Our First Fall

A Meliodas and Elizabeth story
Thank you Jesterbelle. You are a kind soul.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Belialuin

I sent off Squawks with a little note about going to Belialuin. I didn't give much information but enough to give Ludociel something to wonder about, plus I hoped the dumb bird would get lost on his way back to me. It would be like a vacation from my actual obligations to my clan, although I was already doing that by being here to an extent.

I would have to go back, and where would Meliodas fit into my life then?

Estarossa nosed at my hand on my thigh and I wiped at my tears with the other. "Don't worry." I tell the pup, "We'll figure it out." I know he had no idea what I was talking about, he only had some understanding that I was upset. Of course, he was coming with us to Belialuin. He'd been easiest to pack for since he didn't need anything outside of water and food.

Meliodas and I packed last night. It felt intimate having left half my clothes here with the dresses he'd given me. Like this was my home, his closet, mine too. He had a few more things to settle and sadly, I was stuck here in his rooms. No one came in here, they knew not too, but with my nervousness, I wished I could go see Mina or Polly. I thought the castle would be safe but Meliodas said he wasn't sure where the Commandments would appear and that seeing a goddess in their territory would be enough of a reason for them to attack.

He'd outlined every one. What they looked like, what their commandment was and how they got their powers. He'd told me some things before but this time, he was armoring me with as much information as he could. Fearing a situation arising where I would be against one of them. I thought he may have been being overly cautious, I've got on with almost all the demons I'd met so far.

I watched out the window, nothing seemed to be going on as it looked still out there. Mornings were so quiet here. It's the night when everyone is up and crashing about. I hoped the demons I've met here would be alright, even the ones I hadn't. The atmosphere feels different and my tummy rolls uneasily.

A soft knock sounded a moment before the door opened and in came Mina, actual clothes on and I smiled, meeting her in the middle of the room and clasping hands with her.

"Lord Master requested I attend to you." She said, head tilting to the side as if wondering what she could do for me, a hint of confusion.

"I wanted to see you," I tell her. "I can't leave here, with the Commandments back." She understands, eyes widening in fear from the mention of them.

Mina's grip on my hand increased in pressure. "What are you going to do?" We moved to the chairs as we talk and I don't tell her much, just that I'll be leaving soon. She's sad I'll miss Polly giving birth as 'Newborn Demons are so cute'. I laughed, thinking anything as a newborn was adorable. She can't stay long and too soon, we're hugging goodbye and she promised to pass on my farewells to Mr. Millian, Polly, Pip, and Pix if I don't see her before I go. There were others but those were the ones Mina would have consistent contact with.

"I'll miss you." Mina muttered me "Thank you, for everything and... I wish things were different." I smiled, tears welling.

"It will be!" I told her, determined. "The most important thing is achieving peace between our clans. I will do everything and anything to stop another war." We have a tearful goodbye. She stayed as long as she could and I knew she didn't want to go when she did.

After she's left, I turned, taking a few steps back into the room when the door opened again. I smiled, knowing it's Meliodas. I could sense his aura. "You're back!" I exclaimed, rushing to hug him and we embrace, holding each other as if we'd been separated for days and not mere hours. I rested my cheek on his head and he nuzzles against my collarbone.

"We have to go." He pulled away to gather the two bags stacked by the door and adjusted the position of his sword on his back. "Come on pup, stay close, Elizabeth."

"Right." I gave a quick last look around, saying goodbye internally as I followed Meliodas out. It's quiet and I hold on to Meliodas' shoulders as I followed him. We take a new route, heading away from the entrance. I thought we'd be leaving but it seemed like we were going deeper into the castle. I'd been all over and I wondered where we were heading. A few more turns and I knew it is to the experiment room, where weird jars and strange equipment were. I'd never been inside but Mina and I passed the room when the door had been open a few times.

A girl was in there, one I'd seen before, paws for hands and a wide ear to ear slit for a mouth. Pink hair sprouted from her head, and her short stature made her look almost childlike. "Oh, Lord Master, is it time already?" She cooed, her paw moving in a mock, slow swipe as if he had just complimented her too much.

"Peronia," Meliodas stated blandly in greeting. I gripped his shoulders, stepping closer and he called the dog over, who stopped at his feet, between us and the demon girl.

