Hello dear readers, this is actually my second fanfiction in this fandom! If you haven't read the first one and you would like to the title of it is "Seven Signs of Sin". I would like to let everyone know that I have spent a while on this and it was going to be a one shot in the beginning but i just couldn't stop, so here is Chapter one of Let me be your Kidnapper. I do hope you like it!
Side note; I am very sorry Yui, I know i wanted you to read over this first but i had to get it out there before I lost my train of thought.
I love you Yui!
I love all of you dear readers as well;
Affectionately,
Ad
"Don't worry Meliodas. We will meet again, in another life." The rain pouring down on them almost completely blocked out her words just as well as it hid the tears streaming down his face in large rivers. He could still feel them though, stinging the flesh of his cheeks as they cut their way down them. He crouched down to pull her head into his chest as he closed his eyes against the pain. His fingers tangled in her light red hair as he felt her take her last breath, it was happening again just as it had before like countless other times in the past. Three thousand years worth of heartache and broken dreams all because of his bastard fathers curse. His life was a living hell that he would never escape. Even death was not a reprieve for long. He cursed his father for cursing him, cursed his seven hearts for falling in love with her so easily, cursed his very being for existing only for her no matter the circumstances. He would never escape this, it was a fact that he had to re-accept each an every time he watched her die.
Cries were ringing out all around him as his precious love took her last breath, then they all seemed to fall into a distant background as a single new cry reach his ears. A newborn babe, not even twenty yards from where he knelt was just taking her first breath. He knew it was her, he could feel it in his very soul. Her own soul had found its new host and this time luck had to be on his side. The last time this had happened he had to trek halfway across Britannia alone to find her again but for some reason, be it sheer luck or fate, she had found her way to his side much faster than any time before. With one final kiss on her head and a whispered "I love you," he stood and turned towards the sound. It did not take long for him to find her, the pregnant queen had fled the invasion while still in the early stages of labor and had given birth to a daughter in a tattered shack nearly a mile away from the castle as quietly as she could. The birth had not gone well for the woman and with no help she had been forced to sever the cord with a rusted dagger. The baby that the corpse held in her arms was perfect, untouched by the infection that had been the womans ultimate demise and suckling hungrily at her teat. He smiled as he lifted the newborn into his arms and softly whispered sweet sounds in her ear as she nuzzled herself into his chest. She smelled like lavender and copper with a hint of rust that caused him to worry for her.
She would have to be cleaned and wrapped up nice and warm before he dared venture out into the rainstorm beyond the shattered door. He made quick work of this, scrubbing her gently and wrapping her pale plump form up as snugly as he could in his own trench coat. The rain was cold against his face but the way he cradled her to his chest stopped it from reaching her entirely. The kingdom laid flat before him was clearly the work of another demon who had managed to escape the coffins seal. He knew that if he ever saw that demon he would take out the full extent of his wrath upon it for taking away the long days with Liz that he had dreamed of since their first dinner. The very fact that the beast would think of harming his beloved was unforgivable and if he ever laid eyes upon it judgement would-
A hellish cackling reached his ears from the direction where he had left Lizs body and his face hardened as the anger settled in the pit of his stomach. He held the babe closer to himself as he unsheathed his blade and turned towards the sound. Was it truly luck or fate that was at play here, or was it something more sinister? The mark of his kind flared up on his forehead, a hot brand against his rain chilled skin, as he made his way over the wreckage that was once a home to Liz and himself. He took the long way around the outskirts of the town to make absolutely sure that he would end up at the things back. If he looked his loves murderer in the eye he knew that he would completely lose himself to the darkness that was always there, threatening to consume him with every breath he took.
It was large, taller than the building he had lived in for the past twenty years, and it was cackling out of both of its mouths at once. He knew exactly what it was as soon as he saw the mark that curved under its right eye in a sharp scythe like design. He clenched the handle of his blade tighter as he stared daggers into the things back. He knew who it was personally which made his rage flare to higher heights as he studied the monsters form. He had lost his body in the battle somehow and had reverted back to his true demonic self, but that did not stop Meliodas from lusting after its final breath.
