#raphica x reader

You are not immune to a pretty face and charismatic personality.

Qia knew this well when she had taken you in as an assistant, eyes practically glimmering when you saw her the first time. It was when she had still been a princess, but the war and fighting had started at the time, so she needed all the help she could get. And, well. It doesn't matter if you're weak for a pretty face and charismatic personality since your loyalty lies fiercer than any of her other fellow Zora. It's impressive how attached you are to her. Every day. Really. She wonders if that just means you find her the prettiest of the bunch, but she has no time to think over things like that.

Her father dies at the hand of a forbidden construct, and you send a bird for an old friend on their travels, arrows flying to fight off the hoard that threatens to weaken the Zora more than they have already been weakened.

It's a strange sight, but you suppose you're here for an equal purpose as your friend somewhere in the depths right now.

You had just failed your task so long ago. You hope they pass theirs.

The grimtorok collapses as you throw a splash fruit and then absolutely decimate him while throwing a trident. It's arguably hilarious. You've gotten better over the years, but it always surprises you how good your aim is even without the bow on your back. It's been a while since you've held a bow, really. It's been a long time since you itched to throw anything anyway. Most of the fighting in the Lanaryu region was mostly done with spears that the Zora wield. You're much more accustomed for bows, though. You won't deny that it helps that you can throw things, though. The Zora bows aren't the best, but their draw speeds are fast. Well, not to mention that the speed doesn't do much since the Zora aren't used to aerial combat. You, though? Better than them. That's all you let yourself say.

Your trident shatters on impact, though, and you wince.

"I'm sorry." You mumble, and Qia shakes her head.

"It's quite alright." She hums. "The monster is subdued. That is all that matters."

You nod.

Maybe you'll find a way to reinforce the trident sometime. It shouldn't be too hard.

Lady Qia is recruited by King Rauru to combine armies to take down the evil that's plagued Hyrule.

When you nod at her in confirmation, she takes the courage to accept as well. Trusting that while she is headstrong and brash, you will always be one step behind her, taking care that she would not meet the same fate as her father had. The construct was a vile, vile creature, yet the inside and feelings and controller of them were so, so strong and different. It was so hurtful, you realize. You wonder how Qia is holding up, but you don't get the chance to ask that, because the army starts marching north to help out the Gorons.

Not without amusement, though.

"I hear the Rito Elder and Gerudo women are exceptionally pretty." One of the Zora soldiers whisper to you, and you hold a hand over your mouth as you all keep travelling.

"Tell me more."

Everyone in the army knows you're weak for a pretty face. It played a huge part of why you had come to the Zora domain. You'd found Ganondorf a looker, yes, but you didn't want to work with him. The Rito Elder lived in Hebra, which was arguably too cold for comfort, and the Gorons are an… acquired taste. So, you settled in the Zora domain, where you'd survive well enough but also be close enough to Hyrule if you were ever needed. Besides, you knew the Rito Elder was a sight to behold, but you'd rather not be there. You were from a strange group of people that you refused to elaborate on. Three people, you said. An armorer, a swordsmith, and a bowyer. You didn't elaborate on which one you were, but some of your new friends had their suspicions.

"The Rito Elder has strange hair, though."

"Oh, I hear that the Gerudo women are both muscular and tall."

"Oh, and I hear the Rito Elder has a bow crafted by a godling."

Right. That's what they called those who were competing for the position of god.

"What?"

"The great eagle bow, they call it." They whisper. "Very pretty bow, and it's made of diamonds. Kind of like Lady Qia's trident."

"Huh."

You didn't know he was still using the bow.

Sure, you'd made the bow to be practically indestructible, but you thought he would have parted with it at one point. Well, not really your problem. The one who ran was you, not him. He probably was hurt by the fact that you ran off in the morning and didn't bother returning. You thought it'd be a scar on his reputation that he needed to keep. It was unheard of, the Rito mating with a non Rito. You didn't want the unpopular opinion amongst the elders to be further soured by the fact that you were in the equation.

"Obviously, none of them are as pretty as our Zora soldiers."

You laugh.

"That goes without saying." You agree, setting foot in Eldin as you groan, pulling off whatever you can to withstand the heat. The Zora got the courtesy of being barely clothed, so you start twisting and pinning your robes back. You'd cut and change into something less hot, like a set from the Gerudo when you visited so long ago, but you're in too much of a rush. Maybe you're just going to have to live with it.

You swing the crusher in your hand, breaking through the monsters in the Goron region. It's painfully heavy, and while you know for a fact you'd be much better if you could just throw the crusher at monsters, it's probably not the smartest choice to make at the moment. So, you listen to the Goron Elders, swinging and bashing your way through now that the rocks had stopped. Lady Qia's water proved to be wonders against some of the monsters. You let her send water your way, guiding it with the trident you'd been provided after you threw your last one in a monster's face.

In retrospect, it resembles the archery you used to love so much. The fluidity of fighting with a trident, guiding water at its tips to extinguish the flames in the way, and the movement of your body all remind you of it. It's like a dance in a way, light on your feet, smooth on the rock as your robes become less of a burden to your skin. You learn to enjoy the sweat instead, though you know you're going to have to wash up later. It's a dance in a way, the movement of water as you throw ice fruit at some of the monsters for an instant death.

When you finish up with Rauru's army, you help out with whatever Gorons you can, ignoring the Rito flying above you. None of them should know who you are anyway. The current Rito Elder was always avid to keep you under wraps. He was one of the younger Rito in the tribe, now the elder, and sometimes you wonder if the opposition ever really went away for his place in power— not that you doubt his ability to lead. You think he's plenty good at it, but you worry about whether or not he can hold for his own okay you're just worrying over pointless things now.

Everyone retreats to the Forgotten Temple in the canyon, and you bandage what you can on the Gorons, learning about rock roast and how it's just… rocks?

"I can't chew through this." One of the Hylians look at the roast.

You knock on the meat handed to you.

"Is this just… rock?"

"It's very good, we assure you guys."

You grab at it instead, ripping a piece off as you try biting into it.

Nope. Not worth the chipped tooth.

"I don't believe we're equipped with the teeth to eat this, but we appreciate the sentiment." You hand the roast back to the Gorons, and they nod.

"Let us know if you ever change your mind."

"Gaard."

You turn to face Lady Qia, staring as she motions you over.

It's still hard getting used to a name you gave yourself to erase your own.

"Yes?"

"Lord Agraston, Lady Zelda, and I are heading to help the Rito in the Lost Woods."

You know what's next.

"Are we to accompany you?"

"If you would."

"Let me grab a fish, and then we can head off."

Qia nods.

You take what food you can, eating on the way as you head over on horse. You guide the one you take, and Zelda sits in front of you as you weave your way to the Lost Forest. You'd been notified that they were somewhere higher up, so you stay with the forces on the ground and wait for the orders. When everyone returns, you notice the Rito Elder, but you don't say anything. He most likely doesn't notice you. Not when you were wearing the helmet that the Zora army wore. You'd been given one to protect yourself, and you're handed a trident to use to fight.

"Ready everyone? We'll clean up down here while the other Rito hold off the monsters in the sky." The Rito Elder nods, and everyone heads out from the entrance. "Let's start with a fun surprise, shall we? Strike at the front lines to distract the enemy."

Lady Qia splits off with Zelda, and she instructs you to help Agraston and the Rito Elder. Your attacks don't do much against an electric type enemy, so you dodge to your best ability however you can. You swing when you can, catching the monsters off guard when you can. It's actually refreshing to fight in the Great Hyrule Forest. The Koroks are adorable. Some of them are eons older than you, but they're still a thrill to fight alongside. You think you're having an incredible time right now.

It is confusing to get around, though.

The electric moblin falls to your allies as you turn around to check on the condition of your trident. It shouldn't break, and now that the front lines have fallen, you should be able to make your way further into the Korok forest like the Rito Elder had originally planned. It's impressive to actually get to see what a force he is when it comes to strategizing. Truly impressive feat. To think that he's matured so much in the few years you haven't seen him.

"Looks like he fell for it." The elder hums, turning to look at the rest of you. "Now our plan can really start moving. Everyone, get into position!"

You follow behind the elder, blinking when the Koroks open up a passageway through the trees.

The army fights through the second round of monsters, and you get a little better versed at fighting monsters that you didn't think you'd be fighting so soon again. Maybe you can finally settle down and age after the war. You don't expect to be completing your quest anytime soon. You'll probably have a couple of lives to live before you can consier anything else, Awful, awful life of yours that you have to suffer the consequences of. Whatever.

