Ruto struggled profusely, her heart pounding in her chest. All around her,
Zoras Domain was being destroyed. The high rising cavernous walls crumbled
apart as a mysterious creature cloaked in darkness slashed at the walls
with its long spiked tail. She was trapped under the water beneath a fallen
boulder, and could only look up in horror into the monster's glowing
emerald eyes...hearing screams...the screams of the Zoras as they fled in
terror-
All of a sudden, she was thrown back into Reality. Ruto screamed and sat up in her underwater bed, her gills opening and closing rapidly and fins flaring in the water. It was only a dream. In fright she broke to the surface, got out of the water and ran to the doorway of her room and looked out into Zoras Domain. Zoras milled about in the hallway, and some waved at her merrily until she turned and went back inside her room. Everything was as it should be. No one was screaming or running in terror, the walls were not caved in and broken. She had confirmed to herself that it was still a dream.
Although it may have been her imagination gone wrong, Ruto felt too wound up over it to go back to sleep. Her foot hurt though, because she had acted too quickly on it and it was still injured. Ruto winced in pain and touched her injured webbed foot lightly with one of her hands, but she couldn't stand staying in her room any longer. Slowly, she limped out of the room and into the hallways of Zoras Domain.
A group of male Zoras loitering near her doorway instantly stopped their discussion about the fish in Lake Hylia and looked at her curiously. Ruto knew they must have seen her look into the hallway minutes earlier, and were probably wondering why she looked so scared. In her opinion, she was suspicious as to why they chose to stay so close to her room when they could go almost anywhere else in Zoras Domain to talk. They were probably trying to spy on her, and see if her experience inside the Serpent's Lair changed her as drastically as some Zoras said. Ruto despised being the center of everyone's attention all the time after she came back to Zoras Domain. Even in the safety of her room, she wasn't protected from the scrutiny of her fellow Zoras.
"Are you ok princess?"
One of the males asked with an icy politeness. Ruto melted through his exterior as if dumping a bottle of blue fire on red ice, and could tell of his falsehood. She knew he probably thought she was crazy, either that or had the nerve to think she lied about defeating the evil water serpent. It was then it dawned on her as to who he was – he was a long time rival of Misu in the diving competition. Once she remembered his rivalry with Misu, his name came to her mind – Zale. Now that she remembered him, it was hard to forget about him. Zale disrespected her several times before and she never liked him. Even though he was at least three times more arrogant than she thought Misu was, in her mind he was also cruel. Zale had no respect for anyone in Zoras Domain except himself, which made her wonder why almost everyone gravitated to him like dolphins to a school of fish. It annoyed Ruto greatly, but she would not be like everyone else, and she would never have a conversation with someone like him.
With equal coldness, Ruto held her head high and glared at him with her piercing purple eyes. Surprisingly, Zale was not an overly large Zora and looked very average to anyone who first saw him. However, if you wandered close enough to him it was easy to notice he had shining diamond shaped silver scales all over his back and head fin, and almost abnormally strong and powerful limbs. Many female Zoras were attracted to Zale because of his silver scales, especially when he bragged that his scales helped him dive deeper than all the other Zoras. Ruto wanted to get even with him somehow for his bouts of disrespect toward her, but she knew now wasn't the time.
"I'm fine, thank you. I would not acquire any assistance from someone like you, Zale."
Ruto responded between gritted teeth, before she moved to pass them. Zale looked at his three other Zora companions and when Ruto came close to him he held up one of his hands in front of her, stopping her in place. Ruto took in a deep breath and looked into his shining eyes, eyes so dark they resembled an empty black abyss.
"Let me pass."
She managed to say calmly, feeling her temper boil in her veins. Zale smiled at her apparent anger, and moved his hand away. Before Ruto could move again, he quickly said mockingly, trying to tempt her into an argument with him.
"So Ruto, how are things going with Misu, the gold scaled Zora freak you call your husband? Have you 'bonded' with him yet, or are you both incompetent in that area of our Zora culture?"
Ruto's eyes flashed in anger, and trying to remain expressionless as to not give him satisfaction in making her upset. Since Zale and Misu were long time rivals from what she heard other Zoras say, Zale had reason now to torment her because she was married to Misu. He knew it wasn't her choice though, but probably found out she turned her father's proposal of divorcing Misu down. The rivalry between Zale and Misu had escalated to being more than just that, mainly on Zale's part because he took the competition far too seriously.
Not only was he Misu's rival and enemy, but he was her enemy now as well. Ruto hated thinking of it like that, but there was no other way of putting it. The only reason why he didn't pick on her as much as he tried picking on Misu and other innocent Zoras was because she was the princess, and she had enough power to banish him from Zoras Domain if she truly wished to. Thus, he stuck to the occasional nasty comment about her. Ruto flared her fins at him, never looking away once, as she snapped harshly.
"Misu is not a "freak" as you would call him because of his gold scales, which are far more fetching and attractive than yours. Every year since the day you entered the competition Misu has won, and outranked you no matter how hard you try. If you ever ask about my personal affairs with Misu again, I will ensure you shall be punished greatly for speaking so disrespectfully to me!" She wanted to smirk when he hesitated and said nothing in response, and for once she was glad she was the Zora princess and had such authority over someone like him.
"I have nothing further to say to you Zale."
Ruto finished victoriously, and continued on her way to the main area of Zoras Domain. From behind her she heard Zale mutter bitterly to his companions that she was a coward who never defeated the water serpent at all. She knew she could have spun around angrily and punished him then and there for defying her again, but it was the way he was and she didn't want all the Zoras to think she was being bossy in ordering him around, which was what Zale would convince everyone to think.
