The next day started all too familiarly for Lina, some poor servant risking a fireball or burst rondo, or other such reward for awakening her way too early so she could get ready for an early departure. Fortunately she managed to resist the urge, this time, and instead rolled over into her pillow and moaned "Oh, war is hell..." But there was no getting around it, and eventually she crawled out of the bed, bidding a fond farewell to her warm covers with a sigh. She got up, shivered a bit till she had a chance to wash with the steaming water brought for her. She found her clothes had been washed and were clean and ready. She wondered for a second how they were dried so fast, then shrugged and dressed. A quick hair brushing, and a few magical accessories later and she was out the door looking for the breakfast table.
She could see on the faces of some of the servants that they had been up earlier than her by hours, that is, those that had been lucky enough to get to bed at all. She shook her head, obviously traveling around with Naga was never going to be the same as the good old days. She shook her head some more as she followed the servant into the dining room. Naga, a missing crowned Princess, and a Queen. But even more amazing, a wife, a mother, and starting to act mature, with her own Naga twist to it all of course. She even chuckled as she sat down. "You're happy this morning." stated Zel, who was currently the only other person at the table, sipping on a cup of tea. Lina smiled at him and said "Well, I was just thinking about how Naga has changed and stayed the same at the same time, if you know what I mean." "Well, not fully, I don't know her like you do, but I get the principal." he replied with a small smile of his own. Lina thought he looked sad, sadder than she had ever seen, but all he would say was that he had been up all night to help with the preparations. Lina felt saddend by her friends discomfort. This had gone on long enough, there had to be a cure, and she would help find it! After the silly war was over of course. Oh, and Gourry...
At this point Lina was distracted by the arrival of the food cart, which was promptly parked next to her. Her eyes lit up as she surveyed the multitude of dishes, hot and cold, all apparently waiting just for her to devour! In a flash she dug into the repast and soon happy Lina noises were coming from the end of the table where she sat. Zel sat there, sipping his tea. He commented "I told them to make lots, I figured you still needed to catch up from the flying." "Than-koo" came the sticky reply from Lina as she discovered that a little known dainty, toast, while not better than the rice she liked so much, did taste better when it came to having raspberry jam on it. Soon she was down to the last piece and let out an ecstatic little "Yummy!" as she speared the last piece. Only, her fork hit nothing but bare plate.
Her eyes snapped fully open and all her attention focused on the now empty plate. It was the sound of delicate chewing that first made her realise that, yes, Naga was now sitting beside her nibbling on... "MY TOAST! MINE!" she yelled swiping for it only to have Naga shift at the last second so that she missed, again and again, meanwhile sitting there like, well, a lady, sipping tea and finishing the toast oh so daintily. When she was done she wiped her mouth with a napkin as Lina growled in defeat, then she said "Well, I never knew we were adopting a boor! I can see some sisterly intervention is needed if our middle sister is to make something of herself! Manners, manners!" "WHAT?" shrieked Lina "Manners? You? I saw the way you'd gobble everything down when we were traveling together!" "Tut, tut, tut." scolded Naga in return. "When traveling with a glutton like Lina Inverse one sometimes has to resort to less than ideal modes of behaviour in order to get some sustinance into one's self before it is consumed for you!" "Oh, you have see Lina eat..." Zel added dryly.
Lina's eyes started to glow a dangerous shade of yellow as she tried to find the right spell to respond, but was fortunately interupted by the arrival of the second food cart. The poor servant was obviously making for Lina when Naga harumphed and pointed to a spot at the table which placed herself between the cart and Lina. The cart swerved in response to the command. Lina harumphed louder, and pointed to a spot that put her between the food and Naga. The cart swerved back. More haruphs followed, each louder than the last and the cart swerved so violently back and forth that it threatened to spill it's contents. Finally, the poor servant could take it no more, and with a scream he pushed the cart between the two women and fled the hall. Lina and Naga watched him go. "Exitable fellow..." was Naga's comment.
Suddenly she reached out and slapped Lina's hands away as Lina sought to use Naga's apparent inattention to her own advantage. Lina growled back and reached for a poached egg. Suddenly her fork was intercepted by one of Naga's and a sort of sword, er, fork fight was on. The two opponents parried back and forth, strike, block, counter strike, counter block, stroke after stroke, blade, er, tines clashing with tines again and again as the two opponents fought to gain an advantage, perhaps even inflict a fatal wound on their bitter enemy, all the while keeping the poor poached egg in the air, amazingly enough, without breaking the yolk. Zel stared in amazement. Lina's skill he knew, but Naga's skill was at least equal to anything Gourry had shown... at least with a fork.
