The night was quiet. Lina Inverse, Bandit killer was bored. It had been a good day. She and her friends had followed an interesting rumor to a rather large bandit hideout... unfortunately, the rumor of a great book of curses and cures was false. But the treasure that the bandit gang had accumulated made up for it.
Thinking of the book reminded Lina that not everyone was happy with the outcome of the day's adventures. Zelgadiss was wrapped in his cloak across the fire pit. He'd been looking for a cure for the chimerical curse his great/grandfather Rezo had 'gifted' him with years earlier. After finding out that the bandit's great book was no more than an introduction to basic black magic curses, he'd joined Lina in a little bandit demolition. Amelia tried to cheer him up, but all she'd really succeeded in doing was driving him a little further away from the rest of the group.
Lina's gaze slid around to the remaining members of her group. Both Gourry and Amelia were fast asleep, wrapped so tightly in their bedrolls that the only way to tell them apart was by size... and the sword that the larger figure was clutching like a little kid's blanket. Lina shivered... it was really cold. Maybe...
"Do you want me to take this watch?" a low, sweet voice interrupted her thoughts.
"What? Zel... no, that's okay." Lina replied quietly... not that shouting would wake either of their companions.
Zelgadiss had moved around the fire, leaving his blankets in a pile on the other side of the fire pit. He was holding a kettle in one hand, and what was most likely tea in the other. Lina hadn't even heard him move.
"I'm fine, you don't have to..." Lina began.
Zel cut her off, "It's okay. I really don't need that much sleep. You look cold."
Lina shrugged, "I am a little... if you're making tea anyway... I should check the perimeter."
Zel quietly made tea while Lina checked the outer edges of their campsite. By the time she returned, he had poured her the first cup, and was sitting wrapped in his cloak. Lina took the tea, smiling at his back.
"Thanks." She began. "I'm sorry that we ended up chasing another false trail this morning..."
Zel shrugged. Lina tried to see his expression, but his hood and hair hid his face completely. Lina sipped her tea, trying to respect his evident desire for silence. They both reached for the tea pot at the same time.
"Let me." Lina said, "After all, you're the one who made it."
"You should get some sleep." Zel said after they finished the tea. "It's just about time for the next watch. I'll wake Gourry for morning watch."
"Thanks, Zel." Lina replied smothering a yawn. She made her way over to the open space near the fire and laid out her blanket. Curling into it, she tried to sleep... but between shivering from the cold, and worrying about Zel, she spent a long time tossing.
Just as she was about to give up and tell Zel to go back to sleep, a warm presence intruded. More blankets, and a warm pillow... Lina turned in puzzlement. Zel was standing next to her, his bedding was spread over her, and his pillow was next to her head.
Zel blushed as Lina looked up at him. "You looked cold." He said, standing up. "I know you gave some of your blankets to Gourry... " His voice faded as his blush grew hotter.
Lina felt herself blushing. Of course he knew that. She'd complained loudly enough about Gourry forgetting his blankets when they left town that everyone within a five day walk probably knew she'd given him her other blankets. She muttered something that sounded like "That jellyfish for brains would probably forget his head if it wasn't screwed on tight..." then remembered where she was and blushed even more.
"Thanks again. Just take them back when your watch is over." She said, snuggling down into the now warm pile. 'Hmmm...' she thought, 'why are Zel's blankets warmer than mine?' Her last though was one of happy contentment as she finally slid into sleep.
Zelgadiss smiled faintly at the now peacefully sleeping sorceress. Or, as peaceful as Lina Inverse, chaos poster child, could sleep. For anyone else, that would be a workout. His faint smile turned into a grin as she twisted and turned, working her way around in a complete circle. Amazingly enough, throughout her tossing she managed to keep her cheek snuggled into his pillow.
The rest of Zelgadiss's watch passed uneventfully. He spent most of it setting up guards and traps in preparation for Gourry's watch... knowing Gourry, he'd be asleep within 15 minutes of his watch starting. He shook Gourry awake, and went to reclaim his bedding. The first blanket was easy, Lina had abandoned it in her tossing and twitching. Looking at the tangle of blankets still wrapped around the sleeping sorceress, he decided to take a second blanket, but leave the third.
Gourry was making his way sleepily around to the other side of the campfire, while Zel tried to extricate one of his blankets from Lina's sleeping grasp. Lina tossed a bit in her sleep, Zel froze, knowing waking the sleeping Lina might solve the problem of cold, but that the resulting fireball would simply make life more... disturbing. Lina settled back down with a sleepy murmur, but she had managed to grab his foot in the process.
Zel tugged on his foot experimentally... Lina grumbled sleepily, and tightened her grip. His options appeared to be either removing his shoe, or waking Lina up. He thought for a moment, then bent down to remove the shoe.
"Need help, Zeldagiss?" Gourry's voice came softly across the campfire.
