The next morning, Amelia took the man out on a tour of their kingdom. She found herself acting much more bold than she normally would have around any other man, even going so far as to dance with him in the square. They took a horse-driven carriage through the kingdom, Amelia pointing out the most important places, such as the fountain and the monument to the Red Priest, Rezo. When the man saw that, he turned away in disgust, which shocked Amelia a little. She thought everyone adored and worshipped the Red Priest.
Towards evening, after they'd had dinner together, they went for a boat ride on the lagoon. The man rowed their little boat while Amelia sat, mostly just looking at him. She often tried to make idle conversation, but it was awkward with the man across from her not being able to say anything in return.
"You know," she began, starting another attempt at conversation. "I feel bad about not knowing your name. Could..... Could I try to guess?"
She smiled when the man nodded, and she began to think. "Derek?" she asked.
The man shook his head, a slight smile tugging at his lips.
"Braedon?"
Again, he shook his head.
"Albert?"
The man made a very strange face of disapproval, making Amelia laugh a little. "I guess not," she said.
(~~~~~~squigglies~~~~~~~)
Zelgadis couldn't help it-- he smiled. For the first time in he didn't know how long, he smiled. Amelia's laugh was bright and bubbly, just like her personality, and just being with her made him feel slightly light-headed.
"Could you maybe spell it out?" Amelia suggested.
Now why didn't I think of that? Zelgadis wondered. He nodded, and took out a piece of chalk from the emergency kit under his seat on the boat. He spelled his name out on the floor of the boat so Amelia could read it.
"Zelgadis?" Amelia asked. "Your name is Zelgadis?"
Putting the chalk down, Zelgadis nodded. He left the oars be, and just sat, looking at Amelia.
"I like that," Amelia said, leaning forward slightly. "All right, then.... Zelgadis-san...."
As the sky got darker, the two of them said nothing, but just looked at each other. The boat drifted lazily across the lagoon. At one point, it broke through a curtain of willow leaves hanging over the lagoon, leading to a small secluded area beneath the wide willow tree. Fireflies came out for the night, and surrounded their small boat. With the small bits of silver moonlight streaking in through the spaces between vines, it created a very romantic atmosphere, and still neither of them took their eyes off the other.
Slowly, without either of them realizing it, they began leaning closer to the other. It wasn't until their faces were inches apart that they finally realized it, and by then it was too late. Drawn into the other's eyes, they each leaned in for a kiss--
The boat suddenly tipped over, dumping both Zelgadis and Amelia into the lagoon. Zelgadis stood up quickly in the shallow water, and helped Amelia to her feet. Then, the both of them, sopping wet, got the boat and headed back home, both blushing brightly at what they'd almost done.
(~~~~squigglies~~~~~)
Xellos, back in his "temporary lodgings," had seen the whole thing. In fact, it was he that had caused the boat to tip over. "This guy is good," Xellos said. "If I want things to work out, I'll have to take matters into my own hands." Xellos stood up, and planted himself in the center of the room. His staff began to glow bright crimson up the entire length of it, and Xellos held it in both hands. He let out a very mancing chuckle as the red glow surrounded his entire body.
Slowly, his form began to change. His hair shortened and began to stand out at the ends, his face changed shape, and he became taller. His eyes kept their bright purple hue, but became less sharp. Even his clothes changed so he was wearing a black outfit with a beige overcloak. His staff's jewel detatched from the staff, and flattened out into a red pendant.
And as his jewel's glow shifted from red to gold, so his voice shifted into an exact likeness of Zelgadis' voice.