Chapter 10

Revival

With no sign of her cherished knight, Zelda's heart was in agony at the thought of him being ripped from her in this world. He only just returned to her several days ago and already he was gone. It was as if after one hundred years not being with him she was cursed yet again, to be separated from him forever. That she would never be given the chance to bare herself to him as she always wanted. That this time, he would be lost for good. And it was in that realization that shattered her heart.

The zora prince held her as tight as he could to calm her fears and soothe her pain. But, tried as he might to comfort her, there was no shelter for him from the heart-breaking sound that Zelda wailed into his chest. In his arms she shivered, not from the cold of the canyon wind but from a fractured soul, as if a part of her had died.

The poor girl was suspended in disbelief of what was happening around her.

"Please tell me Sidon…please say it isn't true…maybe…maybe, you can try again and have another look? Maybe…maybe, he drifted somewhere you didn't see? Please…please just don't tell me he's gone…please don't tell me…please!" she begged as she lifted her red teary-eyed gaze towards him. Her words broke into sobs once again.

"Okay…okay…I'll have another look right now, but try to remain calm…please," he replied as he held her outwards by the arms from him, trying to calm her shaking voice. There, just as he was about to spin around, the sentry who was alongside them on the clifftop hollered over to them. The guard was up higher up on the plateau from where they stood and had a much better vantage point.

"My prince look, there on the cliff!" The guardsmen shouted.

Zelda's eyes shot wide open and her heart stopped beating at his words. She frantically bolted away from Sidon to see where the sentry was pointing at. Sidon also spun around quickly at his words. He ran to get a better view of off into the distance to where the guard was pointing. There was something there, just alongside a split narrow ravine that broke away from the main heart of the river.

There off in the yonder part of the ravine, splashed out from the fading river current was a single hylian hand desperately clenched onto a flat slick stone. He watched as it dug itself deeper into slick jagged lips of the rock, as if it was fighting to hold on from the raging river current that pulled it. And as more and more of the river flow started to diminish as the lake drained, an arm appeared out from the water.

Sidon knew instantly it was him, and that it was Link. He needed saving and quickly if he were to survive. A couple minutes had already passed since the dam erupted and his grip would soon tire if he were to pass out from lack of air. So, the strong prince of water without hesitation, left Zelda as he dashed towards where Link was.

And just as he made his way over, the fierce grip of the hand he saw let go of the small river stone that protruded out from the canyon. But Sidon caught up just in time and reached down and grabbed his arm, before he could be swept away by the rushing flood waters.

With finesse he pulled and flung his limp body out from the river and noticed Link still had locked in his other arm, the two small, lime skin colored zora children, who were also not moving. Quickly, he laid the three of them side by side on a grassy part of the clifftop. Zelda and the guards had already made their way to where they were.

Instinctively, she fell crashing to her knees just beside Link's sprawled out body. And just as she did that, almost immediately afterwards, after being spread out side by side, the two zora children awoke. One of them was coughing up some of the river water, whereas the other regained full consciousness unheeded.

Perhaps, it was because they were Zora, they had the ability to hold their breath a great deal longer than hylians and were quite resilient to the prospect of drowning. It would seem they only fell unconscious by the sheer force of the raging rapids as it pulverized Link while he sheltered most of the blow, rather than any lack of air.

As for Link on the other hand, he shared an entirely different fate from them and was in dire straits. His body was motionless, and he wasn't responding. Zelda pleaded beside his unmoving body to wake up, mumbling incoherent words mixed with cries. Sidon also paced nervously beside her in the hopes for any type of response. And now, having seen their hero laid out before them, the two children also began to fear for the worst and cried.

Zelda cautiously and gently shook her hero and moved his soaked hair out from his face. "Please Link…please…I can't…I can't lose you...please, you promised me…you promised," She cried as tears fell from her face fell covering his adventuring shirt. She noticed also that it was torn bad from no doubt tumbling through the treacherous rocky rapids. She knew he was on the brink and it crushed her soul.

