Chapter 64 - Family Update
Summary: In the Victory Timeline King Dorephan asks his daughter Mipha for an update on the family. Mipha uses some old memories to steer Link into doing what she wants.
Mipha awoke to the soft light of a cloudy morning in Zora's Domain, finding herself floating beside her Zora husband Link in their slumber pool. The room was still, the quiet only broken by the distant splashing of the Mikau Lake waterfall and sporadic bird calls from outside. A quiet bedroom was something she was getting used to, for it wasn't always so.
For many years of their marriage, if she awoke first, it was to the rhythmic sound of Link's slow and steady Hylian breathing. She wasn't used to it at first, and found it adorable. It reminded her of the time he fell asleep in her lap before their first kiss at Veiled Falls. But Link also had some getting used to with respect to her sleeping habits. She recalled him panicking the first time he awoke to find her not breathing, not realizing Zoras use their gills when asleep in the water.
Anyway, she needed to get up soon. Her father, King Dorephan, wanted to meet her over breakfast. And much as she was in the mood to make passionate love with Link right now, he definitely needed more rest. Link had exhausted himself yesterday, so that would have to wait until later. Mipha recalled their evening together.
It was just after dinner when they decided to swim in Ruto Lake for some exercise. Link suddenly stopped as they swam by a second waterfall, and exclaimed,"Wait! This waterfall sounds different."
"Of course it does, sweetheart," Mipha replied with a fond smile. "As a Zora, you can hear sounds above and below the range of Hylian hearing, especially in the water. Is this the first time you've noticed?"
"Yes," said Link. "Or maybe not. I may have sensed that the three falls by Mikau Lake somehow each sounded different, but I never focused on it. Now that I know what to listen for, I'm more aware of it. Or maybe I'm just hearing some things more clearly now. Let's check out some more falls."
And so they spent the rest of their evening exploring every nearby waterfall, Link excitedly noting their differences in tone and volume. By the time they finished and headed back to their house on Mikau Lake, it was dark, and Sunset Fireflies flitted around the nearby evergreen trees.
"So, which waterfall sounded the best to you, sweetheart?" Mipha asked as they walked hand in hand.
"Without a doubt Veiled Falls," answered Link with a smile. "It had the most beautiful and soothing tone."
"Now you know another reason I took you there that morning when we shared our first kiss," Mipha said, a hint of playfulness in her voice. "Perhaps its music affected you somehow, even though it was beyond your Hylian hearing. It must have given you the courage to kiss me."
"Maybe," said Link with a grin. "Or maybe you just have too cute a smile, and I gave up trying to resist it."
"Whatever works!" she said as they laughed, then entered their house and headed straight to their room. Which was another reason Link would still be tired this morning.
Mipha gracefully emerged from the pool without disturbing Link, her movements silent and fluid. She tiptoed out of their house, then descended the grassy path to the bridge that led to the Domain itself, greeting the guard on duty with a gentle nod and a cheerful good morning. She sent a message in silent mode to Link's Tab about where she would be in case he awoke before she returned as three Blue Sparrows flew off upon her approach. Then she finally made her way down and up stairways to the throne room.
"Good morning, sweetheart," King Dorephan greeted her warmly as she entered, pulling her into a quick embrace. "We're each having a Hearty Bass to start the day."
"Good morning, Father, and that's perfect."
Two plates, each overflowing with a freshly caught Hearty Bass, sat nearby. Mipha and her father each took one and began to eat.
"I'm glad we could meet, just the two of us," said King Dorephan between bites. "I was hoping to catch up on family matters, and you always know everything that's happening."
"Of course, Father," replied Mipha with a smile. "Though with older and more independent children these days I'm not as knowledgeable as before."
"I feel the same way about mine," chuckled King Dorephan.
They both paused to swallow another bite of fish.
"But first of all, are you happy, sweetheart? You certainly look it!" inquired King Dorephan, studying his daughter's radiant face.
"I'm ecstatic, Father!" exclaimed Mipha with joy."With Link now one of us, I'm living a dream come true. We can share moments together again that we only briefly had time for before. I can't get enough of being together with him! And I sense Link has no regrets over his decision, which was something I worried about. On the contrary, he's excited to discover new aspects of being a Zora and starting to hear the music of the water."