Amilia entered and sat down beside Zel, an equally perplexed look on her face. "I can't believe Lina and my sister would be so undignified as to fight over food." she said. She stood up and shouted at them "You two! Have you no feelings for the poor cooks who stayed up all night to make this breakfast for us? What about their hard work and skill? Their dedication?" "Their lack of sleep..." interjected Zel. Amilia carried on without missing a beat "This is inhuman! This is unjust! This is..." "My octopus!" shouted Lina triumphantly, grabbing a big plateful of the sea food as she conceeded the egg to Naga, who, despite being distracted by her little sister's speech popped it into her mouth and inhaled, more than swallowed it. Daintily, of course. Amilia was stunned to silence for a second then gave a squeal and practically floated over the table, shouting in a voice even louder than her Justice speech, if that were possible, "NO! All octopus is MINE It's my favourite! They gave you my breakfast by mistake! All kitchen staff to be beheaded at once! GIMME!" With that a three way tussle ensued as the three women fought over the mound of food. Zel sighed and continued to sip his tea.
The squabbling continued for a minute with most of the meat disappearing into the three women when Lina said "Stop it Amilia! You shouldn't eat octopus anyway, it makes you talk funny!" Amilia shot back "That was only that one village, and I never got to eat any of the octopus anyway! Unlike you, or Gourry!" Lina shot a dangerous glance at Amilia who backed off for half a second, allowing Lina to spear one of the last of the morsels with her fork and pop them into her mouth. "Victory!" she yelled triumphantly as Amilia wailed "Lina!" Suddenly Lina turned her head and said "Eh?" Amilia likewise turned her head and said "Gracia?" For Naga had suddenly stopped in mid fight, and was still sitting there, fork poised in mid air, a strange look on her face. "It was you..." she finally said. "Eh? Me what?" replied Lina. "It was YOU!" repeated Naga, louder. "YOU! I know that village! I was hired there several years ago to help the octopi defeat a certain powerful sorceress! But just as I arrived, after a most delicious meal, a dragon cast a spell that knocked me into the water from behind, then it was promptly destroyed by a Dragon Slave! The sorceress was gone when I got out of the water, I always wondered who it was! Now I know! YOU were the sorceress I was hired to fight!" "Er," said Lina, "Yes, I did destroy a dragon there, er, I don't remember seeing you there though..." Naga started to laugh. That laugh...
Poor Zel was just taking a sip of his tea when the laughing started. His reflexes cut in faster than he could stop them and he ended up slopping the liquid over himself and everything else. Amilia was in no better shape, she had been putting a last bit of octopus in her mouth and now found herself unable to stop chewing the fork. She tried to speak but found she couldn't. She had visions of going through life with her front teeth ground down and found that a really depressing though. Lina immediately clamped her hands over her ears and told Naga to stop it. Then she told her friend to quit it. Then, in desperation, she even said "Please!" Finally she howled "I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS..." and with a lightening like move grabbed something in her pack and "WHACK!", she smacked the Queen across the cheek while shouting "SHUT! UP! NAGA!" Naga's head snapped violently to the side and, miraculously, the sound stopped. Amilia immediatly threw the fork to the ground and checked her dentition, finding to her relief that her teeth were still fine. Zel sighed and began mopping up, and Lina, well, she hugged the thing she had smacked Naga with and, as she tucked it back away, she said to it "Oh thank you, beloved Bunny slipper! We'd have been lost without you..."
Naga swung her face back to look at Lina, a strange light in her eyes. Finally she spoke. "Somewhere, Lina Inverse, someday, VENGANCE SHALL BE MINE!" "Oh knock it off with that right now Naga!" Lina replied. "You started it with that laugh of yours, not me." "Hmph" hmphed Naga in an insulted sort of condecending tone of voice. "Laughter is the result of worldly superiority as you well know, you are just continuing to wallow in your obvious jealousy!" "Me? Jealous of you?" snarled Lina in return. "Are you trying to make ME laugh now?" Amilia interupted, trying to avoid a fight, "Um Gracia, how do they take it in Westhold when you laugh?" she then hunkered down next to Zelgadis, hoping against hope she hadn't put her foot in it.