Then, just as when they thought all hope was lost, the unexpected happened. Perhaps, it was some miracle in her words or just the way she slightly shook his body to his side, but at that exact moment, her knight violently awoke, gasped and spat out the river that was in his lungs.

Laid out and robbed of breath, he coughed beside himself. His face was pale, his vision was blurry and all he could do was roll over and choke as the water poured out from his chest. As his consciousness faded back and color returned to his skin, Zelda backed away a few steps to give him some space for him to recover. She was stunned and rendered speechless by what miracle she was witnessing right before her eyes. Link survived. Sidon too was amazed.

Her knight leaned forward as he knelt, still trying to gather all his senses together. With his thoughts slowly coming back to him, he spoke to those waiting impatiently nearby who were in suspense of his words.

"I'm alright...I'm alright," Link coughed quietly, face first in the grass as he stretched out a hand for the others not to worry. After a moment or two passed, he then lifted his head up and continued.

"I'm sorry I've had you all worried, but I had to...I had to save them...are they alright?" he asked while desperately trying to catch his breath. He then glanced around who was present watching him.

"Yes, they are fine...thanks to you Link," Sidon responded, waving towards the zora children who were just behind him.

Link did a half smirk as he leaned back, slightly proud of his accomplishment. "What a day," he said with a deep breath as he found the strength to force himself to rise to his feet.

Zelda who was still stunned by his careless blind heroics and by him even being alive to boot, was in a swirl of emotion, yet again. She felt feelings of relief, joy, frustration and sorrow resounding in her all at once. And with all those powerful feelings built up together as one, she charged towards her knight.

"You...don't you ever do anything that stupid ever again!" She scolded, with tears of worry and joy running down her cheeks as she shoved him, quickly followed by a deep embrace. She wasn't sure if she should have swatted him or kissed him.

"I thought I lost you Link," she whispered as she hugged him, only to where he can hear. She then lifted her eyes towards him, still ashine with tears.

"I'm alright, I promised you didn't I... You didn't really think I could be bested by just a few waves, did you?" He said cracking a small grin.

She huffed at his words as she held him tightly. She then sighed a relieved smile. "I forbid you to do anything like that ever again!" She cried again into his chest as she hugged him deeply. "I swear, if you ever do anything like that again, I'll…I'll—"

She was interrupted by her knight. "You'll what?" he prodded.

She couldn't say, she just buried her head again into his chest and sniffled a little more. Perhaps, she needed a moment to think of what to say. But, before she could, Sidon then interjected as they were having their playful quarrel.

"Ha! That was amazing Link! I've never seen anyone move that fast! How did you...How did you do that? It was like you were there and then suddenly you were not. You would then be somewhere else off in the distance, running from the waves…Like you just appeared there!?" he said dumbfounded. Sidon then swung out his arm in a bragging gesture for Link and grinned at the thought of his master being so talented.

"Really? Well, clearly not fast enough…" Link said as he shrugged, lifting and pointing to his torn shirt. Underneath he revealed scratches to his bare chest next to his ribs where the rocks gouged him. Zelda then let go of her tight embrace as he lifted his shirt, realizing he was wounded.

"You're hurt!? Oh, my goodness Link! I'm sorry." She apologized. "And here I am squeezing you to death. We need to get you back to Domain right away, so I can look you over and bandage those wounds," She demanded as she stood back from him. She then wiped her cheeks of tears as her eyes looked him up and down in a thorough evaluation, genuinely concerned for him. She then saw his hand, and reached out for it, noticing how sliced and blistered it was from gripping the rock so tightly.

"I'm alright, just a few scratches…It's no big deal," he replied.

"What do you mean it's no big deal? Look at your hand, it's all cut up! You're bleeding!" she said.

"I'm fine, don't worry," he added back fast. He wanted to be strong for her, always.