"That's wonderful, dear. It's such a relief and makes me very happy for you both," said King Dorephan with a proud smile.
"I suspect you're pleased as well, Father, for other unspoken reasons," continued Mipha. "I know you accepted Link as the one I fell in love with and supported my desire to marry him. But I think you would have preferred a Zora husband for me."
King Dorephan spoke with tenderness, "My dear daughter, all I've ever wanted was for you to find lasting happiness. I know how deeply you fell in love with Link, and I supported you and him being together. But as you well know, Hylians have a much shorter lifespan than us, and I couldn't help but worry about your future. How would you cope with his eventual aging and passing? It would pain me to see you suffer through that."
"I know it would, Father," said Mipha.
"Besides, it has been a challenge for me to rule over our Domain without the benefit of my dear wife Marena by my side. Her presence and guidance were invaluable to me, and I did not wish for you to face ruling in the same fashion when the time came. I know Dr. Purah's age reversal rune provided temporary relief, but its reliability over time is still uncertain. How often can the same person use it? Are there any long term side effects? But now that Link has become one of us, that worry has been washed away. May Nayru bless you both and give you a long and joyful life together."
"Thank you, Father," Mipha replied gratefully. "I truly feel blessed by everything that has occurred. But even if Link had remained a Hylian and we had eventually lost each other, I would have treasured our time together just as you hold onto mother's memory. I was fully aware of what I was getting myself into when I fell in love with him. But you know how I am, always following my heart no matter what the consequences may be."
"I know that very well, my dear. But enough about that, let us move on to your brother Sidon," King Dorephan continued, his tone shifting. "I've noticed he has been spending time with a young lady named Arana from North Hyrule. He introduced her to me during one of her visits, and she was quite charming. However, your brother has always been reserved when it comes to matters of the heart, so he hasn't said much about their relationship. What are your thoughts on them together?"
"I think Sidon is taking his time and not rushing into things," Mipha began thoughtfully, "He's always been careful with his relationships, though I sense something different about this one. He's more… serious and protective of it, I think. When he and I briefly discussed Arana while waiting for her to arrive here by ferry, Sidon hinted that he was quite serious about her, even reminding me he was older now than I was when I married. He has never introduced any of his other girlfriends to you, has he? That, in itself, is telling."
King Dorephan nodded. "I had a feeling that was the case, that this is more serious. But what is it about female North Hyrule Zoras that they can so easily attract our young men? Your son Link married Tila, I heard Midon is spending time now with Ambassador Laray's sister Tiray, and Sidon is seeing Arana. I don't suppose they've all developed a sudden love of saltwater have they?"
Mipha chuckled lightly.
"That's a difficult question for me to answer, Father. Maybe we should consult the males in our Domain for their thoughts. But seriously, it isn't as common as you would think if you only looked at our family. Most of us still prefer to date and marry within our own Domain. However, each relationship with the North I am aware of has its own unique story behind it."
"Perhaps it would help if you elaborated on that, sweetheart."
"Certainly, Father. Let's start with Tila. Mila said Tila grew interested in my son Link early on, and it's no surprise that anyone she sets her sights on would fall for her. She has a charming personality, is highly intelligent, is a royal princess, and is incredibly beautiful. Midon used to joke that when Tila visited here for a concert or dance, half the young men in the crowd couldn't take their eyes off of her."
"I agree Tila is attractive," acknowledged King Dorephan.
"That is most definitely an understatement, Father," Mipha chuckled. "Let me share a story Mila told me."
It was some years ago at a concert by Ruto Lake and the atmosphere was lively before it even began, the large crowd anticipating a fun evening. Midon sat next to Mila, waiting for his girlfriend Larena to join him. Suddenly, Tila arrived and started heading towards the seat Mila was saving for her.
"Do you want to clap along with the crowd, Mi?" joked Midon, looking at his sister.
"What are you talking about, Midon? The show hasn't even started yet."
"Listen," he said with a smirk.
Then they both heard what sounded like a succession of quick and scattered single claps.
"What was that?" exclaimed Mila.
