Love Sees Not With Its Eyes
by Cooking Spray
Disclaimer: Slayers is copyrighted to Kanzaka Hajime and Araimazu Rui, TV Tokyo, SOFTX, Kadokawa Shoten, Marubeni, and Software Sculptors, and is thus not of my own genius, sad as it is. The characters I'm only borrowing, 'cept for Alena, my feisty maid ^_^
Candy and Zel-kun chibi dolls to my adoring reviewers, whose support has immensely helped me in writing this! (Hey, we all have to say it sometime, don't we? We're only human, and I know you guys like to feel useful as much as I like to feel admired ^_^) Once again I'd like to thank Kioku, it was really her review on my fan fiction I Just Want You to Know Who I Am that got me back in the spirit of writing this. I think she and I are some of the few X/F supporters on this site, although I'm happy everyone enjoyed my X/F bit last chappie. I'm glad!
Additionally, I recently came across a site which gave me some very thought-provoking insights to the mechanics of certain couplings. But, as ff.net has mysteriously began stripping HTML or weblinks from submissions, I'll post it on my bio. Z/A fans, you should visit it!
And now, I'll end this ungodly long author's note and let you progress with the story. Enjoy, and please tell me how you liked it! ^_~
~*~*~*~*~
Act IV:
A Father and Daughter Chat and More Mysterious Rumors
The sun had already climbed high into the clouds when Amelia finally emerged from her pool of dreams. She sat up drowsily, rubbing her eyes and blinking at the golden light streaming in from the bay window. In the winter silence a few rogue birds chirped, their calls echoing throughout the still air. How long had she slept, indeed? In sudden haste, she struggled out of the mound of bedding, slippered feet touching the cold ground. The snow may have been melting, but her bedchamber still felt as chilling as an ice nymph's lair.
She was in the quite tedious process of disassembling all five layers of petticoats when Alena made her entrance, as usual with her morning meal.
"Don't trouble yourself, Princess Amelia," Alena spoke, seeing the young girl having a difficult time indeed removing her pajamas. She rested the tray at the foot of her bed and immediately went to assist her.
"Thank you, Alena-san," Amelia said with a gentle sigh. "I slept so late..."
"We didn't want to wake you, upon King Philonel's orders." She unbuttoned the princess's white silk brocade sleeping gown, it sliding to the floor. "In addition," the maid progressed with a hint of mischief in her voice, "I know what a tiring day you had yesterday."
Heat crept into Amelia's cheeks for unknown reasons, as memories of the previous day seeped into her mind in succession. Her promise... she was becoming more involved in this 'mission' as she would have liked. Not that it was a particularly bad thing...
Alena gave a small chuckle at her highness' reaction as she disassembled one of many petticoats. "So, tell me... did it go well?"
The inquiree found her voice. "We began our search, and we do have some hope, most ironically, from the priestess who got me started on this mission. And... I made a promise... to help him find his cure, no matter what."
Off came yet another layer of clothing. "My, my, that's quite a commitment. You're doing the right thing though."
Amelia responded with an absent nod of the head. In the past few days, she hadn't been able to concentrate on the things she'd promised at the banquet, or her future as queen of Las Sailoon. Now, her brief hiatus from pressing royal duties brought both of these factors again into the limelight, and it was time to get down to things. Maybe being out on the town with Zelgadis-san had somehow spoiled her... although, wasn't it supposed to be the contrary? So many promises to keep tied to... and in a way, the phrase was almost quite literally correct.
She shivered, at last her bedclothes disheveled. Alena wrapped a blanket around her to fight the cold, and opened her enormous wardrobe, frills, garters, lace and ruffles in very conceivable hue spilling out of it. She was, after all, quite wealthy.
"Your father wishes to speak with you as soon as you've washed up and eaten," the brunette woman announced. "What shall you wear... the peach organdy is quite nice, it came in yesterday from the tailor in Sairaag... or perhaps the lemon cremeï€ crushed velvet with the empire waist." She held up both dresses for the princess to survey. "Personally, I'd go with the lemon creme. It compliments your hair." She winked slightly. "So... which shall it be?"
"Lemon creme it is," Amelia decided, her token pep and energy in lacking. The maid gave her a meaningful glance as she ruturned the peach gown to its proper place, noticing the absense of this.