"Well I am going to worry. I need you to be in tip top shape, whether you think it is important or not!" she scolded again, not amused by his lackadaisical attitude. But, deep down, she was always worried for him. She didn't like to see him in noticeable pain or hurt, no matter how much he tried to appear tough or unaffected by it. It hurt her to see him suffer needlessly.

Sidon then put a hand on both their shoulders as they were still having words with each-other. "Well my friend, Zelda is correct, you should get those wounds looked at," he said as he was quickly distracted by bright full moon above their heads that casted a beautiful pale light over them.

"It is starting to get late. We should head back to the domain. It's nearly mid-eve by now and we all still have a long journey tomorrow back to Kakariko. We should get our rest," Sidon said again to the two hylian's who were on the brink of having a staring contest with their playful antics. Luckily, he interrupted them and in doing so, she faced him and agreed with a smile.

"You're right Sidon, it is late, we should head back. There isn't much more we can do about the dam now. The lake will continue to drain into the river. I just hope those affected were able to clear the area in time," She leaned, hands pressed against her chest softly in a downcast stare over to the canyon.

"Don't worry princess, they did. I sent evacuation orders several hours prior to the rupture. The nearest stables were cleared out with the help of my best men. And besides, as the water flows along, the intensity of the rapids should diminish by the time it reaches the plains. The area will still flood heavily, but all the nearby settlements have been moved," Sidon reaffirmed as he leaned over to her.

"I hope so…Ever since we returned, it's like we can't ever get a break. Ganon is gone, but things keep happening," She said and then sighed, turning back to them both.

"True, it would appear something more is at work here, but at least one good thing came of it!" Sidon grinned.

Link and Zelda paused at his words. Slightly confused. But she was amused by his smile and tilted her head to the side in anticipation of what he was going to say. "What is that?" she said, puzzled.

"Well…I just found out that I can talk to fish!" Sidon gleamed almost about to a perform a proud bow for himself.

Link and Zelda's faces both lit up at the notion.

"Wha-! How did you do that?" Zelda asked him, her mouth was left wide open, in awe and intrigued on the idea.

"Well, long story short, I found the culprit who was wreaking havoc on the dam," he said.

"And who is that?" Zelda leaned, even more anxious to hear what he would say next.

"It was Lord Buru Buru!" Sidon exclaimed with a pointed finger in the air.

"And, that is who again?" she questioned, unfamiliar with the name. Link also was perplexed by the name and just gave Zelda a shrug when she looked over to him to see if he knew what Sidon was talking about.

"You know, Lord of the undertow and King of the sea?" Sidon said, as if trying to jog their recollection.

Even after he spoke, Link and Zelda were even more confused by the knowledge he gave. They slowly just shook their heads.

Sidon placed a firm cuff to his chin for a moment and carefully thought about what else to say that might help them. "The watcher of the Domain and silent guardian of water?!" Sidon said again, almost desperate to get a response from them both.

"I'm sorry Sidon, I just don't know who that is," She confessed, placing her hand on his back, easing his troubled mind. He was left speechless that Hylians would not know or come to respect their patron deity the way they did.

"Well, he is our Guardian deity, he has been asleep for well over a hundred years and for some reason he awoke. He is a massive divine creature that lives in the lake just north of the dam," he explained.

But before he continued his words, he suddenly remembered something.

"Wait…Wait! That means…Oh no!" Sidon jumped from where he was standing beside them, his face went pale as if he was going to be sick.

"What? What is it!?" Zelda worried.

Sidon swallowed the knot in his throat. "When he broke the dam, he must have been carried off with the flood. That or he is still in the lake somewhere, what remains of it that is. In either case he is going to be in trouble! He won't be able to survive long in shallow water. Whoever awoken him and cursed him to attack the dam will answer for their crimes!" Sidon said squeezing a fist in the air.

"Wait, hold on just a second. Someone cursed him? What do you mean?" Zelda asked eyes wide and perplexed.

