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Chapter 19 - Requiem For My Mother
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Meliodas squinted to the white armor dress that the style was similar with his daughter's wedding gown "what is this, Lily?".
Lily blushed, feeling ticklish on her nape "ah, actually... I designed it myself".
Arthur clarified "in my troops, she's been known as 'Saber Lily' because of her image that looked like the newly-blooming white Lily despite her being ferocious in the battle".
Lily teasingly touched his cheek and smiled "say the one who learned to fight from me?".
Arthur blushed. Damn, he thought she was so beautiful in her white armor dress, even more so in her wedding dress that he could kiss her right now, just if Meliodas and her family weren't here. As if she wasn't thinking the very same mind. She could kiss him now just if her father wasn't watching them.
As if he could hear his mind, Meliodas cleared his throat "save the kiss for the wedding later, kids".
Both Arthur and Lily blushed before Lily asked "um, Arthur... not that I mind, but are you sure to hold our wedding now? I don't think this is the perfect time to hold the wedding".
"what's the problem? Well, I get it, Lily. With the invasion of Demon Clan and Camelot is still under the Demon Clan's clutch, perhaps this is not the perfect time to marry", Arthur took her hands "however, I don't know what's gonna happen in the future. I do want to spend the rest of my life with you and like people said, we're still young. Who know what will happen in the future? No guarantee that one of us will survive or die tomorrow, so when we still have time, I want to properly ask you to be mine as a man and my Queen as a King".
"let's try to be positive. We're gonna survive and we will rebuild Camelot together", Lily smiled and leaned her forehead on his, intertwining their fingers "we have to".
Arthur smiled cheekily "yeah, you're right".
Meliodas cleared his throat, again "a-hem. Time to go, kids".
Well, Lily and Arthur planned to marry secretly, in modest way. It was not glorious wedding as the King with his soon-to-be-Queen supposed to have, because it was only simple wedding (contemplating the Demon's invasion etc) with their family, best or close friends, fellow comrades, Holy Knights and people who fought together with them. Thanks to King Baltra who offered his castle and even helped them to get the Head Bishop from Canterbury for blessing of their wedding. Lily and Arthur weren't sure of people's reactions but thankfully, their wedding in the Capital of Liones Kingdom, to be more precise in Liones Castle, was accepted open-heartedly by the people here due to their reputations. They were surprised though when people from Giant Clan and Fairy Clan also joined to celebrate their wedding which led by Gloxinia and Dolor. Former First Fairy King and Former First Giant King didn't want to lose the wedding of the daughter from their best friends, they said.
Lily felt tired just from imagining how grand it would be in case they held the glorious wedding like the one they were supposed to have "perhaps I should be grateful at least, to have our wedding in modest way and not the glorious one".
Arthur blinked "is there any problem? I don't mind at all if we have the glorious wedding. In fact, I want to make all people see how beautiful you are on our wedding—".
Lily blushed and covered his mouth "enough before you make me embarrassing further".
In their wedding before the marriage vow, Arthur had given the short speech, holding Lily's hand "I know perhaps any of you who think that this is not the right time to hold the wedding but we're gonna take back the Camelot Kingdom and we don't know whether. We're married not because of we're afraid that one of us will die in the future battle but to fight together with the resolve to win over and take back the Camelot Kingdom, so we can rebuild Camelot Kingdom together as the King and Queen of Camelot Kingdom".
"for the sake of Britannia and our people's future, we do aware that we are not allowed to die, so let's make this wedding as remainder for us", Lily stepped forward and squeezed Arthur's hand, one hand holding the bouquet of white Lilies "don't be afraid. Remember it and carve it in your heart when you raise your sword and fight in the battlefield of upcoming Holy War. We still have home, a place where our family waiting for us to go home".
Holy Knights and all people of all Clans (human, Fairy and Giant) who gathered this day to celebrate their wedding cheered loudly after listening to their speech, the young King of Camelot and soon-to-be Queen of Camelot Kingdom. After the marriage vow and the Head Bishop of Canterbury announced them as husband and wife, they kissed. People cheered louder when Arthur carried her bridal style and earning her delightful squeal. Lily wrapped her hand around his shoulder before she threw the bouquet which landing on Guinevere and Lancelot's hands. It invited louder cheers and jeering from people here before they teased Guinevere and Lancelot about when was their wedding.
