Mipha : The Zora Champion

Chapter Thirteen

It was a bright, sunny morning in Kakariko Village. I sat in the inn, at my desk. I was sketching a picture of Link on a tear-stained piece of paper, my eyes dry and tired. I had stayed up the whole previous night crying again, and I had barely gotten any sleep in the past two days. It felt selfish, to be sleeping when Link was all alone by himself in the wild. But I guess crying didn't do much help, either.

I finish my sketch. It wasn't too bad. I should have been proud of myself, but, instead, I started to cry again. Just looking at the drawing made me miserable. I wondered if I would ever be happy again.

I heard voices outside my door.

"Go ahead, apologize," I heard Urbosa mutter. "Just like we practiced."

"Why are we doing this?" Revali growled. "This is stupid. This is a really stupid idea. Who even came up with this?"

"You did, feather-brain!" Urbosa hissed. "Now go in there, and apologize!"

Revali sighed and knocked on the door. I took a deep breath and wiped my eyes.

"See, she's not answering. She doesn't even want me to come in."

"Come in," I said quietly.

Revali turned the doorknob and walked in.

"I'm sorry for making fun of your husband." He said unenthusiastically, walking back out and closing the door behind him. A moment later, the door swung back open and Urbosa shoved Revali in, closing the door.

Revali sighed. "Sorry if I hurt your feelings." He muttered. "I didn't mean to make you cry."

I knew he didn't mean it, but at least he apologized. "Thank you," I replied.

His shoulders slumped, and he looked up from the ground. "I should probably feel worse about this. I've never liked Link. Even so, I shouldn't have said the things I said about him, especially in your presence."

I nodded. "It's okay," I told him, even though it absolutely was not.

"I didn't mean to hurt you, Mipha." He looked genuinely regretful, which was a big surprise. "I hope you can forgive me."

"Of course," I replied, my heart softening a bit toward the Rito. He still wasn't on my list of favorite people, but at least he apologized and meant it.

He looked slightly relieved. "Thank you," He nodded, walking out the door and closing it behind him.

"What in Hylia's name was that?" Urbosa exclaimed. "That's not what we practiced."

"But it was fine, right?" Revali asked, irritated.

"Yeah, I guess." Urbosa walked down the stairs and out of the inn, Revali following close behind.

That was surprising, I thought. Who would've thought Revali would be genuinely sorry for making me cry? I sat back down at my desk and looked down at the sketch of Link, again holding back my tears.

Suddenly feeling a huge wave of exhaustion, I got up and went to bed.

〜

I woke up at midnight, the inn silent and asleep. The sky glew a luminous purple, and the moon shone down on Kakariko Village.

I got up out of bed, deciding to take a walk. Quietly, I opened the door and walked out of my room, down the stairs, and out the front door of the inn. The chilly, piercing night air hit my skin and I shivered.

I looked up the road and saw Revali, holding the Great Eagle Bow in his hands. He had it held up and was aiming at three makeshift targets he had made by propping up pieces of bark against trees.

He pulled back the string on the bow and pulled it back, aiming at the targets. He let go and three arrows flew outward, hitting each target directly in the center.

He sighed and retrieved the arrows from the targets, placing them in his quiver. He then sat on the ground and leaned up against a tree, grabbing a rock from the ground and sharpening the tips of the used arrows.

He looked up and caught sight of me. I blushed, realizing I had been snooping.

"It's rude to eavesdrop, princess," He smirked.

"S-sorry," I looked down at the ground. "I didn't mean to."

"I suppose I can forgive you," He continued sharpening the arrows, sparks flying from them.

A silence fell over us, the only sound being the chirping of the night crickets and the scraping of stone against metal.

"You're a skilled archer," I desperately broke the silence.

"Thanks," He replied, looking surprised. He lifted up the Great Eagle Bow. "Want to try?"

"Oh, no, I couldn't," I had never shot a bow in my life, and I was sure I would be awful at it.
"Sure you could," Revali motioned for me to come over.

Reluctantly, I walked up to the Rito. He handed me the bow and I took it, my arms drooping from the weight. Revali handed me three arrows, and I put them on the bow, pulling the string back. I attempted to aim it at the targets, ready to shoot.

"No, no, no," Revali shook his head. "You're doing it all wrong. Hold all three arrows with your thumb and your forefinger. Good. Now, pull it up to your shoulder, like this."

He grabbed the end of the bow and positioned it close to my shoulder. His feathers were warm against the cool night air.

"Now, line up the end of each arrow with each of the targets. Good. Now... shoot!"

I let go of the end of the arrows, hearing them fly through the air and hit the targets. I put the bow down, and looked at the targets, amazed. I had hit every target almost directly in the center.

"Not bad for a first try," Revali sounded impressed. "Not bad at all."

"Thank you," I said.

Revali retrieved the arrows from the targets then sat back down, starting to sharpen the arrows again. I walked up and sat beside him.

"So," I asked. "When did you start practicing archery?"

"I was only five," Revali recalled. "I made a bow from a branch, and used twigs for arrows. My mother saw my passion for archery, so she got me a real bow and set of arrows. I started training at Flight Range, and I got better and better."

"How about your father?" I asked. "Was he a skilled archer?"

Revali stopped sharpening the arrows, looking down at the ground. Darkness filled his eyes.

"I'm sorry," I quickly apologized. "I didn't mean to -"

"No, it's fine," Revali said. "I never met my father. He was killed by monsters before I was born."

"I'm so sorry, Revali," I felt awful.

"It's not your fault." Revali shook his head. "It was nobody's fault. Except Ganon's. It was his beasts that killed my father. That's why I agreed to pilot Vah Medoh. Though, it seems, I was tapped to merely assist Sword-boy - I mean Link. You might imagine how terrible that feels."

I nodded. "I understand," Empathy for Revali settled in me. "If you ever need to talk, about anything, I'm here."

"Thanks," Revali said. "Right now, though, I just need some time to be alone."

"Of course," I stood up and walked back to the inn, taking one last look at the sad Rito before going back to my room.