Zel blushed "You know any way to wake her up without pissing her off?" he whispered back, for once ignoring Gourry's mispronunciation of his name.
"Nope. I'd just give in and sleep there if I were you. She'll let go during the night..." Gourry seemed remarkably unconcerned by the situation. Zel could feel his blush getting darker. Maybe Gourry was right. 'What am I coming to?' Zel thought, 'Looking to Gourry for help. Oh well. Things couldn't possibly get worse...'
*The very harried secretary to the gods looked up and made a notation into an appointment book...*
Zel extracted his second blanket from around Lina, hoping she would be warm enough. He made a creditable attempt to sleep away from Lina, but her grip on his foot pretty much limited that. Zel slid into sleep, never noticing the sleeping redhead cuddling closer into his leg.
"PERVERT!" A scream rang through the previously quiet forest, as a furious redhead swung a slipper at the sleeping chimera lying next to her.
"Huh.. wha? ... OW! LINA!" Zel's usually melodious voice sounded like he'd been gargling with gravel. He blinked a few time, then noticed that he was lying sandwiched between Lina and Amelia. A very pissed Lina, and a rather cuddly Amelia. The cuddly Amelia stopped being quite so cuddly as Lina's words registered.
A sleepy Gourry jumped up from his nest of blankets, sword unsheathed in his hands. When he couldn't spot any invaders, monsters, or breakfast, he quickly sat back down again the tree he'd been sleeping against.
Amelia jumped up from her bedroll. "Mr. Zelgadiss. How COULD you? A justice-loving person such as yourself should NEVER do such a thing!" She quickly scampered up the tallest tree in the clearing, and posed for maximum effect. "Taking advantage of your sleeping companions..." she began.
Lina facefaulted. Zel facefaulted and fell to the ground, still wrapped in his blankets. With one foot still clenched in Lina's grasp.
"Amelia. Come down." Lina released Zel's foot, quickly turning away to hide her blush.
"Who was Taking Advantage of whom?" Zel still sounded less than completely melodious... who could blame him, no coffee, a screaming Lina, a preaching Amelia and the sleeping Gourry. Not to mention this headache. What a way to wake up.
After the companions had managed to wake Gourry again, they sorted out their sleeping gear. Lina had declared Gourry's need for his own sleeping equipment took precedence over reaching the town Sylphiel was waiting for them at, and the group set off for the nearest town.
Amelia bounced contentedly down the road, attempting to hang on Zelgadiss. Zel's headache had grown from a slight irritation to a massive one, and he was feeling less than completely comfortable having the same person who chewed him out at the top of her lungs clinging to his arm.
"Amelia. Please let go." Zel shook his arm in an attempt to remove her. She pouted, but let go, and bounced up to talk to Gourry. Zel grimaced, and wished that he had something for the pain in his head.
"Zel?" Lina's voice was unusually subdued, "I'm sorry about this morning."
"Yeah, well, maybe it's time we stopped camping out at night." Zel tried desperately to be civil, after all, Lina was trying to apologize. His head was throbbing in time to each footstep.
Lina grabbed his arm, pulling him to a stop. "Are you all right? You look..."
Zel pulled his arm out of her grasp. "I'm fine..."
"Liar. You've got bags under your eyes, and you keep winching and rubbing your temples. Headache?" Lina reached out to turn him towards her. "I've got things for a headache tea..." she quickly cast a minor healing spell, hoping it would help.
Zel winced as more light streamed through the trees they were walking under. 'I just want to get to the next town... but this headache is driving me mad.'
"Let's just get to town."
Lina agreed, but she couldn't stop watching him, worried that the self-sufficient chimera was suffering a headache that her healing spells weren't affecting.
The next town was close, only half a day's walk. As soon as they arrived, Lina dragged the group to the town's only inn, and rented all 4 rooms for the next night. The innkeeper was happy to provide the group with water for Lina's headache tea, and a light snack. When he saw the amount of food that the group put away for their 'snack', he paled and quickly sent his eldest daughter out to buy more food.
Lina sent Amelia with Gourry out to purchase blankets, and took the tea up to Zelgadiss's room. Her quiet knock didn't receive an answer, so she pushed the door in, peeking her head around the corner. The room was darkened, and it took her a minute to find its occupant. Zel was lying in the bed, with the pillow over his head. Lina walked into the room silently and shut the door after her to keep the light from the hallway out.
'Migraine.' She thought 'Classic symptoms... what was that spell big sister used...?' Lina poured out a cup of tea while she thought. 'Damn, I'll have to look it up.'
"Zel? Wake up." Lina spoke softly, while reaching out her empty hand to touch his shoulder. "This should help... come on, just sit up."
Zel shivered and tried to crawl further under his pillow. He could feel every heartbeat, and his blood pulsed through his head like a thousand drums... A cool hand touched his forehead... that felt nice. And its owner wasn't yelling or pointing bright lights into his eyes. He slowly crept out from under his pillow. Lina was perched on his bed, holding a faintly steaming cup of tea.
