Hi! Hi!
Long time, no update! Sorry! u.u Hehe, Thanks to Hanna chan who was the inspiration for this chapter!
That's about all I have to say other than I don't own Slayers!
u.u I had this chapter and then I lost it so I found it again and I needed to get it up before this weekend because I want to go out of town for my b day. Sorry for the wait once again. Oh and if you like Rurouni Kenshin Check out My Sorrows in Your Eyes hehehe or Inu Yasha Check out Waking Up beside you.
Hahaha sorry about that again I'm just making recommendations ^.^
I don't own slayers on with the story.
Echoe Shayne ^.^
The princess of Sailoon sat there, a shell of a person. Her knees were pulled up to her chest as she clutched them to keep from shaking. The people were coming and going but mostly coming because of the snow that was still coming down heavily. Looking up, she saw someone else stopped and paused to look at her before shaking his head and walking into the building.
Gourry smiled as he watched Sylphiel carry a tray of food towards the table.
Val backed up. He had only been here a few days but he had learned something important.
Not to come between Gourry and food. Sitting down on the opposite side of the table he wished that his mother were there.
Zelgadiss sat in the chair, looking at the form that was lying in the bed. He knew that Lina wasn't asleep but he wasn't about to say anything.
They where leaving in the morning, if the weather wasn't that bad, though, right now she could hear the wind howling. Zel was sitting there, watching her. This, she knew without even turning her head. He had been watching her like a hawk since yesterday. Thinking again, she wondered what he would do if she told him she wanted him to hold her. But getting too close could lead to getting hurt.
*~*~*~* Flashback*~*~*~
She looked back at the blonde heap lying in the road. How could she have been so cruel? After all he was only telling her the truth. Walking back to him, she knelt next to him trying to lift him into a sitting position only to have him pull away. There was a look in his eyes that she had never seen on his face before. He was angry and it was directed at her.
"What are you doing here?"
She couldn't answer. She could only stare at him she didn't know why she was there, for some reason.
"We know it's not for Gorin Nova because I don't have it any more. So tell me. Why are you here?"
Once again she had no answer. She deserved to be yelled at for all the bad things that she had done to him and for being so selfish.
"Well are you going to answer me???"
"No, I guess I not." Was all that she could manage to say.
It was as if the sound of her voice snapped him out of it and she saw his eyes return to that vacant expression that he usually wore.
With that, she got up and started to walk away from him.
*~*~*~*~
Still it didn't hurt as much as she knew it should. Even at the time she knew that, maybe that was why she didn't want to let go. Telling Zel was different. If he said that he didn't care, she didn't know if she could take it. No, she knew that she couldn't even, now the thought of it made her want to shiver. She couldn't tell him. Things were all right as they were now, why ruin it?
*****************************
Filia sighed, exasperatedly. She was never going to find them! Everywhere she went lead to a dead end!
*****************************
Fate. Why did that word keep repeating itself over and over in her head?
She was walking a few steps behind Zel. They were looking for his cure. Lina had insisted that he not change his plans just for her.
Fate.
It's all fate right?
'Was I really supposed to die? Am I really cheating fate by being here?'
Something was wrong with Lina that he knew. She had grown quite a lot. Oh how he wished that he were a real man. Then maybe he could take her in his arms and comfort her. You're not though; the little voice in the back of his mind taunted him.
"Hey Zel, what's wrong?" She paused, looking at him and seeing that he had turned to face her. His hood was drawn around his face but he didn't have the mask pulled up. It was only then that she realized it was not a good time to be asking questions but she had been too caught up in her own thoughts to notice before this moment. 'He looks mad.'
"What's wrong?" His voice wasn't high no he wasn't yelling at her it was worse his words where deadly cold with no emotion behind them.
But that didn't last very long.
He couldn't help it, he lashed out and the only person around him was Lina.
"What you haven't looked at me lately? I mean look at me. I'm a monster!" His voice lowering her said the next words in almost a whisper.
"Why me why did this happen to me?"
She felt hurt that he would just yell at her like that. So she said the first thing that came to her mind. Unfortunately, it happened to be the subject that had been occupying her thoughts for the past few days.
"Maybe it's fate!" Her voice was shrill as she said it to him. It hit him like a slap in the face 'Fate? She thought it was fate?'
"Fate that I look like a monster? Fate that when people see me and they turn the other way?"
Oh god, what had she said? She hadn't meant it like that!
He wanted to turn his back to her and walk away but it was something
that his pride would not allow. So instead he just stood there
looking at the petite red head in front of him. 'And you actually
'actually what?' the voice in his head asked him).
Lina took a step toward him and for some reason she thought that he would take a step back but no not Zel he had too much pride for someone to rule him like that.
"Yes fate" she said, her voice softening. As she said it, she saw his eyes narrow at her.
"So you always saw me that way to?" it was hurting him to say it, knowing that Lina would provide him with an answer but he wanted to know. He wanted to know what she really thought of him.
"Is fate so cruel?" he asked barely above a whisper as he watched her take another step toward him.
"Yes it is." she whispered it was the only thing she could say.
He turned his back to her at that. It was all he needed to know yet he couldn't bring his feet to move.
"If they can't look past that then they are fools and they don't deserve you."
What was going on? Her conversation had taken a turn, was she trying to play him for the fool now?
Reaching her hand out, she let it rest on his arm while resting her head against his back.
"You're not a monster, Zel."
"Don't, Lina. Don't say things you don't mean. I always thought that you were different." He said. But maybe that was the problem. I wanted you to be different, I wanted you to. I wanted you to make feel something.
'Say it just say it now.' She closed her eyes pressing her cheek against him.