"nice speech to raise their morale, Lily, Arthur", Meliodas approached them on the banquet. He wrapped his arm around their shoulders when they crouched in front of him "as your father, I only ask one thing: take care of each other and please, be happy".
Lily smiled and patted his back "thank you so much, father. Actually, without your blessing, perhaps we couldn't get married".
Arthur clarified "well, actually it's your father's idea to hold our wedding this fast".
Lily stunned "you did?!".
Meliodas crossed his arms before his chest with unimpressed expression "well, what do you expect of me? Do you think I don't know that you have slept with him? I just want to prevent the baby's too fast arrival".
Arthur flinched before averting his eyes, coughing awkwardly. Lily blushed furiously, lowering her head further and apologized because it happened before they married, to be more precise, the very first night under the rain after Meliodas resurrected when Meliodas and Elizabeth spent time together on the ruins of Boar Hat. It was unlike Meliodas could say anything about his children were having fun with their lovers when he himself was also cuddling with Elizabeth in bed.
The plan was, Lily and Arthur accompanied by Guinevere, Lancelot, Tristan and Isolde would sneak into the Capital of Camelot Kingdom when Elizabeth and the Seven Deadly Sins acted as the bait. The Sins and Elizabeth went to Corand. However, something went terribly wrong. Guinevere, Tristan and Lily could tell, they felt it and they asked their lovers to go straight to Camelot Kingdom. Isolde had a hunch feeling about what was this because before they decided to disperse, Tristan told her to tell Arthur and Lancelot about everything in case 'the worst has come to the worst'. Arthur and Lancelot had no clue about what happened, so they decided to believe them, not to mention the siblings would be okay as long as they were together and took care of each other. Meliodas and the Sins also were there, so they would be okay.
When Lily, Tristan and Guinevere arrived on the Boar Hat, they found Meliodas sitting on the side of the bed where Elizabeth was sleeping "the worst has come to the worst".
Tristan, Guinevere and Lily knew it really, what was it meant. They just didn't anticipate this would come this fast.
Tristan punched the wall hardly "again, huh? It must be delightful for them to witness our sufferings".
King wondered "who?".
Lily thought there was no point to hide this anymore "...our grandparents, Supreme Deity and Demon King".
After explaining about their parents' curses, they went to the part of the curses on them as their parents' children. Demon King and Supreme Deity had settled it in the curses on their parents, in case they had ever had children, they were gonna affected by the curses. The different was, the curses on their children was just like double-edged sword. Their children would earn the 'glory' and the 'calamity'. For the 'glory' part, mostly they would earn magic power, wealth or sort-of. However, the more 'glory' they had, the greater 'calamity' they would earn. For Lily and Tristan, they already knew about how their curses would affect them but Guinevere was the different case. Guinevere had earned 'Regeneration' ability where all her wounds would heal immediately and she also could make magic power from other people, be it her enemy or her friend, become hers with her ability 'Blessing Of Queen Bee'. However, when Elizabeth died, Guinevere's time would move backwards and she would shrink back into baby. Guinevere hadn't thought she was in the utmost danger because in case Elizabeth died, this time Lily's brain would explode.
Lily grabbed Guinevere's biceps "but you are pregnant!".
WHAT!?
Because she was pregnant, she was banned from the fight. Obviously Guinevere did felt it when the fight between her father was occurred but she couldn't leave Boar Hat due to her father's strict order, not to mention her siblings the twin had gone to the Corand. When they were back with their already awakened mother, Guinevere hugged Elizabeth and cried. The same thing Lily and Tristan had done in Corand.
"not only mother has regained her past-lives memories back, which means mother is gonna die in three days after she remembered everything due to her curse, but even father also lost all his emotions after using his Assault Mode, while it's not been that long ever since he's dead and resurrected back to life?", Guinevere tapped her biceps, turning to Lily and Tristan "how could this happen?".