"Come on, Zel. Just drink this... it'll take the pain away." Lina smiled at the glazed look in Zel's eyes as he took the teacup. She continued murmuring encouragement as he slowly drank the cup's contents. When he was finished, she took the cup away, and set it on the table next to the teapot. "Better?"
Zel mumbled in agreement, lying back on his pillow. Something was wrong with this situation, but it didn't really seem important. There were cool hands on his forehead, and the tea was creating a zone of warmth in his stomach. For the first time that day, the pain in his head was receding rather than growing. There was something he should say... but he fell asleep before he could remember what it was.
Lina watched as Zel fell asleep, gently brushing the hair away from his face. She knew that he would hate anyone seeing him like this, but she couldn't bear to leave just yet. Zel muttered in his sleep and rolled onto his side, shivering slightly. 'Damn. I bet it was the cold last night. Idiot should have taken all his blankets back...' Lina felt guilt, and grabbed her blanket to lie over her sleeping friend. Then she sat with him until he stopped tossing and shivering.
Zel was dreaming. He was a little child, and had come down with a fever. His head hurt. His mommy had made him his favorite tea, and tucked him into her own big soft bed next to the fire. Now she was stroking his forehead and telling him stories about his father... Her hands were refreshingly cool against his fevered skin, and her soft voice was soothing. She smelled like roses... which was wrong. His mother's scent had always been earthy, like red wine, wind swept rain, and wet fur. But he definitely smelled roses. Zel's tired mind tried to fit the smell into his dream, but it just wouldn't change. A faint smile grew as Zel slipped deeper into his dreams.
Amelia and Gourry returned from shopping with a huge stack of things. They dropped the blankets into Gourry's room and the rest of the items into Amelia's before heading out to find Lina.
The innkeeper's wife directed them to the baths, and informed them that their companion had taken tea up to her husband and was waiting for them.
"Who?" Gourry asked, very confused. At the woman's explanation, he laughed and explained that they were all just traveling companions.
"Oh, well, she seemed very concerned about him, and spent a long time in his room... I guess that explains the 4 rooms, then." The woman shrugged and confirmed their dinner preferences before sending them off to the baths.
"What's wrong, Amelia?" Gourry asked as they walked to the baths. The normally bouncy princess was very quiet.
"Why did that woman think that Miss Lina and Mr. Zelgadiss were married?" Amelia asked, "I mean, isn't it obvious that ..." she stopped, then continued "I guess it's just that... well, Miss Lina isn't very wifely, is she?"
"Hmmm? Oh, well... umm..." Gourry stuttered for a minute, then continued "It's probably just that you and I walked in together, then Lina and Zel showed up a bit later... if you remember, he wasn't looking very good, and Lina took care of arranging for his room, and making him medicine, and everything. She was even able to tell the innkeeper what he would want if he woke up, and what to prepare for his breakfast. Then we both left to go shopping, while Lina looked after Zel. They are pretty close."
"Doesn't that bother you Mr. Gourry?" Amelia asked, not liking his explanation. If even Gourry could see it as possible...
"Why would it bother me, Amelia?" Gourry was puzzled, "Lina would do the same for either of us... I know she seems very angry all the time, but she'd never abandon a friend who needed her."
They reached the baths, which was good, since Gourry was terribly confused, and Amelia just seemed to be getting more and more upset. They separated, and headed for their respective baths. Amelia couldn't believe it. Gourry was so dense.
She thought about the situation as she changed out of her clothes. 'Why would someone assume that Miss Lina is married? She's the least likely person I know to get married...' Amelia's mind turned over this question, before remembering Hallas. 'Hallas wanted to marry Miss Lina, though. But she said she was too young to get married. But that was 2 years ago. Maybe she thinks she's ready to get married now...' Amelia got more and more mad the more she thought about it. 'I bet she said something to that woman, and that's why she thought they were married... how could she!' Amelia was finished changing, and walked into the baths only in her towel.
"Hi Amelia." Lina said, happy to see that Amelia has made it back from shopping in time to get a bath before dinner. "How was shopping?"
"How could you?" Amelia cried, staying as far away from Lina in the bathing pool as possible. Tears of rage beaded in the corners of her eyes, "What would Mr. Zelgadiss say?"
"Huh?" Lina was feeling a little lost. "Why would Zel say anything about me bathing?"
"Telling that woman that you were married!" Amelia cried, pointing at Lina accusingly.
"Amelia, what are you talking about? Are you feeling okay?" Lina was feeling very lost.
"That innkeeper woman! She thought you were married! What did you tell her?" Amelia was standing in the pool, still pointing at Lina.
"Amelia! Pointing is rude!" Lina cried, "And I still don't know what you are talking about."
