So, that was that.
Hours had passed now, some form of plan having been made to begin a search for the other Sins. The sun had gone down, finally, shrouding the entire tavern in darkness, only to be illuminated by faint moonlight.
Elizabeth was asleep in the spare room, now hers for the time being. Hawk was in the room with her, claiming to want to make sure Meliodas didn't try and sneak in (for some reason, he thought Meliodas would do something to Elizabeth, as if he would even dare to). Gelda was in her and Zeldris' room, possibly asleep as well or reading or maybe drawing up a plan for if this all went wrong. And Zeldris was staring down his older brother with a glare, said brother shrinking under the sharp gaze.
They had been sitting in silence for a while now, but Zeldris finally seemed to have had enough of it.
"You are such a moron," he hissed. He crossed his arms over his chest, and despite both men being the same, incredibly short height they were, Zeldris was practically towering over his eldest brother. Meliodas had been frowning, leaning back on his bed and the frown finally shifted into a small pout.
"I mean, that's true, but why are you calling this out now?"
Zeldris huffed, brought a hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose. "I get it, that you trust her completely. She's Elizabeth, after all. I don't think she could ever have a bad bone in her, whether she knows it or not. But even if it's Elizabeth, you are so stupid to have told her who you were!"
"But it's Elizabeth!"
Their voices never went louder than a whisper, neither wishing to wake anyone else in the tavern.
"Ten years. Ten years of hiding, Meliodas. Because you and the others are the most wanted criminals in not only this kingdom, but most others, if you remember."
Meliodas grimaced, remembering all too well what Zeldris was mentioning. Someone in a different kingdom, pretty far from Liones actually, had found out he was one of the Sins. He hadn't wanted to kill anyone, or put Zeldris and Gelda into danger by having them do something, and he had very nearly been executed if Hawk hadn't shown up and scared the living daylights out of everyone.
He wouldn't have died, but he'd have definitely felt really guilty once he came back.
Zeldris watched Meliodas relive the memory for a moment before continuing. "Just… you have got to be careful. Please tell me you're not losing your grip."
Meliodas' brow furrowed. "Losing my grip?"
"Yeah, losing your grip on your damn hope. Don't forget the three of us – now four – are in this together. And when one of us falls, we all fall. That's how it's always been, right?"
Meliodas hummed, shifting to hug himself, but he nodded. He knew where Zeldris was coming from.
Zeldris relaxed, sighed, and then joined Meliodas on the bed. He knocked his knee against Meliodas' while folding his hands in his lap. "At least… at least if you decide to reveal something like that again, can you tell me and Gelda first? We'd like to be prepared and not shocked into silence like everyone else in the room, you know."
Meliodas laughed lightly, nodding. "I can do that. Telling Elizabeth, though, it wasn't planned… she had said she was looking for the Sins, and… and she's clearly dead set on getting their help. Our help. And you know I can't say no to her when I can help her."
"Oh, I know. You're so smitten for that girl every time it's sickening to watch."
Zeldris landed on the floor with a loud thud, trying to stifle his laughing as Meliodas huffed and cursed Zeldris under his breath.
"As if you aren't the same when it comes to Gelda, and I have to deal with that all the time." Meliodas stared at Zeldris, who had flopped over onto his back but otherwise didn't seem to have any intention of moving soon, and he glared lightly before hauling his youngest brother up. "Now, go back to your room and be sickeningly sweet with your wife instead of scolding me."
Zeldris was still quietly laughing as Meliodas shoved him out the door, struggling a bit when Zeldris went limp and Meliodas was supporting all his weight. He stumbled when Meliodas gave a final shove, and turned back just in time to see Meliodas smiling and shaking his head with a breathless laugh before the door shut on him.
He did end up listening to Meliodas though, wandering back to his own room to find Gelda still up, her journal on her lap as she wrote away. She glanced up when he closed the door behind him and began to change into his night clothes, but returned back to the journal to finish whatever she was writing.
