AN: Well, here's chapter 8! Hopefully chapter 9 won't take quite so long, but life is busy, as I'm sure you all know it can be!
DSD: thanks so much for getting this back to me so quickly and for your suggestions! I'm glad I made you giggle! Zellas is still going to need some work, but hopefully her character isn't too flat. As for the flashback, I'm pleased that it helped settle things, and as for Lina's thought about her getting pregnant after telling Gourry she can take care of herself, well, that's what I would have thought! And I figured it suited the moment. Hope you continue to enjoy the fic… I'm still looking forward to receiving your chapter 11 for "Darkness Rising", by the way.
Kaeru Shisho: Thanks for beta-ing another chapter! Glad you liked it. I hoped I filled in the gaps a bit better and yes, I plan on delving into the relationship with L-sama a bit more, but at a later date. As for Gourry, I'm happy that I've managed to 'give him some depth' as you said. I think he is simple man, kinda dumb sometimes, but not downright stupid. Zellas' plot, well, that I think is going to be delved into a bit in the next chapter, though who's to say Lina will be able to do anything about the Mazoku Lord? Anywho, thanks for your suggestions and corrections! Hope you continue to find this entertaining.
Soobin: Thanks for the wonderful compliments! And I hope that when Xelloss and Gourry do have their confrontation(s) it ought to be most interesting. I agree that Gourry can have an 'iron will' and I'm hoping to bring that into effect soon. Many thanks again for following the story!
Well, on we go to the next chapter:
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It was a tense day a few weeks later. Though Amelia's father, Prince Phillionel, was out of town on diplomatic business on his daughter's behalf, nearly everyone else of close significance to the youthful Queen was gathered in a spare room adjacent to another deep within the palace of Seyruun. All but one of the room's occupants was filled with mixed emotions as they patiently watched the door leading into the other chamber, before which Akkari paced nervously. The door opened and the midwife's aide's head poked through, ordering more hot water and towels. Immediately the young, teal-tressed King of the Combined Kingdoms raced for the open door to the hall, dashing down the corridor, and disappearing down the stairs at the end.
"Why does she need so much water and that many towels?" Gourry wondered aloud, glancing to his friends for an answer. His sky-hued eyes were large with curiosity and confusion, and his head was turning from side to side, watching each time as Amelia's husband sped through the makeshift waiting room.
"To keep him busy," Sylphiel replied after a moment. Taking her beloved's hand in hers, she smiled winningly up at him. No one missed how the two shifted closer together on the edge of the bed. "Otherwise he'd become a nervous wreck."
Xelloss merely smiled. He'd seen the ruse work on so many expecting fathers, and it still entertained him to no end that they never seemed to catch on until afterwards that, indeed, only a small portion of the water and towels they fetched was actually called for with a genuine purpose. It was left to the mother's discretion whether the father was to be allowed into the room at the time of the birthing or not, but most women sent their men out so that the males – amusingly enough - wouldn't overreact when the time came. He'd seen a few instances in his missions where a father was allowed into the room and more than once, the men had passed out or gotten physically sick at the disturbing sight as well as the amount of blood. He on the other hand, was intrigued and enjoyed the thick emotions that filled the chambers, while at the same time, gaining a new respect for the amount of pain that a human woman could endure. It was a learning experience, true, but somehow he doubted that it was exactly the same when it was one's own child coming into the world. He both anticipated and feared the day that Lina went into labour.
He moved away from the wall where he'd been leaning and wandered over to where the next mother-to-be sat. She was perched on the wide sill within the open window, gazing out with one arm resting lazily over a drawn up knee, the other leg swaying slowly within the room. Her other arm was slung over the first at the wrists, now devoid of gloves and talismans. She dressed differently these days, but it was becoming harder and harder to disguise the swelling of her stomach. Today she was dressed in a baggy sweatshirt and loose leggings, both of black material, with fluffy grey slippers she'd begun to wear about the castle. The look, though very casual and opposite of what she wore while travelling, was not unattractive, and he couldn't help but smile as he noticed the occasional fold in the sweater near her waist move with the motion of her stomach as she breathed. Hardly noticeable, but he knew what to look for.
