Forgotten Letters
By Verdigris
Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of the Slayers universe. If you try to sue, you won't get much out of me!
Author's Note: Thank you again for you reviews! This has been a fun story to write. I haven't had much time to write, but I'll try to get a chapter uploaded each week.
Chapter 4: Confessions and Suspicions
Zelgadis placed his coffee cup on the white decorative saucer. He had finished his third cup of coffee in record time and was eager to see how Amelia had faired the night. He was still a little perturbed that he slept through the morning, since he normally was an early riser. Gourry sparred with a few of the guards while Lina explored the castle library. They had already finished their lunch and Zelgadis was happy to drink his coffee in peace.
Quickly, he headed for the steps that led to Amelia's bedroom. He was cut-off by the enthusiastic face of Markus once he reached the door.
"Zelgadis, there you are! Did you sleep well?" he asked politely.
The chimera groaned inwardly and nodded in return, "Somewhat. I heard Amelia has been asking for me. Is she alright?"
"Oh, better than all right. We checked up on her this morning. Her infection has weakened and some of her strength has returned. A few more sessions like the one yesterday, she should be right as rain in no time!" Markus smiled, "We'll be back later this evening, so I hope you'll aid us again."
"I will." Zelgadis replied, relieved to see that the young man was leaving to meet with the other healers.
Rapping lightly on the door he heard Amelia's cheerful voice ring out, "Come in!"
Amelia was sitting up in her bed, reading a small book. She looked up and her eyes shone when he entered. "Oh, Mr. Zelgadis! I was hoping you'd come up and see me so I could thank you properly."
The blood ran to his cheeks and he was glad the stones on his face hid most of it. "I'm sorry I kept you waiting. How are you feeling?"
She sat back further against the pillows so she could sit up straighter. "Oh, much better than I've felt in a month! I have more energy and I can finally breathe easier. Best of all, I don't feel tired!"
Zelgadis pulled up a chair to her bed. She looked ten times better than when he last saw her. Her face had more color and her eyes sparkled merrily at him, just like they used to on their travels. She smile seemed much more natural and was not hiding any pain. He never realized how much he missed seeing her as happy as she was.
"Markus and Elli came and visited me this morning. They told me everything that you and the other healers did for me. That was very brave of you, Mr. Zelgadis. Then again, you've always been brave. I can't thank you enough," she said leaning closer to him, smiled gratefully and took his hand.
The gratitude on her face was infectious. He let a smile of his own show, "Your welcome, Amelia. It was the least I could have done."
Amelia's stomach growled and she blushed in embarrassment. "Seems I've got my appetite back as well."
Zelgadis let out a soft chuckle, "Well, that's a very good sign you're recovering." His stomach also growled and he flinched.
Amelia laughed at his expression. "Looks like we both missed breakfast this morning. Would you have lunch with me? I've been too weak to eat with anyone for a long time. I usually end up falling asleep after two bites. I'll even order some tea for you."
Zelgadis grinned, "I would like that very much. Thank you."
The servants brought their lunch on trays and put them on one of the tables near the bed. Nodding their thanks, he poured each of them a cup of hot tea from an ornate silver teapot.
Amelia scolded at the half closed blinds over her window and wondered out loud, "It would be nice if we could have some light in this room. It's been rather moody in here with the curtains closed."
Sun poured into the room as Zelgadis pulled back the curtain and she exclaimed breathlessly, "Oh! Look at all the flowers on the trees. I've been sleeping the spring away. I almost missed the blossoms in full bloom this month."
He never took his eyes off her as she looked outside her window. An idea popped in his head. "Would you like to have lunch outside? The weather is very nice today."
Amelia's eyes sparkled. "That would be great! But the head healer told me that staying inside would be best for me," she let the smile fade slightly.
He decided he had already broke one rule last night. It had been successful, so why not break another? Standing up he opened the doors to her balcony that overlooked the garden. He pushed the table and chairs onto the balcony, setting up their lunch and tea. He looked up to see Amelia trying to get out of bed. Her legs shook as she put weight on them and she stumbled forward. Zelgadis's chimera speed took control and he caught her before she could fall.