"I love you Zel." She whispered, putting everything out there. If he told her, no she would at least know that she had tried. That she had told him how she felt. In the end it was all she could do. So why, right now, was her heart breaking?
He heard her whisper 'I love you.' She loves me? He could feel her lips moving against his back as she said it.
Turning he caught her in his arms. Her face was still pressed against his shirt. Reaching down with one hand, he tilted her face gently upward. He wanted to see those eyes; no he needed to see them. She looked at him, now his blue eyes looking down at her. It should have been hard to say. She had tried to say it before and there had always been doubt.
But with Zel, she just said it and it felt natural. 'I love him!'
Her heart sang.
'Oh, can my ears be deceiving me? Can I be dreaming?'
No.
He could feel Lina in his arms. Looking down, he saw her deep crimson eyes staring up at him.
"Then marry me, Lina, if you love me. Marry me." It had just come out of his mouth. He hadn't been really thinking about it. But now, he looked into her eyes, wanting an answer. Wanting her to say yes.
"Oh Zel, if you can stand me, then marry me."
"Is that a yes?"
"Yes."
With that, he leaned down taking her lips in his. Feeling her arms move up to wrap around his neck pulling him closer to her.
'Can a kiss be so wonderful?'
Moving his arms, he wrapped them gently around her slim waist.
Oh, she felt so light. She felt like she could walk on air without the help of a ray wing.
*********************************
She had to find a way to make it up to them. She hadn't meant to be so cruel. She hadn't been thinking and then she just blown up at him. It wasn't his fault, she had always known somehow deep down. Zelgadiss was never hers to begin with. Yet she had wished he were, he was never hers to lay claim to. She had always tried to deny the way that Lina could make him smile the way that she could make him laugh. That was something that she had never been able to do for herself every now and then she could get him to smile or occasionally laugh once in a great while but it wasn't the same. Sighing, Amelia walked down the road. The first step to making up for what she had done was finding them and apologizing.
**********************************
They just stood there in the middle of the road, his arms wrapped around her protectively.
"Are you sure that this is what you want Lina?"
She knew why he was asking. He had self-doubt that she really meant it.
"Do you have to ask Zel?" 'I'm getting married! I'm getting married to Zel!' The voice kept saying over and over again in her head. Each time it said those words; new feelings of giddiness overwhelmed her.
**********************************
She had to be close the owner of the inn said that two people fitting that description had headed in this direction earlier this morning.' Just because they started out in this direction doesn't mean that they can't have gone anywhere since the innkeeper had seen them. 'I refuse to lose hope.' Poor Lina, what she must be going through. What Xelloss must have done with the information that he had on her now. 'I am so sorry' she thought to herself.
"Ah Filia Chan what are you doing walking around by your self. You know that could be dangerous."
Xelloss hovered next to the blonde as she ignored him continuing to walk on the snowy path in front of them.
"Ah Fi-chan, how can you be so mean?"
"If you really wanted to help me you could tell me where Lina and Zel are." The irritated blonde said, wishing a certain said priest didn't have the ability to just how up whenever he wanted.
"Oh they're close, trust me on this." In fact he had been on his way to check on them when he had stumbled across Filia. Filia stopped in mid stride, looking in front of her. There were two figures standing in the middle of the road up ahead.
"What is.?"
"Hum, very interesting." She heard Xelloss say, but turning to look at him, he was no longer at her side.
What's going on? She turned her head back to what she thought was Lina and Zelgadiss but she could be wrong after all... No she hadn't been wrong. As she drew closer, it became more and more clear that she wasn't.
'What was this?' Xelloss stood behind the tree his purple eyes open for once as they took in the scene before him.
What did stone boy think he was doing holding his Lina-chan?
But before he could do anything drastic, he saw Filia a few feet away from them. Why trouble him when he could find out everything that he wanted to know from right here?
Zel could hear the footsteps approaching. At first it had sounded like someone in a hurry but now it was slow and deliberate almost as if they where laboring themselves so as not to be heard. "What is it?" Lina asked, feeling Zel pull away from her suddenly, putting himself between her and the road. It was only then that she realized that someone was standing there.
Someone wearing a pink dress with long blonde hair.
"Filia!!" She screamed. The rage that she had for the golden dragon telling a creation trickster priest a secret came back to her.
'Looks like she didn't forget.' Filia thought as she saw a blur of red coming toward her but suddenly it was stopped. Zel stood there with an enraged Lina behind him.
"Zel what are you doing?" she stopped forgetting her rage to look up at him as he stood there in-between them.
"Oh Lina, I never meant to tell." Before the red head could say anything she felt strong arms go around her practically suffocating her.
"That's just great Filia but I kinda can't breath here."
"Oh yeah, sorry." She said, jumping back from Lina.
Zel looked at his Lina. Was she going to say anything? Was she going to let it be known that she was engaged to a freak?
'Today was not a day to be mad.' Looking up at Zel from behind Filia Lina stepped away from the Blonde who was babbling.
".And I read in a book.oh I'm just so sorry Lina! I didn't know."
Seeing the doubt in his eyes she took a step toward him.
Filia watched Lina step toward Zel once again she wondered what was going on,
Then again he couldn't blame her. It was one thing to say something like that when they were by themselves; it was something completely different to say something in front of people. It was ok to acknowledge to yourself that you liked a freak. It was something different to tell the world. As Lina pressed against his side he looked down at her.
Could she really throw away what she had? But she was looking him with a smile.
Without thinking he took her in his arms and kissed her again.
Filia drew in a breath, stunned at what was happening right in front of her. When did this happen? Still it amazed her when they pulled apart Lina buried her face against Zelgadis's shirt, a red stain on both their cheeks.