"Ne, Lina," he called softly as he neared, coming to stop next to her. Leaning casually against the opposite side of the frame, he opened his eyes to glance at her, and then turned to gaze outside. It was raining today, the late afternoon sky was dreary and the bright colours of the courtyard had become muted by the rain pelting against it. No moisture fell in through the south-facing window, as it was falling from the other direction, leaving the perch untouched while allowing the soft breeze to flit through on occasion. The breath of air was like a flirtatious caress, coyly teasing with the promise of refreshing cool in the heavy, humid air. "How much longer do you think?"
The sorceress shrugged, turning to look at him. "Can't say, but she's been in labour since just after midnight... Soon I would think, hopefully," she smiled with small amusement. "Otherwise poor Akkari is going to be as exhausted as she will be with all the running he's doing."
"But he won't notice until later," Xelloss commented, returning her smile. He loved it when she smiled, especially a full, real smile, or the dangerous grins that she adopted during a battle or with a threat. She was beautiful, a true treasure, if only he could perceive it. "Thankfully I know better than to believe such a ploy."
A small grin crept over Lina's lips as she raised an eyebrow. "Does that mean that you're would just stand there and pace?"
"I would rather be in the room there with the mother. Childbirth is a most interesting procedure to observe," he told her lightly. He heard Zelgadis snort from nearby, his disagreement clear. "Well I find it most intriguing at least."
"You're in it just for the meal," the sorceress laughed. "Just once, I would love to see a man go through it; have him carry the kid for the nine months and then try to squeeze it out, not to mention the labour, the various aches and pains, the sleepless nights before and afterwards... Hell, some women carry differently than most and they can't even walk the further along they get."
Sylphiel nodded to Zelgadis' and Gourry's astonished looks. "It's true. I've delivered before, a few times, and in this one instance, the woman's baby was born feet first which I've heard hurts even more."
"Then there's the ripping of more than tender flesh," Lina continued, enjoying the sickening look coming from her chimera friend. Zellas, however, chuckled and nodded in agreement, winking at her from where she sat in a chair near the bed. Her personal experience was nothing like what the redhead was describing, but she knew how human's bore their offspring and knew that what Lina was describing was factual for many human females. Akkari had come and gone again, having depositing his load of towels near the door behind which was the room where Amelia lay. "There's the agony of the contractions when a woman goes into labour. I remember when a cousin of mine had a kid; she was in labour for a little more than a day... We all heard her in the delivery room. It was before they'd implemented silence spells around the rooms to prevent people from rushing in," the redhead explained offhandedly.
Gourry shuddered and tried to quickly change the subject. He never wanted a baby if that's what it meant! But on the other hand, it couldn't be all that bad for the woman, what with there being so many babies born. His family for example; it was huge, and still growing. He was suddenly very glad he was not of the opposite gender.
"So what do you guys think she'll have? A boy or a girl?"
"From the way she was carrying, she carried high but she was very large, I would say a girl, but I wouldn't be surprised if she has twins," Sylphiel was the first to answer, her expression thoughtful.
"You're right. I noticed that too, but I wasn't sure," Zellas agreed with a gesture of her goblet towards the shrine maiden. But a doubtful expression passed over her face as she continued in her cheery tone, "A human, one of many I've had studied, carried much the same way the princess did and she ended up having a boy."
"That's always a possibility, it's never a true certainty."
"Hey Zellas," Gourry called, "if you had a kid, what would you want?"
Zellas appeared surprised at the inquiry, her eyes flicking to Xelloss before returning back to the blonde swordsman. "Should I ever decide to relinquish the power needed and relieve Xelloss of his current position – which I won't be doing any time soon, if at all -- I would think that I would create another like him, one more to call a son. What about you? Which do you desire?" she asked smoothly, her amber eyes holding his.
"It wouldn't matter," Gourry shrugged, oblivious to Sylphiel blushing next to him. He hadn't missed the Beastmaster's comment, or, rather, the double meaning behind it, but it didn't bother him. He was planning on talking to Lina soon anyways. "My family's big and made up of mostly girls, so I guess I would want a boy to add to the guy's side."
Everyone chuckled at the child-like mannerism of decision-making and it was Sylphiel's uncalled turn to add her piece. "A little girl and a little boy, one of each," she told them. "But not at the same time, I don't think that I could handle twins," she laughed, squeezing her husbands strong arm lightly as she turned her loving gaze up to meet his light blue eyes.