Putting that incident behind her as she did Zale himself, Ruto stood overlooking the water filled area. A torrent of water rushed down the waterfall and hit the calm waters below in a spray of white bubbles and mist. A few Zoras mingled in the area, and when seeing her they predictably waves and called out compliments to her. Ruto then noticed her husband standing at the top of the waterfall as he usually did, practicing his dives and acrobatics. Fortunately he didn't see her, though she remembered what they did the night before and wished so much to be with him. That would have to wait though, since Ruto wanted to have some time to herself first. She definitely didn't look forward to the great feast in her honor that was happening in the evening.
Half-heartedly Ruto walked to the exit of Zoras Domain, and into the bright morning sun. The waterfall blocking the entrance to Zoras Domain flowed powerfully downward in a spray of heavy mist more dense than the waterfall inside her home. The torrent of water was too strong for her to merely leap across onto the thin rocky bridges in front of it, so she was forced to dive downward into the river. Ruto plunged into the cold clear waters of the river and allowed its current to carry her downstream. She stayed under the surface of the water and floated on her back and closed her eyes, trying to relax and keep her thoughts blank.
She didn't know how long she remained that way floating downstream, nor was she worried about where she was going since as a child she would often let herself be carried by the current and always ended up in the moat of the castle in Hyrule Field. The sun blazed brightly in the sky, until suddenly it seemed to disappear and her body felt cool. In alarm Ruto opened her eyes to see what was going on. What she saw took her breath away and caused her heart to beat rapidly in her chest.
She had just floated beyond the pillar on the land part of Zoras River and entered Hyrule Field from around a sharp corner. Some of the land projected into the river close to where she was floating. Standing at the very edge of it was none other than Link, the Hero of Time. His mare Epona stood grazing behind him and Ruto was at such an angle in the water that the horse's figure blocked out the light in her direction.
Ruto couldn't believe it was he, the man she was formerly engaged to. Link stood tall and foreboding, his sword drawn and held tightly in one hand. His face expressed a cold seriousness that made Ruto feel very nervous. The young man's mouth was a straight line and his piercing blue eyes looked into hers, hinting slight surprise that he cleverly concealed. She knew for sure it was Link, since he held the legendary Master Sword, wore a mirrored shield on his back and was donned in his noticeable green tunic, white tights, gold gauntlets, green hat and thick brown boots. A warm breeze blew in his face, ruffling his long honey colored bangs.
Why was he near the river's edge? Ruto secretly wanted to think he was waiting for her, as if he knew she would be floating downstream somehow. In her heart she still had a place for him, but through all the battles she endured, she learned to harden her feelings and understand he wasn't meant for her. Just by gazing at his face, Ruto knew the battles and fears he endured had taken its toll on his character. She should have known that when he unexpectedly found her in the water temple. Link seemed almost...cold...and distant in his emotions. She knew so little about him though, the only way she could confirm her suspicions was by being the first to speak, since he didn't look like he would say anything to her.
"Link...?"
Ruto said in shock, watching for a sign his expression would change, but it didn't. Link moved slightly toward her in recognition, and she was glad he hadn't forgotten about her. The Hero of Time's gaze never left her, but it was still cold and icy. Finally after a momentary silence, Link said to Ruto's amazement.
"Yes Ruto, it is I, Link. I have been looking for you since you left the sacred realm. However...when I went to Zoras Domain to find you, I was told you disappeared..."
Ruto gasped, taken aback by what he said. She thought she was being foolish to think he might have been looking for her, but in fact it was true! She wasn't sure what to say, and her words came out choked with her surprise as emotions filled her heart and mind, wondering what he did after he defeated Morph and Ganondorf...
"A vicious lake dwelling serpent attacked my people, and I went inside its lair to rescue my husband and prevent the destruction of Zoras Domain..."
Link shifted slightly, and she could sense relief wash over him despite his coldness.
"You are married?"
He asked quietly, seeming amazed by what she did though distracted by the word
"husband" she used in her explanation. Ruto nodded and replied calmly, trying not to convince herself to feel guilty about being wed to Misu and not Link.
"Yes, recently actually. I was hoping you would be the guest of honor there, but I suppose your duty as Hero of Time kept you away, didn't it?"
Ruto knew it was not only that which kept him away from Zoras Domain – it was most likely her as well, since she tried to force him to marry her. It wasn't right and she knew it, and her foolish actions may have cost her his trust. Link needed the Zoras Sapphire to open the seal in the Temple of Time, so it wasn't his fault for taking it anyway and not exactly understanding what she was talking about when she said she would give it only to the man who would be her husband. Besides, it wasn't like it was a formal thing either, and Ruto had made the mistake of taking it way too seriously. She was young though, and she didn't fully understand Link or that he was about to sacrifice his childhood so he could be sent forward in time to save all of Hyrule and awaken as the Hero of Time.
After they parted ways in the sacred realm, it donned on Ruto that it wouldn't be fair for Link to sacrifice his adult years as well because he was already forced to do such heroic things and lose a part of what made him innocent. She owed him respect enough to understand why their destines forbid them to be together and that she needed to move on and think of him as her hero and her friend. She was married now, to a Zora she loved, and that was all she really needed. Ruto suspected Link had a secret affection for the Princess Zelda anyway, but she kept it to herself since it wasn't any of her business.
"I apologize for not coming as you requested."
