Okay, here's the chapter I promised. Not too long, but long enough.
Well, read and review as always. Happy New Year!!
Amelia awoke the next morning in her own bed. She hadn't slept with Zelgadis since he had mostly recovered. She grasped the cool sheets and slid out of her bed. She silently lit the oil lamp on the bedside table and dressed. Once she was dressed in her normal traveling tunic and pants, she exited her room, down the hall, and stopped in front of Zelgadis' door. Quietly, she tapped the door with a finger.
"Zelgadis-san?" she asked softly.
"What?"
"It's Amelia. May I come in?"
"Yes."
Amelia creaked open the door and slid herself in. Zelgadis was sitting on his bed, fully dressed. His clothes and materials were all packed neatly and rested in a single burlap sack. A fire crackled quietly in the hearth, casting an orange light over everything. He looked up at her, as though expecting her to begin the conversation.
"Um," she started, not really having anything to say, "It looks like your ready, Zelgadis-san." He nodded. She hadn't planned on leaving just then, but he was looking for her to say something, so she asked, "Should we leave now? It's as good a time as any. We can leave some money for the innkeeper before we go."
He knelt down, picked up his sack, and in a single motion he heaved it over his shoulder. He took a step towards the princess who spoke. "Wait here for a moment while I get my things."
She tiptoed down the dark hallway, being careful not to wake anyone. Finally, she approached her own door. Quickly, she entered the room, scooped up her bag of supplies, and snuffed the oil lamp, which was still burning upon the bedside table.
Soon, the two had left, leaving extra coins for the innkeeper, so that he wouldn't be angry for staying longer than they should have. Five minutes in the storm and they were already soaking. They couldn't run, of course. They planned to travel all day, and knew that they would be exhausted within two hours. Instead they simply pressed on, pretending not to feel fatigue settling.
"Zelgadis-san," Amelia said curiously, having to shout over the storm, "this rain is so warm, isn't it?"
"Quite." He said, not sounding amused at all.
"But isn't it strange," she carried the conversation further, "I mean, I've never felt anything like this. It's almost.pleasant." She ended even more confused than earlier.
"Well, it is a bit odd," he replied loudly, "but I certainly doubt that anyone is doing this on purpose. Unless, of course, they're trying to lure us further from the town in this pleasant rain." He ended sarcastically, so she didn't inquire any further.
After a few moments, Amelia decided she needed to say something. She leaned over close to him so he could hear her without her shouting. "Zelgadis-san, why are you always so cold and sarcastic? I was only asking a question, and from my perspective at least, it wasn't very stupid one. It isn't fair that every time you don't know the answers, you try to make other people feel bad. I would appreciate it if you'd try to stop doing it."
The chimera simply nodded. Amelia knew he was probably feeling embarrassed still about showing such a weakness by crying, and then being sick. She was dying to know what had happened to make him cry. Not to be nosy, she just felt really, really bad, and she wanted to help him in some way. Sometimes she was just overwhelmed by these emotions, and that was when she cared for him the most. She knew that she was developing feelings for him, but she knew that even if he did return them, he would never admit it to anyone including himself. She sighed and continued to walk on alongside him, feeling the pelting rain.
The sun, or at least what Amelia thought was the sun, was beginning to set. The rain was coming down harder than ever. She was glad she had chosen such a rainproof shelter. She turned to her companion. "Zelgadis-san, we should probably set up the tent soon." He nodded. They spent the next half hour trying to figure out how to assemble such a complicated tent. After accidentally setting it up upside-down, Amelia figured it out. They took it apart once more, and set it up according to Amelia. After chanting the spell that came to with the tent, Amelia and Zelgadis crawled inside the opening, happy to be away from the rain. Inside it was high enough for Amelia to stand if she bent her head slightly. It was very, very large. Amelia didn't know what anyone would want to put in such a large tent. With much luxurious space remaining, they could probably fit a sleeping bag for everyone they ever traveled together with: Lina, Gourry, herself, Zelgadis, Prince Phil, Slyphiel, Xellos and Filia. Amelia still had not told Zelgadis about the one blanket. (A.N. Oh dear, he isn't going to like this, is he? Or perhaps he will. ^__^)
Amelia opened her sack, which was now sopping. She took out a handful of dried meats, pieces of fruit, and a loaf of bread from the inn. She handed him half of the loaf. He said nothing as he turned and ate it. She almost felt like crying, herself. Feeling sad the whole time, she set up their bed, consisting of two blankets on the bottom and the special blanket on top. She sat down again and ate her own bread silently, as well as some fruit. Finally, Zelgadis turned around.