"Melascula, she's got hold of father and she used father to fight against us in the battle. Escanor could stop and defeat father on their death match, but they're injured terribly. The damage Escanor has taken even more fatal than father's injuries. Well, Merlin could take care of them for now", Tristan leaned his back on the wall "bad enough the Demon King takes his emotions away each time he died, he even used Assault Mode when it's not too long after he died. Idiot, it's just the same with sending all his emotions away to Purgatory".
After they went downstairs and found their parents locked within Merlin's Perfect Cube, Elizabeth who still hugged Meliodas sweetly smiled to them "don't worry about me and your father. How about you, my children?".
Tristan smiled bitterly, just if the condition wasn't this tense, he could hug her. Pointing to his twin "well, you know I will be fine. Just worry about them, especially the Sleeping Beauty here".
Lily rolled her eyes before turning to Guinevere "no, I guess the Queen Bee here is more worrying than me".
"please, I'm totally fine, only pregnant, not helpless", Guinevere sighed. Ever since they knew about her pregnancy, they had been overprotective. Crouching in front of the Perfect Cube, she asked "just please, don't do a lover's double suicide with him, do you?".
Elizabeth smiled apologetically "don't worry. We wouldn't do such things when we already knew it only hurt any of our children".
Hawk dreadfully asked "please don't tell us, something like this ever happened in the past?".
"...similar with this, yes", Lily smiled wryly "it was also the time when we figured out my curse".
Then everything went to hell. They were pursued by the Pacifier Demon, Chandler, Meliodas' Master. Dolor and Gloxinia sacrificed their life to save their best friends and to atone their Sins for betraying their best friends in the past, they said. Lily tried to comfort Guinevere who become so emotional on her pregnancy. For Tristan, even if he still couldn't forget the day when they found their father died on the hands of the Ten Commandments (including Gloxinia and Dolor at that time), but he respected them still, for what they did for his parents. Leaning his head back on the wall, Tristan couldn't tell if he was satisfied or not, he only could tell that he had forgiven them already. Suddenly, not only Guinevere, even Lily also felt a little under the weather. The reason of this was clear, Merlin said. Tristan's power was closer to Darkness so he didn't get too affected but his sisters were the different case. Knowing that miasma leaked from Meliodas had caused the air in Boar Hat turning into bad, Elizabeth quickly took him to outside. Tristan decided to follow them, asking Lily and Guinevere to just rest although in the end, the former followed him and the latter decided to help the Sins to clean the mess here. However, when they felt Chandler's upcoming magic power, they immediately made a mad dash to outside and they found out something unexpected.
Meliodas wrapped his arm around Elizabeth's waist, flying on the air with his large dark wings and he stared to teared-up Chandler who kneeling in front of Meliodas. Tristan was in Assault mode as well, he protectively hid his twin behind his back. Meliodas one-sidedly made the decision and he declared that Seven Deadly Sins were disbanded. In order to save Elizabeth, Meliodas himself would be Demon King.
Looking down to his children, Meliodas reached out his hand "come with us, Lily, Tristan, Guinevere".
Chandler protested "Young Master! Not only that woman, you can't even—".
"shut up, Chandler! I don't want to hear any protest from you anymore", Meliodas spat sharply before staring down to them "you are our children and I will break your curses as well. As our children, you're supposed to stay with us".
"that come from your mouth now, huh?", Tristan scoffed "I wonder have you truly lost your feeling or not?".
Lily closed her eyes and when she opened her eyes, her solemn expression looked serene and calm as she walked forward out of her twin brother's protective hovering figure. Lily spread her wings out of her back and reached out her hand with bitter smile on her face "then I will come with you two, father, mother".
Tristan, Guinevere and the others gasped in shock "Lily!".
Meliodas accepted her hand as she flew closer to him and Elizabeth "good girl".
When Tristan walked forward with his bat-like wings spread out of his back, Merlin approached him "no, Tristan, wait! Don't do it! You can't do this!".
Tristan turned his back, he grabbed her wrist and pulled Merlin into his embrace, whispering near her ear "someone has to stay close with them. Let's meet again in Camelot, Merlin".