Link said mechanically, and Ruto realized he probably thought she was guilt tripping him or something. During the times she encountered him, he had done more than enough for her. Ruto didn't mean her last statement to come across that way to him, and it was actually supposed to be a hinted joke. She wanted to shake her head at herself for being so stupid as to joke about something like that, and quickly added in to cover her mistake.
"Of course Link, you didn't have to come, I was forced to Marry Misu but we are quite happy together. Its just that I haven't seen you in ages, and I've been wondering what happened to you since the fall of Ganondorf."
Link looked at her curiously, though didn't say anything. Ruto thought he probably was afraid she would say something foolish like: even though I'm married to Misu, I really wish I was married to you, or something along those lines. She hated how her past actions made such an impact on what he thought of her, but it was by her own doing. When Ruto didn't say anything either, and there was no indication she thought that on her face, Link finally replied.
"Your actions are commendable, I know how difficult it is to face unknown dangers."
"Why...are you here then Link?"
Ruto asked looking at him and the longer their eyes met the harder she found it was for her to maintain her composure. She felt if she unleashed too many emotions she would look like a weak coward in front of him, since he seemed to be able to contain himself easily and keep his firm expression. Link moved closer to her, until his boots sank into the water and he stood in front of her. They were almost equal in height, but Ruto was slightly taller than him. Ruto knew he could see the anticipation burning in her eyes, as she wondered why he was such a mysterious and cold person. Link seemed to know now that she no longer wanted him to be her husband, and when he spoke again this time his voice sounded slightly more relaxed, as if talking to a friend he hadn't seen in a long while.
"I came because I saw you floating downstream as I rode on my horse. I have something that belongs to you, something that is rightfully yours."
Ruto frowned in wonderment, and began to wonder what he was talking about, until she spoke her thoughts to him slowly.
"Something...belonging to me? What do you mean?"
Link's cold blue eyes shone for a second while he reached into a small pouch at his waist and pulled out a familiar object. The sun's light bounced off of it and Ruto instantly felt overwhelmed with familiarity for it – it was the Zoras Sapphire. The sapphires glowed with a mysterious blue light as Link took Ruto's right hand in his and placed the object in her palm.
"I have already awoken as the Hero of Time, so I no longer need to keep the Zoras Sapphire. I want to give it back to you since it is, as you put it, your most precious possession..."
Ruto clutched the jewel tightly, but at the same time didn't want Link's hand to let go of hers. His words were so kind and noble; she couldn't help but be momentarily swept away. They stood looking at each other in silence, and for a time Ruto didn't know what to say. It seemed whenever she was around Link she never knew what words she had to speak. When she didn't say anything, she saw Link look at her in realization that he was still holding her hand, and he quickly let go and turned to his mare. Ruto was surprised to find how could his hands were until the strange icy feeling disappeared when he no longer held her hand in his.
Link didn't say anything further to her, and Ruto was desperate to find out more about the mysterious young Hylian who wore Kokiri style clothes. She would hate herself if she let him take off and never saw him again, and before she could stop herself she cried out suddenly.
"Please wait!"
She said those words just as Link was readying to mount Epona, and he appeared startled by her outcry, though expectedly kept it hidden in his cold expression. Ruto watched hopefully as the Hero of Time turned and looked at her before questioning.
"You do not wish for me to leave?"
Ruto shook her head, thinking that was the last thing she wanted him to do. She wasn't sure what more she could ask of him, but remembered the feast the Zoras were holding that evening. It seemed stupid to ask Link if he would join her, but she thought she might as well try anyway and hear his words once more before he rode away.
"Link...there is a feast tonight in celebration of the destruction of the water serpent. You probably have other...things...you must do, but I would be honored if you would attend."
He stared at her for a moment, but then walked toward her again and said to her surprise, his expression softening just slightly.
"It would be my pleasure to accept your invitation. It's been a while since I've had a decent meal..."
She didn't expect for him accept, and at first she just stood staring at him in disbelief until she realized she was being quite rude. Ruto thought Link was probably smiling underneath his cold expression, and secretly she was overjoyed to have him with her.
"Thank you Link...for everything."
Ruto said in nearly a whisper, as Link walked passed her and into the water. For a moment he had to swim at the surface, but he quickly made it to the dry land on the other side that led along Zora's River. Ruto had to hurry to catch up to him, and when he passed her he acknowledged her thanks with a swift nod of his head. His eyes stared directly in front of him as he walked, and Ruto followed until she got enough courage to walk beside him. There were so many questions in her mind, and the first one she asked seemed quite foolish.
"What about your horse? Won't she wander away?"
Link looked at her as though wondering why she asked that, and dismissed it with the same seriousness he always spoke with.
"No, Epona knows to wait for my return."
His answers were so direct it made Ruto nervous to say anything further until they reached Zoras Domain. As they made their way there though, Link was the one who began asking questions. The young man didn't seem to mind getting in and out of the water, and his tunic would quickly dry off under the bright morning sunlight. When they had to swim across a particularly deep area, his strong arms and legs carried him across with ease, and he didn't bother to use the fallen logs instead of swimming.
When they reached dry land again, Link stopped and turned to Ruto before asking carefully, trying to make conversation with the Zora princess.
