Closed to [miphasgrace]

[gluttonforpunishment]

The Champions are alive. Their souls freed from the Divine Beasts, their bodies from the Calamity. Link's injured, bleeding freely from a gouge along his ribs - and several of those are broken besides, but he's still on his feet, sword in his hand still alight with energy. He looks them over: Revali, Urbossa, Zelda, Daruk... Mipha.

He's exhausted. Even with their help, Ganon had not gone down easy. It had been hours of fighting and then so long on horseback with broken ribs, every draw of the Bow of Light excruciating. He's exhausted physically, and mentally, and he's not sure what's keeping him on his feet. Maybe just the stubborn refusal to collapse.

He's shed his helmet already, and he wants to sheathe his sword, but just the idea of lifting his arm makes him more tired - his arm feels like lead, he might have broken his arm as well...

Link smiles weakly. His voice is gone - dry and hoarse, so instead he just smiles and bobs his head. He's glad they're alright, he's glad Ganon is gone, but if they'll excuse him, he needs to sit down. Or maybe collapse.

His legs start to go, and it's Daruk who gets to him first, lowering him gently to the thick grass, trampled and scorched and muddy. "Easy, buddy," he says, bracing Link semi-upright.

"Are you alright, Link?" That's Zelda, hurrying to him. He's glad to see she's unhurt after her ordeal. Her dress is clean, though her sandals and feet are muddied. He nods, though he really definitely isn't alright. But he's alive, and they're alive, and Ganon is dead - or at least gone.

He looks up, past Daruk and Zelda, to Mipha. She's fine as well. He finally takes his hand off the hilt of his sword and signs - his arms are jelly, but they're stronger than his voice, "I'm really tired." He sags against Daruk. The Goron is warm even if he's a bit too hard to be comfortable to lean against. His hands fall into his lap and he blinks tiredly. He's not sure even Mipha - if she's even strong enough yet - will be able to heal all this, but he doesn't care. He has time to recover.

Comments

[miphasgrace]

All the emotional whiplash building up from the moment Link stepped into Vah Ruta hits her, like the dam that was threatening to break. Like the realization hit her; an 'after', indeed. Mipha closes her eyes to hold back her tears, opening them again just in time to see Link sign it a second time. To watch him say it after all this time, after her failed attempt at confessing all those years ago - and to repeat it with such conviction, with such a bright smile that betrays his current condition.

She raises her free hand and rests it against her chest, the gravity of the moment visibly moving her. A breathless laugh escapes her first; not an indication of not knowing what to say, but overwhelmed with happiness. Softly moving her fingers back and forth through his hair, her thumb stroking his forehead, she leans down closer to him with watery eyes and the widest smile she's had yet. "I love you," she repeats, almost a whisper. "With all of my heart."

[gluttonforpunishment]

Link smiles and relaxes, the tension going out of his shoulders. It feels so good to hear. It feels so good to not just know with his heart, but with his mind as well. She loves him. And he loves her. He can't take his eyes off of her. She's always been beautiful, but he's struck all over again by her.

He reaches up for her, resting his hand over hers - it's his right arm, the unbroken one, the one heavy from swinging his sword for so long. He brings her hand to his face and presses a kiss to her palm.

[miphasgrace]

As distracted as Mipha is, she was two seconds from telling him not to move so much again before he manages to surprise her a second time; the sweetly gentle gesture turning it into a subdued 'oh'.

She's unable to tear her eyes away from his, nor her hand from his grasp. This is the first time either of them have been fully open with each other, and Link taking it into his hands—literally—to instigate something physical between them takes Mipha's breath away. With only a tinge of embarrassment, she leans down further until her forehead meets his and gazes at him until she closes her glossy eyes and presses ever so slightly in a nuzzle.

[gluttonforpunishment]

The healer, who looked away when she realized what Link signed, is carefully looking away, sitting at the far side of the wagon and staring out at the road as it unspools behind them. Link's horse is following of his own accord, the guards apparently having given up on trying to catch him.

She finds Link's pack, and there's a few apples in the bottom. They're bruised and a bit squishy, but she cuts one in half and tosses it out the back of the wagon towards the horse. He notices instantly, pausing to pick it up in his big mouth before he trots closer to the wagon, head held high, crunching his apple as he looks for more.

Link smiles and brings her hand down towards his chest, pressing her palm against his heart. But he's exhausted, mentally, physically, and any way it's possible to be exhausted. He releases her hand and signs, awkwardly, "I'm going to sleep... Join me?"

