Kin & Kind*, Part 1
*Archaic: family, lineage; Modern: a group united by common traits or interests; loving, of a forbearing nature. (Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th ed.)
By: Anna Nimmie Tee
Slayers copyright 1991-2000 by Hajime Kanzaka/Rui Araizumi/Kadokawa Shoten/TV TOKYO/SOFTX/Marubeni
Author's Notes:
The usual disclaimers that Slayers characters are not my own but those of Hajime Kanzaka et al. This is but my feeble use of them, especially in comparison with the other Slayers fanfic writers. Absolutely no monetary gain is intended or desired, only amusement.
This is a very long extension and massive rewrite under my other pen name of one of my fanfics that was formerly on Astra's now defunct Gourrina Writers Guild. I originally divided the fic into five parts in order to fit the limits of my message composer. It's been posted a couple other places, but, as usual, I've changed, added, deleted, or shifted some wording.
Thanks and hugs go to Sharlene/Mynuet and Colin Carley for beta reading and as well as Kaitrin for making very good suggestions.
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Family. It was very, very important to Gourry. So Lina had discovered when he insisted they visit hers. Several times on their way to Zephilia Lina had tried to back out on going home, but Gourry was adamant. It was then she finally learned the true story of the Sword of Light and of the great sacrifice Gourry had made to keep his family peacefully together: exile from the family he loved by his stealing away with the hotly contested Sword of Light. She realized he might need even HER family to fill partially the hole left by the heartbreak of never being able to return to his own home.
As it turned out, Lina survived, or, rather, she and Gourry survived her homecoming. Big Sis didn't kill her, although the slugs in her frilly pink bed sheets nearly did her in. Her screams brought Gourry rushing into her room.
"Wow," exclaimed Gourry, looking where her shaking finger pointed while she clung to him, "Now I know finally know what a 'slug-a-bed' is!"
"You're not even close to right, Bait-for-Brains!" Lina snarled as she clonked him on the head but latched her trembling self onto him again and buried her face in his chest.
"Salt'll take care of this," Gourry remarked, "Too bad it won't help the slugs you give me."
As Lina's fist came down for the second time on his head, it encountered a steel helmet. "Yeow! What...?!"
"It's a slug guard," the blond slowly smirked.
Lina just moaned and threw a dictionary at him.
Gourry didn't escape Luna's attentions either. Snide remarks to Gourry, such as, "So, Sexy, have you done the horizontal tango with my sister yet? She's flat but athletic," had the poor guy in a state of perpetual blush.
Choking down the first of her mother's so-called home-cooked meals, Lina reflected silently, *Mom hasn't improved her cooking skills since I left. You'd think at her age and with her sorcery capability she could at least fry an egg. Heck, even Gourry can do that and more. That a guy whose warped taste-buds let him enjoy orca can still cook a decent meal is amazing.*
As a matter of fact, Gourry did come to Lina's culinary rescue and won her mother over by helping out with, i.e., taking over, the cooking and clean-up whenever they didn't eat at Luna's restaurant. His speedy and accurate chopping skills especially made Mrs. Inverse starry-eyed, although his fancifully carved fruits and vegetables were also a sight to behold. Particularly impressive were his golden dragons sculpted out of yellow crook-necked squash. However, Lina thought his eggplant Xelloss was a little too creepy.
It was very awkward, though, when he and her father first saw each other. "You!" they both yelled at the same time. Before Gourry could say anything else, the older man grabbed Gourry by the shirt and shouted excitedly, "Do you still have the sword somewhere? Didya throw it away after all? You know I wanted it!" His un-lit cigarette dangled and danced in his lips.
"No, it just went back were it belonged," Gourry responded in bewilderment.
"Dad, what's going on here? How do you know about Gourry and the Sword of Light?!" Lina exclaimed as she pried her father's hands off Gourry.
"Lina, shut your mouth. You look like the village idiot," Her father commanded. "Yes, we met a long time ago. By the time I returned home, you had left," and he told her the whole story.
Later, Dad took her aside and said, "He's not the brightest coin in the cash register, but he's a good warrior and definitely loves you, Little Bird. He'll do, even if he doesn't know to whom he should give swords."
"I'll agree with you on that last point, Dad," Lina snorted.
In spite of Luna, the rest of the visit had settled into a comfortable routine. Gourry adapted to the monotony of daily chores more cheerfully than Lina did. He truly seemed to enjoy the respite from adventure for a little while. One afternoon, Lina felt particularly bored. Gourry and her father had gone off fishing, the ale they had taken along attesting to the probable safety of the fish. Luna was at work, and her mother was busy in the shop. Not wanting to get recruited by her mother for manual labor, Lina decided to visit the main library in Zephilia to search for new leads on magical spells or treasures.
The library had changed considerably while she had been traveling. It had turned from a dinky, small town book collection to a genuine learning center, complete with new wizards to ease use of an integrated library system and to keep track of library holdings. After a few hours of searching, she found, to her delight, that there was some sort of a magical belt in the northern most reaches of the Elmekian Empire. She was a little frustrated, though, because the manuscript was damaged and did not mention HOW the belt was magical. Gourry had been evasive about his family and most reluctant to return home, but she was dying to see where he had come from and to meet some of his family. She thought, *He's met my family. It's only fair that I meet his. How bad can they be, compared to my sister? This belt thing may do the trick to ease my curiosity.*
Thinking about Gourry, she returned to the family store and decided to help her mother, after all. Mrs. Inverse was in the process of doing yearly inventory. The shop had prospered and had expanded in Lina's absence. With good investments and sales techniques, the Inverse parents had paid off all the debts due to the damage caused the city by the two sisters' magical 'growing pains'. Luna had initially begun waitressing to help pay the debts, but, considering her appetite was as bad, if not worse, than Lina's, she found remaining at the restaurant very much to her advantage after the dire monetary need was gone.
Plus she had the hots for the handsome owner.
As Lina entered the family store, she basked in the feel and smell of magic. She surveyed the full shelves lining the walls on all sides and the low counters with their tastefully arranged goods on and in them. Each type of magic gave off unique 'scent'. Some were sweet, others spicy; some gave off a floral aroma, while still others were sharp and tangy. Mrs. Inverse made sure to keep the right amount of each kind of stock to create a blend of scents that were enticing to a magic user, not off-putting.
When her mother, upon hearing the entrance bell, emerged from the door at the back of the store, Lina asked, "Have Gourry and Dad returned from fishing yet?"
"Ha!" Mom exclaimed as she reached up to put away a box of special lucky charms. "You asked about that young man before you did your father. Your feelings about him must be pretty strong, hm?"
Lina blushed and absently picked up and gently shook a box of newt eyes, which had been lying on the counter. She answered, "He does mean a lot to me, Mom, but I don't really know what I want. He says he wants to protect me for the rest of his life, but he's never mentioned he wants to marry me. Part of me wants him to propose, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to be tied down yet. Were you as confused with Dad?"
"Lina, put that box down. Bruised eyes make bad brews. If you need something to do with your hands, you can straighten up that display of enchanted daggers next to you." She brushed a lock of hair out of Lina's eyes and patted her cheek. "Confused? Oh, not really, but then I was bit older than you, Honey, and ready to settle down when your father proposed. I wouldn't worry, Sweetie. You are still so young, and your Gourry is more patient and wise than you realize."
"Ya think, Mom? 'Wise' doesn't seem to pair up with 'jellyfish'."
"Lina, remember there are several kinds and sources of knowledge. Some are in the mind, like yours, and some are in the heart and soul. Be still and listen to the information your own heart is trying to tell you sometime."