"Why did you not remain in the sacred realm with the other sages?" Ruto was surprised he asked, since not many knew she was even a sage in the first place. She watched his steel like eyes gaze into hers, and saw water dripping from his bangs and down his muscular body. A tight long sleeved shirt hidden under his tunic and gauntlets covered his arms, and by merely glancing at it she could see every curve and swell of his strong muscles underneath. Pearly white tights covered his legs and since he was wet the tights stuck to his legs and revealed his powerful calves and partly covered lower thighs. She noticed he had powerful broad shoulders and a hard looking chest, but she dare not get close to him. It was no wonder many women in Hyrule fell in love with him, and why he was a close friend of Princess Zelda.
She was too stunned by his appearance to meet his gaze again, and turned her head away before closing her eyes gently, musing to herself and remembering his question. With a sigh, Ruto opened her eyes and said in a tone of voice that sounded distant and almost sad, but it was concealed so well Link would barely notice. The Hero of Time continued to look at her in the same manner, so cold yet serene. Like her, he was struggling with his emotions because so many battles had scarred him and made him nearly emotionless. That was one of the few things they shared, and one of the few things that was tearing them apart.
"The water...it means everything to me. I couldn't leave it, not for all of Hyrule. As the sage of water I did my part to seal Ganondorf inside the Sacred Realm, and I felt I no longer had a purpose in that place of infinite blackness. If I weren't allowed to return to my home, I would have probably died of loneliness. It is Zora instinct to survive no matter what, and returning to Zoras Domain was the only way I would keep myself alive. Yet even when I reside among my people again, I still feel out of place...and...alone."
Link said nothing, and she hoped she got through to him. At first Ruto was skeptical her words made any impact on him at all because his serious expression didn't change, but when he turned his back on her and folded his arms across his chest, she knew her words must have meant something to him. For a while there was silence, and that didn't surprise Ruto, until Link's eyes shifted and looked at her in a way she had never seen before. For the first time since their encounter, his coldness gave way just enough so she could see through and all that was left was...sadness. His voice sounded in the air, which was surprisingly calm, and Ruto knew he was trying to cover it up.
"I can relate to your experiences Ruto. More than you may ever know. Like you, I feel alone and lost from all society. I gave up my childhood – my innocence, to travel through time and endure pain, fear and rejection. I thought I was different from my Kokiri friends, but I never understood how greatly my differences were until I was told I wasn't a Kokiri at all but a Hylian. Now, none of the Kokiri recognize me or know who I am, and I can never go back."
Ruto looked at him in shock, wondering why he was telling her these things. She thought he had a strong dislike for her, but now it seemed as if he found something they had in common and wanted to share it with her since he knew no one else. She listened intently as he continued. "After I defeated Ganon...Zelda...she offered to send me back in time so I could relive my childhood years and grow up again. No matter how much I longed to become a child, I knew I couldn't. Too many things scarred me, and I would never truly be a Kokiri, and the forest would seem so empty without Saria. I declined, and when Zelda and I parted ways, I began to wander through out Hyrule – alone. I don't know what I'm searching for, if anything, but I haven't found it yet."
He turned fully around and looked into her eyes again, and Ruto wondered why using eye contact all the time was so important to him. Perhaps the only way he could experience his own emotions was by observing how others reacted. His eyes still looked as cold as steel, and she couldn't even begin to imagine the torment and pain he must have went though during his travels. Ruto thought Link looked as if he wanted to cry, but it seemed he wasn't allowing any tears to form in his eyes. She took note his eyes would be so beautiful and brilliant if he would only change his icy expression. Not wanting to make him feel worse, she spoke gently to him in an attempt to help him deal with his battle scars – and her own.
"Sheik once told me after he saved me when Zoras Domain froze over that time flows like a river, and eventually all the scars we acquired in our lives will hurt less if we learn put things in the past and look to the future. I think we both need to do that Link, because if we try I know our scars will heal – even if they can't disappear, we will feel better in the end. That is all I have to say, because I trusted Sheik's words and still do."
Link nodded, before continuing walking, but slower so Ruto could keep up with him. He sighed softly as though contemplating her words, until he said carefully.
"Ruto, I hope you know that Sheik was Zelda in disguise?"
Ruto smiled slightly, and shook her head, trying to make him see her point.
"Yes, but its not about Sheik/Zelda or whoever. It's the message given, and it's important you understand that. If you do, perhaps it would help you move on. Of course its going to be difficult, I am not implying even you could do it within a matter of days, but it's the only way...and it will take time."
"Your right. Even though I am the Hero of Time, I almost wish I could make the time it would take move faster so I could feel just a bit more like I used to before all of this happened."
Link reminisced, and his blue eyes looked ahead as usual when he walked. Ruto was astounded to learn there was so much in depth things about him she never knew until now, and felt for the first time in her life she could actually relate to someone who wasn't a Zora. Non-Zora people usually mocked her because she had fins and gills, but he didn't seem to really care.
"I should thank you Ruto, because you have given me valuable advice I could receive from no one else. Maybe it was you I was searching for all along, because you could tell me something that could comfort me. Thank you..."
His voice drifted away in the last two words he spoke, and at that moment they reached the thunderous waterfall blocking the entrance to Zoras Domain. Link made his way up the thin rocky bridges until he reached the one in front of the waterfall and stood on the tablet of stone dug into it that bore the legendary triforce – the symbol of Hyrule's royal family. Ruto watched him remove a small light brown colored Ocarina from his pocket and bring the instrument to his lips. Seconds later a beautiful sonorous melody filled the air, with low and high tones Ruto knew as Zelda's Lullaby.