"Amelia, what's that?"
"Our bed for tonight." She replied quietly.
"Our?" he asked sounding frustrated.
"Yes." She replied, trying to sound brave, "There weren't any other blankets at the store I went to."
"If you don't mind, I'm going to dry off." He said angrily, implying that she should look the other way. She heard him stomp off to the other side of the tent, muttering angrily to himself. She felt awful. They had been traveling in the rain all day; neither one of them felt to good right now. Now he was angry with her, all because she hadn't managed to find more than one blanket.
"Zelgadis-san, I tried really hard to get this one blanket." She said to the wall of the tent. "I'm sorry if you don't like it, but you don't know what it was like! I had to go to two different stores just to find it." She tried to keep her voice steady but she couldn't. "A-and then the lady at the shop said she didn't have another one like it, a-and-" Finally, she broke down sobbing. She put her head in her hands and cried. She heard the movement from behind her stop. Footsteps drew nearer, and she felt a trembling hand on her shoulder. Zelgadis knelt down beside her, and hesitated. It was clear he didn't know what to do. Finally, he spoke.
"It's okay, Amelia." He said carefully, "I really don't mind-I know you did your best. I'm just frustrated, I guess."
"But that-that isn't it, Zelgadis-san." she told him weakly, "I-I just." Something compelled her to go further, to go against her own judgment, and just tell him the truth. She didn't know what the consequences would be, but something in that moment made her say it. "I just want you to return the feelings I have for you, and, even if you couldn't, I want to at least be your friend. You could at least be nice to me and your other friends, too. You're lucky we stick with you. You don't act like you're our friend very much, and when you do, you seem to regret it. It doesn't make us feel very good when you make fun of us, or completely ignore us. Still, I know you're glad that we're your friends, but only in those glimpses of your caring side." She finished, breaking into more sobs.
"Amelia." was all he could manage.
She looked up into his eyes. They were full of hurt and self-pity. "I-I'm sorry, Zelgadis-san. I shouldn't have said those things about you. I'm glad I'm your friend, even if you do do some of those things."
"But I shouldn't do that. It isn't fair for you." He spoke the words softly, staring at a wrinkle in the floor of the tent, "I know I'm nasty and sarcastic a majority of the time, a-and it frustrates me. When- when you found me in that forest.I had finally broken down about it." His words were followed by quick intakes of breath, as though tears would spill from the already moist eyes of his. Meanwhile, Amelia's sobs were becoming gentler. She didn't look up at him, however, because she didn't want to embarrass him further. The princess could see that this was an extremely delicate moment. Her compassion was burning inside of her, but she could not show it, for fear of destroying the glimpse of sensitivity.
"Zelgadis-san." Amelia said softly, "I-I." She didn't know what to do. Part of her wanted to throw herself at him, to be in his arms and cry with him. She wanted to tell him how much she loved him, and let him cry in her arms. The other part of her told her to stay on the opposite side of the tent, and let him have some space. Still, she knew that even though he couldn't say it, or maybe he just refused to realize it, he was possibly the loneliest person she had ever met. If she did leave him, he might hate himself more than he already did. Finally, the first part won. She turned around and embraced him: passionately, this time. Not one of her hugs of justice, this time, she held him close because she loved him, and hated to see him hate himself.
"Zelgadis-san, don't hate yourself." She said. Tears of sympathy shone upon her face, as though she was the chimera, and she was the lonely one. "No one hates you, at least, not Lina and Gourry and everyone. Lots of people love you. You can't just ignore that, because, if you do, you will end up lonely!"
He was obviously shocked. When finally he registered all this, his unshed tears overflowed. They were hot against his stone skin. For a few long moments, they sat there: Amelia was in his arms, comforting him, as he cried about his loneliness. Spontaneously, Amelia cupped his face and brought him into a passionate kiss. Zelgadis stared at her blankly, then slowly melted into the warm kiss of the princess who sat beside him. Their tongues met. Amelia methodically memorized everything about his mouth. He slowly placed his arms on her back and caressed her gently. Amelia shuddered. Finally, she was in the arms of the one she loved.
When finally they broke apart, Amelia looked into his eyes and blushed crimson. She couldn't believe she had done that. She looked away, but as she did that, Zelgadis pulled her close for another kiss.