A few days later, they left Zephilia after a flurry of warm hugs from Lina's parents and even Luna. Just before they parted, a look passed between Mr. Inverse and Gourry. It ended with the older man looking satisfied and patting Gourry firmly on the back.
"What was that about?" Lina asked her protector.
"Ah, nothing much. I'll tell you some other time."
Several trolls and two bandit gangs later, it slipped both their minds.
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After a few months of travel and a serious near death experience, Lina finally followed her mother's advice, listened to her heart, and gave in to the depth of her feelings for the swordsman. They, Amelia, and Zelgadis had been escorting Sylphiel to a shrine where the demure young woman was to give instruction in healing to new shrine maidens. It was to have been a sort of vacation for our two traditional couples, but, of course, they came under mazoku attack, and she thought Gourry had actually died. Sylphiel cast Resurrection with Amelia's help and saved him. That night, after depositing Sylphiel at the shrine, a disturbed Lina paid a visit to Gourry's room. His soothing words led to soothing touch and then a joyous physical intimacy.
Later, Lina explained to Amelia, "It finally hit me how mortal we are and how little time we could have." She stared in the distance and added, "The thought I could be without him at anytime, our relationship unsettled, threw me into a weird funk. I found myself stupidly clinging to him in his room that night and WANTING him." She gave an uncharacteristic sigh. "His comforting presence felt oh, so good." Amelia raised an eyebrow. "Oh, yeah, something else also felt oh, so good," Lina snickered as she blushed.
"Miss Lina, and what would that be?" Amelia asked with a salacious little giggle.
"Tsk, tsk, Amelia, aren't royal shrine maidens supposed to be pure in thought? Anyway, to get serious again, now I understand my mother's saying he was wiser than I knew. He waited so patiently for me to accept him."
Late in the afternoon after Lina's and Gourry's barrier breaking night, Lina, Gourry, Amelia, and Zelgadis picked up Sylphiel from the shrine. Sylphiel watched Lina and Gourry. They chatted and laughed like always, except they were walking arm in arm. Sylphiel told herself fiercely to be happy that Lina was finally treating Gourry with some affection and with considerably less violence. Her resolve to be cheerful wobbled a bit, however, when it came time to go upstairs at the inn that night. Nothing had been said, but as they trooped up the stairs, Sylphiel had stared at Gourry and Lina together. They had only one room key between them. Sylphiel then looked at Amelia with an unspoken question. Amelia gave a slight, affirmative nod. Sylphiel felt tears pricking her eyes, but gave the concerned Amelia the best smile she could come up with as she made a small, barely noticeable 'ok' sign with her fingers.
When the group reached Seyruun, Gourry and Lina announced they were to be married. As Lina finally discovered, Gourry had talked to Lina's parents long before about his feelings for her, but they had all agreed he was wise to hold off asking her to marry him until she was mentally and emotionally ready. Lina's father basically had advised, "When she's ready for a wedding, do it. Don't worry about our being there. It should be a happy time for her without family tension, especially from her sister."
Of course, Amelia and her father went nuts and insisted the young couple be married in the Grand Temple of Seyruun. Lina and Gourry managed to get them to tone it down to the chapel in the palace. With Amelia's help, Lina found a gorgeous wedding dress. Its form-fitting cut, cream colored embroidery accents on the white, and low neckline made her petite body seem to say, "Yes, I DO have breasts." Lina did not like long, flowing sleeves, because she felt they hampered spell casting. "Only frauds have them to conceal their tricks," she sniffed. Thus the sleeves of her gown were tight fitting and only reached her elbows. Amelia had wanted her to wear a longer train on the gown, but, again, Lina insisted on a more practical, maneuverable, short one. One concession to Amelia's romantic ideals were Lina's bare, soft shoulders, which looked like they were begging for Gourry's touch. Of course, Lina wore gloves, white ones, which came to her elbows.
Gourry emerged from his room in dark blue trousers with braiding swirling in fine loops along outside of his thighs and a very handsome shirt of a very thin, fine, white fabric, which was embroidered in intricate geometric cross-stitch patterns. He held a dark blue jacket with braiding that matched that on the trousers. At the his friends' and bride's exclamations, he explained, looking down and blushing, "It's a wedding shirt from my country. I've carried it with me and have been working on it in secret for long time,"
"Oho," Zel laughed, "You work wonders with short pointy objects as well as with long pointy ones!"
The ceremony was a quick one in the castle's chapel, where Prince Phil's empty coffin had lain after the assassination attempt by Gaav's minions. Lina thanked the gods for the speed, because she didn't know if Gourry's short attention span would have allowed for anything more elaborate. Plus her stomach was starting to rumble by the end of the ceremony, not exactly a delicate bride thing. The Seyruun head priest bound their hands together palm to palm with multicolored ribbons to signify all the emotions and experiences good and bad they could have together. Vows were exchanged, and Amelia, Sylphiel, and Prince Phil smiled through their tears when Lina and Gourry kissed. Zel led a cheer for the newlyweds as they raced laughingly to the banquet hall.
Amelia tearily remarked "It's so unjust neither of their families could be here to witness this happy occasion. If only Ms. Lina and Mr. Gourry had given us more time to plan and contact their families! There wasn't enough time for them to travel here. I guess we'll just have to be their substitutes, won't we, Daddy and Mr. Zelgadis?" Both men thus addressed nodded their agreement smilingly.
Zel added, "But we'd better catch up with them quickly before they leave no food for the rest of the family!"
A huge feast was provided with enough delicious dishes to keep the new couple happy and leave something left over for the guests. And wonders of wonders, Lina and Gourry actually fed each other the traditional first cut slices of wedding cake, instead of shoving the pieces into their own mouths. They even refrained from complaining the other had gotten a larger slice.
Prince Phil had hired a small orchestra, which seemed to have an endless knowledge of all types of dances from just about everywhere. One of the musicians gave a start as Gourry entered the room. A slight squawk from his violin earned him a frown from the leader. While people ate, the orchestra played light, formal compositions and a few songs popular in Seyruun and Zephilia.
Once Lina and Gourry seemed to be sated with food, the musicians broke into the lilting melody of the newlyweds' waltz, and with a fond smile Gourry held out his hand to his bride. After a slight look of panic when she initially couldn't find the loop of her dress' train holder, Lina took a step toward him and nearly tripped anyway on the front hem of her dress. Her husband's strong hands steadied her. "Thank goodness I convinced Amelia I should wear low heels instead of those ankle-breakers she originally thought I should have," Lina congratulated herself.
For once, Lina didn't preen at being the center of everyone's attention, lost as she was in the love of Gourry's eyes as they glided and whirled.
The next dance was a lively, simple couple dance from Zephilia. With a short demonstration from Lina and Gourry, the rest of the guests followed, except for a few courtly stick-in-the-muds, who thought such peasant dances were beneath them. Yes, sadly enough, there were those present who were not as fond of the couple as Amelia and her father would have liked them to be.
"Such a fuss over a merchant's daughter and a mercenary," they grumbled, but didn't want to miss out on the food or political advantage of being there.
One over-dressed popinjay with his nose in the air advanced to the orchestra leader and whispered a request while placing a hefty tip in the musician's cummerbund. The noble, considerably less politically savvy than he thought he was, mumbled to his friends, "This will show everyone how this couple is truly unworthy of this much attention."