"Fraudrin!" He shouted out across the barren wasteland of the once great city. The child in his arm shift and let out a soft sound of protest for his loud voice as the thing before him turned to fully face the much smaller man.
"Meliodas." It rambled out in a deep demonic growl, "just my luck to run into the traitor here of all places." The thing cackled with both the mouth on its face and the one on its chests it loomed over his tiny frame. It turned to rest one long grotesque finger on Liz's face and tilted her head up slowly towards the heavens, "now this woman is strikingly similar to the wrench that turned you against your kind is she not? Truly an odd coincidence wouldn't you say?"
"Don't you touch her. You don't deserve to." Meliodas growled low in his throat as his blade was brought up to point at a threatening angle right to the things face.
"I hit right on the mark eh?" It tilted its head as it studied the bundle in his arms, "is it safe to assume that is the offspring of your union? Your father will not be pleased."green eyes narrowed at black ones as the wind blew dust and small debris between the two of them. The things hand lowered towards Lizs face once again and his demonic mark grew from above his right eye to completely surround the right side of his body. He felt his mind go blank as he clutched the baby closer to himself and raised his sword high. His world gave way to darkness as the demonic death screams echoed in his ears.
And it felt good.
How long had it been since he carved out the cave to care for the small baby Elizabeth? A month, two, three? She was certainly much larger than she was when he had plucked her from her dead mothers arms and seemed to become happier by the day. Her new favorite pastime was latching onto the two spiky strands of hair he couldn't seem to keep down at the top of his head when he burped her. Cows milk seemed to be doing well as a substitute for her own mothers but it caused her to become colicky and her upset stomach would lead her to tears until she was burped. Nights passed with her sleeping on his chest and days passed with her in his arms. He found himself chuckling at the irony of it all, those same things he wanted from her full womanly form he was doing with this baby without his mind going to those dark places that would cause his hands to grope naturally. Her bright silver hair would stick out at odd angles and reflect off the sunlight which caused it to look more like a halo on this tiny cherub of his love.
"I never thought I would be good with kids, but for you I can overcome anything Elizabeth." He smiled as he held her up above him while laying on his back. She cooed and wiggled in his hands, reaching her much smaller ones to his hair which only caused a ripple of laughter to roll out from his chest. He was having almost too much fun to sense the ones that were coming from the northeast, almost.
He went through the motions of wrapping her nearly naked body up snugly in his jacket and tucked her into his left arm while her clutched onto the handle of his sword with his right hand before exiting the cave. The sounds of hoof beats were growing louder as he crested the top of the crater that had been created by him giving into the darkness and he spied three riders. Judging by their scent and the power he felt from the one in the center of the group he assumed it was a king of some kind. The closer they drew the more obvious that fact became for him. The man was draped in a royal red velvet and fur cape above a set of blindingly gold armor. He held her even closer to himself as a silver haired Druid male hopped down from his own steed and made his way closer to them.
"Woah woah boy, we aren't here to harm you." The man said as he approached him with his hands held up in a form of surrender that caused Meliodas to cock one eyebrow upwards. Of course, they had no idea who he was so they simply thought he was a child who managed to survive what happened,
"Who the hell are you?" He demanded as he felt Elizabeth move against his chest.
"My apologies for my rudeness. I am Zaratras, the Great Holy Knight of Lioness, this is our king Bartra Lioness and my assistant and brother Dreyfus. We have come to investigate the remains of this kingdom." He stated each word slowly as he stepped towards them, "that child there, our king has had a vision that she will be his third daughter. If you just let me take her for a moment we can confirm with him that she's-" at this point his hands were uncomfortably close to the small bundle in his arms and he felt his fear and rage fighting over what would overpower his mind.
"HANDS OFF MY WOMAN!" He shouted as he jumped back and held the swords tip towards the man.
"Your, woman?" The Holy knight asked in a surprised whisper as he took a step back. His green hues locked onto those of the king and he felt the fear and anger wash away. The old man was looking at him curiously but at the small form of Elizabeth with only the kind of love a father can show to his own child. This man would raise her right, in a place that she deserved to be raised and with all kind of love that he would not be able to provide her. He felt his knees try to go slack on him, he had to hand her over. It was the right thing to do.
