Ch 2 Compromises & more compromises.
Next Council meeting came up different than expected. They would simply not abandon the idea of the princess Zelda’s marriage as soon as possible. During a week, all they discussed was about:
“Your father last words and last breath was hoping you took care of the kingdom! Your majesty, we are hoping you have not forgotten. Besides, your nephew Zaphire is still too young”
“Think about the benefits of a marriage, having turned seventeen and Six month old, we could confirm the union with Altea to assure the wedding, for Hyrule’s prosperity, that political business would guarantee the improvement of the city”
“Princess... think about what your father would have wanted” instigated Vaati, one of the youngest members of the council.
She was cornered. If she said no, she would be denoting weakness and denying prosperity and benefits for the economy of her people. But she could not hide, deep in her heart how much she hated the idea of marrying a complete stranger.
“Our people can prosper here, and now... wise man, you may send the messenger if you please, but you can not expect a wedding in less than six months. I still grieve for my father, the King. He is now in a sacred place, so I demand you do not make assumptions of what he would have wanted.”
The council had enough with that for an answer, but that jus gave her time before they forced her on what seemed inevitable.
Her gazed crossed with Link’s, to her surprise he had accepted the charge of chief commander with a usual inexpressible face. At least that would keep him near, with the meetings, now that his role as her appointed knight was over. Maybe it was something forbidden and risky, to finally accept herself how she felt about him, but the proof was solid... every moment she thought about the warm feeling of love he made her have, the power of the triforce resonated in her, her hand would shine with light. Was there any possibility she confessed how she felt? What would be the consequence? Would she be left with unrequited love? Only imagining it made her stomach feel empty, made her feel she was falling from a cliff.
She was expecting to see Link on Monday, she dressed with a beautiful blue gown, and she even had perfume of roses on her, she would invite him to have dinner, just like the old times in the wild. But she found Link was gone. Later they informed her that he had requested to visit the Zora’s kingdom. So that reminded her of ... princess Mipha.
She felt her heart heavy, painful sensation she tried to avoid all day long. Little they knew that a dark force was infiltrating, moving their own game to separate them in this moments of felt victory.
“So... here I am... princess Miphy”
Said his friend knight with a big smile. Zora’s kingdom was sunny in that precise moment. Link had requested permission to be absent from the army and the council a couple of days. It seemed that the princess had something she wanted to show him.
“I... please come with me, there is something I must give you please!” She said with a reverence, repeating “please” with every sentence” he could far tell she was really nervous.
“It’s just me, there’s no need of such formality” he said scratching his head.
“But now you reminded me, with all this responsibility in Hyrule’s castle, I’m beginning to feel as an important person” he said bluffing as a joke to his childhood friend, even though she seemed distracted, something rare, as she always payed close attention to whatever he said.
She led him into a road near the waterfalls around the village. At first she intended to take him to Vah Ruta, but she remembered that the place would be crowded because they installed a big marketplace near the dam, where Vah Ruta was resting, she didn’t wanted to lose more time, so she lead him behind one of the tallest waterfall of clear water, they went through a fancy zora door, reaching a big chamber. There rested a closed treasure chest in the center of the room, lightened by a ray of sunlight filtered from above,
Link was half naked now, he took off his champion tunic, his pants and his boots before crossing under the waterfall. He was used to it since he visited the kingdom as a kid, occasionally he would even play in the cliff jumping to the water for hours. He had a close relationship with king Dorphan too.
Mipha blushed slightly watching his naked torso, she began stuttering even more.
“Link... I have made this for you”...
Link, curious and impatient, went right to the chest she was pointing. He didn’t wait a second to hear what was inside, something he would regret later. He went right to it, and opened the treasure, asking if he could have it now at the same time.
Inside, he found a zora armor, a helmet and zora grieves.
With a serious expression, he observed slowly the beautiful design in the armor set. Mipha kept silent then, maybe he knew the meaning of that gesture.
