A/N: Again, for the wonderful woman, Shinobi Kitten. Silvia's hers, Vincent's mine, and everything else but my plot is Nintendo.
Feathers of Sorrow
Silvia's blue eyes widened as she heard Link say those words to her. At first, she found it hard to believe. So many things made so little sense and it just didn't add up in her mind. But what took the cake was Link's sudden barrage and capture of the castle. And the icing was that question. And as he stared at her with those eyes of his, those eyes that loved her so much that they would do anything for her, she couldn't help but think about his question. After all, she was sworn to protect Zelda no matter what. But Link was making sure that she would be safe, even after what she did to him. And he was doing what he believed was right for Hyrule. That meant Silvia would be free to do what she pleased because she knew that the princess was safe. Safe, a word whose meaning meant only that Zelda was alive and well. Nothing more. Silvia bit her bottom lip, not quite sure what to say to Link. Deep down she knew that Link was wrong but that didn't matter. She looked over to the captured trio. The King, he had no real fault. But there was Impa and Zelda.
Pardon, Princess Zelda.
Silvia thought back to her years she trained under Impa, the years she served under Zelda, the lifetime she had more or less given up to make sure that the royal family would always be safe and protected. Her eyes narrowed and glared at them, Zelda especially. Silvia turned back but avoided Link's eyes. What she didn't understand more was how Hyrule deserved a princess like Zelda. Zelda, who only scoped out the most gratifying things of life. She used anyone to get what she wanted. And there was Impa. She loved nothing more than adding salt to a never-closing wound. Silvia questioned whether Impa was being heartless or not or just being ignorant. Silvia knew all too well the deal between her and her father.
But as she was about to say no, Impa shouted out, "Go ahead and be a traitorous tramp like your mother."
"My mother was no tramp," Silvia said to Impa, her voice lowered.
"I never saw what your father saw in her," Impa added. "But I guess it didn't matter what he thought anymore. You're just going to throw away everything that he was. What he stood for."
"My mother," Silvia started. "Was a great woman for my father to fall in love with her. And he wouldn't appreciate what you're saying about his wife."
"He was great man and your mother seduced him into marriage and then they had you," Impa spat. "What's more of a disgrace to his memory, me or you deciding to turn your back on the royal family? I knew that he died for no reason…"
Sylvan looked up to Silvia as she laughed and waved her arms in the air. He smiled and held onto her legs lighter. After a few more minutes of their playful antics, Sylvan stopped and put down Silvia. He stood their beaming down at his daughter, and his heart swelled with pride. He sat down on the grass below him and initiated a staring contest between the two of them. Sylvan brought his daughter out of the castle one early morning out to the simple meadow that led up to it. The week had been a little tiring and Sylvan took any chance he had to have fun with his young daughter. All work and no play makes for an unhappy Sylvan.
And Sylvan couldn't keep up with his daughter, or wouldn't, and blinked his eyes. And he watched her do her victory antics and laughed along with her. He put a hand on her and roughed up her hair, "You are going to make a wonderful Sheikah, Silvia."
"You think so?" Silvia asked.
"I know so," Sylvan added. He smiled at her again before he took a deep breath. "I think it's time we both went to the castle, don't you think?"
"Okay," Silvia said a little disappointed.
"Don't worry, Silvia," he said as he got up. "We'll have more fun later, okay?"
But Sylvan quickly grabbed onto his daughter as he heard a feral growl. He looked toward the path to see one of the guards shout out something and ready his pike before he was taken down by a wolfos. Sylvan turned his head as more wolfos came from nowhere and proceeded to take down the guards at the gate before the drawbridge. He looked down to his daughter who had become scared and held tightly onto his leg. Sylvan cursed under his breath, wolfos were a dangerous beast and he didn't have anything he could use against them. Only the dagger he kept tucked away in his boot. Sylvan crouched down, "Silvia, honey, can you be a big girl for daddy?"
She hugged him tighter.
"Silvia," he took her arms off of him, "I have to take all of these bad doggies away. I'm the only one. So just stay right here."
Silvia looked up to her father as he stood up and pull out the dagger from his boot. She watched him take one wolfos out, slitting its throat and then advance on another one where he brought the dagger right through its skull. Her father did it with little effort. He did it quickly and silently but there was only one of them. And the wolfos had quite a few of them in their pack. But Sylvan had done his best to take the ones that were alone. But what neither of them had noticed was the one that crept closely to Silvia. While she stood there, watching her father worriedly, it licked it deadly fangs and was ready to pounce before Sylvan himself quickly rushed it.
