Our First Fall

A Meliodas and Elizabeth story

Chapter Thirty-Six: Mission

In the middle of our two-day trip, flying low over the trees, we stopped for the night. I was expecting Meliodas to revert into his commander personality as he had with the demon troop, but he turned to Lion to lead. The other three knew Lion and everyone seemed more comfortable going to him. Meliodas seemed to prefer it that way.

Our mission was volunteer only, as apparently protecting humans came low priority, which I figured was why Ludociel allowed me to come. A show of me doing something in the war effort after years of me being against it and it got Meliodas off campus. Last night Meliodas had outlined the duties of our mission. Ludociel told him from the beginning, when I'd been dying before him, that he'd be sent to fight often and as far away as possible.

I told Meliodas he had been too useful to Ludociel and not to do that anymore. Meliodas laughed, eyes dancing and he'd kissed me on the bare shoulder before I said, "It's what I do, give him barely enough so he doesn't push. Ludociel is trying to get peace, so we are on the same side but he's... war hungry. Sacrificing others for his end means very little to him, he thinks it's justified. The cost isn't worth the end if no one is left." Meliodas listened, somber but agreed.

The town we were going to seemed on the trajectory of the attacks, it was our job to set up an escape route and hold off the demons long enough for the others to escape if it came to that. The six of us were adequate for the task. We were halfway in our journey when we stopped to set up camp. The lot of us were tired from the journey out, having flown ourselves quite a distance.

Two of the fighters went off into the woods to hunt for a meal and Meliodas started a fire. I wanted to be useful, so went in search of some fruit or mushrooms so we could skewer them. Meliodas smiled when I told him, Lion though frowned before Meliodas came to my defense with, "She can take on anything she comes across in these woods," and I flushed with the small praise. Most people coddled me, but not Meliodas. With my ocean of power just under the surface, I really could handle myself and it was nice to be on my own in the forest.

A little farther than I probably should be, I heard bubbling water in the distance. I followed the noise, not having found anything edible thus far. The trees grew lusher, green growth amidst the dark ground as it grew springy under my feet rather than firm. It was easier to find food walking, but I rose to a glide, creeping between the trees to find the source of the noise.

I found an oval spring. It bubbled in the center, about the size of my bedroom at the temple. The sides were rocks. As if the earth opened up here and water rose from its depths. Steam played in little swirls over the clear water and I rose over it, looking down. It was so clear you could see the rocky sides all the way to the bottom. In the deep distance of the water, I could spot green stringy plants and stones. With a fingers touch, I felt the temperature. Just under hot.

"Oh, that's nice," I whispered to no one.

I've flown all day... I refreshed myself and Meliodas, but soaking would be wonderful.

Maybe I should go back and tell them? No, Meliodas would just peek or try to join me and then it would turn into something more. We had troops with us, including Lion. Meliodas had to keep his hands to himself. I stripped, planning on a short dip, finding the appeal of soaking irresistible. With my dress and pants folded, I put the flower on top and glided over and then down into the water.

"Ahhh." I sighed in ease as I floated, weightless with the bubbles played at my wings, back, hair and thighs as I spun slowly in place from the movements of the water. Tears welled and fell into the water, glowing slightly but I let them trickle away. I'd been pushing down my sadness for Meliodas' sake, he had enough to deal with and I didn't want to add my problems to his when he shouldered so much right now.

If the roles were reversed I knew how I would feel in his place and... I wish they had been, that it had been me that gave everything up, to save him from this fate. This was the second mission where he was expected to kill his own. He had on the last one, I knew it as he refused to answer me when I had asked. I'd make sure I stood by his side in every fight from here on out. The water, already clear now shined with light sparkles, my glowing tears floating around me.

I closed my eyes, leaking sorrow at the cruelty of our fate. To have to fight so hard, give up so much, just to be together? I exhaled, shakily, wishing it could be easy. If I had been born anything other than a Goddess...

A stick snapped, so close and I flinched, sinking into the water. Two white faces were stark in the tree line and I screamed, cutting it short as I covered myself with my arms. The water was too clear and the light too bright for them not to see.