"I will let your king adopt her, on one condition." He stated in a flat tone as he slid the blade into its sheath.
"And what would that be young man?" The king, Bartra, asked without a hint of malice in his voice.
"You hire me." Meliodas narrowed his eyes as he spoke.
"The castle has enough nannies to care for her I can assure you." It was Zaratras who spoke this time.
"That's good news but I don't want to be her nanny, I want him to hire me as a Holy Knight. It is what I was for Danafor." He stated as he shifted her in his arms. The king smiled brightly from atop his horse before letting loose a hearty laugh.
"I like this boy." Bartra stated as his eyes sparkled in the sun, "well then, what are we waiting for? Lend them a horse and let us be on our way." With that he turned his great white steed around and headed back the way they had come.
"Come on then, you can ride in front of me until we reach camp then you can take your pick of horses." Zaratras held one hand out to him after mounting the horse and he accepted it with his free hand as he held her close to his chest. It felt odd riding in front of the man but the small bundle in his arms was far more important than his petty pride, just as she always had been and always would be. He smiled down at her sleeping face as he thought over this and felt his hearts skip a beat as she smiled back as if she sensed it even in her sleeping state. He leaned forward to rest his forehead against hers as he closed his eyes and urged the infant to feel his love for her.
"I'm never going to leave you behind. I will always find my way back to you." He whispered softly so that the knight behind him would not hear. Her tiny fist found its way into his hair and he smiled sweetly before laying a gentle kiss on her pale cheek.
The years passed by in the blink of an eye for Meliodas, Elizabeth grew before his very eyes under the care of Batra. She would always cling to him however; whenever he was at the castle she was never far away, even after he formed the Sins the young princess would not allow him to go on a mission without first making her a promise that he would return to her alive and well. He could still remember the last time he saw her, barely six years old and carrying around a teddy bear that looked eerily similar to Kings Chastifols guardian form. He could remember thinking that the fairy king must have made it by hand for her birthday present, the small fairy was a better tailor than most he had seen after all.
"Hey barkeep! We need another round over here!" He was shaken out of his fond memories of her by a customers loud call. Ignoring the longing to see he he always gained when he thought of her had become as easy as the large phony smile he plastered on his face when he turned to face the table of men who were obviously already drunk.
"Bernia ale right? Coming right up!" He called cheerfully as he filled four mugs full of what he personally considered the best ale in all of Britannia and slid them onto a tray. He moved swiftly around the tables to deliver the men their drinks and eyed the pig near a table, which was covered in barely touched food, suspiciously.
"Have you heard any rumors on that rogue group of Knights that disappeared about ten years ago?" One of the four men asked as he began passing out the mugs with a soft happy hum.
"How would I hear anything like that?" He asked as he blinked twice at the man to show just how dumbfounded he was to be asked such a question, "aren't they all dead and buried already? Or are you saying that they have come back from the grave?" He leaned in with a sinister smile as he asked the questions, growing closer with each word he spoke until there was barely an inch of space between them.
"N-no no no." The man stated as he waved his hands before his face as if to physically clear the air between them, "not at all, just curious is all."
"Damn." He stated as he leaned back and crossed his arms while looking at the wanted posters beside the doors, "I was curios to, would be great to have some stories to pass along to all those weary travelers right?" He scratched his head before flashing everyone around him a boyish smile, "ah well, just my luck right?" With that he shrugged and headed back to his spot behind the bar. The Tavern goers paid him little to no mind as he returned to cleaning out the thick wooden mugs and gathering fresh liquor from the storage room behind the kitchen. No one ever paid any mind to the barkeeper, even if the Tavern he owned and worked in moved from town to town seemingly overnight.
" 'Ave you 'eard o' the royal wedding that's bein' held for all then up an' ups in the capital?" An elderly man who looked as if he was a retired knight asked under his breath as Meliodas stepped closer to him.