"Yes, when I found him at the bottom of the lake he was acting erratic and was assaulting the dam, crashing himself into it over and over again. It was terrible. Lord Buru Buru would never do such a thing on his own. I am sure of it! Someone or some thing must have had a hold over his mind," he continued as they all started to walk side by side of each other towards the Domain.

"Then it must be the same person that was responsible for the attack on the Divine beasts. It has to be!" She added. Link just nodded in agreement.

"Most certainly, I have no doubts. But, whoever it is out there that is doing this, is no ordinary villain. Not if they had the ability to do that to Lord Buru Buru. He has been around for centuries and is very powerful and strong willed. So, for someone to come along and poison his thoughts like that so easily, should not be underestimated." Sidon confirmed, almost frightened.

"You're right. Until we are sure what we are dealing with here, we must remain vigilant and keep a close eye out. Let's hurry and get back to the Domain, I'm sure they are worried about what has happened here tonight," She said.

"Right!" Sidon replied.

So, with that they hurried themselves back to the safety of the Domain.

After arriving, they safely returned the two zora children to their family. The parents were pleased to see that they were safe and unharmed. They graciously thanked Link and Zelda for their heroic deeds.

And as the night drew late, Sidon gave his goodnight farewells to his Hylian friends just before they left to retire back into their quarters. But just as he left their presence, a familiar face came up running to them from behind in a worried fluster. It was Riju.

"Princess! Are you alright, I came as soon as I heard!" She said hugging the princess.

"I'm alright. It's Link who you should be worried about," Zelda said pointing over to him.

She then shot a glance over to the fatigued Link and saw his clothes were ravaged and threadbare. "Link?" Riju questioned, she then got up in his face as he stood there nervously. A hand was on her tan bare waist and the other was in his face, waving a finger. "What foolish thing did you do now!?"

Link just gulped at her frustration towards him. Riju leaned into him closer, with a single firm brow lifted high.

"You need to be more careful! And what were you thinking by putting the princess in a dangerous situation!?" Riju chastised.

Zelda stepped in for Link's defense as she brushed her blonde hair slightly to the side in recollection. "Actually Riju, it was my idea to go and investigate the dam…and…if it weren't for Link here tonight, we would have lost two children. He was very brave," She said throwing him a cute grateful smile his way.

"Is that right? Well still…the princess is going to need you alive, ya know? If you are ever going to do whatever it is, you are planning on doing. So, stop being a hero all the time! You're going to end up getting yourself killed! And then what will become of her, hmm?" She scolded with a playful pointed finger waved in his face.

Zelda's face awoke, and her brow lifted high in a confused stare of what she meant by that. Link on the other hand just stood there with a steady trail of nervous sweat run down the side of his face at the sound of Riju's words.

Riju spun back to talk to the princess. "Well dear princess, I'm sorry we didn't accompany you earlier today, but I want you to know if there is anything you need of us, don't hesitate to call upon us. As for now, we are ready, willing and able to escort you back to Kakariko tomorrow. We will be waiting for you at first light. You should both probably get some rest while you can," Riju said as she grabbed and held the princess's hands in her own, eyes locked on hers.

"No need to apologize, there was no way anyone could have known what would have happened today. And thank you for your generosity and loyalty in Hyrule's hour of need, it won't ever be forgotten," She smiled. "So, we will see you in the morning, goodnight Riju," she said trying to fight back a yawn from being so tired.

Riju then performed a strong bow beside her and left both their presence back to her quarters.

Link and Zelda were finally alone once again. They both glanced over to each other, smiled at what a crazy day it has been and then proceeded to make their way back to their chambers to rest.

However, just as they stepped away, they heard a shout call over to them. It would seem destiny would have it that they would never be able to be alone or get back to their room to rest. Upon hearing the voice, Link rolled his eyes and sighed. Immediately he knew who it was and was already bracing for the guaranteed misfortunes of his and Zelda's presence at the Domain. It was Muzu.