Amelia awoke the next morning in her own bed. She hadn't slept with Zelgadis since he had mostly recovered. She grasped the cool sheets and slid out of her bed. She silently lit the oil lamp on the bedside table and dressed. Once she was dressed in her normal traveling tunic and pants, she exited her room, down the hall, and stopped in front of Zelgadis' door. Quietly, she tapped the door with a finger.
"Zelgadis-san?" she asked softly.
"What?"
"It's Amelia. May I come in?"
"Yes."
Amelia creaked open the door and slid herself in. Zelgadis was sitting on his bed, fully dressed. His clothes and materials were all packed neatly and rested in a single burlap sack. A fire crackled quietly in the hearth, casting an orange light over everything. He looked up at her, as though expecting her to begin the conversation.
"Um," she started, not really having anything to say, "It looks like your ready, Zelgadis-san." He nodded. She hadn't planned on leaving just then, but he was looking for her to say something, so she asked, "Should we leave now? It's as good a time as any. We can leave some money for the innkeeper before we go."
He knelt down, picked up his sack, and in a single motion he heaved it over his shoulder. He took a step towards the princess who spoke. "Wait here for a moment while I get my things."
She tiptoed down the dark hallway, being careful not to wake anyone. Finally, she approached her own door. Quickly, she entered the room, scooped up her bag of supplies, and snuffed the oil lamp, which was still burning upon the bedside table.
Soon, the two had left, leaving extra coins for the innkeeper, so that he wouldn't be angry for staying longer than they should have. Five minutes in the storm and they were already soaking. They couldn't run, of course. They planned to travel all day, and knew that they would be exhausted within two hours. Instead they simply pressed on, pretending not to feel fatigue settling.
"Zelgadis-san," Amelia said curiously, having to shout over the storm, "this rain is so warm, isn't it?"
"Quite." He said, not sounding amused at all.
"But isn't it strange," she carried the conversation further, "I mean, I've never felt anything like this. It's almost.pleasant." She ended even more confused than earlier.
"Well, it is a bit odd," he replied loudly, "but I certainly doubt that anyone is doing this on purpose. Unless, of course, they're trying to lure us further from the town in this pleasant rain." He ended sarcastically, so she didn't inquire any further.
After a few moments, Amelia decided she needed to say something. She leaned over close to him so he could hear her without her shouting. "Zelgadis-san, why are you always so cold and sarcastic? I was only asking a question, and from my perspective at least, it wasn't very stupid one. It isn't fair that every time you don't know the answers, you try to make other people feel bad. I would appreciate it if you'd try to stop doing it."
The chimera simply nodded. Amelia knew he was probably feeling embarrassed still about showing such a weakness by crying, and then being sick. She was dying to know what had happened to make him cry. Not to be nosy, she just felt really, really bad, and she wanted to help him in some way. Sometimes she was just overwhelmed by these emotions, and that was when she cared for him the most. She knew that she was developing feelings for him, but she knew that even if he did return them, he would never admit it to anyone including himself. She sighed and continued to walk on alongside him, feeling the pelting rain.
The sun, or at least what Amelia thought was the sun, was beginning to set. The rain was coming down harder than ever. She was glad she had chosen such a rainproof shelter. She turned to her companion. "Zelgadis-san, we should probably set up the tent soon." He nodded. They spent the next half hour trying to figure out how to assemble such a complicated tent. After accidentally setting it up upside-down, Amelia figured it out. They took it apart once more, and set it up according to Amelia. After chanting the spell that came to with the tent, Amelia and Zelgadis crawled inside the opening, happy to be away from the rain. Inside it was high enough for Amelia to stand if she bent her head slightly. It was very, very large. Amelia didn't know what anyone would want to put in such a large tent. With much luxurious space remaining, they could probably fit a sleeping bag for everyone they ever traveled together with: Lina, Gourry, herself, Zelgadis, Prince Phil, Slyphiel, Xellos and Filia. Amelia still had not told Zelgadis about the one blanket. (A.N. Oh dear, he isn't going to like this, is he? Or perhaps he will. ^__^)
Amelia opened her sack, which was now sopping. She took out a handful of dried meats, pieces of fruit, and a loaf of bread from the inn. She handed him half of the loaf. He said nothing as he turned and ate it. She almost felt like crying, herself. Feeling sad the whole time, she set up their bed, consisting of two blankets on the bottom and the special blanket on top. She sat down again and ate her own bread silently, as well as some fruit. Finally, Zelgadis turned around.
