Chapter Text
Link had never seen water as clear and blue as this; nor had he ever seen the ocean form such a perfect grotto. The sea had carved a hollow deep into the cliffs and filled its floor with numerous crystalline pools. The space was lined with pillars of stone, battered by the wind and waves until smooth. It reminded Link of a palace.
He stood in admiration for a while before he remembered that he was on a journey and should return to the road. But... the sun was hanging low in the sky. He would need to stop and make camp within the hour. And he had been travelling for nearly a week, with little time for bathing...
The road could wait, Link decided. He set down his traveling pack, unfastened his sword belt, and set them aside carefully before shedding his leaf-green tunic. The linen shirt beneath was thoroughly soaked in sweat. Link wrinkled his nose as he peeled it off his body. He would burn it as soon as he could get another.
He shucked off his boots, tossed his socks to one side, and then hesitated. He looked around furtively for any sign he was not alone, even though the nearest village was well to the west and the castle—his destination—well to the east. Link did not fancy the idea of being seen naked. He never had. Even as a boy, when he would sneak out with the other squires to swim, he would leave his trousers on, and was the only one to do so. So it was with great reluctance that he unlaced his trousers and slid them off, with even greater reluctance that he shed the linen shorts he wore beneath.
Tentatively he dipped one foot into the water, expecting it would match the chill of the ocean beyond. He was surprised to find it was far more comfortable. Warm enough that he could wade in without hesitation, cool enough to sooth his sun-beaten skin. He sighed in relief as he got in, walked forward until the water was at its deepest, not quite submerging his hips, but covering... what ought to be covered.
Link removed the ribbon he used to bind his hair back and shook his head so that his tresses fell over his shoulders. Somehow, despite the sweat and dust of the road, his hair still managed to shine like gold. He took a deep breath, plunged his head beneath the water, and rose back up, then started to run his fingers through his hair, getting the tangles out.
It was silent, save for the crash of the waves and the drip of water as it ran over his silk-smooth skin and back into the pool. Link felt a greater sense of serenity than he had in a long, long time...
"Greetings, fair maiden!"
Link practically leapt out of his skin at the sudden call, whirling round to find the source of the voice. His horror only increased when he realized that the source was not human.
He'd never seen any creature like this. Rising head, shoulders, and chest above the water of the next pool over, he saw what he could only think to describe as a merman. Even with only half his body visible, this merman was clearly massive in height. Tiny scales covered his entire body, pale in the front and the pinkish red of a ruby in the back. Upon his head he bore a strange... helm? Crest? Was it part of his body or no?
Link took a step back. Foolishly, foolishly, he'd left his sword on the rocks twenty feet away.
The merman smiled mildly and tilted his head. His eyes were gold, his pupil slit like a cat's. "Please, my dear. I mean you no harm. I only wanted to greet you and introduce myself properly, as a maid as lovely as you deserves."
"I'm a man," was all Link could think to say—though that was really the least of his concerns.
"A man!" The merman sounded amazed, delighted even. "Truly? I had no idea human men could be so beautiful. All the ones I've encountered were... rather grizzled, shall we say? Sailors, you know. The salt and sun aren't as kind to humans as they are to my people."
"Your people," Link repeated. "Merfolk. You're a merman."
The merman smiled, shrugged. "Yes, that's how humans have named us. My people name themselves the Zora, but call us what you will."
"Spirits of the water," Link continued, making no effort to hide his suspicion. "The tales say that your men lure in young maids, and your maids lure in young men. And drown them."
The merman scowled. "What? What slander! No Zora would stoop so low!"
"Then why...?"
"No, no, I will tell you the way of things." The merman rested his elbows on the rocks at the edge of the pool. Link briefly marveled at how thick the muscles of his forearms were. "Forgive me for sounding arrogant, but the Zora are a beautiful people. It is not uncommon for a chance encounter with a human to turn into a romance. It is not uncommon for a Zora's lover to ask them to run away together."
"Where to? Humans can't live underwater."
"We have our ways," the merman said, waving his hand. "But you must understand that we are not beasts. We feel love as keenly as any human. A Zora would never drown their lover."
Link still felt uneasy, but relaxed somewhat at that, settling back down into the water.
"So that's why you approached me?" he asked dryly. "Looking for a human lover?"
He was surprised to see the merman's pale cheeks flush a pretty shade of pink as he averted his golden eyes. "I... well... maybe?"
And then Link felt bad. "I'm sorry to disappoint."
The merman tilted his head. "Why would you think me disappointed?"
"I'm... not a maiden?"
"What does that matter?" the merman said innocently. "You're beautiful all the same."
Now Link was the one with his face turning red. Both from the compliment and from the implication.
"But... I... I'm a man."
"What does that matter?"
"I... I never heard of..."
"A man loving a man? That isn't an uncommon thing, either."
Link's mind raced. A man loving a man? He'd had no idea that was a possibility. Whenever the other squires talked about their infatuations and flings, it was always with a girl. When one of the older lads had given Link and his friends a talk about... certain things, he had only spoken about men and women. He thought of Anton and Bastien, how they had always been so affectionate and gentle with one another, how they were the only two boys who never talked about girls...
"You look troubled," said the merman.
"Just thinking," said Link.
"Well, think on it as long as you need. If you wish to speak with me again, I'll be right here." The merman grinned at Link again. "Fare thee well, fair youth."
"Link."
"What?"
"My name is Link."
"Link," the merman repeated. The smile he gave Link this time was not exuberant so much as tender. "My name is Sidon."