Amelia blushed and sat back down in the water. "You mean you didn't tell that woman that you and Mr. Zelgadis were married?" A blush crept up her cheeks.
Lina facefaulted. "You thought I WHAT?" she cried. A blush crept up her cheeks, and down her neck. This impressed Amelia until she realized Miss Lina was mad. At her. Amelia paled, then flushed again.
"I thought you must have said something to her, because she called him your husband, and there was no real reason for her to think that and..." Amelia trailed off, pushing her index fingers together.
"Amelia, I don't have time for this now. Zel is sick, and we are going to be late meeting up with Sylphiel because of this little detour." Lina sighed and slid deeper into the water, both to escape Amelia, and to hide the blush that she knew was forming. That woman thought Zel was her husband? 'How... odd. Never happen. But wouldn't it be nice...' Lina quickly strangled the chibi-lina who was sitting there with a smile on her face at that thought. Time to get back to Amelia.
"Amelia, it's not that strange. A lot of girls my age are married, and I'm sorry that the innkeeper misinterpreted. There isn't anything between Zel and I. You know that." Lina tried to speak calmly, but she could feel her blush getting worse. "He's one of my closest friends, and nothing anyone thinks about our relationship is going to change that." Lina stopped, realizing that her explanation wasn't really sinking in. "In any case, it was just a stupid mistake. Stop overreacting."
They finished their baths quietly, both thinking about Amelia's outburst and the reason for it. Amelia wasn't sure why exactly she had reacted so strangely. She just knew that Miss Lina and Mr Gourry were perfect for each other, and was upset for him...
'Keep telling yourself that, maybe you'll believe it.' Chibi-Amelia scoffed 'If you were honest with yourself, you'd realize that you were mad because you want people to make that mistake about YOU and Zelgadiss, not Lina and Zelgadis.'
Lina was fairly confused. She'd felt bad this morning after yelling Zel awake. It wasn't his fault that she had thought he was doing something odd, but she was kind of puzzled why she'd been cuddled up against his leg. And the rage that she'd felt when she saw Amelia sleeping curled up at his back. That wasn't usual, either. 'What am I doing?' Lina thought, 'He's my friend, I know that he would never try to take advantage of me.'
'But don't you sometimes wish he would...?' Chibi-Lina asked.
'Shut UP!' Lina thought back.
After their baths, the three slayers returned to their inn. The innkeeper had timed things well, and Lina had ordered enough food. By the time that they had started into their fourth plates, people from around town had heard about the minor war taking place in the inn common room, and come to see what all the fuss was about.
"I claim this meatball in the names of Sailoon and JUSTICE!" Amelia cried, trying to spear the last meatball on her fork.
"I don't think so!" Lina cried, "I saw that meatball first!" She intercepted Amelia's fork, and began an impromptu duel.
They were battling so fiercely that they never saw Gourry's fork. Luckily, the Innkeeper came out with their fifth plate of meatballs just as they were about to get violent. The townsfolk looked on in awe for a moment, then the bets began flying. This was the most interesting thing to happen since Stella ran off with her twin sister's fiancé!
After dinner, the satiated group sat back in their chairs, and listened to the story that the innkeeper's middle daughter was telling.
'She's pretty good.' Lina thought. 'I should ask her about her training. Maybe I can get Cousin Dian out here to take her to the Bard's guild...' She listened to the girl until her eyes started to feel heavy. She looked around, and noticed that Gourry had fallen asleep in his chair and Amelia was looking the same way she was feeling. As the story drew to a close, she tossed a small gem from the recent bandit heist... umm, retribution, to the girl.
"Thank you, Raine. That was the best telling of Tristan and Isolde I've ever heard. Quite a talent you have there." Lina smiled at the now speechless girl, then looked around the room, "You've been hiding a Master Storyteller here. And I bet you've all gotten spoiled."
"Miss Lina is right." Amelia said, "I've heard a lot of storytellers in my time, but that was the first time I've ever heard anyone sing that song in the middle."
Raine blushed at this praise from strangers. "That was an original piece. Most people just gloss over the song she's singing in the garden, but I always thought that it was such a part of the story... I'm glad you liked it.'
Her parents looked on, her mother proud, her father apprehensive. He didn't want his little girl to go out into the world as a bard.
Lina and Amelia tried to wake Gourry for bed, but he wasn't budging. Lina started to fireball him to wake him up, then looked around the crowded room, and simply levitated him into a semi-standing position. She and Amelia maneuvered him up the stairs. If anyone in the common room thought this was odd, they kept it to themselves.
Once they got to the top of the stairs, Lina told Amelia that she would get Gourry into bed, and to go to sleep. Amelia sleepily agreed.
"Gourry, wake up!" Lina said crossly, "I'm just going to drop you into your bed, you can take your clothes off yourself." Contrary to her worlds, she unbuckled his armor and swordbelts, and took off his shoes before rolling him into bed.