[miphasgrace]

It's weird, how many of her normal protests fade into the background. And how much of the background fades away as well. Looking into the face of the person she's loved for as long as she can remember, seeing his normal withdrawn facade disappear and ask so openly for affection... Nothing else in the world matters right now.

Except; for a brief moment, the thought of glancing away from him crosses her mind, to the healer to non-verbally confirm an action that would ensure she would awaken to continue helping. It fades away nearly immediately, just like the rest. Link needs something completely different from her right now and it's something she's been waiting to express for years longer than a century.

Of course, on the outside, it takes no more than a second or two for her to acquiesce; "Of course, Link." Though always softspoken, her voice is whispered and hoarse with emotion. Slowly, she re-positions herself to lie down next to him; on her side, her hand kept across his chest and her head resting on one of the pillows surrounding Link's...but close, close enough so she can still see his face and brush against it if she wanted to. With her hand over his heart, she starts stroking her thumb lightly across his chest.

[gluttonforpunishment]

Almost instantly, Link's eyes start to drift shut. She's a familiar weight against his side, warm... Despite his injuries, there's been an almost literal weight lifted off of his shoulders. He's feeling relaxed, truly. Relaxed enough that sleep claims him easy, despite his lingering pains.

The wagon convoy stops for the night at the Dueling Peaks stable. The healer, Otoh, watches as the giant horse finally allows the familiar groom to catch him and lead him so he can be unsaddled and rubbed down before getting grain - he's a good horse, and they all know he's one of the reasons Link is still with them right now.

She stays with her wagon as the rest of the Champions disembark and the men and women of Kakariko start pitching tents. Zelda's changed into something less breezy than her dress, though she's still wearing Link's tunic over the sensible Sheikah clothing. She's obviously exhausted, and Urbossa's arm is around her shoulders, but she still greets those at the stable. Of course they know who she is. They likely saw what happened at the castle, or heard from those on horseback able to move much faster. She's the princess, their princess, and the Calamity is defeated.

It's not until the camp is mostly settled down again that Otoh climbs back into the wagon to wake Mipha and Link. He's going to need more painkillers, and they're all going to need something to eat, but first, she wants to get the chainmail off of Link so she can assess the condition of his lungs and other organs.

[miphasgrace]

Mipha hadn't realized how truly drained she'd become until watching Link's descent into sleep was overshadowed by drowsiness of her own. She had a few moments to watch him, hear his breathing slow to a serene pace and feel his warmth under her loose hold, and smile privately to herself. The whirlwind of emotions from the short amount of time caught up with her, culminating in a contentedness of lying by his side that lulled her into a refreshingly peaceful doze.

Being roused wasn't difficult, however. By the time they arrive at the stable, the new commotion of everyone bustling about had given Mipha enough awareness to wake, albeit slowly. Her first instinct is to check on Link; his breathing, his heartbeat, that he's even still there. She makes no effort to move from her place, though, even after the wagon comes to a stop and she hears the voices carrying on outside and the work of setting up camp.

It's an abnormal feeling for her to wish to be selfish, even if only for a few moments more. But she can't help but want to savor moments like these from now on. Especially having drifted closer to Link during their sleep.

When Otoh returns, Mipha's lingering comes to an end and she knows what work must still be done. She smiles at the fellow healer, eyes half-lidded and not yet adjusted, as she reluctantly pushes herself up, wobbling, into a half-sitting position. "Is it that time already...?" she tries, her voice still thick from sleep.

[gluttonforpunishment]

"Unfortunately. But we can let him sleep a bit longer, I need to speak with the stable farrier about removing the chainmail. The other Champions are out and about, I'll let them know you're awake and Link is stable.

"I'd like to make sure his arm and ankle are both splinted before sleeping for the night." Otoh rests her hand on the end of the wagon for a moment. Link still has a long ways to go, but he's well on his way. So long as he has no internal injuries, he'll recover just fine.

"A few days to rest and sleep is probably all well be able to get out of him before he's up and about on his own, we need to take advantage of it while we can."

[miphasgrace]

"He might try earlier than that if we're not careful," she says, her voice fond. Reckless is as reckless does, though she's only half-joking. Once the exhaustion wears off, Link may still want to take it easy and rest after everything he's been through and his worst is done.

Or not. She's healed him too many times to truly believe that.

Looking over how much of his torso is covered by armor and they haven't seen yet, she prays they don't find anything else. She hears familiar voices outside, Zelda and Urbosa, Daruk, Revali... Wiping the sleep from her eyes, she wants to check in with everyone, but she badly doesn't want to leave Link, especially alone once the healer leaves.