“This... is a zora armor set...” he said, touching it softly to get a feel of the texture, his eyes were bright with excitement .
“Link... humm.., I must tell you that...”
“This is the coolest thing ever!!!! Mipha, does this make me a faster swimmer?..”
“Yes, you’ll swim faster, and you can ascend big waterfalls going versus water current... but... listen... Link...”
While he was trying to listen, Link was already putting on the armor set. It was a perfect fit, something unexpected, because if it was made with a zora pattern, he expected it to be a little big for him, because all Zora were taller than him.
When Mipha got his attention back, Link was already putting the helmet on.
“So... It’s a very special... item.. because..”
“Of course it’s special! It’s perfect! How did you know it would fit me?” He said, stretching his arms and jumping a little while mumbling that the color was so cool and the liberty of movements, he just didn’t let the Zora princess finish any of her sentences.
“Link!... listen!... that armor set... is for my future husband!”
It was just then that he kept silence and turned to face her, analyzing her words.
“I... I handcrafted it carefully, and I... made it for you... with all my love... Link... do you remember the day you killed the Linel?... it ...it all started that day... I fell in love with you”
He stared at the princess, the young zora was bowing in front of him, as a sign of respect. If she could be more red, her blushing face would have been noted on her delicate features. Her eyes were closed tightly, she seemed about to cry.
“Mipha...” he said, walking towards her slowly, his eyes wide open, he felt now like he was in a sort of unreal dream, expecting to wake up any moment. Her love confession was truly an unexpected surprise for the hylian.
“Mipha... I care for you deeply” he said, raising her chin with his hand, so she would look back at him, putting his other hand on her head.
“I know... this may sound unfair... but... I have always thought of you as my family... and I really would like to offer something so precious like you are feeling right now about me... it doesn’t matter if we are Hylian or Zora...” and making a pause he continued
“I know... you will find the most special person for you... I am sure you will!... I’m really sorry Mipha...”
And making a deeper bow in front of her, he continued on a more formal way. He didn’t want to loose her long time friend, into his mind appeared images of his childhood : them investigating dangerous mistery of the lost silver rupee, how they played and he defended her of river otoroks, or when she showed him exited his new baby brother Sidon along with many other memories, as much as he didn’t want to hurt her, he couldn’t offer what she expected of him.
-“I... had the impression... it was unrequited” she answered. A silent tear running down her cheek and a forced smile placed on her lips.
-“Is it... that you have someone special already Link?” She asked quickly cleansing the tear away from her face
-“I promise, the moment I find her, you’ll be the first one to know” he answered offering his small finger to lace it with hers
-“It’s a promise”
And joining pinkys, they were distracted by a young zora who came in walking hand in hand with little Sidon, who came kicking water playfully.
-“My Mipha!” He ran to her when he saw her. The princess stoop down and carried him on her shoulders with a smile.
-“Link! I want Link’s outfit! My Mipha is going to make me clothes like Link’s!” He said convincingly, pointing at Link’s armor.
The young Zora who came behind was Sidon caretaker. She apologized
-“I’m sorry, Princess Mipha, lord Sidon insisted so much we should look for you, I supposed you would be here”
Link bécame Awareness he was still wearing Zora’s armor set, with such a significance he began undressing it.
“I... would like you to keep it” Mipha said timidly, “After all... it is made only for you”.
-“I can’t accept such honor”... said doubtfully the blue eyed hylian.
“Please! Take it as a gift, for the heroe of the evil vanishing sword”.
“I want it! My-Mi, make one for me, would you?” Said the little princess brother, bouncing on her shoulders, without knowing real significance of the matter.
“Yes, yes. I will, but you’ll see, a prettier Zora girl It’s going to make a better one for you one day” Mipha told his little brother, tickiling his feet, so he inocently laughed.
“No! My-Mi is the preeeeetiest Zora of all” he answered, opening his arms to the air.