"The girl isn't part of-"

"Don't test me." Meliodas left no room for questions. He turned to reach around my waist and pulled me against his side, opposite the bags and moving around the hilt of his blade secured to his lower back. I adjusted, still holding his shoulders and looking at the little demon. She could use teleportation magic? Peronia sighed, sashaying over to the wall where a cloth drapery hung. Rows of shelves were on either side of it, a table with shackles to our right and a tub to the left. Between us and the drapery were strange etchings on the wooden floor.

The hairs on my arm rose, my inner warnings flared to life and feeling that way about magic, Belialuin would be more unsettling than this, judging from Meliodas description of the place.

The little demon's paws pulled the curtain back, it shimmered and behind it was a glass wall, with darkness swirling inside it with a figure? Shadowed and distant, it looked like the silhouette of a sitting man. It grew closer and when a light flashed briefly behind the man I could see chains binding him, crossing before the glass and stretching on into the distance in every direction.

A prison? A magic one? Or one in another realm?

"Meliodas!" The man inside the glass said, gliding in the chair. The closer it came the more I could make out, there were wheels on the seat. Was he shackled to a wheelchair or needed one? Everyone called Meliodas Lord, or Master or some version of it, this man called him by his first name. I flushed, telling from the man's tone that he was pleased to see him. "You've not visited in some time."

"Leave us." Meliodas ordered, and the pink haired demon whined, leaving with slow dragging feet. When the door shut behind her, he relaxed his grip around me. "Gowther, this is Elizabeth." He took my hand and together we walked to the glass, across the etchings. It was surreal as he said, "Elizabeth, this is Gowther."

"Forgive me for not standing." The man quipped as he came into view, demon mark under his right eye, blonde hair, gray eyes, and a goatee. He smiled and Meliodas laughed, looking into the prison.

"Oh. No please." I flushed, waving at nothing, releasing Meliodas "It's nice to meet you." He returned the greeting, smiling so kindly at me. Gowther turned his kind face to Meliodas and said, "I've been worried, you've not visited in some time."

"I'm sorry this isn't a social visit," Meliodas explained, putting his hand to the glass and the darkness inside pressed back so far it looked like a vast cavern of nothingness inside and the man, Gowther, relaxed with a long peaceful sigh. "We don't have long. Elizabeth is the daughter of the Supreme Deity." I flinched, seeing Gowther have a similar reaction. Meliodas must trust this man very much to tell him what he had expressly barred as the utmost secret. "We're going to Belialuin, to find Merlin and persuade her, but her decision will sway the tide of power between us."

"You have other reasons for going," Gowther said, leaning forward, elbows on his knees and Meliodas starts nodding in agreeance. "I can see it now..." He looked between us. "I wanted to send Gowther, but if you are going in his stead, that's acceptable." Send Gowther? I thought this was Gowther? Confused I looked to Meliodas but he was smiling at the man in the prison.

"You have a plan?" Meliodas inquired, and Gowther had no reaction at all, making Meliodas laugh. "Good, the smaller the circle the better. My priorities have shifted, anyways." I'm not sure why but both the demons looked at me and I flushed, mind blanking as if suddenly asked to speak in public. I didn't have anything to contribute here.

"Good luck, Meliodas." The man lamented, raising his hand toward us. "It was nice meeting you, Lady Elizabeth."

"You too, Gowther." Meliodas urged and for a second everything blurred. I flailed, latching on to Meliodas in fear but he was solid and here, and my racing heart calmed. The world unblurred and we were somewhere else. A mountain loomed before us and Estarossa growled, haunches up as he prowled at our feet. He'd lost his puppy fat, edging into adulthood but how this dog acted now, you would think he were master of his pack.

Trees were to our back, the sky overhead sparking, a clear film that reminded me of the perfect cube. We'd traveled far. I just knew. "Wow." I whispered and a muffled "Hhizabeff" Sounded from Meliodas. I looked down, realizing just how tightly I had clung. Even my legs were wrapped around him, my breasts suffocating his face.

"Oh, sorry." I stepped down, disentangled myself, flushed as he grinned at me. "I've never done anything like that before." My heart was still racing.

