Queen Amelia sat in her throne room hearing petitions she could really care less about but listened to them for her people. She was lonely, her head ached from the crown upon her brow, she was hot, uncomfortable, and agitated. Xelloss had not returned to reclaim the soul he'd left her with or ask her decision. She was steadily becoming more curious as to who it was, she hoped it was Zelgadis, but Xelloss wouldn't answer when she'd asked.
Finally, the audiences were over and she returned to her rooms, intending to take a nap. She was so tired, and lonely. Her eyes were cast downward as she stepped into her room, removing the heavy crown on her head and closing the door with her other hand. Turning, she gasped softly at finding Xelloss lying on her bed with his usual smirk, eyes opened.
"Your decision?" he asked, getting straight to the point.
"Only if you return Zelgadis to life will I give you the position," Amelia said firmly, getting pouted at by the Mazoku priest-general. "And you have to return him to life BEFORE I give you the position."
Xelloss pouted further, sitting up and getting off the bed. "Amelia-chan, I never knew you to be so cruel!"
"A lot has happened. Bring Zelgadis back now or you won't get anything from me." Amelia had chosen her words carefully, she wasn't going to let Xelloss bully her into something without getting something she wanted in return. "And as long as Zelgadis and I live, you will be one of my advisors." Xelloss was not happy, his smirk had vanished and he watched her carefully. Amelia refrained from pointing out that she'd known him for long enough to realize that he liked cheating people out of what he promised them in some loophole of the contract. That was how ALL Mazoku were.
"Alright, Amelia-sama, that is fair enough." Xelloss reached over to the drawer of the night table beside her bed where Amelia had placed the soul for safekeeping. Taking it out, he looked at it closely and tossed it into the air. It glowed brightly as it fell. When it hit the floor, Amelia expected it to shatter, but instead it melted into a new shape, becoming the body of a person, a man, laying face down on the floor.
The body solidified, becoming flesh and fine dark violet hair, Amelia was about to protest that the man wasn't Zelgadis when she realized that it was; simply his human form. His electric blue eyes snapped open and he scrambled to his feet, looking around. Amelia blushed brightly, covering her eyes.
"XELLOSS!!" Zelgadis snarled and lunged at the Mazoku- who disappeared and caused Zelgadis to land on the bed. That was when he realized that he was completely nude and flesh. "What... What happened?!" he looked around again, finding Amelia and turned bright red as well, pulling the blanket on the bed over his lap. "Amelia- what are you doing here? What am I doing here?! Where IS here?"
Amelia peeked between her fingers and sighed, going over to her night table and setting down the crown. Turning, she threw her arms around his shoulders and began sobbing into his chest. "Zelgadis-san! It's been so horrible! Daddy died, Lina's dead, Gourry's dead, Uncle Christopher is dead, all my friends here are dead or left! I've had no one for so long!"
"Amelia, slow down, what happened to Lina and Gourry?" Zelgadis asked.
Amelia stopped talking a moment, sniffling and reaching to her night stand to take out a kerchief to wipe her nose and eyes. "Lina came here not long ago and told me that Xelloss had attacked you guys and that he'd killed you and then Gourry got mad and rushed Xelloss only to have his head smashed in and Lina caught the plague and turned into an alcoholic. She's probably dead by now. She came a few days after daddy died."
"Wait a minute! You said I was killed?" Zelgadis blurted. "If that's true, how am I here?"
"Xelloss and I made a deal. You get returned to life and as long as both of us live he gets to be one of my advisors... I'm sorry Zelgadis-san! I- I needed someone and... and... you were the one I thought could help me the most. Most everyone is dead or left but there's some left and I'm the queen now and I can't do this by my self!" Amelia looked at him pleadingly. "Please... please say you'll help me."
Zelgadis looked down a moment then back at her, lifting a shaking hand to touch her face, "Amelia, you- you're my friend..." he said haltingly, "Of course I'll help you... but it doesn't explain why I'm human..."
Amelia bowed her head, pulling the kerchief through her fingers. "I guess human is what your soul was.. Lina.. she said you... your body was destroyed..." She lifted her face when his hand touched her cheek gently.
"I'm going to need some clothes..." he said with a hint of amusement.
Amelia's lips twitched upward somewhat, "I kinda like you this way," a blush raced across her face, as well as his. "I'll get a servant to bring some," she said, getting to her feet and going to the door. "Please be here when I come back," she said, looking at him with watering eyes. Zelgadis looked back at her calmly.
"I'm not going anywhere like this," he replied firmly, blushing still.
* * *
Amelia waited in her antechamber for Zelgadis to finish dressing himself in the clothes she'd ended up having to get herself. She didn't mind doing it, it gave her time to put her thoughts together. The door to her bedchamber opened and Zelgadis stepped out, looking gallant in the courtier clothes, which was the only thing she'd found.
