Chapter 10: The Storm
Been looking everywhere for you
I follow the sound of your innocent laughter
And it guided me in the right way
Even if every piece of you disappeared
And if it scattered everywhere
No, I won't waver, I will start back at one
Look for you all over again
Elizabeth ran down the hallway, heading back to the courtyard of the castle. "Meliodas!" she panted, holding her skirts as she hurried, flinging open the door and spilling out into the twilight. "Meliodas! I won't forget! I won't forget, Meliodas!"
She elbowed her way through the crowd that was gathering, the citizens of Liones milling about as they greeted one another and were directed towards the tower by the guards. "Meliodas, Meliodas, Meliodas," she said to herself, over and over, like a chant. "Your name is Meliodas, I won't forget, I won't ever forget. Meliodas."
People were pointing at the sky, the comet just coming into view. Elizabeth ran around the groups forming and headed towards the stone steps that would take her up, up, towards the trellis that led to the tower that would soon be filled with people and fire. Briefly she paused, searching for her friends, when she spotted Howzer's blonde hair. "Howzer!" she called, waving a hand, and the knight turned as she hurried over.
Elizabeth stopped, panting with her hands on her knees. "Where have you been?" he cried. "We looked all over for you."
"Sorry," she answered, catching her breath. "He says sorry."
"He? He who?"
"Me!" Elizabeth looked up with wide eyes.
Howzer shrugged. "Explain it to me later. Let's go."
Together they took off again, running to the other end of the trellis but trying not to look like they were running. There were some disapproving stares from the nobles gathering and a shout from one of the Holy Knights, but the two friends ignored them as they hurried. "Here," Howzer said finally, pulling her towards the railing.
This little section was nearly deserted, the angle not right for looking at the comet, blocked by the main building of the castle. After a quick sweep to make sure they were alone, Elizabeth looked down to see more people, gulping at the children who zipped excitedly around their parents. "Where is Jericho?" she asked.
"On the other side," he answered, nodding towards the opposing trellis that wrapped around the castle. "We practiced earlier, and we can get maximum effect if we are on different angles." Howzer looked at Elizabeth and raised an eyebrow. "Still sure about this?"
"Yes," she said firmly.
"The Holy Knights are really going to attack?" His voice shook just a tiny bit. "They are going to raise a demon and…"
Elizabeth nodded. "I saw it with my own eyes."
Howzer blinked, and then smiled. "I guess we're all criminals now then."
He leaned back, raising an arm, as if to look up at the sky; but Elizabeth noticed he had a smaller version of his lance in his hand. "Rising Tornado," he called, firmly but quietly.
At once the air began to move, and Elizabeth pushed her hair back. Her fingertip brushed the bead now hanging from her ear, and the feel of it gave her new confidence. "Meliodas," she whispered again, sucking in a deep breath as the winds picked up speed. This was the right thing to do, even if it meant breaking the curse, and even if breaking the curse meant they would lose their memories of one another.
But I won't, she thought to herself. I'll never forget. I'll find you, when this is all over. I'll find you, Meliodas.
Elizabeth glanced over the railing again. People were looking around, clutching their hats and cloaks around them, grabbing hands of little ones. She was pleased to see the reactions to the ever-increasing winds, but they were laughing, surprised more than alarmed. Many were moving even closer to the castle, still pointing up towards the comet in the sky. Now they just needed to get them moving.
"Is this going to work?" she called at Howzer.
He shrugged. "Hell if I know."
"Princess Elizabeth!" she turned at the sound of her name, seeing a Holy Knight heading towards them.
Quickly she moved towards him, not wanting him to see what Howzer was doing. Her dress whipped around her and she stumbled a bit against the force of the winds. "Yes? What is it?" she yelled, her voice thin over the rushing air.
"Sir Hendrickson says you are to be protected!" the knight shouted back. "You are to stay with me!"