"That isn't exactly juicy news, people marry all the time." Meliodas huffed in annoyance at the old knight as he scrubbed the cup a bit harder.
"Ah, I heard about that to, supposedly the king of Lioness is giving his youngest daughter away to that boy king of Camelot. What was his name again, ah yes Arthur I think." Another patron spoke up as he lifted his head from his own cup of ale.
"I heard their entire wedding is going to be done in silver and gold to represent the two kingdoms coming together." Yet another spoke, he could feel his anger beginning to flare and had to turn and take a few calming breaths before he could face the bar once again.
"Is. That. Right?" His voice was low and calm, giving away nothing of the hellscape that had opened up in his mind.
"Too bad you weren't hired for the wedding, you really know your ale." The very first man, the one who was asking for rumors, spoke loudly then.
"Hey, you're right, maybe I should offer my services then." He stared as the only sign of his growing anger appeared as the very slightest of eyebrow twitches that went unnoticed by everyone else in the room.
"Aye! Three cheers for Mr. Barkeep! Keeping all our hopes up even when he himself is faced with absolute failure!" Someone shouted and the room exploded with cheers. It was just enough of a distraction for him to slip out of the room and crush the mug he had been holding into toothpicks that fell noisily to the floor. Sure his patrons where only joking about his chances of working for the king but he had another thing on his mind that he could not fail at.
"Bartra." He growled under his breath as he frantically tried to get his anger under control, the old king must be going senile if he thought that he could give HIS WOMAN to someone else. He wiped the remains of the mug off of his hands using a dish towel hanging nearby. He would go to Lioness and he would take back what was his, no matter what it took.
Failure was not an option.
"Oh you look so beautiful." Margaret cooed as she draped a veil over the tiara that had been specifically designed to match the silver belt on her dress. The large white skirt seemed to fill half the room as she studied it in the mirror. The design of the dress was simple enough, a form fitting top with a sweetheart neckline that was just high enough on her chest that the modest princess felt it was wrong to blush when she studied it carefully in her reflection. The skirt however, flared out from the silver belt to stretch at least five feet out on each side of her as well as the back. The thin lace upper layer of the skirt was filled with diamonds and silver flecks that made her sparkle at the slightest movements. The veil was long and thick, though she could still see perfectly out from behind its shelter.
"It feels so odd, I-I never imagined myself in something like this." She stuttered as she slowly reached up to touch the smooth fabric of the veil.
"Nonsense, that king won't know what hit him when he sees you walking down the isle." She tilted her head and smiled as the bowl cut purple hair of her sister Veronica peeked from behind the mirror followed shortly by her smiling face.
"Veronica!" Elizabeth exclaimed as she hid her face in her hands out of embarrassment. She could hear her sisters soft chuckles which made the red stain that covered her face and neck as well as her chest turn a few shades darker than before.
"Oh Elizabeth, there is no need at all to worry, I have heard from father that he is a very good man; kind and strong, brave and wise…" Margaret gently stroked Elizabeth's shoulder as she spoke while their sister scoffed and crossed her arms angrily at their conversation.
"Of course you have no need to worry, you have all of us there for you Ellie. Let's just get you out of this dress now and get our minds off this subject." The purplette stated as she turned to face her silver haired little sister.
"But what about after?" Was Elizabeth's muffled reply.
"After?" They asked together.
"When I have to go to Camelot to be his queen." She whispered as she lowered her hands to rest in her lap as she sank to the floor.
"Oh Ellie." Veronica cooed as the two of them wrapped her in a warm hug. She felt like this was her last chance to be like this with them, since it was less than a month before the eighteen year old king was due to take her away she did not have much time at all left to prepare her heart for what that would mean for her family. She would be sent away to another kingdom and more than likely she would never see them again.
"I am going to send for some fresh tea and biscuits and we will get you into something a bit more comfortable alright?" She smiled as Margaret spoke and leaned in as the older girl squeezed her in a gentle hug.
"I will help her out of this dress while you're out." Veronica moved around to her back and began the long process of undoing the buttons of the dress as she spoke to their eldest sister.