You stab through the boss bokoblin, landing on the ground with a gentle splash as you look at the drops.

"You're a keener strategist than you let on, Lord Raphica." Qia's the one to compliment him after killing the boss bokoblin, and you observe the items he's just dropped.

"Hey, all in a day's work. But you know, we'd never pull these plans off if I didn't have such capable allies out there putting them into action." He nods, starting forward.

"Lord Raphica." You hand Raphica the fangs from the Bokoblins, and he blinks at you. "This on the arrowhead."

He hesitates, taking it from you with a stare before he nods.

You think a flash of recognition passes in his eyes when he takes it from you, but everyone pushes onward. There is no time to consider the past in a fight that compromises the future. Everyone pushes forwards, even when the aerocudas come over to fight, you're quick to throw your trident and pull the aerocudas down with the chain you'd recently gotten from the Gorons. You yank them down to your level before you stab the teeth of the trident through their wings and deliver a final slash. When they fall, everyone moves forward to fight the Grimgera.

It's a really confusing place that you don't think you'd be able to navigate without the Koroks help.

Everyone rests for a moment at the camps set up, and you take the moment to take off the helmet to adjust your hair. You'd worked up a sweat from all the fighting, and you weren't very thrilled about it.

"Worst part of war is working up a sweat in battle." You pant, waving at your face.

"Yeah." One of the Hylian soldiers sigh.

"Caught your breaths everyone? Final push." Raphica nods at the gates, and you exhale.

"Let's get going."

Qia's quite intruiged by the fact that she'd never seen a Korok before today, and you squat down while travelling to give one of them a high five before you head through the passage. Raphica knows a little more about the Koroks since he'd picked up Calamo. Some of them have skin thick enough to tough out Hebra and Tabantha, but most of them stick to milder climates. You wonder how your swordsmith friend is doing. They're probably with the korok right now.

The grimgera is a pain in the ass to fight, and the water attacks you're used to using on a trident don't do much. Zelda's flame emitters work wonders to send the monster to the ground, where you can get a proper hit or two on it, but it doesn't do much. Your trident can't dig into its skin to launch you onto the monster either. You really miss your bow about now. So, you do the next best thing and just start throwing shit at the monster. Broken tree branches, loot from the monsters earlier, you name it, you hurl it.

At one point, one of the Rito warriors hands you a bow so you can shoot at the monster more efficiently.

They watch as a single arrow flies from the bow and knocks the grimgera to the ground, giving everyone the chance to fight properly. You keep the monster stunned as it's eventually defeated, and you return the bow to the Rito warrior with a smile and thank you on your lips. You watch Raphica talk to Zelda on the side as you cook some fish, sitting by the fire the Koroks had lit for everyone. One of the koroks ends up next to you on the log as you cook a fish over the fire.

"Do you only eat fish?"

"Sometimes we eat plants or rocks. It depends on the tribe and person." You start up a pot, looking through your items to see if you can make anything in particular. "What do you all eat?"

"The sun…"

You laugh, holding a hand over your mouth as the Korok huffs.

"We don't have mouths."

"Yes, I figured." You hum. "But you all have fun anyway, yeah? There isn't much that food can offer you if you already get the best nutrients."

"But we can smell!" Another Korok chimes in. "Sometimes food smells very good…"

You find the sugar in your bag, throwing flour and eggs and a berry into the pot, clapping your hands together as it comes out as a cake.

Raphica keeps his eyes trailed on you in the distance as he talks to Zelda. You can feel it, and you ignore it the best you can. He'd probably like to talk to you, but you're not ready for that conversation yet. Maybe one more battle where the two of you work well. You'd like him to break the ice this time. The two of you are older now, after all. He has responsibilities, and you really do think that it would be better for him to return to Rito Village and find a nice Rito girl instead of you. It'd appease the elders and probably do him much better.

You share a slice with some of the soldiers nearby, and before long, most of the army has gathered around for a slice of their own. You think you're running low on berries, but you push on. Surely you have some other kind of fruit you can replace things with.

Lady Qia and Raphica visit you last, and you blink at the two of them as there's only two slices left. You haven't had a bite yet, and you're out of berries, so obviously you hand the two slices to them both, waving Qia off when she offers her slice to you. It's out of the question. Besides, you typically didn't like tasting what you baked, only hearing feedback. You told Qia to keep hers, and Raphica is the one who does something about it.

He thanks you for the utensil, cutting his cake in half and taking the chance while your mouth was open to shove a bite into your mouth.

"Chew."

You do, blinking at him as he hums.

"Good?"

"That was highly unnecessary, Lord Raphica."

"Almost innapropriate too, Lord." You swallow, but you sigh. "But I thank you anyway. I hope you enjoy the cake."

"I always enjoy whatever you make."

Qia raises a brow at you, but Raphica guides her away to Agraston for another conversation before you can get questioned.

Stupid Rito Bird.

But the army marches south when news breaks that there are more monsters in the desert, and camp is set up in the distance while you keep watch with the other Zora on watch duty. Some of them play cards while one person keep an eye out at all time, and one of the awful soldiers decides to break the ice by staring directly into your soul and asking the bluntest question you'd gotten in a hot minute.

"How's the Rito Elder had your cooking before if you're not a Rito?"

"I used to be a bowyer." You hum. "I made bows for some of the Rito."

"What?!"

"Hey, you did NOT tell us about all of that."

"Do you make the Zora bows?"

"I do." You hum. "Though, we have much more talented bowyers."

"No way. If you were making Rito bows, that means you were the best of the best."

"Did you make the Great Eagle Bow?"

You think about it.

"I'm not sure about the origin of the bow."

You lied straight out of your teeth over that. Of course you did. The whole reason Raphica had that bow was because you had reinforced the bow he originally had into what it was and painted it for him. You remember it like yesterday, but it's also a distant past now, so you don't really care. You were stupid in your youth.

"Anything to share about the Rito Elder?"

"He's pretty…"

"Of course you'd say that."

"Expected nothing less."

You get away with it, and you wonder for a brief moment if you had really made the right choice back then.

A Gerudo woman seeks help from Hyrule to help their leader, and everyone is pushed to fight in the desert as monsters emerge and start ambushing them. It's a horrible experience, really. The sand gets in your toes and you'd never wished you had better shoes before now, but you can't really pick and choose during a war. If anything, you grit your teeth and continue fighting. Is it really worth it in the end? You wonder if you'll just be forgotten in history. What a depressing thought.

The gibdos opens their mouth to spit at you, and Raphica emerges from next to you.

"Dance with me?"

"With pleasure."

Raphica holds his hand out for you mid-battle, and you take it, letting him spin you before throwing you into the air, your trident handed to him to fight as you send arrows flying with his bow. It's so easy to use that you forget how nice it is. You worked hard to make it back then, and to get to feel the bow in hand is honestly a blessing. You land a headshot to the enemy below, sending it plummeting to the ground as you land back down and switch your weapons back.

You clasp the chain around your trident back to your wrist, and you rush forward.

An arrow from Raphica pierces the monster's head as you stab your trident into its chest, pulling back with a sick crunch as the monster disappears back into dust.

"We work well together," He bows as he lets go of your hand, and you bow back.

You go back to fgighting, ignoring the fact that Lord Raphica most definitely knows who you are, and now you're more paranoid than ever that you're going to single handedly cause the collapse of an alliance. Well, not that you would. If you remember right, they were fighting the battle because of a Korok and not because Rauru had asked for him — though Rauru has now, you suppose. You should figure out if he has any bitterness towards you at all later.

The final monster falls with a slash from a soldier, and everyone breathes.

"At last, the desert is safe." Rauru speaks, and you glance at all the monster items on the ground, going through them as people set up camp and regroup.

Qia finds you, making sure you're in one piece as you make sure she's unharmed, and once everyone has regrouped, Ardi joins the ranks as the Gerudo leader. You stay on the side with the Rito, letting them show you their bows as one of them mentions how well you'd done when they'd handed you their bow in battle. You laugh and wave it off, excusing it as luck before you're pulled to the side by some of the Zora soldiers.

"Isn't their chief so hot? The markings under his eyes really bring it to light."

You look with them, humming.

"I don't know. I think the Gerudo chief is much prettier."

"Well, nothing triumphs over Lady Qia."

"Well that goes without saying."

"Obviously."

"What triumphs over me?"

The group jumps in their skin as Lady Qia raises a brow at everyone.

"Hm?"

"Nothing triumphs over your beautyyy." You drawl, grinning as she laughs.

"Uh huh?"

"Of courseee." You hum. "You know I only go for pretty people."

"Well that goes without saying."