"Something's on your mind again, is it?" Alena questioned suggestively, arranging the chosen dress on the newly-made bed with tedious consideration. "Well, I won't try to have it out of you. There's a warm bath awaiting you in your hygiene chambers, perhaps it'll clear your mind or at least let you think things over. Try and come to a diplomatic decision, good practice for a queen-in-training."
A smile found itself on the younger girl's face. "My gratitudes again, Alena-san," she said in rebuttal. "You've been much more than a servant to me."
The presence of the expression brought warmth also into the kindred features of her handmaiden. "You're most welcome, Amelia-san. Now, do take your bath, and I'll help you prepare for that little father and daughter chat, alright?"
"Alright!" For the first time that morning, her reply held some sunshine.
~*~*~*~*~
Steam swirled around the young princess in a humid veil of mist, welcome comfort in comparison to the sub-zero conditions in the rest of her quarters. She sank as far down into the water as possible, relaxing. Indulgence was well-deserved after such tiring and unfathomed recent excursions.
Under the advice of Alena-san, she decided to untangle her thoughts.
She was, by birth, a princess of the Sailoon crown, bonafide royalty. She'd lived a sheltered but, as to be expected, wealthy and fortunate life inside the castle walls. However, now, at just three days past her sixteenth birthday, she had come of age, and already she would be preparing to become queen... and all that entailed.
The banquet's purpose was to, indeed, disclose her to the finest of Las Sailoon's people, and to begin to demostrate her capability of ruling a kingdom by listening to their plights. Now, she had these things to deal with in addition with her undercover duties, and it was going to be a balancing act.
It was an old, and quite unfortunately, strict custom that kings marry off their daughters to other well-to-do royalty from other lands. Her father was rather conscending, he'd always allowed her her own share of freedom, and was perhaps the source of her love-and-justice and don't-judge-a-book-by-its-cover idealisms. But, at this golden rule, he felt he must oblige. Amelia assumed that was what the conversation was going to pertain to.
With a sigh as that sounded as if it went as deep as the very core of her being, she submersed herself more fully into the tepid liquid. She didn't want to get married so soon, have her youth abruptly snuffed out by burdening womanhood duties. She wanted to have a chance to live, a chance that, in spite of her father's hardest efforts, she hadn't the time to experience. Those who envied royalty... they had nothing to envy.
When she was with Zelgadis-san, she could walk about the streets without being bowed to or envied, a fact she found she liked. Deep in her heart of hearts, what she really sought was adventure, equality. Something that would forever be ripped from her if her father, dear and good-hearted though he was, was allowed to proceed with these plans. It was a classic tale, really.
She tilted her head just beneath the surface of the large Turkish bath, rinsing all of the soap from her hair, and stood, water cascading down every inch of her skin in little rivulets. Reaching for a towel, she quickly dried herself with the soft fabric. The bath had eased her, she felt warm and refreshed, but her thoughts were still as knotted as ever.
~*~*~*~*~
Into the corset she was strapped, Alena jerking the laces to their tightest, arching the ties up her back until she was scarcely able to breathe. Next came the crinolines, swirling heavily about her legs and waist, and finally the dress of lemon creme, a delicate crushed velvet material with a trim of lace. The finishing touch was two milky-white slippers placed upon her small feet, pinching her toes.
Alena admired her handiwork. "Well, you're fit to see a King," she remarked, making apt use of the expression. "I'll take my leave now, and you'll take yours. Best of luck!"
Amelia, heels clicking, walked the maze of hallways, on her way to the turret on the eastern wing. She knew her father would be waiting there, as it was almost time for supper, and he did enjoy a chat over tea.
At last in arrival to her destination, the young heir to the throne pushed back the door and allowed it to shut heavily behind her. Before her was His Majesty King Philionel, as massive as ever, bedecked in royal finery. In front of him was a steaming cup of what she assumed was tea. He took it gingerly in his thick fingers and tilted the liquid until it flowed into his lips before resting it back in its saucer.
"Good afternoon, Daddy," was Amelia's bright salutation, as she took her own place opposite of him. A cup and saucer were placed likewise in front of her, and she methodically began to pour the hot water from the kettle into it, adding the tea leaves and allowing them to steep.