Less than an hour later the gown was put away in its own wardrobe and the three girls were sitting around a small round table in Elizabeth's room. The tea had long since cooled and the conversation that they had held had long since given way to silence. Elizabeth found herself watching the sunset from the window while her older sisters whispered amongst themselves about something she did not care to hear. The last few rays of sunlight were turning the capital into an orange tinged painting, but her eyes were not captivated by that, it was a sight she had seen every night since she could remember. What had her eyes locked on the world outside of her window was what appeared to be a small mountain or large hill with a pointed peak that swayed while whatever the large thing was moved.
"Ellie are you okay?" She turned to see Veronica staring at her with worried curiosity etched across her eyes.
"Yeah," she stared as she lowered her head, " I was just enjoying the view, while I still can you know." This seemed to satisfy her sisters who returned to their quiet conversation.
Days passed and the rumors of the famous mobile bar that had shown up on the outskirts of the capital reached her from the servants who did not know she was close enough to hear them as they made their plans to visit it while going about their daily routines. Two weeks was all she had left before she was to be married and sent off to another kingdom that she had never even seen before. She decided that if she was going to be taken away from the one home she had ever known then she would see all she could of that home so she could hold onto those memories forever. That was when she began to make her secret plans to sneak out and visit this seemingly famous bar.
The rest of that day she pretended like nothing had changed in her mind; she ate dinner with her father and sisters and acted the part of the perfect princess and daughter while she did so. Later she sat with her eldest sister and worked on her cross stitching while their middle sibling talked loudly about what she had learned from her personal guard, who had been teaching her all he knew about being a knight in secret. During all of this she was continuously revising her plans to sneak away in the back of her mind without letting the slightest hint of them show on her face.
As soon as it was acceptable to do so, she excused herself to her chambers for the night and began to get ready for her little nighttime adventure. She had managed to smuggle a maids uniform the day before when she first thought of her nighttime outing and hid it along with a simple white shawl under her top mattress. There was a pair of the plainest shoes she could find waiting for her in her small cushioned bench by her wardrobe that she spent a couple long hours hand scuffing so they would not stand out as something a peasant should not be seen in. Her outfit was completed with a simple covered wicker basket that she had carefully folded a dark brown thick wool cloak into to complete her servant girl look. She kept the cloak in the basket for the moment and quickly changed into her disguise before slipping out of her chambers using the servants door.
It took two hours for her to make her way out of the castle, setting the time of her excursion as closer to midnight than she had hoped. Her long silver hair had been carefully braided and wrapped around her head so no stray strands would stick out from the shawl that had been tied carefully over it to further hide who she was. She kept her eyes downcast as she moved through the castle so their bright blue hues would not give her away either. She did not lift her gaze from her feet until she was nearly halfway through the capital, and even then it was only to read over the fliers for the Boar Hat that had been plastered on nearly every wall around her. Taking a moment to allow a relieved sigh to fall from her lips, she turned her eyes on the castle; no one would know she was gone until the sun came up in the morning and by that time, if she stuck to her plan, she would be back in her own bed safe and sound. No one would ever have to know that she had left and she could continue living her life how her father intended her to after everything was said and done with the added benefit of the memories that she would make that night.
She knew how to find the bar, even though she wasn't sure how she knew she just did. It was as if her feet had a mind of their own as she wandered through the streets of the capital. The bar, or rather Tavern as the sign above the door indicated, sat just outside the capitals tall stone walls. It was an odd shape for a building, tall and rounded with a pointed roof resting above the third floor and two balconies leading out of what she assumed were bedrooms.
"It does look like a hat, but where does the boar come in?" She mused to herself in a soft whisper as she stepped up onto the equally rounded wrap around porch and eyed the door carefully. This was the very first time she had ever been out on her own like this and she wasn't sure if she should knock upon the green painted wood that made up the door before her or not; what if she just strolled in and everyone else knocked? Surely she would be found out if she didn't do this right.