"Princess! Wait, a moment of your time please!" Muzu hollered, as he ran as fast as he could to where they were walking.

Zelda and Link both stopped for him to reach them on the bridge leading to their room.

The old zora was heaving and out of breath by the time he caught up to them.

*Huff, puff, wheeze*

"I'm sorry, I'm not as young as I once was, and these old legs of mine can only carry me so fast… But princess, I came to thank you for what you've both done for me and to beg your forgiveness," the out of breath Muzu said as he lifted his head up towards them from leaning on his knees. His eyes were swollen as if he been crying already. His voice was weak and shook.

"Thank you…thank you so much for saving my only grandchildren…I know now, how foolish I have been. All you both have ever tried to do was help our people, and I was always horrible towards you both," he said.

It was then Link and Zelda both realized that the two lime-colored zora children were his grandchildren. Link felt a slight guilt for assuming the worst of him when he realized he was wrong about the troubled zora. He didn't have any real ill will towards them, he was just blinded by suffering all these long years.

He was on the verge of falling to his knees. "I'm so...so sorry for the way I've been treating you both, especially you dear princess. And if you can find it in your heart, could you please forgive me for speaking harsh to you yesterday? You are the Princess of Hyrule, you deserve and command respect…it was wrong of me to speak to you that way. Please…please forgive me," He said as tears began to well up in his eyes yet again. His hands trembled as he begged falling before her feet.

"You were forgiven the moment you said it," She said back unequivocally as she beamed at him. She was humbled, and her heart was warm by his sincerity. She was filled with love and compassion for the poor zora man. She knew he was suffering from a broken heart and a resentful spirit. So, she graciously lifted him up and held him by both shoulders as he cried.

"It's just, I loved her so much…as if she was my own hatchling...Mipha that is… I raised her...I know neither you hold any blame for what happened. What Mipha did was what she felt was right. She gave of her own free will for her people. That was her…that was my Mipha…always taking care of others before herself. She didn't have a single selfish bone in her body…she was good…and that monster took her away from me," Muzu cried again, burying his face in his hands.

"It's alright, let it all out okay? I know what it's like to lose the ones you love most," Zelda comforted him by placing a warm soothing hand on his back as he wept.

As Muzu was being held by Zelda, Link realized how distraught the poor man was. He knew he had to do something to help ease his pain. But what could he do?

Then as he was standing there, watching Zelda sweetly hold him, a wonderful idea came crashing into his mind. He wasn't sure if it was going to work or not, but he knew he had to try. He owed him that much.

So, with all the focus he could muster, he took a step back and closed his eyes and cleared his heart and mind.

Zelda then noticed Link's sudden change in behavior and was left curiously worried.

"Link? Are you alright?" she asked as she still held Muzu. Muzu then also lifted his head up from his hands, his eyes sore from crying, to face the young Hylian man who was behaving most peculiar.

The knight then concentrated and calmed all his thoughts, so he could listen to the quiet voice residing in his heart. As he waited and delve deep into his feelings, searching for her, he suddenly felt a power. A power he knew that only she had. A power she had given him to use whenever his need was dire. And if ever there was time he needed her power, it was now. He knew she had the power to heal the wounds of the flesh. But he also believed, no…he knew that it could be used to mend a broken heart as well. It had to be able to, he thought. It was her pure unconditional love that she had, Mipha's Grace.

As the pair watched him back away with his eyes closed, they saw as he suddenly swung both his hands out in front of himself. Link then slammed his fist together as he felt the surge of power overflow from within his entire being. A flash of blinding pale green light surrounded him as power emanated from his body. His eyes were still shut and his whole body levitated off the ground, carried by what could only be a pristine divine energy.

Amazed by what her eyes were beholding, Zelda loosened her tight embrace of Muzu. He too was in shock of the magnificent sight he was seeing.