"That's the sound of jealous girlfriends slapping their boyfriends for staring too long at your gorgeous friend Tila," laughed Midon. "I noticed it the last time she was here. You know how possessive you females can be."
"Well, if those boys are already with someone, then they deserve it," replied Mila through laughter. "But that is so funny!"
"I suppose 'attractive' is putting it mildly then," agreed King Dorephan with a chuckle.
"Anyway, Tila has been a wonderful wife to my son. They have two adorable children, and are both deeply in love with each other. So that union has worked out perfectly."
"I sensed it had, but am happy to hear you say so," said King Dorephan.
"As for Midon, he recently suffered a difficult breakup with his long-time girlfriend Larena, so perhaps he was seeking someone new to help fill the void. And Tiray may well also feel lonely and want companionship after all she has been through. So, it was not surprising they would find each other given the chance. How serious it will become is still uncertain, though Midon has been seeing her quite often, perhaps reacting to losing Larena for not spending enough time with her. I don't really know much about Tiray. She's Tila's cousin and Mila said that Tiray and Tila were close growing up. Link says Tiray's older sister Laray is quite conscientious and dedicated to her work as North Hyrule Ambassador, so that may count for something."
"That's all quite understandable and good to know," said King Dorephan.
"As for my dear brother, his relationship with Arana could have started with the excitement of being with someone from a different and perhaps more sophisticated background. However, if you'd like, I can talk to him about it; he may feel more comfortable opening up to me."
"That might be helpful," said King Dorephan. "I only want him to be happy and avoid any potential mistakes. Given his royal position, one wants to be sure the attraction to him is for love and not material matters. But discussing their love lives can be awkward for both parent and child, and interfering in one can cause bitter feelings."
"Agreed."
"Now, what about my other grandchildren?" asked King Dorephan. "And we have great-grandchildren to discuss, too. Am I truly that old?"
"No, Father. As I've told you before, those of us who married Hylians married quite young for reasons we discussed earlier," Mipha replied with a smile. "We've already talked about my sons Midon and Link, so let's turn to my daughters. As you know, Mila is a compassionate soul who inherited my healing abilities. Right now, she's busy updating Hyrule's history given what was discovered under the Forgotten Temple. I think her love for writing and scholarship was sparked by working on my husband's journal. In terms of social relationships, she's still seeing Kendal, one of our guards who is a wonderful person. Lapha is more independent and dedicated to studying science, thanks in part to working closely with Dr. Purah. She's currently not involved in any romantic relationship I am aware of, but puts all of her energy into her work."
"I hope she's happy," said King Dorephan.
"As for great grandchildren, Tara is studying in North Hyrule and excelling in her classes when she's not being mischievous. Her baby brother Lanka is a healthy and charming little one. Both of them possess an endearing playfulness in their personalities," said Mipha.
"I should try to see them more often when they visit here," said King Dorephan. "They both sound adorable."
"And of course you know I share pictures with you," said Mipha. "Are you having difficulty seeing them on the MaxiTab I got you, Father?"
"No, dear, I can find them - or ask Kara to help me," chuckled King Dorephan. "They're beautiful pictures but it's not the same as seeing people in person."
By now they had both finished breakfast.
"I should let you get back to your family now," said King Dorephan. "I have an upcoming meeting anyway."
"The only family I have home at the moment is Link. But I should check on him. He's getting more and more attached to being in water."
"Thank you for our little talk, though, and I feel more comfortable knowing that you will speak to Sidon about Arana," said King Dorephan.
"I will, though I suspect he may be equally shy with me," laughed Mipha as she and her father hugged goodbye.
Mipha stopped by the general store and purchased two Staminoka Bass, then made her way back to their house and peeked inside. All was quiet, indicating Link must still be sleeping. Leaving the fish on the dining table, she returned to their room, knelt down, and kissed Link on the forehead.
"Time to get up, sweetheart," said Mipha.
"Oh! Did I sleep late?"
"No, you're just in time for lunch," laughed Mipha.
"What?! Lunch?"
"I'm teasing. It's still morning. And as motivation to get up there's two fresh fish on the table. I already had breakfast with Father."