******************************************
Well get down to it. His eyes narrowed as he fought the urge to rip them apart. Why the urge was there in the first place never seamed to bother him, only the thought of Zelgadiss holding his Lina did.
Zel, seeing that Filia was looking at them, blushed even more. It was Lina who had finally gotten her face under control that turned to Filia.
"Zel and I are getting married."
"Really? When did this happen? What do you think you're doing? Now is not the time to be thinking about something like that, with all that's going on."
Zel turned to look at Lina. All the color had drained from her face. It suddenly made him mad and somewhat afraid. Turning he looked at Filia with his eyes narrowed.
What was wrong with Zel? Did he not know what was going on? He was looking at her like he could kill her. Slowly it came to her. To her, she was thinking that she was doing a good job by telling Lina that right now was not the time to think about getting married but to him. She was trying to give reasons that he wasn't good enough.
The story of his life he had never thought that Filia had ever thought of him this way but obviously he was wrong. Sure he was good enough to hang around but he was still too much a monster to feel anything.
"Zel, you know she doesn't mean it like that."
The sound of her voice was soothing turning his head down he saw her looking up at him. Lina swore that she could have melted at the smile that he gave her. Rarely did she see him act in such a way.
It must be true. Why would they lie about something like that?
Besides, neither of them where the type to say such a thing with out meaning it.
"I'm happy for you."
Lina smiled somehow hearing that made her forget that she had been mad at Filia in the first place.
'She's glowing.' The thought popped into Filia's head as she continued to look at Lina. Never before had she seen the sorceress look so happy.
*********************************
Returning to the palace, she frowned up at the large towers and waving banners.
"Halt! Who goes there?"
She fell into even more distress as the two staffs where lowered in front of her blocking her passage into the palace itself. Had she let herself go so much that she was not even recognized in her home land of Sailoon? Though, looking down, she had to admit that she did appear to be rather disheveled.
With a frown she pushed her way past them, feeling hands close around her upper arms, pulling her back. It was then that she did something that she had sworn that she would never do.
"I am Amelia wil tessa Sailoon. Unhand me now or face the dire consequences." she had been about to say of justice but what she was doing was far from Justice. As she spoke the guards realized who she was. Never seeing their peace-loving princess quite like this before, they hurried back to their post.
Watching the guard's retreating forms she burst into tears.
*******************************
Sylphiel sighed, having just finished tucking Val in, she walked down the hallway, opening the door to her and Gourry's room. Frowning he crossed the room and took her in his arms.
"Gourry I.." Was all that she could get out before her voice failed her and she collapsed helplessly against her Husband.
"I know. Sweetheart, I know." Was all that he could say to comfort her.
Val could hear the muddled sound of crying in the next room and knew that it was coming from Sylphiel because where most people would have already seen it, as everything is all right, Sylphiel was a sensitive soul and for that he couldn't blame her. He couldn't find it in his heart to blame her.
*******************************
Prince Philonial looked at his daughter. It was hard to believe that the person sitting before him was actually his little Amelia.
"I will smash him with the Hammer of Justice! He can't do this to you."
Though, she felt grateful that her father would do this for her, she couldn't let him do it with a clear conscience.
"No, daddy." Was all that she could manage to get out.
Philonial, being a loving father, couldn't see why Amelia would jump so readily to defend Zelgadiss.
"But he lead you on and that is something that I just can't stand."
"But no, Daddy you don't understand! That's just it, he never lead me on."
"What are you talking about? He clearly did."
At that Amelia bowed her head looking at her hands that were lightly clasped in her lap.
"No, when I think about it, he never led me on. It was just I making things up."
"No, look how sad you are. He clearly lead you on or things would have never gone this far."
"That's just it. I always knew he didn't feel that way about me but I just made a big deal about nothing." With that she felt tears falling down her cheeks.
"If that was the case then you wouldn't be as over wrought as you are now." Looking at his daughter's disheveled crying form he couldn't accept anything else. It had to be that man's fault.
"No, you don't understand! I feel so bad. For all the bad things that I've done."
"I can't imagine you doing anything wrong."
"But I have Dad! First to Lina who has always been nice to me then to Mr. Zelgadiss," Her voice cracked and she had to finish the rest of the sentence chocked threw tears. "I called him a monster..."
He was taken back he had to admit that he never would have thought his daughter capable of being mean to anyone.
"It's completely understandable." Her Father rushed on to assure her but the way her body was trembling. Then, those eyes when they looked up at him.
"No! You don't understand! It's far worse than that because when I think about it, I don't think that I ever loved Zel. I think that I felt sorry for him and I couldn't admit that to myself."
*****************************
Lina smiled, sitting in front of the mirror, combing her hair before she went to bed. She was going to marry Zel! Zelgadiss Graywards had actually asked her to marry him. Then he would be hers, all hers and she couldn't help but feel overjoyed at the fact.
How could he have done that? How could he have done such a spur of the moment thing? That was not him. Zelgadiss Graywards did not go around asking people to marry him. Yet here he was, picking out a ring to give to Lina. To his Lina. She had said she loved him and though he wanted her with all his heart, he dreaded the fact that one day she would tire of this monster that she had agreed to marry.
"I love you Zel." Her words rang in his ears and he felt his heart pick up. She had this power over him. She had never seen him as a monster. Even Amelia had when she first met him. To Lina he was always an equal and for that, she had laid claim to his heart.
At the knock on the door, Lina sat up
"Who is it?" She said, looking at the smooth wood though she knew whom it was. On the other side of the door, it could only be one person, no wait, on second thought, it could be Filia being nosy but that was highly unlikely seeing as Filia was smarter then to come and see her right now when she was still mad at her for telling Xelloss what she had promised never to tell anyone. Of all the people that she could of have told she had told him and because of it, Xelloss had made her life a living hell.
