Chapter 11 - Royal Visit
Summary: Queen Zelda visits Zora's Domain to see the children.
It was a sunny morning in Zora's Domain, and Mipha and Link were at breakfast while Raypha and Tidon slept in their slumber pool.
"Are you ready for Her Majesty's visit?" said Mipha.
"As far as I know," said Link. "You know this is a friendly visit to see the children, right? She is not coming as a formal head of state or anything."
"I know, but I meant are you personally ready," said Mipha. "You get so emotional sometimes."
"Yes, I know," said Link shaking his head. "And I really should get over it. It's like the little boy in me still misses the adventuring, traveling around Hyrule and battling evil. But the feeling passes quickly. I wouldn't trade my life with you and the children now for anything. It's just some silly nostalgia."
"I understand, sweetheart," said Mipha taking his hand. "And don't feel guilty or ashamed about feeling nostalgic. Naturally, you miss those exciting days. But I know your heart is mine and you know mine is yours. Don't worry about those feelings for Zelda."
The children woke up about an hour later, and it was just after lunch that Link noticed Zelda's entourage crossing the Great Zora Bridge. It was a bit odd, he thought. She had two Royal Guard soldiers along with two Sheikah warriors. Link went down to the plaza to greet her while Mipha stayed with the children.
Zelda had dismounted, and she and her guards made their way across the bridge to the plaza.
"Your Majesty, welcome to the domain," said Link as he knelt on one knee and bowed his head.
"Thank you, Link," said Zelda as she reached out, took his hand, and bid him rise.
"Did your journey go well, Your Majesty?" said Link.
"Yes, fine," said Zelda. "But I am anxious to see these two beautiful children of yours. My royal command is that you take me there at once!"
"Right this way, Your Majesty," said Link as he led the way to his house. Two Royal Guards came with him, while the two Sheikah left. When they reached the house, the two guards waited outside while Link let her in and closed the door. They found Mipha standing in the children's bedroom with the two children by her side.
"Hello, Mipha. Oh! Aren't they adorable!" said Zelda as she bent down and hugged each child in turn.
"When they are old enough, if you don't mind, I would love them to call me Aunt," said Zelda. "And I'm a little upset at you both for making me wait over a year to meet your two beautiful children!"
"It was better that you waited until they were a little older, Zelda," said Link. "They can interact with you much more now. And thanks to you, we have plenty of pictures on your Sheikah Slate from when they were small."
"Dr. Purah is almost finished making her own Sheikah Slate and has a way of downloading pictures to a Guidance Stone. You should do that the next time you see her," said Zelda.
"Good idea," said Link. "These devices seem pretty indestructible, but I would hate to lose all those memories."
"You both look wonderful," said Zelda as she stepped back. "I can see parenting agrees with you."
"It's been an incredible experience, Zelda," said Mipha. "I wouldn't trade it for anything."
"Same here," said Link. "The children have brought us both no end of joy."
"That's wonderful," said Zelda. "And I can see why! I insist you invite me to any parties you have for them. And when they are old enough, I will throw a party for them at the castle. I can't get over how cute they are! Do they talk much yet?"
"Yes, they can talk a reasonable amount for their age, mostly one-syllable words and sounds," said Mipha. "They know who we are and my brother and father. I think they may be a little shy with you being here."
"Well, thank Hylia that they talk!" said Zelda. "I was so worried they would take after their father and just stare back at you, their thoughts an enigma!"
"Very funny, Zelda," laughed Link. "You can never let that go about me, can you? Why do you have so many guards with you, by the way? I saw two royal guards and two Sheikah as well."
"It's all thanks to Impa," said Zelda shaking her head. "She doesn't fully trust that the royal guards I have are experienced enough yet. Impa keeps lecturing me that after all we've been through, she is not taking any chances with the last member of the Hyrule Royal Family. I offered to double my royal guards, but she said it wouldn't matter. She still insists that two of her best Sheikah guards accompany me whenever I travel."
The children were getting restless, so Mipha picked up Tidon and Link went over and picked up Raypha.
"Well, I can see her point," said Link. "You don't have me anymore, so it's better to be overprotected, as the Yiga Clan is still out there."
"Very modest of you," laughed Zelda. "But you and Impa are both right, and I don't mind. And yes, the Yiga Clan are still a threat for now. When the time is right, I want to deal with them. But never mind all that now, I came here to see your two lovely children!"
Zelda reached out and gently tickled Raypha as Link held her and Raypha giggled, then grabbed onto Link and buried her head on his shoulder. After a moment she looked back up at Zelda.
"I think she wants you to tickle her again," laughed Link. "We do that, too, and they both enjoy it."
