An Arranged Marriage ( Sidon x F Reader )

First Swim of Emotions

The lake was above the Zora Domain around the top of the waterfall, but in a kind of miniature cove that was surrounded by thick trees and had but a long, thin river connecting it to the rest of the water system.

“I'm almost changed..." you mumbled out. Sidon was already half submerged in the deep water and turned away from you as you traded in your royal wear for a bikini. It was black with gold trim, shimmering, golden laces tying the top around the back of your neck. It was showy. But then again... Prince Sidon barely wore more than white shorts to cover himself. Your bathing suit said 'Gerudo' more than it did 'Zora' but you ordered it specifically for him- that is, after you found out WHO your prince charming actually was.

“Okay..." you said soflty, “I feel weird but... I'm done," When Sidon got verbal confirmation that you really were, he turned back and surprise went through him like a visible bolt of electricity. You quickly picked up your towel, half hugging it to yourself as you burned a hot red. Did he not like how you looked? "Sorry...! Too showy?"

"...Not at all!" he gave a closed-eyed smile, blushing himself. "It's nice to finally see you without all your layers. Hylians wear so much all the time...! It's hard to picture what you look like underneath it all sometimes, even after the best efforts. Come on in!"

Phew... You let your towel drop and cannonballed in before you could second guess yourself. The water was a burst of refreshing cold. When you surfaced and tried to blink water from your eyes, you beat at the lake with opened-fingered palms, giving a small spat once you felt the sting of water that had gone up your nose. You must have looked beautiful. Suddenly though, large hands grabbed at you. You yelped as you were set back onto the edge of the steep drop-off.

"Princess! Why didn't you tell me you couldn't swim???" Sidon asked, not mad, but distraught with worry, though his expression was almost lost to the blur of water still in your eyes.

"What?" you flicked away the last drops, "I can!" 

-"...Can you???"

"Yeah...! Oh, Sidon, I probably swim differently than you, but I can manage," you promised with a hand over your heart. He apologized profusely as you slipped into the water once more. It wasn't long until panic popped back into his eyes as you started 'swimming'. 

"What are you doing?!" he half shouted, stopping himself multiple times from reaching out to help. 

"Doggy paddling!" you laughed, mouth dipping under water for a split second. "It's easy-" you panted. 

-"You are one step away from drowning...! I've seen Link swim and it wasn't anything close to this,"

"Well," you dipped again and slapped yourself higher in the water. "I'm- not-" you did manage to stay up pretty well, you thought, "-the hero-"

He pressed his sharp teeth together in worry. "Backstroke? Breaststroke? Swim??"

"This is fiiine," you tried to reassure him. 

"Please, for the love of the gods will you please get back on land? It's like watching a bird's plumage soaking up the ocean,"

You rolled your eyes and went to the edge after some effort, and heaved yourself up. "Okay sooo... I can't swim WELL," you turned around and sat with your feet dangling in, "But I can still have fun,"

He gave a half nervous smile, "I can see that. Hm... Maybe Link could teach you how to swim the Hylian way one day..." he looked away for a second before meeting your gaze again with a new idea, "Would you like to ride on my back as we cool off?"

"You want me to ride you?" you echoed, to which he turned red. 

-"Ueh, um-"

"Is this an excuse for you to touch me? You've been very touchy recently," Watching the self confident prince struggle was enjoyable enough to make your day.