Tristan pushed Merlin back which Escanor caught her, he only smiled wryly "Escanor, take care of her and make sure... you are not allowed to leave her side this time".
Escanor didn't know what did he mean but he looked straight to Tristan with determined eyes "without you ask me, I'll do it".
Guinevere sighed heavily and shook her head. She scratched her head before spreading her wings out of her back as well "geez, I guess I have no choice then".
With that, they left to Camelot Kingdom.
Meliodas barged into the throne room of Camelot Kingdom, followed by Elizabeth, Guinevere, Lily, Tristan and displeased Chandler "yo, Zeldris".
Zeldris scoffed, sitting on the throne "the nerve you have. So the greatest traitor has so boldly come here".
Cusack stood by his side, both hands behind his back "he even came with that filth goddess".
Zeldris scowled deeper when he found the "and their cursed children".
Cusack snapped his head "...pardon?".
Cusack and Peronia were shocked to find out that the three of them were Meliodas and Elizabeth's kids while Chandler moped. Estarossa came to the throne, welcoming them as well mockingly.
"yo, uncle~ unfortunately, you didn't just die on that night after you killed our father when I and my wife went rampaging there, eh?", Tristan mockingly lifted his hand and greeted him "also, I don't care about whatever you said about me, but I'd like it if you don't say anything displeasure things about my parents".
"also, I demand you to get off of that throne, uncle", Lily lifted her finger, pointing Zeldris with stern face that they thought she wouldn't have "that throne of Camelot Kingdom belongs to King of Camelot Kingdom, my husband. It's not yours so you have no right to sit on top of it".
"don't worry. Once I become the Demon King, you could have it back, Lily", Meliodas smirked at the boldness and bravery of his daughter. Lifting his hand to the side, Meliodas declared "let me make this clear. I come here not to have fight between siblings. I will be the Demon King and I will not hand over Elizabeth or my children to anyone".
Zeldris and Estarossa leaped with their weapons ready to launch at them. Lily pulled out her sword and broke Zeldris' sword. Tristan stood in front of his parents, seven of nine dragon heads broke all seven swords belonged to Estarossa (the ones he used to kill Meliodas that night, he remembered) before two remaining of nine dragon heads wrapped itself around Estarossa's body, pinning him down to the floor. Guinevere reached out her hands forward to create an Ark to hit Zeldris. Cusack pulled out his sword to defend Zeldris but Tristan stabbed him using his dragon tail. When Zeldris and Estarossa got on their feet and were about to attack his children, Meliodas told his children to stop and reached out his hands.
Tristan turned his head back with pleased smirk "what is it, Dad? You asked us to stop and not attack our uncles so you can beat them?".
"serves them right, I guess", Lily put back her sword in her sheath before staggering "huh?".
"sister!", Tristan caught her, holding her to keep her steady "are you okay?".
Rubbing her temples, Lily wondered about what happened to her body "alright, just a little dizzy... and nausea...".
Guinevere tilted her head "don't tell me you're pregnant?".
Lily deadpanned "you are the one who pregnant".
Tristan carried Lily bridal style "whatever, but I thought we should put you somewhere to rest".
When they turned their attention back to Meliodas, they saw Meliodas pushing Estarossa back with his tail-like shadow from his shadow robe. Well, it looked like their father could handle himself just fine even without their help. Meliodas locked Zeldris' hand behind his back before whispering something.
Zeldris struggled, not believe on him so Meliodas snapped his fingers "it can't be helped, I guess... my daughter, show it to him".
"as you wish, father", Guinevere smiled and tilted her head "hold him down, please".
Guinevere touched Zeldris' head with her shining hands as Meliodas held him down.
After Zeldris decided to cooperate with Meliodas, Guinevere clapped her hands with broad smile "as expected of our father, you always have the way to make people obedient".
"don't forget, you helped me as well", turning his attention to the twin, Meliodas turned to Peronia "Peronia, check on my oldest daughter, Lily".
Lily growled, pointing her sword to the curious Demon "no need. Stay away from from me".