"Oh no…" she whined a bit, "I haven't been able to walk around much. Seems my legs are a bit weak. I would have made a mess of things," she apologized.
"I got you. Here, this might make it easier." He lifted her up in his arms. One arm supported her shoulders and the other under her knees.
Instinctively she put her arms around his neck. His cheeks reddened as she did so. Zelgadis carefully carried her to the balcony, placing her on one of the chairs. Quickly he sat down on the other, noting that she was blushing a little as well. He cleared his throat and he reached for the plate of small sandwiches and offered her one.
They talked pleasantly to one another, eating their lunch and sipping their tea. The air outside was sweet, fragrant and warm. Amelia was happy to be outside and she grinned from ear to ear, looking down at the garden and listening to the birds chirp. They recalled the days of their traveling a few years back. The conversation was easy and they enjoyed one another's company. Soon the sandwiches had been eaten, but they still continued to sit together at the table.
"Do you remember the time when we had to dress up as puppets?" Amelia recalled with a small giggle.
Zelagadis turned his eyes upward, "Oh don't remind me," he said with a grin. "That was one of the most humiliating things we ever had to do. Though if I remember correctly, your costume suited you just fine. A star of justice? Your father would have been proud," he teased.
"Can't say the same thing about your costume," she pointed back. "A bunny-rabbit! You did look rather cute!" she teased back, giggling while sipping her cup of tea. "Oh, remember Lina in the horse costume?" she exclaimed with delight.
Zelgadis almost choked on his tea, "I had forgotten about that. And Gourry as a jellyfish?" He finally let out a small laugh, "He never looked so at home."
Amelia had to hold a napkin up to her mouth as she giggled out loud. "I miss those days. Even through all the hardships, we did have some funny things happen to us."
He nodded with a smile. He poured himself another cup and poured her one as well, finishing the tea. Being amongst the garden surroundings brightened her spirit. It had only been a year, but Zelgadis could see how much she had changed in that short period of time. She still had the same perky, optimistic personality as she always did, but she had grown up as well. They had not spent long in each other's company, but being together had brought such comfortable familiarity to him.
"As much as I love helping daddy with his duties, I still miss the days when I was traveling with you and everyone. Even Xelloss!" She laughed when she saw the disgusted look on his face.
"You've really been cooped up here too long," Zelgadis said with a light, mocking frown.
"Thank you for suggesting us to have lunch out here," she sighed happily, changing the subject. "You have always been so resourceful," Amelia smiled sweetly at him. She tipped her teacup to him in a small playful salute.
"I used to have such a crush on you," she admitted with a blush, placing her cup down. "I can't believe I was suspicious of you when we first met. Lina told me that a hero of justice must overlook physical appearances. She was right and I never forgot it."
Zelgadis's ears burned, but continued to sip his tea. He looked up at her and saw that she had her eyes pointed downward as she spoke, hiding her own embarrassment.
"I know your condition haunts you. Even now I still care so very much for you," she declared softly and seriously. "You were right to push me away like you did. It was selfish of me to distract you from your dreams and I appolgize for that."
He put his cup down. She was apologizing to him? Of all people in her life, he was the one who needed to appolgize to her! He was at fault and he cursed himself for making her feel like a burden to him. He listened intently and tried to keep his face unemotional.
She continued and kept her head bowed, "I don't see anything wrong with you. You're still the brave and determined man I know and no cure will change that. You have your reasons and once you find your cure, I know it'll make you truly happy. I just can't stop myself from worrying about you from time to time out there." Amelia looked over the garden. "It's hard for me not to miss you."
She finally looked at him and smiled sadly. "Once you and the healers help me get over this infection, you can continue on your search. I'm sure we have some books in our library that might help you. Daddy won't mind if you take a few."
The look she gave him nearly did him in. She was letting him go. Amelia, who had been with him on countless adventures, who trusted and worried about him, was letting him go. Her sad smile spoke of friendship and possibly more. There was never a time that she was not on his mind, even on his journeys alone, no matter how hard he tried. Ceiphied help him.
He finally opened his mouth to say something, "Amelia, I…"
"What's going on here?" a voice demanded.