"I'm not sure if I would want children," Zelgadis spoke up from his chair near the window Lina was perched in. "I'm not very good with them, nor would I have the patience. It took me a long time just to get used to you guys!"
Lina giggled and heard the others laugh as well. They all knew that it was true but they also knew that he was teasing them at the same time. "Don't be so down moody, Zel," she told him, turning slightly in her seat to better look at him. "You'd be surprised. My dad said the same thing, but he did alright with Luna and I, while he was alive. He said that he used to be... well a lot like you are Zel, but once he'd had kids… Um, well, I guess he hadn't changed much, just his temper became better controlled and he learned to bottle-feed."
Xelloss chuckled, as did Zellas. He remembered that mission just over twenty years previous. He was to watch the Inverse family. The newly wed couple were rumoured to be bearing a child of immense power and with the male being one of quick temper and less patience, to keep an unseen eye and ensure that the child, later known as Luna, was properly cared for. No one was to know until a few years later when a second daughter was born to the Inverses that the violet-haired girl, who'd inherited her mother's threatening tones even at such a young age, would be destined to align with the Dragons.
"Not saying I like my parents any, but that was because of actions other than their raising a baby or two."
"Hypothetically then," Xelloss chuckled again, returning the conversation back to subject while he watched the chimera with amusement. "Should you want a child, which would you fancy?"
"I don't know," Zelgadis sighed in exasperation. "A son I guess, to teach him everything I know, and then some. But what about you Xelloss?"
"It is said that Mazoku cannot have children, not in the way humans have them, nor with a human for that matter," the priest commented. He knew that Zelgadis was aware of Lina's child, but he wasn't sure about Gourry and Sylphiel; and the shrine maiden had proven herself to be of quick wit when time called for it. It would be best to play it safe.
"Hypothetically then," the chimera mimicked, a small smirk quirking at his stone lips.
"Hypothetically? A daughter."
"Why, Xelloss-san?" Sylphiel called, curious. She knew of Xelloss' heritage and that neither he nor Zellas were the humans they appeared to be, but she was curious as to why he would favour a female over a male which he could better shape in his image, so to speak.
"Why not?" the priest countered easily, but his comment was no longer directed at the shrine maiden, but the sorceress so close to him. No one noticed as his one hand slid against the outside of her calf, his caresses hidden by her leg which was propped between his gliding hand and the sorceress' companions within the room. "A girl can be just as strong and athletic as any male, if not more so, but a female has a larger capacity to... refine her actions, better than a male. And a daughter... is generally more outgoing with her parents, especially with her emotions."
"You sound like a human," Gourry commented offhandedly. Smiling broadly, he nodded his approval, uncaring that the priest didn't see. "But then Zel did say hypothic... hippothetical after all."
"Hypothetical," Lina corrected absently, smiling at Xelloss. She'd received the answer to her own unasked question, and she found that she liked the reasoning behind his desire. She heard someone quote the question to her and she turned her attention towards her companions though she slid her left arm down her leg inconspicuously, falling over Xelloss' where it had come to a rest on the outside of her right calf.
"I honestly wouldn't care, as long as it was healthy. If I could have one at all... I would be thrilled due to the fact that I was never supposed to."
"Why not?"
"Because, Gourry, like I told you before," she rolled her eyes slightly at her self-proclaimed guardian, distantly noting Akkari enter once more, beginning to pace near the door with the basin of steaming water in his hands, "when I was taken over by L-sama, my body was literally ripped up inside. In that instant, my body became Hers, nothing could happen that was not Her will, it said so in my contract years before I met you all, but the wounds that I got from that were nothing short of the seal on the deal. So if I ever have a kid, and live through it, nothing would make me happier, so it truly wouldn't matter."
No sooner had she finished than a baby's shrill cry sounded through the door. Everyone turned towards the door as Akkari swung it open and rushed inside, water settled on the table before the door, immediately forgotten. By the time the rest entered, he was sitting on the bed next to a very strained and exhausted Amelia, the newest addition to the royal family lying wrapped in a towel in the princess' arms, a faint whimper falling from quivering lips. The midwife and her aide had fallen back to the other side of the room to give the royal family and their friends a few minutes of relative privacy.
"Congrats," Lina bade with a fond smile from the end of the bed. The others quickly echoed her as they gathered around the family. "What's the name?"
