Lina laid back against the armrest of the couch, her toes touching the one on the opposite side as she spread out comfortably as Gourry laid on top of her with his arms wrapped around her. Lina did wonder, if the couch was just long enough for her, if his legs dangling over the edge was uncomfortable and how silly he must have looked if viewed from above. She chuckled a little to herself at the thought as she ran her hands through his hair. If he was uncomfortable, it didn't dim his smile as he nestled his head on her chest and beneath her chin.
"You seem a lot more relaxed now." Gourry observed.
"Hmm," Lina said as she took a deep breath and marveled at how much pleasure there had been. Considering everything about the transition to parenthood had been painful, she hadn't expected this! Especially since Amelia had confided that her first time post baby had not been that great. But then she and Gourry had also kept anything that could get her pregnant off limits. Had that made a difference? "I don't think I realized how much I needed that until it happened."
He squeezed her tightly, "And it happened, and happened, and happened…"
Lina's eyes shot open, "Is that a complaint!?"
"No, no." he said quickly, "It's just never been that easy. Or frequent. How many times did you…"
"I dunno." Lina said lazily as she thought about her newfound ability and hoped it wasn't a fluke, "I lost count after three."
Gourry lifted his head up to look at her as he smirked, "You're welcome."
Lina blushed as she pushed at him playfully. "Hey! Don't get cocky."
"But I was the one who…" he sang.
"Idiot. I think giving birth was what did it!"
"Huh?" Gourry asked.
"Contractions use all the same muscles. It must have unlocked some sort of sexual potential I didn't realize I had." Lina mused. "Or I suppose it did. I guess this will require further testing."
"Just remember, I'm happy to help." Gourry said as he nestled his head back under her chin. "And I did play a part."
Lina chuckled, "You were amazing, ok? And patient back when I was panicking. And I guess if you'd not knocked me up in the first place…"
Gourry lifted his head to look at her again and pounced, "So there was a benefit to all this that they never talk about?"
Lina laughed as she thought about all of the unpleasant surprises, "Well, I guess something has to happen to balance out all the bad!"
"Does this ability balance the scale?" Gourry asked.
"I don't know about balancing the scale…" Lina mused.
"Two beautiful babies and new peaks of pleasure versus a lot of pain," Gourry said.
"Wow, this is hard."
Someone knocked at the door, and both of them groaned. "Can it wait?" Lina called as she wondered if either of them had been smart enough to lock the door.
"But Lina! It's a beautiful winter day!" Amelia cried from the other side. "Don't you want to take our kids for a walk to get a breath of fresh air before it turns bad again? And I bet you know some good places to see!"
Lina looked at Gourry, who shrugged. Considering both of them had had their pleasure moments and were just basking in the afterglow, there was no reason not to go for a walk. So she gently pushed him off her and they both started scrambling to find their clothes. "Sure. We'll meet you at the nursery in a few minutes."
Lina had walked through these woods a million times while growing up. Her parents would take her there for walks after the store would close and some of her earliest memories were of racing through the trees, playing with Luna and other neighborhood kids. At night Luna would take her to the nearby cave and they would watch the fairy lights as they unwound from the day while they stared, entranced by their ephemeral beauty. Eventually Lina would get tired of sitting and observing and would try to capture one and, though there were so many times she could have sworn that her hands had closed over one, whenever she would cautiously open them to get a closer looker, her palms would be empty.
Memories of playing hide and seek, climbing trees, building forts, sending little boats down the river, and scrapping her knees and running home for healing spells rose within Lina. Eventually she remembered growing older and being able to perform her own healing spells as she started to go deeper into the woods to practice her spells without Luna, who was too busy working as a waitress to go on silly adventures. Yet in the evening they would always go to the cave to watch the fairy lights. Lina wondered if Luna still went there, and if she took her boys.
And when she started to wonder if she took Harold there for romantic interludes she knew her wandering mind had gone too far.
Midas cooed as they walked past a sprawling old tree that overlooked the river, and Lina smiled as she patted his head. "You just can't wait until you are big enough to climb it, can't you?"
Midas continued to stare at the tree as a sense of exhilaration rushed through Lina. She had climbed that tree countless of times. It had been one of her favorites! Yet, right then, looking at that tree through Midas's eyes, it was as though she was seeing it for the first time. And suddenly Lina was filled with a desire to take Midas and Aurelia to every place she had ever loved. As she started forming a list within her head she wondered if there was a place near Maninstit with fairy lights. Or if the new place that Luna would get for them would have fairy lights. Because, there had to be a place for her children to watch fairy lights. Their childhood wouldn't be complete without them!
"Lina?" Amelia asked.
"What?" Lina said.