"First time? Hm." His features melted and his eyes grow heated. "I can't help but get excited, a naughty thrill, every time you say it." Oh. He adjusted the bags to his shoulder, taking my hand and turned to walk left, around the mountain.

"Gowther," I had so many questions, why was he stuck there? Was that a prison? What did Meliodas mean about having different priorities? but instead I said: "He's a good friend of yours."

"Yeah, the best one. Before I met you, we'd debate on ways to end the war. His views are much more passive and I see now, he is right. Manipulating and forcing, it won't work, or only work temporarily."

"So, you did want to end the war before we met," I said, grinning. I knew it.

"Of course, it's pointless to destroy each other." He looked around, then smiled softly, growing somber. "Doesn't change the fact that I set out to manipulate and use you for my own goals, regardless that your goals were in accord with mine. Not to mention how I planned to use your body."

"Well, I think it matters." I muttered, "and you use my body anyways." I joked. He didn't smile, just trudged us on and I frowned. "Meliodas... wouldn't it make sense, when I approached you in the beginning that I was persuading you to aid me? It's along the same vein, isn't it? So I'll share this burden with you."

Stunned, he stopped, looking up at me with wide, storming eyes.

"Whatever we have to do, to accomplish our goals, we'll do it together, yeah?" Slowly, his half grin spread. We started moving again, silent. I felt connected to Meliodas, not only with our ideals being in line but with more than that. I had more feelings for Meliodas than I'd ever had for another person.

He liked me, I knew that. He'd shown me in so many ways but, with how he spoke sometimes, and what I myself have seen... we both knew this was temporary. I thought of Lady Graelle then, her words long ago about having a love she couldn't have, so she decided to live on her own. If I couldn't have Meliodas, would I do that? Or would I settle for a lesser feeling of affection?

Either way, I'd carry my feelings, deeply and silently. It would just hurt us, to express ourselves with the inevitable crash awaiting our relationship. Our duties to our clans, we belonged to different Realms, for heaven sakes. A shiver shot up my spine, and I frowned, watching Estarossa stop. That's when I noticed it. We were before the city limits, the dark towers, homes, and buildings built on the side of the small highland. The architecture looked like it angled with the slope of the land, or as if the land had been pushed to raise the city up.

With the mountains around it, you wouldn't be able to see it from a distance. It was perfectly placed to stay hidden. Meliodas released my hand, arm out before me, keeping me behind him. My adrenaline coursed. Something in me said 'danger is near' but with subtle sparks of influence urging us to turn around or go in another direction.

"Do you... feel that?" I whispered, sensing something different than I've ever before.

"Yeah." He whispered back. Our dog jumped, running back at full sprint to skid to a halt. He spun his tail to us, shoulders down and braced as if about to attack. He too stayed silent.

We were still, waiting like this for long full moments, the magic consistent. The trees rustled with the wind and howled through the mountains. I sparked my magic, pulling it to my hand and slowly sank into a fighting stance. The tension rose, my breaths growing shallow and tight. "If it gets bad, run." Meliodas insisted.

"No." I declared, simple and firm. "Unless you run with me." I amended, not looking at him as I didn't want to turn away for a moment.

"Heh." He scoffed, still as stone. "Even with your naturally docile disposition... You're still stubborn when you want to be." He muttered.

"I save it for the important stuff." I joked tensely, inching closer and rotating to the right, so my back covered his just that much more. He chuckled under his breath.

"And the bedroom." He retorted, and I flushed, wondering when I had been stubborn there? "In the bath." He explained "and with the sponge. And when you seemed so determined to taste me... I'm still reeling."

"Now is not the time." I chided, my face on fire as I gave the space around me an exacerbated look as I wouldn't turn from where the danger seemed to be coming from. "And how can you point fingers Mr. 'I've decided it's time for your first orgasm' and then you do it without any explanation of what that would be like!"

"You brought me to swim, alone, stripped naked and you dived. Dived. The sight of your bare ass curving through the mist, the hint of bare pink poking through that sweet triangle gap in your thighs, it was obvious-"

A loud pop cracked through the air and in unison the two of us shifted in the direction, seeing a single cloaked figure. Magic radiated from whoever it was and with slow movements of their robbed hands, the hood was lowered. An old man, gray hair and wrinkles on his face stared at the pair of us.