A slow, complicated court dance began its introductory notes. Amelia began to fume at the rude behavior of such a guest. Prince Phil shot a furious glance at the man and his friends, who unwisely smirked as they took their places. Gourry, however, held his head high, straightened his shoulders back, took Lina by the hand, and proudly and gracefully stepped into the circle with her. Amelia and her father worriedly took their place beside them. Gourry gave a little smile and nodded slightly to Prince Phil, who raised an eyebrow.
"Just let me lead you, Lina. I'll try to instruct you a little before each new step," Gourry spoke in a low voice to his wife. Amelia also helped, whispering when she was near Lina. Thanks to their help and her swords-woman training, which made footwork easier to learn, Lina managed to make it through the patterns, while Gourry projected very much a command of the dance.
"Mr. Gourry, how did you know that?" Amelia squeaked in surprise. "It's a High Court dance!"
"Uh, well, my mother made sure I knew several countries' court dances as well as our own folk dances."
"And why is that, Jellyfish?" Lina asked with an eyebrow raised in suspicion.
With an uncomfortable look on his face he raised a hand to scratch the back of his head and answered, "Ah, she wanted me prepared when I went to court functions."
"'WHEN'?' Not even 'IF'? Have you been keeping something about your family from me?" Lina was nearly jumping out of her skin.
"No. You just never asked about my family's background."
"Stop beating about Holy Tree Flagoon!" Lina raised a fist to bop her husband one, but was forestalled by Sylphiel's gently, but firmly, laying a hand on the sorceress' raised arm.
"Oh, Gourry d-, Gourry, never told you his father was an Elmekian baron? His family has guarded the northern reaches of the Empire from invasion from Dynast's minions for generations," Sylphiel softly interceded. "And didn't you expect descendants from the Swordsman of Light to have been honored with SOME sort of title of nobility by SOMEBODY? I thought you knew, since you stayed with him after he gave up the Sword of Light," she added innocently.
Lina was about to blow up at the priestess, even if it was her 'happiest day'. A dangerous fire appeared in her eyes and her hands started to arch together, "Sylphiel..."
Gourry grabbed both Lina's hands, kissed her, and swung her away in another rollicking folk dance just in time.
The violinist who had started when he saw Gourry, caught the swordsman's eye as the dance ended near him and exclaimed in delight, "Cousin Gourry, it IS you! We were just told we were to play for a wedding at the palace but not the names of the couple being married!"
He then spoke in an Elmekian dialect. Lina knew some standard Elmekian, but the dialect was too hard for her to understand much. Gourry answered and seemed to ask a question in return. The musician than turned to his leader and whispered something. The leader nodded and mouthed the name of the next dance. A slow minor melody began weaving through the instruments.
Gourry gave a wicked grin at Lina and lifting his hands, started snapping his fingers in time to the music. Still smiling at her, he began to strut, heel, toe, heel, toe, long legs stretching out, in a circle about her. As the music gathered speed, he then went through an intricate series of squatting kicking steps, leaps, spins, and step patterns. Faster and faster the music raced. His hair was a flying, golden cloud swirling about his head and ecstatic face. Higher Gourry leapt, culminating a leap that took watchers' breath away as he bent backwards in mid-air and almost touched his feet to his head, his arms flung joyously upward in abandon, his bright tresses spread out like a sun-burst. As the music ended, he slid on his knees with a shout to where Lina stood amazed. His shirt was open, and his face and chest glistened as he panted, joy radiating out of him.
His bride had watched him in awe and pride as he got more and more into the dance. Her throat had tightened, and she had shivered, almost feeling like crying with the joy of knowing he was hers. His dancing had a magic about it, a dangerous magic, a powerful magic. Literally, she realized with shock as she glanced around the room and saw other women's faces, some drooling. And a few men. *Wha...?* Lina thought, but when she looked at her gorgeous husband again, she found her rational thought process had gone bye-bye. She groaned to herself, "Damn, where's the nearest bedroom when you need it? Why can't we leave NOW?!"
Gourry had eyes only for her and seemed oblivious to everyone elses' admiration. Her desire must have been very noticeable, for, as he got slowly to his feet, Gourry whispered, "In a bit, Lina, in a bit. I gotta get my breath, ya know?"
She muttered in his ear, "Hey, Lover-boy, save some energy for thehoneymoon, will ya?" They smiled knowingly at each other.
A late wedding 'guest' slipped in unnoticed. Although his face was thin, his body seemed rather bulky. As more dances were played, he glided closer to the newlyweds. Gourry's Elmekian cousin spied him, and a look of concern swiftly crossed his face. When Gourry passed by him, he caught the swordsman's eye and, giving a quick glance in the stranger's direction, mouthed something and made a few subtle hand movements. Gourry started and, responding in a like manner, finished with a very slight nod of his head. The stranger at that point had been looking at Lina and didn't see the silent communication between the two Elmekians. After the dance ended, Gourry signaled Zelgadis to come over.
"Hey, Zel, let's show everybody the sword dance from your childhood home. It's so cool! These guys know the music."
Zelgadis, unlike Lina, was NOT happy to be the center of attention and demurred, "Uh, Gourry, I'd rather not."
Gourry whispered something in chimera's ear. Zelgadis' eyes slightly widened and then dangerously narrowed. He nodded his consent.
"Everyone, please clear a circle. This next dance can be kinda dangerous," Gourry cautioned as Zel went for their swords, which along with the guests' swords had been left with Prince Phil's weapons check girls.
The crowd complied. The stranger was in the front line. Again the music started slowly, this time with oboe and drum, and the two swordsmen moved together across the floor in flowing, stylized, postures. They began to strike each other's swords in slow, swirling arcs in time to the music. As music picked up and other instruments joined in, the clash of swords accented the music even more. The dancers leapt up over each others swords, past each other and twirled. As the music reached frantic speed, suddenly Gourry's sword flashed in quick, silver slashes around the stranger. The man's outer clothing dropped away as did the throwing knives, blowgun, poison darts, poison vials, and other assassin tools. A rather scrawny fellow stood clad only in his yellow bikini briefs with a happy face on them.
Prince Phil yelled, "Guards! Take this felon away to face our questioning and justice later! How dare he come to change this day of joy and joining to sorrow and parting!"
As it turned out, the assassin was an Elmekian mercenary known too well by the Gabrievs. At first, everyone wondered who was the target of the assassin, but a contract letter found on the man revealed to everyone's shock, that Gourry, not the more likely Prince Phil, Amelia or Lina was to have been the victim. The contract letter mentioned no names and, when questioned, the would-be killer said the contract and partial payment were delivered by a masked messenger. Lina was more determined than ever to meet Gourry's family and find out who had sent the man and why.
During a break in the playing of music, Gourry's cousin, the musician Anatoly, while indulging in typical Gabriev gorging, discussed with the couple the would-be assassin and a little of what had happened in Gourry's family's fiefdom. It didn't sound good.
"Shortly after you left, Gourry, your mother disappeared as well. Between the cruel, iron rule of your eldest step-brother and the depredations of the Heart-breaker, even the domovoi [Slavic guardian house spirit] was so neglected and disgusted, it left. I did the same, after running into a little bit of trouble because I couldn't keep my mouth shut."
"Why didn't you become a mercenary, too?" Gourry asked. "You've had warrior training."
"You gotta recall I'm a better musician than swordsman. You gave me the small scars that prove it. That's why I've been picking up gigs to keep body and soul together, instead of fighting," Anatoly answered.
"Ah, remember, this is Gourry. There are shallow drawers in his memory's wardrobe," Lina broke in. "But who's the Heart-breaker?"
"One of my elder step-brothers. He's such a handsome jerk, that many girls have been seduced and abandoned by him," Gourry explained.