Link played the song so perfectly and beautifully; Ruto listened to every note and felt almost disappointed when he finished. The great waterfall's torrent of water magically sliced in half to allow them passage into Zoras Domain. Link turned back and looked at her, his eyes glinting faintly for a moment, until he hopped across and disappeared inside. Ruto followed quickly behind, and the second she crossed the water fell heavily once more in an array of mist.
All of a sudden, she was thrown back into Reality. Ruto screamed and sat up in her underwater bed, her gills opening and closing rapidly and fins flaring in the water. It was only a dream. In fright she broke to the surface, got out of the water and ran to the doorway of her room and looked out into Zoras Domain. Zoras milled about in the hallway, and some waved at her merrily until she turned and went back inside her room. Everything was as it should be. No one was screaming or running in terror, the walls were not caved in and broken. She had confirmed to herself that it was still a dream.
Although it may have been her imagination gone wrong, Ruto felt too wound up over it to go back to sleep. Her foot hurt though, because she had acted too quickly on it and it was still injured. Ruto winced in pain and touched her injured webbed foot lightly with one of her hands, but she couldn't stand staying in her room any longer. Slowly, she limped out of the room and into the hallways of Zoras Domain.
A group of male Zoras loitering near her doorway instantly stopped their discussion about the fish in Lake Hylia and looked at her curiously. Ruto knew they must have seen her look into the hallway minutes earlier, and were probably wondering why she looked so scared. In her opinion, she was suspicious as to why they chose to stay so close to her room when they could go almost anywhere else in Zoras Domain to talk. They were probably trying to spy on her, and see if her experience inside the Serpent's Lair changed her as drastically as some Zoras said. Ruto despised being the center of everyone's attention all the time after she came back to Zoras Domain. Even in the safety of her room, she wasn't protected from the scrutiny of her fellow Zoras.
"Are you ok princess?"
One of the males asked with an icy politeness. Ruto melted through his exterior as if dumping a bottle of blue fire on red ice, and could tell of his falsehood. She knew he probably thought she was crazy, either that or had the nerve to think she lied about defeating the evil water serpent. It was then it dawned on her as to who he was – he was a long time rival of Misu in the diving competition. Once she remembered his rivalry with Misu, his name came to her mind – Zale. Now that she remembered him, it was hard to forget about him. Zale disrespected her several times before and she never liked him. Even though he was at least three times more arrogant than she thought Misu was, in her mind he was also cruel. Zale had no respect for anyone in Zoras Domain except himself, which made her wonder why almost everyone gravitated to him like dolphins to a school of fish. It annoyed Ruto greatly, but she would not be like everyone else, and she would never have a conversation with someone like him.
With equal coldness, Ruto held her head high and glared at him with her piercing purple eyes. Surprisingly, Zale was not an overly large Zora and looked very average to anyone who first saw him. However, if you wandered close enough to him it was easy to notice he had shining diamond shaped silver scales all over his back and head fin, and almost abnormally strong and powerful limbs. Many female Zoras were attracted to Zale because of his silver scales, especially when he bragged that his scales helped him dive deeper than all the other Zoras. Ruto wanted to get even with him somehow for his bouts of disrespect toward her, but she knew now wasn't the time.
"I'm fine, thank you. I would not acquire any assistance from someone like you, Zale."
Ruto responded between gritted teeth, before she moved to pass them. Zale looked at his three other Zora companions and when Ruto came close to him he held up one of his hands in front of her, stopping her in place. Ruto took in a deep breath and looked into his shining eyes, eyes so dark they resembled an empty black abyss.
"Let me pass."
She managed to say calmly, feeling her temper boil in her veins. Zale smiled at her apparent anger, and moved his hand away. Before Ruto could move again, he quickly said mockingly, trying to tempt her into an argument with him.
"So Ruto, how are things going with Misu, the gold scaled Zora freak you call your husband? Have you 'bonded' with him yet, or are you both incompetent in that area of our Zora culture?"
Ruto's eyes flashed in anger, and trying to remain expressionless as to not give him satisfaction in making her upset. Since Zale and Misu were long time rivals from what she heard other Zoras say, Zale had reason now to torment her because she was married to Misu. He knew it wasn't her choice though, but probably found out she turned her father's proposal of divorcing Misu down. The rivalry between Zale and Misu had escalated to being more than just that, mainly on Zale's part because he took the competition far too seriously.
Not only was he Misu's rival and enemy, but he was her enemy now as well. Ruto hated thinking of it like that, but there was no other way of putting it. The only reason why he didn't pick on her as much as he tried picking on Misu and other innocent Zoras was because she was the princess, and she had enough power to banish him from Zoras Domain if she truly wished to. Thus, he stuck to the occasional nasty comment about her. Ruto flared her fins at him, never looking away once, as she snapped harshly.
"Misu is not a "freak" as you would call him because of his gold scales, which are far more fetching and attractive than yours. Every year since the day you entered the competition Misu has won, and outranked you no matter how hard you try. If you ever ask about my personal affairs with Misu again, I will ensure you shall be punished greatly for speaking so disrespectfully to me!" She wanted to smirk when he hesitated and said nothing in response, and for once she was glad she was the Zora princess and had such authority over someone like him.
"I have nothing further to say to you Zale."
Ruto finished victoriously, and continued on her way to the main area of Zoras Domain. From behind her she heard Zale mutter bitterly to his companions that she was a coward who never defeated the water serpent at all. She knew she could have spun around angrily and punished him then and there for defying her again, but it was the way he was and she didn't want all the Zoras to think she was being bossy in ordering him around, which was what Zale would convince everyone to think.