"Amelia, what's that?"
"Our bed for tonight." She replied quietly.
"Our?" he asked sounding frustrated.
"Yes." She replied, trying to sound brave, "There weren't any other blankets at the store I went to."
"If you don't mind, I'm going to dry off." He said angrily, implying that she should look the other way. She heard him stomp off to the other side of the tent, muttering angrily to himself. She felt awful. They had been traveling in the rain all day; neither one of them felt to good right now. Now he was angry with her, all because she hadn't managed to find more than one blanket.
"Zelgadis-san, I tried really hard to get this one blanket." She said to the wall of the tent. "I'm sorry if you don't like it, but you don't know what it was like! I had to go to two different stores just to find it." She tried to keep her voice steady but she couldn't. "A-and then the lady at the shop said she didn't have another one like it, a-and-" Finally, she broke down sobbing. She put her head in her hands and cried. She heard the movement from behind her stop. Footsteps drew nearer, and she felt a trembling hand on her shoulder. Zelgadis knelt down beside her, and hesitated. It was clear he didn't know what to do. Finally, he spoke.
"It's okay, Amelia." He said carefully, "I really don't mind-I know you did your best. I'm just frustrated, I guess."
"But that-that isn't it, Zelgadis-san." she told him weakly, "I-I just." Something compelled her to go further, to go against her own judgment, and just tell him the truth. She didn't know what the consequences would be, but something in that moment made her say it. "I just want you to return the feelings I have for you, and, even if you couldn't, I want to at least be your friend. You could at least be nice to me and your other friends, too. You're lucky we stick with you. You don't act like you're our friend very much, and when you do, you seem to regret it. It doesn't make us feel very good when you make fun of us, or completely ignore us. Still, I know you're glad that we're your friends, but only in those glimpses of your caring side." She finished, breaking into more sobs.
"Amelia." was all he could manage.
She looked up into his eyes. They were full of hurt and self-pity. "I-I'm sorry, Zelgadis-san. I shouldn't have said those things about you. I'm glad I'm your friend, even if you do do some of those things."
"But I shouldn't do that. It isn't fair for you." He spoke the words softly, staring at a wrinkle in the floor of the tent, "I know I'm nasty and sarcastic a majority of the time, a-and it frustrates me. When- when you found me in that forest.I had finally broken down about it." His words were followed by quick intakes of breath, as though tears would spill from the already moist eyes of his. Meanwhile, Amelia's sobs were becoming gentler. She didn't look up at him, however, because she didn't want to embarrass him further. The princess could see that this was an extremely delicate moment. Her compassion was burning inside of her, but she could not show it, for fear of destroying the glimpse of sensitivity.
"Zelgadis-san." Amelia said softly, "I-I." She didn't know what to do. Part of her wanted to throw herself at him, to be in his arms and cry with him. She wanted to tell him how much she loved him, and let him cry in her arms. The other part of her told her to stay on the opposite side of the tent, and let him have some space. Still, she knew that even though he couldn't say it, or maybe he just refused to realize it, he was possibly the loneliest person she had ever met. If she did leave him, he might hate himself more than he already did. Finally, the first part won. She turned around and embraced him: passionately, this time. Not one of her hugs of justice, this time, she held him close because she loved him, and hated to see him hate himself.
"Zelgadis-san, don't hate yourself." She said. Tears of sympathy shone upon her face, as though she was the chimera, and she was the lonely one. "No one hates you, at least, not Lina and Gourry and everyone. Lots of people love you. You can't just ignore that, because, if you do, you will end up lonely!"
He was obviously shocked. When finally he registered all this, his unshed tears overflowed. They were hot against his stone skin. For a few long moments, they sat there: Amelia was in his arms, comforting him, as he cried about his loneliness. Spontaneously, Amelia cupped his face and brought him into a passionate kiss. Zelgadis stared at her blankly, then slowly melted into the warm kiss of the princess who sat beside him. Their tongues met. Amelia methodically memorized everything about his mouth. He slowly placed his arms on her back and caressed her gently. Amelia shuddered. Finally, she was in the arms of the one she loved.
When finally they broke apart, Amelia looked into his eyes and blushed crimson. She couldn't believe she had done that. She looked away, but as she did that, Zelgadis pulled her close for another kiss.