Her sister suddenly went all starry eyed and hugged her clasped hands to her cheek. "Oh! They love it when I laugh! Especially the King, he can't get enough! Sigh! Men, they might claim to love your body, they may claim to love your mind, but when you find a man who loves your laughter, that's the one to grab girls! He loves my laugh!" "May the gods help Westhold..." muttered Lina, secretly wondering how Gourry felt about her laughter. Amilia was more direct, she turned to the Chimera beside her with a peculiar look on her face and asked "Zel...?" Zel turned and said "What?" then it clicked and he hastily covered up by adding "After all this time you still have to ask?" Amilia smiled and threw her arms around Zel, spilling what was left of his tea for him. "Ah, they say too much is bad for you anyway..." muttered Zel, clearly not convinced. "Ahhh, how cute." murmered Naga.
She then turned to Lina and said "I'm still going to get you..." Lina sighed. "Oh well, it figures. I should have kept that bag of gold we dropped off at the cliffs, now I'll never (sniff) see that reward (sniff, sniff) for helping you..." Tears swam in Lina's eyes at the thought of how one little pass with a Bunny slipper had been the perfect response in the old days, but now had left her destitute once again, conveniently forgetting, of course, that Prince Phil still owed her for taking the trip to get the "Special Ambasador" from Westhold. But she was saved when Naga turned and said "Oh, nothing so crass, Lina! You'll get your money." "Really?" said Lina, brightening up. "Oh, okay then, I guess I can put up with some vengance then!" she continued happily, dreaming of a whole cartload of gold and jewels. At that point breakfast was interupted by an usher clearing his throat in a meaningful way and announcing "His Majesty, Prince Philionell!" as the Prince himself walked into the dining room.
"Good Morning everyone!" he boomed in his usual way, a big smile on his face. It was immediatly obvious that the smile was due in part to the little bundle he carried tenderly in his arms. His grandson, Prince Arthur lay asleep on his grandpa's breast. Instantly all animosity was forgoten and the room lit up with smiles, well, except for Zel who was pretending to mop up the tea still. The two sisters rose and curtsied to their sire. Phil then walked over to Gracia and handed Arthur over to her. "I hate to let you go" he said, rather sadly, "but I know you must." Gracia smiled and handed Arthur back. "Five more minutes while I get changed for the ride." she said quietly. Lina shook her head, a minute ago it had been breakfast with the old Naga she knew, now here was this kind, gentle Gracia who was a complete stranger to her, yet they were one. This was going to take some getting used to. Suddenly Gracia threw her arms around her father and said "Daddy. I just want you to know, no matter how crazy things got in my past, no matter what the future holds, I love you and I'm proud you are my very own daddy!" At a loss for words, Phil hugged her back. Suddenly Gracia broke off saying "I have to get changed and go now or I won't get out of here until tommorrow." With that she dashed off, tears streaming from her eyes.
Amilia stood up, snivelling too and went to her father. "I love you and I'm proud of you too," she said hugging him, "and I understand why you are letting me have this time with Gracia despite the dangers. I hope it's not the last time we see her either." The father and the daughter hugged each other hard. Lina felt a lump in her throat as she thought about how she missed her family too. Yup, after this war it was time to rebuild some bridges. She hoped Gourry would be there to help, but yes or no, it was time to renew her links with her family.
Suddenly Zel was beside her. "Tea?" he asked, offering her a last cup from the pot before they left. "Thanks!" said Lina with a sudden smile. She thanked the gods for her friends, all of them. At this there was a sweep and Gracia made a grand entrance in a black riding outfit and cloak, trimmed in silver and ermine. Lina's breath stopped for a second. This was the same Naga who had spend years clad only in an elaborate, very revealing black bikini? Now she really looked the part of a Princess, and a Queen. Lina thought to herself "Hmmm, clothes really DO make the man, or woman in this case." She thought about the trade mark red and yellow garb she was wearing and decided maybe it was time to look for something different, once she was paid, something she could go to her parents in. He, he, maybe even something that would stop the mouth of style concious Luna, if that was possible. Probably not, sigh.
"Well, I guess that's our cue." said Zelgadiss. "Besides, the sun will be up soon." He bowed to Prince Phil and said "My Lord?" Phil nodded back and said "Yes, it is time to go, lead on Lord Zelgadiss. He handed Arthur back to his mother again, and Gracia tucked her son into a riding sling around her chest. "My Lady" said Zel, being formal, "are you absolutely sure you won't take a coach? If only for the baby's sake?" "I'm absolutely sure." replied Gracia. Zel sighed, he had tried to convince Gracia to use a coach or some other sort of wagon or buggy, if only because of her self confession she wasn't the best rider. Zel had visions of her going splat and taking Arthur down with her. But the woman would not be persuaded, so a rather gentle horse had been found, and Zel prayed there would be no need for speed.