Zelda tickled her again, and Raypha repeated her giggling, but this time kept looking at Zelda instead of turning back to Link. Then Raypha reached out her arms for Zelda to take her.
"Oh, aren't you the sweetest little girl?" said Zelda as Link handed Raypha to Zelda.
"Watch out for your hair and ears," said Link. "She likes to grab onto things she doesn't think you should have."
"I can handle her," said Zelda as she cradled Raypha in her arms and rocked her gently. Zelda reached down and tickled her again, causing Raypha to giggle and then give her a big smile.
"I'm in love! I'm completely in love!" said Zelda. "You'll have to fight me to get her back!"
Meanwhile, Tidon had fallen asleep in Mipha's arms.
"Tidon did a lot of swimming this morning before you arrived, Zelda," said Mipha. "I think he wore himself out and needed a nap."
Mipha gently put Tidon down in the pool.
Zelda kept looking at Raypha, rocking her and tickling her gently now and then. Then Raypha's eyes began to get heavy, and Zelda stopped tickling her and gently rocked her in her arms. After a few minutes, Raypha was fast asleep. Zelda leaned down and gently kissed her on the forehead, then walked to Mipha and handed Raypha to her. Mipha then put Raypha in the pool with Tidon, as both children slept. The three adults quietly left the bedroom.
"You two are so blessed," said Zelda. "I feel like taking up residence here so that I can see the two children every day."
"You are always very welcome here," said Mipha.
"That's fine. It sounds like free babysitting to me," laughed Link.
"I couldn't do that to you, of course, but you have to send me pictures of them from time to time," said Zelda.
"We will," said Mipha.
"I promised Impa I would visit her in Kakariko Village on the way home, so I need to leave soon," said Zelda. "How are Prince Sidon and your father, Mipha? I don't want to intrude on their time as I came just to see your two little ones."
"Both well," said Mipha. "Sidon is getting bigger and loves playing adventure games with Link. My father is well and said he looks forward to spoiling the two little ones."
"I'm glad to hear that," laughed Zelda. "It sounds like you two have a wonderful family life here, and you both certainly deserve it."
"But how are you, Zelda?" said Link. "You look well."
"I'm fine," said Zelda. "I've gotten over things and moved on. I keep busy every day, and I am focused on the future of Hyrule now, not living in regret of the past."
"You know we stand ready to help you whenever you need us," said Link.
"I know that," said Zelda. "And I will need your help at some point. But right now things are fine, and I want you to enjoy this precious time with your two little ones. Trust me. When I need your help, I will let you know."
"Please do," said Link.
"And don't be surprised if I visit you more often now," laughed Zelda. "They are so cute I don't know how you can ever put them down! But I really must be going before the guards start banging on your door. Be well, both of you."
"Thank you for visiting, Zelda," said Mipha. "And I meant it when I said you are always welcome."
They exchanged hugs, and then Link said he would walk Zelda outside where two guards were waiting. They left the house together.
"Please take care of yourself, Your Majesty," said Link as he smiled at her and bent down on one knee.
"I will, Captain Link, and please rise," said Zelda with a smile.
"You two can both go on ahead a short way," said Zelda to the two guards. "I need a private moment with the Captain."
The guards bowed and made their way partly along the path and waited there.
"You look good, Zelda," said Link when they were alone. "Just like your old self."
"I feel much better, Link," said Zelda. "Keeping busy has been the key, and the passage of time, of course. It has been over two years now."
"Yes, I know it's been a couple of years now," said Link. "But when I see you again looking like before it reminds me of old times like we're still together and I should be riding off with you, keeping you company and protecting you from harm. Those days with you were very special to me, and I still worry about you."
"They were special to me too, Link, and our time together was a coming of age for me," said Zelda laying her hand on his arm. "I know neither of us will ever forget what we did together and how much we mean to each other. You will always be very dear to me, as I know I am to you. But don't worry about me now. I'm feeling fine, and I'm well protected. And you need to concentrate on your lovely family and raising those two adorable children."
"Yes, of course, I realize that," said Link as they smiled at each other. "But I don't think I'll ever stop worrying about you."
"I will see you again soon, Link," said Zelda as she smiled at him. She reached out, and they embraced, holding each other close for a couple of moments.
Then Zelda turned and left, meeting the two guards waiting for her. Link watched the three of them then meet up with two Sheikah waiting further along their route. Zelda turned back once, and they waved at each other. Then Link returned to inside the house and wiped his eyes.
"You always get so emotional when you two part company," said Mipha as she took Link's hand. "But I understand."
"Yes, and I'm glad you understand, and you're not jealous about it because it wasn't that kind of closeness," said Link. "When I see her, I remember the times I went with her keeping her safe. I still care very much about her. But time has moved on, and I'm not her knight anymore. I'm a husband and a father, and my attention should be here now."