******************************
Val looked up from the book that he was reading, seeing Gourry and Sylphiel talking in hurried voices to him. 'You must take her, she is yours and no one must have her but you.' A voice said in the back of his mind. It was frightening because it was his voice but at the same time it wasn't his voice. It was older and darker.
"Her?" he said out loud, almost as if asking himself a question. There was no reply. Rather instead, there was an image.
The image of a woman. Not just any woman but the woman that he had seen in the room with Zelgadiss.
Lina.
That was her name wasn't it? With hair that consumed her in flame and eyes, eyes that he could remember but had never seen. But to the little boy, that was impossible. He could not remember something that he had never seen.
Not now! Please not now! Lina wanted to say as pain ripped through her side causing her to double over in pain. 'Stand up!' A voice was telling her stand up.
"Zel!!"
It was a yell but there was urgency in her voice. Not waiting, he threw open the door to see Lina walking toward him. His eyes locked with hers before he saw her start to fall. Running forward, he took her in his arms, pulling her slim frame to his chest.
"Lina, Lina." He was yelling her name over and over, sitting there, and rocking her.
Filia ran from her room, stopping in Lina's doorway at the sight of her and Zelgadiss huddled on the floor. Lina's body was shaking and if it hadn't been for her convulsive movements Filia could have sworn she was dead by the pale parlor of her.
"What a good diner you make Lina. I should hang around you more often." The trickster priest said referring to the pain that she had been feeding him. That wasn't why he had come and deep down he had known it. The surge of pain had been over whelming and though he usually marveled in others pain, this was different.
It was different because it was Lina. Despite everything, he cared what happened to her because, for some reason, she cared about him too.
When he had betrayed her during a battle, she had not gotten mad at him, as he had suspected. She would, but rather said that it was to be expected. That had changed him in that moment. He could remember feeling ashamed that he had done something so terrible to her. To Lina.
To his Lina. No not his, Zelgadiss's Lina.
"Cheating never prospers Lina." Not meaning to sound so cold but he couldn't stand the fact that he had to give her up.
She could hear Xelloss's voice but all she could see was Zel and he comforted her. His worried face was floating above her giving her the strength that she lacked in herself. So she ignored him instead pulling herself closer to Zel for the closer she got the better it was that she felt.
"Hold me closer Zel. Never let me go." Her voice clipped with pain.
Filia stood watching them, tears in her eyes. Poor Lina, she had been through so much and she deserved happiness so why this? Why her? Looking up, she saw that Xelloss was about to say something. Quickly crossing the room she grabbed him by the ear.
"Oh no you don't, you're going to leave them alone."
At that, she grabbed his ear to pull him out of the room.
"What do you think you're doing, Filia?" Xelloss said, moving out her grasp, but Filia had anticipated it and captured him with her other hand dragging him out of the room, crossing the hall and entering her own room, the door slamming shut behind them.
"What is the big idea Filia?"
"Leave them alone."
"Why should I?"
"Because I said so."
"Who cares what you say Filia?" Xelloss said, a wide smile on his face.
"Well if not me, then do you care what Mace Sama has to say?"
The smile on his face got even wider.
"Now that, my dear, is an entirely different story."
Filia couldn't help it. Though she usually liked to beat Xelloss, she let her hand drop.
"Why her, Xelloss? Why did this have to happen to Lina? Why now?"
"You can't cheat death Filia. It was Lina's time to die."
"But she's been through so much. Too much. She has died before. She has cheated death before, so why now?" She could feel her eyes burning as she spoke. "I just don't understand."
Xelloss could hear the confusion in her voice followed by a loud thump.
Opening his eyes, he saw that she had let her mace fall to the floor, making a small crater at her feet. Shifting his eyes from the floor to her face, he saw that her hands where coving her eyes but it was obvious that she was crying. Without thinking, he closed the short distance between them and took her into his arms.
The arms that were suddenly around her startled Filia, but she couldn't support herself any longer so she collapsed, depending on Xelloss to hold her.
He had never seen Filia so weak before, but right now, she was actually leaning against him, depending on him to hold her up when usually she wouldn't even let him touch her.
"It's not fair. Tell me what has to be done. There has to be a way to make everything better. A cure! Something! You must know." It was there in her voice.
Desperation, she really did think that he would have an answer, a solution, and he didn't have the heart to tell her that there was nothing that he or anyone could do. So he held her body to him letting one of his hands lift to her face wiping away her tears with smooth strokes of his thumb.
Lina closed her eyes welcoming the peaceful comfort of sleep. Zel's breathing was comforting and she snuggled closer to him. What he must think of her.
The great Lina Inverse nothing more that a child. But she didn't care as long as it meant that she was able to be in Zel's arms she would act any way needed.
Zel stood, leaving the floor with Lina still cradled in his arms. He moved towards the bed ready, to lay Lina down and pull up a chair so that he could watch her but her hands were clasped around him, not letting him loose from her iron grip. So with a small smile, he eased himself onto the bed while still holding her protectively to him.
"Zel, I'm scared." Those words were actually coming from her mouth? But that was ok because this was Zel and she could tell him anything and not have to worry about it.
"You don't have to be. I'm here for you and I'm never going to leave you."
At that, she appeared to be satisfied and rested her cheek against him, her breathing becoming peaceful.
"Yes. I'll always be here for you, I'll never let you go." Because the truth was, he didn't think that he could. She was his world and he would give anything for her, even his own life if it needed to be.
