Some time had passed since the disheartening of the ceremony. The divine beasts were well on their way to being fully operational, but not without their own distinct sets of problems. Vah Rudania was mobile but Daruk was struggling with its weaponry functionality. Vah Naboris was the most puzzle-like and while Urbosa was more than adept at solving the riddles of the giant camel-shaped machine, there were several pathways she was struggling to access that limited the machine's capabilities for the time being. Mipha was experiencing mobility issues from Vah Rutah having been left stagnant in a body of water for an extended period; substantial repairs were needed. Revali's mechanical charge, Vah Medoh, was in the air and soaring, but he had discovered some functions in the controls that while they "worked," he admitted he could find no actual purpose related to them; they changed nothing perceptible, far as he could tell.
The Shiekah were helpful with many of these problems which came down to relatively simple troubleshooting of the technology. The repairs on Vah Rutah were going to be laborious but not extensive. Urbosa was even consulting with the Shiekah about the power lines and managing their functions. Zelda had finished with Vah Rudania and was off to establish the mysterious inner workings of Vah Medoh that so eluded Revali.
As always, Link remained by her side. From time to time, she found herself glancing at the weapon on his back. It was not that long ago that she had asked him about whether he heard the voice of the legendary blade speak to him, and he had given her no answer. Whether this was his trademark silence, or proof that the sword was mute, she could not guess.
They arrived at the base of the Rito village nearing dusk. Something about the pallor of twilight cast on the rustic wood homes of the avian members of this tribe left Zelda feeling strange. It was not quite sadness, but the look of it all evoked loss to her, like a secret unspoken past of great tragedy.
It was true that Zelda was an incredible scholar, and it was because of this she knew that the histories of other nations were heavily editorialized upon or often neglected entirely by her tutors. What knowledge she had acquired about some of these more obscure histories, she uncovered on her own, evading the tidy narratives of her father's hired tutors. While her primary interest was biological study, she had access to some of the best historians in Hyrule and took that to her advantage.
The history of the Rito had been something her scholars did not emphasize, and Zelda could not help but to wonder for what reason they evaded this selection. It suggested to her that there was something to hide. So dig she did. What little she was able to uncover was not entirely unexpected, but still startling.
Rulers throughout history generally want to be perceived as magnanimous and beneficent to their citizens, but Zelda was deeply aware that this appearance could oft be illusory. Nations of peace were not nations of peace without great cost.
She had discovered the Rito to be a fiercely independent tribe and not typically inclined to collaborate, for the sake of peace or any other objective. Yet submit they did, to a kingdom unable to reach the skies for themselves. And what Hyrule had offered in exchange in this arrangement was something she could not uncover. Was it just submission? Or something more? Just how does one go to war with a nation of people that can literally fly out of reach?
Zelda had her theories. Having at one time desired to be a historian, she had discussed previously with several other scholars in similar standing what they knew or supposed. There had once been a great conflict, that was sure, and it was known among them that the Rito had lost after a long fought, difficult battle. There were rumors of starvation tactics, a focus on archery and long-flung trebuchets, the development of canons made potent by a mystery powder found in the deep, hot caves of the Goron region, and even a poison made to disperse in the air that was specifically harmful to bird-type morphologies.
What remained unclear was the names of the leaders who spearheaded these designs. Zelda hoped her father had not been among them.
As they walked up the many suspension bridges, Zelda admired the Rito as they began to swoop in for the night's rest. They were primarily active diurnally, though there were some rogue birds here and there who were nocturnally inclined. Their graceful descents from the heights of the sky were like those of a pair of dancers, one raising the other to the heavens then lowering that partner to the floor once more. It was so elegant and lithe, yet she wondered if they, the Rito, would perceive themselves similarly.
They were presented to a single cot in a single roost that was more like a gazebo than a room. Zelda blushed at this, and Link blinked at the sight, not sure whether he should take action about the matter. He knew for sure what Zelda would be thinking, and hoo boy, that was no good.
Before either of them had even made a full rotation to turn back to the attendant who led them to the adjoining roost of the inn, a smug voice bounded in:
"I thought I said the preparations were for two rooms, Nabaki."
There stood Revali, face to face with the beautiful bird girl who seemed a bit stunned. "I'm sorry, Master Revali, but we have only one single room available for tonight. There was a band of traveling merchants that came and took up all the others; one of my assistants forgot that there were TWO rooms on hold..."
She spared a meaningful glance to the young Hylian woman working behind the desk. She was very young, clearly marked with the ribbons of a trainee.
Revali continued, "This is the future queen of Hyrule. Surely we can find somewhere else to accommodate the Knight."
"I'm so sorry, but we have nothing else to offer."
Before Link could chime in, Revali pressed for a solution:
"Is there not a cot or hammock in the general space?"