While he was mulling this Amilia went off to get her riding cloak and Phil turned to Lina while fishing a bag off of his belt. "Her Lina, this is yours." he said handing the bag over, which promptly clinked in a most gratifying way as Lina caught it. Money! She looked up, startled. "Er, thanks, I didn't think you were going to start to pay me yet." she said. "Oh I figured you might need it before this was over, and you did do the job of getting the "special ambassador" here safely. He, he, and I threw in a bit for finding my daughter, even though you said you'd do it for free." Lina laughed and hugged Phil too and said, "I think I could get to love being your middle daughter, ha, ha, ha". Phil chuckled and toussled her hair and said "If life had let us I think we would have had one. And she'd likely be about your age. Who knows, maybe the Inverse's got you because the Seirune's couldn't. Ah well."
With that Amilia was back and Zelgadis hustled the crew outside to where the horses, a horse drawn baggage cart, and about twenty of the elite guard were waiting. "Sorry," said Zel, "but I didn't have time to make the proper arrangements with the kingdoms we will be passing through. Anything over twenty guards gets viewed as an invasion if not agreed upon ahead of time. I hope this will be enough." "Hey, don't worry Zel." said Lina. "Too big of an armed force gets in the way of magic anyway." "That's right!" added Amilia as she swung up onto her horse. "Hey Lina! Look! Never let it be said I can't take advice!" said Naga with a chuckle. She pulled back her cape to reveal... "Pants! Oh ha, ha, wonders never cease. You CAN be taught!" Lina laughed, remembering their conversation on the road about dresses and horse back riding. Gracia and Lina mounted. With a final check Zelgadis then mounted too, and gave the order "Let's go!" As the sun rose in the east the little group headed out of the palace gate, destination, Westhold, and war!
They got as far as the main gate when they ran into their first interuption. A small crowd of early morning onlookers had gathered to watch the departure. They were respectful and kept back so the group could pass, but as they came out one voice, a woman's, suddenly called out "Miss Lina! Lina Inverse! Princess Amilia! Sir Zelgadiss, please, I need to come with you!" Zel kept the troop moving as he looked to see what was the disturbance. The crowd parted around the mystery woman. She was young, tall, with straight black hair and a priestesess garb. Amilia and Lina recognised her at the same time. Lina called out "Sylphiel?" and Amilia called out "Halt!" The troop stopped.
"Hey!" said Zel a little testily, after all, supposedly it was he that was in charge. He rode over to the young White Priestess and said "Sylphiel! It is nice to see you again, but we are in a hurry, please be brief." "I want to come with you, please." repeated the tall, darkhaired woman. "Why?" asked Zel. "You will need healers in the upcoming war. I have had a vision that it will be bigger than anyone thinks. Oh please Lord Zelgadiss, I don't mean to be rude, but if you say no I will walk there if I have to, but I feel I need to get there." She sounded desperate, which was unusual for the mild Lady. Zel looked helplessly at Lina. Lina rode over and said to Sylphiel "What was your vision?" "Hordes and hordes of men from the east, and few, too few, men in the west to stop them, yet they were going to try. I have no vision to the outcome, only that many, too many, get hurt or killed. I have to help, no healer could ignore that vision! Please Lina, Zelgadiss, let me come?" Zel sighed, this wasn't in the plans, but he said to Lina "Can we use a White Sorceress?" He then said to Sylphiel "You don't even have a horse." "I - I'll walk..." she replied.
Lina spoke up. "I'm light weight, and she isn't much heavier, really. I can load my kit on my horse. She can ride on the baggage cart. I don't know any better than you do Zel, but, visions shouldn't be denied." Zel nodded slowly. "Okay, make it so, and let's hope we have no more interuptions." In a quick minute Lina's pack was tied to her saddle behind her, and Sylphiel was seated on the cart beside the driver. Then they were off again. Naga rode close to Lina and said "Friend of yours? But she does look familiar." "I think you met her when we helped that elven twit Lark to stop Shabradnigdo. Naga looked back and said "Oh yes. Now I remember. She was a good healer if I remember, so good that when she bopped the monsters with her stick she'd actually give them healing instead of knocking them silly. Ho, ho, ho, but not her fault, that's what white magic does to you. I shudder to think that's the sort of girl my father wanted me to be..." "Now, now, she means well." replied Lina. Amilia piped up "What will you tell her about Gourry?" Lina sighed and said "The truth, what else can I say?"