That's all for now. Please review
Long time, no update! Sorry! u.u Hehe, Thanks to Hanna chan who was the inspiration for this chapter!
That's about all I have to say other than I don't own Slayers!
u.u I had this chapter and then I lost it so I found it again and I needed to get it up before this weekend because I want to go out of town for my b day. Sorry for the wait once again. Oh and if you like Rurouni Kenshin Check out My Sorrows in Your Eyes hehehe or Inu Yasha Check out Waking Up beside you.
Hahaha sorry about that again I'm just making recommendations ^.^
I don't own slayers on with the story.
Echoe Shayne ^.^
The princess of Sailoon sat there, a shell of a person. Her knees were pulled up to her chest as she clutched them to keep from shaking. The people were coming and going but mostly coming because of the snow that was still coming down heavily. Looking up, she saw someone else stopped and paused to look at her before shaking his head and walking into the building.
Gourry smiled as he watched Sylphiel carry a tray of food towards the table.
Val backed up. He had only been here a few days but he had learned something important.
Not to come between Gourry and food. Sitting down on the opposite side of the table he wished that his mother were there.
Zelgadiss sat in the chair, looking at the form that was lying in the bed. He knew that Lina wasn't asleep but he wasn't about to say anything.
They where leaving in the morning, if the weather wasn't that bad, though, right now she could hear the wind howling. Zel was sitting there, watching her. This, she knew without even turning her head. He had been watching her like a hawk since yesterday. Thinking again, she wondered what he would do if she told him she wanted him to hold her. But getting too close could lead to getting hurt.
*~*~*~* Flashback*~*~*~
She looked back at the blonde heap lying in the road. How could she have been so cruel? After all he was only telling her the truth. Walking back to him, she knelt next to him trying to lift him into a sitting position only to have him pull away. There was a look in his eyes that she had never seen on his face before. He was angry and it was directed at her.
"What are you doing here?"
She couldn't answer. She could only stare at him she didn't know why she was there, for some reason.
"We know it's not for Gorin Nova because I don't have it any more. So tell me. Why are you here?"
Once again she had no answer. She deserved to be yelled at for all the bad things that she had done to him and for being so selfish.
"Well are you going to answer me???"
"No, I guess I not." Was all that she could manage to say.
It was as if the sound of her voice snapped him out of it and she saw his eyes return to that vacant expression that he usually wore.
With that, she got up and started to walk away from him.
*~*~*~*~
Still it didn't hurt as much as she knew it should. Even at the time she knew that, maybe that was why she didn't want to let go. Telling Zel was different. If he said that he didn't care, she didn't know if she could take it. No, she knew that she couldn't even, now the thought of it made her want to shiver. She couldn't tell him. Things were all right as they were now, why ruin it?
*****************************
Filia sighed, exasperatedly. She was never going to find them! Everywhere she went lead to a dead end!
*****************************
Fate. Why did that word keep repeating itself over and over in her head?
She was walking a few steps behind Zel. They were looking for his cure. Lina had insisted that he not change his plans just for her.
Fate.
It's all fate right?
'Was I really supposed to die? Am I really cheating fate by being here?'
Something was wrong with Lina that he knew. She had grown quite a lot. Oh how he wished that he were a real man. Then maybe he could take her in his arms and comfort her. You're not though; the little voice in the back of his mind taunted him.
"Hey Zel, what's wrong?" She paused, looking at him and seeing that he had turned to face her. His hood was drawn around his face but he didn't have the mask pulled up. It was only then that she realized it was not a good time to be asking questions but she had been too caught up in her own thoughts to notice before this moment. 'He looks mad.'
"What's wrong?" His voice wasn't high no he wasn't yelling at her it was worse his words where deadly cold with no emotion behind them.
But that didn't last very long.
He couldn't help it, he lashed out and the only person around him was Lina.
"What you haven't looked at me lately? I mean look at me. I'm a monster!" His voice lowering her said the next words in almost a whisper.
"Why me why did this happen to me?"
She felt hurt that he would just yell at her like that. So she said the first thing that came to her mind. Unfortunately, it happened to be the subject that had been occupying her thoughts for the past few days.
"Maybe it's fate!" Her voice was shrill as she said it to him. It hit him like a slap in the face 'Fate? She thought it was fate?'
"Fate that I look like a monster? Fate that when people see me and they turn the other way?"
Oh god, what had she said? She hadn't meant it like that!
He wanted to turn his back to her and walk away but it was something
that his pride would not allow. So instead he just stood there
looking at the petite red head in front of him. 'And you actually
'actually what?' the voice in his head asked him).
Lina took a step toward him and for some reason she thought that he would take a step back but no not Zel he had too much pride for someone to rule him like that.
"Yes fate" she said, her voice softening. As she said it, she saw his eyes narrow at her.
"So you always saw me that way to?" it was hurting him to say it, knowing that Lina would provide him with an answer but he wanted to know. He wanted to know what she really thought of him.
"Is fate so cruel?" he asked barely above a whisper as he watched her take another step toward him.
"Yes it is." she whispered it was the only thing she could say.
He turned his back to her at that. It was all he needed to know yet he couldn't bring his feet to move.
"If they can't look past that then they are fools and they don't deserve you."
What was going on? Her conversation had taken a turn, was she trying to play him for the fool now?
Reaching her hand out, she let it rest on his arm while resting her head against his back.
"You're not a monster, Zel."
"Don't, Lina. Don't say things you don't mean. I always thought that you were different." He said. But maybe that was the problem. I wanted you to be different, I wanted you to. I wanted you to make feel something.
'Say it just say it now.' She closed her eyes pressing her cheek against him.
