The Scales That Bind

Chapter 4: Darkness Descends Upon the Domain

Link escorted Mipha up toward one of the main platforms of the domain, their feet sending water flying past them as a tiny current flowed past them, a feeling that often evoked feelings of melancholy in many Zoras, these "water ramps" often becoming the first fascination for many of the young ones. For Hylians, however, it was more a nuisance, much the same for Link, who stared at his soaked boots with a frown.

"You play dirty," he opined, sending a stare toward Mipha.

She replied, feigning innocence, "Why, whatever do you mean?"

Link smirked, shaking his head, "I suppose its unwarranted to expect a Princess to try something so underhanded as to ruin an opponent's traction during a match."

Mipha shrugged, smiling sweetly, "I suppose it would be, yes."

She giggled behind a closed mouth, bringing her free hand up to cover her face politely, keeping her trident close to her backside with the other. Mipha would take on a far different air whenever in the presence of her most favorite weapon, one of a graceful sort of superiority, which was a trademark of many Zoran warriors. She would bring her hand to her back, holding her trident upside-down in that way to keep the three-pronged end high in the sky, forcing her steps to adjust to a far more graceful sort of side-stepping as she went along. This was the traditional, many said archaic, form the Zoras adopted generations ago: not only did it exaggerate their height, helping them appear more fierce or dangerous, it also strode the line between aggressiveness and passivity in the elegant Zoran way. In holding a weapon, they seemed a threat, yet in keeping their body firmly in front of its shape, they also demonstrated a confident aura of deterrence with no outright showing of violent intent.

The two of them approached their destination, though any sort of expectance they felt was quickly swayed by the sight of a large assortment of jars being carried by a collection of Zoras toward the wagon Link had guided here, Lall hastily directing the operation as he scooting back and forth along its side.

Mipha frowned, "Would it be too outrageous to think that they're a different party from whomever you rode in with?"

"As much as I wish there were other Hylians here to mistake you in some way..." Link sighed, "Don't worry; one of them is quite of the fearful sort, so I'm guessing they'll travel wherever my sword does."

He leaned closer, now that the two were in sight of others, a whisper escaping his still face, "I can at least have us stay the night; guarantee you one night at my side, my Princess."

Mipha's twin set of fins at either side of head shook as her lips squeezed inward, both actions an unwilling display of her nerves at such a proposition. Despite her wielding quite a mighty trident in her hand, in her flustered state, she appeared more subdued than anything she was supposed to be evoking before a duel.

"Such false innocence, "Link mused grinning, "With such things, what does night have to do with sleep?"

Her fingers tightening around her trident, Mipha frowned toward her companion, "Now you're the one playing dirty. In front of a Princess, no less."

"You started it," Link assured, turning back toward the main landing of the Domain, hiding his grin as he did so.

In return, Mipha snuck a particularly longing stare up toward him, taking the time to examine his profile as she smiled sweetly, turning to follow his direction as she went on, "There shouldn't be too much in the way of an audience. Father has commissioned our best excavators, divers, and prize seekers to scour the land in preparation for the festival."

Link questioned, "Huh, I never took him for one to be so celebratory."

"He isn't," Mipha confirmed, "I honestly think its his way of making up for my mother's passing; maybe having such a rousing festival is some way to fill a void. In any case, this place should be far less empty in a few days."