"I have protection!" she called, pointing behind her. "You need to get these people out of here, there is a storm coming!"
The knight frowned, looking up. "A storm?" he said. "It's just a bit of wind, it's—"
Then, at once, the ice began to fall. People began shouting in surprise, and Elizabeth winced as ice pellets began pelting her arms and head. Then the winds picked up, swirling the precipitation around, and the princess found herself nearly blinded with the ice and snow, the calls of the citizens around her faint through the howling of the wind.
"I've got you!" Howzer's hand was on her arm, and he tugged her away from the Holy Knight and back towards the castle. "Let's go, we gotta get these people out of here!"
Elizabeth clutched at him to steady herself, and together they took off back towards the crowd, shouting as they went, "Move! Go! Get out of the castle, it's not safe!"
The storm was raging now, snow beginning to lay at their feet. Elizabeth slipped a bit as they hurried down the steps, gasping as Howzer kept her upright. "Go, move!" he yelled, letting her go to making a shooing motion with his hands. Citizens turned and looked in confusion, holding on to each other for balance as they milled around, trying to figure out what to do. "Everyone! Run! Go, get out of here!"
"It's not safe! Run, please!" Elizabeth called.
Yet still the storm was causing more confusion than panic. There were even a few people laughing, scooping up snow to throw at one another, and Howzer stopped and grabbed Elizabeth by her shoulder to steady them both. "It's not working," he growled in frustration. "Elizabeth, we need to think of something!"
She turned and looked at him, and saw a look of shock register on his face. Just then, she felt the first tear fall, then another, the stream of water like fire on her freezing and flushed cheeks. Elizabeth gasped, and Howzer leaned in to examine her. "What's wrong?"
"What is it?" She blinked at him, snowflakes falling on her lashes, and choked back a sob. "I can't remember what his name is anymore!"
Howzer took a deep breath, and then his brows drew down. "What is with you?" he hissed, waving his hand angrily. "You're the one who started all of this!" People were starting to look, and Elizabeth took a step back, her body trembling. "We can't evacuate these people without the Holy Knights," he went on. "So get going. You have to convince the king."
Elizabeth huffed a breath and nodded, knowing he was right. She spun and took off, hurrying as fast as she could through the crowd, and heard Howzer calling behind her, "Everyone! Go! The storm is only getting worse, get out of the castle!"
The steps were slippery but Elizabeth took no heed. She heard someone call her name, but down she went, jumping the last few and landing hard on her knees. With a grunt she was up again, brushing off hands that reached out to help her. Ignoring the way her legs were now screaming, she continued on, turning a corner to find the closest entrance into the main castle, wanting the fastest route to the throne room—
When suddenly, the storm stopped.
"No," she whispered, looking up. So did everyone else, standing and looking at the sky that was now clearing of snow. Elizabeth whirled around, searching back the way she had come, but could not see anything over the crowd. "They must have gotten Howzer and Jericho," she moaned to herself.
"May I have your attention!" Everyone turned, including Elizabeth, to see Great Holy Knight Hendrickson standing above on the trellis. "The storm is now over. Just a prank by a few of our younger ones. They will be dealt with, but in the meantime, we must ask that everyone stay exactly where they are."
The crowd murmured, and Elizabeth swallowed thickly, shaking a bit in fear. He looked out over the crowd, and then his eyes landed on her. "Stay just right there," the knight finished with a smile. "We need to make sure everyone involved is apprehended."
Elizabeth gasped. Once more she hurried, but this time she went in the opposite direction, her fear pushing her through the crowds now standing and chatting. The light in the sky from the comet was growing, and she knew now it was just a matter of time; she had to get to her father now, before it was too late.
There was another way into the castle, a side door that would cut out a bit of the crowd and make it easier for her to get to the throne room. This is the direction in which she now headed, and Elizabeth hurried down the steps of the castle, through the door and into the tower.