"Did the conversation go well?" You raise a brow. "You must need me for something. My apologies for straying."

"I hear from Cadlan that you used to make bows."

"Oh, well Lord Raphica had handed me his bow to use in battle while aiding the Gerudo." You turn around, noticing the bows. "You know I used to be a bowyer for the Rito. Most of the ones here are bows I used to fix up."

"And the one stained blue?"

"The great eagle bow." You turn to explain to Qia. "Isn't it pretty? It's—"

"Gorgeous, strengthened by diamond, with the carvings of a divine beast. Not to mention the quiver of the godlings the arrows rest in that I was gifted."

The voice makes you stop in your tracks, Qia raising a brow at you as she notices. You cycle through the 5 stages of grief in the single second you have before you have to turn around and face the Rito Elder because it'd be rude for a mere aide to ignore another chief. What if you blow yourself up right now. You're going to walk into the monster camp and get shocked to death. Gerudo is known for that anyway. God. Hylia? Can she hear you? You want to be struck by lightning just about now oh fuck.

"Are you alright—"

"My favorite bowyer who refuses to acknowledge I exist while we are in active war."

You turn around to face the voice.

"Lord Raphica." You smile at him, mildly strained. A pretty face, charming personality, and a person that you did NOT want to see on a lovely day during a WAR despite having talked to him a little here and there in the temple. You take ten psychic damage every time he calls out your name in that voice of his. Oh, you are not immune to anything attractive. You're Qia's loyal aide now. NOT a bowyer free to do whatever. You failed your bowyer ceremony because of this Rito. You'd be lying through your teeth if you said you were over it. Well, it's equal parts your fault for oversleeping. You'd crafted a divine bow, but failed to finish off the final target of the hunt, losing track of it. You'd decided to sidetrack since losing the target usually meant you'd never find it again.

He reminds you of a past that is no longer yours and a decision you chose to make forever ago. You're not the one who crafted his bow again. That was from a past that no longer yours to use or have. It's from a past that isn't yours anymore. You're someone else. You've sidetracked and chosen a different path.

Sidetracked to help the Zora fight off the construct who killed Lady Qia's father.

"Dove."

Qia pauses at the name, and you wince.

"I believe you owe me a conversation." He smiles, charming as always, and you blink at him.

You'd danced with him in battle again. It'd been a while since you needed to fight alongside him, but it's something that you're glad happened anyway. You missed him. You hate that you did, but you were stupid and a coward to run off and get mad because of something that you did. You were looking for someone to blame, and your sidequest of visiting Raphica in case he'd never see you again became your scapegoat. Stupid of you, but you can't be regretting that now.

"Lord Raphica, I'm certain it can wait for after the war." You reason.

"You're right. I should just take you back with me when the war ends." He smiles.

Qia steps in front of you, holding a hand out as she meets eyes with the Rito. "Lord Raphica. They work for me now."

"Apologies, Queen Qia." Raphica bows. "We may discuss it at a later date. Unfortunately, They owe me a little something."

"I owe you something?! I lost—" You cut yourself off, breathing as you exhale. "Very well. At a later date, then."

Raphica smiles at you, and Qia looks at the two of you.

You are so screwed.

You say your goodbyes, getting to know some of the other leaders of their groups, and when you finally have the time to settle down in your tent, Qia comes to visit you. You know what she's here to ask. She cares, but you don't know how much you want to tell her. What are you supposed to say? You're into the bird because he was so charismatic that you wanted to teach him how to make a bow the night before you rose to divinity, and one thing leads to the next and next thing you know you wake up from the best sleep of your life but lose your target? That's embarrassing. Well, everything is. You think it's equally embarrassing that everything has happened over the years. You're not even that old. You're younger than Qia and around Raphica's age. Hylia forbid you run ten thousand laps making bows before you're even too old of an adult.

"So… the Rito Elder?"

Your expression drops, and Qia raises a brow.

"Qia, you know how I used to be a bowyer?"

"Yes."

"In order to ascend to godhood, one has to complete a trial sent from the gods."

"Yes."

"I may or may not have ended up in Lord Raphica's bed the night before I finished tracking down the target for my trial." You pause. "And that may or may not have resulted in me losing track of the target— leading to my failure."

Qia gives you a look that you remember very well from when you had informed your master of the same thing. You're being choked half to death by her in her mind. You're not proud of it, but you also owe Raphica an apology for running off in the morning and never returning. You could have sent word or one of your messenger birds, but you had been too wrapped up in your head over losing and trying to track down your target again, so it passed your mind. Maybe not the best moment of your life. So you make a mistake, big deal. You should really apologize to Raphica. Ugh. The war, though.

"He's pretty."

It's all you can manage.

Qia knows. It's why she only sighs in annoyance instead of anything else. You've always been weak for a pretty face.

"We can figure it out after the war."

"Yes." You mumble. "My apologies, Queen Qia."

She sighs. "Lord Raphica isn't so childish as to let this get in the way of war."

"I'm aware." You mumble, hiding your face in your hands.

She seems to hesitate before she asks, and you brace for the question.

"Was he at least good?"

Your eyes widen, not expecting that question of all things.

"Like… in bed?"

"No." Qia turns red immediately. "No, not in bed. I meant. Ugh I meant if he was worth it."

"His feathers were soft." You mumble. "I have something egregious to say but I don't want to cause inter-nation issues."

"I'd rest on a pillow made of Rito feathers if I needed a pillow too."

You hold back a scream, mouth wide open as you laugh.

"It's an agreeable opinion."

"Yes." You mumble. "I miss sleeping on his chest."

"I did not ask for that."

"Soft."

"I hope we don't end up with a…"

"Queen Qia, do you really think none of the armies are fraternizing right now?"

"I can pretend I am not aware."

"I don't know how many more nights I'm going to be able to take camped next to some of the horniest soldiers of my life."

Qia rests her head in her hands, sighing.

"Would you like to rest with me tonight?"

"Maybe." You pause, looking out the tent to glance at the Rito. "I may rest in my own tent for the night. I have a bad feeling that won't leave."

"Well, I shall await the bad news."

You laugh, waving goodnight to her.

Sure enough, the construct that killed Lady Qia's father shows up, and you hold a hand to stop her from leaving. Rauru orders the group to retreat, and the newly appointed Knight Construct and Calamo stay behind to hold the forbidden construct back. You make haste and help people pack bedrolls and make a run for it. No regular human can fight against that thing. You watch the three of them, your swordsmith friend joining with a hand you hadn't seen glow in a long time. You send them a nod, they send one back, and you retreat with the rest of the group. Mostly everyone retreats with a run, and you watch, staring at the construct and korok with your friend.

You mumble a prayer to yourself to protect the three, and Raphica rests a wing on your shoulder, nodding as you rush off with the group.

The camp started as everyone settles down. It's starting to feel different now, you think. You admit it, even. You should really go to war with a clean slate and nothing else in the way or ruining your life. You probably owe Raphica an apology for being young and stupid. You're eons younger than the other two that were in your little group before everyone had their own moving along.

You think you should apologize.

The walk to Raphica's tent isn't as long as you thought it would be. The Rito were placed relatively close with the Zora since they needed to practice fighting together in the morning for practice. The Rito and Zora were relatively far away from each other, so they weren't as familiar with each other's fighting styles. Well, Rauru's orders. You're here to make sure that you didn't just royally screw up a war. You doubt Raphica is as petty as that, but you do owe him an apology for running off in the morning in a panic and never seeing him away. Asshole move on your end.

"Lord Raphica." You stand at the front of his tent, and he opens the flap, letting another Rito warrior out as he raises a brow at you.

"And what did the birds drag in this time?"

You shake your head, letting the tent close behind you. "I want to apologize. I… know it won't do much to undo any of the hurt, but I picked such an awful day to find you that night. I should have found you the next after I had finished tracking the target, but I got excited and I was so close to you and… it's no one's but my fault. I wanted to apologize for running off and never sending word. I was bitter that I let my feelings for you take precedent over what my goal was. I apologize for taking it out on you instead of processing it myself. I understand if you don't wish to forgive me, but please don't let it—"

"Dove." He presses a wing to your arm, holding your gaze as he smiles.

You look at him, scared.

"I'm not upset." He hums. "I wouldn't let something like that get in the way of our collaboration between tribes. No need to worry your pretty head over it. Besides, I owe Rauru a favor for the help from Hyrule a while back."

You frown.