"Good afternoon, good afternoon!" replied Phil heartily, a raucous grin spreading across his face. "Just the daughter I wanted to speak to! We haven't had a good one-on-one chat in a while!"
Amelia shook her head, eyes closed serenely as she stirred the tea. "I guess we've both been rather busy, Daddy." She was glad for the opportunity to talk with him, in truth. She did always have a good, loving relationship with him, more than she could say for some other families she knew.
"Well, well, we can talk now, can't we?" He chuckled and placed the tea cup back onto the saucer. "So, how are things going for you, Amelia, since your birthday?"
Satisfied that the tea was sufficiently steeping, she extracted her spoon. "Well, honestly, it's more work than I expected, I didn't know Las Sailoon required such... matinence. But I suppose it's good practice!" She smiled. "I really don't know how you're able to do it."
Phil chuckled again. "For someone who will succeed the throne, you'll find it useful information! Don't worry, Amelia, you'll get used to it! Trust the justice in your eternal soul to carry you through!"
A smile blossomed on his daughter's face. She was starting to feel better about everything. Her father's energy was quite contagious. Still, she mustn't mention Zelgadis-san. Of course, Phil might even approve, but she felt she must somehow keep their meetings secret.
"Right, I guess that I should just trust my heart to know what's right. Then victory will come easily, as you say." There was something of an irony in that phrase, considering her worries about becoming Queen that morning.
He took another gulp of tea, in a rightfully merry mood. Philionel was always a very pleasant man, despite his appearance. "That's my girl!"
She sipped her own cup as well, greatly relieved and actually having a pleasant time. Now she'd mention it. "You know, Daddy, how I've been spending a lot of time around the city?"
Phil nodded. "Yes, yes, to spend time with your people, you say?"
Speaking carefully, she nodded. "Yes, well... I was wondering if I could... get out more often. As long as it doesn't interfere with my duties, of course. I think... it helps me to get to know them better, so when it comes time for me to make my own decisions, I can better meet their interests." There. She'd said it.
"I think that's a splendid idea, Amelia!" her father boomed joyously.
"Really, Daddy? I was hoping you'd agree!" Yes! Her proposal had been irresistable.
"It's great! You're going to become a mighty fine Queen and make me proud! Of course, as long as it doesn't interfere with your duties, you may roam our city as you like! Let their pleas and needs be burned into your Eternal Heart of Justice so that you will take their suffering away!"
"Daddy!"
"Amelia!"
They embraced, happy tears flowing from Phil's eyes. Amelia was very upbeat. Now she wouldn't have to worry so much!
After a few good minutes, both father and daughter unwrapped themselves from each other and sat down, glowing. If Amelia was composed when she had walked into the room, she definitely wasn't now. Perhaps her woes were merely the result of an overactive imagination. Certainly, there would be suitors... be she wouldn't be talking about them today! And even better, she got her father's permisson to go out on the town! The future, even with all of its impending struggles and trials, seemed promising!
They talked in merry measure for the remainder of the afternoon.
~*~*~*~*~
At long last, another chappie! I was kind of avoiding writing this particular installment for some reason... anyway, sorry for the wait. I hope you liked it!
Now, some further notes:
Ame kind of acted a bit immature... then again, she was talking to Phil. I guess he just ignites that 'Spark of Justice' in her. Tee-hee. Also, I had wanted them to talk about Ame's mother and Naga, and also the question of suitors, but that simply isn't how it turned out. I'll have to work that in later... *sigh*
Also, Xellia fans (and I guarantee you'll be seeing more interaction between these two in later chapters), I've posted another piece, entitled If You Come Very Quietly. It's a poemfic, and I rather like it. Go read it!
And it seems that, in astronomy, the term Cepheid indicates a star or cluster of stars which vary reguarly in light during cycles that can last for indefinite periods of time. They apparently have a place of great importance in the universe, and are very rare. I gleaned this from an old book of my dad's; it's quite interesting, ne? And certainly not coincidental. Maybe this has a lot to do with the theory of Lost Universe, Kanzaka's other work, which supposedly takes place in an alternate dimension where Cepheid and Shabrandigo fought. Hmmm...
Well, that about wraps it up this time around. As always, see you next chappie! ^_~
~*NEXT CHAPTER*~
Act V:
More Cure-Searching and the White Garden