"Lady Elizabeth?" The one on the right asked, turning away and showing me his back but the other was open-mouthed, staring. Realization struck, they were the two hunters. They each had a pheasant in their hand. "Mael's gonna kill me." One hissed. Then I blinked and it was Meliodas' back blocking my view... or, rather their view. I heard his 'nish nish nish' chuckle and my face burned.

Why did I put myself in this position?

"I sympathize, it is so hard to look away... she's beyond lovely." Meliodas groaned low, seemingly unable to resist as he turned to look. "So bright in the dark." Meliodas' eyes roamed until they met mine and his smile faded. "But you've made her cry." He stated and then he's gone.

I looked toward the trees. I spotted a blur as one, then the other, are tossed overhand through the sky back towards our camp. Meliodas threw them away. I swiped at my tears, breathing out to release my extra emotions and I looked for him. With a little swim, I gripped the edge of the spring.

"Meliodas?" I whispered, suddenly feeling afraid of being alone in the dark now that I'd been snuck up on. He came through the trees where the other peepers had been, smiling as he took a seat before me, crossing his legs under himself.

"That's not the kind of trouble I expected to find you in." He joked, grinning back as he leaned forward to look down. "Your tears are little points of light..." Meliodas marveled, his face soft and in awe as he saw the depths of the spring, then follows up my body. His eyes explored me and I grew warmer still, smiling softly.

"Thank you," I whispered. He took off his shoes, rolled up his pants and dangled his feet in the water.

"I suppose I should expect the unexpected with you." Meliodas stated, "Our first mission together and I'm throwing around our allies." I sputtered an apology and he chuckled, shrugging. "I really don't blame them." He stared, not trying to be subtle and I splashed a little flick of water on him. Laughing as he gave me an exaggerated licking-his-lips look.

"We should get back," I said with a hint of a question, and Meliodas shrugged, laying down, hands behind his head as he looked to the sky.

"Stay as long as you like." He reassured, "If they come looking for us... we'll just be like this." The nerves eased as I really wouldn't stop him from touching me, and I tread water at the side. I rested my head on his knee to stop myself from floating away, anchoring me and being close to him in one motion. The sounds of nature filled the comfortable silence between us.

"I feel... like everything is going to be okay when I'm with you," I confessed to him, slipping my cheek across his knee to kiss him there, then settling back.

"Yeah..." he agreed, I could hear the smile in his voice.

When a few more peaceful moments passed I was ready to go and he pulled me out with minimal effort. He felt over my slick body with rough hands. I shivered, my wings quivering as I pulled away. We couldn't start that. He knew it too, prolonging it, but letting me go. He watched as I dressed, the flower tucked into my chest. "You're just as bad as the peepers!" I playfully said, looking at him staring.

"Worse." He promised and I shivered all the way down, feeling it in my core. I shook it off, grabbed my shoes and glided into the air. He walks back, nonchalant and I meandered, looking to the sky and my nerves built as I knew I'd have to face the others.

Grilled meat smells alerted me of our nearness and my belly rumbled. As soon as we came through the trees, me flying and Meliodas walking, the two others started apologizing.

"It's okay," I told them, face burning. "We surprised each other, I think." Yet none of us could meet the others eyes and Meliodas laughed, pulling me to sit by him at the fire. Lion gave us a skewer each with a piece of pheasant and I nibbled, suddenly not that hungry.

The others claimed they want to check out the spring too, that a bath would be nice before they were subjected to living among the humans. I frowned, watching them go. Lion stayed, watching after the men and when they were gone, he asked Meliodas if their side of the story was correct. It was pretty accurate, except they claimed Meliodas 'went demon on them' and I giggled. He was always a demon.

"I'm hers." Meliodas spoke, my heart soaring until he continued, explaining what he meant "as her knight, I had to do as she wished. She wanted a bath."

"You moved so quick when she screamed, like how you moved after our escape." Lion looked impressed, "Is that something you can teach?" Meliodas' hand reached over, touching my leg and I turned. His eyes were wide his face blanking. From the side, I couldn't tell what was wrong. Then the expression was gone and he chewed at his meat stick with nonchalance.

"When we're back at headquarters, I can show you some things." Lion seemed satisfied, spots Meliodas' hand on my leg and excused himself to 'check on the others' going toward the spring.