Amelia smiled brightly despite her tired state. Gripping her husband's free hand, she settled back into his other arm where he'd curled it about her, and rested her head on his shoulder. "Katarri Mae Seyruun Eshynal, Princess of the Combined Kingdoms."
"A girl," Sylphiel smiled warmly, "just what you asked for. Congratulations."
"Thank you everyone," the princess beamed happily. She couldn't ask for more-- a husband that loved her, a new little girl to cherish and spoil, and nearly all of her friends, old and new, around her. Filia wasn't able to come, much to Amelia's disappointment. But, even Xelloss was there, an old companion as well as a new friend she'd found in the time since he and Lina had joined them at the castle nearly seven months ago.
"Ahem," the midwife cleared her throat politely, her face apologetic as she moved in and took the tiny baby from the woman's arms. "Forgive me, but Her Highness needs her rest now."
With final words of farewell, the group cleared out until only Lina and Xelloss were left at Amelia's side, Akkari still holding his wife comfortingly. "I'm glad you got your wish, Amelia, Akkari," the sorceress congratulated quietly, acutely aware of the hand that settled low on her back.
"You'll be in the same position soon," Amelia returned with a smile. "Then it will be our turn to pass on good wishes to you."
Xelloss smiled as the young woman at his side flushed slightly. "How long have you known?"
"Since before you came, we suspected, but it took us up till a few weeks ago to know for sure," Akkari answered honestly. "You're very good, Lina-san. You hid yourself incredibly well, but even so, we knew."
"Do the others know?"
Amelia gave a small grin and a nod. "Sylphiel-san figured it out, having helped and acted as midwife before," she explained quickly. "Zellas-san knew because... well, she seems to know everything that involves you, Xelloss-san, and she told Zelgadis-san. I think the only one that doesn't know is Gourry-san, although, who can tell?"
Lina nodded with an understanding smile. She suddenly turned when she felt another hand fall onto her shoulder, finding the midwife there. "I must talk to you," her eyes flicked to Xelloss for an instant, "before you leave."
The sorceress nodded once before she bade her goodnights to the royal couple, early evening though it was, then turned and followed the stout woman into the now empty waiting room, Xelloss right behind her. He closed the door to the room after them, and then joined Lina where she sat on the edge of the bed, the midwife moving a chair over from the table to take a seat before them.
"Lina, you have been doing your checks right?"
"Yes," she nodded, a hand flying unconsciously to her stomach. "So far, everything is fine. No irregularities."
"Good. You," the woman turned her green eyes upon Xelloss, "I may assume are the father?" The priest nodded and she smiled. "Wonderful! I am pleased to tell you that considering the circumstances, you look to be a father within the next couple of weeks or so."
"I know," he said proudly, although he was curious as to why the woman would chose to tell him a fact that was already known.
"I realise, that there for a while it was pretty touch and go... but as it stands, it looks like Lina will probably pull out of the pregnancy with the baby, and only a few side effects."
"Side effects?"
"She… hasn't told you what she's been doing?" the midwife asked slowly, curiously glancing between the pair.
Xelloss shook his head, turning his attention to the sorceress next to him, who smiled sheepishly back at him.
"I've been casting a spell, like a perception spell. It allows me to hear and better feel the baby, its heart rate, and its astral signature. It was weakening here a little while ago, but now it's getting stronger, better," Lina said.
"Side effects?" he repeated, watching her carefully. He knew that his worry would be visible in his eyes, but he didn't care; he wanted to know just what the midwife had meant. She had said that Lina would probably, not definitely, pull out of the situation with the baby...
"Our baby was weakening because of the intense magic that my body supports," Lina explained quietly. "I had to have an intricate spell of protection cast around my womb but it will make the labour worse, more intense, and actually having the child harder, a little more dangerous. Physically, I should heal just fine, although it might take a little longer than normal…even with healers. But…my magic… Since my magic powers the protection spell and our baby will draw some into itself as it grows as well, I'll be seriously drained for who knows how long afterward! So… umm… Those side effects."
"And why didn't you tell me?" Xelloss demanded, a frown deepening across his lips.
"I didn't need anyone to worry," she answered softly, bowing her head contritely beneath his intense gaze. She couldn't blame him for being mad, and couldn't bring herself to angry at him for it, though she knew that it was the reaction he would expect… "I knew how much you wanted this baby, even if you never told me directly. Zellas told me that you were going to find a way to help me, but what you had in mind... I couldn't allow that."
