Chapter 28 - Lover's Pond Interlude
Summary: Mipha and Link take some time away from family to pay a romantic visit to Lover's Pond.
It was early morning in Zora's Domain when Mipha awoke in the slumber pool she shared with her husband, Link. She was excited but also a little nervous. She and Link were planning to go on a trip together to Lover's Pond, just the two of them, and she couldn't wait to spend some quality time with him. But at the same time, she was leaving their two children, Raypha and Tidon, behind for several days, and she couldn't help but worry about how they would fare without her.
Link was still sound asleep, floating peacefully beside her, so she quietly climbed out of their slumber pool, slipped out of the house, and walked to see her father. King Dorephan was also an early riser, greeting his daughter with a hug.
"My dear Mipha," he said. "You look beautiful, as always. Are you ready for your trip with Link?"
Mipha nodded. "Yes, Father. I'm a bit nervous but also very excited."
King Dorephan chuckled. "You and Link certainly deserve some time alone together. But don't be nervous. I know how to care for children, and your dear brother loves playing big uncle to them. Besides, I think you owe me some extra time with my dear grandchildren after your long visit to the Gerudo Desert. I'll take good care of all of them while you're gone."
Mipha smiled. "Thank you, Father. I know I shouldn't worry about the children; they're in good hands with you. It's that I'm not used to being away from them too long. Just try not to spoil them too much, Father."
"I won't, dear - not too much, at least," said King Dorephan.
Then they both laughed as Mipha shook her head. After that, they chatted for a while, catching up on the news and discussing the latest developments in their kingdom. Mipha was always amazed by her father's wisdom and kindness and felt lucky to have him as a parent.
After a while, King Dorephan said, "Well, my dear, I think it's time for you to go. I'm sure your family is awake by now."
Mipha hugged her father tightly. "Thank you again, Father. I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too. Now go before Link starts to worry about you. And I will have Sidon pick up the children in a little while."
Mipha smiled and then made her way home to find Link and the children having breakfast. Link's face lit up when he saw her as everyone exchanged good morning greetings.
"You're up early!" said Link. "We saved a Hyrule Bass for you, sweetheart."
"I just needed to confirm our plans with Father," said Mipha as she hugged and kissed Link, then joined the rest of the family at the table.
"Mm, tasty!" said Mipha as she took her first bite of fish.
"And Ray and I settled our disagreement, Mom," said Tidon. "It was my turn to catch breakfast today."
"Good for both of you," said Mipha. "Now, please listen. Your father and I are going to take a trip on our own, and Grandfather will take care of you both while we're gone."
"Yay!" exclaimed Tidon.
"Excuse me?" said Mipha.
"What my inarticulate brother means, Mom," said Raypha as she made a face at Tidon, "is that we're happy you and Dad can have some time together and don't worry about us. We'll be okay with Grandfather and Uncle Sidon."
"That's quite a lot to squeeze out of Tidon's one-syllable exclamation, Raypha," laughed Link. "But Mom and I will take it."
"Yes, sorry, I was just excited," said Tidon. "We'll be good and have a fun trip."
Soon after breakfast, the children left with Sidon, and Mipha and Link prepared to depart. Link packed a basket of food for the trip, then checked he had everything.
"Tell me I'm being silly worrying about our children," said Mipha.
"You're not being silly, but don't worry, everything will be fine," said Link, taking Mipha in his arms.
Mipha's worries melted away for the moment as she felt the warmth of Link's embrace. After a few moments, Link pulled away and said, "Come on, sweetheart, let's begin our journey. Lover's Pond awaits us!"
"I can't wait!" laughed Mipha.
The plan was to travel by boat from Lanayru Bay to the Clarnet Coast, then make the rest of the way on foot.
"Do you feel comfortable sailing again?" Mipha asked as they made their way to the bay where a sailboat was docked.
"I certainly feel more experienced after our Gerudo trip, at least," laughed Link. "But knowing you're with me to help on the open sea if necessary makes me worry a lot less about shifting winds."
"So smart of you to marry a Zora," Mipha teased and squeezed his hand.
"So lucky!" laughed Link, then leaned toward her for a quick kiss.
When they reached the shore of Lanayru Bay, they nudged the boat into the water, embarking on their journey. A lively breeze tousled Link's hair as their vessel glided gracefully atop the shimmering turquoise waves. Sailing along the coastline, they could see the waves crashing against rocks and sandy shores. Seagulls soared overhead, vigilantly scanning the water for unsuspecting fish swimming too close to the surface.
"It's beautiful out on the sea today," said Link as Mipha shared the boat with him.
"Oh, yes, yes, it is," said Mipha.
"You've been rather quiet," observed Link. "And that's saying something coming from me."