"Sounds like he needs a fireball or two down his pants," the sorceress commented with an evil gleam in her eye.
"Ummm. Too late for that," Anatoly informed them. "He seduced one fragile maiden too many. His last conquest drowned herself in the river and became a vengeful rusalka. She and the other rusalki drowned him over a year ago."
"Damn," Gourry softly whispered, and a tear slipped down his cheek. "He might have been a scoundrel, but he was my brother, after all."
"And he probably would have killed you if you had returned while he was still alive," Anatoly reminded the new groom and hugged him. "Hey, no tears! Remember you've just married the beautiful and talented Lina Inverse."
"Yes, indeed, Jellyfish!" And the beautiful and talented Lina Inverse gathered the swordsman's hair in her hands to pull his face down for a quick fist to his noggin. (Love and marriage hadn't changed her temper all THAT much.) "Stop feeling sorry! You'll ruin your wedding shirt with your tears! I like it much better that you're alive and he's not than the other way around!" As he blinked his tears away, she planted a mollifying little kiss on his lips and wiped his face with her gloved hands.
After submitting to his wife's ministrations, Gourry admitted he had known his mother would vanish after she had given him the Sword of Light. His father was dead, and the stepsons had never looked kindly on her. "She probably joined Granny," he speculated.
"Don't know. We never heard," Anatoly answered, "but I'd advise not returning home, especially after that assassin today. Somebody there is out to get you, whether you still have the Sword of Light or not. Your exploits with Lina must have gathered you enough fame finally to make you traceable."
Lina, however, was not of the same opinion. She wanted to deal with whomever had sent the man. "I think a little family visit and a few little explosive spells might be in order," she mused in a low voice.
"And in later time have the children of destroyed relatives seek revenge on the children we may hope to have? No, Lina, I left home with the Sword of Light to end family strife and violence. I don'twant to cause more of it."
A fresh supply of food put an end to further conversation as the three became preoccupied until Anatoly had to rejoin the orchestra.
After a several more sedate dances, the couple came to Lina's third favorite part of the wedding, the presents. (First being the luxurious wedding night, second, the wedding feast.) The wedding present from Zel provided many blushes from the newlyweds and roars of laughter from the more bawdy minded. "Since you are such an 'innocent girl' and Gourry seems so, well, so Gourry, this might be useful for further explorations," Zel said red-faced, as he handed a wrapped book to the couple. "You might want to open this after you go to your room."
Lina, being Lina, thought it might be a book of great spells and of course tore the wrapping off then and there. She promptly turned into a beet in a white gown. Gourry's eyes grew large, blinked several times, and he joined Lina in color, although he said as he pulled his re-buttoned collar, "Oh come on, Zel. I'm a mercenary and have lived in barracks off and on for several years."
"Ah, the memories," Prince Phil sighed, "My dear wife and I enjoyed an earlier edition of that."
Amelia gulped and muttered, "Ack, I don't want to think about that. My daddy and mommy...No, no, no."
A dangerous, twinkling light came into Lina's eyes, "Oh, Zel, did you say you were actually just lending it to us?"
While a flaming faced Amelia examined a non-existent spot on her dress, Zel squeaked, "N..no, it's a gift. I've no use for it right now." He clapped a hand over his mouth.
"'No use right now', eh, but later...?" Lina's voice trailed off in speculation.
"Ah, I think I'll get another glass of wine," the chimera excused himself and quickly strode off in search of said wine and a dark spot in which to hide his embarrassment.
"Why don't you two open this present. It's got an interesting rattle," Amelia blushingly interjected and quickly thrust a package into Lina's arms.
Later on that night, though, Zel's gift of the pillow book was instructive, as well as a great source of amusement. "Will you look at page 63! No damn way! Pretzel City!" Lina giggled, snuggling further into Gourry's now warm, bare arms. Her foot rubbed one of his hairy, naked legs. Each spouse held one side of the book.
"With mustard or without?" Gourry queried.
"Oooo, with lots of butter!" Lina replied and licked his chest, before both dissolved into unbridled laughter.
Yes, sex was delightful and exciting, but the warmth and comfort of a lover's bare back, touch of a foot against the other's leg, a hand brushing back the other's hair, were the things that gave each a feeling of security and of a more enduring kind of love, love that had built over the years and found expression in small touches. Lina suddenly felt more sympathy for Eris. She understood Eris' desperation more and the reason for creating Kopii Rezo. Curiously enough, Lina also lost her fear of slugs, but we won't go there.
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Lina knew her spouse would be reluctant to go to Elmekia without some manipulation. Remembering the Elmekian magical belt she had read about in the main library of Zephilia and acting her cutest and sexiest, she used the belt as an excuse to accomplish what she desired. The guy never had a chance.
Amelia and Prince Phil had sent them off on a honeymoon to a small, wooded estate. The servants were unobtrusive but very conscientious of the couple's needs, both for food and privacy. Two days after the wedding, Linda and Gourry finished a large breakfast in a secluded, sunken garden with rustic, twisted vine chairs, benches, and tables. The sun through the tall poplars and oaks dappled the flowers and lawn. Doves cooed, and other birds wove their songs around the coos. The two were in loose silk robes. Gourry leaned back against his bench and, exposing his legs from out his deep blue robe, stretched out cat-like in the sun. He cradled the back of his head with both his hands and with half closed eyes smiled contentedly at Lina. The sun reflecting off his bright mane made Lina think, *Gods, he may be only a baron's younger son, but he's MY dream prince!*
Leaning over her side of the table between them and letting her golden robe fall open enough to show the cleavage caused by her arms folded under her breasts, she began her campaign by asking, "Gourry, I doubt very much you would know, but have you ever heard of an Elmekian magical belt? I read about it in the Zephilian main library, but the manuscript didn't say what its powers were."
"Oh, THAT belt. Uh, Lina, I really don't think you'd want to find it right now." Gourry reddened, but leaned over to play absently with a lock of her hair.
"And why not?" she pouted and sat up straight.
"Promise you won't hit me?"
"Yes, Dear," she answered too sweetly.
"Well, it will make your chest grow bigger..."
"And this is bad?" she shrieked while grabbing the lapel of his robe with one hand and raising her other hand in a fist.
"...as well as your tummy. You know what a chastity belt is supposed to do, don't you?"
"You mean...?"
"Yeah, it's the opposite; it's a fertility belt."
"Oh." Pause. "Hey, some people would give a lot of money for it!"
"Especially as it also works cross species. We could give it to Amelia and Zel or Filia and Xelloss as a wedding present!"
"What! and lose good money? Besides who says either of those two couples would go that far, ESPECIALLY Filia and Xelloss?"
"You just have to read the fanfiction." Then Gourry argued, "Lina, I'm not sure going to my home country is such a good idea. I left because the Sword of Light would have been ill-used by my elder brothers. I don't know if I can safely face the remaining one again. But, it's true, I would like to see my momma and remaining granny."
Reaching up and cupping a her hand on the side of his cheek, his wife felt a tear slide down his face.
"We'll try to avoid the barony, but somehow get word to your other relatives we're passing through," she comforted him, although she still had the urge to meet and Dragon Slave her dear brother-in-law's ass, for she suspected he had something to do with the assassin.
Gourry kissed the finger tips of her hand that held his cheek and then elsewhere as she gave a little laugh of pleasure...
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If you have ever seen the gorgeous macho-ness of Ukrainian/Georgian/Russian/ male folk dancers, maybe you'll be able to visualize Gourry's solo dance better.
There are a heck of a lot of cultures, European, Middle Eastern and Asian that have sword dances. Pick which ever culture you want.
