Held Onto By A Thread

Chapter Twelve

"Mipha..?"

"Mipha, my daughter please wake up.." She groaned, sitting up she came to realize she was home. Mipha blinked twice, turning her head to see her father looking down at her, worrisome was written all over his face.

'Per-perhaps it was all a bad dream' She deeply hoped it was.

"Father, why.. why am I in the medical room?", she whispered hesitantly.

Dorephan could see right through her, she was looking for the answer that was far from the truth. A dark green-Zora walked into the room with a clipboard. Though old in appearance, he held extensive knowledge in medical practice and the study of Zora anatomy.

"Lady Mipha has dealt with high levels of stress, and as a result had passed out.", he explained hands folded behind his back. "Is there a particular reason this incident has occurred Princess.?"

"I suppose..", Mipha had begun to fiddle with her hands, discovering something clutched between her fingers. It was a soft patch of light blue fabric, the edges burned a shade of black. She gasped, not daring to take her eyes off it. Link's tunic.

An awful amount of silence passed over. The doctor gave both of them a confused glance. He decided to break the silence but someone had beat him to it. 

A small patter of feet raced into the room, he had the same color scales as her and a tail too large for his small size. "Sister! Sister!", he cheered. "Since your back does that mean we can play with Link now?", her younger brother excitedly squealed.

Dorephan's face visibly darkened. His words made whatever was left of Mipha's heart crumble inside of her. Link had quickly become one of Sidon's favorites after the past few months of visits. They would lose track of time playing with him in the waters and once it was time for the little prince to sleep, just the two of them would slip away to gaze up at the stars. But as the Calamity was on the horizon, she hardly saw him as often. Besides the meetings arranged for the Champions. It seemed to be a very painful reoccurrence. Link leaving to train in knighthood, carrying out his duty to Zelda, and now.. this time he would not be returning.

"W-well Sidon.. Li..Link has..", tears threatened to spill out of her already puffy eyes and her lips trembled.  Oh Nayru, how could she tell him? The thought of hurting her sweet little brother with her tears was unbearable. She would never hurt him, not even emotionally. The burden of her loss bore down on Mipha, and the resolve not to cry in front of her dear brother and father intensified. The hallway blurred as she wiped away the tears, and fled toward her bedroom.

"Sister.?", Sidon reached out his tiny hand toward her disappearing figure.

Before he could pursue her, a dark blue fin blocked the doorway out. "Do not worry son, she has a lot on her shoulders right now..", his father spoke somberly.

Mipha covered her head through the halls, missing the concerned looks from the Zoras nearby. Dozens of memories flooded her mind, each of them once cherished now devoid of happiness and of the one who made them precious. Reaching her chamber, she disappeared inside slamming the door shut. The floodgates cracked open as she collapsed on her soft bed. Normally, Zoras would find solace in their sleeping pools though she had this bed specially made for her comfort and a Hylian's. The carefully soft woven blankets gave her body much more warmth than the water could ever and it was a plus to intertwine herself with.. She brought the cloth piece back up to her vision, a single damp circle dotted in the center where one of her tears had fallen. The room held the echo of unspoken grief, and Mipha, unaware of her exhaustion, surrendered to the weight of her weariness.