"I love you Zel." She whispered, putting everything out there. If he told her, no she would at least know that she had tried. That she had told him how she felt. In the end it was all she could do. So why, right now, was her heart breaking?
He heard her whisper 'I love you.' She loves me? He could feel her lips moving against his back as she said it.
Turning he caught her in his arms. Her face was still pressed against his shirt. Reaching down with one hand, he tilted her face gently upward. He wanted to see those eyes; no he needed to see them. She looked at him, now his blue eyes looking down at her. It should have been hard to say. She had tried to say it before and there had always been doubt.
But with Zel, she just said it and it felt natural. 'I love him!'
Her heart sang.
'Oh, can my ears be deceiving me? Can I be dreaming?'
No.
He could feel Lina in his arms. Looking down, he saw her deep crimson eyes staring up at him.
"Then marry me, Lina, if you love me. Marry me." It had just come out of his mouth. He hadn't been really thinking about it. But now, he looked into her eyes, wanting an answer. Wanting her to say yes.
"Oh Zel, if you can stand me, then marry me."
"Is that a yes?"
"Yes."
With that, he leaned down taking her lips in his. Feeling her arms move up to wrap around his neck pulling him closer to her.
'Can a kiss be so wonderful?'
Moving his arms, he wrapped them gently around her slim waist.
Oh, she felt so light. She felt like she could walk on air without the help of a ray wing.
*********************************
She had to find a way to make it up to them. She hadn't meant to be so cruel. She hadn't been thinking and then she just blown up at him. It wasn't his fault, she had always known somehow deep down. Zelgadiss was never hers to begin with. Yet she had wished he were, he was never hers to lay claim to. She had always tried to deny the way that Lina could make him smile the way that she could make him laugh. That was something that she had never been able to do for herself every now and then she could get him to smile or occasionally laugh once in a great while but it wasn't the same. Sighing, Amelia walked down the road. The first step to making up for what she had done was finding them and apologizing.
**********************************
They just stood there in the middle of the road, his arms wrapped around her protectively.
"Are you sure that this is what you want Lina?"
She knew why he was asking. He had self-doubt that she really meant it.
"Do you have to ask Zel?" 'I'm getting married! I'm getting married to Zel!' The voice kept saying over and over again in her head. Each time it said those words; new feelings of giddiness overwhelmed her.
**********************************
She had to be close the owner of the inn said that two people fitting that description had headed in this direction earlier this morning.' Just because they started out in this direction doesn't mean that they can't have gone anywhere since the innkeeper had seen them. 'I refuse to lose hope.' Poor Lina, what she must be going through. What Xelloss must have done with the information that he had on her now. 'I am so sorry' she thought to herself.
"Ah Filia Chan what are you doing walking around by your self. You know that could be dangerous."
Xelloss hovered next to the blonde as she ignored him continuing to walk on the snowy path in front of them.
"Ah Fi-chan, how can you be so mean?"
"If you really wanted to help me you could tell me where Lina and Zel are." The irritated blonde said, wishing a certain said priest didn't have the ability to just how up whenever he wanted.
"Oh they're close, trust me on this." In fact he had been on his way to check on them when he had stumbled across Filia. Filia stopped in mid stride, looking in front of her. There were two figures standing in the middle of the road up ahead.
"What is.?"
"Hum, very interesting." She heard Xelloss say, but turning to look at him, he was no longer at her side.
What's going on? She turned her head back to what she thought was Lina and Zelgadiss but she could be wrong after all... No she hadn't been wrong. As she drew closer, it became more and more clear that she wasn't.
'What was this?' Xelloss stood behind the tree his purple eyes open for once as they took in the scene before him.
What did stone boy think he was doing holding his Lina-chan?
But before he could do anything drastic, he saw Filia a few feet away from them. Why trouble him when he could find out everything that he wanted to know from right here?
Zel could hear the footsteps approaching. At first it had sounded like someone in a hurry but now it was slow and deliberate almost as if they where laboring themselves so as not to be heard. "What is it?" Lina asked, feeling Zel pull away from her suddenly, putting himself between her and the road. It was only then that she realized that someone was standing there.
Someone wearing a pink dress with long blonde hair.
"Filia!!" She screamed. The rage that she had for the golden dragon telling a creation trickster priest a secret came back to her.
'Looks like she didn't forget.' Filia thought as she saw a blur of red coming toward her but suddenly it was stopped. Zel stood there with an enraged Lina behind him.
"Zel what are you doing?" she stopped forgetting her rage to look up at him as he stood there in-between them.
"Oh Lina, I never meant to tell." Before the red head could say anything she felt strong arms go around her practically suffocating her.
"That's just great Filia but I kinda can't breath here."
"Oh yeah, sorry." She said, jumping back from Lina.
Zel looked at his Lina. Was she going to say anything? Was she going to let it be known that she was engaged to a freak?
'Today was not a day to be mad.' Looking up at Zel from behind Filia Lina stepped away from the Blonde who was babbling.
".And I read in a book.oh I'm just so sorry Lina! I didn't know."
Seeing the doubt in his eyes she took a step toward him.
Filia watched Lina step toward Zel once again she wondered what was going on,
Then again he couldn't blame her. It was one thing to say something like that when they were by themselves; it was something completely different to say something in front of people. It was ok to acknowledge to yourself that you liked a freak. It was something different to tell the world. As Lina pressed against his side he looked down at her.
Could she really throw away what she had? But she was looking him with a smile.
Without thinking he took her in his arms and kissed her again.
Filia drew in a breath, stunned at what was happening right in front of her. When did this happen? Still it amazed her when they pulled apart Lina buried her face against Zelgadis's shirt, a red stain on both their cheeks.