“Of course she is” Link claimed, and so they all began walking to the waterfall exit..
It’s not that Link didn’t wanted to try the zora armor, or that he wouldn’t like to have said hello to the king of the Zora, it was just that uncomfortable silence, he didn’t know if he had to explain if having the armor, people might think he was in fact now the princess fiancé, and it would be all missunderstood as next royal - son in law.
He also didn’t want to take it off, so he wouldn’t hurt Mipha more than he already felt he had, so he decided to return to Hyrule as soon as possible, so he parted, with formal goodbye to the siblings. As expected, Mipha didn’t insist on him staying, most likely she would not fancy seeing him for a while, action he perfectly understood.
“-See you in a month on Hyrule!” He said, taking the road to Hyrule.
Once he was out of sight, Mipha took Sidon off her shoulders, and sat on the ground near the water. Silent tears came flowing non stop.
“My Mipha? Are you I’ll?” Sidon came near, touching her face.
“Does it hurt?l he asked with big child eyes, about to start crying too.
“Yes... it hurts. I will be ok, little one” She said, taking her face to her knees.
-“ Sidon, let us find some wild flowers to cure your sister, I need your help” Her nany said, Sidon, eager to help took her hand and they left the princess alone, after all, it was going to be hard to cure a broken heart.
Mind blank, that was the journey back Hyrule, So much have happened in so little time.
Many matters were required at his return, and what he imagined it would be short vacation with the Zora, came as a sad situation.
-“Sometimes I feel really stupid” he talked with his horse, reprimanding himself for not realizing Mipha’s feelings towards him. How long would she felt that way? Would it have been different having known them? It was frustrating not to find a solution, not to be able to help all of those who were important to him.
In the meantime on Hyrule.
Once morning meeting was finished, Zelda went personally to supervise contstruction site in the outskirts. She felt heaviness on her soul since early morning. On her mind, it only occured that, without the duty of being her appointed knight, Link didn’t have to be after her all the time. A year had being enough to pass from despise to longing.
Impa walked towards her, accompanied by two man of a peculiar aspect, one of them was red head like fire, without hylian ears, wich was considered flamboyant for the villagers, and people around. He was being followed by a taller man, with a black cloak covering his hair, and part of the face... or was it a tall woman? For the fine features of it’s face, and the slim body, it was hard to tell.
“Princess Zelda, ... they...uhh” that was all Impa was able to murmur, referring to the red haired man.
“It’s such an honor, to meet you at last your majesty, a lot has been spoken about your beauty on the literature, on the land that we are from! But it does not make justice to the real muse, who inspires all those wisdom poems, sang on realm festivities” He said theatrically, reaching her and taking her hand to make a greeting and giving Zelda a quick kiss on her cheek, that was a real surprise.
“Impa, I trust you are going to tell me what is this about”. As shocked as she was, she wasn’t sure if she should be laughing or upset.
“They come from Altea..” the Sheikah answered unceremoniously, that erased the little smile from her face.
“I imagine you are here for the answer to your future King, prince Marth” she asked directly. “Well, Incan go ahead and tell you that I’m sorry you travelled this far, but princess Zelda in unwilling to have a marriage...”
“Princess, you are mistaken, please hear this humble peasants, my name is Raphael, I’m a land worker, who achieved a degree on architecture, so I was sent as a help to rehabilitate your beautiful kingdom, as help from a neighbor kingdom.
“And your servant I presume, is...”
“He is my bodyguard, Ling, a pawn who was sent to protect me from the roads, even squire, if you would excuse him, he is not instructed on reading and writing” . He stood silent to such statements, raising his head a little.
“So, were you both farmers?” She asked, uncertain of his words, their hands, even covered in half gloves, didn’t seem of a man who had worked tilling the ground
“Yes! We were, your real majesty, we hope not to be a bother, so made clear our only objective is to help with the reconstruction and devastation your kingdom suffered.
