Ruto

Ruto is the princess of the water-dwelling Zora tribe. She is the daughter of King Zora.

Child

Link first hears of Ruto from her father who proclaims that she is missing. Link discovers a bottle at Lake Hylia with a message inside reading:

"Help me.

I am waiting for you inside

Lord Jabu Jabu's belly.

-Ruto.

PS: Don't tell my father!"

Ignoring the request, Link shows the message to King Zora and allows entrance to Lord Jabu-Jabu.

Link finds Ruto inside of Lord Jabu-Jabu's belly. Apparently, she goes there often, but this time there are many enemies and it is dangerous. Ruto isn't pleased to see Link and claims that she did not write the letter, and, while trying to walk away from him, she falls down a hole. When Link talks to her again, she finally accepts his help and explains how she dropped her "precious stone", the Zora's Sapphire, and needs to recover it. He then carries Ruto around in search of the stone. Eventually, it is found in the center of a circular room, but when Ruto moves to grab it, she is taken up to a higher level. Big Octo appears and Link must defeat it to follow Ruto.

When Link defeats Barinade, he is reunited with Ruto who immediately exclaims her frustration with Link while blushing, stating that he is late and that she was lonely.

Back in Zora's Fountain, she suddenly has a noticeable change of heart, startling Link causing him to fall into the water. With a seductive look, she says that Link "looked cool" and asks him what he wants as a reward. Regardless of what option the player picks, Ruto will give Link the Spiritual Stone of Water, the Zora's Sapphire. She then explains how the stone is like an engagement ring and that she should give it only to the man who will be her husband.

Adult

Artwork of Ruto as an adult from Ocarina of Time

Seven years later, after Ganondorf obtains the Triforce of Power and takes over Hyrule, Zora's Domain is entirely frozen with the Zoras stuck under the thick ice sheet. Ruto escaped with the assistance of Sheik.

Link later meets Ruto in the Water Temple, now as an adult. She tells Link that he was a horrible man for leaving her for so long, but is focused on the more important matter of saving her people. She leads Link to the top level of the Water Temple, but vanishes and is no longer seen.

Upon defeating Morpha, Ruto is awakened as the Sage of Water. Her desire is to grant Link with her eternal love, but acknowledges that won't be possible, and instead she gives him the Water Medallion. In addition, she informs him, for the first time since he woke up, that Princess Zelda is alive.

Ruto assists the other Sages in sealing Ganondorf within the Sacred Realm at the end of the game.