*Archaic: family, lineage; Modern: a group united by common traits or interests; loving, of a forbearing nature. (Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th ed.)
By: Anna Nimmie Tee
Slayers copyright 1991-2000 by Hajime Kanzaka/Rui Araizumi/Kadokawa Shoten/TV TOKYO/SOFTX/Marubeni
Author's Notes:
The usual disclaimers that Slayers characters are not my own but those of Hajime Kanzaka et al. This is but my feeble use of them, especially in comparison with the other Slayers fanfic writers. Absolutely no monetary gain is intended or desired, only amusement.
This is a very long extension and massive rewrite under my other pen name of one of my fanfics that was formerly on Astra's now defunct Gourrina Writers Guild. I originally divided the fic into five parts in order to fit the limits of my message composer. It's been posted a couple other places, but, as usual, I've changed, added, deleted, or shifted some wording.
Thanks and hugs go to Sharlene/Mynuet and Colin Carley for beta reading and as well as Kaitrin for making very good suggestions.
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Family. It was very, very important to Gourry. So Lina had discovered when he insisted they visit hers. Several times on their way to Zephilia Lina had tried to back out on going home, but Gourry was adamant. It was then she finally learned the true story of the Sword of Light and of the great sacrifice Gourry had made to keep his family peacefully together: exile from the family he loved by his stealing away with the hotly contested Sword of Light. She realized he might need even HER family to fill partially the hole left by the heartbreak of never being able to return to his own home.
As it turned out, Lina survived, or, rather, she and Gourry survived her homecoming. Big Sis didn't kill her, although the slugs in her frilly pink bed sheets nearly did her in. Her screams brought Gourry rushing into her room.
"Wow," exclaimed Gourry, looking where her shaking finger pointed while she clung to him, "Now I know finally know what a 'slug-a-bed' is!"
"You're not even close to right, Bait-for-Brains!" Lina snarled as she clonked him on the head but latched her trembling self onto him again and buried her face in his chest.
"Salt'll take care of this," Gourry remarked, "Too bad it won't help the slugs you give me."
As Lina's fist came down for the second time on his head, it encountered a steel helmet. "Yeow! What...?!"
"It's a slug guard," the blond slowly smirked.
Lina just moaned and threw a dictionary at him.
Gourry didn't escape Luna's attentions either. Snide remarks to Gourry, such as, "So, Sexy, have you done the horizontal tango with my sister yet? She's flat but athletic," had the poor guy in a state of perpetual blush.
Choking down the first of her mother's so-called home-cooked meals, Lina reflected silently, *Mom hasn't improved her cooking skills since I left. You'd think at her age and with her sorcery capability she could at least fry an egg. Heck, even Gourry can do that and more. That a guy whose warped taste-buds let him enjoy orca can still cook a decent meal is amazing.*
As a matter of fact, Gourry did come to Lina's culinary rescue and won her mother over by helping out with, i.e., taking over, the cooking and clean-up whenever they didn't eat at Luna's restaurant. His speedy and accurate chopping skills especially made Mrs. Inverse starry-eyed, although his fancifully carved fruits and vegetables were also a sight to behold. Particularly impressive were his golden dragons sculpted out of yellow crook-necked squash. However, Lina thought his eggplant Xelloss was a little too creepy.
It was very awkward, though, when he and her father first saw each other. "You!" they both yelled at the same time. Before Gourry could say anything else, the older man grabbed Gourry by the shirt and shouted excitedly, "Do you still have the sword somewhere? Didya throw it away after all? You know I wanted it!" His un-lit cigarette dangled and danced in his lips.
"No, it just went back were it belonged," Gourry responded in bewilderment.
"Dad, what's going on here? How do you know about Gourry and the Sword of Light?!" Lina exclaimed as she pried her father's hands off Gourry.
"Lina, shut your mouth. You look like the village idiot," Her father commanded. "Yes, we met a long time ago. By the time I returned home, you had left," and he told her the whole story.
Later, Dad took her aside and said, "He's not the brightest coin in the cash register, but he's a good warrior and definitely loves you, Little Bird. He'll do, even if he doesn't know to whom he should give swords."
"I'll agree with you on that last point, Dad," Lina snorted.
In spite of Luna, the rest of the visit had settled into a comfortable routine. Gourry adapted to the monotony of daily chores more cheerfully than Lina did. He truly seemed to enjoy the respite from adventure for a little while. One afternoon, Lina felt particularly bored. Gourry and her father had gone off fishing, the ale they had taken along attesting to the probable safety of the fish. Luna was at work, and her mother was busy in the shop. Not wanting to get recruited by her mother for manual labor, Lina decided to visit the main library in Zephilia to search for new leads on magical spells or treasures.
The library had changed considerably while she had been traveling. It had turned from a dinky, small town book collection to a genuine learning center, complete with new wizards to ease use of an integrated library system and to keep track of library holdings. After a few hours of searching, she found, to her delight, that there was some sort of a magical belt in the northern most reaches of the Elmekian Empire. She was a little frustrated, though, because the manuscript was damaged and did not mention HOW the belt was magical. Gourry had been evasive about his family and most reluctant to return home, but she was dying to see where he had come from and to meet some of his family. She thought, *He's met my family. It's only fair that I meet his. How bad can they be, compared to my sister? This belt thing may do the trick to ease my curiosity.*
Thinking about Gourry, she returned to the family store and decided to help her mother, after all. Mrs. Inverse was in the process of doing yearly inventory. The shop had prospered and had expanded in Lina's absence. With good investments and sales techniques, the Inverse parents had paid off all the debts due to the damage caused the city by the two sisters' magical 'growing pains'. Luna had initially begun waitressing to help pay the debts, but, considering her appetite was as bad, if not worse, than Lina's, she found remaining at the restaurant very much to her advantage after the dire monetary need was gone.
Plus she had the hots for the handsome owner.
As Lina entered the family store, she basked in the feel and smell of magic. She surveyed the full shelves lining the walls on all sides and the low counters with their tastefully arranged goods on and in them. Each type of magic gave off unique 'scent'. Some were sweet, others spicy; some gave off a floral aroma, while still others were sharp and tangy. Mrs. Inverse made sure to keep the right amount of each kind of stock to create a blend of scents that were enticing to a magic user, not off-putting.
When her mother, upon hearing the entrance bell, emerged from the door at the back of the store, Lina asked, "Have Gourry and Dad returned from fishing yet?"
"Ha!" Mom exclaimed as she reached up to put away a box of special lucky charms. "You asked about that young man before you did your father. Your feelings about him must be pretty strong, hm?"
Lina blushed and absently picked up and gently shook a box of newt eyes, which had been lying on the counter. She answered, "He does mean a lot to me, Mom, but I don't really know what I want. He says he wants to protect me for the rest of his life, but he's never mentioned he wants to marry me. Part of me wants him to propose, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to be tied down yet. Were you as confused with Dad?"
"Lina, put that box down. Bruised eyes make bad brews. If you need something to do with your hands, you can straighten up that display of enchanted daggers next to you." She brushed a lock of hair out of Lina's eyes and patted her cheek. "Confused? Oh, not really, but then I was bit older than you, Honey, and ready to settle down when your father proposed. I wouldn't worry, Sweetie. You are still so young, and your Gourry is more patient and wise than you realize."
"Ya think, Mom? 'Wise' doesn't seem to pair up with 'jellyfish'."
"Lina, remember there are several kinds and sources of knowledge. Some are in the mind, like yours, and some are in the heart and soul. Be still and listen to the information your own heart is trying to tell you sometime."
