A Love Too Strong ( MiphLink fanfic)

Chapter 35: Deception

It was sunrise of the day following the battle of Faron Tower. Link took a deep breath of the warm jungle air as he exited his cabin in the Raider camp to stretch his legs. Mipha was still asleep. The camp itself had also been roused early at the orders of their captain. They were busy preparing for the march on the Spring of Courage to assist Hyrule's beleaguered forces there.

Link noticed five or so of the mercenaries packing supplies such as food and bandages into pouches and handing them out to the others. Link snatched a banana growing on a nearby tree for a snack.

Rusty was also getting come makeshift repairs. Two mercenary blacksmiths were busy welding some newly forged iron plates over areas that had sustained damage in the assault.

Bertrand walked over after noticing Link.

"Hey!" he called. "'mornin."

"Good morning." Link responded. "See everyone is busy."

"I want everyone ready to move by this time tomorrow." Bertrand responded. "Longer we delay, the more of a chance that it won't be the Rangers in control of the spring when we get there."

"Got a plan for moving through the jungle safely?" asked Link

"There is no "safe" when it comes to this place." Bertrand remarked. "But, we are gonna keep as close to the cliff face along the eastern side as possible."

"Makes it so that ambushes can only come from one direction." Link agreed with the plan.

In this time, Mipha had awoken and stepped up to see what they were discussing.

Link gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "Good morning, beautiful." he said with a sly smile.

"What are you boys planning?" asked Mipha, jokingly.

"Tomorrow." he answered. "We set out first thing in the morning to the spring."

Two mercenaries approached Bertrand and one of them whispered something into his ear.

"None left at all?" he asked one of them.

The merc shook his head.

"If you two champions will excuse me." he said. "We ran out of twine for bandages. I'm gonna go with a squad to collect some more. Don't cause any trouble without me." he let out a rough chuckle as he walked away.

Mipha looked at Link with almost a child-like expression before asking. "Do you want to go fishing?"

"Sure, may as well kill some time. Hungry anyway." Link responded. "Trout sounds really good about now."

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They made their way a short distance to the nearby Floria River where Mipha sat on the bank and dipped her feet in. He moved beside her and did the same after removing his boots.

"Scary, wasn't it?" she asked, placing her head on his shoulder lovingly.

"What was?" he asked.

"When I fell and you caught me, only to take an arrow in the arm holding on to me. I thought we were done just then." she sighed.

"We've been nearly done in more times than I can count at this point." he responded. "Yet, we continue to fight on and see it through."

"Stronger together." she smiled. "Do you...?"

"Mm?" replied Link.

"Ever wonder if we are just lucky, and that someday it is going to run out? How many arrows can we dodge, how many traps can we wriggle from before we draw a "1"?" she asked, referencing a popular card game among children where one is the worst card you can draw.