Note: This chapter is slightly longer than usual, let me know if you guys prefer the longer or shorter chapters, I don't mind writing in either but I am curious to know. Enjoy!
CHAPTER 8: R&R
The group decided to meet back on the same pier the next day and so Link and Zelda made their way out there early. They decided to wear more comfortable clothes as opposed to their typical formal attire. Once they reached the top of the damn they found Sidon and Mipha already conversing. It seemed Sidon wasn't going to relent seeing the match between Link and Mipha as he had already brought the sparring weapons with him. Sidon glanced over to them and gave them his toothy grin as he waved them over. As they guessed he proposed that they start off with a bout to build up an appetite for the morning. Mipha was eager as well, something in her had changed since the day before. She took up a training trident and Link grabbed his longsword, he considered changing it up since Mipha had already seen him fight with it against Sidon but he ultimately decided against it. They began to stretch out the kinks of the unfamiliar weapons as Sidon and Zelda stood off to the side.
"Link is an incredible fighter but Mipha is very intelligent when it comes to reading her opponents. I've never been able to beat her myself you know." Sidon said
"Indeed, I have no doubt both will show their prowess with their respective weapons, but I have faith in my knight. He is a lot smarter than his silence may lead you to believe." Replied Zelda
Sidon only mumbled in response but continued fidgeting in excitement. Mipha looked up to Link and said, "Ready," as she got into her stance.
Link nodded and began to take in her stance, despite her clear advantage in range she still adopted a more defensive stance. It made more sense considering her preference to not fight. She was beginning to get uneasy under his stare and she changed her stance, once again defensive. She continuously held the spear close to her body, that might make it more difficult for Link to get in close as he did with Sidon. Deciding to just let instinct take over, he led with a horizontal swipe which was easily deflected.
He continued raining down attacks trying to find any openings in her tactic but she was able to regain her composure incredibly fast. She wasn't as strong as Sidon but she was much faster and moved with more purpose. Mipha had seen an opening as she jabbed towards Link's exposed chest after his upwards slice. Link tried to counter by pulling the same move he had with Sidon but she had anticipated it, withdrew the trident and spun bringing the blunt end to sweep at his ankles. He did a backflip over it landing perfectly on his feet and she quickly slammed the blunt end into his shield causing him to slide back a few feet. She was a lot stronger than her svelte figure suggested.
They remained a few feet away from each other panting with effort, neither making any advances and Mipha still kept her defensive stance. Link tried to think about her fighting style, what he had seen so far, he had seen a few openings but she was quick to correct herself leaving Link no opportunity to make a move. She seemed to aim mostly for lower attacks but he wasn't exactly tall enough to put pressure on her in the way he was currently fighting her. He decided to change his approach entirely and lunged forward as fast as he could.
Mipha brought up her spear to defend but instead of swinging, Link planted one foot in the ground, pivoted, and launched himself into a backspin. He sliced 3 times and she was barely able to block them in time, he could see the surprise in her eyes. As he landed he spun the sword in a low swing with the blade just inches above the ground. She was stepping back now, he had her where he wanted her and he knew what to do next. Lunging again, he the brought the sword in the underhanded swing with the blade perpendicular to the ground. In response, she shifted her spear horizontally successfully blocking the attack but Link pushed forward anyways bringing himself mere inches from her face.
Losing focus, she blushed profusely at their closeness, but before she could regain her composure Link used her horizontal spear as a step once again launching himself into the air but this time up and over Mipha. As he landed behind her, he brought the blade up around her neck, declaring himself the winner. Mipha still remained frozen but eventually let loose a breath she had been holding as Link withdrew the sword.
Zelda stood with her mouth hanging open, the ending of their match had amazed her to no end. Although most of her research had been spent around the ancient sheikah technology, she had previously also studied the art of war as part of her preparations to one day take the throne. The scholar within her was fascinated by Link's versatility and ability to adapt but the woman inside her was enraptured by him in every aspect. It brought her back to when he had protected her from the Yiga back in Gerudo desert. Sidon had also been uncharacteristically speechless up until now, sharing Zelda's shocked look. "Link, you continue to surprise me with your skill. There is no doubt why you had been chosen as the princesses knight." Sidon simply said.
Link shied away from the praise but said, "You two are incredibly skilled as well. You weren't lying when you said Mipha was good. She's easily one of the hardest matches I've had."
Mipha turned to him, a blush still prominent on her cheeks but her composure regained, "You honor me with your words Link, I am glad I was able to see your skill in person."
Link smiled and extended his hand out to shake hers but she hugged him instead, it was his turn to be caught off guard but then just hugged her back. Zelda noticed she held on for a long time before letting go. Sidon spoke up again, "What do you say we get something to eat now?"
Sidon had offered to cook for them this time and treated the group to Crab omelets with rice. He was a surprisingly good cook which made the meal all the more rewarding after the intense match. After they finished Link eventually stood saying that he wanted to do more tests of Zelda's paraglider while he had the chance. Sidon offered to join him and they went toward Ploymous Mountain while Mipha stayed with Zelda. Zelda sat at the edge with her feet in the water and Mipha was in the water leaning on the edge with her arms crossed. They made small talk about their lives, responsibilities, and other stuff. Mipha then spoke up, "So Zelda, with all your responsibilities I assume that the council and your father have been pushing you to look for suitors?"
It was a little sudden but not unexpected, "My father hasn't pressured me into anything yet, but, he has suggested that I start looking. I think part of him is hoping that in my travels I may also find a suitor from one of the neighboring provinces." It had become increasingly common for relationships between the various races but Zelda had yet to really consider the idea.
"Do… Do you have anyone in mind?" Mipha asked hesitantly.
