Chapter Text
Mipha has never thought of herself as a worrywart.
Sure, she understands she appears like one with all her gentle fretting over her fellow champions and her unchanging solemnness in training - but truly, she does it not out of worry but out of a desire for composure and perfection.
She takes every single one of her responsibilities to heart and makes sure they are executed with care and at least partly under her control.
By setting up little guidelines and routines (and following them with her gentle trademark smile), she has been able to keep composure in the face of adversity.
That alone is a source of great confidence for the tiny Zora - she has not all, but enough in control to keep her life in order and protect her loved ones.
However as of right now- the same Mipha is standing before Princess Zelda, her composure crumbling away at the edges at the princess’ sudden request.
“Mipha- you look pale. I understand this may be a shock to you, please accept my apologies for the sudden request.”
Mipha flinches like the princess just read her mind. Her mind is all over the place - the mission she’d just been assigned to is just plain unexpected, and to be honest an ill fit for her. She swallows the urge to wring her hands in mild panic.
“Your highness, it is only my duty as a Champion to take on this mission but- pardon my incompetence, but I hardly think I am cut out for spy work. Especially for someone... I’ve grown to consider a friend.”
Mipha hangs her head low, feeling the princess’ careful eyes on her. She silently cringes. How unprofessional of her to whine over her rightful duty. But in her defense, she has had little to no time to process such a heavy- not to mention shocking- mission.
Revali, her egoistical, self-absorbed fellow Champion is likely an enemy of Hyrule? Mipha honestly couldn’t believe it.
Spies are supposed to be inconspicuous and blend into the crowd. Revali was clearly going for the opposite effect, as far as she has seen. Not only that, she has never considered him hungry for power - it always seemed like a few compliments now and then were enough to fuel his ego.
Mipha couldn’t imagine herself beside him, trying to coax him out of his secret identity with her usual gentle smile. Not only the whole idea just felt wrong, it was nonsensical. Revali, a spy for Ganon? She couldn’t believe it.
When Zelda finally speaks again, Mipha snaps out of her train of thought.
“Mipha- I do not wish to place such a burden on you. I truly don’t. But please believe me when I say you are the sole option for this particular mission. I’ve considered others - Urbosa... well, she would undoubtedly do well but Revali knows how loyal she is to the Royal family, so I doubt he would ever open up to her. As for Daruk...,”
Zelda pauses for a moment, and her eyes crease with the hint of a smile slightly unfit for the situation. “... regardless of his superior abilities in the battlefield, one would hardly consider him a candidate for spy work.”
Mipha cracks a smile in spite of herself. Daruk is the most honest, trusting man she has ever had the pleasure to befriend. Assigning him to a mission like this would likely end in spectacular failure, and most likely a very broken Goron heart.
As Zelda continues, her smile slowly fades.
“But as for you, Mipha - I believe he has a bit of a soft spot for you. You have established yourself as one of the most trustworthy people to serve Hyrule, and I have always felt that you can get him to open up if you want to.”
Mipha cannot agree less, but she keeps quiet and chews her bottom lip instead. She has a feeling that the Princess has no idea of the utter mess she can become when dealing with stressful interpersonal situations. That’s precisely why she obsesses over composure - she has a natural lack of it.
The thought of wrongly framing Revali with no real evidence, and then actually confronting him about it makes Mipha’s stomach twist with anxiety. She wasn’t the kind of person to lie and coerce without batting an eye - guilt and poor acting skills would give her away in a matter of minutes.
In the case in which Revali does turn out to be a traitor, she is quite sure he would be sitting on top of her head during the whole mission. If she is to accept it in the first place, that is.
Zelda continues carefully, taking note of the Zora’s inner gloom.
“To add to that... I’ve seen you in battle, Mipha. You were incredibly composed even when emergency calls, and that’s not a quality every warrior possesses. I am sure if there is anyone fit for this mission, it is you. I have no intention of forcing you into this, but I do ask you now to consider it - not for me, but for Hyrule’s sake.”
Upon hearing the last part of the sentence, Mipha’s shoulders slouch slightly. When she lifts up her head to meet the Princess’s gaze, her amber eyes are laced with concern.
“Your highness- may I ask what is to happen to the Rito Champion if he... does turn out to be an enemy?”
Zelda draws a deep breath - Mipha can tell immediately that she’s been expecting the question.