Putting that incident behind her as she did Zale himself, Ruto stood overlooking the water filled area. A torrent of water rushed down the waterfall and hit the calm waters below in a spray of white bubbles and mist. A few Zoras mingled in the area, and when seeing her they predictably waves and called out compliments to her. Ruto then noticed her husband standing at the top of the waterfall as he usually did, practicing his dives and acrobatics. Fortunately he didn't see her, though she remembered what they did the night before and wished so much to be with him. That would have to wait though, since Ruto wanted to have some time to herself first. She definitely didn't look forward to the great feast in her honor that was happening in the evening.
Half-heartedly Ruto walked to the exit of Zoras Domain, and into the bright morning sun. The waterfall blocking the entrance to Zoras Domain flowed powerfully downward in a spray of heavy mist more dense than the waterfall inside her home. The torrent of water was too strong for her to merely leap across onto the thin rocky bridges in front of it, so she was forced to dive downward into the river. Ruto plunged into the cold clear waters of the river and allowed its current to carry her downstream. She stayed under the surface of the water and floated on her back and closed her eyes, trying to relax and keep her thoughts blank.
She didn't know how long she remained that way floating downstream, nor was she worried about where she was going since as a child she would often let herself be carried by the current and always ended up in the moat of the castle in Hyrule Field. The sun blazed brightly in the sky, until suddenly it seemed to disappear and her body felt cool. In alarm Ruto opened her eyes to see what was going on. What she saw took her breath away and caused her heart to beat rapidly in her chest.
She had just floated beyond the pillar on the land part of Zoras River and entered Hyrule Field from around a sharp corner. Some of the land projected into the river close to where she was floating. Standing at the very edge of it was none other than Link, the Hero of Time. His mare Epona stood grazing behind him and Ruto was at such an angle in the water that the horse's figure blocked out the light in her direction.
Ruto couldn't believe it was he, the man she was formerly engaged to. Link stood tall and foreboding, his sword drawn and held tightly in one hand. His face expressed a cold seriousness that made Ruto feel very nervous. The young man's mouth was a straight line and his piercing blue eyes looked into hers, hinting slight surprise that he cleverly concealed. She knew for sure it was Link, since he held the legendary Master Sword, wore a mirrored shield on his back and was donned in his noticeable green tunic, white tights, gold gauntlets, green hat and thick brown boots. A warm breeze blew in his face, ruffling his long honey colored bangs.
Why was he near the river's edge? Ruto secretly wanted to think he was waiting for her, as if he knew she would be floating downstream somehow. In her heart she still had a place for him, but through all the battles she endured, she learned to harden her feelings and understand he wasn't meant for her. Just by gazing at his face, Ruto knew the battles and fears he endured had taken its toll on his character. She should have known that when he unexpectedly found her in the water temple. Link seemed almost...cold...and distant in his emotions. She knew so little about him though, the only way she could confirm her suspicions was by being the first to speak, since he didn't look like he would say anything to her.
"Link...?"
Ruto said in shock, watching for a sign his expression would change, but it didn't. Link moved slightly toward her in recognition, and she was glad he hadn't forgotten about her. The Hero of Time's gaze never left her, but it was still cold and icy. Finally after a momentary silence, Link said to Ruto's amazement.
"Yes Ruto, it is I, Link. I have been looking for you since you left the sacred realm. However...when I went to Zoras Domain to find you, I was told you disappeared..."
Ruto gasped, taken aback by what he said. She thought she was being foolish to think he might have been looking for her, but in fact it was true! She wasn't sure what to say, and her words came out choked with her surprise as emotions filled her heart and mind, wondering what he did after he defeated Morph and Ganondorf...
"A vicious lake dwelling serpent attacked my people, and I went inside its lair to rescue my husband and prevent the destruction of Zoras Domain..."
Link shifted slightly, and she could sense relief wash over him despite his coldness.
"You are married?"
He asked quietly, seeming amazed by what she did though distracted by the word
"husband" she used in her explanation. Ruto nodded and replied calmly, trying not to convince herself to feel guilty about being wed to Misu and not Link.
"Yes, recently actually. I was hoping you would be the guest of honor there, but I suppose your duty as Hero of Time kept you away, didn't it?"
Ruto knew it was not only that which kept him away from Zoras Domain – it was most likely her as well, since she tried to force him to marry her. It wasn't right and she knew it, and her foolish actions may have cost her his trust. Link needed the Zoras Sapphire to open the seal in the Temple of Time, so it wasn't his fault for taking it anyway and not exactly understanding what she was talking about when she said she would give it only to the man who would be her husband. Besides, it wasn't like it was a formal thing either, and Ruto had made the mistake of taking it way too seriously. She was young though, and she didn't fully understand Link or that he was about to sacrifice his childhood so he could be sent forward in time to save all of Hyrule and awaken as the Hero of Time.
After they parted ways in the sacred realm, it donned on Ruto that it wouldn't be fair for Link to sacrifice his adult years as well because he was already forced to do such heroic things and lose a part of what made him innocent. She owed him respect enough to understand why their destines forbid them to be together and that she needed to move on and think of him as her hero and her friend. She was married now, to a Zora she loved, and that was all she really needed. Ruto suspected Link had a secret affection for the Princess Zelda anyway, but she kept it to herself since it wasn't any of her business.
"I apologize for not coming as you requested."
Link said mechanically, and Ruto realized he probably thought she was guilt tripping him or something. During the times she encountered him, he had done more than enough for her. Ruto didn't mean her last statement to come across that way to him, and it was actually supposed to be a hinted joke. She wanted to shake her head at herself for being so stupid as to joke about something like that, and quickly added in to cover her mistake.