The knight had a translucent current of energy swirl around him, as if he was engulfed in holy flames. And it was in that moment the miracle happened, she appeared out from him. Mipha's spirit flew out from Link's body and slowly drifted in the air towards Muzu.

Face awash with tears, Muzu took a step from Zelda toward Mipha's Divine light, hand stretched out towards her in disbelief.

"Is it…really you? Mipha?" the man cried, tears of joy running down his cheeks.

There she was, standing as beautiful and preserved as ever. Although she was a spirit, her likeness and radiance still were manifested through the pale green angelic light that carried her.

She nodded graciously. "Thanks be to Link, my spirit was freed…and because of that, I'll be able to be with you always," Mipha said, in her meek sweet voice that she had. "You see? I'm alright…and I'll be right here…always," Mipha said as her final words, sweetly placing her hand over his heart.

But as quickly as she came, her spirit vanished, slowly disappearing into Muzu as he desperately tried to reach out and hug her. But it was too late…she was gone. Her illuminating light that filled the domain full of her love, faded into darkness once again. Link fell from the air to his knees.

The Knight was slightly out of breath as he lifted his head to face the two awestruck witnesses, eyes wide.

"Thank you…thank you so much Link…I don't know how I can ever repay you, for what you've done for me!" Muzu said to the worn out Hylian soldier.

Muzu's eyes were full of tears, but this time he was wearing a grateful smile. He was reinvigorated with joy as if he was healed of a century old sickness. Before tonight, his heart was torn, and he was a broken bitter man. But after tonight, he was made anew and was put back together again, by Mipha's Grace. He was truly healed.

Zelda was rendered speechless by the miracle she just saw, she didn't know a thing like that was even possible. Her eyes too were glistening with tears about to fall, but she held them back.

Link slowly walked to where they were standing.

"Just answer me one more thing…" Muzu asked, wiping his face from the cry. "Did you make that monster pay for what he's done?"

Link just lifted his head, and did a cool smile towards him, proud that he defeated Ganon once and for all.

Zelda then placed a reassuring hand on Muzu's shoulder. "Though it is true, Ganon took a lot from us all...and it could never be the same, but I can promise you, he paid for it," She then drew her hand back into her chest and did a proud smile towards her wonderful hero. "Yes, Link made sure that terrible beast answered for all his crimes. Calamity Ganon has been slain."

With that said, Muzu took a step away and cleared his hoarse throat. "Well, then I thank you again…for all that you have done, the both of you. I know there is no way I can ever repay you for what you've done for us...please accept my friendship and know I'll be at your service, whenever you may have need of it...but as for now, it is late and I know you must be tired, I bid you good evening. The Domain will forever be a home to you both," Muzu said as he did a bow of the head and backed away slowly. And then he was gone.

Finally, alone again, the pair of hylian adventurers made their way back to their secluded wing of the Domain. Link quickly started to prepare his bed once again and was just about to just fall on it when he felt a firm finger press against his shoulder from behind.

"And what is it that you think you are doing? We still need to bandage you up and clean those wounds," She smiled at him. Link just shrugged his shoulders and didn't argue. As much as he would make it seem he didn't care much for her affection, secretly he loved it.

As she sat him by the table, she moved her chair adjacent to wear he was sitting. She had his hand and chest in view and carefully she applied ointment that the zora's had brought to their room.

"Now, I'm sorry in advance…but this might sting a little," She said apprehensively, as she plastered some of the healing crème to the scarred-up palm of his hand.

With just a dab, Link winced the moment she smeared the rainbow fluorescent colored treatment as it scorched him.

"Hold still!" She giggled.

"You said it would sting only a little, not burn my flesh off!" Link whined, one eye squinting.

Zelda laughed again. "I'm sorry Link, but it must be done, to keep the sickness from setting in," she said, as she carefully studied and applied the bandage wraps to his bare skin.

