"We're approaching the chapter now, Captain."
"Very well, Mr. Sulu," said Kirk. "The landing party shall consist of myself, Mr. Spock, and Ensign Monsterfood."
"We should be careful, Captain." Said Spock. "I'm detecting unusually high WAFF content in this chapter."
Consider yourself warned.
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Today was the best day of Amelia wil Tesla Seyrune's life. The love of her life, Zelgadis Greywyrds, was human. He had asked to court her. And now he was walking with her in the palace gardens. He had reached out and taken her hand, holding it in his own as they meandered. But most amazing of all, at least to her, was that he was smiling. Never before had she seen such a genuine, large smile grace the rugged features of her love.
She walked with a very un-princessly bounce in her step, giggling quietly at nothing and everything. He, for his part, was as silent as usual, seeming to bask in the ambience of the garden and her presence, choosing occasionally to give her hand a tentative squeeze that was always returned tenfold. A part of her, a very large part, really, wanted to jump and dance in glee, to climb to the highest places and shout her love to the world, and otherwise generally celebrate. Her (slightly) more rational mind told her that this would embarrass Zelgadis, that it was really nice to feel his hand in hers, and that this quiet, too, was enjoyable.
A couple times she saw him turn his head, the way he tended to before weighing in on an important matter, but each time he seemed to stop. But I don't need to worry about that anymore! He'll tell me when he's good and ready! Letting him come to her had seemed to work wonders recently, and she was confident it would continue to do so.
Her patience was rewarded at the base of a willow tree some time later. Zelgadis turned, and took her other hand in his. The Princess could feel her heart beat faster and faster, and nothing seemed more enticing than to spend forever staring back into his loving gaze.
He coughed a couple times, and still fidgeted a bit, before she could visibly see him collect his resolve. "I'm sorry."
"What for, Zelgadis?"
His smile grew sad for a moment as he answered. "For making you wait this long, mostly."
"It was worth the wait, Just Zelgadis." All trace of sadness vanished at her use of his new pet name, and he shyly lowered his gaze.
"You're never going to let me live that one down, are you?"
She bounced slightly, and her giggle forced itself into a full-out laugh. "Nope!"
He reached his right hand up to gently caress her cheek. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he slowly reopened them and gazed directly into her eyes. "I love you, Amelia."
Amelia felt a blush creep across her face as she brought her left hand up to cover his hand over her cheek. Say something, anything! Come on, Amelia! For Justice! But she found that all she could do was smile back at him, at the shaman who had long ago stolen her heart. Finally, quietly, she whispered back. "I love you too."
Slowly, ever so slowly, she took her hand off of his and reached for his shoulder. She stopped right before touching him, looking into his eyes questioningly. Seeing only his newly freed love, she slowly pulled him into her embrace.
The hug was somehow more intimate than anything Amelia had ever experienced. This was not the bone-crushing grip that she and her father could display, and yet it was somehow closer. This was warm, this was real, and this was such a release for the years and years worth of hoping and waiting.
"Please don't cry, Amelia..." Not until he spoke did she even realize that happy tears were falling from her eyes.
"But Zelgadis... I'm just so happy..."
The two stood there for who knows how long, just holding each other, until finally Zelgadis spoke again.
"I... I finally realized it, Amelia. I was so lost, but you found me."
"I... what do you mean?"
Her chimera (Ex-chimera, she still had to correct herself) let her go, and stepped away slightly. His gaze rose to the midmorning sun as he spoke. "Remember what I said the other day, about having no purpose?" At her nod, he continued. "I was wrong. I have a new mission now, one that I intend to pursue with just as much dedication as I used to my cure."
Amelia sighed inwardly. He said he loved her, but now here he was all excited about going to Sarn... Is this how it's going to be? Is my Knight-Errant just going to go on quest after quest, leaving me trapped here in my official duties? The very thought made her sick to her stomach. "If going to Sarn for Daddy means that much -" but she was cut off by the laughter of the shaman before her. The sound rang so clear and beautiful in Amelia's ears that she couldn't help but want to hear more of it.
As his chuckles died down, Amelia's suitor turned back to face her. The look on his face was one she'd never seen before. Oh, she'd seen that same dedication, that same level of serious from him more often that any other expression, but never before had he been smiling while he did it. Somehow, the smile seemed to bring more gravity to his words. "No, Amelia. I didn't mean Sarn. I meant you."
"Eh?"
"You are my mission." He moved to her, taking her hands in his and clasping them together. "I want to see you safe, and happy." Amelia felt like her cheeks were on fire, and she rather suspected that she looked redder than Lina's hair. "And I promise, no, I swear to you right now that I will do anything to see that happen." His tone dropped somewhat, becoming slightly less forceful and somewhat more playful. "Including, if need be, infiltrating an enemy kingdom to stop a threat to Seyrune."
Emotions swam in Amelia's head. On the one hand, this was everything she'd ever dreamed of, and she'd be damned before she'd let it go. But on the other, old worries resurfaced. "Um... Not that I want to spoil this, but... but I have to know..." She tentatively looked up at him, and saw that he was waiting for her to say more in that frustratingly cute way of his. "I don't want you staying out of obligation!"
She was about to say more, but he shook his head and stepped forward. This had the side effect of gently squeezing their still-joined hands in between their chests, and his face was so very close to hers. "I said I love you Amelia, and I meant it. If I am obligated to be here, its for that reason and no other. This isn't some self-imposed punishment, it's not forced." He sighed before continuing. "You know, I'm honestly not sure when I fell in love with you." Amelia had to try so very hard to listen to him; the feel of their cheeks not quite touching and the feel of his chest that was still rock-hard (albiet not literally) made it hard to focus. "But one day, I realized that I no longer wanted my cure just for me. I wanted it for you too."
He seemed like he would keep going, but Amelia would have none of it. She freed her hand and gently placed a finger over his lips. "Sir? I would very much... like to kiss you now."
But that didn't happen.
He kissed her instead.