"'Night, Mommy..." Gourry muttered as Lina pulled the covers over him. She tiptoed out of the room, and entered her own.
Thinking of the book reminded Lina that not everyone was happy with the outcome of the day's adventures. Zelgadiss was wrapped in his cloak across the fire pit. He'd been looking for a cure for the chimerical curse his great/grandfather Rezo had 'gifted' him with years earlier. After finding out that the bandit's great book was no more than an introduction to basic black magic curses, he'd joined Lina in a little bandit demolition. Amelia tried to cheer him up, but all she'd really succeeded in doing was driving him a little further away from the rest of the group.
Lina's gaze slid around to the remaining members of her group. Both Gourry and Amelia were fast asleep, wrapped so tightly in their bedrolls that the only way to tell them apart was by size... and the sword that the larger figure was clutching like a little kid's blanket. Lina shivered... it was really cold. Maybe...
"Do you want me to take this watch?" a low, sweet voice interrupted her thoughts.
"What? Zel... no, that's okay." Lina replied quietly... not that shouting would wake either of their companions.
Zelgadiss had moved around the fire, leaving his blankets in a pile on the other side of the fire pit. He was holding a kettle in one hand, and what was most likely tea in the other. Lina hadn't even heard him move.
"I'm fine, you don't have to..." Lina began.
Zel cut her off, "It's okay. I really don't need that much sleep. You look cold."
Lina shrugged, "I am a little... if you're making tea anyway... I should check the perimeter."
Zel quietly made tea while Lina checked the outer edges of their campsite. By the time she returned, he had poured her the first cup, and was sitting wrapped in his cloak. Lina took the tea, smiling at his back.
"Thanks." She began. "I'm sorry that we ended up chasing another false trail this morning..."
Zel shrugged. Lina tried to see his expression, but his hood and hair hid his face completely. Lina sipped her tea, trying to respect his evident desire for silence. They both reached for the tea pot at the same time.
"Let me." Lina said, "After all, you're the one who made it."
"You should get some sleep." Zel said after they finished the tea. "It's just about time for the next watch. I'll wake Gourry for morning watch."
"Thanks, Zel." Lina replied smothering a yawn. She made her way over to the open space near the fire and laid out her blanket. Curling into it, she tried to sleep... but between shivering from the cold, and worrying about Zel, she spent a long time tossing.
Just as she was about to give up and tell Zel to go back to sleep, a warm presence intruded. More blankets, and a warm pillow... Lina turned in puzzlement. Zel was standing next to her, his bedding was spread over her, and his pillow was next to her head.
Zel blushed as Lina looked up at him. "You looked cold." He said, standing up. "I know you gave some of your blankets to Gourry... " His voice faded as his blush grew hotter.
Lina felt herself blushing. Of course he knew that. She'd complained loudly enough about Gourry forgetting his blankets when they left town that everyone within a five day walk probably knew she'd given him her other blankets. She muttered something that sounded like "That jellyfish for brains would probably forget his head if it wasn't screwed on tight..." then remembered where she was and blushed even more.
"Thanks again. Just take them back when your watch is over." She said, snuggling down into the now warm pile. 'Hmmm...' she thought, 'why are Zel's blankets warmer than mine?' Her last though was one of happy contentment as she finally slid into sleep.
Zelgadiss smiled faintly at the now peacefully sleeping sorceress. Or, as peaceful as Lina Inverse, chaos poster child, could sleep. For anyone else, that would be a workout. His faint smile turned into a grin as she twisted and turned, working her way around in a complete circle. Amazingly enough, throughout her tossing she managed to keep her cheek snuggled into his pillow.
The rest of Zelgadiss's watch passed uneventfully. He spent most of it setting up guards and traps in preparation for Gourry's watch... knowing Gourry, he'd be asleep within 15 minutes of his watch starting. He shook Gourry awake, and went to reclaim his bedding. The first blanket was easy, Lina had abandoned it in her tossing and twitching. Looking at the tangle of blankets still wrapped around the sleeping sorceress, he decided to take a second blanket, but leave the third.
Gourry was making his way sleepily around to the other side of the campfire, while Zel tried to extricate one of his blankets from Lina's sleeping grasp. Lina tossed a bit in her sleep, Zel froze, knowing waking the sleeping Lina might solve the problem of cold, but that the resulting fireball would simply make life more... disturbing. Lina settled back down with a sleepy murmur, but she had managed to grab his foot in the process.
Zel tugged on his foot experimentally... Lina grumbled sleepily, and tightened her grip. His options appeared to be either removing his shoe, or waking Lina up. He thought for a moment, then bent down to remove the shoe.
"Need help, Zeldagiss?" Gourry's voice came softly across the campfire.
Zel blushed "You know any way to wake her up without pissing her off?" he whispered back, for once ignoring Gourry's mispronunciation of his name.