You know he's not someone who would take it out on anyone, and you're apologizing right now because you're a little childish. Still the same young one that met him the first time, maybe. You've gotten more childish while he's gotten more mature. You've abandoned your duties as someone who was fighting for divinity, and he's taken up the title of Rito Elder. You think it's a funny change of events. How wonderful, really. But you know he cares. He's not nearly as cold as he seems to come off as to everyone else. You don't know where he got the title of aloof according to the other Zora. But you're childish now, so you settle with an excuse.

"Qia's worried."

"Yes, and I was too. We both want what's best for you. This is war, after all." He hums. "I'm glad you came to clear it up with me."

"I hope I'm not a distraction." You smile, laughing when he raises a brow at you.

"Never, gorgeous." He nudges his beak against your cheek, and you hum. "You can come with me after the war."

"And fight Lady Qia for me?"

"I'm sure something can be achieved through a proper diplomatic conversation."

You raise a brow at him.

"Hopefully."

"If you say so." You laugh, and Raphica hums. Just hums. Quietly, staring at you with a heart full. Neither of you really know what's coming soon. It's such a long road ahead with such a distant past that neither of you are really brave enough to do anything right now. Well, you aren't brave enough. You're sure Raphica has matured plenty during his time of having to take up the title of Rito Elder. You think Vence was worried for this exact reason anyway.

"Stay the night?" He looks at you, and you blink at him.

"I don't know if that's very smart. I told Queen Qia that I wouldn't do anything…"

"Sleeping together isn't a crime, you know?"

"Which sleeping together…"

Raphica raises a brow.

"Whichever one you want."

You want to sleep, which is really how you end up in Raphica's arms in his bed again. You lay in the hammock set up in his room, watching as he tugs at his robes an accessories, setting them down on a nearby box. You blink lazily at him, humming when he raises a brow at you. Not the time, though. You promised you wouldn't do anything stupid. You're not planning on doing anything stupid right now in the middle of a war. That could come later when the sdreneline from fighting was hard to kill off with a bath.

"Don't birds sleep sitting?"

"Rito sleep on their backs. We're a little more comfortable tucked in together."

"Am I tucked in with you right now?"

"Maybe."

"You're so warm…"You mumble, closing your eyes, head on Raphica's chest.

"You know that well, don't you?"

"Maybe." You mumble, head digging into his feathers as he wraps a wing around you.

There's a comfortable beat of silence that passes between the two of you. Scary, really. He might die tomorrow. The war will take and take and eat and eat until it devours everyone or the source whole. It's an unfortunate reality, really. You wonder if you could win this at all. You pray quietly that your friend's mentor will step in. You don't know what the future is, but knowing their master, they probably already had multiple plans put together. Or, at the very least, they had an idea of why they're here.

"Come back to me."

"Not unharmed?"

"I doubt you'll be unharmed, but just come back to me alive." You whisper.

He hums.

"I'll come back alive."

"Good, because I don't think I'm gonna be able to sleep this comfortably without your feathers for a long time."

Raphica laughs, wing reaching behind him to undo his braid, and you watch, humming.

"You and your hair."

"Have to look pretty for you."

"Not the other Rito women?"

"Just you."

"Sap."

"You like it."

You roll your eyes, closing them as you lie on his chest.

"If that helps you sleep at night."

"Oh, it sure does alright."

Raphica, despite the childishness he has when you're around, is an exceedingly talented leader. He guides the Rito army through battles that force the enemy back again and again. The monster army was huge and impossibly hard to fight through, but it ended. It's easy to know just how respectable he is when he receives a secret stone, showing you in his tent at night, and you rest his foot on your lap, observing the secret stone. The monster army had been neutralized, and everyone got a brief night of rest for once. Brief. Everyone was exhausted from the battle, and you find yourself back in his tent, looking at the secret stone.

"It's what makes Ganondorf powerful."

"I see." You hum. "And its power?"

"Amplifies according to the power of the host."

"Mm." You let go, leaning back on your palms as you rest your eyes.

"Shall we rest for the night?"

"Mmm." You let him drag you into his wings, closing your eyes as you yawn. "Sleep well, Raphica."

"You too, dove."

It becomes an open secret. It's hard to ignore it, and the Zora are the first to really notice, your clothes leaving little space for you to cover the bites on your collarbone and everywhere else. As long as no one asks, you don't say anything. They know you're obviously sleeping with someone in the army, but no one can really figure out who it is. It doesn't take a genius, though. Your swordsmith friend is the first to ask during a break from training.

"Sooooo you and Raphica?"

You sink into the ground at camp, skin on fire at the embarrassment as they laugh.

"I promise I'm not making fun of you." They raise a brow.

"I'm deflecting. I heard you and that construct are close."

They avoid your eyes after that, and you laugh half to hell over it.

The swordsmith is sweet, but you don't see them as much since you're more well versed in using ranged weapons. You end up training some of the recruits, and Zelda spends the bulk of her time with you to fight with her bow. You show her faster ways to draw it back, and you teach her easier ways to move it around and fight. It's nice, actually. She learns quickly, and you seem to figure out quick enough that she got somewhat used to the fighting when she was with her knight. You learn a lot about her knight while hanging out with her. She doesn't ever stop talking about him.

"You miss him, huh?"

"W-well…" She laughs, flushing pink. "Yes."

You hum. "That's really cute."

"Did you ever miss Lord Raphica when you were gone?"

The question catches you off guard, and you pause to consider it for a moment. You did. It was a quiet voice in the back of your head that whispered lies and accused you of hurting the only person that would ever love you enough to accept you into their doors past sunset, and it chewed at your insides until there was nothing left. You don't betray yourself this time, though, and you laugh. The wind carries your laugh with a lightness that you remember from youth.

"Of course I did."

It'd be stupid to let childishness cling onto you during war and lie through your teeth about how you didn't miss him. That was a lie, and you knew it. You missed Raphica to the depths the first three weeks you left him, but you lied and convinced yourself that it was for your own good that you left him. He told you he was becoming the Rito Chief. You thought you wouldn't be someone who should stand by his side. Rito are short-lived. They don't live past fourty in most cases, and if it meant that you'd become a god and outlive him for literal eons, then you didn't want to hurt yourself in that case. Selfish, you are, but that's how all the gods were. You know they'll stop crowning divinity as a gift when you're loyal enough to the gods one day. It's probably coming soon. You heard the three goddesses were planning on stepping down soon.

You don't want to leave any regrets. Your life is so much shorter as a mortal, and you don't want to live it with a stick up your ass.

"You missed me?"

You turn to look at Raphica, and he raises a brow.

"Yes, Lord Raphica." You whisper. "I missed you a lot."

His gaze softens, and he shakes his head.

"That makes two of us."

Zelda looks at the two of you, understanding blooming on her face as she covers her mouth.

"Is that why Pinnec was telling me about how Lord Raphica sleeps better these nights?"

You look at the Rito, and he looks to the side.

"I'm innocent until evidence is provided." He holds both his wings up, and Zelda laughs.

"The Rito talk of you two."

"Good things, I hope." You hum.

"Well, more of Lord Raphica and how he seems more energetic these days."

"What are you back from?" You glance up at the Rito, and he hums.

"Just cleared out a nearby monster camp with the Knight Construct."

"Find anything good?"

"Please excuse us, Lady Zelda." Raphica nods, leading you along as you wave goodbye to the princess.

"What did you find?"

"I wanted to present you with something." He hums. "The Rito back home all sport a head or hair accessory, and I wanted to give you one."

"That's awfully quick moving of you, Lord Raphica." You laugh, letting him present the beads to you.

"They go into your hair."

"Would you do it for me?"

"Of course."

"Was it from clearing the monster camp?"

"There were rubies, and they keep you warm in the cold, so I figured it would be best to give you one since it'll be cold in Hebra when you move." He attaches it to your hair, and you do feel warmer.

"Who said I was moving?"

"Well, you just accepted a courtship gift, so you."

You laugh.

"And how should I pay you back?"

"Well, I have a few ideas." He raises a brow at you, and you smack his wing, gasping.

"Lord Raphica how crude!"

"Don't be prudish, dove."

You raise a brow at him, looking to the side as you sigh.

"Well, since I have accepted your betrothal gift."

"There's more coming." He mumbles, beak brushing up your neck as his voice lowers. "This is only one."

"Does the pretty Rito Elder come with getting betrothal to a Rito?"

"Only for the prettiest one."

"Well isn't your tongue stained with sugar." You hum, brushing the feathers on his face back as you press your lips to his beak. "Be nice."

"You know I always am."