"You look nice," she said.
Zelgadis flushed, "It's a bit tight in places, but it'll do for today." The youth was wearing mid blue leggings tucked into knee high black boots that were folded at the top. His starched white blouse was tucked into his pants, with a shimmering blue vest holding it against his torso, leaving the loose sleeves with ruffles at the wrist free to move. The collar of the shirt had the same ruffles up to the base of his neck. At his waist was a thick black belt, though no sword. She would get him one soon though. Amelia truly thought he looked dashingly handsome.
Slowly, she paced forward, putting her face against his chest. "Amelia, don't start crying now..." he said nervously.
"I'm not," the queen replied, taking a deep breath, feeling his hands on her shoulders. "You can be the head of the guards, the old one died. Is that alright with you?"
Zelgadis nodded, looking down at her hair, he was afraid she could feel his heart pounding in his chest. His knees were almost trembling and he fought himself to keep from passing out. He'd wanted her, but he couldn't have told her when he was a Chimera. Now, he was human and she had already ascended to the throne. There was no way he could marry her. He used to have a title- or his father did, though his parents had been killed and his home burnt to the ground, there wasn't really much chance that the land that had once been his family's was still unused.
Amelia moved away from him finally, taking a deep breath and turning slightly. "I'll write up the document now..." she said, moving into her study. Zelgadis took a deep breath and followed after her, his chest tightened in remorse for her loss. She was still wearing black, a rather simple style dress, all black, her dark violet hair in a long braid down her back. "I'll have to give you a title-"
"I have one... or did..." Zelgadis interrupted. Amelia gave him a long startled look. "My father had been given some land by his father...Rezo." Amelia waited for him to continue, moving to sit at her desk in her study, pulling out a piece of paper and a pen. "My...parents are dead... so I suppose the title is mine now, if my land hasn't been overrun. It's been nine years since the house burnt down..."
Amelia frowned slightly, opening a drawer full of files that had been moved to her desk after her father's death. Flipping through the files, she found it.
Graywords; Leon Graywords (Rebecca, and Zelgadis) of Graywords Estate: 'Graywords Estate' four hundred and thirty-five acres, given to Leon Graywords by Rezo Graywords.
Other family members: Rezo Graywords, Kerith Graywords.
Amelia set the paper on her desk and carefully penned out the notice.
Lord Zelgadis Graywords of Graywords Estate is hereby appointed to the position of Captain of Guard.
Queen Amelia Wil Tessa Seyruun
Taking out another piece of paper, she sighed regretfully.
Lord Xelloss Mettallum of
Amelia paused, thinking a moment. She had to give Xelloss land and a title to be able to appoint him as an advisor, to do that, she had to have land free. "I think all of the Kibbis family has died, I'll have to have someone check on that before I title it to Xelloss though."
Zelgadis looked back at her for a long moment, "You're really going to make him an advisor?"
"A deal is a deal. If I don't... he might kill you again and I wouldn't be able to handle that, Zelgadis." Silence fell between them.
"I suppose you have a point..." he said softly, looking away, arms folded on his chest.
Amelia cleared her throat, "For now, though, I can post this," she replaced the file on Zelgadis's estate and placed the paper in a tray for taking to the council session that was thankfully later in the day. She searched through the files to find the one on Kibbis.
Kibbis; Jereth Kibbis (Lola, Beketh, and Annabel) of Kibbis Manor: 'Kibbis Manor' two hundred twenty-two acres, owned by Kibbis family 100 years.
Other family members: Kris and Annabel Dakath
Amelia nodded, "They're all dead. Annabel was a very nice girl though," she reminisced, finishing the notice of Xelloss's new title and advisor position, placing it in the tray with Zelgadis's. Pulling out more papers, she wrote out several more notices of position changes within her palace. The council meeting would be her first since ascension to the throne and she needed things sorted out within the ranks.
Zelgadis paced over to the window, arms folded on his chest, looking down at the ground below. He glanced toward the new queen, his queen, the one he'd secretly loved for four years of his life. Her bangs still fell forward into her face, giving her a somewhat childish appearance, even if it was countered by her black ensemble. She had gotten taller as well, now up to his chin instead of his chest. He simply hoped that she didn't outgrow him. How embarrassing that would be. Lifting a hand, he touched his face just under his eye and smiled quietly.
Here I am, father, like I said I'd do. I became strong, I got power, I survived and I'm going to keep on living. It may have taken me nine years since that night I swore it, but here I am, after four years of killing Mazoku lords and underlings as well as two Overworld demon-beasts and a piece of the dark lord himself. Here I am. With the one I love.
"Amelia..." he said softly, not looking at her. Zelgadis heard her pen pause. "I... do you think it would be alright to put grave markers for my parents and Rezo?" he wasn't sure where that request had come from, but he supposed it was long past time he laid them to rest.