"It's fine," said Mipha as she reached out and they embraced. "We all have fond memories of times past, and there is nothing wrong with remembering them. When the children wake up, we can take them to the lake, and they can chase fish. Come, sit with me and cheer up."
Link smiled as he sat next to her, and they put their arms around each other. It was about an hour later when both children woke up and began splashing in the pool.
"Time for a visit to the lake," said Mipha as she went and picked up Raypha and Link picked up Tidon.
"Wait a moment! Zelda's visit reminded me we should take more pictures," said Mipha. "Here, you hold the two children while I go get the Sheikah Slate."
Link sat down, and Mipha handed Raypha to Link. He was now holding Raypha in his lap with his left arm and Tidon in his lap with his right. They were both squirming around a bit, and Raypha said 'da da' once as she looked at him. Link shifted his position to try to keep them comfortable. Then Tidon turned toward him, grabbed onto his right ear, and started pulling. Raypha saw what Tidon was doing, made a giggling sound, then proceeded to grab onto his left ear.
"Mipha, please hurry up and help me! They're going to pull my ears off!" shouted Link.
Mipha returned with the Sheikah Slate.
"Zelda is going to love this picture!" laughed Mipha. "The hero of Hyrule rendered helpless by two Zora infants."
"Will you help me?" said Link. "They're pulling hard!"
Mipha took two quick pictures, then put the Sheikah Slate down and came over to Link's aid. She gently pried Tidon's hand from Link's ear and picked him up.
"Come on, little prince," said Mipha to Tidon as she picked him up and held him. "Leave your daddy's ear alone. Do you think you can handle one Zora infant now, sweetheart?"
Link gently pried Raypha's hand from his ear. Then she grabbed him around the neck with both arms and rested her head on his shoulder. Link patted Raypha gently and kissed her on the top of her head.
"Look, she's hugging me," said Link. "They're so affectionate!"
"She probably trying to console you since she couldn't fix your ear," laughed Mipha. "But they both seem pretty energetic right now. Let's take them to Mikau Lake and let them swim around."
Mipha carried Tidon, and Link took Raypha to the lake just outside their house, then put them down by the water, and they immediately began swimming around.
"They swim better than me already," said Link as he watched them chase fish.
"I would hope so!" laughed Mipha. "They are completely at home in the water. Come on, let's have some fun playing with them."
Mipha and Link joined them in the water, and Mipha swam alongside the children and gently stroked their tail fins now and then. Link mostly watched and occasionally chased one of them. When he caught Tidon once he tickled him lightly, then let him go. Tidon swam out of reach then turned to look at Link. Link chased him again and just managed to catch him and tickle him once more. Tidon then swam over to Mipha.
Link had his back turned to Raypha all this time, and the next thing he knew Raypha grabbed him around the neck and rubbed her arms up and down. She was tickling him! He had been underwater, and now he surfaced then reached behind him to catch her, but she let go and swam away toward Mipha, then turned to look back at him. Link made an effort to chase her, but she kept swimming out of reach and giggled. Finally, Link gave up and was turning back when Raypha swam over to him and reached out for him to hold her, which he did at once. Then she kissed him on the cheek and rested her head on his shoulder with her arms around his shoulder and neck as he floated with his head above water.
"I love these two so much!" said Link to Mipha. "She just kissed me."
"It will only get better as they get older," said Mipha. "You can play real games like tag, and Sidon can join in as well."
But Raypha was done resting. She used her tail fin to splash water in Link's face and giggled as he spluttered and released her to swim over to Tidon. The two of them then coordinated chasing a fish together, and Tidon grabbed it. Then they repeated the approach but with Raypha catching a fish. The two then went off to the edge of the lake and ate their catch.
"Wow!" said Link. "They learned that fast."
"It's a Zora survival instinct," said Mipha. "Catching and eating fish is an essential skill for us. I only had to show them a couple of times. Did you notice they helped each other?"
"Yes, I'm very impressed," said Link.
After another hour or so, it was time to go back inside, as both children looked a bit worn out. Link reached for Tidon, and Mipha caught up with Raypha. They held them in their arms, and both children rested their heads on their shoulders.
"I'll sing a lullaby to them," said Mipha.
They walked to the bedroom where the children slept and placed them in the slumber pool. Mipha started singing to them while they each floated looking at her. Then their eyes got heavy and closed, and they were both soon fast asleep. Mipha and Link quietly walked back to their bedroom next door.
"They should sleep through," said Mipha. "They were pretty active, and each of them ate a whole fish. So, we have the whole evening to ourselves."
They turned and smiled at each other. And then the evening together started with a long passionate kiss.