******************************************
Well get down to it. His eyes narrowed as he fought the urge to rip them apart. Why the urge was there in the first place never seamed to bother him, only the thought of Zelgadiss holding his Lina did.
Zel, seeing that Filia was looking at them, blushed even more. It was Lina who had finally gotten her face under control that turned to Filia.
"Zel and I are getting married."
"Really? When did this happen? What do you think you're doing? Now is not the time to be thinking about something like that, with all that's going on."
Zel turned to look at Lina. All the color had drained from her face. It suddenly made him mad and somewhat afraid. Turning he looked at Filia with his eyes narrowed.
What was wrong with Zel? Did he not know what was going on? He was looking at her like he could kill her. Slowly it came to her. To her, she was thinking that she was doing a good job by telling Lina that right now was not the time to think about getting married but to him. She was trying to give reasons that he wasn't good enough.
The story of his life he had never thought that Filia had ever thought of him this way but obviously he was wrong. Sure he was good enough to hang around but he was still too much a monster to feel anything.
"Zel, you know she doesn't mean it like that."
The sound of her voice was soothing turning his head down he saw her looking up at him. Lina swore that she could have melted at the smile that he gave her. Rarely did she see him act in such a way.
It must be true. Why would they lie about something like that?
Besides, neither of them where the type to say such a thing with out meaning it.
"I'm happy for you."
Lina smiled somehow hearing that made her forget that she had been mad at Filia in the first place.
'She's glowing.' The thought popped into Filia's head as she continued to look at Lina. Never before had she seen the sorceress look so happy.
*********************************
Returning to the palace, she frowned up at the large towers and waving banners.
"Halt! Who goes there?"
She fell into even more distress as the two staffs where lowered in front of her blocking her passage into the palace itself. Had she let herself go so much that she was not even recognized in her home land of Sailoon? Though, looking down, she had to admit that she did appear to be rather disheveled.
With a frown she pushed her way past them, feeling hands close around her upper arms, pulling her back. It was then that she did something that she had sworn that she would never do.
"I am Amelia wil tessa Sailoon. Unhand me now or face the dire consequences." she had been about to say of justice but what she was doing was far from Justice. As she spoke the guards realized who she was. Never seeing their peace-loving princess quite like this before, they hurried back to their post.
Watching the guard's retreating forms she burst into tears.
*******************************
Sylphiel sighed, having just finished tucking Val in, she walked down the hallway, opening the door to her and Gourry's room. Frowning he crossed the room and took her in his arms.
"Gourry I.." Was all that she could get out before her voice failed her and she collapsed helplessly against her Husband.
"I know. Sweetheart, I know." Was all that he could say to comfort her.
Val could hear the muddled sound of crying in the next room and knew that it was coming from Sylphiel because where most people would have already seen it, as everything is all right, Sylphiel was a sensitive soul and for that he couldn't blame her. He couldn't find it in his heart to blame her.
*******************************
Prince Philonial looked at his daughter. It was hard to believe that the person sitting before him was actually his little Amelia.
"I will smash him with the Hammer of Justice! He can't do this to you."
Though, she felt grateful that her father would do this for her, she couldn't let him do it with a clear conscience.
"No, daddy." Was all that she could manage to get out.
Philonial, being a loving father, couldn't see why Amelia would jump so readily to defend Zelgadiss.
"But he lead you on and that is something that I just can't stand."
"But no, Daddy you don't understand! That's just it, he never lead me on."
"What are you talking about? He clearly did."
At that Amelia bowed her head looking at her hands that were lightly clasped in her lap.
"No, when I think about it, he never led me on. It was just I making things up."
"No, look how sad you are. He clearly lead you on or things would have never gone this far."
"That's just it. I always knew he didn't feel that way about me but I just made a big deal about nothing." With that she felt tears falling down her cheeks.
"If that was the case then you wouldn't be as over wrought as you are now." Looking at his daughter's disheveled crying form he couldn't accept anything else. It had to be that man's fault.
"No, you don't understand! I feel so bad. For all the bad things that I've done."
"I can't imagine you doing anything wrong."
"But I have Dad! First to Lina who has always been nice to me then to Mr. Zelgadiss," Her voice cracked and she had to finish the rest of the sentence chocked threw tears. "I called him a monster..."
He was taken back he had to admit that he never would have thought his daughter capable of being mean to anyone.
"It's completely understandable." Her Father rushed on to assure her but the way her body was trembling. Then, those eyes when they looked up at him.
"No! You don't understand! It's far worse than that because when I think about it, I don't think that I ever loved Zel. I think that I felt sorry for him and I couldn't admit that to myself."
*****************************
Lina smiled, sitting in front of the mirror, combing her hair before she went to bed. She was going to marry Zel! Zelgadiss Graywards had actually asked her to marry him. Then he would be hers, all hers and she couldn't help but feel overjoyed at the fact.
How could he have done that? How could he have done such a spur of the moment thing? That was not him. Zelgadiss Graywards did not go around asking people to marry him. Yet here he was, picking out a ring to give to Lina. To his Lina. She had said she loved him and though he wanted her with all his heart, he dreaded the fact that one day she would tire of this monster that she had agreed to marry.
"I love you Zel." Her words rang in his ears and he felt his heart pick up. She had this power over him. She had never seen him as a monster. Even Amelia had when she first met him. To Lina he was always an equal and for that, she had laid claim to his heart.
At the knock on the door, Lina sat up
"Who is it?" She said, looking at the smooth wood though she knew whom it was. On the other side of the door, it could only be one person, no wait, on second thought, it could be Filia being nosy but that was highly unlikely seeing as Filia was smarter then to come and see her right now when she was still mad at her for telling Xelloss what she had promised never to tell anyone. Of all the people that she could of have told she had told him and because of it, Xelloss had made her life a living hell.