"Of course Link, you didn't have to come, I was forced to Marry Misu but we are quite happy together. Its just that I haven't seen you in ages, and I've been wondering what happened to you since the fall of Ganondorf."
Link looked at her curiously, though didn't say anything. Ruto thought he probably was afraid she would say something foolish like: even though I'm married to Misu, I really wish I was married to you, or something along those lines. She hated how her past actions made such an impact on what he thought of her, but it was by her own doing. When Ruto didn't say anything either, and there was no indication she thought that on her face, Link finally replied.
"Your actions are commendable, I know how difficult it is to face unknown dangers."
"Why...are you here then Link?"
Ruto asked looking at him and the longer their eyes met the harder she found it was for her to maintain her composure. She felt if she unleashed too many emotions she would look like a weak coward in front of him, since he seemed to be able to contain himself easily and keep his firm expression. Link moved closer to her, until his boots sank into the water and he stood in front of her. They were almost equal in height, but Ruto was slightly taller than him. Ruto knew he could see the anticipation burning in her eyes, as she wondered why he was such a mysterious and cold person. Link seemed to know now that she no longer wanted him to be her husband, and when he spoke again this time his voice sounded slightly more relaxed, as if talking to a friend he hadn't seen in a long while.
"I came because I saw you floating downstream as I rode on my horse. I have something that belongs to you, something that is rightfully yours."
Ruto frowned in wonderment, and began to wonder what he was talking about, until she spoke her thoughts to him slowly.
"Something...belonging to me? What do you mean?"
Link's cold blue eyes shone for a second while he reached into a small pouch at his waist and pulled out a familiar object. The sun's light bounced off of it and Ruto instantly felt overwhelmed with familiarity for it – it was the Zoras Sapphire. The sapphires glowed with a mysterious blue light as Link took Ruto's right hand in his and placed the object in her palm.
"I have already awoken as the Hero of Time, so I no longer need to keep the Zoras Sapphire. I want to give it back to you since it is, as you put it, your most precious possession..."
Ruto clutched the jewel tightly, but at the same time didn't want Link's hand to let go of hers. His words were so kind and noble; she couldn't help but be momentarily swept away. They stood looking at each other in silence, and for a time Ruto didn't know what to say. It seemed whenever she was around Link she never knew what words she had to speak. When she didn't say anything, she saw Link look at her in realization that he was still holding her hand, and he quickly let go and turned to his mare. Ruto was surprised to find how could his hands were until the strange icy feeling disappeared when he no longer held her hand in his.
Link didn't say anything further to her, and Ruto was desperate to find out more about the mysterious young Hylian who wore Kokiri style clothes. She would hate herself if she let him take off and never saw him again, and before she could stop herself she cried out suddenly.
"Please wait!"
She said those words just as Link was readying to mount Epona, and he appeared startled by her outcry, though expectedly kept it hidden in his cold expression. Ruto watched hopefully as the Hero of Time turned and looked at her before questioning.
"You do not wish for me to leave?"
Ruto shook her head, thinking that was the last thing she wanted him to do. She wasn't sure what more she could ask of him, but remembered the feast the Zoras were holding that evening. It seemed stupid to ask Link if he would join her, but she thought she might as well try anyway and hear his words once more before he rode away.
"Link...there is a feast tonight in celebration of the destruction of the water serpent. You probably have other...things...you must do, but I would be honored if you would attend."
He stared at her for a moment, but then walked toward her again and said to her surprise, his expression softening just slightly.
"It would be my pleasure to accept your invitation. It's been a while since I've had a decent meal..."
She didn't expect for him accept, and at first she just stood staring at him in disbelief until she realized she was being quite rude. Ruto thought Link was probably smiling underneath his cold expression, and secretly she was overjoyed to have him with her.
"Thank you Link...for everything."
Ruto said in nearly a whisper, as Link walked passed her and into the water. For a moment he had to swim at the surface, but he quickly made it to the dry land on the other side that led along Zora's River. Ruto had to hurry to catch up to him, and when he passed her he acknowledged her thanks with a swift nod of his head. His eyes stared directly in front of him as he walked, and Ruto followed until she got enough courage to walk beside him. There were so many questions in her mind, and the first one she asked seemed quite foolish.
"What about your horse? Won't she wander away?"
Link looked at her as though wondering why she asked that, and dismissed it with the same seriousness he always spoke with.
"No, Epona knows to wait for my return."
His answers were so direct it made Ruto nervous to say anything further until they reached Zoras Domain. As they made their way there though, Link was the one who began asking questions. The young man didn't seem to mind getting in and out of the water, and his tunic would quickly dry off under the bright morning sunlight. When they had to swim across a particularly deep area, his strong arms and legs carried him across with ease, and he didn't bother to use the fallen logs instead of swimming.
When they reached dry land again, Link stopped and turned to Ruto before asking carefully, trying to make conversation with the Zora princess.
"Why did you not remain in the sacred realm with the other sages?" Ruto was surprised he asked, since not many knew she was even a sage in the first place. She watched his steel like eyes gaze into hers, and saw water dripping from his bangs and down his muscular body. A tight long sleeved shirt hidden under his tunic and gauntlets covered his arms, and by merely glancing at it she could see every curve and swell of his strong muscles underneath. Pearly white tights covered his legs and since he was wet the tights stuck to his legs and revealed his powerful calves and partly covered lower thighs. She noticed he had powerful broad shoulders and a hard looking chest, but she dare not get close to him. It was no wonder many women in Hyrule fell in love with him, and why he was a close friend of Princess Zelda.