I abandoned my skewer, offering the rest to Meliodas and he took it, biting into it with a grin. "Where are we sleeping?" I asked and he pointed near the fire. I unrolled our bedrolls next to one another and when he's finished he tosses the stick aside, laying claim to the one on the outside by spreading out on it. Tentatively, I sat beside him on my own mat, I began working my fingers through my hair to ease out the tangles.

"Reminds me of our night under the stars," I whispered, smiling.

"Let me." He requested, sitting up and helping me untangle my locks. He ran his fingers through the long silver tresses and it felt intimate compared to my own harsher tugs. I liked when his calves moved to rest on either side of my hips, softly connecting us. Gently, he moved through my hair, going from scalp to tips long after the knots were handled.

"Meliodas?" I asked, and he 'hmm'd' an invitation to continue. "Now that we know what this flower is..." My hand comes up to touch it, moving the scarf to feel the silky petals "well... I know it's not what your people do, so I understand if you don't want to consume it. But, can we still... will you..." I flushed, covering my lips with my fingers to stop my fumbling. I'd already asked once, maybe I shouldn't offer it again. Not like this.

"Eager?" Warmth dripped in his voice.

"How can you not be?" I replied shyly, "I feel like we're running out of time." My voice dropped to a whisper, tears welling and his soft fingers stilled. He leaned forward, wrapping me in his arms and I relaxed back into him, curling my legs over his thigh as I turned into his torso. "Our parents are... you know... Neither will allow this. My mother was, is, furious."

"It doesn't matter what they allow," Meliodas determined, kissing my head. "We can stay here, make peace in Britannia and live among the humans if we have too." He sounded so sure as if he had this planned out for a while and it centered on us being together. My heart soared. "I'll always fight for us, as long as I breathe I'll protect what is most important to me." I sat up with a turn, my hands on his biceps to look at him.

"I feel the same way," I had the same firmness in my own voice. "No matter what happens, no matter who turns on you or who your enemies are, I will always be by your side."

I twisted, sitting between his legs to face him fully, my legs stretched to either side of his hips so we mirrored, a gap between us. His eyes were wide, full of swirling tenderness. "We're not running out of time," Meliodas assured, taking my hands between his and suddenly looking so vulnerable and young. "There's this thing... that demons do... It's an old way of doing things..." I'd said those words to him when I'd offered him my Bloom of Innocence. He took a deep breath, meeting my eyes with such warmth my heart squeezed.

"Elizabeth, would you bind yourself to me?" I flushed, his eyes were full of hope but his mouth was set in a nervous purse. Meliodas tone implied this was something important to him.

"Okay," I told him softly in response to his open show of feelings, smiling and pleased. His grin grew to a beam and his teeth shone as he dropped my hands, wrapped his arms around me and squished me to his chest in joy. I muttered against his shoulder "What does binding mean though?" I hushed and he froze, stunned laughter ringing loud in the silence around us. I had a guess but I wanted to know for sure to avoid embarrassment later.

"Oh, Elizabeth." He was still chuckling, pulling back to kiss my face, me leaning in from his embrace. Just as I'd done to him so many times before, he rained his affection on me and I soaked it in, feeling it like he did. Warmth bloomed in my chest, his kind assault to my skin with his tender lips, it was... nice. He explained between his kisses. "It's like your flower. We can do both. Binding is a way to be tied together, coupled, married. Whatever word you want, as long as the sentiment is the same."

I flushed, his kisses stopped as I smiled, my hands feeling their way to his neck. "Yes, please." I hushed, trying to feel it all, and I opened my eyes to see his, as his forehead touched mine. Could he see how I felt, I could see it in him... The warm, all-in, acceptance. We'd fight for us. I released him, sitting back and moving my scarf to removed my flower, ready. Meliodas put his hand on mine to still me.

"Later." He implored, and he looked toward the direction of the spring. Right. I repositioned the flower, fixing the scarf over it again, a little embarrassed. "We should get to sleep, we have to head out tomorrow and there is a slight chance we're going into a fight." His smile was stunning and my heart skipped a beat as we laid down, facing the other.