A few days later, they left Zephilia after a flurry of warm hugs from Lina's parents and even Luna. Just before they parted, a look passed between Mr. Inverse and Gourry. It ended with the older man looking satisfied and patting Gourry firmly on the back.
"What was that about?" Lina asked her protector.
"Ah, nothing much. I'll tell you some other time."
Several trolls and two bandit gangs later, it slipped both their minds.
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After a few months of travel and a serious near death experience, Lina finally followed her mother's advice, listened to her heart, and gave in to the depth of her feelings for the swordsman. They, Amelia, and Zelgadis had been escorting Sylphiel to a shrine where the demure young woman was to give instruction in healing to new shrine maidens. It was to have been a sort of vacation for our two traditional couples, but, of course, they came under mazoku attack, and she thought Gourry had actually died. Sylphiel cast Resurrection with Amelia's help and saved him. That night, after depositing Sylphiel at the shrine, a disturbed Lina paid a visit to Gourry's room. His soothing words led to soothing touch and then a joyous physical intimacy.
Later, Lina explained to Amelia, "It finally hit me how mortal we are and how little time we could have." She stared in the distance and added, "The thought I could be without him at anytime, our relationship unsettled, threw me into a weird funk. I found myself stupidly clinging to him in his room that night and WANTING him." She gave an uncharacteristic sigh. "His comforting presence felt oh, so good." Amelia raised an eyebrow. "Oh, yeah, something else also felt oh, so good," Lina snickered as she blushed.
"Miss Lina, and what would that be?" Amelia asked with a salacious little giggle.
"Tsk, tsk, Amelia, aren't royal shrine maidens supposed to be pure in thought? Anyway, to get serious again, now I understand my mother's saying he was wiser than I knew. He waited so patiently for me to accept him."
Late in the afternoon after Lina's and Gourry's barrier breaking night, Lina, Gourry, Amelia, and Zelgadis picked up Sylphiel from the shrine. Sylphiel watched Lina and Gourry. They chatted and laughed like always, except they were walking arm in arm. Sylphiel told herself fiercely to be happy that Lina was finally treating Gourry with some affection and with considerably less violence. Her resolve to be cheerful wobbled a bit, however, when it came time to go upstairs at the inn that night. Nothing had been said, but as they trooped up the stairs, Sylphiel had stared at Gourry and Lina together. They had only one room key between them. Sylphiel then looked at Amelia with an unspoken question. Amelia gave a slight, affirmative nod. Sylphiel felt tears pricking her eyes, but gave the concerned Amelia the best smile she could come up with as she made a small, barely noticeable 'ok' sign with her fingers.
When the group reached Seyruun, Gourry and Lina announced they were to be married. As Lina finally discovered, Gourry had talked to Lina's parents long before about his feelings for her, but they had all agreed he was wise to hold off asking her to marry him until she was mentally and emotionally ready. Lina's father basically had advised, "When she's ready for a wedding, do it. Don't worry about our being there. It should be a happy time for her without family tension, especially from her sister."
Of course, Amelia and her father went nuts and insisted the young couple be married in the Grand Temple of Seyruun. Lina and Gourry managed to get them to tone it down to the chapel in the palace. With Amelia's help, Lina found a gorgeous wedding dress. Its form-fitting cut, cream colored embroidery accents on the white, and low neckline made her petite body seem to say, "Yes, I DO have breasts." Lina did not like long, flowing sleeves, because she felt they hampered spell casting. "Only frauds have them to conceal their tricks," she sniffed. Thus the sleeves of her gown were tight fitting and only reached her elbows. Amelia had wanted her to wear a longer train on the gown, but, again, Lina insisted on a more practical, maneuverable, short one. One concession to Amelia's romantic ideals were Lina's bare, soft shoulders, which looked like they were begging for Gourry's touch. Of course, Lina wore gloves, white ones, which came to her elbows.
Gourry emerged from his room in dark blue trousers with braiding swirling in fine loops along outside of his thighs and a very handsome shirt of a very thin, fine, white fabric, which was embroidered in intricate geometric cross-stitch patterns. He held a dark blue jacket with braiding that matched that on the trousers. At the his friends' and bride's exclamations, he explained, looking down and blushing, "It's a wedding shirt from my country. I've carried it with me and have been working on it in secret for long time,"
"Oho," Zel laughed, "You work wonders with short pointy objects as well as with long pointy ones!"
The ceremony was a quick one in the castle's chapel, where Prince Phil's empty coffin had lain after the assassination attempt by Gaav's minions. Lina thanked the gods for the speed, because she didn't know if Gourry's short attention span would have allowed for anything more elaborate. Plus her stomach was starting to rumble by the end of the ceremony, not exactly a delicate bride thing. The Seyruun head priest bound their hands together palm to palm with multicolored ribbons to signify all the emotions and experiences good and bad they could have together. Vows were exchanged, and Amelia, Sylphiel, and Prince Phil smiled through their tears when Lina and Gourry kissed. Zel led a cheer for the newlyweds as they raced laughingly to the banquet hall.
Amelia tearily remarked "It's so unjust neither of their families could be here to witness this happy occasion. If only Ms. Lina and Mr. Gourry had given us more time to plan and contact their families! There wasn't enough time for them to travel here. I guess we'll just have to be their substitutes, won't we, Daddy and Mr. Zelgadis?" Both men thus addressed nodded their agreement smilingly.
Zel added, "But we'd better catch up with them quickly before they leave no food for the rest of the family!"
A huge feast was provided with enough delicious dishes to keep the new couple happy and leave something left over for the guests. And wonders of wonders, Lina and Gourry actually fed each other the traditional first cut slices of wedding cake, instead of shoving the pieces into their own mouths. They even refrained from complaining the other had gotten a larger slice.
Prince Phil had hired a small orchestra, which seemed to have an endless knowledge of all types of dances from just about everywhere. One of the musicians gave a start as Gourry entered the room. A slight squawk from his violin earned him a frown from the leader. While people ate, the orchestra played light, formal compositions and a few songs popular in Seyruun and Zephilia.
Once Lina and Gourry seemed to be sated with food, the musicians broke into the lilting melody of the newlyweds' waltz, and with a fond smile Gourry held out his hand to his bride. After a slight look of panic when she initially couldn't find the loop of her dress' train holder, Lina took a step toward him and nearly tripped anyway on the front hem of her dress. Her husband's strong hands steadied her. "Thank goodness I convinced Amelia I should wear low heels instead of those ankle-breakers she originally thought I should have," Lina congratulated herself.
For once, Lina didn't preen at being the center of everyone's attention, lost as she was in the love of Gourry's eyes as they glided and whirled.
The next dance was a lively, simple couple dance from Zephilia. With a short demonstration from Lina and Gourry, the rest of the guests followed, except for a few courtly stick-in-the-muds, who thought such peasant dances were beneath them. Yes, sadly enough, there were those present who were not as fond of the couple as Amelia and her father would have liked them to be.
"Such a fuss over a merchant's daughter and a mercenary," they grumbled, but didn't want to miss out on the food or political advantage of being there.
One over-dressed popinjay with his nose in the air advanced to the orchestra leader and whispered a request while placing a hefty tip in the musician's cummerbund. The noble, considerably less politically savvy than he thought he was, mumbled to his friends, "This will show everyone how this couple is truly unworthy of this much attention."