"She told you?"
"I'm leaving now," the midwife said quietly as she rose from her chair. "Lina, you are due back to see me in a week."
Lina nodded faintly and the woman went back into the other room to check on the new mother. "Yes. She told me, not much though. But she did say that you were planning on going to call upon L-sama... I couldn't let you do that. She hurt me, and I didn't want Her to hurt you too... not so close to the end."
"She may not have, you know," he whispered, his tone softening. He felt bad for snapping at his lover, and brought a hand up to her face, turning it up to face him as his other hand found her stomach. "You could have told me too... you could have told someone."
"I know," she breathed, her eyes sad as they searched his. She was really beginning to hate the mood swings that plagued her, more than she hated the fact that her magic was slowly waning with each passing day. "I'm sorry."
Xelloss brushed a thumb wordlessly over her smooth cheek, a form of comfort he had adopted for her ever since the first night they'd shared their passion. A faint smile flickered over her lips an instant before he captured them with his own. His tongue delved past her parted lips and into her waiting mouth to duel with hers, his fingers hooking behind her neck to keep her close as his free hand swept around to her back to support her as they fell back slowly. Her arms curled smoothly around him, one around his neck, the other around to his back, her fingers dancing their tickling patterns over his spine as he leaned over her.
"Xelloss," she breathed into his mouth, and they parted, his hands never leaving her though he was careful not to settle any weight over her. "There's something else."
"What is it?" he asked softly. His tone was no longer demanding, but was patient as he thumbed her cheek once more. "What's still bothering you, my pet?"
"Well," she began slowly, a hand gliding up his neck and through his silken hair. She loved his hair, so soft and smooth. I bet he'd look great with long hair, she thought absently before getting back to the subject at hand. "It's about the baby... I know that you wanted a daughter, but would you be terribly upset if it was a boy?"
The insecurity in those ruby eyes of hers made the priest laugh and shake his head. "No. Is it a son?"
"One is for sure," she answered quietly.
"One? We're having twins?" he asked in surprise.
"Maybe, but... I can't tell. The astral signature is strong enough to be two but there's no break in it, so it is probably only one... but I'm pretty sure that the baby is a boy, and if there's two, I'm not sure what the other will be..."
"It doesn't matter to me," Xelloss whispered, leaning down to kiss her forehead tenderly. "As long as it, or they are healthy and you're safe."
Lina's heart swelled when he smiled. She knew he'd wanted a girl, but she had to know what he thought of a son instead... If she had nothing else, just he would be enough to keep her going. She wasn't sure when he'd come to mean everything to her, but it didn't matter. She loved him and that's all she needed to know, even if she wasn't going to tell him for fear of hearing the worst: Mazoku can't love. She wasn't sure she believed the old rule that the demons had been labelled with, after all, if Dragons could hate why couldn't Mazoku love? And so far, none of Xelloss' actions concerning her pregnancy could be counted against him; he was more concerned about her than she was herself, acting more paternal than any human father she'd seen. If she had this baby, one or two, it was twice the miracle for the both of them. She was never supposed to be able to bear children, and he was never supposed to help conceive, much less with a human, especially a sorceress for that matter. Spell casters, particularly of great ability, were often left barren because of their power, and Lina was no exception, especially considering she had the added gift of L-sama's magic. Amelia had been lucky; it seemed that she was spared the curse of the magically gifted.
"Have you talked to Zellas lately for new orders?" she asked lightly. She was comfortable there, with her arms around him, his arm around her and a hand against her cheek.
"No. If she has orders, she'll call for me. Right now, I need to be here, with you." He couldn't help the rush of emotion as she smiled happily and leaned up to kiss him lightly. Yes, he thought distantly, finally he meant it, not like with the others; they hadn't elicited the same flutter within his chest the way the petite woman so near him did. None of the others had held his interest for so long, nor had they introduced him to emotions again the way she had. Even the first, though the emotion was similar, it was not as strong as with Lina.
"My Lina-chan," he murmured so softly, not even the young woman's sharp hearing caught his faint words of possession.
He wasn't going to let his treasure go, no, not a second time. He had never made the same mistake twice, and keeping her in his hold was far from an error in his eyes. Perhaps, just perhaps, he'd found the one he'd been told of so long ago, just a whisper in a dream...
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AN: hey, don't be shy to review, k?