"Is the top of that tree sturdy enough for me to fly up with Justina and practice our speeches?"
"Huh!?" Lina said.
"Well I'm going to have to teach her eventually. But sometimes branches are more brittle than you would expect when you're looking at it from the bottom. You must have climbed that tree dozens of times growing up." Amelia said.
"That was a few years ago." Lina said as she wondered if Amelia would really be so crazy as to fly to the top of the tree with an infant in this weather. Even though the sun was out there was a quite a chill in the air. "Well, try it at your own risk. And if she catches cold don't blame me."
"Huh?" Amelia said.
"Look, I'm wanting to levitate with them and go flying through the air as much as the next parent, but it's too cold right now! It wouldn't be a lot of fun. You know how the cold air burns your nostrils when you drop down to the earth after levitating!"
"With the fires of justice!" Amelia said as she pumped her fist.
Lina sweatdropped as she said, "Okay, okay, just don't blame me if she catches a cold."
From behind them she could hear Gourry talking about the barren tree branches as he pointed each one out to Aurelia and expounded on them. Lina turned around and smiled as she watched how Aurelia managed to track where Gourry was pointing as he showed her anything of interest. Amelia looked at her and grinned, "It's like falling in love again, watching your husband play with your baby."
Lina grew warm and admitted, "Yeah, it is, isn't it? Sometimes I feel so resentful and exhausted with the nursing that it just seems like an endless sludge of misery. But Gourry is really having the time of his life with them. And moments like these, I can see why."
"I've never seen Zel like this. When he's alone and it's just us and Justina he'll get so goofy." Amelia said.
"Really? I'd pay good money to see that!" Lina said.
"See what?" Zelgadis asked as he approached and held his arms out, "Do you need me to carry her for a while?"
"I was thinking of flying up with her to that tree." Amelia said.
"It's way too cold for that!" Zelgadis said, "Hand her over!"
"You're way too overprotective." Amelia said, but she undid the wrap and handed their daughter to Zelgadis.
"She's missing a sock!"
"Good luck finding it." Lina said dryly.
Gourry joined them, grinning broadly as he said, "Rellie loves the outdoors! I think she's going to have the wanderlust."
"Good, because wherever we end up living we will need to come back here to see the fairy lights." Lina said.
"Huh?" Gourry replied.
"It's important!" Lina said. "Every kid should grow up watching the fairy lights at night."
"Are they somewhere around here?" Gourry asked.
"There's a cave to the west." Lina said, "Though I'd rather not make that journey right now. The trail is a bit arduous, especially since three of us are carrying a bit of extra weight."
"Does that mean that you plan to stick around?" Amelia asked.
"Still haven't decided. I want to see what the other offer is first." Lina said.
"Can't blame you there." Amelia said, "Though I would really miss you if you left. And after spending our pregnancy together and our babies being born on the same day, I'd really hate it if they didn't grow up together."
"I hadn't thought of that." Lina said as she suddenly grew wistful. "I'm glad you brought it up though. It gives me some more things to consider."
"Can't you see our kids running around the grounds of Maninstit getting into all manner of trouble?" Amelia asked.
"If we're ever comfortable letting them out of our sight without a Mazoku attack!" Lina said.
"And then Sylphiel's baby will be here soon. They could be quite a pack." Zelgadis added.
"All we would need would be for Sis to get together with Moe and have a baby!" Amelia exclaimed as she clasped her hands.
"No, no, they should not ever breed." Zelgadis said, and Gourry nodded in agreement.
"I'm inclined to agree actually." Lina said.
"But everyone should know the great joy and euphoria of bringing life into the world!" Amelia proclaimed.
"No they shouldn't." Lina and Gourry said at the same time, even if Lina started to wonder if Amelia had already forgotten about the rough pregnancy and birth she had endured. Had Amelia already forgiven and forgotten?
"Anyway," Gourry said, "It's going to be dark soon."
"Yeah," Zelgadis said as he wrapped Justina to him, "We should get them back to their warm nurseries."
"Right," Lina said as the other three turned around and started to head back to the castle. Lina took a few steps forward, and then looked behind her at her favorite tree. And suddenly the idea that her children would never climb it hit her hard as grief welled within her. She took a deep breath as she started to move forward again, vowing that regardless of whether or not they moved, they would return to Zefiel City one day.
"I'm glad that you were able to stop by for lunch." The Eternal Queen said as she took a perfectly trimmed sandwich triangle and balanced it between her fingers.
"Thank you for inviting us, your highness." Lina replied as she stirred her tea.
"I've had an intriguing conversation with Empress Gertrude, and I wanted to run some things by the three of you."