It's morning and you've overslept. Usually you'd be up the same time as Raphica, but you'd been too tired from the night before, marks on your skin fresh as you rub at your neck with the ointment. Raphica had let Qia know that you weren't feeling well, and he wasn't wrong. You're sore all over, not that it's an excuse, but it lets you rest in the tent for a while. His hammock has gotten more and more comfortable to sleep in over the days as you've gotten used to how the Rito sleep. You could set up a bedroll on the ground, but you're not particularly picky at the moment.

Besides, you're sore in the legs and neck, and you're almost certain you look like you just got mauled when you dress yourself in the morning.

You open the flap to the tent when someone calls without thinking.

Vence raises a brow in amusement when you blink at him owlishly, trapped at the exit of Raphica's tent as he hums.

"So you're who Raphica has been hiding."

You offer a half smile, fiddling with your fingers as Vence steps into the tent.

Pinnec is close behind, staring you down as you tilt your head.

"May I help you both?"

"No, just wanted to see who Raphica's been hiding in his tent these nights. The two of you are always out of his tent by morning dew that we never know who you are." He observes you, and you blink at Pinnec, recognition and panic flashing in your eyes.

He's the Rito who saw you get out of Raphica's hut back in Rito Village. Oh you are so fucked.

"You're the one who snuck out of Lord Raphica's hut the night before his chiefdom inauguration."

You purse your lips.

"I believe so?"

He looks at you, scrutinizing you, might you say, and you'd never wished Raphica were here more than ever. He probably ran off to clear out another monster camp with the Knight Construct again. Neither of them can really sit still for long periods of time. They're always itching to blow off some steam, well, for Raphica at least. You'd think the Rito would be tired after drilling you half to death last night, but alas. Whatever.

"Oh, there you are." Qia catches sight of you behind the tent flap. "Come on, some of the recruits need training. I can't fight everyone alone. Come on."

"Please excuse me." You step past the two birds, and you have a feeling you're going to need to steer clear from Raphica's tent for a while.

You adjust your robes as you walk, and Qia raises a brow at the attire.

"Rito robes?"

You notice.

"Lord Raphica probably grabbed my robes in the morning. Our fabrics are the same color."

"Uh huh." She looks forwards, leading you. "I don't want to be an aunt too soon."

"Lady Qia last time I checked interspecies mating is impossible."

"Last I checked, Queen Sonia and King Rauru have children."

You pause.

"Well, get ready to be punching me in the stomach sometime soon."

Training the new recruits goes well for the most part. The Zora army was relatively used to wielding tridents, so you just fight some of the new recruits. Some days you're much more inclined to using a bow and you miss it. Today is not a day you are afforded that luxury. King Rauru was planning on waging the offensive now. The war is steadily progressing. Time is a luxury you're fairly certain you won't be afforded for the next handful of weeks. You don't know if you'll be moved somewhere else to stand guard or fight alongside the Hylian army.

Either or, washing up and getting back to your own tent comes first.

You're in the middle of drying your hair when Raphica slips through the openings of your tent, and you blink at him as he blinks at you, averting his eyes when he notices you have only a towel on.

"Sorry."

"Pray tell what the Rito Elder is doing in my tent?"

"Vence has been hunting me down for the last hour to ask about you and why Pinnec knows you but not him. How do you even know Pinnec?"

"He watched me sneak out of your hut the morning I left you." You reach to tug the towel and look for your clothes, and Raphica hears the familiar sound of Rito wings outside. "Probably where his resentment really peaked, but I didn't say anything to him since I was too busy running."

"Hide me."

"Under the bed." You pull your nightwear on over your head, back facing Raphica as he stares at you for a moment too long.

"Anyone inside?"

"I'm settling into my nightwear, a moment, please." You call, and you help cover Raphica. He's going to need to wash up later from the dust on the ground, but as long as he doesn't try sleeping in your bed. You missed your bed. Raphica is comfortable, yes, but your bedroll is too.

You peek the entrance to your tent open, and Vence looks at you.

"Sorry for the late disturbance. Do you know where Raphica is by chance?"

You pause to think.

"Is he not in his tent?"

"No."

You pause. "I'm afraid not, then."

"Is he with you?"

"No." You shake your head. "Oh, Vence. I did want to apologize. Lord Raphica let me know earlier that you were upset he never introduced me to you even though Pinnec knew me. The only reason he did was because—"

"You're the one who snuck out of Raphica's hut the morning of his inauguration, yes." He nods. "Pinnec told me. No worries about it. I'm more upset he didn't tell any of us that you were here than anything else. I do need to find him, though. I have questions."

You raise a brow at the Rito, and he raises one back.

"Unless you'd like to answer them?"

"I'll leave you to your own talks." You laugh. "I hope you find him soon."

He nods.

"Rest well, Gaard."

"Best of luck, Vence."

Once you no longer hear his footsteps, you turn around to look at Raphica under the bed.

"I hope you know I'm not letting you into my bed while dirty." You raise a brow at him, and he fixes his hair with a huff, sitting down.

"Fix my hair?"

"You're not going to wash up?"

"I will, but my hair is a mess." He raises a brow at you, and you walk over to fix his hair. "Also, I wish you'd watch me fight more often."

"And watch you perform a courtship dance mid battle? I think not."

"Ah, so you do know."

"Yes, Raphica. When you spin me in battle and end our sync strike with a dip, I am very aware that you are trying to perform a courtship dance with me. Unfortunately for you, I like the gifts you give me to court me better since we have different cultures."

"I thought typically the one marrying out came with dowries?"

You finish with his hair, smoothing down his feathers with practiced gentleness as you turn around to find a way to fix up your own hair.

"Typically brides. Shouldn't you know this? Sometimes, though. The one who wants or arranged the marriage brings a dowry or reverse dowry."

You lift your hair up, looking for something to get it out of the way.

"A dowry?" He dusts himself off with his wings, stepping behind you to hold your hair up as you sort through your items. "And if I want to marry you?"

"Then a betrothal gift would be good." You find a brush, brushing your hair back so it stays out of your face. "What, did you expect to just get me without the need to try anything?"

"And what would you want as a gift?"

"Oh, Lord Raphica. That is for you to figure out."

"Well, you already have my ruby in your hair," he presses his beak to the back of your neck, staring at the accessory that dangles on the side. "And by technicality when you accept an accessory from a Rito, that means you are betrothed to them, but I can always get you something better."

"How about something I need?" You turn to face him, hands tangling behind his head to undo his braid. "Are you resting with me tonight?"

"Yes. We charge out to the Seres Scablands tomorrow." He whispers. "I'd like to rest with you."

"Just resting tonight, please." You collapse into your bedroll, letting Raphica fall on top of you with a thud.

"Heavy."

"Just tonight."

You fall asleep to a warmth and weight on your chest.

In truth, you'd like a new bow. You'd been using the ones that the Zonai provided because the Rito warriors were better equipped with their spears and swords, so you had to make do with whatever you could. You'd been using a regular wooden bow you'd stole from a nearby bokoblin camp for weeks now. It's ragged and awful to the touch, but your mastery in archery isn't determined by what bow you use. It's determined by resilience — okay, okay, you're getting ahead of yourself. Either way, a better bow would be nice.

You're slightly rusty with a ranged weapon anyway. Someone should invent a hand canon or something. That sounds incredibly convenient.

So, when the bow snaps on you eventually, you forgo the bow entirely to fight with a trident. It's not hard to use, and the ease that comes with spinning it in your hand is a blessing. You train the new recruits and keep the flashy work to a minmum. It wouldn't be good if they would get distracted trying to look cool during battle. They're here to fight for something, not show off. Some of them may not make it back home. It's something you remind them over and over again.

Some nights you lay awake in Raphica's arms and just talk.

"Do you not resent me for leaving?"

"I would have left too. Besides, you left the two items that meant the world to you with me, so I knew you never hated me."

You laugh, thumb reaching to brush the feathers under his eye gently.

"Stupid, pretty elder."

"Your stupid, pretty elder."

The war pushes on, and sometimes the sages are sent out, and other times you're sent out with the sages. You fight with the trident Qia has you carry around, piercing and stabbing through monsters, breaking hide under the teeth of the weapon, blood and mess on the ground as you exhale to find a way around things. You work well with the different armies. Zelda goes as far as calling you the most flexible fighter on the field. You doubt it, but you thank her for the high praise anyway.

Eventually, the army has to split.

Rauru orders everyone to swap around to fight, and you're sent with the Zora to a new part to take back some of the camps. Raphica is upset to let you go, but he does eventually, though not without a painfully obvious beak-shaped bite on your neck and obvious enough stares to anyone in the army who takes a look at you even for a second too long. At one point Cadlan asks you if something's going on, to which you can really only respond with a "it's complicated" and move on.