As she moved on to his chest area, she couldn't help but feel her face glow warm as she touched his exposed muscles that were there. She tried to act as professional as she could, being a makeshift nurse, but this was the young man that held the key to her heart and she couldn't help but feel a tingling electrifying feeling, blanket over her entire body being so close and intimate with him. Even if it was just doctoring him up.

So, she decided to chat small talk with him, anything to get her focus off his wonderful physique.

"That's was a very brave thing you did today Link…Foolish, but brave nonetheless. And, that was very sweet what you did for Muzu as well. How did you know you would be able to do that? How did you do that?" She asked.

Link flexed himself to sit up straight as he tried to get his mind off the pain, every time she made a pass with the medicine. "Well, the truth is, ever since I freed Ruta from Ganon's control, Mipha too was also freed. I was finally able to see her again, after one hundred years. It was like a dream," he said.

"Really? A dream you say?" Zelda prodded, a tinge of jealousy in her voice.

"Well sort of, I always cared for Mipha. She has always been good to me ever since I was a small boy," Link added.

"Really?" she said, eager to hear more of Link's confession. She wanted to hear more of her knight's mysterious past and felt a bit nervous and scared to what he might say next.

"We were very good friends. And, well, she was also very beautiful. She was the most beautiful girl I have ever seen up until that point," he said. But just as he said those words about to continue, Zelda instinctively pulled the bandage tightly around Link to where it tugged a little on his skin. He winced and yelped slightly again at the pain. She felt envious of the words he had for the zora princess and couldn't help herself but be playfully rough when he spoke that way about her.

After regaining his voice after that quick sting of pain he continued. "Well, although she was beautiful…me and her only had just been friends. I could never have given her what she truly wanted, and she knew that. But, what I could give her was peace. The peace of knowing that I will always care for her, even as a friend. So, with that, she gave her power to me. Her power to heal. And now...I gave that power to Muzu. He needs it much more than I ever could."

After hearing him speak again, Zelda felt a slight guilt from being harsh on him. She knew it was wrong of her to be jealous of a memory. Especially, when she knew now that Link never held any affection for her in that way. But, she couldn't help but feel that way about him. She loved him.

Wearing a wide, one eye focused smile she carefully applied the last bandage. "There we are! All done. See? Not too bad was it! What do you think? My first field dressing," She said, proud of herself. Link just arose from his chair and gave himself a once over look as he flexed his hand in his bandage.

"Not bad, now if I was only able to close my grip and hold my sword, it would be perfect," He teased. His hand was wrapped like a mitten. Zelda blushed and giggled.

"Yeah, maybe I may have done one too many passes around," she sighed "But, the good news is, this ointment is fast acting, or so what I have been told. They say zora medicine has magical properties. Perhaps, that's why Mipha was so skilled in the magical arts of healing? Well in any case, you should be good by tomorrow I believe," She beamed.

He took a few steps around the room as he appraised his mitten. "Well then, let's just hope nothing else happens tonight or we will be in trouble," he rebutted.

"Oh Link! So ungrateful sometimes," she said back with a jaw dropping smile at his ill attempt at humor. "Now don't forget, you have to take your potion before bed as well. Remember, just one drop okay?" she said rising up from where she sat, she then went behind her dressing partition to change back into her satin gown to sleep in.

"I know, I have it right here," Link said revealing the vial he had around his neck tied to a chain. He then recalled from the last time he drank of it, and its nasty flavor. So, this time he formulated a quick plan of action on how to avoid the trouble.

Zelda curiously looked over to him from the peephole of the curtain that she had, awaiting to see his reaction upon drinking the Lunar tear Potion. She was expecting a funny show to say the least. It always humored her how childlike Link could be from time to time when having to deal with minuscule issues like taking medicines or eating unsavory foods.

