Held Onto By A Thread

Chapter Fourteen

The sun ascended over the mountains that surrounded the domain, spilling its golden rays down to every crevice that was underneath its blessing of a new day. Despite its glory, its light could not prevail over the curtains that shunned the room of the Zora Princess. Darkness was all that was left in its path. It had been a few days since the tragedy, and Mipha was emotionless hardly ever leaving her chamber. She had received invitation to a funeral service. She could not bear to accept.

A rhythmic knock played on the barrier that separated her from the rest of the world. "Sweetheart, it's me may I come in?", Dorephan asked softly. Mipha tensed hugging at her knees, it would pain her to have her father see her like this. "You have rarely eaten or come out of your room, little Sidon is worried about you." Her eyes watered until it brimmed over. The king, his heart heavy, unlocked the door. He swore he could feel the despair looming overhead as he made his way to the bed and sat down beside her. The poor girl looked drained of any life and he noticed in the palm of her hand lay the patch of Link's tunic. She still held onto it.

A deep breath in he spoke, "This is about Link isn't it?".

The silence was telling but her voice cracked with emotion, not being used well over the isolated days.

"I miss him..so much..", she managed.

The atmosphere turned to thin ice, one wrong move and it threatened to crack. Her father sighed searching to find the right words, "I know he would be very proud of you for fulfilling your role as Champion."

Her throat tightened, "I was their healer.. it is my responsibility to treat their injuries and.. It's all my fault..", she choked.

"What? Sweetie it was never your fault.. You had given it your all, though..

His words had not been fully received, as it was drowned in the depths of the same harrowing sentence frozen in her mind.

'He needed you.' 'He needed you.'

The ice cracked.

"I MADE A PROMISE TO HIM!", she cried. "I PROMISED THAT I WOULD HEAL HIM NO MATTER HOW BAD HIS WOUNDS AND I FAILED!", she covered her face as rivers of fresh tears poured out for the knight she loved more than anyone. She looked up at him through swollen eyes, crimson hands just beneath drenched in the never ending tide. "WHY COULDN'T I HAVE SAVED HIM!", although she knew her sobs would not bring him back she sobbed.

There was nothing else she could do. Despair and pain were all that remained; she needed him. In need to see his smile reserved for her eyes alone, to hear his voice softly whisper that everything will be alright as he held her tightly in a tender embrace. Those moments in which would soothe her would never grace her life again, and for that, she could never forgive herself.

Her shoulders shook with each sob, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she struggled to contain the flood of emotion overwhelming her. Her father made the move to hold her and she buried her face into his bright embroidered sash. With each passing second, her cries grew louder, echoing through the room like a haunting melody of heartache. It pained him, it pained him so much to hear her cry, to understand the anguish over the very soul who claimed their heart.

Until the tears subsided, Dorephan ran his hand down her dorsal fin. "Mipha, I want you to know it is not on your part for Link's passing. I have great pride in knowing you played your part against the Calamity and that you take such great care for the health and safety of those around you.. He did not die in vain as you were both courageously willing to put your lives on the line for the safety of others, although for Link he made a sacrifice. For all of us. He chose to take the sacred duty in wielding the Master Sword, to protect our world. To protect you. I could see it in his eyes that he loved and cared for you like no other, and I am certain if he had been presented with the choice, he would take it again without hesitation." Her breathing returned to a steady state in between light sniffles, listening to his kind hearted words. "You would do anything to keep him safe as well, wouldn't you dear?" He felt a small nudge against his arm as his daughter quickly answered with multiple light nods, and a squeeze to the fabric in her hand. Dorephan smiled melancholy as he stood up.

"I'll give you some time alone, if you need anything you know where to find me. I love you...", he whispered.

His pair of footsteps receded down the hallway, farther and farther away. The king now back in his chair exhaled, even with the room so open to the outside he felt the need for air. There seemed to be no sign that Mipha would be back to her old compassionate self soon. For he did not blame his sweet daughter.. like he had said, Link did indeed save their world.. but it was at the price of hers. As a last resolution he wrote a letter to the Champions including Princess Zelda herself on the situation, in hopes of cheering up his grief stricken daughter.