Amelia was silent a moment, "Yes, it's alright, Zel," she said softly then returned to her writing. Zelgadis glanced back at her with a soft smile. "If you want, we can put them on your estate," she continued, speaking and writing at the same time.
"That would be even better," Zelgadis replied, looking back out the window. There was a knock on the door, "I'll get it," he said, walking over to the door and opening it to find a servant who bowed deeply, having expected to find the queen instead of the man. "Yes?" Zelgadis asked curtly, his habit of being short tempered to strangers returning.
The middle-aged manservant straightened and started, "I was to deliver the message that it is time for the council meeting," he stammered.
Zelgadis nodded, "I'll tell her." With that, he closed the door in the servant's face and turned to find Amelia gathering up her papers. "I'll carry those for you," he said, taking them from her, his hands brushing hers a brief moment, their eyes locked.
"Thank you," Amelia whispered, her voice having fled. She let him take the white folder from her and trail after her as she went to get her crown from her night table in her room.
* * *
"To the position of Captain of Guard and first advisor, I appoint Zelgadis Graywords of Graywords Estate. I grant Xelloss Mettallum Kibbis Manor and appoint him as second advisor. I appoint Heroti Rei of Twilen Estate as third advisor and head of agriculture...." Amelia announced, continuing onward, Zelgadis standing a step behind her, his eyes dancing around the room carefully, his hand wanting to rest on his sword hilt, but kept finding it absent. The council consisted of at least twenty-three men and women, some sick, others thin and suffering from lack of food. It was obvious that the nobles were feeling the plague just as much as the peasants.
Amelia finally got to the end of her list, handing the papers back to him to be given to a servant who nervously stepped up and took them for filing. The meeting turned to other topics, such as the rioting of peasants in places.
The queen faltered, unable to think of any solution. Zelgadis stepped forward slightly and murmured into her ear. Her eyes brightened and she gave him a smile, "Send soldiers to the estates in question with some food supplies as well as seeds for new crops. Gather the supplies needed from estates with no current leader, bring the people from those estates together to work a single area instead of being scattered, it will give them a better chance of farming enough food to feed them all."
The remaining council members murmured to each other over this solution and it was agreed to within moments. Finally, the meeting was over and Amelia walked down the hall, happy for the first time in a while. "That was such a good idea you had, Zelgadis-san," she said to him and heard a faint chuckle in return. "I'm sure everything will turn out alright as long as I have you to help me!"
He watched her fondly, glad to see the return of her old self, if even for a short while. The happy Amelia was the one he'd fallen in love with simply because despite what had happened to her, she was still able to function and spread love and Justice. "I suppose I'll have to take a look at my troops and figure out which ones to send."
Amelia nodded, "Yeah... You'll have dinner with me, right?" she looked at him over her shoulder and saw his smile.
"Of course," Zelgadis replied, adding a single word on the end which she missed hearing, "omaesan." (Omaesan is the Japanese word meaning 'you' or 'my dear')
* * *
Zelgadis's first thoughts were on getting a new sword, hence the reason he headed straight to the armory with the guidance of a servant after parting ways with Amelia at her room. He swung one blade expertly and sighed, there wasn't one that felt the same as his sword, which he'd privately named 'Amelia'.
He went still, turning around slowly to face Xelloss and glowered. "What are you doing bothering me, Fruitcake?"
Xelloss smirked, "I was JUST going to be nice and give you a present!" he said, holding Zelgadis's sword and sheath in one hand.
The youth narrowed his eyes, "And what exactly do you want in return?"
"Why do you assume I want anything, Zelly-kun?!" Xelloss pouted.
"Because you're a Mazoku, and don't call me 'Zelly-kun'." He reached out and snatched his sword from the demon and tied it to his belt. "Remember, as long as you want a pathway to the throne, you'll have to keep both me and Amelia alive or you lose the position." Zelgadis smirked as Xelloss opened his eyes to glower. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have work that needs to be done." With that, the new Captain of the Guard swept out past Xelloss and into the hall.
Zelgadis was glad to note that Xelloss did not follow him, nor pop into the air just in front of him. He stepped into his new office and glowered, disgusted by the mess he found. Apparently, the last captain hadn't been the most tidy of people and had forced the servants to not touch his things. Zelgadis picked through some papers on the desk then went to a filing cabinet, looking through that. "Oh screw this... I'm just going to go hunt them all down one at a time. It would save more time then looking through this mess." He stepped out of his office and caught the sleeve of the servant who'd shown him the way there, "Get someone to clean up the crumbs at least, don't bother with the papers." He stalked down the hall caught hold of the first guard he found wandering around.
After a bit of talking with the young man, he gave the man orders to tell the rest of the guards who hadn't talked to him by the end of the day to come to his office tomorrow when they were off duty. The youth agreed and went on his way, as did Zelgadis, quickly finding up a few more guards and talked to them as well.