Sylvan had turned to see his daughter and noticed the creeping wolfos and immediately crossed the distance to get to it. His daughter screamed as her father jumped into action. He lunged himself at the wolfos but he didn't think it through. The beast bit down on his arm, making him release the dagger. He was pinned to the ground and held back the snapping wolfos back using his forearm. The dagger wasn't too far away and he needed to reach it. But the wolfos managed to keep getting nearer, gunning for his throat. It was the last one of the bunch.
Silvia watched as her father wrestled with the wolfos.
She watched as her father died that day.
And it was later that Impa came out with some other royal guards. They came out for clean up, to pick up the dead and dispose of the killed beasts. But as Impa saw her brother, and knelt beside him. She didn't show any emotion or any grief. She closed the eyes of her brother and one of the greatest Sheikah warriors to walk the halls of the castle. She took the dagger that was still in his hand and let the guards and take him away. Impa looked toward Silvia and walked up to her. She stood in front if Silvia.
Silvia looked up to her aunt.
"Let's go," she said callously. "Let's get you inside."
And Impa was the one who had to take up Silvia's training now that her brother had departed for the afterlife so early. And Impa worked Silvia to the bone to make sure that she would make her brother proud. She wasn't going to let Silvia just slack off no matter what. So as Silvia had become Sheikah that would protect Zelda, Impa had to make sure that Silvia was going to be her best. If anything, Zelda was the one that deserved the most protection and Impa had to make sure that Silvia was going to be the one for the job. And Impa had to do everything she could to make sure that Silvia wouldn't have any ties or distractions as she was on her way to becoming the Sheikah that would look after Zelda.
So one day, Impa stood in the middle of the courtyard within the castle walls. She had her arms crossed and looked straight ahead. "Listen Silvia," she started. "I want you to try and hit me with your best. Remember that as a Sheikah, the shadows are our ally. This is all I want from you today."
Silvia stayed hidden as her aunt kept her attention ahead of her. She wasn't too much older, just enough to understand her responsibilities. She had her eyes on her aunt and in a quick movement, she went to attack her aunt. But as her right came so close to her aunt's body, her fist was gripped and Impa flung her over. Silvia managed to land safely and looked at her aunt.
"Was that all you had? Is that all your father died for?" Impa asked.
Silvia narrowed her eyes and tried again to hit her aunt but the elder Sheikah was simply too experienced for Silvia and she managed to block her blow and returned the favor by an open palm to Silvia's chest, pushing Silvia back. She fell back and kept her eyes on Impa.
"Why did I think otherwise? You are of half blood anyways," Impa said.
Silvia growled a bit and ran forward. Impa saw that coming and lazily caught Silvia's punch aimed at her. But she didn't expect the second attempt from Silvia and caught that with her other hand. Silvia quickly pulled away and back flipped away from her aunt. She slinked into the shadows. She knew her aunt knew where she was. But Silvia figured that Impa didn't think that about her. So Silvia came out of the dark, and ran forward to Impa's turned back. Impa slowly turned around but she didn't see Silvia anymore. She turned back around and Silvia his Impa's chest with her own open palm.
Impa didn't stumble back or get stunned but she had to admire the determination behind Silvia, even in her mother was just another Hylian tramp. She was shaping up to be the Sheikah that she could trust with Zelda's life. "That was good, Silvia, you may go return to the princess now."
Silvia stared at her aunt before deciding to turn and go back to her princess' side. Silvia had no idea why Impa treated her like she did. She was her aunt yet Impa never tried to do anything that could be considered 'nice' for her niece. It was always just hard training and dismissals back to Zelda. There was little of that wanted feeling, the closeness of a true family member. Impa was just cold and distant. She always liked to bring up the fact that Silvia couldn't live up to her father's name and it was usually about that she had her mother's blood mixed with his. Impa never missed out on the opportunity to express her dissatisfaction with her brother's choice for a wife. But Silvia didn't get what that had to do with her, she was a different person. She needed someone there with her. Someone to tell her that she was going to be what her father always wanted. And it was never Impa, and even less the princess.