"Nope. I'd just give in and sleep there if I were you. She'll let go during the night..." Gourry seemed remarkably unconcerned by the situation. Zel could feel his blush getting darker. Maybe Gourry was right. 'What am I coming to?' Zel thought, 'Looking to Gourry for help. Oh well. Things couldn't possibly get worse...'
*The very harried secretary to the gods looked up and made a notation into an appointment book...*
Zel extracted his second blanket from around Lina, hoping she would be warm enough. He made a creditable attempt to sleep away from Lina, but her grip on his foot pretty much limited that. Zel slid into sleep, never noticing the sleeping redhead cuddling closer into his leg.
"PERVERT!" A scream rang through the previously quiet forest, as a furious redhead swung a slipper at the sleeping chimera lying next to her.
"Huh.. wha? ... OW! LINA!" Zel's usually melodious voice sounded like he'd been gargling with gravel. He blinked a few time, then noticed that he was lying sandwiched between Lina and Amelia. A very pissed Lina, and a rather cuddly Amelia. The cuddly Amelia stopped being quite so cuddly as Lina's words registered.
A sleepy Gourry jumped up from his nest of blankets, sword unsheathed in his hands. When he couldn't spot any invaders, monsters, or breakfast, he quickly sat back down again the tree he'd been sleeping against.
Amelia jumped up from her bedroll. "Mr. Zelgadiss. How COULD you? A justice-loving person such as yourself should NEVER do such a thing!" She quickly scampered up the tallest tree in the clearing, and posed for maximum effect. "Taking advantage of your sleeping companions..." she began.
Lina facefaulted. Zel facefaulted and fell to the ground, still wrapped in his blankets. With one foot still clenched in Lina's grasp.
"Amelia. Come down." Lina released Zel's foot, quickly turning away to hide her blush.
"Who was Taking Advantage of whom?" Zel still sounded less than completely melodious... who could blame him, no coffee, a screaming Lina, a preaching Amelia and the sleeping Gourry. Not to mention this headache. What a way to wake up.
After the companions had managed to wake Gourry again, they sorted out their sleeping gear. Lina had declared Gourry's need for his own sleeping equipment took precedence over reaching the town Sylphiel was waiting for them at, and the group set off for the nearest town.
Amelia bounced contentedly down the road, attempting to hang on Zelgadiss. Zel's headache had grown from a slight irritation to a massive one, and he was feeling less than completely comfortable having the same person who chewed him out at the top of her lungs clinging to his arm.
"Amelia. Please let go." Zel shook his arm in an attempt to remove her. She pouted, but let go, and bounced up to talk to Gourry. Zel grimaced, and wished that he had something for the pain in his head.
"Zel?" Lina's voice was unusually subdued, "I'm sorry about this morning."
"Yeah, well, maybe it's time we stopped camping out at night." Zel tried desperately to be civil, after all, Lina was trying to apologize. His head was throbbing in time to each footstep.
Lina grabbed his arm, pulling him to a stop. "Are you all right? You look..."
Zel pulled his arm out of her grasp. "I'm fine..."
"Liar. You've got bags under your eyes, and you keep winching and rubbing your temples. Headache?" Lina reached out to turn him towards her. "I've got things for a headache tea..." she quickly cast a minor healing spell, hoping it would help.
Zel winced as more light streamed through the trees they were walking under. 'I just want to get to the next town... but this headache is driving me mad.'
"Let's just get to town."
Lina agreed, but she couldn't stop watching him, worried that the self-sufficient chimera was suffering a headache that her healing spells weren't affecting.
The next town was close, only half a day's walk. As soon as they arrived, Lina dragged the group to the town's only inn, and rented all 4 rooms for the next night. The innkeeper was happy to provide the group with water for Lina's headache tea, and a light snack. When he saw the amount of food that the group put away for their 'snack', he paled and quickly sent his eldest daughter out to buy more food.
Lina sent Amelia with Gourry out to purchase blankets, and took the tea up to Zelgadiss's room. Her quiet knock didn't receive an answer, so she pushed the door in, peeking her head around the corner. The room was darkened, and it took her a minute to find its occupant. Zel was lying in the bed, with the pillow over his head. Lina walked into the room silently and shut the door after her to keep the light from the hallway out.
'Migraine.' She thought 'Classic symptoms... what was that spell big sister used...?' Lina poured out a cup of tea while she thought. 'Damn, I'll have to look it up.'
"Zel? Wake up." Lina spoke softly, while reaching out her empty hand to touch his shoulder. "This should help... come on, just sit up."
Zel shivered and tried to crawl further under his pillow. He could feel every heartbeat, and his blood pulsed through his head like a thousand drums... A cool hand touched his forehead... that felt nice. And its owner wasn't yelling or pointing bright lights into his eyes. He slowly crept out from under his pillow. Lina was perched on his bed, holding a faintly steaming cup of tea.