"A goddess and a demon, together." The man's voice was rough with age, his words a mix between a statement and a question, but marked with heavy disbelief. Somehow, meeting his eyes, I knew we would be fine and I reabsorbed my magic, standing. The old man's blue gaze widened, surprised at me and looking to Meliodas as if to see what he would do. He didn't relax.

"It's a little strange, huh? With how things currently are." I noted kindly, smiling. "I'm Elizabeth, and these two are Meliodas and Estarossa." I waved over the dog and the demon.

"I'm Edmund, the chief here." The old man, with his forehead wrinkling, met my gaze again and his magic dissipated. The threatening aura was gone. Meliodas looks lost as if a pending fight had never been nipped in the bud like this when such power had already been displayed. I touched his hand, his outstretched giant broadsword swings up to rest on his shoulder, grip still firm. "If you are here for what I think you are here for, I think we may have a way to help each other."

Chief Edmund explained about their leader, having gone too far with an experiment and no amount of counter curses nor druid assistance will bring her forth from her madness. If I agreed to do all I could for her, then he would sanction us to stay in the city while we researched our own problem- how to balance our counteracting magic. Counteracting magic? I must have looked confused and Edmund took pity on us, "I'm assuming you're having difficulty conceiving. I've never heard of a demon-goddess, and I don't see how a child from the two would ever be created but if that's your wish..."

Woah! My hands flailed from alarm.

"No," Meliodas spoke, for the first time, grim. "Our goals are much loftier than conception."

"I doubt we can help you then." Edmund looked thoughtful, lifting his hood back up and I knew he would be leaving soon. Threads of his magic were sparking around him. "Still, our deal stands, if you want to pointlessly explore that vein of knowledge I won't stop you, the price is still the same- Save our Leader Yesmeralda."

Meliodas didn't say a word, but with one look I knew what he was telling me. I smiled, soft, realizing I knew him very well to understand him from his expression. He worried I wasn't well enough after my fever. I'd woken up yesterday, still warm but so much better. Meliodas didn't trust them; he didn't want this man to know I am weakened.

When Meliodas finally relented from my stare, his eyes swirling, I bent to kiss him and when I pulled away he rose up to keep us connected a second longer. "I agree, I'll try my best to help, but I want your guarantee we can stay as long as we want, and leave when we want as well." His hood dipped, and in a sudden flash, we were teleporting again.

"Gah!" I yelped, as unexpectedly, Meliodas pulls me to him, his hands each at a different thigh to wrap them around his waist and he tucked his face to my chest. He's firm as he held me to him. "I wasn't scared that time!" I scolded, but a soft 'nish, nish' laugh sounded from him into my breasts. I saw his sword, our bags and our pup around his feet. I flushed as a woman started screaming.

"Intruder! Uninvited guests in the house of Grenalds!" I turned, seeing a waif women, in a long stained nightdress and stringy hair a mess around her shoulders and down her back. "The flames eat at the sun and no one is alarmed!" She screamed, hands raised as she bows to the double doors to our right. Oh. my.

Estarossa whimpered and I think he had it about right, I feel the same little guy.

"Elizabeth," Edmund hushed, and I look across the round tower room. The ceiling pointed, vaulted with braces, the walls were bordered with a strange string of written words in another language, the floors dusty at the edges but clear in the center. A four poster bed stood out among shelves and shelves of books and scrap papers, both strewn about on every surface. The bench had stacks of loose paper, the chair and couch didn't have a spot for a single person to sit from the clutter of... notes? "This is Lady Yesmeralda Grenalds."

With reluctance, Meliodas released me, taking in the room and acting nonchalant as he strolled around. His arms came up, hands at the back of his neck, watching the crazy woman but pegging the old man as the real danger, roaming closer in his direction.

"Lady Yesmeralda?" I asked, seeing that Edmund wasn't making a move to help me beyond dropping me in here. There was no response, no recognition. She'd known there were intruders and she knew where the door was. I could tell she'd been calling for help in her own twisted way. Yesmeralda expected someone to come to her aid. I walked to her, stepping on diagram sketches and ripped notes. Before her, I offered her my hand. "Take it."