Even if Zelda had anyone in mind, the council would still have the last say regardless, "Not particularly," she sighed, "Do you simply ask out of curiosity or are you asking for Sidon?"
"No! Of course not! It just came to mind, I would never push my brother onto you like that" Mipha replied hastily.
"I only tease," Zelda laughed in response, "What about you Mipha? I imagine you face the same pressures as I?"
At this, Mipha looked away, almost lost in her thoughts, "As you know, the burden of the throne falls on me since I am older than Sidon, so if the need arises I may have to marry for the benefit of the domain."
"But do you have your eyes set on anyone?" Zelda clarified, she felt as if she already knew the answer but she felt as if she needed to ask anyways.
Mipha turned around, still not looking at Zelda, and sunk a little deeper into the water. A blush had snuck onto her cheeks, "Actually yes, but I do not know if he feels the same."
"Do I know him?" Zelda asked but she was careful not to push her.
"Yesterday when I told you how I use my healing powers, I was not entirely honest with you. I-when I use my powers, I think of Link." Mipha was practically whispering as she finished her sentence.
Zelda's suspicions had indeed been true but now that she knew the answer, she wasn't sure what to do with that information. "Have you tried to talk to him? I know he doesn't say much himself, but you don't know until you try."
"Do you think he likes me Zelda?" Mipha asked desperately.
"Mipha, I hardly know what the man thinks most of the time. I can't say for sure."
She was quiet for a while but eventually spoke up again, "Please don't tell him Zelda. I do not want to lose him as a friend." Mipha said
"Mipha, even if he didn't feel the same way, he wouldn't stop being your friend. But I will respect your request and I will not tell him."
Neither of them said anything after that, Zelda realized that deep down she always sort of knew how Mipha had felt, but that still didn't stop the slight territorial feeling she felt deep in her stomach. She knew it was wrong, Mipha was her friend and she hadn't wronged Zelda in any way but she couldn't make it disappear completely. Zelda had always felt something for Link ever since the first time they were forced to journey together. She had the push the thought from her mind, he was her Knight, it would be incredibly informal of them and she was sure Link saw her only as a friend, if that. Still thinking of Link, she started to look around for them just out of curiosity. They weren't on the hill next to Ploymus anymore and it wasn't until she looked up higher that she saw the stark contrast of Sidon's red skin against the sky. They were standing at Shatterback point, just the thought of being up there was enough to make her stomach sink.
"Is it dangerous for them to be up there?" Zelda asked
Mipha looked up and found where they were standing, "Our skin is a little thicker so us Zora have no problem with it. Link does worry me though."
Almost as if on cue, Link sprinted off the point jumping as far as he could, and then pulling out Zelda's paraglider. Sidon gracefully dove straight into the water below and followed him from below. Link was floating along without a problem until the paraglider suddenly dove to the left. Zelda couldn't really see what had happened but noticed that he had changed his course and was now trying to land on Vah Ruta's raised trunk. However, he came in too quickly and too low, and slammed into the trunk just below the edge. He was able to get a hold on it and climb up again. Link fiddled with the paraglider for a short while before leaping off again gliding down to the pier without a problem. He landed just a few feet from the Zelda and Mipha, Sidon breached out of the water landing perfectly on the pier shortly after.
"Are you alright Link?" said Mipha
Link only nodded.
"Are you hurt?" she asked again.
Link tugged at the collar of his shirt and looked down at his chest, he had slammed into Vah Ruta pretty hard, "Just a bruise," he said, but he could already see a pretty dark bruise forming.
She didn't buy it either, "Let me see it."
She locked eyes with Link and he gave her a look to say he was fine but she didn't relent. He sighed and began to take off his shirt, Zelda's eyes began to unconsciously become incredibly focused on him before she caught herself and he moved her glance over to Mipha.
"That doesn't look fine to me." Mipha said as she looked over Links bruise.
"Its nothing" he replied, but before he could convince her she placed a hand inches over his chest and blue light began to reach into his skin.
"Let me at least heal you so it won't be sore tomorrow." Mipha said already focused on her task and Link let her work.
Zelda spoke up to fill in the silence, "So what did you two do?"
It was Sidon who replied somewhat hastily, "We spoke about nothing in particular, I tried to convince Link to try jumping off of something smaller first but he set his mind on Shatterback point. You have one courageous hero with you Princess." Sidon joked.
"Sometimes I can't tell if its courage or arrogance." Zelda smirked over to Link
Without missing a beat, Link replied, "Or both." Rousing light laughter from all of them.
"Well at least he's aware of it." Zelda said still smiling.
"So tell me Princess, what are your plans from here? I assume you intend to leave the domain tomorrow?" Sidon asked.
"Yes, if the spirits are suffering from the same malice as the Spirit of Lanayru, then it would be best to cleanse them of it as soon as possible. We will probably head to the Spring of Power next, if my assumptions are correct, we should find the Spirit of Eldin there. I also want to visit the new town in Akkala Highlands and possibly stop by the Ancient Tech Lab to see if Robbie has any research on the Spirits."
"Ah, well you seems like a great plan, you will be missed from the domain. Also, now that you mention Tarrey Town, did you know Link is practically the reason that town was able to be built. Our priest Kapson told us when he travelled down there to officiate a wedding which Link was also responsible for bringing the happy couple together."
"I did not know that, as you know he doesn't talk a lot and at times I think he is modest to a fault," Zelda cast Link a glance but he only shrugged, "We will definitely have to stop there."
Mipha was able to make quick work of Links bruise and by the time she finished the bruise was hardly even visible. They spent the rest of the afternoon down at the pier, talking, swimming, and eating another one of Sidon's meals. By sundown, Mipha suggested they return early so that Link and Zelda could get well rested before they left which Link agreed with.