It is complicated. You're something. He'd probably argue that he's courting you despite the obvious Rito accessory in your hair, so that's what you accept.

The Rito aren't promiscuous despite it all, so the fact that you've been sharing a bed with Raphica and getting your insides drilled raw on some nights tells you more than you need to know. He doesn't say it out loud. The words feel like a promise that's just waiting to be broken right now, so you suffer the silence of it all, but it's more than enough. The bite marks on your skin and the shared tent that becomes a secret everyone knows is more than enough proof. The Rito have started warming up towards you. Most of them have more questions on how it works than anything else, but you don't really know how to answer half of them. It's a fireplace story Raphica should tell, not you.

Eventually everyone pushes into the depths once the Knight Construct succeeds in breaching past the monsters' defenses, and you're back. The army sent you down after establishing enough camps to keep Hyrule safe on the surface. You're a better fighter than most, and it would probably do well to have the more talented ones move with the sages. Most of the other generals could fight and defend outposts on the surface. You, on the other hand, needed to be moved down. Maybe Qia wanted you to be moved down.

You arrive as reinforcements, though, and you clear out whatever monsters are still left in the depths that the crew didn't get to fight. At one point when you reach the final room, you blink at the gloom hands.

"Stay in the air." Raphica's voice rings behind you, and he throws you up as he trades his bow for your trident, and the two of you send an ambush of arrows down at the hands, stunning them as everyone else successfully defeats the hands.

You hand on the ground right as the Phantom Ganon emerges, and you slam your trident into him to create a distraction as everyone else fights. It's long and it's rough, but ultimately he's sent back to Ganondorf with a couple of particularly harsh hits from the Knight Construct. It's honestly impressive how smoothly the fight goes, but it seems everyone's aware that victory in the depths doesn't translate to victory on the surface. If anything, everyone gathers together for one final celebration before the end back at the temple to raise morale. The final push, everyone admits. It's the future of Hyrule at risk, and not everyone is really ready for that conversation or moment in time.

You have other things to be mulling over, though. The Rito have started asking you about the accessory on your head from the Rito tribe.

"Dove." Raphica hums, holding a wing out for you as you take it, raising a brow as Calamo clears his throat and pulls out maracas.

"Oh, are we dancing?" You take his wing, letting him spin you around as the rest of the camp dances together too.

"Yes." He hums.

"The things you do to court me." You hold onto the upper part of his wings, light on your feet as you let him guide you through the music. "I thought you were bad at dancing outside of battle?"

"Maybe, but I figured I should try to learn this."

"Does this have anything to do with the fact that Vence was scolding you for rolling around like a Goron the other day?" You spin as he leads you for one, letting him dip you as he hums.

"Maybe." He presses his forehead against yours, and he leads you off the dance floor with a hum.

"And does dancing with you mean anything else that I might not know?"

"I'd like to make you my spouse if we come back from this war alive."

"And what do you suppose I do about my position as aide of the Queen of the Zora?"

"Surely someone can step up instead of you." He wraps his arms around you, resting his beak on your forehead as he stares at the rest of the army dancing. "I mean it, you know?"

"That you want me to return to rebuild Rito Village with you?"

"Yes." He whispers. "It'd be my greatest wish to take you back to Rito Village with me as my spouse."

You rest a hand over his wing, staring at the army that dances before you.

"Rather selfish of the Rito Elder, no?"

"Yes, but I can be selfish from time to time. Just this once."

"Well, I should indulge you a little as your betrothed, yeah?" You scratch at his hair, and he hums quietly.

"Yes. Always."

"Maybe not always."

"I worry," he mumbles, quieter now, "that I will not survive Ganondorf."

"You will." You whisper. "You'll return and be the Elder that everyone understands to have. You care for them too much."

"I care for you."

"Hence why I figured it would be best for you to return to a female Rito at home." You hum, glancing at the birds mingled amongst the others. "It would please the elders."

"I am the elder."

"The older ones."

"That I will not compromise on. I cannot guarantee that I will agreeable if I do not have someone I genuinely adore by my side." His hold around you is firmer now. "It will be you or my bloodline will die."

"How childish." You laugh, leaning your head back to look at Raphica. "No one else?"

"It couldn't have been anyone else since the day I laid eyes on you."

"Sappppp…"

"Yours."

"Mine." You hum, looking forward again as he squeezes you.

The festivities die down before the end of the night, and most of the army settles down around a bonfire while the rest of them set off to rest. You head off to rest in your tent for the night, yawning on your way over as Raphica stays by the fire. Some of the soldiers are curious to know how the two of you met and what's going on, and he's never been the type to raise some morale amongst the soldiers, so he stays back. You're not in charge of that, so you leave him with a hum and collapse into his hammock in his tent for the night. A night of rest, really. You're too tired to deal with anything.

You wake at night to a particularly strong light from the quiver you left Raphica, brow raised as Raphica moves to hold a wing over his eyes.

You get out of the hammock, having to peel yourself from Raphica's grip, and he mumbles something incoherent against your back.

It's your quiver you'd left Raphica when you realized you lost your target. Your target is nearby. A sheaf of arrows to kill the thing have reappeared in the quiver, but you're not entirely sure if you want to become a god, For the time being, you throw your robes over it, and snuggle back into the hammock with Raphica. You won't regret this. You're not in a rush anymore. The time will come when it does, and when it does, you'll be more accepting of both who you are and why you did all of this. For now, one day at a time.

You wake in the morning at the time you should, and you make sure you're not in the wrong robes before Raphica sets off to the Great Hyrule Forest again. You're with the later bunch with the Hylian army, and everyone else pushes forward. It's a horrible fight. You pick up some of the fallen Rito and drag them back to the camps, trident in hand as you really wish you had a bow about now. You'd kill to be able to shoot from a distance and cover your friends' approach into the inside of the camp.

"Gaard, was it?" You hold a hand over the Rito's wound, and they hand you a bow. "Lord Raphica always said you were more handy with a bow."

You smooth salve over his arm and one of the other medics rush over to heal, and you take two steps back.

"This is yours." Raphica hands you the quiver that was glowing the night before, and he motions at the arrows he forms out of the secret stone's power. "Push forward, dove. We missed you on the battlefield."

You nod, trident retired to your back as you fire the arrows, silver moblins falling as everyone pushes forward.

"I think they're going to try and ambush us." You climb up one of the trees, malice burning your hands as you jump to enter bullet time, catching wind of the new silver moblins that have just shown up. You fire an arrow as Calamo bats a bomb from below, and the explosion stuns the moblins for long enough that Zelda and the others can push fowards. When camp is set up, you drag the rest of the Rito who need to rest back and the medics attend to them. You're rusty with a bow and it's pissing you off but you're mid battle so all you can really do is swing your trident when you get tired of using the bow. You're better with the bow, though, but it troubles you if anything.

"Breathe." Raphica holds your arms from behind you, and you exhale as you fire the arrow to pierce through the army. "There you go."

"Stop seducing me mid battle."

Raphica laughs, throwing you in the air as you trade bows, and you send a barrage of arrows down at the gibdos that have spawned. Everyone's pushing for the final stretch now. Once the queen falls, everyone should get a moment to breathe. It really sucks what they've done to the forest, though. It makes you upset, but you're not a Korok so surely they're even more upset than you are. You can't even begin to imagine what Calamo is feeling right now.

You fire an arrow at the grimgibdo, but you fail to stun it. It's only when Zelda's light burns off its wings that it lands to the ground and everyone else can get to it. The arrows do little to pierce past the thick fur around its body, and you consider attaching a firefruit when you fire your arrows. You should focus on fletching once the war ends. Fire arrows would be a great addition to everyone's sheaf instead of having to attach items to the arrows.

The grimgibdo falls with a final slash from the Knight Construct, and everyone gathers around to observe the loss of the forest. One last retreat back to the Temple, and a decision to figure out how to push fowards. The castle is still swarmed with monsters left and right, and Qia brings you into the war room for the sole purpose of input. Your swordsmith friend had leaked to Rauru that you were a godling too, so they could use all the help they could get.

Godling. What a funny word to describe a regular being who was chosen to inherit the divine nature of the divine weaponsmiths.

"My quiver, a gift from my master much like the swordsmith's hand, glows when it approaches the target to kill. It is how the god of archery is annointed." You hum. "My quiver has been glowing because my target is nearby. I suspect Ganondorf had stolen the target and now controls it. The arrows I pull from my quiver will be able to seal a monster in it. I will warn that I have little power right now because I have not reached godhood, hence why I do not like the title of godling."

"We only need the accuracy of your arrows."