Silvia looked down to her young princess. They were both a little older, now nearing fifteen. And Silvia had noticed that Zelda had grown out of her phase that she had when she was younger. Her princess was a tomboy, never scared of getting a little dirty of handling things with her hands. Though she did have her moments when she was as girlish as can be. Usually that was whenever Link decided to stop by and Zelda wasn't exactly prepared for his arrival. But now that Zelda was reaching her later teenage years, she looked at things a bit differently. She began to notice the bodies of men and began to dress herself more in dresses that showed off her own figure. Which is something that no one in the castle actually liked. But, for the most part, everyone thought that Zelda would eventually grow out of it once she and Link settled down. But right then, the princess was fighting off a very high fever. And no one else took up the responsibility to look after her other than Silvia. It was expected, in fact. Silvia was her Sheikah after all.
Zelda mumbled something under her breath.
Silvia looked at Zelda curiously. And then she remembered that the fever might've caused some delirium with Zelda so she wouldn't be thinking straight. Silvia took off the rag on Zelda's forehead and soaked it once more before she reapplied it. She sighed and sat down on the chair next to Zelda's bedside. It would be a while before her fever broke. Silvia would really have loved it if someone decided to take her position and watch Zelda. She really didn't want to stay in the room all day and night with just Zelda to occupy her time. Silvia crossed her arms and stared down at Zelda as she lay in bed, her face clammy.
Then there was a knock at the door. Silvia looked up to the door and then looked back to Zelda. She took a deep breath and then stood up from her chair. She crossed the distance and then slowly opened the door. It was young man, not too much older than Silvia or Zelda. He looked at Silvia and smiled. Silvia raised an eyebrow and noticed the bouquet of flowers that was in his hand. She looked back into his hazel eyes. He wasn't a bad looking guy, he had that much going for him. But that would always be something that never mattered when it came down to it. Silvia would find that out later in life.
"May I help you?" Silvia asked the young man, her hand ready to grab a kunai if anything were to happen.
"Well, I'm Prince Lex and I've been staying at the castle and I've just gotten word that the princess Zelda has gotten ill," he answered.
"And you would like to?" Silvia continued to interrogate.
"Well," he held out the bouquet of white roses. "I'd like to check up on her and give her these 'get well' flowers."
"If you try anything," Silvia said. "I can kill you were you stand." She stepped aside and let the prince enter the room, although he was a little shaken after Silvia's threat.
Silvia stayed off to the side as she watched Lex go over to Zelda and put the flowers at her bedside table. He leaned in and whispered something that Silvia would've rather not have heard and then stood back up. He looked over to Silvia before he exited the room. Silvia rolled her eyes and went back to close the door and sit back next to Zelda.
In the course of a few days, Silvia stayed by her princess' side and took care of her. She made sure that her princess was going to pull through the fever. She sat by her day and night, often forgetting about herself and her stomach. But that didn't matter when on one morning. Silvia fell asleep on the chair next to the bed. Her head jerked forward and Silvia woke up. She looked to the bed but she noticed that Zelda wasn't there. She looked around and didn't find Zelda in the room either. With her heart racing, Silvia stood up and quickly ran out of the room. It was just her luck that the one time she had to take care of Zelda for so long that she would mess up at a pivotal point. She turned down into the corridor and down the stairs.
But as Silvia got into the foyer of the castle, she spotted Zelda in the middle. Alive and well. Along with and alone with prince Lex. Silvia sighed and calmly walked over to her princess. Zelda was getting rather friendly friendly with Lex, giggling like any other school girl and having him wrap his arms around her waist. Silvia cleared her throat as she got close enough. Zelda looked over to Silvia, an obvious expression of dislike and turned back to Lex.
"Thank you so much for getting me through that fever, Lex," Zelda said.
That struck a nerve with Silvia. He was only in there for ten minutes tops. And all he did was leave Zelda with some flowers that would die within the week. And what else did he do was nothing more than whisper some innuendos in her ear before he left. Lex just wanted some Zelda and that's all, he could've given a damn if she were sick or not. He wanted to win some points so later on he could get access. Silvia decided to remain quiet, the princess wasn't an idiot most of the time.
"I hope you have a safe trip back home," Zelda added. She kissed Lex's cheek and looked into his eyes before he released her and walked out of the castle. Zelda looked over to Silvia, "Thank you for ruining a moment Silvia, Goddesses know how many a girl gets in her lifetime. And now I have one less to remember so fondly."
"Princess," Silvia said. She stepped up to Zelda, "I had been taking care of you since you became sick and when I woke up you where no where around so I got worried. I apologize for ruining a moment that you were having but I did not mean it. I was just trying to find what had happened to you."