******************************
Val looked up from the book that he was reading, seeing Gourry and Sylphiel talking in hurried voices to him. 'You must take her, she is yours and no one must have her but you.' A voice said in the back of his mind. It was frightening because it was his voice but at the same time it wasn't his voice. It was older and darker.
"Her?" he said out loud, almost as if asking himself a question. There was no reply. Rather instead, there was an image.
The image of a woman. Not just any woman but the woman that he had seen in the room with Zelgadiss.
Lina.
That was her name wasn't it? With hair that consumed her in flame and eyes, eyes that he could remember but had never seen. But to the little boy, that was impossible. He could not remember something that he had never seen.
Not now! Please not now! Lina wanted to say as pain ripped through her side causing her to double over in pain. 'Stand up!' A voice was telling her stand up.
"Zel!!"
It was a yell but there was urgency in her voice. Not waiting, he threw open the door to see Lina walking toward him. His eyes locked with hers before he saw her start to fall. Running forward, he took her in his arms, pulling her slim frame to his chest.
"Lina, Lina." He was yelling her name over and over, sitting there, and rocking her.
Filia ran from her room, stopping in Lina's doorway at the sight of her and Zelgadiss huddled on the floor. Lina's body was shaking and if it hadn't been for her convulsive movements Filia could have sworn she was dead by the pale parlor of her.
"What a good diner you make Lina. I should hang around you more often." The trickster priest said referring to the pain that she had been feeding him. That wasn't why he had come and deep down he had known it. The surge of pain had been over whelming and though he usually marveled in others pain, this was different.
It was different because it was Lina. Despite everything, he cared what happened to her because, for some reason, she cared about him too.
When he had betrayed her during a battle, she had not gotten mad at him, as he had suspected. She would, but rather said that it was to be expected. That had changed him in that moment. He could remember feeling ashamed that he had done something so terrible to her. To Lina.
To his Lina. No not his, Zelgadiss's Lina.
"Cheating never prospers Lina." Not meaning to sound so cold but he couldn't stand the fact that he had to give her up.
She could hear Xelloss's voice but all she could see was Zel and he comforted her. His worried face was floating above her giving her the strength that she lacked in herself. So she ignored him instead pulling herself closer to Zel for the closer she got the better it was that she felt.
"Hold me closer Zel. Never let me go." Her voice clipped with pain.
Filia stood watching them, tears in her eyes. Poor Lina, she had been through so much and she deserved happiness so why this? Why her? Looking up, she saw that Xelloss was about to say something. Quickly crossing the room she grabbed him by the ear.
"Oh no you don't, you're going to leave them alone."
At that, she grabbed his ear to pull him out of the room.
"What do you think you're doing, Filia?" Xelloss said, moving out her grasp, but Filia had anticipated it and captured him with her other hand dragging him out of the room, crossing the hall and entering her own room, the door slamming shut behind them.
"What is the big idea Filia?"
"Leave them alone."
"Why should I?"
"Because I said so."
"Who cares what you say Filia?" Xelloss said, a wide smile on his face.
"Well if not me, then do you care what Mace Sama has to say?"
The smile on his face got even wider.
"Now that, my dear, is an entirely different story."
Filia couldn't help it. Though she usually liked to beat Xelloss, she let her hand drop.
"Why her, Xelloss? Why did this have to happen to Lina? Why now?"
"You can't cheat death Filia. It was Lina's time to die."
"But she's been through so much. Too much. She has died before. She has cheated death before, so why now?" She could feel her eyes burning as she spoke. "I just don't understand."
Xelloss could hear the confusion in her voice followed by a loud thump.
Opening his eyes, he saw that she had let her mace fall to the floor, making a small crater at her feet. Shifting his eyes from the floor to her face, he saw that her hands where coving her eyes but it was obvious that she was crying. Without thinking, he closed the short distance between them and took her into his arms.
The arms that were suddenly around her startled Filia, but she couldn't support herself any longer so she collapsed, depending on Xelloss to hold her.
He had never seen Filia so weak before, but right now, she was actually leaning against him, depending on him to hold her up when usually she wouldn't even let him touch her.
"It's not fair. Tell me what has to be done. There has to be a way to make everything better. A cure! Something! You must know." It was there in her voice.
Desperation, she really did think that he would have an answer, a solution, and he didn't have the heart to tell her that there was nothing that he or anyone could do. So he held her body to him letting one of his hands lift to her face wiping away her tears with smooth strokes of his thumb.
Lina closed her eyes welcoming the peaceful comfort of sleep. Zel's breathing was comforting and she snuggled closer to him. What he must think of her.
The great Lina Inverse nothing more that a child. But she didn't care as long as it meant that she was able to be in Zel's arms she would act any way needed.
Zel stood, leaving the floor with Lina still cradled in his arms. He moved towards the bed ready, to lay Lina down and pull up a chair so that he could watch her but her hands were clasped around him, not letting him loose from her iron grip. So with a small smile, he eased himself onto the bed while still holding her protectively to him.
"Zel, I'm scared." Those words were actually coming from her mouth? But that was ok because this was Zel and she could tell him anything and not have to worry about it.
"You don't have to be. I'm here for you and I'm never going to leave you."
At that, she appeared to be satisfied and rested her cheek against him, her breathing becoming peaceful.
"Yes. I'll always be here for you, I'll never let you go." Because the truth was, he didn't think that he could. She was his world and he would give anything for her, even his own life if it needed to be.
That's all for now. Please review