She doesn't respond. "Sometimes, when I go through my fevers, I can't distinguish between dreams and reality. I've seen things that weren't there. It's scary, but I always have help, people that care for me. I'd like to try to help you."

"The clocks tick in time... time... time..." I frown. Lady Yesmeralda was blank but her voice was chilling.

"A made up concept?" I guessed, grasping at straws to understand. She continued. Her voice bouncing as if to a metronome.

"Take a dip, the water's cold but alive." I sighed. Maybe I am giving her too much credit. She could just be spouting nonsense and if these people, who studied constantly, couldn't find a reason in her speech what chance did I have? Still, I knew she was in there. I waved a hand over her torso. "Wet, you're soaked in time, time, time."

"Sorry about this," I reached up fast to touch her forehead and just as my fingers make contact, her hand was gripping at my forearm, angry. It's too late, my healing magic had taken hold and we freeze as I fall into her insides. I shivered, groaning from the strain. It was cold, the goop like darkness sloped like water and time was still.

She'd been warning me. I felt with my magic, spreading my light and I knew instantly what experiment had gone wrong. Yesmeralda had been attempting to stop her ageing. What a bold thing to attempt. "Why would you want to live forever?" I whispered, the words echoing into nothingness as if I'd yelled into the deepest of wells.

I walked, the muck sticking to my feet and I frowned, the same view for miles and miles. My chest tightened and I sucked in a breath, I could see my exhale. It had gotten colder, much, much colder. Any change seemed good at this point and I followed the chill, fear gripping at my insides. The mud clung, my feet heavier and heavier until I slowed to a snail's pace. This magic wanted to keep me and the deeper I went the more I wondered, why fight this?

"Meliodas." I said, reminding myself the reason I needed to do this, what I had to return to. My light magic focused my mind clearer. Heavily, I pulled from the slime. "Meliodas." I said, firmer, and my thoughts focused. I repeated it, a mantra and it helped me fight the sticky magic.

The muck couldn't touch me, the darkness receded, my light illuminating the place as it wasn't able to take me over. I followed the cold trail for seemingly miles and it led to a girl, naked and coated in dark goo. She laid before me in the fetal position as if still trying to protect herself while already succumbed.

"No." My mantra stopped when suddenly the world under me shifted and everything was lost. For a moment a scream wrenched from my throat, painful in its pitch and my throat protested the abuse. Just as suddenly, the floor returned, the scene just as I left it.

"The flames eat at the sun..." I whispered, the girl was covered, like a swamp monster. The portion of her that should be her chest had its own dark glow. An orb shape, with a dark flame bouncing around. As I approached the mud fought me, sticking and clinging. "Time." I whispered, trying to piece this together. My spirit touched her, mirroring my body and as our connection was made I'm thrown back, gasping in pain but stifling it. "Flames." Tears stung in my eyes and I rushed back.

I removed every fleck of slime, I surrounded the woman with light, pushing back the darkness, purging it, and the black flame hissed ominously. It burned. An endless flame untouched by time. Did I destroy it? Would it harm her? "The flame eats at the sun." It's meaningless. You needed time to live, was the flame a replacement? A new magic to burn in its stead? It was the source of the slime. I watched as it dripped a brown splat between us.

The core of the flame was the unnatural source of her madness.

I didn't touch her spirit, I touched the flame and that same scream ripped from my throat, hoarse and violent. It burned, the flesh at my hand licking away but I funneled my purge into it, feeling it weaken. The pain receded and in a snap, I am back in the tower room. Instantly, my hand was ripped away from the woman's forehead and I am forced back, away.

Meliodas was before me, brows pinched while checking me over. His hands feel at my flesh, lifting my arms and under my wings as if taking a tally. My hand was unmarred, no damage and I flushed, hoping I hadn't said anything out loud when I'd been connecting to her spirit. "Oh, stop," I insisted, grabbing at Meliodas to get him to quit. He was just as bad at Estarossa, who circled me just as warily.

