The inside of the house was well furnished. As they walked in, Philip started pestering Zelgadis with a flood of questions.
"What's it like to travel? Ooh! You have a sword! Do you really fight with it?" Philip asked with excitement.
Zelgadis tried to ignore him, but Amelia wouldn't have it.
"Humor him, Mr. Zelgadis. He seems like such a sweet boy." Amelia smiled.
The woman turned to Zelgadis. "Do you mind spending some time with him? His father is constantly away, and he doesn't have many friends."
"What about you, Amelia?" Zelgadis looked for a way out.
Before Amelia could answer, the woman cut her off. "Actually I was hoping she could help me prepare dinner. It will be done sooner if I have some help."
Zelgadis looked like a martyr, but he allowed Philip to drag him away. The woman gave a sigh of relief.
"Finally! I thought I would have to pry him away from you." The woman laughed. "Now come, the kitchen is this way."
The woman walked down the hallway, leaving Amelia to follow after as best she could.
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Amelia and the woman sat in the kitchen, Amelia being unsure what to do.
"So what can I help you with?" Amelia asked.
"Nothing. I made dinner earlier. I just told him that to get him to leave."
"But why?" Amelia was a bit shocked.
"Isn't it obvious? He wasn't being very cooperative, so I'll just have to ask you."
Amelia desperately wished to be elsewhere, but since she had no way to get out she decided to hear the woman out.
"You came from Seyruun, didn't you?"
Amelia face faulted. "But how did you...?"
"It's obvious from the way you look. You look very much like one of the royal family."
"Who are you? How do you know? Unless..." Things started to click into place. "Gracia?"
"Shh! Keep it down, Amelia. Of course it's me. Don't you recognize your own sister?" Gracia looked quizzically at Amelia.
"Gracia, it is you! I thought I'd never see you again!" Amelia's face fell as tears came to her eyes.
Gracia reached an arm out and placed her hand on Amelia's shoulder. "Come now, it isn't that dramatic."
Amelia shook her head. "It isn't that. It's just that I waited so long for you to return, but now that we're finally reunited..." Amelia cried into her arm.
"Amelia, what's wrong?"
Amelia lifted her head, letting Gracia get a good look at her eyes. Gracia looked shocked.
"No! But how? What's happened to you, Amelia?"
"I'm blind, Gracia. That's why Mr. Zelgadis and I were out journeying to find a cure. We finally have found a spell, but no one can cast it. I'm beginning to think it's a lost cause."
Gracia was at a loss. She had never seen Amelia like this, other than when Gracia had left home. Gracia had vowed that she would never use White Magic again, but this was her own sister! Surely her mother would have wanted it. Gracia again spoke to Amelia.
"Where is this cure you speak of?"
"Gracia, what?" Amelia took a moment to collect thoughts. "Mr. Zelgadis has it. But why?"
"I vowed never to use White Magic again, as it couldn't save Mother, but for you, I'll try."
"Oh, Gracia!" Amelia attempted to hug her sister, but grabbed air instead.
Gracia put her hand to her head. "For your sake, I hope this works."
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"She's who?" Zelgadis was amazed. It wasn't every day you went into a forest only to find the long-lost Crown Princess of Seyruun!
"My sister, Gracia. She wants to help. Do you still have the spell, Mr. Zelgadis?" Amelia replied.
"Yes, of course." Zelgadis dug into a pouch and pulled out the scroll, handing it to Gracia. He continued to gape.
Gracia unrolled the scroll and looked it over. "Ah, mm-hm, yes..."
"And?" Amelia looked hopeful.
"I can't cast it."
"What? But..?"
Gracia cut Amelia off. "Let me finish! A-hem. I can't cast it. Not until I've memorized this. You do want it to work, do you not?"
Amelia nodded her head.
"I thought as much. I'll start working on this, but first, we eat!"
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Zelgadis grimaced. Sure, he was very grateful that they had found somebody who could help, and yet...
"Amelia, why do I have to babysit Philip? He's your nephew!"
"He's so taken with you, Mr. Zelgadis! I think it's rather sweet. Besides, Gracia shouldn't take more than a day. Maybe a few days. A week, tops! I vaguely recall she was a fast leaner." Amelia beamed.
