's not much, but I know how exhausting this whole ordeal has been for you. So I thought I could cook us something to give us plenty of energy for the day ahead."
Tekmo helped Mipha to sit down next to her cushion. His cooking tools (a ladle and a spatula; he always liked to think of himself as a chef) were resting against a nearby fallen log, and on the opposite side of the camp were a pair of tents for them to sleep in. Before long the skewers were ready, and the two started to eat as the evening drew on.
"Tekmo, this is delicious!" Mipha spoke between bites of her skewer. She always loved fish, but it was always a difficult dish to master. Tekmo, however, seemed to have the chef's touch and she ate with vigour. Tekmo, funnily enough, allowed his decorum to drop a little and stuffed his face as well, proud of his handiwork.
"Thank you, Lady Mipha," he replied. "Please excuse if I'm not talking much...I'm very hungry."
Mipha giggled a little. "Of course you are, I can see that!" she said with a smile, taking another bite from her skewer.
After the meal was finished, Tekmo prepared a pot of tea; Kakariko's finest green tea, of course. He boiled the tea over the campfire, and added a few more logs to it once the kettle had been boiled. The two proceeded to share a cup, both lovely and warm to offset the growing cold of the night. As they sipped it, they began to talk.
"It's so strange…" Mipha hummed. "This time tomorrow, who knows what will become of us. I just hope Repherhan will listen to me. I hope the Zoras will all listen, though I know how prideful some of them are"
"Repherhan…" Tekmo said. "So he's your grandson, is he?"
"That's right," Mipha replied. "Though he doesn't quite feel like one to me. You have to understand, when we first came here to the domain...it was the first time I've ever seen him. Or any of my family since my exile, in fact."
"Is he...like you expected him to be?" Tekmo asked. He wondered whether he was prying too much, but Mipha continued to speak as if she were trying to dispel some uneasy feeling within her.
"He looks a lot like my brother," Mipha revealed. "Sidon. Though I've not seen him since my exile either. I've seen none of them other than Repherhan."
"But you keep in touch, right?" Tekmo asked. "I remember you saying you keep in touch via letters?"
"That's correct." Mipha said quietly. Temko watched as she gazed towards the fire. Even in her old age, the flickering flame still reflected like pools in her eyes. There was something bewitching about her, he thought.
"Have you ever thought about going to see them?" he asked gently. "I mean...you must know where they live, and I'm sure you could probably sneak out of Hateno Village for a few nights to…"
"It's out of the question." Mipha cut in abruptly. "You may not know this Tekmo, but I don't know where they live. When we write to each other, all the correspondence is filtered through Zora's Domain. They don't know where I am, and I don't know where they are. It was set out as such in the terms of my exile."
There was a brief silence. Tekmo felt awkward, and wondered what to say.
"...H-How many kids did you have?" he asked.
"E-excuse me?" Mipha asked back, slightly incredulous. Tekmo was blushing a little, but he didn't feel as though he should stop.
"I was just curious!" he said quickly. "I'm sorry if I stepped out of line!"
Miphs suddenly started to giggle, much to Tekmo's confusion. "Oh Tekmo, you haven't stepped out of line at all! I...I have seven children."
"Seven?" Tekmo asked.
"Yes, seven." Mipha replied. "Seven beautiful, wonderful children. I remember seeing them for the first time...it was the happiest day of my life. I would love to tell you their names, but...I can't identify them. Wouldn't want you to go looking for them, you know?"
Tekmo nodded. "Of course, I understand. So...do you know which one of your kids is the mother or father of Repherhan?"
"I...I have a hunch," Mipha hummed. "You know, he reminds me of him."
"Of who?" Tekmo asked.
"Link," Mipha said quietly. "He has his grandfather's eyes. The moment I saw them...I couldn't help but feel that Link was watching."
"Was it...strange?" Tekmo asked. "Marrying a Hylian? I mean...I can't imagine marrying a Zora. The idea of my beloved starting out as a lover and ending up as a carer doesn't seem quite right."
"I can understand how you would find it odd," Mipha explained. "In fact, it was as you say it is. We loved like no other for many, many years. But nobody can slow the sands of time, and eventually all things must pass. Link...did grow old, and grew more and more dependent on me to care for him as he aged. All this...and I'd not even graced middle age."
"Was it...hard?" Tekmo asked. Mipha's gaze was firmly on the fire now, deep in recollection.
"...No," she said after a thoughtful pause. "Well...challenging, yes. Heartbreaking to see my beloved becoming older, yes. But it was always the easiest decision of my life, Tekmo. I loved Link so, so much. When I first knew I had feelings for him, my heart exploded from my chest every day. I felt unimaginably alive just to be in his presence. And that he returned my feelings; knowing that he felt the same way...he gave me many, many years of heaven. Even towards the end, we still lived blissfully together in exile. I will always carry those memories with me to the grave. When I think of all the misfortune one can have in life...in reality, I've been incredibly lucky."
"I know how you feel…" Tekmo hummed. Mipha's eyes suddenly brightened as she looked to Tekmo.
"You do?" she asked. "Do you have a beloved?"
Tekmo couldn't help but hide a big grin. "Yep!" he confirmed. "I've got a wife and two kids...and a third one on the way."
"Oh Temko, that's wonderful news!" Mipha said, unleashing the heartiest smile Tekmo had seen from her. "Congratulations!"
"Ah, it's alright..." Tekmo said. "But when you were describing how you were feeling, it's the exact same set of feelings I went through. Nothing matches being in love, and loving someone. Knowing you'd die for them, and all that. I guess it's why no matter what happens tomorrow, I'll be making sure to leave alive."
"And we will," Mipha confirmed. "You for your family, and me...for Link."