A slow, complicated court dance began its introductory notes. Amelia began to fume at the rude behavior of such a guest. Prince Phil shot a furious glance at the man and his friends, who unwisely smirked as they took their places. Gourry, however, held his head high, straightened his shoulders back, took Lina by the hand, and proudly and gracefully stepped into the circle with her. Amelia and her father worriedly took their place beside them. Gourry gave a little smile and nodded slightly to Prince Phil, who raised an eyebrow.
"Just let me lead you, Lina. I'll try to instruct you a little before each new step," Gourry spoke in a low voice to his wife. Amelia also helped, whispering when she was near Lina. Thanks to their help and her swords-woman training, which made footwork easier to learn, Lina managed to make it through the patterns, while Gourry projected very much a command of the dance.
"Mr. Gourry, how did you know that?" Amelia squeaked in surprise. "It's a High Court dance!"
"Uh, well, my mother made sure I knew several countries' court dances as well as our own folk dances."
"And why is that, Jellyfish?" Lina asked with an eyebrow raised in suspicion.
With an uncomfortable look on his face he raised a hand to scratch the back of his head and answered, "Ah, she wanted me prepared when I went to court functions."
"'WHEN'?' Not even 'IF'? Have you been keeping something about your family from me?" Lina was nearly jumping out of her skin.
"No. You just never asked about my family's background."
"Stop beating about Holy Tree Flagoon!" Lina raised a fist to bop her husband one, but was forestalled by Sylphiel's gently, but firmly, laying a hand on the sorceress' raised arm.
"Oh, Gourry d-, Gourry, never told you his father was an Elmekian baron? His family has guarded the northern reaches of the Empire from invasion from Dynast's minions for generations," Sylphiel softly interceded. "And didn't you expect descendants from the Swordsman of Light to have been honored with SOME sort of title of nobility by SOMEBODY? I thought you knew, since you stayed with him after he gave up the Sword of Light," she added innocently.
Lina was about to blow up at the priestess, even if it was her 'happiest day'. A dangerous fire appeared in her eyes and her hands started to arch together, "Sylphiel..."
Gourry grabbed both Lina's hands, kissed her, and swung her away in another rollicking folk dance just in time.
The violinist who had started when he saw Gourry, caught the swordsman's eye as the dance ended near him and exclaimed in delight, "Cousin Gourry, it IS you! We were just told we were to play for a wedding at the palace but not the names of the couple being married!"
He then spoke in an Elmekian dialect. Lina knew some standard Elmekian, but the dialect was too hard for her to understand much. Gourry answered and seemed to ask a question in return. The musician than turned to his leader and whispered something. The leader nodded and mouthed the name of the next dance. A slow minor melody began weaving through the instruments.
Gourry gave a wicked grin at Lina and lifting his hands, started snapping his fingers in time to the music. Still smiling at her, he began to strut, heel, toe, heel, toe, long legs stretching out, in a circle about her. As the music gathered speed, he then went through an intricate series of squatting kicking steps, leaps, spins, and step patterns. Faster and faster the music raced. His hair was a flying, golden cloud swirling about his head and ecstatic face. Higher Gourry leapt, culminating a leap that took watchers' breath away as he bent backwards in mid-air and almost touched his feet to his head, his arms flung joyously upward in abandon, his bright tresses spread out like a sun-burst. As the music ended, he slid on his knees with a shout to where Lina stood amazed. His shirt was open, and his face and chest glistened as he panted, joy radiating out of him.
His bride had watched him in awe and pride as he got more and more into the dance. Her throat had tightened, and she had shivered, almost feeling like crying with the joy of knowing he was hers. His dancing had a magic about it, a dangerous magic, a powerful magic. Literally, she realized with shock as she glanced around the room and saw other women's faces, some drooling. And a few men. *Wha...?* Lina thought, but when she looked at her gorgeous husband again, she found her rational thought process had gone bye-bye. She groaned to herself, "Damn, where's the nearest bedroom when you need it? Why can't we leave NOW?!"
Gourry had eyes only for her and seemed oblivious to everyone elses' admiration. Her desire must have been very noticeable, for, as he got slowly to his feet, Gourry whispered, "In a bit, Lina, in a bit. I gotta get my breath, ya know?"
She muttered in his ear, "Hey, Lover-boy, save some energy for thehoneymoon, will ya?" They smiled knowingly at each other.
A late wedding 'guest' slipped in unnoticed. Although his face was thin, his body seemed rather bulky. As more dances were played, he glided closer to the newlyweds. Gourry's Elmekian cousin spied him, and a look of concern swiftly crossed his face. When Gourry passed by him, he caught the swordsman's eye and, giving a quick glance in the stranger's direction, mouthed something and made a few subtle hand movements. Gourry started and, responding in a like manner, finished with a very slight nod of his head. The stranger at that point had been looking at Lina and didn't see the silent communication between the two Elmekians. After the dance ended, Gourry signaled Zelgadis to come over.
"Hey, Zel, let's show everybody the sword dance from your childhood home. It's so cool! These guys know the music."
Zelgadis, unlike Lina, was NOT happy to be the center of attention and demurred, "Uh, Gourry, I'd rather not."
Gourry whispered something in chimera's ear. Zelgadis' eyes slightly widened and then dangerously narrowed. He nodded his consent.
"Everyone, please clear a circle. This next dance can be kinda dangerous," Gourry cautioned as Zel went for their swords, which along with the guests' swords had been left with Prince Phil's weapons check girls.
The crowd complied. The stranger was in the front line. Again the music started slowly, this time with oboe and drum, and the two swordsmen moved together across the floor in flowing, stylized, postures. They began to strike each other's swords in slow, swirling arcs in time to the music. As music picked up and other instruments joined in, the clash of swords accented the music even more. The dancers leapt up over each others swords, past each other and twirled. As the music reached frantic speed, suddenly Gourry's sword flashed in quick, silver slashes around the stranger. The man's outer clothing dropped away as did the throwing knives, blowgun, poison darts, poison vials, and other assassin tools. A rather scrawny fellow stood clad only in his yellow bikini briefs with a happy face on them.
Prince Phil yelled, "Guards! Take this felon away to face our questioning and justice later! How dare he come to change this day of joy and joining to sorrow and parting!"
As it turned out, the assassin was an Elmekian mercenary known too well by the Gabrievs. At first, everyone wondered who was the target of the assassin, but a contract letter found on the man revealed to everyone's shock, that Gourry, not the more likely Prince Phil, Amelia or Lina was to have been the victim. The contract letter mentioned no names and, when questioned, the would-be killer said the contract and partial payment were delivered by a masked messenger. Lina was more determined than ever to meet Gourry's family and find out who had sent the man and why.
During a break in the playing of music, Gourry's cousin, the musician Anatoly, while indulging in typical Gabriev gorging, discussed with the couple the would-be assassin and a little of what had happened in Gourry's family's fiefdom. It didn't sound good.
"Shortly after you left, Gourry, your mother disappeared as well. Between the cruel, iron rule of your eldest step-brother and the depredations of the Heart-breaker, even the domovoi [Slavic guardian house spirit] was so neglected and disgusted, it left. I did the same, after running into a little bit of trouble because I couldn't keep my mouth shut."
"Why didn't you become a mercenary, too?" Gourry asked. "You've had warrior training."
"You gotta recall I'm a better musician than swordsman. You gave me the small scars that prove it. That's why I've been picking up gigs to keep body and soul together, instead of fighting," Anatoly answered.
"Ah, remember, this is Gourry. There are shallow drawers in his memory's wardrobe," Lina broke in. "But who's the Heart-breaker?"
"One of my elder step-brothers. He's such a handsome jerk, that many girls have been seduced and abandoned by him," Gourry explained.