"Is everyone else...faring alright?"

[gluttonforpunishment]

"Yes. Princess Zelda is the only one of them that's at all weakened by what's happened, and Lady Urbossa is taking good care of her. If you'd like, I can ask them to stop by and see you. And we can keep him sedated for a while, at least, while the worst of it heals. Hopefully his ankle will slow him down enough for a while." Maybe they would have to strategically let that heal on its own, without Mipha's intervention.

"The villagers are already hard at work preparing dinner for us all, and those here at the stable. It shouldn't be long before we can eat, so we should move fast." Once the food can be smelled, that'll probably wake Link up, if he doesn't rouse on his own.

[miphasgrace]

"Of course." She nods, thinking the same thing as Otoh; though showing his usual monstrous hunger would be a good sign. And finally knowing Link's full condition will set the rest of their plan in motion and likely give everyone full relief. So long as they're prepared, and she has no doubt they are.

"If the others would like to see him, before we check underneath his armor... I'm sure their worry for Link has not subsided either." She wouldn't deny them a chance to see him, even if resting peacefully. Of course, seeing that might make them feel better, knowing he's able to do so.

[gluttonforpunishment]

"I'll send them over," Otoh says before heading off towards the stable and all the people.

A few minutes later, Zelda and Urbossa are the first to visit, Zelda clambering up into the back of the wagon, to see Link from closer up. "How's he doing?" She asks, reaching out to not quite touch Link's shoulder.

"He looks better. There's a bit of color back in his face it seems." Not much, but stopping his blood from gushing out of him, as well as some rest, will probably do wonders to anybody's complexion.

"He still has a long ways to go," Urbossa says, leaning on the back of wagon. "Don't work him too hard, Princess," though it's near impossible to tell if she means Zelda or Mipha.

[miphasgrace]

Mipha smiles up at Urbosa, knowing full well that could apply to both of them.

"The healer gave him a few reliefs for his pain, as well as a sleep aid... His rest has been tranquil, thankfully." No fitful, unconscious agitation, and steady breathing throughout. Or so from what she's seen since waking, though she surely would've woken sooner had Link found unrest.

She goes quiet, turning to Zelda and allowing her a few moments of silence with Link. The other princess's worry is one she obviously knows well, aware of how close they'd grown before the Calamity.

"I'm sure the healer has already informed you..." she begins softly, toward Zelda, "Aside from his arm and ankle, we must still check what injuries may lie underneath his armor...

"But...he is going strong. As far as he still has to go, we will all see him through this."

It's as much of a pep talk for Zelda's sake as it is for her own.

[gluttonforpunishment]

"Revali wants to go, I can tell," Zelda says, carefully brushing her own fingers over Link's shoulder, feeling every bump in the link of the chainmail. "But he has always been a free spirit, I cannot blame him for wanting to go back to Rito Village. Plus, he and Link never did get along very well." Or, Revali didn't get along well with Link.

But Link looks better now. He's breathing easy, the horrid gash in his side healed over, and though his legs are bruised almost completely black and purple, his face is almost completely unmarked. She moves her hand, reaching up to brush a few hairs out of his eyes, then her thumb over an eyebrow. "Sleep is good. If there is anything I can do to help, please, don't hesitate to call on me."

"Not that you aren't already hard at work trying to fix up your kingdom, too. Come on, Princess, you can start in the morning, after you get some sleep yourself." Urbossa rolls her eyes, but she's smiling.

[miphasgrace]

Mipha only shakes her head good-naturedly. Revali's one-sided competitiveness towards Link was and still is exasperating, but she knows after Vah Medoh how the Rito's views changed. Even now, she suspects he at least somewhat cares about Link's well-being...even if he'll never admit it.

"I will," she nods at Zelda, though fully agrees with Urbosa's statement. "He will have to be awoken soon...I'll tell him you both checked up on him. I'm sure Link will want to see you well-rested, too."

And regardless if anything serious turns up after their second medical prognosis, the other princess will be the first person Mipha wants to notify. But, his progress is good, considering, and a hot meal and full night's rest will do wonders for everyone in the group.

[gluttonforpunishment]

Urbossa helps Zelda down and they're just starting to head towards the stable when Otoh appears coming from that direction, the stable farrier walking with her. He bows a bit awkwardly to Zelda and she smiles back at him, but doesn't stop to speak with him, intending to let him get to the work of freeing Link from his armor.

