The Scales That Bind

Chapter 10: Invasion

Link pulled his tunic down past his waist, straightening out his equipment before reaching for his sword, tossing it over his shoulder and beginning to strap the weapon across his torso. He eyed Mipha as he did so, watching her pull her light blue Champion's wrap of fabric along her slender body, pulling it to her side to cover the large area of scaleless skin, much as she'd done ever since she had begun her labor of love.

She noticed his stare, causing her to smile before looking down at her side from between a grease in the fabric, "It's nothing. I'll just be sure to parry to the left."

Link's worried glance didn't subside, only continuing in the same tone as his speech, "Are you sure?"

Mipha grinned childishly as she shook her head, continuing to prepare, "Come on, you said it yourself: I know how to take care of myself. I've come too far and have far too many responsibilities to be careless. I have Sidon to look after, I have a festival in a few days that requires my presence; I have my people to protect beyond today."

She began to bend down to collect her bag of supplies, jumping as Link snuck his arms around her from behind, holding her tight and resting his head over her shoulder, "Just be careful."

Her lips turned wide in satisfaction, reaching up to hang her hands from the arms that surrounded her chest, "I have a man to love after today as well. A man who could probably use my armor today if it was completed."

Link sighed, "You mean I won't be able to take arrows for you?"

"While that may be heroically stupid, and slightly alluring, we can't be having that," Mipha confirmed, easily.

Link's arm pulled downward, his hand sliding down her body along her crimson scales before crossing the sudden ridge that took him to the sleekly smooth skin where her scales had been torn from, which forced her to immediately contort in a sidelong motion from such a sensitive touch, quietly whining in reply.

"Quit iiiiit," she mused, complaining behind a defeatedly weak voice.

This only caused Link to chuckle before sliding his hand back away from beneath, though before he could ultimately leave her bare skin, her hand met his, holding him against that same raw area, enjoying his warmth at a portion of her body she normally would never feel it. She cooed softly as the ticklish sensation turned to one of contentment, her head falling back against Link's shoulder as she enjoyed his touch.

"While I would love to offer you life itself from my side, to ensure you would never perish on the battlefield, the most I can offer is assurance that nothing will harm you so long as you keep me close," she spoke in a near whisper, "Even if we're apart, I'll be able to surround and hold you. keep you safe from harm."

Link turned his head to the side, reaching out for a kiss, when a quiet pop echoed through the air from out in the distance. He slowly turned toward the entrance, with Mipha following suit, the two approaching the break in the curtained door and examining what they could see of the Domain.

"What was that?" Mipha asked, confused.

Link replied with uncertainty, "I don't know, but it didn't sound-"

From beyond the great bridge that lead out onto the mainland, a soft plume of smoke ascended into the air, earning a shocked glance from both Mipha and Link. In a hurried dash, Mipha spun back into her room, nearly diving for her trident as Link rushed toward the nearby ramp, knowing Mipha would ultimately make it there ahead of him. Sure enough, exiting her room, Mipha leapt from the platform she housed upon, landing into one of the light falls of water that made its way around the Domain, scurrying up the current and bursting out from the top, nearly flying over the whole of Zora's Domain, landing at the opposing end of the great bridge with nary a sound as she stood up with her trident held tight against her back.