"Well, that I can do." You laugh.

"We should also start from Rito Village." Raphica nods.

"Yes." You nod. "It would be best to move in at the same pacing as our peers on the ground."

"You want us to run like cowards?!" Qia opposes.

"That's not what I'm saying." Raphica shakes his head. "We just need a plan in case things go wrong at the castle, okay?"

You rest a hand on Qia's shoulder.

"We must move from somewhere that Ganondorf does not expect." You nod.

"Lady Qia, you must not think of it as surrender. At times you must retreat, for greater victory. Isn't that correct, your majesty?" Agraston speaks, and Qia's shoulders sink a little.

Everyone else runs through the plan, and the general idea is to have the Stormwind Ark in the sky cover the movements of those on the ground pushing forwards. That way, both the sky and the ground can move. The Knight Construct would cover the movement in the sky and make sure that the Stormwind Ark can keep moving forward since it is so old, and the ground would be covered by the ark. It's a lot of faith in the construct, but you have just as much faith as everyone else. If Ganondorf does not die, then Rauru sacrifices himself with an opening.

"Good. We shall depart in the morning tomorrow. Everyone rest well for the night." Rauru nods, and you nod at Qia as she starts off.

"Dove, a moment?"

You turn around, facing Raphica as everyone else head back to their tent.

"I have something for you." Raphica motions you over, and he hands you a bow.

You blink.

"I can't take your bow, Lord Raphica." You laugh. "What will you fight with?"

"No, it's the one you had carried the night you dropped by." He shows you the carvings. "A little tweak here and there, and a carving of the symbol of the Rito Elder, but still the same bow."

"You fixed up my bow?"

"You showed me. The night before you were supposed to hunt. You stopped by, and you showed me how to make the bow you were planning to use in case I needed a bow and you became immortal and never saw me again."

You blink slowly.

Right. You forgot you did that.

"Did it mean nothing to you?"

"No." You laugh, taking the bow from him. "I just didn't think you'd remember."

"I always will."

"Sap."

Raphica makes a sound in offense, holding his wing over his heart as you laugh.

"It's a multishot bow." He shows you, and you blink. "But I know you prefer a single shot bow, which is why it can use a single arrow as well. You don't need to use it. Just."

He shows you the mechanism.

"There's a button on the drop away rest you made that changes it from multishot to single shot. It's… from the goddess. Instead of enchanting the whole bow, she had cast a spell on a part of the bow."

You blink again, staring up at him, wide-eyed.

"You asked Hylia for what?" You whisper.

"You made my bow multishot when you first crafted it for me, and I wanted you to have a bow that you could use, so I made it a regular one." He looks to the side, mumbling. "Something we share."

"Is that why Vence was looking for you the other day?"

"Maybe."

"Is this why we were missing three diamonds after that Lynel fight?"

"Maybe." He sighs. "Do you accept it or not?"

"Is it part of a courting ritual too?"

"You're sure chatty today, huh?"

"I'm not taking it unless it is."

"It is a formal sign of betrothal." He mumbles. "The arrows are made from my molted feathers."

That causes you to freeze as he hands you the bow and quiver.

"Your… feathers?"

"No taking it back, by the way. This is your final betrothal gift."

You tilt your head.

"We're engaged now?"

"It's a proposal, and since you're taking it, you're agreeing."

You look at the bow, and then at Raphica, raising a brow at him as you watch him flush pink.

Then, in barely a whisper— "Please."

You laugh, taking the bow from him. "I'll use your arrows with care."

He presses his forehead to yours, and you hum.

"I'm taking you after the war."

"Queen Qia will kill you."

"I'd like to see her send water power high enough to hit me from the sky."

"Please shut up." You close your eyes, laughing in exasperation. "She's going to kill you."

"She can't separate a Rito from its spouse." He pauses. "We Rito mate for life."

"Yeah, yeah." You look at the bow in your hand. "I'm sure Qia will be excited that I won't have to break any more tridents."

He laughs, wing on your back as he leads you out of the room.

"Let's rest for tomorrow."

"Of course."

The Rito head out early in the morning with Mineru to move the Stormwind Ark above the temple, and everyone boards the ship. It's an okay start at first, and most of the army has to get used to being in the air and on a ship that has slight tremors and slow movement. You take a moment or two to adjust too, holding onto Qia as the two of you stumble around. At one point, Raphica catches you both to make sure you're both standing.

"Well aren't you nimble on your legs?"

"Could say the same thing about your wings." You hum, looking out. "Are we here?"

"We've arrived." Raphica glances down at Hyrule castle, and you exhale as you wait for Rauru's order.

"Dove."

You turn around to look at Raphica, and he hums.

"Stay safe, and don't die."

He brushes a feather over your cheek, free wing reaching to pull his divine helm back on.

"I will see you after the battle."

"Come back alive." You whisper.

"Come back mortal." He mumbles, pressing the beak of his helmet to your forehead. "I love you."

You hesitate.

He senses the hesitation, and you get a quiet hum in acknowledgement.

"I can come back for it."

"I love you too." You whisper. "Be safe, handsome. Don't make me a widow before I even get the chance to stand by your side.""

"Never."

You watch them head off, dropped off on the airship as you glance at the monster armies.

In retrospect, if you had told yourself so many years ago that the Rito you fell in love with would end up standing by their side during a war, you probably wouldn't have believed yourself. But in reality, it was probably so much more ironic that it happened. Well, the universe has a strange way of moving, and considering that your quiver was giving you the same arrows you'd once had while hunting for your target, you could probably send a good portion of the demon king's army back to wherever they came from.

"Incoming!"

You fire an arrow at each of the moblin and boss bokoblins, and the army pushes foward as they set up camps on the way.

"Gaard!"

You sync with Qia, sending a whirlwind of water as you aim arrows into it, the spinning sending the arrows out as you land on the ground with a final hit. It would have been better had you both been with the fire moblin, but beggars can't be choosers, and you're not really allowed to be picky during a war. If anything, you're grateful to have barely sustained any scratches. You really have to ask what they put in their rations sometime because it's really just fixing you up as fast as you're beat down.

The two groups work fast, and everyone keeps each other updated on their positions, posts set up again and again as the army pushes further into the castle. Nearing the middle of the castle, everyone regroups. Your bow works overtime, and you'd never been so glad to have created something that worked for you better than it would ever work for anyone else. Well, that's an overstatement. Raphica uses your bow just fine. You'd let him practice on it once or twice when you met up with him forever ago.

"Now for the archfiends." Rauru nods, and you catch your breath in the camp for a moment.

"We have to push on." Qia nods.

"Don't strain yourself, now." You hum, lip quirked up amusedly as you swap your bow for your trident.

"Lady Qia, Raphica, Gaard. Head for the Grimtorok. Raphica, Zelda, Agraston, Knight Construct, to the grimghoma."

"Yes sir." You follow Qia as she leads, and you have a feeling the grimtorok is going to be rougher this time. If that awful monster in the sky said anything about their horrible newfound strength, you're far too tired to be dealing with all of this. First thing you're doing is hitting the springs in the Hebra mountains the second this awful war is over. You're certain it'll end, you just don't know how much damage your body is going to take when it does inevitably end.

You throw your trident into the head of the grimtorok, latching yourself onto it as you dig the teeth of the trident further into the back of its head, swinging on it as you tear off a chunk of the back of its head. Qia sends a whirlwind its way, and Raphica follows with one of his own, before you take advantage of the mess to force your trident down with enough force to pop the head off clean, the grimtorok turning back to ash as you sigh.

"No time to rest." Raphica offers you a wing, and you glance at the entrance to the room. "It's only the castle. Let's settle back and search for the others."

"Yes."

When everyone reaches the top of the castle and Rauru's attempt to seal Ganondorf goes south, you know what's next.

Rauru orders everyone to fall back, and you realize you only have one divine arrow left. You'd used too many to seal up the monsters, and it was a bad call on your end, but no one needs to know that. You'd use the final one to cease that awful glowing from at quiver of yours. You're close to your target, and you have a feeling it'll come in handy. The army remains on the surface so Ganondorf can be lured to the depths, and it's a plan that will probably leave more than enough casualties, but you cannot save everyone during a war.

How awful.

You're really wishing you were a fletcher about now.

The sages and Rauru all enter into the depths to fight Ganondorf head on, and you're left with the hylian army to fight the monsters so they can't reach the depths.

Your quiver glimmers stronger as you fight towards the center, and it's only once everyone defeats the grimgibdo and the forbidden construct lands back on the ground with Calamo passed out that you realize something.

It's core. There is something in its core.