"What do we do to be... bound?" I inquired quietly, unsure if that was the right term. We were linked, as even on separate mats, him on his and me on mine, our hands weaved together between us and heads touch together.

"We say the vow, and tie our hands together. It's supposed to be witnessed." He squeezed my hand. "We hold hands like this, and with a cord or string, we wrap around the others wrist and hand to keep us together. Once, tied, we're supposed to consummate our union."

"All those jokes about what holding hands mean to a goddess and your people hold hands to bind together and couple." I mocked and he chuckled, eyes closing, his face crinkling in joy and I watched him. He was in a wonderful mood as if the weight he'd been carrying was lifted for the time being and I felt gooey inside because of it, knowing it was because he was excited to join.

"Fair." He hushed, eyes dancing when he met mine. We stared for a long while before his deviousness crept into his eyes. "Do you know the other terms for coupling, Elizabeth?" He puzzled and I flushed, already knowing what's about to come out of his mouth. A string of indecent words.

"Meliodas!" I warned, my face burned already and I tensed.

"Making love." He whispered and all the tension eased from my body.

"Truly?" I asked, gripping his hands tighter and looking into him. He smiled, soft and emotional. I felt like I was floating in that spring again, swirling in place with him, my anchor to the world.

"Truly." He confirmed and tears eased out, he released one of my hands to reach up and held the back of my head as my overfull emotions leaked from the corner of my eyes. I nodded, joyous, and I gripped my free fist onto his loose button up shirt at his middle as if, with my fingers, I could keep him here with me forever.

"Let's do that, then," I agreed. He nodded against my forehead, hushing me sweetly. He tucked the blanket up around me before returning his hand to the back of my head protectively. The other soldiers returned, seemingly trying to be quiet but Meliodas and I were still looking into one another, our fingers moving ever so slightly against the others.

If we'd been alone... I grew warm at my core and Meliodas' grin became crooked. How could he tell? I bit my lip. "Sleep." He whispered, thickly.

"But then... it will be a new day, and I like this one," I confessed to him quietly so it would not alert or disturb the others and he melted all the more. His eyes shone and his face relaxed.

"I feel the same way." He admitted, hand firm in mine. Arching forward, he kissed me so softly and our breathing mingled. My eyes closed, smelling him and I found myself drifting off, holding on to him while gliding into unconsciousness.

We woke early, hands still weaved and heads still together. Lion had gotten up first as he's the one calling out for us all to get moving. Before Meliodas moved, I stole a kiss, soft and quick then rolled away while detangling from him. I knew what needed to be packed up and I did my part, taking my own bags, putting dirt over the coals of the fire. I double checked we had everything before we headed out.

Our pace wasn't as punishing today and I fell back from the others, thinking about what Meliodas had said days ago. I'd been so nervous in that peace meeting and it hadn't helped that I had been distracted by Meliodas' hands roaming my body. Meliodas said... Grayroad made humans into lesser demons. Meliodas fell back to fly beside me when I didn't catch up. His dark wings didn't flap, but they glided him around like faerie wings. It used his magic, but he didn't seem to be anywhere near the end of his stores.

"What's bothering you?" He asked, over the wind, but not loud. "You've been off since we left."

"I've been thinking about what you said," I explained, adjusting my bag to have something to do with my hands and have a reason not to look at him. When I did look, I was surprised. His face was intentionally blank. "About Grayroads making red and gray demons from humans..." His expression opened as if he released a big held breath and I frowned, confused, before continuing. "Albions are just golems... so I thought the others... like the Ochre demon and such, were too."

"Albions are golems. Red, gray and the others like them are born from Grayroads or another like her. The rest are lesser demons." He explained, and my heart dropped. I couldn't look at him, shamed as I pinched my eyes closed to try and hold in my tears. They squeezed out in spite of my efforts and I scowled as I swiped them away with my forearm. Meliodas killed Zeno and Anarak for me, because of me. I wouldn't add this worry to him, Would he think I was silly for being upset over killing one Ochre demon, a human that had been morphed into something monstrous? Sure, it had been to buy the others time to escape but it didn't make it better. "Can they be saved?" I wondered aloud.