Zelgadis frowned. He didn't want to here a whole week with Philip, who was currently pulling at Zelgadis' sword's sheath.
"Stop, don't touch that!" Zelgadis pulled his sword out of the boy's grasp.
"But it's so cool, Mr. Zelgadis, sir! Mom wouldn't let me have one. Do you really fight with it?" Philip asked.
"No, it's strictly ornamental." Zelgadis wasn't in the mood to out up with children.
"Mr. Zelgadis, you're lying! Lying is deceitful, let alone unjust!" Amelia scolded.
Zelgadis sighed in exasperation. He may as well surrender. "Yes Philip, I do fight with it. Here, let's go outside and I'll teach you the basics."
"Really? Wow! You're the best, Mr. Zelgadis, sir!" Philip pulled Zelgadis out of the room and out the door.
"Have fun, you two!" Amelia giggled, but then realized she was alone. "Well, I guess I could get some sleep...only Gracia didn't show us where we'll be sleeping. Hmm... I'll just take a quick nap."
Amelia lay down on the couch she had been sitting on, and fell into a deep sleep.
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In another part of the house, hideous laughter burst out.
"Oh ho ho ho! I have succeeded yet again!" Gracia let out a large yawn. "However, it's best to attempt such a spell after a good night's rest. Amelia and her friend will just have to wait! Oh ho h-" Gracia coughed. "My lung capacity isn't what it once was. No matter!"
Gracia, completely forgetting she had guests, trotted off to her bedroom and fell asleep.
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Later, since it was too dark to stay outside, Philip and Zelgadis reentered the house.
"Wow, Mr. Zelgadis, sir! That was so cool! You've got to be the best swordsman alive!" Philip beamed.
"Far from it, actually. If you want to see a real master I'll have to introduce you to a friend of mine."
"Wow, really?"
"Well, the next time I run into him."
Zelgadis and Philip walked into the living room, where Zelgadis spied Amelia sound asleep on the couch.
Zelgadis turned to Philip and spoke in a hushed voice, "Don't tell me there aren't any spare rooms?"
Philip gave Zelgadis a puzzled expression. "Are you kidding! We have tons! ...well, a few anyway. Dad likes to invite his business partners over when he's home."
"Well then why is Amelia sleeping down here?" Zelgadis wondered.
"Oh, Mom does this all the time. She can be very forgetful, especially when she's tired. Want me to show you to the rooms?"
"Yes, thank you, but I'd better not leave Amelia down here all night."
Zelgadis moved over to the couch and lifted Amelia into his arms, being careful not to wake her.
Philip beckoned to Zelgadis. "Follow me."
They trekked up the stairs, past what had to be the master bedroom and Philip's room, until Philip stopped in front of a door.
"Here, you can put Aunt Amelia in here." Philip opened the door and pointed to the bed inside.
Zelgadis quietly walked to the bed, lay Amelia down, and tucked her in. He then snuck back out into the hall where Philip waited.
"You love her, don't you?" Philip asked.
Zelgadis looked at him, baffled. "What? Well... I care for her, yes." he admitted.
Philip grinned. "I knew it! Come on, I'll show you to your room."
Zelgadis was unsure what to make of Philip's sudden accusation, but since the boy said no more about the subject, Zelgadis let it slide. He couldn't wait to get out of here, that was for sure! Zelgadis remained in deep thought as he followed behind Philip.
And yes, Gracia (a.k.a Naga) makes the scene! I took many liberties with her, especially assuming she would settle down and have kids (although in the novels there was a guy that liked her..) Her character is a bit harder to write because I've only really seen her as the arrogant power-hungry sorceress wanting to be the best of the best. (I'm sure she's a nice enough person, but she does have an interesting personality.) Also, I took liberties with Amelia simply addressing her as "Gracia" (no Miss, Mrs., etc.), mainly because in the anime when Amelia spoke to her cousin she didn't add any title (in the Japanese version.) I hadn't even intended to write Gracia/Naga into the story, but after I got stuck on who could possibly help them (and having that bit of info from the PSX Slayers Royal game about Naga being very skilled — possibly moreso than even Lina — in magic), and also the fact that I've always hoped that Gracia and Amelia would one day be reunited, it seemed like the best route to take. Now I just need to finish up this story and move onto the next. Hopefully it won't take me long