She shook her head. "Every bed is filled. We have no spares as we loaned them all to the merchants so they could fit more in the rooms. We so rarely see travelers… It's unprecedented, really."
"Surely we could move someone. There has to be someone who would gladly give up their bed for the princess."
Zelda interjected, "You'll do nothing of the sort on my behalf!"
Link and Revali blinked at Zelda's outburst of assertiveness. The two exchanged glances and remained silent, both desperate to develop a solution. Just as Link began to raise his hand, Revali cut him off:
"Link will roost with me. I have a spare hammock, and Zelda can remain in this roost alone for the night."
Link opened his mouth to suggest this would not do as it was his solemn duty to remain near the princess, but before he could utter a word or even take in the breath for one, Zelda latched onto this solution with irrepressible delight.
"Oh, Revali, you are too kind to share your space with Link! I'm sure he will be most flattered by your generosity."
Revali saw the slight flare of something in Link's eyes. Was it jealousy? Rage? Impotence? Good goddess, did he hope it was a sense of impotence. Zelda had worked the young warrior into a corner; even if he had wished to insist on staying close to her, his rejection of the accommodations would be most impolite, something Zelda wouldn't abide at all.
"It's settled then. Do not fret, Link. We will be only a few doors down. There are other warriors constantly monitoring the sky and patrolling the walking paths. She will be perfectly safe. Surely someone of your overwhelming talents can protect her from that distance should any danger arise."
Zelda's eyes widened in surprise of Revali's bluntness. She had been made aware (in Urbosa's confidence) that Revali did not think very highly of Link, but the proud Rito did not even attempt to veil his sarcasm and she could not help but to wonder why it was that he felt comfortable to display it so openly, especially around her it seemed. Urbosa had suggested this dislike seemed mild at best.
Link nodded, and Zelda sensed in him a shift in attitude. She had become used to his prolonged silences, his absolute abstinence of speech, so she had spent a great deal of time trying to learn how to recognize his attitudes, both with bodily language, facial cues, and even something of his soul's resonance.
He was teetering close to anger, but he did not let on past something of a sharp whisper in his eyes. To be fair, there was always in those clear blue eyes a kind of danger. The blue was sharp, piercing like the blade of the master sword. Sometimes, when Link looked off into the distance, she tried to penetrate those depths and found herself fending off a stabbing, unrelenting chill. He was not cold or inhuman, to be sure, but the self-imposed distance of his silence surely did nothing to make his presence more warm or welcoming.
Rather than letting this icy feeling settle in once more, she reached out and touched Link's arm very briefly. "Thank you, Link, for braving to go along with Revali. I've heard from Daruk that he snores most terribly."
Something almost of a smile tugged at the corner of Link's lips as Revali choked on something audibly, probably his own staunch denial of being a snorer.
Revali, clearing his throat, laughed as he retorted: "I'm surprised Daruk could hear anything over the sound of the fireforge rumbling in his own belly as he dozes. I shall do my best to not snore, as to ensure the chosen knight is able to recuperate from the day's activities, my lady. His intellectual acumen will most certainly be sorely needed tomorrow."
With the intent of ushering Link along, Revali made a grand "after you" gesture and said with finality, "We will let you get to your rest, your highness. Please do not hesitate to make known with Nabaki if you require any assistance."
After a graceful bow by the bird man, the two males departed, leaving Zelda alone with her thoughts in the roost.
Later, in Revali's roost, he was unlacing some cords, allowing a second cot to drop down across from his own.
"I hope you will find this comfortable. I do not have guests often, but this hammock has received few complaints."
Link nodded, and he neatly began to disarm, removing first his quiver and bow, then his sword. He placed them against the beams of the abode in sensible order, then began to wriggle out of his boots, remaining standing, balancing on one foot while wiggling the boot off of the other.
Revali flopped into his own hammock and watched Link with a gaze that would appear lazy and uninterested, which concealed his great interest at how the hero conducted himself "behind closed doors." The proud Rito recognized that the young warrior was highly unlikely to let down his guard around him, but perhaps he could catch a glimpse of the real man.
After removing his non-essential garb, Link looked out the wide openings and stood, his back to Revali for what felt like a very long time. It only took a moment for the bird with the view to realize the chosen knight was watching the Inn entrance from their perch a few flights of stairs below.
"She will be perfectly safe, Link. If you insist on standing watch I will be forced to stay awake with you, making you a most inhospitable guest."
After another long minute, Link relented with a sigh, pulled a blanket from his travel pouch, and clambered into the hammock he'd been allocated. He would have preferred to pace the room, as he was possessed with some kind of frenetic energy, but Revali was right. He was a guest there, and both Zelda and Revali insisted… He knew he would not sleep well, but he had no other choice.
