Chapter 6 - Zora's Domain
Summary: Link continues with life as he hopes Dr. Purah will uncover the secrets to the Temple of Time. He makes another visit to Zora's Domain.
Link had been home for a few days after his trip to Hyrule Castle and had filled in his journal with everything that had happened. He cleaned his house and tended to the grounds, keeping everything neat and clean.
His meeting in the past with Mipha occupied a good deal of his mind since he returned home, and he kept blaming himself for not handling it better. He had let his emotions get the better of him and nearly ruined everything! Mipha clearly realized something was wrong. And what if she had pressed him for an explanation? To refuse to answer her would only make her angry and ruin the only chance he had to be with her, to throw away an opportunity beyond all his hopes and dreams over the past three years. But to tell her was even worse! Purah had said it could ruin everything by unpredictably changing the past. Fortunately, Mipha was as eager as he was to enjoy their unexpected day together and let it pass. He was very fortunate.
By the fifth day back at Hateno Village, he was feeling restless again. He used his house to settle himself after traveling and to catch up on his writing. It was a place to relax. But now, he felt the urge to travel again.
The question was where, and he weighed his options.
Hyrule Castle was out since he was just there. Rito Village was quite far, quite cold, and he didn't know anyone very well there. Teba and the Elder would welcome him out of courtesy for all he had done for them, but they weren't friends. Goron City was brutally hot and about the same situation, though he enjoyed Yunobo's youthful enthusiasm. Gerudo Town was something else! He still had to sneak in disguised as a woman. They wouldn't even make an exception in his case! Chief Riju was growing up and a bit more than a child now, though still quite young. She was very gracious toward him and said he was always welcome. But it was uncomfortable hiding behind a veil all day, especially at meals. And that was a pretty long journey as well.
So, as was often the case, he ended up selecting Zora's Domain. It was close, and he had friends there. And he never tired of visiting it.
The next day he put on his Zora armor and headed off to Zora's Domain again. He had been there so many times that Epona knew the way by heart. He sometimes wondered if Epona missed all the adventuring he had done earlier. At least there was more variety for her back then. But he took good care of her, and she was as loyal a horse as you could ask for. He had rested Epona several times along the way, and the final part of the journey to the Domain was long and winding. When he finally left Epona and walked the rest of the way into the Domain, it was early evening.
His first stop was always Mipha's statue. As he approached, he saw Prince Sidon standing there, his gaze fixed upon Mipha's sculpture. Sidon didn't notice him at first, and Link was reluctant to interrupt him. Finally, Sidon saw him.
"Oh! It's you, Link," said Sidon, turning to Link standing next to him. "I was lost in thought and didn't see you. Have you been here long?"
"Sorry, did I startle you? No, I only just arrived," said Link.
Children had already made their way to the slumber pools for the night, and the plaza was quiet now.
Link knelt on one knee and placed a Blue Nightshade flower at the base of her statue. He closed his eyes and whispered, "I love you, Mipha." Then he stood up and gazed at her figure again, lost in thought.
Sidon remained silent, as there was no reason to intrude upon Link's thoughts. He had seen Link perform this brief ritual before, as he did this whenever he returned to the Domain.
Link finally broke the silence.
"They say time heals all wounds, Sidon, but it's not true, not for me," said Link as he continued to look up at her image, chiseled in stone.
Sidon remained quiet.
"For me, it's just the opposite," said Link. "The more time passes, the more my mind heals, and my memory recovers. And the more I remember of her. I can't remember much as there are still too many holes in my mind. But I recall some of our time together. I remember the places we went, the things we did, and how happy we were together. I remember the warmth in her eyes, the softness of her smile, the joy of her laugh. My curse is to feel her loss more deeply with each new memory I recover."
"I cannot imagine how hard that must be for you," said Sidon. "To have the memory of your time with my sister return piece by piece. I wish there were some way of helping you, but the harm to your mind from the shrine you told me of must have been very great. I imagine any recovery will be long and difficult."
"And it's not just memories. There are dreams too, Sidon," Link continued. "I sometimes dream of her, even several days in a row. And they're so true to life, so convincing! It's as if she is with me, and we are together again. We swim, we take walks, we hold hands, we laugh, we kiss. I don't know if these things happened the way I dreamed them, or my longing for her drove my mind to invent them. But when I awaken, having just imagined being together, the hurt is all the greater for what my heart tells me just happened, even though my head tells me it was just a dream."
"Why do you think you have these dreams?" said Sidon.
"I don't know," said Link. "Some would say my dreams were her spirit reaching out to mine, that we are closer to the spirit world when we sleep. But when last I spoke to her spirit, she was urging me to move on with my life. So, I think it unlikely she would cause me to grow more attached to her. Another thought I had is that it is due to her healing power, the power that she gave me for a time. All the Champion spirits gave me their powers, but hers was different. The others were powers I had to invoke. Hers just stayed within me and protected me from harm when I needed it. The powers the others gave me were more like giving me something and then leaving me to use it. Hers was as though she was within me somehow, that we were bonded together. I think it may have permanently affected me somehow."