She was too stunned by his appearance to meet his gaze again, and turned her head away before closing her eyes gently, musing to herself and remembering his question. With a sigh, Ruto opened her eyes and said in a tone of voice that sounded distant and almost sad, but it was concealed so well Link would barely notice. The Hero of Time continued to look at her in the same manner, so cold yet serene. Like her, he was struggling with his emotions because so many battles had scarred him and made him nearly emotionless. That was one of the few things they shared, and one of the few things that was tearing them apart.
"The water...it means everything to me. I couldn't leave it, not for all of Hyrule. As the sage of water I did my part to seal Ganondorf inside the Sacred Realm, and I felt I no longer had a purpose in that place of infinite blackness. If I weren't allowed to return to my home, I would have probably died of loneliness. It is Zora instinct to survive no matter what, and returning to Zoras Domain was the only way I would keep myself alive. Yet even when I reside among my people again, I still feel out of place...and...alone."
Link said nothing, and she hoped she got through to him. At first Ruto was skeptical her words made any impact on him at all because his serious expression didn't change, but when he turned his back on her and folded his arms across his chest, she knew her words must have meant something to him. For a while there was silence, and that didn't surprise Ruto, until Link's eyes shifted and looked at her in a way she had never seen before. For the first time since their encounter, his coldness gave way just enough so she could see through and all that was left was...sadness. His voice sounded in the air, which was surprisingly calm, and Ruto knew he was trying to cover it up.
"I can relate to your experiences Ruto. More than you may ever know. Like you, I feel alone and lost from all society. I gave up my childhood – my innocence, to travel through time and endure pain, fear and rejection. I thought I was different from my Kokiri friends, but I never understood how greatly my differences were until I was told I wasn't a Kokiri at all but a Hylian. Now, none of the Kokiri recognize me or know who I am, and I can never go back."
Ruto looked at him in shock, wondering why he was telling her these things. She thought he had a strong dislike for her, but now it seemed as if he found something they had in common and wanted to share it with her since he knew no one else. She listened intently as he continued. "After I defeated Ganon...Zelda...she offered to send me back in time so I could relive my childhood years and grow up again. No matter how much I longed to become a child, I knew I couldn't. Too many things scarred me, and I would never truly be a Kokiri, and the forest would seem so empty without Saria. I declined, and when Zelda and I parted ways, I began to wander through out Hyrule – alone. I don't know what I'm searching for, if anything, but I haven't found it yet."
He turned fully around and looked into her eyes again, and Ruto wondered why using eye contact all the time was so important to him. Perhaps the only way he could experience his own emotions was by observing how others reacted. His eyes still looked as cold as steel, and she couldn't even begin to imagine the torment and pain he must have went though during his travels. Ruto thought Link looked as if he wanted to cry, but it seemed he wasn't allowing any tears to form in his eyes. She took note his eyes would be so beautiful and brilliant if he would only change his icy expression. Not wanting to make him feel worse, she spoke gently to him in an attempt to help him deal with his battle scars – and her own.
"Sheik once told me after he saved me when Zoras Domain froze over that time flows like a river, and eventually all the scars we acquired in our lives will hurt less if we learn put things in the past and look to the future. I think we both need to do that Link, because if we try I know our scars will heal – even if they can't disappear, we will feel better in the end. That is all I have to say, because I trusted Sheik's words and still do."
Link nodded, before continuing walking, but slower so Ruto could keep up with him. He sighed softly as though contemplating her words, until he said carefully.
"Ruto, I hope you know that Sheik was Zelda in disguise?"
Ruto smiled slightly, and shook her head, trying to make him see her point.
"Yes, but its not about Sheik/Zelda or whoever. It's the message given, and it's important you understand that. If you do, perhaps it would help you move on. Of course its going to be difficult, I am not implying even you could do it within a matter of days, but it's the only way...and it will take time."
"Your right. Even though I am the Hero of Time, I almost wish I could make the time it would take move faster so I could feel just a bit more like I used to before all of this happened."
Link reminisced, and his blue eyes looked ahead as usual when he walked. Ruto was astounded to learn there was so much in depth things about him she never knew until now, and felt for the first time in her life she could actually relate to someone who wasn't a Zora. Non-Zora people usually mocked her because she had fins and gills, but he didn't seem to really care.
"I should thank you Ruto, because you have given me valuable advice I could receive from no one else. Maybe it was you I was searching for all along, because you could tell me something that could comfort me. Thank you..."
His voice drifted away in the last two words he spoke, and at that moment they reached the thunderous waterfall blocking the entrance to Zoras Domain. Link made his way up the thin rocky bridges until he reached the one in front of the waterfall and stood on the tablet of stone dug into it that bore the legendary triforce – the symbol of Hyrule's royal family. Ruto watched him remove a small light brown colored Ocarina from his pocket and bring the instrument to his lips. Seconds later a beautiful sonorous melody filled the air, with low and high tones Ruto knew as Zelda's Lullaby.
Link played the song so perfectly and beautifully; Ruto listened to every note and felt almost disappointed when he finished. The great waterfall's torrent of water magically sliced in half to allow them passage into Zoras Domain. Link turned back and looked at her, his eyes glinting faintly for a moment, until he hopped across and disappeared inside. Ruto followed quickly behind, and the second she crossed the water fell heavily once more in an array of mist.