Sounds of laughter from behind her sent her fleeing into the shadows along the side of the building. It was Gilthunder, her eldest sisters guard, and Howser, the knight that her father assigned to be her own personal guardsman until after the wedding, who had approached the Tavern. They were laughing and playfully shoving one another as they stepped up to the door. With no hesitation they opened the door and stepped inside. She let out a soft breath that she had been holding from the moment she heard their laughter as the door closed behind them. There was now a problem with her plan, as long as they were in the Tavern she would not be able to enter the establishment. Either one of them could easily pick up on who she was the moment she walked into the door, that much she was sure of.
"I was stupid to think that I would get away with this." She grumbled as she slid down the wall to rest her elbows on her knees and gripped the edges of her shawl as she hid her face in her hands, "Now I won't be able to get back into the castle until they change shifts tomorrow either." She shivered against the cold and pulled her thick warm cloak out of the basket to wrap herself in and form a Shield against the chilly night air that was blowing across the valley. She dared not move for fear of being seen, thus she succumbed to her fate of being stuck on the Tavern porch for hours to come.
Meliodas smiled brightly as the two Holy Knights entered the Tavern and waved them over to the bar where two stools sat open and ready for them. The royal wedding that had brought so many of his customers in had him on edge but none of them could tell. He had always been good at hiding his true feelings behind a playful smile and an air of carefreeness that he had become known for over the past ten years that he had played the part of bar owner. He knew how to act around anyone; from a Weary traveler to a holy knight and everything in between. Many times over the last decade he found himself misleading the Holy Knights that found their way to him in their hopeful quest to find the Sins, and every time none of them ever suspected they were talking to the leader of the very group they were after.
"Welcome to the Boar Hat gentlemen, grab a seat and I will be right with you just as soon as I take care of these guys!" He called out merrily as he turned towards the table by the window. His eyes locked onto the glass of the nearby window as a flash of white caught his attention, shortly after it was covered by a dark cloth that caused it to blend into the darkness outside.
"Thank you Mr. Bartender." The pink haired man, who he knew at once to be little Gil from all those years ago all grown up, stated as he followed his dark blonde companion to the seats he had indicated by the bar.
"So, do you think that King Arthur will show up with a full platoon of companions or just come with his trusted court mage like he did last time?" Meliodas zoned in on their conversation as he made his way behind the bar to find them some mugs.
"Howzer, we do not need to discuss matters of the royal court in a room full of strangers." Gil chided his friend sternly and Meliodas couldn't help the small smile that played across his lips. Good ole lil Gil, he still followed his protocol to a T.
"What can I get you two?" He asked with the same warm smile that he had when they walked in as he sat the two mugs he found on the bar between them.
"Do you have any fireberry ale?" The one named Howzer asked him, causing his smile to be replaced with one that was more genuine.
"I have any kind of drink you could want, though that particular brew is pretty weak. Are you sure that's what you want?" He asked as one eyebrow peeked up curiously.
"Yes, after this we will need our wits about us to guard the royal family. We are Holy Knights of Lioness and our wise king has reason to believe that a banished rogue group of Knights may attempt to stop the wedding that will be held at the castle by months end." Gilthunder stated as he looked sternly into Meliodas' bright emerald eyes.
"Geez Gil, that's the last time I offer to take you drinking. You're always so serious." Howzer complained as the two continued to stare at each other.
"Rogue group huh? Should I be on the lookout for anyone in particular?" Meliodas asked without breaking eye contact with the pink haired man that he use to spar with when he was a pink haired boy.
"Hell, you have their wanted posters on your wall!" Howzer exclaimed as he motioned towards the billboard by the front door.
"The Seven Deadly Sins huh," he stated as he finally looked away from Gil's eyes, "from what I hear they are all gone to the Necropolis by now."
"It's just a precaution. If they do happen to still be alive I will stop them." Gil stated in a flat voice.
"Oh? Aren't you scared? They were said to be the sole reason for all those Holy Knights deaths ten years ago." Meliodas filled their drinks as he spoke.
"I am not afraid of them," came Gils flat reply, "I am now more powerful than any of the Seven Deadly Sins."
"I dunno," the blonde replied as he cocked his head to one side, "you could always be wrong."
Chapter 1: END