"Sounds like he needs a fireball or two down his pants," the sorceress commented with an evil gleam in her eye.
"Ummm. Too late for that," Anatoly informed them. "He seduced one fragile maiden too many. His last conquest drowned herself in the river and became a vengeful rusalka. She and the other rusalki drowned him over a year ago."
"Damn," Gourry softly whispered, and a tear slipped down his cheek. "He might have been a scoundrel, but he was my brother, after all."
"And he probably would have killed you if you had returned while he was still alive," Anatoly reminded the new groom and hugged him. "Hey, no tears! Remember you've just married the beautiful and talented Lina Inverse."
"Yes, indeed, Jellyfish!" And the beautiful and talented Lina Inverse gathered the swordsman's hair in her hands to pull his face down for a quick fist to his noggin. (Love and marriage hadn't changed her temper all THAT much.) "Stop feeling sorry! You'll ruin your wedding shirt with your tears! I like it much better that you're alive and he's not than the other way around!" As he blinked his tears away, she planted a mollifying little kiss on his lips and wiped his face with her gloved hands.
After submitting to his wife's ministrations, Gourry admitted he had known his mother would vanish after she had given him the Sword of Light. His father was dead, and the stepsons had never looked kindly on her. "She probably joined Granny," he speculated.
"Don't know. We never heard," Anatoly answered, "but I'd advise not returning home, especially after that assassin today. Somebody there is out to get you, whether you still have the Sword of Light or not. Your exploits with Lina must have gathered you enough fame finally to make you traceable."
Lina, however, was not of the same opinion. She wanted to deal with whomever had sent the man. "I think a little family visit and a few little explosive spells might be in order," she mused in a low voice.
"And in later time have the children of destroyed relatives seek revenge on the children we may hope to have? No, Lina, I left home with the Sword of Light to end family strife and violence. I don'twant to cause more of it."
A fresh supply of food put an end to further conversation as the three became preoccupied until Anatoly had to rejoin the orchestra.
After a several more sedate dances, the couple came to Lina's third favorite part of the wedding, the presents. (First being the luxurious wedding night, second, the wedding feast.) The wedding present from Zel provided many blushes from the newlyweds and roars of laughter from the more bawdy minded. "Since you are such an 'innocent girl' and Gourry seems so, well, so Gourry, this might be useful for further explorations," Zel said red-faced, as he handed a wrapped book to the couple. "You might want to open this after you go to your room."
Lina, being Lina, thought it might be a book of great spells and of course tore the wrapping off then and there. She promptly turned into a beet in a white gown. Gourry's eyes grew large, blinked several times, and he joined Lina in color, although he said as he pulled his re-buttoned collar, "Oh come on, Zel. I'm a mercenary and have lived in barracks off and on for several years."
"Ah, the memories," Prince Phil sighed, "My dear wife and I enjoyed an earlier edition of that."
Amelia gulped and muttered, "Ack, I don't want to think about that. My daddy and mommy...No, no, no."
A dangerous, twinkling light came into Lina's eyes, "Oh, Zel, did you say you were actually just lending it to us?"
While a flaming faced Amelia examined a non-existent spot on her dress, Zel squeaked, "N..no, it's a gift. I've no use for it right now." He clapped a hand over his mouth.
"'No use right now', eh, but later...?" Lina's voice trailed off in speculation.
"Ah, I think I'll get another glass of wine," the chimera excused himself and quickly strode off in search of said wine and a dark spot in which to hide his embarrassment.
"Why don't you two open this present. It's got an interesting rattle," Amelia blushingly interjected and quickly thrust a package into Lina's arms.
Later on that night, though, Zel's gift of the pillow book was instructive, as well as a great source of amusement. "Will you look at page 63! No damn way! Pretzel City!" Lina giggled, snuggling further into Gourry's now warm, bare arms. Her foot rubbed one of his hairy, naked legs. Each spouse held one side of the book.
"With mustard or without?" Gourry queried.
"Oooo, with lots of butter!" Lina replied and licked his chest, before both dissolved into unbridled laughter.
Yes, sex was delightful and exciting, but the warmth and comfort of a lover's bare back, touch of a foot against the other's leg, a hand brushing back the other's hair, were the things that gave each a feeling of security and of a more enduring kind of love, love that had built over the years and found expression in small touches. Lina suddenly felt more sympathy for Eris. She understood Eris' desperation more and the reason for creating Kopii Rezo. Curiously enough, Lina also lost her fear of slugs, but we won't go there.
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Lina knew her spouse would be reluctant to go to Elmekia without some manipulation. Remembering the Elmekian magical belt she had read about in the main library of Zephilia and acting her cutest and sexiest, she used the belt as an excuse to accomplish what she desired. The guy never had a chance.
Amelia and Prince Phil had sent them off on a honeymoon to a small, wooded estate. The servants were unobtrusive but very conscientious of the couple's needs, both for food and privacy. Two days after the wedding, Linda and Gourry finished a large breakfast in a secluded, sunken garden with rustic, twisted vine chairs, benches, and tables. The sun through the tall poplars and oaks dappled the flowers and lawn. Doves cooed, and other birds wove their songs around the coos. The two were in loose silk robes. Gourry leaned back against his bench and, exposing his legs from out his deep blue robe, stretched out cat-like in the sun. He cradled the back of his head with both his hands and with half closed eyes smiled contentedly at Lina. The sun reflecting off his bright mane made Lina think, *Gods, he may be only a baron's younger son, but he's MY dream prince!*
Leaning over her side of the table between them and letting her golden robe fall open enough to show the cleavage caused by her arms folded under her breasts, she began her campaign by asking, "Gourry, I doubt very much you would know, but have you ever heard of an Elmekian magical belt? I read about it in the Zephilian main library, but the manuscript didn't say what its powers were."
"Oh, THAT belt. Uh, Lina, I really don't think you'd want to find it right now." Gourry reddened, but leaned over to play absently with a lock of her hair.
"And why not?" she pouted and sat up straight.
"Promise you won't hit me?"
"Yes, Dear," she answered too sweetly.
"Well, it will make your chest grow bigger..."
"And this is bad?" she shrieked while grabbing the lapel of his robe with one hand and raising her other hand in a fist.
"...as well as your tummy. You know what a chastity belt is supposed to do, don't you?"
"You mean...?"
"Yeah, it's the opposite; it's a fertility belt."
"Oh." Pause. "Hey, some people would give a lot of money for it!"
"Especially as it also works cross species. We could give it to Amelia and Zel or Filia and Xelloss as a wedding present!"
"What! and lose good money? Besides who says either of those two couples would go that far, ESPECIALLY Filia and Xelloss?"
"You just have to read the fanfiction." Then Gourry argued, "Lina, I'm not sure going to my home country is such a good idea. I left because the Sword of Light would have been ill-used by my elder brothers. I don't know if I can safely face the remaining one again. But, it's true, I would like to see my momma and remaining granny."
Reaching up and cupping a her hand on the side of his cheek, his wife felt a tear slide down his face.
"We'll try to avoid the barony, but somehow get word to your other relatives we're passing through," she comforted him, although she still had the urge to meet and Dragon Slave her dear brother-in-law's ass, for she suspected he had something to do with the assassin.
Gourry kissed the finger tips of her hand that held his cheek and then elsewhere as she gave a little laugh of pleasure...
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If you have ever seen the gorgeous macho-ness of Ukrainian/Georgian/Russian/ male folk dancers, maybe you'll be able to visualize Gourry's solo dance better.
There are a heck of a lot of cultures, European, Middle Eastern and Asian that have sword dances. Pick which ever culture you want.