"Yes, I apologize, sweetheart," Mipha replied softly as she smiled at him. "I just miss the children a bit. But I'll be fine. Perhaps spending some time in the water will help."
With a graceful dive, Mipha submerged herself in the water. Link admired her elegant, effortless swimming as she glided alongside the boat with an occasional dive and acrobatic spin.
As morning transitioned into the afternoon, the sun cast a warm, golden glow over the sea. Mipha happily feasted on porgies she caught while swimming while Link occasionally snacked on his packed provisions.
By late afternoon, it was cloudy as they arrived at the sandy shores of Clarnet Coast, nestled at the southern base of Tuft Mountain. A pair of Blue-Winged Herons foraging for food along the beach took flight as they secured the boat to a nearby palm tree.
"We should start our ascent from here," suggested Mipha. "I think you'll be pleasantly surprised."
"Great! I'm all for pleasant surprises and certainly eager to stretch my legs after sitting in the boat for so long," Link responded. "Ready?"
"I'm ready if you are, sweetheart," Mipha said, taking Link's hand as they began their climb together.
The slope was gentle, allowing them to ascend at a leisurely pace, pausing occasionally to catch their breath.
"Just a little further," Link encouraged her after their final rest.
Upon reaching the plateau, their initial destination, both of them were exhilarated.
"Whew! We made it," Link exclaimed, taking a deep breath while assisting Mipha with the final steps of their climb.
"Thank you for helping me up," Mipha expressed, still clasping Link's hand as they regained their composure.
"It's only fair, considering all the help you give me in the water," Link replied with a warm smile, gently squeezing her hand. "Besides, I love holding your hand."
"As I do yours," Mipha laughed, returning the affectionate gesture. "Well, here we are. Our first stop."
Twilight was descending over the land as they stood on the southern shore of Yambi Lake, a secluded body of water nestled just west of Tuft Mountain's summit and the enchanting Lover's Pond. To Mipha's delight, a gentle rain began to fall, and she luxuriated in the sensation of it against her skin.
"I think we arrived here at just the right moment!" Mipha exclaimed happily.
"I'm glad the rain waited for us to finish our climb at least," laughed Link.
Raindrops danced across the lake's serene waters, each droplet creating a ring of ripples that flowed toward the shore. And the whispers of an offshore breeze carried the scent of the sea to the south. Nearby, clusters of Blue Nightshade flowers glowed with soft blue luminescence. And four Luminous Stones along the eastern wall shimmered in harmony, their spectral light reflected across the water, painting the scene with a mysterious beauty.
"You were right," Link said, his voice laden with admiration as he marveled at the enchanting view before them. "This place is lovely and well worth a visit on the way to Lover's Pond."
Mipha smiled at him, her eyes glistening with happiness. "My dear friend Alicia spoke of this lovely spot, and when I heard her tale, I knew our hearts had to experience it together."
A solitary Bright Chested Duck paddled through the water near the far shore, and suddenly a Hyrule Bass leaped from the water with a playful splash. Link noticed Mipha gently lick her lips.
"Are you hungry, sweetheart?"
"No, no, not at all," Mipha chuckled. "I'm still full from all the porgies I ate earlier. That was merely a Zora reflex at seeing a succulent fish."
Link smiled as he tenderly squeezed her hand again, cherishing her touch's warmth. "It's hard to believe that so much time has passed since our last visit to Tufts Mountain and Lover's Pond," he mused. "We were just newlyweds then, with our entire lives stretching out before us."
"It seems like only yesterday to me, dearest," said Mipha, her eyes glowing affectionately. "And I cherish every moment we shared here. But, remember, my love, our journey together is far from over."
Link turned to her and smiled. He could well believe she remembered every moment. Maybe it was because the flow of time must seem different for her. Or perhaps it was simply because she had an excellent memory. He could vouch for that because she could recall almost anything he once did to tease him about it! In any case, his beloved wife always had an optimistic perspective, balancing his natural tendency to brace for adversity.
But now his heart swelled with emotion as he gazed into her gorgeous golden eyes. They were literally captivating, and when she looked at him like she was now, along with her gentle smile, he could not bear to look away. And the longer he looked, the deeper he fell under the spell of their love.
"Mipha," he whispered, taking her other hand. "I cannot say this enough, but I love you with all my heart."
"I know, sweetheart, and I love you too," she murmured before their lips tenderly kissed.
"Being with you in this almost magical place feels like a dream. You make every moment together enchanting, and I cannot imagine a life without you," Link continued.
Mipha blushed and smiled at his heartfelt words, her heart soaring with joy. She knew he loved her, of course, but hearing it never failed to make her heart sing. And his usually well-hidden romantic side could sometimes surprise her.