"Then maybe you should've been awake when I got up," Zelda argued. "Aren't you supposed to be my Sheikah, loyal and etcetera? Not exactly living up to that now are we?"
"My princess," Silvia said. "I apologize but I am a loyal Sheikah. I stayed by your side during your situation. I don't think I can get more loyal than that, princess."
Zelda sighed and began to walk away. "Silvia," she said as she was walking. "Bring me a glass of water out to the courtyard; I'll be out there while I'll collect some thoughts."
"What about this dress, Silvia?" Zelda asked as she stepped out of the dressing screen once again to model a soft pink dress, a throwback to her favorite one but a little bit more revealing. If anything, Zelda might've chose it because of the way it put emphasis on her breasts. Why she wanted to show off her breasts now was beyond Silvia seeing as how Vincent had already seen them – and probably did things with them. Zelda had twirled around in her dress and looked over to Silvia who stood not too far away. "Think Vincent would like it?"
It wasn't too long ago. Silvia was just getting use to the fact that Zelda was sleeping with Vincent but she couldn't help but wonder where Link disappeared to. But other than that, life was relatively still as normal as can be. Silvia sighed, she really didn't want to see Zelda model her dresses, though. She would've done anything to not watch the princess twirl like a music box ballerina. Silvia wasn't Vincent, she wasn't going to take any enjoyment from it. But she had to admit, Zelda did look sexy beautiful. Not the elegant gorgeousness Zelda once walked with but she still looked good. "I'm sure he would."
Zelda squealed and giggled, "You really think so?"
That felt a little too out of character for Zelda, enough to make Silvia raise an eyebrow in question. If anything, Vincent must've been the man the really changed Zelda. And there was little doubt why Zelda probably wanted Vincent happy. After the princess developed her sex drive, there was – in theory – close to no one that would match Vincent's prowess. Practice does wonders and from what Silvia dug up, Vincent was a renowned male slut. Though, Silvia had to put into it that Vincent did change his ways for the better, and then the worse. But apparently he made Zelda really happy for her to jump for joy like she had just done. "Yes, I do think so, princess," Silvia answered once again. "But, princess, you are beautiful as is. You don't need to dress yourself in such… provocative dresses."
"Silvia," Zelda chuckled. She walked over to Silvia, "You just don't get it do you?"
"Get what, princess?" Silvia asked.
"Look, Vincent likes his women to be sure of their bodies. And you don't have to compensate like I have to, Silvia. I have to look my best to keep men near, even with my status and title. You don't have that problem, you just always shoo them away."
"Are you talking about my?" Silvia asked.
"Yes, you have these nice breasts and while I lack the perfection like yours do," Zelda said.
"Um, right, Zelda," Silvia said, totally confused. Sure Zelda wasn't the biggest woman in the world, but that didn't mean she wasn't beautiful enough. Silvia found no water to float that boat. It just didn't make any sense. "Princess, aside from that, don't you think it's a little strange that Vincent won't let you call him 'Vinnie'?"
"That's just a name I can't call him," Zelda said as she turned around and walked over to her vanity mirror. Those things had to be the best friends for the women that seemingly lived up to the mirror's name. "It annoys him, that's all."
Sounded like Zelda was trying to avoid the obvious. "Zelda, that doesn't change the fact that Malon use to call him that all the time and he never had a protest against it."
"Silvia!" Zelda angrily said as she turned her head to look at her. "What do you want him to do? He had been suffering a massive heartbreak. Do you want him to get over it overnight? He can't handle hearing that name so whatever…"
"It makes you wonder why he can't handle it," Silvia added. She knew all about that Vincent's heart belonged to one person and only one person. And she wasn't Zelda.
Zelda turned around, "Silvia, just go and do something else would you? How about getting me an apple pie? I know you make the best. And as far as I can tell, all your really good for is just getting me things because it's obvious that you have very strange opinions on things that I can't count on."
Silvia found it hard to believe that she was the one with the strange outlook and not her princess. If someone needed it spelled out, Zelda was obviously lying to herself and making herself believe that Vincent would always be with her. Choose her first. Want to live the rest of his life with her. They weren't the match made in heaven she believed. But she wasn't going to argue that with Zelda. She wouldn't listen to her at all so she might as well try another approach. Silvia decided it would be easier, and more effective, if she tried to talk to Vincent. Zelda wasn't going to be worth the time any longer. "Of course," Silvia said. She bowed to her princess and walked out of the room.