He clambers up into the back of the wagon, and the shift in the weight makes Link stir, no doubt his neck or back jolted by the change. He blinks and starts to stir more resolutely, trying to lift his hands, but he catches sight of Mipha first and falls still again.

"I can definitely just snip through the links," the farrier says, digging in his bag for a huge pair of cutters. "Shouldn't take me more than a few minutes."

Otoh nods and gets into the wagon as well, sitting on Link's other side, near his shoulder. He blinks sleepily and she reaches out to wipe some of the crusts from his eyes. "Link, we're going to cut the chainmail off of you, check you for any more injuries, and then you can get something to eat and drink."

He nods and relaxes back, attention returning to Mipha over anybody or anything else.

[miphasgrace]

Her attention had been turned to Otoh and the farrier when they climbed in, on his response and the new task soon at hand. When she moves her focus back to Link after the healer explains, her fond smile returns as she notices his eyes on her.

"I know the prospect of a meal is exciting for you," she remarks to the glutton with light humor, "but please bear with us." One of her hands, almost instinctively, comes to rest on his shoulder near his neck. A soft touch, to anchor him as his sleep haze wears off, along with the smile that gets softer the more she looks at him.

"I trust you slept as well as you appeared to...?" Beginning to idly stroke her thumb, Mipha speaks not only to gauge Link and keep his—frankly, adorable—attention occupied, but also to ease the newfound tension she's developed knowing they're about to discover the last of his physical state. At the side of her mind, some of her attention is still on the farrier and any progress he makes. "Hopefully with your armor off and another thorough treatment, tonight's sleep will be even better."

[gluttonforpunishment]

Link puts his hand on his belly and smiles up at Mipha. He is hungry, but her hand on his neck is enough to distract him, at least for a bit longer.

He glances down at the farrier as he man moves closer - He recognizes the man, he's shoed and reshoed Link's horses often enough, but Link's not sure the farrier recognizes him.

Not many know now that he's a champion. To most, he's just a traveler, a man that's saved them and their friends from monsters, or cooked them a meal. A far cry from him now, bloody and in the back of a wagon, traveling with the Princess.

He sighs quietly and closes his eyes, the snipping noise the cutters make as they work through his chainmail lulling him back into a size.

[miphasgrace]

"Now don't fall back to sleep just yet." Her voice is no less quiet, just a precautionary measure in case the short meantime is enough for exhaustion to claim him again. She continues her rhythmic brushing against him, and can admit she welcomes the sight of Link being able to relax in the first place.

She watches the chainmail being cut piece by piece, glancing between the work and Link to see if the movement is causing him any irritation. The farrier clearly knows what he's doing, and Mipha appreciates his slow and careful method to keeping Link's disturbance to a minimum, and providing such help despite the relatively odd circumstances.

As the last few sections of the chainmail go, she can't help but ready herself for healing, even if they'd rather her save the energy. But, her hand remains in its comforting position, the other held steady as she waits for the last of the chainmail to be stripped.

[gluttonforpunishment]

Link blinks himself back awake as she speaks to him, and he watches her as she watches the farrier. Occasionally, he feels pressure as the mail is pulled on, or the brush of fingers against his undertunic, but the man's working carefully, and soon enough the front of the armor is pulled away and Otoh is quick to cut through the fabric, exposing his chest.

Overall, it looks good. Otoh's relieved. There's bruises aplenty, but the armor's done its work and he's well protected. The fresh scar along his ribs where he'd taken the blow is delicate, but it's solidly shut, and only more bruising lingers around the edges of the wound.

"Thank you," she tells the farrier, and he nods. "Glad to be of assistance. If you bring the back half, I can see about repairing the chainmail." He puts down his clippers, gathers up the little half-circles of chainmail, then eases himself out of the back of the wagon.

Otoh reaches behind her for a stethoscope. "Let's check your breathing, Link, make sure there's no fluid in your lungs." She presses the end to his chest and he breathes as directed. "Help me roll him onto his side so we can remove the rest of the chestpiece and I can listen some more." She looks up at Mipha, but there's no apprehension on her face. His lungs and heart both sound good, and she can even hear the rumbling of his stomach.

[miphasgrace]

She hadn't realized she'd been holding her breath until the chainmail was off and, in comparison to how the rest of him fared, things actually look good. Lightly, she squeezes next to his shoulder as she breathes a sigh of relief, and looks down at him again to give him a big smile.

Locking eyes with the healer, she doesn't have to say anything. It's evident that things are better than initially expected, and she can't help but direct a smile at her, too. When Otoh asks for assistance, Mipha nods, though she takes a quick moment to say to Link, "I'm sorry about this... Just a few moments."

