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Revali lay quietly in his hammock. He was very old for a rito; his blue feathers were no longer so bright, the hair in his braids had turned gray.
The moon shone from the window, and the room was illuminated by the bright light of an oil lamp. The night was quiet.
Revali felt that death was already breathing down his back. He lived for 55 years, which is an unusually long life for a Rito.
The life of the rito is short, which is why they value freedom so much.
But what a fulfilling life Revali had!
He was a Rito Champion, fought Ganon and survived. It was then that he met the woman he would love with all his heart. And she loved him back...
Memories came flooding back to him...
His beloved Mipha…
They were together for 33 years. He will never forget how she confessed her love to him.
******
It happened 33 years ago.
A year has passed since the Great Calamity, and during this time, Revali and Mipha became close friends.
He even began to have feelings for her ... And it scared him. It's true what they say, you can't hide from love. It will eventually find you, reach you.
He had never experienced such strong emotions before. He didn't want to tell her about it because he didn't believe she felt it for him too.
At that time Mipha was staying a the Rito Village once again. They sat together under the roof of the Flight Range base. It was already evening, the light from the fire illuminated their faces.
Mipha covered herself with a large blanket and held it tightly. From under the blanket, only her face was visible, on which one could see a blush from the cold.
“If you're still cold, Mipha, we can return to the village.” Revali said looking at her.
“Nah, I'm fine! Thank you!” Mipha said with a smile, peering out of her fabric cave. “She looks so cute…” Rito Champion thought at that moment.
Snow could be seen gently falling from the twilight cloudy sky. The soft howling of the wind could be heard from the outside.
Revali was silently watching Mipha, hoping she wouldn't notice. The light of the fire illuminated her graceful features, her scales shone slightly.
Mipha only wrapped herself more tightly in a blanket.
“What are you thinking of?” Suddenly asked Mipha quietly.
“Of you” Revali thought, but didn't say it out loud.
“Nothing of interest. Don't worry, Mipha.” He said with a slightly forced smile.
“Liar.” Mipha said and giggled slightly, “I can see that something is bothering you… Will you tell me?”
“It does not matter.” Calmly responded Revali. She didn't need to know about his feelings. No matter how painful it would be for him, let them remain his secret.
For a moment, puzzlement could be seen on Zora Princess’ face, but then she smiled slightly again.
“It does matter if it bothers you.” She moved closer to Revali, pulled her hand out from under the blanket and took his hand.
He didn’t pull his hand away.
There was a pleasant silence in the air. After a short pause, Mipha looked into his eyes. Her own eyes glittered; her gaze seemed to tremble, she seemed overwhelmed with emotion.
“You know, Revali, when I’m with you I feel so calm and happy” she said, still holding his hand. “ You probably don't want me to be worried about you but when you form bonds of friendship or any other it is only natural that people close to you will also seek to take care of you. Let me worry about you a little.”
Revali looked away. He had that unreadable expression again.
It was already quite dark outside.
“You should think about yourself more often, Mipha,” said Revali, “Sometimes we cannot help people dear to us, no matter how hard we try.”
“What makes you think I cannot help you?” asked Zora Princess.
“I just know it”
"I don't want to destroy what's between us now." Revali thought. A slight sadness appeared on Mipha's face.
“Revali..?” Mipha whispered.
“Hm?”
“May I hug you?”
Revali was slightly taken aback by this request.
“Mipha, you don't have to feel sorry for me.” Revali said firmly.
“I just want to hug you. Not because I feel sorry for you, but because I want to. May I?” Mipha looked at him with puppy eyes.
Revali's heart started beating faster, but he didn't show it.
“You may”
Mipha crawled out of her fabric cocoon into Revali's winged arms. “It's so warm in his wings,” she thought. Revali firmly, but gently pressed her to his chest. Warmth filled his heart.
“Revali..?” Mipha said softly in his arms.
“Yes, Mipha?”
“I think I know… Why does my heart beat so fast every time I see you, and why do I… I feel so good when I'm next to you,” Mipha said. Revali's breath hitched and his eyes widened, "I think I love you, Revali."