"I've never seen it done... Most of the red and gray demons I've interacted with have surrendered to the demon's call." I accepted his answer, moving to brush my wing across his and it quivered from the sensation.

Even if it took me a few tries, I would attempt to save them. "If we come across any, I'll try, I don't want them to die either," I determined and his responding warm smile was the pinnacle of my life, worth everything just to see it.

"You'll have to teach me how to appeal to hearts." Meliodas was hiding his face as he looked to the distance. "We're coming into a battle." He warned, fierce as he turned to me, "Be ready." He shot forward, speaking to the others and they rallied.

"We'll take their heads!" The brown haired peeper called out and I flushed, flying forward so I could look down and back at all of them, Meliodas included.

"You will listen!" I called out, determined and firm. "We are here to save lives. Save them! If a demon retreats you let them! I guarantee your lives, but if anyone responds to my reach into their hearts, then I guarantee their lives as well."

"You can reach hearts, Lion asks, "like The Deity?"

"How can you guarantee our lives?" And another answered for him "She can heal, flawlessly, she regrew a hand once, the full thing, swear it." I flush, looking to Meliodas and I stuttered in my flight at his expression. What did that face mean? Why did it make me feel... brave? With a shake, I turned to our people, hoping I could trust them to listen.

We were miles away when I spotted the smoke. I stretched my magic, reaching forward and I visualized my message. That we didn't want to fight, we wanted peace. To please leave the humans and their territories. I pushed, waited and tried again. Nothing, no response. Perhaps the distance interfered? Meliodas took to my side, brushing our wings as I had done earlier.

"If they were human, there is nothing left of them to save..." He explained, as if not wanting to break the news to me.

"There is always something left to save," I reaffirmed pleadingly, turning back to my task to try all the harder. We approached and the screams could be heard. This wasn't a battle, it was a massacre. The town was partially destroyed from the rubble, smashed buildings and splintered debris over the packed earth here. Judging from how far the destruction went, the attack just started.

Three red demons and a few handfuls of imp-like lesser ones were the attackers I saw. I sped up, Meliodas close to my side as we entered the city. These humans weren't warriors, yet some stood before the beasts with weapons. Bodies below were alive but... empty and the answer to my unasked question floated toward the nearest red demon, a wisp of a soul.

The little thing fluttered, a glowing orb with blue wisps licking out as if propelling it forward. It reminded me of a will-o-wisp, the night lights of the fairy forest that rarely sparked.

I called to the overly large red demons heart, to release the soul and when no answer came I barely activated my powers. Another pair of wings erupted at my back, ethereal. I intercepted the soul, lifting it up, turning to the red demon and searching for a way to save the human within. It roared, its hellfire erupting from its mouth and Meliodas grabbed my arm, spinning us out of its path. I used his interference to lead the fire up, away from the people by counteracting it with my own light. In this bease, there was nothing to save. "It's empty," I whispered and Meliodas blinked away, slicing through the demon as if it were butter.

He's graceful, a man with a mark, the killing blow over so quick there was a kind of beauty to it.

I knew when another had spotted me and I dangled myself as bait, wanting the next red demon to focus on us, to turn away from the townspeople. Meliodas yelled at me to move as two beams shot from the eyes of the beast but with little effort, I used my light to filter its dark magic out. A shield that filtered the attack into a gentle breeze. I called to the person inside... again there is nothing.

Maybe the Red demons were born from human corpses? I'd have to get more details. I appealed to its heart, knowing it was useless but trying anyway. If it had a soul, any feelings at all, then I could attempt to reverse it. Meliodas sliced it down and I paused for his second-long kill to wait for him before I went after the third. I hadn't before and it seemed to worry him. With the break, I searched for our allies. The other angels were taking out the imps, corralling the humans away from the thick of it.

I reinvigorated the other fighters as I flew over and in a jolt, I came face to face with the big, floppy red demon, his bulging mass reaching forward to grab me. In an instant the arm was sliced off, Meliodas' Giant broadsword flashing before me. It screamed internally and I floundered, not sure how to help. Something was inside of this massive red demon, affected. It wasn't like a poison I could remove, not something simple. This person was... distressed, mindless in their madness and I crossed my forearms before me, preparing my magic to eradicate the darkness, flying in front of Meliodas in case he had a reaction to what I was about to try.