“In that case, you are welcome, I trust my most trusted guardian Impa wil, find you a acomodation, shall you follow me please, I was just heading to talk to architect headmasters to deal with house construction”
Both look themselves for a second before following her.
On purpose, she took the road near vegetable plot, many hylians were working there, hylian whom dedicated all their lives to farm and grow plants.
-“Good morning Mr Talem, I see that carrots are going well”
The old man, seeing it was the Princess herself, made a bow in one knee, rising after her signal to come closer.
-“Yes, it is, we are hoping fertile lands this years your majesty” he politely answered with a smile.
-“This lords here, will be more than happy to give you some advice, how long is the harvest period for carrots in Altea? Lord Raphael?
The red head stood still, looking from Zelda, to the farmer and then Zelda again.
-“Well, your majesty, carrots on Altea have a 15 day period to harvest”
Both, Zelda and Mr Talem made a surprised face, and Zelda raised an eyebrow incredulous
-“That’s really fast sir, you have to tell me the way to achieve that in or lands” Talem said, taking off his hat in front of Raphael.
“And the big hearted radish, so abundant in Altea, we also grow it here, how long does it take you to harvest? Sir Raphael? She inquired again.
-“Oh... of course! Only two weeks of a good irrigation of fresh spring water, and you’ll have it ready for a salad! “ he answered without a doubt.
Talem looked at him with bright eyes, and bowed several times, asking him to teach Altea’s harvesting tips
-“Some other day, Talem now I have to take them with the architects”
Impa followed a steps behind Zelda, who went ahead inside a tent installed for construction workers, going inside with both characters.
-“So, foreigners, maybe in Altea there is some magic to fertilize your vegetables so much so they grow twice as fast, or maybe you are just mot aware that the big heart turnip is exclusive of the Lands of Hyrule, but I’d like to know your real purpose here, Are you spies? Because is now clear to me that you were not farmers. I knew prince Marth was unorthodox, but sending spies to Hyrule?” She told them, on a more upset tone, walking around the tent.
Raphael got a bit nervous.
-“Well, you see.. what really happens is...”
The young man on dark cloak,who had been silent until now, with one movement revealed himself under the fabric, unveiling his blue hair and white skin, and blue eyes like his hair, he was really good looking at first sight.
-“It’s ok, Roy” he told the red headed, touching his shoulder. “Princess Zelda, it has been imprudent of me to put ourselves on this situation” he told to the blond girl, his voice was deep and manly for his complexion.
-“Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Marth Lowell, heir prince of Altea”
Zelda couldn’t believe her ears, the prince himself on Hyrule? And it was quite not what she imagined, among her calculation, he should have at least twice her age.
-“Is it not that Marth was born on 52e after the first cataclysm?...”
-“I’m sorry for that confusión, here it is, Falchion sword to prove myself, I know that whomever wrote my birth date, in a couple of copies of Altea’s genealogical tree, changed mine with my cousin, Ike, but my year of birth is bear, meaning I’m nineteen years old, this year I’ll be twenty your highness” he said, while unfolding a package revealing a beautiful sword, with golden handle, embedded with a beautiful ruby on center and an emerald at the left, covered with a blue fine sheath. Impa, who was límete IMG from outside, went inside the tent, side with the Princess.
-“The moment news arrived to my father of the proceeding of our engagement, I wanted to personally come without pretending to mean any offense, to meet you at least once before allowing others to make a choice in my place, so that is why I made our presences so discreet
“Didn’t succeed at all” she thought to hersel, instead of making themselves familiar, they made themselves more noticeable among hylians.
-“So... now that you know me, and my kingdom, I suppose your interests on the engaging has decreased, as you see, we are recovering with many projects” she stated on a diplomatic way, as she never thought she would have to reject the prince personally, but it was easier if he rejected the union first.
-“On the contrary. Knowing Hyrule, and meeting you... has only increased my longing to concrete a possible alliance between our kingdom”