At that moment, Revali experienced a whole storm of emotions. Surprise, delight, joy ...This feeling of happiness was incomparable. His heart thumped pleasantly in his chest.
Revali looked at her with affection.
"Mipha..."he gently touched her cheek, " You are a wonder... You know?"
Mipha chuckled softly.
“Do you feel the same, Revali?” Mipha asked with a smile, as if she already knew the answer.
“Yes,” he answered calmly. “But… why? Why are you telling me this now?”
Mipha gently touched his beak.
“For too long I have been afraid to reveal my feelings to others... But now I don't want this to become an obstacle to my potential happiness” Mipha said. “I’m not afraid anymore.”
“Did you know about my feelings for you?” Revali asked a little worried.
“No…” She answered him honestly. “But I wanted to know for sure... I... I... I've wanted to tell you for a long time.”
Their foreheads gently touched.
“And now I am very happy!”
That night, the darkness seemed so bright, and the cold so gentle and warm. It was happiness. Their happiness.
*******
“What can I do for you?” asked him Mipha. After 33 years, she was a little taller and began to look more mature, but for a Zora, 33 years is not very long time. She was still quite young by Zora standards.
“Come here.” Revali said softly and held out his hand to her. She gently took it in both her hands and sat down beside him.
How are you feeling?” Mipha asked.
“Same...” Revali answered her. “ I can ask you the same question.”
Mipha smiled sadly.
“Mipha…We both know that this is most likely my end…” Revali began, “I’ve already lived too long for a rito.
Tears appeared in Mipha's eyes, but she held them back.
“I...knew what I was getting into when I married you. I knew that you... You would leave me early...” Mipha's voice trembled. “But... I won't be able to let you go...”
"Mipha... My love, " Revali affectionately addressed her, with age he became much more sentimental, "I know that it will be difficult for you, but I believe that you can handle it. And, for some reason, I feel that I will be with you, watching over you."
“How will I know you're here when you're not by my side?” Mipha asked.
Revali touched her cheek. She leaned into his touch. He smiled softly.
“When the gentle wind takes you in its embrace and whistles softly in your ears - it will be me. At that moment, I will be next to you, even if you will not see me.”
“I don't understand.” She said.
“You will,” Revali answered her warmly.
Mipha's tears quietly flowed into his hand from her cheek. Revali already felt that his end was near.
“Mipha... I have one request...”
“Yes?”
“Smile for me?”
Mipha's eyes widened for a moment in surprise. Tears fell from her eyes, but she smiled. The most radiant smile she could muster at that moment.
“Thank you…” Revali said softly and closed his eyes.
There was a smile on his beak. He met death like an old friend, without fear or regret.
******
Many came to say farewell to the Rito Warrior. The other Champions also arrived to say their goodbyes to Revali. Everyone said their kind words about the old rito.
Mipha was not alone, her children were with her. They needed each other at this sad hour.
His body was cremated, according to the tradition of rito. He wanted his ashes to be scattered near Rito Village. After all, it was his homeland.
Mipha complied with his request and scattered the ashes near the Passer Hill over the cliff.
******
Several days have passed.
Mipha sat quietly on the edge of Revali Landing.
Her heart was still heavy with loss and grief. Tears reappeared in her eyes.
Suddenly, a light breeze whistled in her ears; she felt a weightless touch on her back, as if someone was hugging her; the wind seemed to wrap her in an embrace.
“When the gentle wind takes you in its embrace and whistles softly in your ears - it will be me. At that moment, I will be next to you, even if you will not see me.”
Mipha remembered. She remembered Revali's words.
"Now I understand…” she whispered.
Tears were still falling from her face, but now she was smiling. She looked up at the sky and touched her wedding medallion on her neck that Revali had carved for her many years ago. The sun shone brightly, rare clouds floated past it.
Instead of sorrow, tender sadness came to replace it.
“I have no regrets…” Mipha said. “Thank you for all the love that you gave me… I will never forget you…”
The wind continued to hum softly in her ears, as if talking to her, whispering something to her ...