“I... am not sure. Conviction of high-rank officials such as the Champions is not under my direct jurisdiction, but my Father’s.
Mipha stiffens visibly at the mention of the King, which does not go unnoticed by Zelda. Her solemn face falls for a moment as she pauses.
“I understand how you feel about all this- I truly do. I consider Revali a dear friend as well, regardless of how... difficult he can be. I hope with all my heart that my suspicions are not true, but if they are-
Zelda pauses, and Mipha notices a sudden gleam of regal determination in her usually docile eyes.
“I will act in the favor of my people and ensure their safety by whatever means. To let personal relations interfere in a matter such as this will result in grave consequences - as a monarch of your own domain I am sure you understand this.”
“Of course, Your Highness.” Mipha answers quickly. She couldn’t agree more with the statement, but yet her heart still sinks as she ponders the scenario.
Both Revali and possibly all of Hyrule’s fate will be on her hands. The power of Vah Medoh combined with Revali’s skills in battle was enough to wipe out a domain - there was no arguing that Hyrule would be in considerable danger if he turned out to be an enemy.
There was also no arguing he would be dead in a matter of days if the King was to find out. King Rhoam was grave as he was righteous - a traitor posing as a national protector was a crime worthy of death and there was no way he would let that slide.
Even in the scenario where Revali has been a secret enemy all along, Mipha cannot imagine opting for his death.
Even though they’re not exactly close, she has known him for months now - she has seen sides that make him an actual person instead of ‘The Master of the Sky’. (definitely not self-proclaimed)
If he truly stood with Ganon, wouldn’t he have a reason to do so? Maybe it was family, a lover, or just poor judgment. Sending him to his doom without even knowing that reason is not acceptable in Mipha’s books.
The mere thought of having his blood on her hands makes her recoil.
Noticing Mipha’s obvious discomfort, Zelda’s eyes soften as she continues.
“However, I will ensure he won’t be facing any serious harm- at least not by the Royal Family. Perhaps imprisonment is the best option for now, as an exile won’t work in our favor since he can fly.
So at least it’s not death, then. Mipha thinks as she lets out a long breath of relief.
“Burdening you with the fate of a fellow Champion is the last thing I wish to do. I have already failed you when I asked you to take on this mission, but I can at least promise you that I won’t let him die on your account.”
Zelda finishes with a firm tone, then hangs her head like her strength has suddenly gone out.
“Just like you- I... won’t be able to bear it if that happens.”
She adds quietly, then forces out a strained smile. Her fingers grip tightly at the hem of her dress, causing the knuckles to turn white.
Mipha studies her in silence, not knowing how to react.
It is not often that the Princess lets her inner conflict show to someone other than Urbosa. Mipha is surprised to learn that witnessing this little moment of weakness actually provides her with an odd sense of comfort.
Zelda’s inner turmoil would be unimaginable, she reckons. Not being able to awaken her sealing power was enough problem in itself, but having to question her companions’ loyalty was another thing entirely.
It meant putting a hard-earned friendship at risk and possibly turning the Champions against each other, the latter of which will be directly related to the fate of Hyrule.
Poor Zelda - the pressure she must be in...
Although the fact that she was hand-picked for this particular mission brings her great distress, Mipha understands the Princess’s reasoning behind it. As she had explained earlier, she didn’t have any choice. And likewise, it seems like Mipha doesn’t have a choice either.
When Mipha finally speaks, her amber eyes are tender yet unreadable.
“Your highness, I cannot lie and say that I am not worried about this mission at all - however, I do have faith that you will choose the right thing according to the circumstance. No matter what that thing happens to be, it is my duty to oblige.”
Mipha braces for her next sentence. Compose yourself, she silently tells herself.
“I am at your service, Princess.”
She says firmly then looks up to meet Zelda’s eyes. A small, grateful smile stretches over the Princess’s face - and at that moment Mipha just knows that she stepped into a deal she can’t back out of.
Ah, so much for composure.
-
As night befalls Hyrule Castle a few hours later, the sky turns to a deep shade of blue. A certain Rito of the same hue knocks on the door of Princess Zelda’s study.
When he opens the door, he finds Zelda already on her feet to greet him. Dimly lit from the candlelight, the Princess’s solemn face is half-submerged in the dark. Before Revali can offer her a greeting, she speaks.
“Revali, I- would like to assign you to a mission.”