Chapter seven

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Guys (And girls), you are awesome! 21 reviews for a six chapter (Now seven) story! I know other's fics have done better, but this makes me really, really happy!

Now then, to Knight of L-sama, thank you so much for Reviewing! And I expect more emails! As for Lina crying a lot, I figure you deserve a quick explination. This goes for EVERYONE else as well. You see, Lina's had to deal with the guilt and pain of this for Seven years. That's a long time, even for Lina. Also, she is much older now, and I figured she would have to mature eventually.

Next, to Jaretha, welcome back! Thanks so much for your wonderful review. I expect more L/Z stuff soon, kay?

Okay! On to the story!

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A gentle wind sent her hair swaying over her shoulder, looking much like a wild fire. She held a small, yellow flower in her hand, pressing it against her chest as she looked over the scene before her.

Lina seriously didn't want to be there. She didn't want to see the graves again. But she knew had to. The dream she had had the night before had brought back so much pain. She needed answers. Her hand trembled. Sighing, she turned on her heel and headed back to the palace. Answers could wait. She needed coffee.

It was dark. And cold. She shivered, her small, frail body trembling as the old woman before her ran even harder. The woman squeezed the tiny redhead's hand, pulling her along as they past the trees of the sacred forest in a blur. The young girl was scared. She had never seen the woman to tense and fearful.

The girl's legs were tiring, and her body couldn't handle the abuse. The girl collapsed into a fit of coughing, struggling for air as she continued to run despite the pain in her chest. Finally, she spoke, her horse voice breaking the silence.

"Gramma, what's going on?"

The woman looked down at the child. The girl's innocent, crimson eyes twinkled up at her. But behind the curious look in the girl's eye, there was pain.

"Hush, Lina. We're playing a game," the woman answered quickly, she herself panting heavily. But she didn't dare stop for breath; it might catch them.

"Is that man behind us playing too? Are we playing hind-and-find?" The girl, Lina, began to cough again, the chilly weather affecting her. The woman nearly froze as she realized the girl had known about it from the start. The child, however, fell pray to the pain and collapsed, loosing her grandmother's hand. The old woman quickly stopped and scooped up the child in her arms. Not quick enough, however.

It appeared before them, crackling madly. The sound sent shivers down the girl's spine, causing her to cling to her grandmother. And then, in a split second, she was on the ground, her grandmother's fallen body sprawled out before her. Quickly, she shook the woman, but no response came. Tears began to spill from the girl's eyes as she tried again and again.

The creature began to laugh at her feeble attempts. She turned to glare at it, as she had done to the several people in the past. But what-ever-it-was wasn't there anymore. The laughing began to increase, coming from all around her. She began to panic, and curled up into a tight ball.

Trembling, she began to recite the words she knew so well. The words her grandmother had taught her to say when she was in trouble. As she reached the last line, a flash of light rang through the area, blinding the girl.

Lina shot up, and regretted it immensely as hot coffee was spilled onto her lap. It was the dream again. She was loosing it. That was the only way to explain it. The dream was driving her insane. Haunting her night after night. And coffee didn't help. Lina sighed and stood. She needed to see Amelia. That was the only way to find out what was happening.

The gravesite was cold after dark, a feeling Lina didn't like. She shivered slightly. Slowly, she knelt down by Amelia's grave and read it aloud.

"Amelia Greywords-Seilloon…Princess and Justice Up-holder." It was so simple, but it caused tears to form into Lina's eyes. She shivered, but this time for a different reason.

"Amelia… what happened?" She muttered, looking at the grave. Sure, she was talking to a gravestone. An inanimate object, but she really didn't care. "I need to know. Please… Amelia…"

"Miss Lina," Lina turned as the voice called to her gently. The tall, raven haired girl looked at her with concern. "What are you doing here?"

Lina sighed, "Just…talking, I guess. Think I'm a nutcase, Sylphiel?"

Sylphiel smiled and shook her head. "No, I did the same a while after the… incident,"

Sylphiel moved and sat next to Lina, in front of Gourry's stone. Lina smiled sadly and turned her attention back to Amelia. "Sylphiel… do you think…"

"What?"

"Do you think… everything happens for a reason?"

Sylphiel looked at her, a bit surprised. Gently, she sighed. "I don't know…I used to…but that was after it happened."

Lina nodded. She suddenly felt tired. Very tired. Before she realized it, she was falling, again. Sylphiel called out to her, but she made no effort to respond. Someone was answering her questions.

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Okay, that was good! We're moving along very well! Please Review.

Samanda Hime-sama Thank you so very much, Sammy! I hope this'll do for he time being!

Unknown person Thanks for the review… but who are you?

Knight of L-sama I think I pretty much summed it up earlier.

Jaretha As I said before, welcome back! And as for the moving slow thing, actually, this story is moving faster than I thought it would!