Zelgadis shut his eyes angrily and turned to the man standing beside Amelia's bed. Why did he always have to be interrupted?
"Why is the princess outside?" Dillis demanded again, "Why isn't she in bed? Having her outside in the elements will worsen her condition."
Amelia jumped and grabbed the edge of the chair to help her stand, "Mr. Dillis, it's not Mr. Zelgadis's fault! I told him I wanted to eat outside for a late lunch." She placed her hand over Zel's wrist.
Zelgadis held onto her shoulders, supporting her as she slowly walked to the bed. He interjected back at him, "Only after I insisted."
The gray-haired healer's eyes narrowed, "If you care about the princess's health, you'll let her recover before you parade her around again. Her life is not to be tampered with."
Zelgadis tried to ignore his cold remark and helped Amelia to the bed. She sat up against the pillows and folded her hands across her lap, "I'm fine, Mr. Dillis. I think being outside has done me some good."
The chimera did not leave her side. Standing over her protectively, his eyes never left Dillis's. How dare he just barge in like this!
"I'll be the judge of that," the healer said coolly. He gestured with a hand and the rest of the healers joined him by the bed. "It may be a bit early for a healing session, but I thought it best we start as soon as possible. I will be monitoring the whole session this time and only I will give the orders."
Zelgadis made a move to approach him with a look a determination written on his face.
Dillis raised an eyebrow at him, "Oh, there will be no need for your assistance today. You've done enough, Mr. Greywords. We will be using different tactics against the infection. Only this time we will use mine."
"Why are you changing tactics so soon?" Zelgadis held back a growl, "You said so yourself that the infection was weakening due to the amplification of my healing spell. Shouldn't we continue with that solution? Markus told me your previous attempts haven't faired well for over a month. He encouraged that you needed my help."
Dillis darted an eye toward Markus, who kept his head down submissively. Smoothing down his robes he replied, "Markus is still young and impulsive. He had no right to encourage your spells without my permission. An amplification of healing magic was only a temporary feat."
Amelia could feel the tension between Dillis and Zelgadis. She looked at them both and asked attentively, "But wasn't my father pleased with Zelgadis'?
Dillis smiled, his cold blue eyes sparkled at her assumption, "He was pleased with your chimera friend, yes," the corners of Zelgadis's mouth twitched at his remark, "But a shamanistic sorcerer has no place here."
Zelgadis advanced steadily on him, "Regardless of the matter, I want to be present."
"You may not be so lucky next time if another dilemma arises." Dillis scolded him coolly. "By order of the Prince, you are to stay out of this matter. Leave healer's work only to the healers."
The two men were almost nose-to-nose and Zelgadis could smell something foul admitting from him. It smelled metallic and it threw his senses into high alert. He wanted nothing more than to grab the man's gray beard and demand that he stay present with Amelia. Something did not seem right. Dillis was the only one in the room that wanted him to stay away from the princess. Leaving her alone with him left him uneasy.
Amelia watched Zelgadis as he took in Dillis's order angrily, standing protectively over her. She was aware of Zelgadis's distrust in the man and knew he would not take no for an answer. Taking a deep breath she spoke, "I will abide by my father's decision."
Zelgadis quickly shot her a concerned gaze. She touched his wrist and whispered to him, "Please speak with my father. I'm sure there has to be a reason. I'll be alright. If anything should happen, you'll be the first to know."
"But Amelia…" Zelgadis insisted. The look he gave told her he would not go down without a fight.
"I'll be fine. Just promise me that we'll have lunch together tomorrow. Okay?" Amelia smiled warmly up at him.
His muscles were tense and his fists were clenched, but the look Amelia made him soften. She was aware of the circumstances, but was willing to go through with it. Her eyes held strength and assurance. She truly had grown up. He would speak with Prince Phil as soon as possible and relay it to her tomorrow.
Zelgadis held back his anger enough to quickly bow to Dillis before leaving the room. He caught Markus's anxious glance as he stormed by him, but ignored it. The young healer's mouth opened, but closed it with a sigh, returning his attention to the head healer.