"I know where I went wrong," Yesmeralda spoke, her voice low and I flushed, my hands on Meliodas' shoulders tense. "I know how to correct for the variables. Oh, hello Edmund, and... who are you two? Wait, I remember you!" I didn't look away from Meliodas, his eyes clearing from black to green and I hoped he understood. He stepped forward, wrapping his arms around my waist and exhaling a long low breath in relief?

"You... actually did it," Edmund marveled, I barely register that they start discussing having a go at another attempt. My arms snake around Meliodas' shoulders and I spoke low.

"Time isn't a source of power, so replacing it with one won't work," I told them, wishing I hadn't spoken as Yesmeralda, with her dirty nightgown and stringy hair gathers a notebook and a pencil. She approached me as if to interview me and I knew I would refuse her. Living forever sounded like a curse, I couldn't aid that. "I'm sorry, but no." I tensed against Meliodas, wanting to leave.

"Oh, yes, you're probably exhausted." She snapped her fingers and when nothing happened, she looked to the door of the room with concealed anger. "Edmund, I task you with housing them in two of the solitary study shelters. My guests in my pursuit."

"Yes mam, I'm glad to have you back," Edmund replied and the two shared a hug, more platonic then ours as Meliodas' hands find their way over my behind.

"We'll just need one." Meliodas said, "the most secluded one."

"Really?" Yesmerald asked, her voice pitching high. "A demon and a goddess? Of course your both welcome but, together?" I flushed, as she continued "oh, the contradictory power, yeah that would be a problem." Would everyone assume we were trying to have a baby?

"They aren't here for that," Edmund chimed in. "I'll return to explain." He gave us a warning for the teleportation and Meliodas didn't release me. In a little blur, of which I was mostly used to by this third time, we arrived somewhere else. A moment later our bags, his sword, and Estarossa joined us. Edmund pointed to the little round hut covered in white stucco with a round pointed black roof.

Meliodas let go of me as I turned to look about. Other huts were in the distance. A row of them to the left, seeming to curve with the city's edge and with space between each. We were the last one, as the row ended to woods and the mountain peaked behind it. Edmund pointed out the well pump down the line to the left and the woodpile for fires. "This one isn't used too often as most of the researchers that need solitude want to be closer to the water. There is a wait list for those."

Edmund opened the door of the hut and I picked up our bags, heaving with the weight of Meliodas'. He laughed, taking it from me, our hands brushing one another's and I grew warm. Inside, everything was in one open room. A full bed, a desk with empty shelves on either side, a dusty fireplace with a few pots hanging on the wall above it and a set of chairs. The few windows were letting in the only light in here and it smelled stale.

"Thank you," I addressed Edmund but he waved it off.

"No, no, thank you. I'm sure Yesmeralda will come up with a reward for your efforts. That was some display of power." I flushed briefly, while he asked if we need anything and he promised to send a basket of food along while we got settled. As soon as he was gone I opened all the windows, Estarossa jumped on the bed and to the chairs.

"You're okay?" Meliodas asked, helping me take the blankets outside to shake, taking the opposite corners.

"Yeah, I think I'm done with fevers." I announced, hopefully. "I say that every time but I honestly feel good, and my power, it's like it receded from the shores and it's already rushing back." He smiled, the dust floated between us.

Meliodas must not have cleaned anything before as he mirrored whatever I did while helping me. I snuck little grazes of my body to his whenever I walked around him and with the place being so small, it took no time at all for it to be cleaned.

The place was raggedy, but it was nice.

"You are amazing, Elizabeth." Meliodas confessed, "I expected days of circling this place before we were approached, denied access or a fight and here you've managed to have the leader of this place owe you."

"Owe us." I corrected. "And it wasn't hard, you just have to listen, trust your gut about people." I shrugged, it was still midday and I wanted a bath from all that spirit-muck. The biggest thing in here is the pot for the fire and I couldn't fit in there. Hm. Sponge bath it was. Maybe Meliodas would help and I flushed, looking up at him.

"Oh, Elizabeth." Meliodas groaned, catching my look and his eyes darken, hand gripping at the front of his pants. How could he tell? My face caught fire and I covered my cheeks with my fingers. His grin turned wicked, before spotting the dog. "Out!" He commanded, shooing Estarossa and closing us in before setting his sights on my body, my heart raced with excitement and another emotion I didn't want to identify. Not yet.