Thankfully, it was completely deserted. The only sound was her frantic breathing, her panting echoing with her footsteps as she rounded another corner and took off down one corridor after another, grateful for once that everyone was outside. Through the castle she hurried, her lungs screaming and her body trembling, her legs sore, her head pounding. The comet was getting closer, and she strained to hear the sounds of screams at any moment. She had to get to him.
"Who?"
The question echoed in her mind as she hurried up a set of stairs, two at a time.
"Who? Who is he?"
Elizabeth panted when she reached the top, pushing herself to keep going, keep running.
He's someone precious. Someone precious to me.
Someone I shouldn't forget. Someone I didn't want to forget!
Elizabeth choked back a cry, skidding down another set of steps, then running, running, as the question echoed in her mind and she gasped out, "Who? Who are you?" Tears began to fall again, blurring her vision. "What's your name?"
Her foot caught on the floor, and Elizabeth cried out. Then she was falling down the stairs, rolling over the stone, unable to stop herself as her body bounced over and over again.
Finally, she came to a stop. Every part of her hurt, her head pounding; cuts dotted her skin, screaming and smarting, her right hip aching, her ankle throbbing. Elizabeth huffed out a breath and curled onto her side, sinking against the cold and silent stone floor. Her eyes were closed, and she focused on breathing, trying to ignore the pain as the sweat on her skin began to sting.
"I have an idea. Let's write our names down. That way, when this is over, we'll be sure to remember."
His voice was loud and clear in her mind, as though he was there, standing right next to her. Who? Whose voice is that?
Elizabeth sighed and opened her eyes. In front of her was her hand, scraped and bleeding on one side, her fingers clenched into a fist. She heaved one deep breath after another, staring at her hand, before slowly, slowly, she uncurled it.
On her palm, written in black ink, in a script as familiar to her now as her own, were the words: I love you.
Elizabeth's eyes went wide. Carefully she sat up, feeling a tear slide down her cheek and drip from her nose. She stared at the writing on her palm as her chest shook with each breath. Then she climbed to her feet, limping slightly as she leaned on one foot, favoring the tender ankle that was throbbing with her weight.
Once more she looked at her palm, and as more tears began to fall, she gave a little laugh. "This won't help," she whimpered.
She closed her fist and pressed it against her forehead, wanting to be close to him, clinging to this last bit that she had. "This won't help me remember your name," she said sadly.
For a moment she stood there, quietly weeping. Who? Who are you?
She couldn't remember. His name was gone. But what she did know was her own, and what she had to do.
Elizabeth sucked in a breath and began running. New determination silenced her protesting body as she fled down the halls, pushing herself as she got closer and closer to the throne room, until she was there, pushing open the door, nearly falling inside.
"Father!" she called as she stumbled, grabbing onto the doors as she leaned over to catch her breath.
Veronica and Margaret were there, as well as a few Holy Knights, and all turned to look at her. But when Elizabeth looked up, she stared straight at the king, who slowly stood from his throne. "Elizabeth," he scolded. "Don't tell me you're back."
She stood tall, squared her shoulders, and strode into the room. She watched as the king gasped, taking a step backwards, but Elizabeth was determined, and would not be turned away. Not this time.
On the roof of the Boar Hat, Meliodas sat with Hawk, watching the comet streak across the sky. He raised a mug of ale and took a sip, leaning back a bit on his elbows so he could relax.
"It's amazing!" Hawk squealed. "I'm so glad we closed early, we couldn't miss this!"
"Right as always," Meliodas sighed. The bright blue that streaked through the sky was beautiful, and it stirred something inside of him. "It's almost like… something out of a dream," he went on. "Nothing more or less than a breathtaking view."
The two companions watched as the comet continued its journey, sitting in a comfortable silence. Meliodas took another sip, and then reached into his pocket absentmindedly. His fingers brushed a little round object, and as he and Hawk enjoyed the sight of the comet, he rolled it between his fingers, his heart pounding with unexplainable joy.