"Come on, Zel. Just drink this... it'll take the pain away." Lina smiled at the glazed look in Zel's eyes as he took the teacup. She continued murmuring encouragement as he slowly drank the cup's contents. When he was finished, she took the cup away, and set it on the table next to the teapot. "Better?"
Zel mumbled in agreement, lying back on his pillow. Something was wrong with this situation, but it didn't really seem important. There were cool hands on his forehead, and the tea was creating a zone of warmth in his stomach. For the first time that day, the pain in his head was receding rather than growing. There was something he should say... but he fell asleep before he could remember what it was.
Lina watched as Zel fell asleep, gently brushing the hair away from his face. She knew that he would hate anyone seeing him like this, but she couldn't bear to leave just yet. Zel muttered in his sleep and rolled onto his side, shivering slightly. 'Damn. I bet it was the cold last night. Idiot should have taken all his blankets back...' Lina felt guilt, and grabbed her blanket to lie over her sleeping friend. Then she sat with him until he stopped tossing and shivering.
Zel was dreaming. He was a little child, and had come down with a fever. His head hurt. His mommy had made him his favorite tea, and tucked him into her own big soft bed next to the fire. Now she was stroking his forehead and telling him stories about his father... Her hands were refreshingly cool against his fevered skin, and her soft voice was soothing. She smelled like roses... which was wrong. His mother's scent had always been earthy, like red wine, wind swept rain, and wet fur. But he definitely smelled roses. Zel's tired mind tried to fit the smell into his dream, but it just wouldn't change. A faint smile grew as Zel slipped deeper into his dreams.
Amelia and Gourry returned from shopping with a huge stack of things. They dropped the blankets into Gourry's room and the rest of the items into Amelia's before heading out to find Lina.
The innkeeper's wife directed them to the baths, and informed them that their companion had taken tea up to her husband and was waiting for them.
"Who?" Gourry asked, very confused. At the woman's explanation, he laughed and explained that they were all just traveling companions.
"Oh, well, she seemed very concerned about him, and spent a long time in his room... I guess that explains the 4 rooms, then." The woman shrugged and confirmed their dinner preferences before sending them off to the baths.
"What's wrong, Amelia?" Gourry asked as they walked to the baths. The normally bouncy princess was very quiet.
"Why did that woman think that Miss Lina and Mr. Zelgadiss were married?" Amelia asked, "I mean, isn't it obvious that ..." she stopped, then continued "I guess it's just that... well, Miss Lina isn't very wifely, is she?"
"Hmmm? Oh, well... umm..." Gourry stuttered for a minute, then continued "It's probably just that you and I walked in together, then Lina and Zel showed up a bit later... if you remember, he wasn't looking very good, and Lina took care of arranging for his room, and making him medicine, and everything. She was even able to tell the innkeeper what he would want if he woke up, and what to prepare for his breakfast. Then we both left to go shopping, while Lina looked after Zel. They are pretty close."
"Doesn't that bother you Mr. Gourry?" Amelia asked, not liking his explanation. If even Gourry could see it as possible...
"Why would it bother me, Amelia?" Gourry was puzzled, "Lina would do the same for either of us... I know she seems very angry all the time, but she'd never abandon a friend who needed her."
They reached the baths, which was good, since Gourry was terribly confused, and Amelia just seemed to be getting more and more upset. They separated, and headed for their respective baths. Amelia couldn't believe it. Gourry was so dense.
She thought about the situation as she changed out of her clothes. 'Why would someone assume that Miss Lina is married? She's the least likely person I know to get married...' Amelia's mind turned over this question, before remembering Hallas. 'Hallas wanted to marry Miss Lina, though. But she said she was too young to get married. But that was 2 years ago. Maybe she thinks she's ready to get married now...' Amelia got more and more mad the more she thought about it. 'I bet she said something to that woman, and that's why she thought they were married... how could she!' Amelia was finished changing, and walked into the baths only in her towel.
"Hi Amelia." Lina said, happy to see that Amelia has made it back from shopping in time to get a bath before dinner. "How was shopping?"
"How could you?" Amelia cried, staying as far away from Lina in the bathing pool as possible. Tears of rage beaded in the corners of her eyes, "What would Mr. Zelgadiss say?"
"Huh?" Lina was feeling a little lost. "Why would Zel say anything about me bathing?"
"Telling that woman that you were married!" Amelia cried, pointing at Lina accusingly.
"Amelia, what are you talking about? Are you feeling okay?" Lina was feeling very lost.
"That innkeeper woman! She thought you were married! What did you tell her?" Amelia was standing in the pool, still pointing at Lina.
"Amelia! Pointing is rude!" Lina cried, "And I still don't know what you are talking about."
Amelia blushed and sat back down in the water. "You mean you didn't tell that woman that you and Mr. Zelgadis were married?" A blush crept up her cheeks.