"I'm sorry." I whispered to the beast and took a breath to yell "Let there be Light!" My ethereal wings spread as blinding light erupted forward. Too powerful, too much and the red demon sizzled smaller, the blobby dark bits leaking from its body like bubbling steam. My attack reminded me of Meliodas frying Zeno like bacon. The Demon before me shrunk and shrunk until a small, pale body was left. The little person was lying in an oval of meadow flowers, a byproduct of my magic. I dropped to it, feeling Meliodas follow as I checked over the body... but they were dead. Long dead. Something inside of me withered.

She's wounded, lifeless and I wondered if there had been peace for her in the end. The screams died down, the clashing ceased and I knew what it meant when Meliodas adjusted his blade hilt to prop against his shoulder, his giant sword spanned long into the air above us. The fighting was over. A blimp of a battle.

"Don't cry," Meliodas tried to comfort me while helping me up. I hadn't realized I'd started and I wondered when I had through the course of my first personal taste of fighting while our clans clashed. I wiped them away.

"I... can't seem to do anything right," I whispered.

"Elizabeth." Meliodas took my hand in an attempt to reassure and I smiled at him, breathing a deep breath and nodding. "You were wonderful. Your power is... beyond my own, I could sense so much when you took her darkness away." I didn't answer, knowing if I would have saved just one of them, I might have believed him. I heard a piece of her, the woman that had been trapped inside the beast. I'd have to talk it through with him later. After we sorted this town out.

Maybe I had removed the darkness too quickly?

Lion and the others thanked me, asking me how I could keep their wounds to a minimum and I tried to explain the aura of ill intent that I could pick out. In the end, I just told him it wasn't a problem and I started on healing the villagers. Some stronger souls found their way back to their bodies but others were shells, their spark of life having been devoured. Meliodas informed Lion this attack was most likely a distraction, simply a diversion so we wouldn't notice something else. "Sending such paltry demons to collect souls... they can't be this desperate. That's all I know from this, I'm going to stay with Elizabeth, tell the others what you want."

And he did stay with me, moving the injured to and from. When the more pressing needs were met we set up a church to bring in more wounded as they came. Meliodas abandoned his weapon outside of it, wedged into the ground. He was good with kids, sympathetic to those devastated by the loss but always boomeranged back to my side. By nightfall, we were done, the other Goddesses having already told us we'd been given rooms at a tavern that only had a wall or two destroyed. That's where they would be staying, but the only nun left in this church told us there was a bell tower room available. After a short discussion, we headed there, in case I was needed in the night.

"You know... I wasn't in any danger in that fight." I tiredly told Meliodas as we climbed the rickety wooden stairs spiraling up.

"Yeah." He conceded, smiling at me a step behind. "It was strange for me to not kill everything that threatened you. To fight without relying on my demon side."

"I don't want you to have to fight... but Meliodas, I want you to live. If you have to kill I will share that burden with you." He stopped, looking up at me with such starkness I blinked in alarm, trying to understand what he was feeling but I'm not quick enough as he smiled, melting into the liquid emerald tenderness I loved to see in him. We continued until we reached the landing before the doorless room, a cobweb in the corner of the archway.

"I want to save them and with you at my side, at your power level, I think we can." He took a breath as we enter the little dusty room. A single twin bed was positioned in the middle. I suppose you have to put it in the center as all the walls were curved, "But... Elizabeth, most demons aren't like me. They don't want peace, they want to overpower, to annihilate. It would take just shy of a miracle to save them. Demons fight, for one thing, something in their hearts and if they don't have that, there is nothing to appeal to. But those with revenge, or protection, or with a solid goal... Demons can be-"

"Just like Goddesses." I finished for him, "Everyone fights for something. I never had something to fight for, so I always handled the aftermath, healing those left behind..." I sat on the bed truly edging into exhaustion, Meliodas stood before me and I peeked up at him. "I have something to fight for now, I understand their desperation." I reached forward, my palm touched the side of his torso and a heart thumped under my fingers.

"Me too." He whispered, bending down to kiss me.