Your target, glowing as the arrow from your quiver shines.

A chance.

Your eyes lock on the target you'd been tracking, bow drawn back as the target stands in the middle of the battlefield. You know it had been taken by Ganondorf. The monster from the gods. It's a curse to be stuck in the body of an animal. Is that what was acting as the core of that awful construct the whole time? You should go apologize to Qia for this. Your time is almost up, and though rare that an archer would ever find the target from the gods twice, you know what it means at the end of the battle. Your swordsmith will take care of the malice, and you fought the construct killing everyone in its wake. You're different. A bowyer who shouldn't be capable of so much. Wow. You might really like being the center of attention. Maybe Raphica is rubbing off on you.

You fire your arrow, light piercing across the field as you watch the rest of the army hold their breath.

zing

The construct seals in the arrowhead, and you stare from across the field in Hyrule. You've just sealed what you needed to in order to ascend like you were meant to be. It's a blessing, you think. Maybe your own master had been so kind to give you a final push, or maybe fate had his way and let you finally finish what you were meant to. The gloom in the sky starts clearing up as you walk past the stunned monsters and pick up your final arrow, glowing gold as you yell.

"Final push!"

Are you allowed to aura farm? Whatever.

The monsters retreat as everyone pushes forward, taking back all the outposts as you help them. You forget how much you love using a bow. It was so much better than the scrappy ones you were taking from the bokoblins mid battle. It was really, really a blessing of some sort. You're so happy to be using the bow again, and the army pushes forward again and again until the field is cleared and everything is taken back. The skies clear as you notice the malice that disappates, and you exhale in relief when the other generals yell of victory.

Oh. It's over. The sky has cleared.

A light opens from the skies, and you recognize it as the calling from your master. You hesitate to step into it, but it lunges at you, drowning you in the gold as you scream, the army watching as you disappear into nothing. You know where you'll end up, but you admit that the grabbing was highly unnecessary. You're terrified, really. You know your master is the one who summoned you, but it was still scary.

Talk about dramatics.

You open your eyes to the ceremonial hall for the anointment of godhood. What a mouthful.

"I was starting to think you didn't want to become a god." Your master quirks up a brow in amusement, and you blink at him.

"That was a really scary way to grab me."

He laughs lightly.

"Let us commence your ceremony."

Your bow, at your ceremony, is spellbound to glow. It's a strange sight, seeing the blue under your skin turn purple, and the blood that had dried on your body after the battle turn gold. Your wounds heal with grace, and you scoop from the fountain of godhood. You stare at the water for a long time, your master raising a brow at you in the process. You're contemplating something. You wonder, really, if immortality is worth outliving everyone and everything you've ever loved. You're unsure if your swordsmith friend has this dilema, though their lover is immortal as well, so really it becomes an issue for you alone.

"Speak." Your master meets eyes with you.

"If I wish to age and die alongside the people who have fought with me?"

Your master stares at you. The ascension ceremony is private for this reason specifically. You know other friends have chosen to abandon their godhood in exchange for humanity. You don't want to live forever. Unlike the swordsmith, your friends will all come to pass. Your lover will also pass before you if you choose an eterenity of being something divine. You know what that feeling is. You've met those who had regretted their choice of immortality. Your master was almost one of them. You know you are not as stupid as to choose eternity over a life of mortality. You are painfully childish, you find.

The silence in the spring makes you wonder if your master is mad.

"You cannot keep the bow in that case."

"Then I can make another." You hand your bow back to your master, smiling. "I have people I care about that I do not wish to outgrow."

"They would be mad."

"No. They would understand." You smile. "Mortality is what makes one a mortal, after all."

You want to stay human. You want to stay mortal. Raphica's years are numbered as a Rito, and you do not want to mourn your whole life for someone who will pass away quickly. You do not move on from heartbreak. It presented itself in the way that you weren't able to move on from Raphica. Childish and stupid, they tell you. Your master probably knows it well. You'd always been more mortal than divine. Even when you had been presented with godhood on a platter, you had abandoned it for a night with someone you knew you wouldn't regret spending time with. You're a foolish child, but that's what made you so painfully human.

"The bow is yours. I will not speak of this to anyone else. Your ceremony will be marked as incomplete instead of rejected." Your master looks at the bow you hold out to him, and he shakes his head. "Do not come to regret it."

"It seems unfair that you would break the rule for me."

"No. You're older now." He whispers, and you remember for a brief second that this was the man who had watched you grow since childhood. "You can make your own decisions."

You look at your master, slinging your bow on your back again, opening your arms as you pull him in for a hug.

"I won't ever forget you. Come visit as a human sometime."

"If I have the time." He nods. "Stay safe."

"Come to my funeral when it comes?"

He gives you a distant look, laughing almost.

"Alright."

Another glow envelops you as you smile at your master, eyes closing with a light beaming over the fields of Hyrule as you emerge in the grass. He had a pained look in his eyes when you had said that. You know what he meant. Your lifespan would tie into that of a Rito's when you're wedded to Raphica, and you would most likely pass away around the same time as him, but you won't regret it. Selfish, selfish, you chide yourself, but you will not regret it.

The sun is rising.

You're late. It's a bit of a mistake on your end, but you still rush over to the castle, guards letting you in as you turn to look for people. You wonder where everyone is. No one was in the field, and you suppose they're in the throne room or something. Maybe they're returning the secret stones. God, maybe they're fighting for their life or something. The sky is clear, so the chances of that are low.

Instead, when the gates open and your arrival is announced, you're tackled to the ground by Qia, careful to not hit you with her horn, her shoulders sinking as you close your eyes to hold her properly. She shakes in your hold, and you breathe slowly as she shakes. Scary. You'd gone missing right after the war because your master had just plucked you from the middle of the field. You probably scared the rest of the army as well. She squeezes you, eyes closed as your clothes bunch in her hands.

"Hi." You whisper. "I'm home."

She pulls back, looking at you as she holds you, hands resting on your forearms.

"Welcome home."

You hold her, squeezing her as she helps you up, coughing as she looks to the side, her stoic demeanor falling through as she looks to the side with a little embarassment.

Raphica's next, wings wrapped around you without warning as he spins you around to press his forehead to yours, eyes staring into your own. An action of affection according to the Rito. You think Vence had told you that after he saw that you would kiss the corner of his beak because kissing was hard to do. It's the same thing to them, and that alone makes you warm.

"Welcome home."

You hum. "Thank you for the arrows."

He smiles at you, and you pause.

"I love you."

He gives you a squeeze in response.

"I love you too."

Rauru had lost his arm, but nothing else had happened. The swordsmith is credited with much of the final work. You laugh when they cry in your arms about saving their friends. You're glad they're in one piece. You'd worried that Ganondorf had died or something. Awful, you say. They're safe, and so is everyone else. The only loss was Rauru's arm with his ultrahand. It's nothing to really worry about. The swordsmith would keep the cursed sword of the demons, and the chances of breaking out of a sword were minimal anyway. It was the same thing as the goddess sword they talked about.

That's not what worries you. What worries you is—

"Let's go home." Qia looks at you, but before you can agree, Raphica has you in his wings, looking at the queen.

"Ah, but you see. That won't work. We're betrothed."

You look at Rauru for help, and the Zonai looks to the side, avoiding your gaze. Zelda avoids your eyes too, and even your swordsmith friend turns around with her companions. Mineru doesn't even bother pretending to hide that she's also ignoring you. You're alone in this. Great. GREAT.

Qia looks you in the eye as she glares at Raphica.

"You swore—"

"I did." You tap at Raphica's feathers. "We have to rebuild the domain before I visit you in the village. It's my duty. I swore to it."

He frowns.

"I won't run this time." You crane your neck to turn to look at the Rito, and the bird huffs. "I promise. I wouldn't have accepted your proposal gift if I wanted to. Besides, I promised Queen Qia that I would rebuild the Zora Domain and be released. I still need to help rebuild Rito Village too, yeah?"

"Three months. Then, I will visit and come bring you."

You press a kiss to his beak, and he presses his beak back to your cheek.

"Fly safe."

There is a quick breakfast before everyone is sent off, and you get to say goodbye to some of the friends you'd made while fighting the war alongside so many people. You especially say goodbye to your swordsmith friend, omitting the detail that you had rejected the divinity you had been taken by in the field of Hyrule. They could find out once the time for you to pass came.

The Rito leave first, sending their regards to Rauru before flying off, and you turn to look at Qia and the Zora.

"Off we go." Qia motions at her general, and you hop on his back.

It would be a long path forward to returning the domain back to what it was, but you would not be alone.