Lina facefaulted. "You thought I WHAT?" she cried. A blush crept up her cheeks, and down her neck. This impressed Amelia until she realized Miss Lina was mad. At her. Amelia paled, then flushed again.
"I thought you must have said something to her, because she called him your husband, and there was no real reason for her to think that and..." Amelia trailed off, pushing her index fingers together.
"Amelia, I don't have time for this now. Zel is sick, and we are going to be late meeting up with Sylphiel because of this little detour." Lina sighed and slid deeper into the water, both to escape Amelia, and to hide the blush that she knew was forming. That woman thought Zel was her husband? 'How... odd. Never happen. But wouldn't it be nice...' Lina quickly strangled the chibi-lina who was sitting there with a smile on her face at that thought. Time to get back to Amelia.
"Amelia, it's not that strange. A lot of girls my age are married, and I'm sorry that the innkeeper misinterpreted. There isn't anything between Zel and I. You know that." Lina tried to speak calmly, but she could feel her blush getting worse. "He's one of my closest friends, and nothing anyone thinks about our relationship is going to change that." Lina stopped, realizing that her explanation wasn't really sinking in. "In any case, it was just a stupid mistake. Stop overreacting."
They finished their baths quietly, both thinking about Amelia's outburst and the reason for it. Amelia wasn't sure why exactly she had reacted so strangely. She just knew that Miss Lina and Mr Gourry were perfect for each other, and was upset for him...
'Keep telling yourself that, maybe you'll believe it.' Chibi-Amelia scoffed 'If you were honest with yourself, you'd realize that you were mad because you want people to make that mistake about YOU and Zelgadiss, not Lina and Zelgadis.'
Lina was fairly confused. She'd felt bad this morning after yelling Zel awake. It wasn't his fault that she had thought he was doing something odd, but she was kind of puzzled why she'd been cuddled up against his leg. And the rage that she'd felt when she saw Amelia sleeping curled up at his back. That wasn't usual, either. 'What am I doing?' Lina thought, 'He's my friend, I know that he would never try to take advantage of me.'
'But don't you sometimes wish he would...?' Chibi-Lina asked.
'Shut UP!' Lina thought back.
After their baths, the three slayers returned to their inn. The innkeeper had timed things well, and Lina had ordered enough food. By the time that they had started into their fourth plates, people from around town had heard about the minor war taking place in the inn common room, and come to see what all the fuss was about.
"I claim this meatball in the names of Sailoon and JUSTICE!" Amelia cried, trying to spear the last meatball on her fork.
"I don't think so!" Lina cried, "I saw that meatball first!" She intercepted Amelia's fork, and began an impromptu duel.
They were battling so fiercely that they never saw Gourry's fork. Luckily, the Innkeeper came out with their fifth plate of meatballs just as they were about to get violent. The townsfolk looked on in awe for a moment, then the bets began flying. This was the most interesting thing to happen since Stella ran off with her twin sister's fiancé!
After dinner, the satiated group sat back in their chairs, and listened to the story that the innkeeper's middle daughter was telling.
'She's pretty good.' Lina thought. 'I should ask her about her training. Maybe I can get Cousin Dian out here to take her to the Bard's guild...' She listened to the girl until her eyes started to feel heavy. She looked around, and noticed that Gourry had fallen asleep in his chair and Amelia was looking the same way she was feeling. As the story drew to a close, she tossed a small gem from the recent bandit heist... umm, retribution, to the girl.
"Thank you, Raine. That was the best telling of Tristan and Isolde I've ever heard. Quite a talent you have there." Lina smiled at the now speechless girl, then looked around the room, "You've been hiding a Master Storyteller here. And I bet you've all gotten spoiled."
"Miss Lina is right." Amelia said, "I've heard a lot of storytellers in my time, but that was the first time I've ever heard anyone sing that song in the middle."
Raine blushed at this praise from strangers. "That was an original piece. Most people just gloss over the song she's singing in the garden, but I always thought that it was such a part of the story... I'm glad you liked it.'
Her parents looked on, her mother proud, her father apprehensive. He didn't want his little girl to go out into the world as a bard.
Lina and Amelia tried to wake Gourry for bed, but he wasn't budging. Lina started to fireball him to wake him up, then looked around the crowded room, and simply levitated him into a semi-standing position. She and Amelia maneuvered him up the stairs. If anyone in the common room thought this was odd, they kept it to themselves.
Once they got to the top of the stairs, Lina told Amelia that she would get Gourry into bed, and to go to sleep. Amelia sleepily agreed.
"Gourry, wake up!" Lina said crossly, "I'm just going to drop you into your bed, you can take your clothes off yourself." Contrary to her worlds, she unbuckled his armor and swordbelts, and took off his shoes before rolling him into bed.
"'Night, Mommy..." Gourry muttered as Lina pulled the covers over him. She tiptoed out of the room, and entered her own.