"Nor can I, dearest. A life with you was all I ever yearned for," Mipha whispered as she drew Link into a tender embrace, their lips meeting again. "And your words are so sweet and romantic! You're finally beginning to make amends for how long you hid your feelings from me."
"Just beginning to make amends?" said Link as he laughed, gently kissing her forehead. "I admit that it took me far too long to express my love for you, and you had to tease it out of me. But on the principle of better late than never, when we married, I gave you my promise to love you forever and always. And I will."
"Forever and always sounds right," said Mipha as they shared another kiss.
They stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, as the rain tenderly surrounded them, and the moment's beauty touched their hearts.
"I'm glad we agreed to make this journey, just the two of us," Mipha finally whispered. "Father adores spoiling and caring for our children, and he missed them while we were at the Gerudo Desert. And I think Raypha and Tidon will both have fun spending time with their Uncle Sidon. In fact, you saw how eager Tidon was for us to go!"
"I know, and it was cute," laughed Link. "They're getting older, after all. But yes, we should travel more together. There are so many beautiful places in Hyrule to visit, some of which will bring back memories of when we first traveled together. So, I'll work on picking our next spot to visit. But this location will be hard to outdo."
"We do need to cherish these private moments together, sweetheart; they're precious," said Mipha.
"Yes," Link agreed. "Yes, they are."
The soft rain continued to fall as they stood together, weaving a spell of romance around them. Yambi Lake, with its ethereal blue glow and calm waters, was a perfect setting to be together. In this secluded sanctuary, the world beyond seemed to fade away, and Link's heart swelled with affection for his beloved wife.
But he understood why Mipha had been nurturing his health and well-being since their family trip to the Gerudo Desert. Something must have reminded her of the ever-widening chasm of age that would inevitably separate them. He wasn't sure what it was, and one would think he could ask her. But to bring up the subject of his aging would be to court heartache, and neither could bear the sight of the other's tears. So, with a gentle sigh, Link tried to cast away these melancholy thoughts, determined to savor the precious present. As Mipha had wisely counseled, they must treasure each moment spent in each other's arms – and treasure them, he would.
"Come, sweetheart. Let's continue onward to Lover's Pond now," Mipha whispered, her sweet voice dispelling the shadows that had momentarily clouded Link's mind.
Mipha possessed a remarkable intuition about him as if she could sense his thoughts. And he supposed that made sense since she had known him almost his whole life. So, with a tender smile, Link enfolded her in a warm embrace before they strolled arm-in-arm along the scenic path that meandered past Yambi Lake and ascended toward Lover's Pond.
When they arrived at the famous heart-shaped pond, the Hearty Radishes encircling it swayed in the breeze. Hearty Radishes were a tempting culinary delight known to invigorate one's health and clearly appropriate for the location. But neither was hungry. They found themselves alone, of course, which was hardly surprising. No one in their right mind would brave a rain-soaked evening to venture to Lover's Pond, hoping to find their destined love awaiting them there.
"Join me in the water," Mipha beckoned, her hand entwined in his and caressing it as she led him to the water's edge.
"With pleasure, but I had better undress first. Although, in this rain, my clothes will end up just as soaked either way," Link replied, a playful glint in his eyes as he disrobed.
"Taking them off now will save me trouble, dearest," teased Mipha as she ran her fingernails gently across his forearm, giving him a thrill.
Their ardor intensified as they waded into the shimmering water, their bodies entwined in a passionate dance. Link held Mipha close, marveling at the silky softness of her skin against his own. She swept his hair back, then drew him in for a fervent kiss, their bodies melding together like one. They were engulfed in each other, consumed by an overwhelming desire.
In the aftermath of their passionate union, they floated together in the serene water, wrapped in one another's loving embrace. Mipha's fingertips traced delicate patterns on Link's cheek, tenderly mindful of her sharp pointed nails.
"That was amazing," she breathed, her eyes alight with the glow of remembered pleasure. "You never cease to fill my heart with joy."
Link's smile mirrored her own, his chest rising and falling with the rhythm of their love. "It's you who brings out the best in me," he murmured, his voice tender as a lover's caress. "You're so beautiful, and I love you."
"And I, you," she whispered, sealing their bond with another tender kiss. "And by the way, I think the diet and exercise are helping you stay fit."
"Maybe so," laughed Link. "As long as you're happy, I'm happy."
The gentle patter of rain upon the water's surface was soothing and lulled them into a blissful calm. Mipha cradled Link's cheek against her chest, keeping his head above water. He closed his eyes, breathed deeply several times, then surrendered to the tender embrace of sleep. Mipha smiled and kissed him gently on the forehead.
"The old legend must be true as I'm with the love of my life in Lover's Pond," whispered Mipha. "And somehow, I know everything will work out for us. Sweet dreams, darling."
Mipha closed her eyes and fell asleep with Link in her arms - and no worries at all.