"The only comfort I can offer is talking about her," said Sidon.
They both gazed silently at Mipha's statue for another moment.
"Well, I am tired from my travels," said Link. "It's time to bed down at the inn. Good night, Sidon."
"Good night, Link," said Sidon.
Link made the short walk to the Seabed Inn. As usual, Kodah was on duty as a greeter while her husband, Kayden, handled the desk.
"Back again, Linny?" said Kodah as he approached the inn. "You're certainly one of our best customers! And you're always welcome here."
"Hi Kodah," said Link. "Do I qualify for a discount yet?"
"Oh, come on, being so famous, and with all the Rupees you collect, I know you can afford a bed for the night!" laughed Kodah. "I'll arrange it with my husband, and you don't need to register. Are you staying long?"
"I don't know yet," said Link. "I get restless when I'm home, and then I miss some company. And, besides Zelda, the only friends I have are here. So, it depends on how much time they have for me. How are you and the family?"
"Well," said Kodah. "I'm not sure I told you last time you were here, but our daughter, Finley, finally had her growth spurt a year or so ago. She had been getting very depressed that it took so long. And she finally moved on from her Hylian 'prince,' thank Nayru. Nothing against Hylians, of course, but we were not impressed with her pen pal."
"I understand," said Link. "He was a bit of a wimp, but I thought he might improve himself. I guess he didn't."
"So, still no one special in your life yet?" said Kodah. "My friends are all married now, so I don't know anyone to introduce you to. Haven't you met a Hylian either? Or a Gerudo?"
"No, nobody," said Link. "I'm not looking for a relationship at the moment. The Gerudo I've met think I'm too scrawny for them, anyway. I still have strong feelings for Mipha. I know it sounds silly since it's been 103 years. But you know all this from our past conversations. Nothing has changed."
"Yes, you're right," said Kodah. "I just keep hoping for your sake you will get some closure and move on. I do feel bad for you. You're a nice person, and you deserved better in life. But of course, so did Lady Mipha. Anyway, enjoy your visit."
Link slept well and had no dreams he remembered that night. The next morning after breakfast, he wandered back to the plaza. There were the usual people shopping and children running around splashing in the fountain or playing. He didn't see anyone he knew, at least at first. But then he heard a voice he recognized.
"Well, well," said Gaddison. "If it isn't the Hylian hero. Back again? You really do like it here, don't you?"
"Yes, I actually do," laughed Link, turning around to see her. "This should have been my home. How are you, Heroine?"
"Very well," laughed Gaddison. "I'm impressed you still remember my brigade title. I'm enjoying being a guard and serving under our captain, Bazz. It reminds me of our old gang. And with monsters gone now, the work is much easier. Are you still trying to remember your past?"
"Yes, as usual," said Link. "I know it sounds pointless."
"No, I understand," said Gaddison. "It's been hard on you, I know. Just remember you have friends here if you need us. We're always willing to spend time with you if you get lonely. Just expect some good-natured teasing now and then."
"I will," said Link. "And I'm getting used to all the teasing. We did have a lot of fun together as kids, didn't we?"
"Yes, and I like it when we get together and reminisce," said Gaddison. "I hope you can join all of us next time."
"I would like that," said Link.
Just then, a guard approached them.
"Excuse me, Master Link, His Majesty would like to speak with you as soon as you are available," said the guard.
"I can come now," said Link. "Bye, Gaddison."
The guard escorted him to the throne room, and both Sidon and King Dorephan were there.
"Ah, Link," said King Dorephan. "Sidon told me you were here, and I wanted to make sure I saw you, and you felt welcome. You know I will always make time for you. Besides all you did for the Domain, you are a special person to our family."
"Thank you," said Link. "You always make me feel welcome, though I fear I'm wearing it out by visiting so often."
"Nonsense!" said King Dorephan. "You are always welcome here as often as you want."
They invited him to join them for lunch, and they talked some more.
"I hope you don't mind me coming here and speaking about Mipha with you," said Link. "I am not sure whether I am opening old wounds for you or not."
"You are not opening old wounds, Link, for my dear Mipha's loss is a wound that never closed," said King Dorephan. "I miss her and think of her often. But speaking with you, the one she loved so much, makes me feel better, especially knowing that you loved her too and still care so much for her."
"And that goes for me as well," said Sidon. "The three of us share a love for my sister, and I draw comfort when we are together."
Afterward, he spent a couple of more days at the Domain, then started feeling guilty taking up so much of people's time. It was time to head back home.
This was the pattern of his life now: visits to Hyrule Castle, Kakariko Village, and Zora's Domain, interspersed with days at home updating his journal and taking care of his house.
Zelda, Impa, and the others were right. He couldn't live this way forever. But he still had hopes that Purah and Robbie would make progress. And until he knew for sure they couldn't, he would not give up. He was too attached to Mipha now, and stubbornness was one of his traits.