She closed the book and set it on the nightstand as soon as Zeldris flopped into bed. She shifted down so they were lying beside each other, and she brought a hand up to Zeldris' face while her other arm rested on his waist. One of his arms slipped under her head to support it and the other went to her waist, curling protectively and gently tugging her just a bit closer. Both their grips were loose though, so if either wanted to move away they could.
Gelda traced his face, touch featherlight as she tilted her head towards the door, concern flickering in her eyes.
"He's not injured, if that's what you're worried about."
Gelda curled forward with silent laughter, and Zeldris grinned and chuckled. She recovered quickly and shook her head, and Zeldris kissed her hair. He moved his arm to cup her neck lightly, thumb stroking circles along her nape.
"Yeah, no. I don't know how he's going to be. He's worried for Ellie, and we both know he can't resist her asking for his help in any situation, so… we should've expected this to happen." Her throat vibrated slightly, a silent but agreeing hum. "We'll just have to keep an eye on him."
After a moment of thought, Gelda nodded. She shifted to press a soft kiss to his lips before pulling him closer, and he was the one to hum quietly in content as he curled closer. She began stroking his hair, running her fingers through the unnaturally spiked black hair, and she felt more than she heard the light purring that began. She smiled to herself, relishing the fact that he was so content right now, and allowed herself to doze.
Really, Gelda didn't know why she had gotten up. It was late, incredibly so. But something at the back of her mind had woken her and it was like instinct, untangling from Zeldris carefully so she didn't wake him, and making her way downstairs on silent feet. She avoided the squeaky step at the bottom and halted, hearing pretty clearly in the otherwise silent tavern the sound of someone moving about in the kitchen.
Gelda walked to the door leading into the kitchen, glanced at the space under the counter to make sure Meliodas hadn't moved the knife they had kept under there and relaxing when she saw it, before slowly opening the door. She kept herself in the door's shadow as she poked her head inside, ready to see whatever fool may have decided to try robbing them or something, but froze when all she saw was Elizabeth and an obviously tired Hawk.
Relaxing, Gelda knocked on the kitchen entrance, leaning against the doorframe and watching quietly. Elizabeth squeaked and Hawk nearly screamed at the sudden noise, both whipping around.
Gelda smiled as reassuringly as she could, hoping to relax the princess. In all reality, she hadn't explained as much as Gelda had been hoping she'd explain to them about what was going on or why she was looking for the Sins, and Gelda was pretty sure Elizabeth knew they all knew she wasn't sharing everything.
None of them pushed her, though. They'd either find out on their own in time, or Elizabeth would tell them. Besides, it made sense. After all, she didn't know them.
Elizabeth slowly calmed down, her hand still over her heart from the scare. Hawk was already grumbling something under his breath about Gelda being too terrifying when everything was silent.
"Lady Gelda! I'm so sorry if I woke you – I was just hungry, and Meliodas said I could come down here for a snack if I needed…" she trailed off as Gelda waved her hand dismissively, still smiling gently in hopes she got across to Elizabeth that it was okay. Elizabeth seemed to understand, and nodded, but still apologized for causing any trouble.
Gelda pushed away from the wall and grabbed the notepad she usually wrote orders on. She quickly scribbled a question, asking what Elizabeth wanted to eat.
"Oh, um… nothing much, maybe a sandwich?" Gelda nodded, and glanced at Hawk with a raised eyebrow. Hawk glanced between the two women, yawned, then made a break for the door after wishing them a quick goodnight.
Once he was gone, Gelda shooed Elizabeth out of the kitchen and got to work fetching her the sandwich, making one for herself since she was here.
When she left, Elizabeth was sitting at the bar, her fingers thrumming against the wooden counter and she was staring at the door, biting her lip. Gelda set the plate with the sandwich in front of her before sitting at a stool beside the princess, notepad in hand in case Elizabeth asked anything. Unlike Meliodas and Zeldris, and even Hawk now to an extent, wordless looks and gestures familiar to her and the others weren't familiar to Elizabeth.