But, this time Link had a plan. He quickly poured some nearby water in a mug and plopped open the top of the small vile. Gently he leaned it over his mouth and poured a single drop onto his tongue. Quickly he slammed the potion down on the table and reached for his mug and washed down the drop, chasing it quickly with water. That way he could take away the terrible flavor as fast as possible rather than mixing it in the mug, which would spread the flavor out and make it linger on.

He still squinted in disgust, but it was tolerable. He was prepared for it this time. Zelda still giggled under her breath from behind her curtain at the face he made. He was squinting and make choking gestures around his neck unaware she was watching him from afar.

Link noticed then she was out of view, so he quickly flung off his river worn shirt and swapped his trousers for soft ones to sleep in.

During this time behind her veil, since she took quite longer to get ready for bed, Zelda used it to talk to aloud.

"Now, tomorrow morning we will be off to Kakariko, and no doubt we will have to go the long way around, now that the plains are flooded. Which would take us dangerously close to Hyrule Castle. But it will be no matter, we will be fine. I mean we do have Sidon and the Gerudo company among us after all. And... we do have the hero of Hyrule. So, we should be more than capable to handle any threat that comes along our way," she smiled.

Still behind the curtain, she massaged and combed some fine scented oils into her hair that the zora had graciously left in their room for her to use. It was one of the princess's favorites, a luxury she hasn't had since before the calamity. The zoras were known far and wide for their ability to make precious treatments and oils. When she lived at the castle she would have to wait for zora traders to visit before it could be available at the Hyrule market. So, whenever it came, it was a real treat indeed.

Even though it was just a simple perfumed oil, it brought back sweet fond memories, specifically the time where she got to know the real Link. It was the same one she wore that wonderful day from over a century ago. It smelled the same as it did back then, untouched by time. It was her favorite memory she had of him from one hundred years ago.

So, she took a moment longer to bask in the fresh aroma that it carried. Its fragrance was that of blossoming flowers, with hints of gardenia and zora lilies. All she had to do was close her eyes for a moment and it was as if she was brought back to their spring, reliving all those wonderful memories. Her heart raced, just the same way it did back then, as if she was experiencing those feelings of excitement and anticipation all over again.

And after a brief moment of remembrance, upon opening her eyes in the room, she continued talking aloud as she was just about to unveil herself from behind the curtain. "Speaking of Hero, where were we before all this excitement happened?" She asked playfully as she pulled back the curtain.

Her knight was silent. "Link?" she questioned peeking around the room to where he was. To her surprise he was already fast asleep, shirtless, wearing nothing but trousers laying on top of his bed sheets sideways, as if he collapsed from sheer exhaustion on top of it.

She grinned at him sleeping so peacefully. "Oh Link...we never seem to ever catch a break, do we?" She said as she went and sat beside him as he slept. And because she didn't want to wake him as he slumbered, she decided not to move him. Instead, she decided to gently place a soft feather pillow to cradle his head. And as she glanced upon him once last time, she parted his bangs to the side that covered part of his face and leaned into him for a soft kiss on the cheek.

"Goodnight Link. Maybe next time," she breathed softly. And with that she hopped off his bed, blew out their evening candle and slid into her own. It didn't take long after shutting her eyes for her to fall asleep, she too was exhausted from the drawn-out day they had.

As she laid there, she pondered about all that has transpired up until now, the divine beast, the dam, the moon pearl, all of it came to mind. And then she thought about what was to come. Not only with her task of healing the kingdom, but also about this mystery villain that was on the loose and what it all meant. It all seemed daunting to her. Luckily for her sake, she would never have to face these challenges alone, she had Link. She knew that with him by her side, they would be able to handle anything that came their way, and that filled her with peace.

Authors note- Hello Everyone, I hope you like. Please if you haven't, drop a comment on what you think. Even if its just a thumbs up or thumbs down. I hope I am keeping you all entertained, and its hard to tell without much feedback, so if you do leave a comment, thanks so much! It is greatly appreciated! It helps me improve. Lastly, thanks again for all the support, and I hope you all enjoy where the story is heading. : )