A Tale of Two Princesses

Chapter 1 - Silent Princess

A Tale of Two Princesses

What if Mipha put her love for Link and concern for Zelda ahead of Daruk's plan to rush to her Divine Beast? This story takes place in an AU that begins on the day of the Great Calamity.

Chapter 1 - Silent Princess

Summary: After Princess Zelda is unsuccessful in awakening her sealing power at the Spring of Wisdom, Princess Mipha attempts to offer some advice. But the sudden return of Calamity Ganon silences her. As the Champions race to their Divine Beasts and Zelda accompanies Link to Hyrule Castle to confront Calamity Ganon, Mipha is torn between her duty and her feelings. She chooses to follow her heart.

It was late afternoon as Mipha stood with Urbosa, Daruk, and Revali near the East Gate of Lanayru Road, the only sound the rustle of a gentle breeze and the occasional chirping of a nearby bird. The sinking sun behind them cast long shadows as they looked eastward toward Mount Lanayru, awaiting Princess Zelda's return from the Spring of Wisdom. There wasn't much conversation among them, and they all knew what was at stake. They hoped that Zelda could finally awaken her sealing power. That was the critical final step in the ten-thousand-year-old script they were following to defeat Calamity Ganon.

The quiet time gave Mipha a chance to think, and she used it to recall her last time alone with Link. It had happened very recently. Link had an opportunity to visit her without the Princess, and they had sat together atop Ruta's trunk in the middle of East Reservoir Lake. She had tended to a wound on his arm, and it had reminded her of when they had first met fourteen years earlier. He was just a little boy back then, but one who always turned up with bruises she would heal. Then she had gone on to express her promise to restore him from any harm that might come to him and that she would always protect him. She wanted him to know how much she cared for him and that he could count on her help.

But she had wanted to say much more to him that day. She had hoped to tell him how much she loved him and offer him the gift she had so painstakingly made for him. And this was no ordinary gift. The Zora Armor she had made held a part of her and was meant to seal a bond. It was her gift of love, what a Zora princess gives her future husband. She had prayed for the courage to offer it to him. In the end, she had decided not to.

She told herself she had good reasons for that. True, if Link had accepted the armor, her happiness would have overflowed her heart now! She smiled to think of that. But though she thought he would accept it, she really wasn't sure. He had grown even quieter lately, and reading his feelings was difficult, even for her. She could tell the burden of responsibility had changed him. She knew he cared for her and believed he loved her. But something just didn't feel right.

And then she wondered how she would feel if Link had rejected her gift. He knew enough Zora lore to understand what it meant. And he was a kind person and cared about her feelings. He would have tried his best to let her off gently, to hurt her as little as possible. Perhaps he would have said he wasn't ready for such a commitment. If he had gone on to add 'yet' or, even better, told her that he loved her too but needed more time before taking that big a step, she could have accepted that. At least there would have still been some hope. But if he had merely rejected her offer and left her no hope, then it would have broken her heart and shattered her dreams.

So, she hadn't offered Link the armor after all. He had seemed quite distracted anyway. He didn't speak or laugh the way he used to, and he looked so preoccupied with his duty. She thought it better to wait for all this to be over, so Link could give her his undivided attention and hopefully give her the answer she wished to hear. In the end, she had merely expressed her hope that after all this was over, they could spend more time together, as they used to when they were young. Link had only nodded, his mind seemingly elsewhere.