And she didn't bake that pie. Didn't have to, Vincent didn't want an apple pie.
Silvia looked down to Link, his blue eyes still as magnificent as they were when she left them. Those big, beautiful blue eyes that Silvia fell in love with. The ones that were always there to pick up the pieces, although their attention may have been somewhere else at the time. Link was simply the nicest and most caring person Silvia had ever come across. She thought back to all the bad times she had in her life. The times with Impa, the moments with Zelda, and all that didn't matter because she remembered that Link took the time out to see if she was good, fine, dandy. He cared about her and now he loved her. She didn't have to think twice anymore, unlike other women who would've just said yes without thinking at all. "Link," Silvia said softly.
"Yes, Silvia?" Link asked, taking that last step up so he can be at Silvia's level. "Do you have your answer?"
"I will join you," Silvia answered with a smile. "Yes, I will be at your side so Hyrule can have a proper King."
"Silvia, you traitorous bitch!" Impa yelled out. "Why did I even doubt that you would say anything but yes? I'm only glad that you still have a long ways to go before you can ever match me. And once I get myself out, I'll make sure you two will learn your lesson."
"Impa," Link said as he turned his attention to Silvia's aunt. It was apparent that he was about to give her a piece of his mind. "I don't know about you but I prefer not hear people call the love of my life such foul words." He began to take a few steps away from Silvia and walked over to his captured family. "And you want to talk about learning a lesson? Why didn't you teach that little spoiled brat some ethics?" He asked as he jerked his thumb over to Zelda.
"Zelda has nothing to do with this," Impa muttered.
"She hasn't?" Link asked. "I could've sworn that our fair princess was as innocent as she was beautiful. But after seducing one of my, well he used to, best friend into bed after his heart shattered into pieces isn't exactly lady like. And Goddesses know how many of them were there before him."
"You're not being fair about this," Zelda said. Now she was trying to reason with the man whose heart she broke. She was still struggling against the shadows but it did little good. She looked over to Link who was near Impa. She wasn't about to let him do anything he wanted. "Just calm down Link and we can talk about this."
"Talk about it?" Link asked. He snorted a chuckle. "You have to be kidding me, Zelda. We are passed that point. You just aren't the right person to rule Hyrule. You'd rather just lie on your bed and let someone else do the work. And I'm not talking about Vincent." Link turned to Silvia, "May I do the honor of taking out the one person that can stop us Silvia? I know she's your aunt and all."
Silvia bit her lip, she didn't want to say yes but she really didn't want Impa to interfere. And if what her aunt said was true, then it might be the best thing to take care of her once and for all. She looked over to Link with the distraught in her eyes and he caught that. He walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. He looked down at her. He smiled at her and she couldn't help but know everything would be alright so long as they were going to be together.
"Don't worry about it Silvia, I didn't mean it that way. I'm not Ganondorf after all," Link said. He removed his hands from her and looked over to Impa, "It's a trick I learn. It won't kill her, and I'm sure that's what matters more to you."
Link created one more shadow. Silvia watched as the shadow unsheathed a sword and shield that was done the same way Link does it. And then it looked over to Impa, raising its sword high above it as it did. It charged forward, ready to strike Impa with the sword but as it was about to, it was dispersed into air. Something hit it but as Link looked over to Impa and noticed her own look of confusion, it was apparent that it had come from somewhere else. Link then turned to Zelda who had her arms held onto. She too didn't have a clue what had happened. And then Link noticed it. There was an arrow sticking out from the wall where it had pierced through the shadow and continued into. Link looked from the arrow all the way down to the end of the throne room. He wasn't surprised at what he saw.
But Silvia was a bit. And Zelda almost jumped for joy again as she noticed him.
"What are you doing here, Vincent?" Link asked, loud enough so it would carry over the distance.
"What do you think?" Vincent asked. He began to lower the long bow that was obviously his. If the grandeur wasn't enough to give away that it was Vincent's, the bow itself was a pure white. The ends of the white bow extended farther out than they should been, and curved to a way that it modeled wings. His arrogant smirk was plastered on his face. He took the hand that was used to notch arrows and combed back come of his hair. He started straight ahead, his red eyes keeping locked with Link's blues. He began to take a few steps forward, his head held high. He reached behind him and took another arrow from the quiver that must've been on his back. He notched it and kept walking, "I wanted to play hero."
A/N: And that's it for this chapter. Yes, I know, ain't I a stinker?