"You're the best," laughed Link. "How about a real kiss now?"
"Right after you get up, sweetheart," laughed Mipha as she gently caressed his cheek with the back of her hand.
"Oh, double motivation? Food and a kiss?" chuckled Link as he got up from their slumber pool, they embraced and kissed, then made their way to the table where Link sat down and began to eat.
"Mm, delicious," said Link. "But two Staminoka Bass? Will I be needing a lot of stamina soon?"
"We'll see," said Mipha. "I'm pretty sure you will."
"Why did Father want to meet with you first thing this morning?"
"A refresher on what's going on with the family, and he wants me to find out how serious Sidon is with Arana."
"Good luck getting Sidon to open up about his love life," said Link. "He's quite reserved about things like that."
Mipha watched him for a moment, then spoke up.
"You know, you've been a pretty good husband," she said finally. "I've never had to slap you, though I came close once."
"Slap me?" Link's eyes widened in surprise. "You've tickled me many times, but I don't recall ever being slapped. Why would you do that?"
"For doing something in front of me that made me jealous," Mipha clarified.
"What made you surface this all of a sudden?" Link asked after swallowing another bite of fish.
Mipha recounted the story she had shared with her father, making Link laugh.
"That's quite amusing," he commented. "But honestly, I don't recall ever giving you a reason to be jealous after we got married. Sure, you weren't thrilled about how much time I spent with Zelda before we were together, but that was just out of duty and it's old news now."
"Don't be too sure of yourself," Mipha warned. "Zora females are known for being extremely possessive and easily getting jealous. What about the time I caught you flirting with Kodah instead of studying for your citizenship exam?"
Link paused to take another bite of his fish. "Wow, that was ages ago, dearest," he chuckled. "I wasn't flirting though. I didn't even remember dating Kodah at the time, so when she offered to explain it to me, I wanted to be polite. She explained how we went to parties sometimes and …."
"For something that happened a while ago, you seem to remember it pretty well," Mipha pointed out.
"Well, you always tease me about my memory," responded Link. "So when I do remember things, I like to show it off."
"Oh, so you forget most things, but are careful to remember details of encounters with old girlfriends?"
"I didn't mean it that way," said Link. "I only …."
"And let's not forget when Twilight Princess Midna kissed you and left some Twili magic in your head," Mipha interrupted.
"She only kissed my forehead as a thank-you for helping her reunite with her version of me," explained Link. "It wasn't romantic at all and I definitely didn't kiss her back."
"I still didn't like it," admitted Mipha. "And what about the first time we met Queen Sopha in North Hyrule? You couldn't take your eyes off of her and stood there gaping with your mouth open. In different circumstances, I probably would have slapped you then."
"Yes, I apologize for that. I wasn't expecting the ruler of their domain to be so young and beau … I mean to resemble her sister Tila so much. It took me by surprise; I was expecting someone older like Father," clarified Link.
"It was embarrassing for me," confessed Mipha. "And it probably gave Queen Sopha the wrong impression of you. She must have imagined keeping you there for herself since she thought she was much prettier than me."
Link sighed. "She wasn't, but I understand where you're coming from, sweetheart. So I guess I did give you reasons to be jealous, even though I never intended to. But please don't let these moments from the past affect us now. You know I only have eyes for you."
"Well … if you want to cheer me up, it's going to cost you something," said Mipha with a coy smile.
"You know I'd do anything for you," replied Link as he finished his fish.
"Then we can revisit some waterfalls, but instead of swimming up and down, you're going to stay behind them with me," said Mipha with a sweet smile. "Maybe after several waterfalls, I can move on from those painful memories you caused."
"Of course, dearest," agreed Link, but noticing her smile he continued. "But sometimes I wonder if you bring up these memories just to … never mind."
"Do you really think I would do that to you?" asked Mipha with a mischievous glint in her eye.
"I wouldn't put it past you," chuckled Link. "How did you know to get Staminoka Bass?"
"Come on, let's listen to the beautiful sounds of the water together and make our own music," laughed Mipha as she took Link's hand. "That should definitely improve my mood."
"I'll do my best," promised Link as he squeezed her hand and they walked out the door towards Mikau Lake.