* I don't own the Slayers. I finally finished chapter three. I'm really sorry about the long wait and I hope it's as good as the other two chapters. Once again a Huge Thank You to those that reviewed. I'm sorry that this one is a little short, and yes their still out of character. I hope to have another chapter soon.
The Room Was Dark
Lina turned away from Xellos to the child in her lap, her daughter. She looked at the letter inj Allison's hand, "This is a letter to me from an old friend of mine and," she hesitated as before she said it still not quite believing it herself, "your fathers," Lina told her daughter. "Now was there any reason you were searching for me?"
"Actually yes we did have a reason to search for you," Xellos told her. "Allison and Mistress Xelas found some of the powered the bandit threw on you yesterday still on your clothing. There's only one problem Mistress Xelas doesn't know what it's made of or if it's even magical at all."
"What does Luna think?" Lina asked him as she took the letter out of Allison's hands for the second time. "And how are you two coming with that spell? Any luck at all?" Lina asked hopefully. The evidence that she and Xellos were actually married and had a daughter was mounting fast, even though in all the letters she had read (or reread as the case may be). No one had mentioned of either the marriage, the birth of her daughter or even why she had stopped adventuring. They only mentioned that they missed her and that she had stopped adventuring for some reason. It was all so strange. Lina was beginning to understand how Gourry must have felt when they (when they were all still adventuring together) had just learned of a complicated magical spell or plot and didn't understand. Maybe she shouldn't have hit him so hard so often.
Xellos shook his head slightly, "Not much luck I'm afraid. Although there is a part of the spell that sounds like it's calling on the Lord of Nightmares." Xellos was frustrated he couldn't for the life of him understand what the apparently non-magical powder and the strange spell had to do with each other. What was the powder that combined with the spell that it would have such a strange affect? And for that matter who was the spell calling upon?
Allison fidgeted in her mother's lap, she knew bother her parents were worried and she also knew that they didn't know how to fix their current mess. And besides all that she desperately wanted to know what was in that letter on mommy's desk. She had never seen the piles of letters bound in red, blue, black, purple and green ribbons before. Had her mother hidden them away? If so why?
Lina was getting tired of Allison's seemingly endless fidgeting, the more she fidgeted the heavier she seemed to get and said. "Allison why don't you go help Aunt Luna? I need to talk to your father alone right now okay?"
Allison looked longingly at the stacks of letters on her mother's desk but slid of her lap and left the room to do as she was told.
When Allison had left and shut the door to the library Xellos walked closer to the desk and leaned on it standing close to Lina as she once again picked up a letter on her desk. "What's that?" He asked curiously.
Lina however said nothing and finished reading Zelgadis' letter before handing it over to Xellos to read for himself.
Xellos took the letter from her outstretched hand and read it out loud:
"Dear Lina
I hope you are well. I was sorry to hear that you and Gourry have temporarily stopped adventuring. Although I am confused as to why I'm sure that you have a good reason to want to take a break however long or short from adventuring. I'm sorry that we haven't met up in our adventuring since right after we and the others defeated Dark Star.
I am as well as can be expected after marching up and down that desert for the past six months. Even though I have tried every Temple, Church, Shrine, and other holy place I could possibly find I have not yet found a cure for my body. But maybe there is still hope.
Why did you and Gourry stop adventuring? Does Amelia know? What about Fillia? And have you heard the news about Valterra? It seems that any day now Valterra will hatch from his egg. Maybe we (Gourry, you, Amelia and I) should get together at her pottery shop to celebrate? Just don't tell Xellos if he comes to crash the party, his head my not be the only thing that's broken and the shop is Fillia's livelihood.
Speaking of Xellos this may sound like a strange question but has he been bothering you? I haven't seen him since Dark Star's defeat, not that I'm complaining. The less I see of that fruitcake the better my life gets. And just between you and me that's saying a lot.
By the way if you see Amelia could you tell her that I'm accepting her offer to search the Seyruun library and to let the palace guards know that I'm coming? I don't want a big mess with me ending up in the dungeon for a week before Amelia could get the mess straightened out, again like last time.
Your friend Zelgadis Greywords
P.S I'll ask you to keep one of the doves that brought my letter. They are homing birds and will always know were to find my. I have sent one to Fillia, and am sending one to Amelia. But since I trust that you and Gourry are still together I'll ask you to share this one with him."
Xellos stopped reading when the letter was finished. He looked up to find Lina staring at him. "You know theirs a common thread to these letters." She told him, "In each letter that I have read every one asks my why I stopped traveling. I even found a letter from Gourry telling me that he missed adventuring with me. Why do you think that is?" She asked him not really expecting an answer so she went on while he remained silent. "It seems to me that the best chance I have to get this crazy spell worked out is at the Seyruun Palace. More specifically in the Seyruun Library." Lina paused for a moment. "You know there is another thing about those letters none of them mentioned that I was married, to you or anyone for that matter. And none of them mentioned my having a child. Isn't that strange?"
"Yes," Xellos answered her, "very strange indeed. Well let's pack our bags and head to Seyruun." He wasn't sure why but, he felt that perhaps seeing her old friends, or just simply getting off of Wolfpack island would make her feel better.
Lina nodded, her head slightly as she packed the stacks of letters neatly away in her portfolio. She sat down in the wooden chair and took out a piece of paper, then changed her mind and took out a piece of parchment instead. Next Lina opened the ink well and dipped her pen into. As she carefully wiped the extra drops of black ink off the tip of the pen she thought. I don't know why but I'm sure the answers to my problem are in Seyruun, all I have to do is find them. With that resolution she put pen to parchment and started crafting a letter to Amelia.
"Dear Amelia,
I hope your doing well. Is Seyruun prospering under your rule? I'm sorry if I haven't kept up with your letters.
I myself seem to have run into a small problem, or problems to be more precise. It seems that a curse has been placed on me, and I'd like your permission to search through Seyruun's libraries, especially the Royal library.
It would give me an excuse to visit with you, even if nothing else comes out of it. To tell you the truth I'm not sure how long it's been since I've seen your or any of the others at all for that matter. And I would like a chance to simply catch up on old news so to speak.
You see Amelia my problem is this, I woke up this morning and simply couldn't remember were I was. I remember the beginning of my life and career as a Sorceress well enough, and even all the all the fun we, (You, Zelgadis, Gourry, Fillia, Xellos and I) had. I remember the demons we've killed. I even remember fighting over the last bit of meals with my friends. But the fact of the matter is that I basically can not remember the last seven or so years of my life.
As I said earlier I remember being cursed the day before, but today…well. The reason that I'd like to use the library is to research a spell that was cast. As far as I know, no one seems to know what the incantation could mean, or even who it calls upon. Perhaps Fillia might know but…I don't want to get bother her while she's taking care of both Valterra and her shop. I wouldn't bother you or the other occupants of the Seyruun palace, only research this curse.
I'll tell you more of the details, in person if you give me permission to see you.
Sincerely, Lina Inverse.
P.S is it all right if I bring one or two people along with me? One of them you know, the other I'm not sure if you do or not. I really doubt that they would let me go alone at any rate."