Taking hold, she helps roll him to the side indicated by Otoh as gently as possible, taking extra care with his ribs and the arm that's broken. Then, she slides the rest of his chainmail out from under him and brushes aside any other debris so he won't lay back down on anything. With a free hand, she returns to her effort to comfort Link in this directly uncomfortable position by laying the hand in his hair as Otoh continues to check his breathing.

[gluttonforpunishment]

Link gasps as he's rolled, pain shooting through his neck and ribs and arm, but recovers long enough at least to breathe as deeply as he's able for Otoh to listen. She's quick, and soon helps Mipha lay him back down on his back and re-nestle him in the pillows and bean-sacks keeping him from moving much otherwise.

"It looks like if there was any internal damage, Mipha fixed it along with the gash in your side. You just have the broken ribs and the bruising. We'll have to wrap your chest tightly, and splint your arm and ankle. You'll also be off your feet until your ankle heals enough to bear your weight, at least three weeks, possibly more." They were going to be lucky to get three days rest from Link, though. They'd make the best that they could of it.

"There's no obvious fractures in your skull, either, but you might have damage to your neck. In the morning, Mipha can work on that, maybe, so you can at least sit up and look around. We'll keep you lying down tonight, though."

Link nods a little. Then he thinks of something and winces, a little. He glances from Mipha to Otoh and back again, cheeks flushed, not sure how to say - or sign what he needs. It's embarrassing, but... he has to go.

But he can't lay here and hold it forever. He looks to Otoh and signs, "I need to..." he hesitates, then winces his eyes shut, "I need to go."

[miphasgrace]

There's a...pause.

And then a quiet, "Oh!" as Mipha brings a hand to her mouth in both sheepish surprise and sympathetic bashfulness. Well. Her healing power certainly can't help that.

Nor was it a problem she'd ever encountered before, grievous injuries notwithstanding. A tiny part of her own embarrassment is because she didn't even think of this even coming up. Although, with everything going on, it's not exactly something that was on the forefront of her mind to take care of.

"Ah..." She looks helplessly at Otoh, her hand still at her mouth and her cheeks a little bit dark as well. Link seems mortified, but it's no problem she'll laugh at; all she can do to solve it, though, is look at Otoh with a face that reads How can we help?

[gluttonforpunishment]

Otoh, on the other hand, is smiling, just a little. She brings her hand up to cover her smile, a bit delayed, then says, "We can fix that. Princess, maybe you can go check and see how the dinner is coming? It should be almost ready." Link looks mortified for sure, but at her suggestion, he relaxes a little. In love with Mipha he might be, he's apparently not ready for her to help him relieve himself.

"I have a bedpan here, so it shouldn't be something we need your help for." She rests her hand on Link's shoulder gently.

[miphasgrace]

"Y-yes, of course..." Mipha sounds about as placated as Link looks, nodding with haste and offering nothing more than an apologetic smile to Link. Anything she could say would only pile onto the already awkward tension, she knows.

Out of the back of the wagon she goes, making sure to close the curtain modestly behind her. She takes a few steps away from the wagon as a start for their privacy, and uses the moment to process where they've stopped and how everyone's milling about. She recognizes Dueling Peaks; the swamp to the east effectively serving as a Guardian graveyard; and beyond that, Fort Hateno. Her sweeping gaze ends on the road to Kakariko to the north, with the knowledge that just beyond their quiet village destination is the path to Zora's Domain...and the family who will be overjoyed to have her back.

In her reverie, Mipha somehow misses the sight of Daruk enthusiastically waving her over until he actually calls out. The other Champions and Princess Zelda have congregated near where several of the Sheikah are preparing food. She slowly pads over, giving a warm smile and greeting to everyone milling about, whether Kakariko villagers or stable hands, along the way. The smell of dinner grows stronger as she gets closer, and she identifies the smell as some sort of rice stir-fry combined with generous hunks of meat that will no doubt make Link's mouth water.

Her smile becomes brighter as she reaches the Champions - Urbosa with her arm still around Zelda, Daruk towering above the group, and even Revali standing off to the side, though his wings crossed and posture aloof. "So? How is the little guy?" asks Daruk, worry overshadowed by a jovial tone once he's noticed that Mipha looks happy.

"He's doing well... We checked for further injuries underneath his armor, and were delighted to find nothing more serious." She looks Zelda's way during the latter explanation, keeping her informed as promised. "The healer is...helping to prepare him so he can eat, as well."