"Thank you," Elizabeth whispered, suddenly very aware as to just how silent it was. Gelda nodded at her thanks before eating her own food, occasionally glancing at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth ate slowly, staring at nothing in particular and a small frown on her face. Gelda tilted her head as she finished off her sandwich, Elizabeth halfway through her own. She watched as Elizabeth began to pick at the bread as she held the sandwich, then her own fingers after placing it back on the plate. Gelda winced when Elizabeth unconsciously broke her own skin with sharp but short nails and continued to pick at the skin.
Frowning, Gelda reached over and gently pried Elizabeth's hands apart. Elizabeth jumped, her head whipping to face Gelda before looking down at her hands. Her eyes widened at her skin, which was becoming red with irritation, and she grimaced when the pain finally processed in her mind.
"Sorry," she mumbled, drawing her hands away from Gelda and putting them in her lap, gripping the night gown Gelda had leant her until Elizabeth could get some of her own.
Gelda shook her head and reached for her notepad. She took a moment to write before handing it to Elizabeth.
No need – something wrong?
Elizabeth stared at the words for a few more seconds, biting her lip a little too harshly, then she glanced up at Gelda. Gelda held the princess' gaze, and Gelda watched as Elizabeth's shoulders slumped and she sighed heavily but nodded.
Gelda raised a brow at her, hoping Elizabeth got the gist and would continue. Elizabeth took a minute to collect her thoughts, smoothing out some wrinkles in the clothes she wore to distract herself for a moment. She took a deep breath.
"Is… is it all true?" Gelda's brows furrowed, and Elizabeth was frowning. "All the things I've heard about the Sins- how terrible they are?" Gelda tilted her head, considering how to answer. Elizabeth though took it as more confusion. "Because- because my father always told me different stories, legends almost about them, calling them heroes… but only with me. And- and I never understood why."
Now that was certainly interesting to hear.
Gelda took her notepad back and considered carefully what to write. Bartra had told Elizabeth good things about the Sins, and yet still told others – Gelda was assuming the other princesses, for the most part – the atrocities the Sins had committed.
Finally, Gelda returned to writing.
It's complicated. Some things true, some false.
Some stories are far worse than it actually was,
and some aren't close to how terrible it was.
Elizabeth read and re-read Gelda's words carefully, tapping her finger lightly against the wood of the counter. She supposed it made sense, that it wasn't a clear-cut yes or no. Elizabeth wondered what things could have possibly been worse than anything that had actually been on record, but shoved that thought away. If she wanted to find the other Sins, and get their help, wondering about that kind of thing wasn't going to be of any use to her.
Eventually, Elizabeth nodded as though the words finally made sense, and she nudged the pad back to Gelda. Gelda began writing again, and soon was passing the notepad back.
You, I can guarantee, they will never harm.
Or anyone you care about.
Elizabeth's brow creased before her eyes widened, and she looked up at Gelda, being greeted by a gentle smile. Elizabeth bit her lip. "Really? You're so sure of that?"
Gelda nodded, her smile widening just a bit. Elizabeth relaxed once again, and let go of a breath she hadn't noticed she was holding.
She sent Gelda a small smile of her own, before getting to her feet. She looked down at her sandwich and frowned, no longer very hungry. Gelda noticed her hesitancy to leave it and waved her hand at Elizabeth, grabbing the plate herself and placing it on top of her own. Elizabeth blinked as Gelda gestured to herself, then nodded towards the plate, and it took Elizabeth a second to catch on.
"Oh! Are- are you certain?"
Gelda nodded. She pointed at Elizabeth then to the stairs, smile softening once again. Elizabeth hummed quietly, understanding, and started for the stairs. Before she climbed up, though, she turned to back to the other woman.
"Goodnight, Lady Gelda. And thank you again."
Gelda bowed her head and waved the princess goodnight, sending Elizabeth off to bed while she dealt with the dishes herself.