Luna ate her lunch quietly as Gourry's head bobbed up at the mention of his sister. "What were your impressions?"
"She seems an ambitious, if young and impetuous ruler." The Eternal Queen said. "I believe, under the right guidance, she can grow into her role gracefully and fulfill her potential."
"Do you plan to provide it?" Gourry asked, and for a moment Lina feared he had been a bit too bold. But the Eternal Queen smiled as she dabbed at her mouth with a napkin.
"I do. There is much to be gained from doing what we can to help the Elmekian Empire. There are some details I will need to go over with Luna later about sending some Ceiphied Knights there."
"Yes, your Majesty." Luna replied.
"And Gertrude did say that she talked to you about sending a group of students from Elmekia to Maninstit." The Eternal Queen continued as she looked at Lina and Gourry.
"She did." Lina replied.
"What are your thoughts?"
"I think it could be a good idea." Lina said. "But it could also be a way of planting a spy in Maninstit."
"How often do we funnel sensitive information through Maninstit?" The Eternal Queen asked.
"Not among the students so much." Lina said, "But we do among the staff. Though I guess if one were a spy Susan would be able to ferret them out."
"A fair point." The Eternal Queen agreed.
"And then there are the sensitive Chaos magic spells. Though I could exclude the Elmekians from that group."
"At the same time, a Zeferian could go rogue as easily as an Elmekian." Luna said. "Teaching anyone that spell has always been a risk."
"Perhaps I'd have to get Susan's impressions of them." Lina agreed.
"But what if one is like Susan?" Gourry asked.
Lina gestured to Gourry and said, "Every so often, he comes up with a valid point."
"Honestly, we could have telepaths here in the palace." Luna said, "People with the ability can go to any kingdom and will be offered good money to be a spy, plus a fake biography touting their noble connections. While telepathy is rare enough that not every ambassador is one, there's guaranteed to be at least one in every royal court."
"That's a disturbing thought." Lina said.
"I'd imagine if you could read minds you'd quickly get bored with the things most people find so embarrassing and keep private." The Eternal Queen said.
"But it would be the perfect way to get dirt on someone and blackmail them!" Lina said. "For lots of money!"
"Are you scared of being a victim, or plotting a crime?" Luna asked as she raised an eyebrow.
Lina gulped, "A-anyway, aside from those possibilities, other risks for Maninstit could be…"
"Sabotage." Gourry said.
"Another fair point." Lina said as she indicated him again.
"Thank goodness for Susan." Luna said.
"I do believe the risks can be mitigated, and the potential benefits, developing strong ties with a neighbor, strengthening more people against the Mazoku, would more than balance the risks out." The Eternal Queen said, "Now, Dame Lina, Sir Gourry, I'm aware that you haven't made up your minds about whether or not to stay with Maninstit. But if I decide to offer a place to Elmekian students how would you feel?"
Lina and Gourry looked at each other, "If we decide to stay, I feel we'd have to try. The threat that the Mazoku possess has to be greater than a threat between humans."
"And Luna," The Eternal Queen said, "As the person who would take over Maninstit should they leave, what are your thoughts?"
For some reason Lina felt as though she'd been punched in the gut at the idea of relinquishing control of Maninstit to Luna. As Luna replied, Lina puzzled over why she'd feel this way. She'd only been roped into this because of Luna's influence after all. And the whole point of leaving would be to get away from Luna's influence and to have more control over her life.
But then, at the least, running Maninstit had been her life's work. And she'd poured everything she had into it. If she left Maninstit, she'd have to find something else to do. Besides raising babies.
"Lina?" Luna said, shaking her from her reverie.
"What?" Lina replied as she shook her head a little as Luna handed her a map. "I found a place for you should you decide to leave Maninstit. It's in the south west, far away from the Desert of Destruction and the mess up north. There's a charming village close by, but it is otherwise remote, and would have everything you'd need to raise a family in peace and quiet."
Lina looked at the map and felt a lump grow in her throat as Luna continued, "You can go and spend the rest of the winter break there. The weather gets warmer the further south you go, so it likely won't be too bad and may even be spring like."
"Yeah, I know." Lina said as she put the map up, "We'll leave after Justina's naming ceremony."
"Well, now that that is settled," The Eternal Queen said, "Is there anything else that needs to be brought to my attention?"
"Not at the moment, your Majesty." Lina said.
"You are free to go then."
"Thank you." Lina said as she stood up with Gourry and they walked out.
He wrapped an arm around her as they reached the hallway and started to walk back to their chambers. "What did you think?" he asked.
Lina tried to say something, but found it difficult to find her voice. After a moment he said, "Yeah, I'd find it hard to leave too. But if it's the best thing for our family, then we'll do it. Together."