0000000
Zel waited outside of Prince Philionel's office. Lina and Gourry sat by him to keep him company. He had told them what had happened in Amelia's room. Lina scratched her chin, taking in the information before speaking.
"Makes you wonder what Dillis really told Phil. He's the only one that reports directly to him. He could be fabricating something just to throw you off guard. Phil would never make you leave unless you were making the situation worse!" she exclaimed, crossing her arms and legs, tapping her boot against the polished marble floor.
Zelgadis groaned and slumped in his seat, "That's what I'm here to find out. I don't trust that healer. I know he's up to something. Seems the moment she was getting better he's been suspicious of me."
"Maybe he doesn't like you doing his job?" Gourry inquired innocently, "Maybe you're putting him down and he doesn't like looking bad in front of Phil?"
Lina snapped her fingers, "Could be, Gourry. Maybe his performance will look bad for the country he's representing if he doesn't take the upper hand?"
The chimera shook his head. "I still think there's something more to it. When I first did a session with the healers, I smelled a strong metallic smell. I thought it was from Amelia's infection, since I sensed it when we first saw her yesterday. The smell weakened when the infection fell back in remission. But I can sense that metallic smell on Dillis."
"Maybe he sweats when he gets nervous?" Gourry asked and Lina elbowed him in the shoulder, "What?"
"That's not enough evidence for Phil to write him off," Lina concluded with a frown. "Gourry and I will help keep an eye out if we see anything suspicious."
Zelgadis nodded his thanks. The door to the royal office opened and he was escorted in by a palace guard. Once in the guard closed it behind him, leaving him alone in front of a large desk with the crest of Salliune carved on the front.
"Ah, Zelgadis, my boy," Prince Phil said cheerfully through tired eyes as he entered from a side door. "What can I do for you?"
"It's about Amelia," Zelgadis began urgently. "Dillis has dismissed me from aiding the other healers. He said you excused me from my duties with them."
Phil fingered at his bushy mustache and gave him a confused glance, "You never had a duty with them in the first place, though I appreciate your interest in Amelia's affairs and concern for her health."
He sat in his chair and placed both his hands on the desk, "But Dillis said your spell was merely an accident. His skills as a healer are known throughout Saillune and I feel more comfortable using his techniques."
"Then why has it taken over two months before Amelia to show any signs of recovery?" Zelgadis pointed out, "Don't you find it strange he's finally using a different tactic only after I interfered? Wouldn't it be better to let me help?"
Phil ground out sternly, "Dillis has made it clear to me that the infection has been slowly returning since this morning. He said your spell may have held it back temporarily and is coming back even stronger."
"Come back?" Zegladis straightened in his seat. "Is this what Dillis told you?" He remembered Markus telling him that everything was fine this morning.
"Yes. He said his healers will see to it that they use a different technique this evening to fight the infection." Phil said with confidence.
Zelgadis grabbed the edges of the armrests of his seat, "But they're seeing to her now!"
"That's good!" Phil smiled, "They are seeing to her sooner than I thought they would." He noticed that Zelgadis had not looked pleased with this information, "Tell me Zelgadis, why are you here? I know you're Amelia's good friend but their business is none of your concern. They are doing the best they can to help her."
"I don't think Dillis's first priority is to Amelia's health." Zelgadis said carefully, throwing caution to the wind.
"And why would you say that? I hired only the best healers and he is a ally of Saillune." Phil pushed, his eyes narrowing at Zelgadis. "I am aware of your determination. You are a very driven man and I applaud you for that, but perhaps your interest with the healers may be misguided."
The prince rubbed at his chin and implored the young man, "Until Amelia makes a full recovery, please stay out of the healers way."
He was then quietly dismissed.
Zelgadis's temples throbbed with frustration outside the door. Dillis had been relaying false information to the Prince in order to remove him from Amelia's side. Phil had always been a very trusting person. He had no proof too show him, other than what his instincts had been telling him. As much respect as Phil held for Zelgadis, who was he going to believe; A deformed sorcerer swordsmen or a highly trained healer? He had to find proof and quick.
Amelia could be in danger right underneath her father's eyes.