After Meliodas arranged the plan to gather the fragments of Commandments with Estarossa and Zeldris, he brought Elizabeth to different room while Tristan, Lily and Guinevere followed them secretly after Peronia offered them to their own room which Lily sternly refused. They saw their parents had an argue (as expected) though they saw something unexpected after this.
The darkness power wrapped itself around Meliodas' body as he hugged Elizabeth "...and yet now, I feel nothing".
"you feel nothing, you said? Let's see if you still can say it", in despair, Elizabeth pushed Meliodas to the bed, hovering him. Sliding her bangs behind her ears, Elizabeth closed her eyes "...kids, if you don't mind at all, leave us and give us privacy".
Tristan quickly carried Lily and Guinevere over his shoulders before he made a mad dash "sure! Gladly, mother!".
Once they thought they were on the safe place (somewhere on the wing of the fort), Tristan put them down "I can't believe it... at the time like this... what's gotten into mom's head?".
"what's the point of being embarrassed about it? We born that way too", Lily tilted her head, referring to the sexual intercouse between couple before looking to Guinevere "speaking of which... how could you who have not married yet with Lancelot, is getting pregnant while I who have married with Arthur, haven't gotten pregnant instead, Gwen?".
Guinevere flinched before lifting her hands "uh, can we not talk about it for now?".
"can't sleep well without your parents, kids?".
The three of them turned their head and found Zeldris approaching them.
Tristan scowled "what do you want, Uncle? I thought you already left to collect the fragments of the Commandents with uncle Estarossa".
Zeldris explained it was them who running to here when he wanted to go. Before he left, he demanded to Guinevere "tell me where is Gelda, now".
Guinevere smiled broadly "no~".
Zeldris was about to yell or use the violence perhaps, but then someone bumped into him from behind. When Guinevere, Tristan and Lily found out who was this person, it was Elizabeth, their mother, only covered with blanket.
Guinevere blinked "...mom, where is your clothes?".
Elizabeth blushed and laughed awkwardly "ah, I'm in a rush... so yeah, I kinda left it on the chamber".
Tristan demanded "mother, lift your hands up so I can fix your clothes".
When Tristan incredibly arranged the blanket into white dress (like how Hawk did to Elizabeth on the battle of Vaizel), Lily and Guinevere clapped their hands.
Rubbing the back of his head, Zeldris grumbled "what an impressive, unnecessary incredible skill... and that's fast. You two even still have time to enjoy yourself, huh?".
Ignoring Zeldris, Elizabeth grabbed Lily's hands "Lily, while we're in Camelot, hurry! We have to find your husband".
Lily blinked "sure, but how about father, mom? I don't think he would approve—".
Elizabeth hastily told her "he's exhausted, just let him rest".
Next second, they heard Meliodas roaring "ELIZABETH! COME BACK HERE!".
Tristan narrowed his eyes and pointed out, not accusing "...mom, you ran away from him".
Elizabeth facepalmed "...crap, he's awake already. Perhaps I didn't knock him out that hard".
Lily narrowed her eyes in suspicion "mother, what are you doing to him?".
"well, I've forced him to sleep", Elizabeth sheepishly admitted it "I did hit him with my Ark, after all".
Guinevere gawked "you DID what?!".
(in the background, Zeldris laughed out loud in amusement).
After Elizabeth explained her plan hastily, that she would go back to join the Sins to stop Meliodas, Tristan clapped his hands "okay, we only have little time. Let's decide it now who will go with mother".
Tristan, Lily and Guinevere used jan-ken-pon to decide who would go with Elizabeth and Tristan was the winner (he had such a luck), so it was decided, Guinevere and Lily would stay with their father and Tristan would make sure that she would bring Elizabeth safely to the Sins.
Tristan turned to Zeldris "you're not going to stop us?".
Zeldris smirked in amusement "why should I? Shouldn't you be worried about your sisters and mother instead?".
"good to know", Tristan rolled his eyes before he smirked "about my sisters, well... you will just need to see how strong they are. I just need to bring my mother safely to the Sins before immediately going back here".
