"Somebody wants to marry me who doesn't even know me none none Normal none none 4 104 2001-05-28T17:38:00Z 2001-10-08T04:09:00Z 2 943 5380 44 10 6607 9.3821

"Somebody wants to marry me who doesn't even know me?"  Lina got starry-eyed.  "And he's a prince… hmm…"  Soon she began to see images of a carriage drawn by four horses.  She was inside riding towards a castle where she could see a very attractive man with short brown hair and friendly brown eyes waiting for her.

"Wake up, Lina," Zel said with impatience.  "Why would anyone want to marry you?  Err realistically speaking that is."

"Excuse me, Zel, but who would ever want to get married to a sarcastic chimera!?" she asked, fireball glowing in her hand.

Zelgadis folded his arm.  "I don't want to get married.  By being around you, Lina, I've found that women are nothing but trouble."

Amelia pouted.  "You don't mean that Mr. Zelgadis…"

Gourry looked at his three friends and then to the messenger.  "So uhh, what are we going to do about it?"

Lina buried her face in her hands.  "Well the letter says we have to go visit my sister before we can meet Prince Bill, and three days has already passed:  Two for this guy here to get to Seyruune and one for him to find me.  So expect to be traveling for three days."

The messenger put his hands on his hips.  "Three days for the journey?  But it only took me two to get here, and I can't even use magic."

"Our meals are kind of lengthy," Amelia explained.

"Oh…. Hey, if we are going to be traveling together, you should know my name.  It's Ravage."

Lina looked at Ravage.  "Riiiiiiiiiiight.  Okay lets go back to the castle before we set out tomorrow.  Ravy, you're gonna need to find a place to stay.  So bye!  Ray wing!"  Lina floated up above the ground and grabbed hold of Gourry.  Zel and Amelia quickly followed. 

Upon arrival at the castle, Zel had a few questions to ask Lina, but she quickly went to bed.  And only a fool bothers Lina when she's tired.  They'll just have to wait for the road…

"Which way is Zefilia?" asked Gourry as he scratched his head.

"I believe it's that way, numbskull," Lina replied as she pointed to a rather large sign that clearly said "Zefilia that way".

"Hey, where's that Mr. Ravage?" questioned Amelia looking around.

Zel shrugged.  "Maybe he left."

"Noooooo!" shouted a voice from behind them.

Everyone turned to see Ravage running up the dirt path that ran out of Seyruune.  He was still pulling up his pants and his hair was a mess.

"What happened to you?" Zel asked disgustedly. 

"I… uh…," he whimpered between breathes.  "Overslept… but thanks for waiting for me…"

Lina smirked.  "You can't keep my sister waiting… so if you can't keep up… too bad."

Ravage frowned.  "I see."

The day was filled with lots of walking and eating, which wasn't at all out of the ordinary for the Slayers crew.  When they found the Inn they were to sleep in however, things were definitely a little off.  "I'm not hungry, okay?" Lina stated for about the thousandth time that evening as the five sat around a large wooden table.

"Are you sure, Lina?  This isn't like you…" Gourry said.

"Are you sick, Miss Lina?" Amelia asked.

Lina shrugged.  "I just lost my appetite, ya' know?  I don't understand why."

Gourry scratched his head.  "Then you must be sick."

"No," began Zel.  "It seems to me that Lina is nervous about seeing her sister.  A loss of appetite is completely normal.  Although, I must say that I would never have guessed that such a thing could ever interrupt Lina's eating habits."

"Her sister didn't seem that bad…" Ravage offered softly.

Lina's eyes gleamed red as she formed a fire ball in her hand.  "She's evil I tell you!  EVIL!"

Ravage began to sweet profusely.  "Are you sure… Miss Inverse?"

"FIRE BALL!  I'm sure." she said as she began to walk up to her room.

"Lina, wait!" called Zel as he chased after her.

Lina turned around.  "What is it?" she enquired.

"I need to talk to you," he stated.

"Okay, we can talk in my room."

The two walked up the two fights of stairs that lead to Lina's room.

"What was it that you needed to talk to me about?" she asked upon arrival.

"This Prince Bill character.  Really, why do you think he wants to marry you?  And why are you so willing to go through with this?"

"Firstly, Zel," she began, "I never said that I would marry this freak.  I'm only going to see him cause my sister told me to.  But she never said to marry him.  Hell, he's probably an old pervert looking for some hot babe (that would be me) to romp around half naked in his castle and to protect his fortune…."

"And secondly?"

"I though I explained that in 'firstly'?"

"Yes, but since you said firstly, I could only conclude that there would be a secondly…"

"Whatever.  He's probably just attracted to me.  I have no intention of ever marrying him.  If I want money, I'll get it myself rather than lower myself to such a level."

Zelgadis smiled.  "That's good to hear.  And that sure will make Gourry happy."

Lina raised an eyebrow.  "What do you mean."

Zel laughed as he began to walk out of Lina's room.  "Oh, you'll find out in due time, Lina, trust me.  Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Zel," Lina replied as she walked over to her dresser.  She sighed.  Just what did he mean?

Gourry laid his sword on the bed as he began to get undressed.  I can't believe a prince of all people wants to marry Lina…

He frowned.  The idea of him and Lina being separated had never occurred to him before.  Well they will just have to accept the fact that I'm her guardian and protector.  Regardless of what anyone said, no one could keep Gourry from Lina.  He would fight a thousand battles to be by her side, he decided.  If marrying a prince is what would make Lina happy, then he'd be happy, but he would never leave her, regardless of what she said (or did) to get him to leave.  It was his sworn duty, and he would never abandon her.

He thought about that again.  His sworn duty.  Is that really the reason?  Or is it something else?  Oh!  This is sooooo confusing!

He thought of all the times he and Lina had spent together.  All the monsters they killed, the battles they fought, the darkords they'd slain… He didn't want things to change.  Lina couldn't get married.  She just couldn't!  He wouldn't allow it.  He would not give up Lina to no one.  Never.  Lina was a part of Gourry just as he was a part of her.  Of course, he didn't understand this all in full detail, but he understood the basic concept.  And that would be the fuel to push Gourry into keeping Lina from falling into the arms of this Prince Bill fellow – and he wouldn't lose.  Lina would always stay with him.  Now, and for forever.  Prince Bill, watch out.