The crew rode on into the day and by lunch were back in the now oh so familiar little village on the way. Lina was begining to wonder if she should invest in the inn since she was spending so much time in it. Zelgadiss had sent men with money ahead and ordered up a big lunch for them all, and it was ready and laid out. The usual crowd of onlookers was there, at a safe distance of course. The meal was set outdoors and was rather good, and abundant. The four women and Zel made up what was nominally the head table and the guards took it in turn to eat at the other tables, or stand guard, while the hotel staff fed and watered them, and the horses too. A surprise was the appearance of a smartly dressed young man serving as waiter to the crowd and the head table. In fact Lina almost didn't recognise him at first, until he started to sweat nervously around her and she took a closer look.
"You!" she said in amazement. "Him?" said Amilia, Gracia, and Sylpiel at the same time, and Zel said "Oh, him!" "Me?" said the waiter, appearing frightened. "Yes, yes, him!" said the owner of the inn as he came up. "You know, it was so fortunate he met you two" he went on. "He started out working to pay off his debt, and by the time he was done he was so well trained and so keen a worker it was to my advantage to hire him on! I thank you for sending him to me!" He then lowered his voice into a conspiratorial whisper, as the ex loudmouth, now waiter, Floater, for that is who he was, scuttled off. "Truth to tell, if the sparks I feel flying between him and my daughter catch hold, like I think they will, I may yet get to retire earlier than I had feared, and have some grandchildren to enjoy! Oh yes, it was a great day for me when he picked on you, Miss Inverse! Thank you!" "Uh, well, you're welcome then..." said Lina who then couldn't hold it any more and broke out in laughter. Zel joined merrily in, and soon the whole table was laughing, even the ones who didn't know why. And they laughed the more when it was finally explained to them. The rest of the meal went rather smoothly, but Lina couldn't help but notice that Sylphiel didn't have her usual sparkle about her. After the meal they set off, and Lina made a point of dropping back and talking with her.
"So, Sylphiel, what's on your mind? You seem preoccupied. Was there more to your vision?" she asked. "N-no" the other girl answered a bit hesitantly. "But, although I felt good when I decided to come, like I had made the right choice, a shadow fell on my heart at the same time, but I don't know why. It is strange..." She sighed. Then she asked "So, where is my dear Gourry, Lina?" She stopped, then corrected herself. "No, your dear Gourry..."
Lina hung her head. "Oh?" said Syphiel in a soft, yet shocked manner. She whispered "It cannot be, Miss Lina! The two of you were so much in love..." Lina raised a sad face to Sylphiel and said "Yes, but do you think I could see that until it was too late? I may be the world's greatest Sorceress, as some like to say, and even I joke about it, but when it comes to the heart I am woefully naieve and afraid. He asked me to marry him, Sylphiel, more than once! I always had some excuse, even my usual threat of violence, which is really my way of hiding my fear. The last time he asked was about three weeks ago. It was just up the road here in the next little village we are coming to as a matter of fact. We were discussing our future and it looked bleak, no money, no prospects of getting rich one last time. Hell, I even was contemplating working for my sister..." Lina paused for breath and Sylphiel asked "Miss Lina? Are you okay? You look blue..." "No, no, you don't understand." Lina responded. She gulped and went on "I have some unfinished family business with my sister Luna, and I left home under a cloud that was especially centered on her. To be blunt, I am afraid of her. I was afraid that night too. I was tired, and hungry as well. When he asked me to marry him I did the one thing I never did before. I laughed at him. I laughed in his face. Oh, but Sylphiel! I didn't say "No!", nor did I mean that! I just wasn't able to think about it right then. But it must have seemed like the ultimate rejection to him.
I soul searched myself later that night, Sylphiel, I really did. I forced myself to stop dodging the question and give an answer. And the answer was "Yes! Yes! And a thousand times "Yes!" I love him. I want to be his wife! I want his babies even. Ha, but the joke was on me. I went down the next morning meaning to tell him, and he had paid up all our debts and left in the night. That means he left with nothing whatsoever in his pocket. We were that poor, but we were going to split the bill. He left me a note, I have it in my bag. He said he was sorry he was a failure and that he was going so he could protect me from himself. He wished me all the best, wanted me not to grieve his going, and blamed himself for looking into my eyes and getting lost in them. I haven't seen him since. Now this war has blown up in our faces and here I am." She sighed heavily and sniffled back a tear or two. "I would just like one last chance to explain it to him." she concluded. A sniffle came from Sylphiel too and she said "Oh Lina!" "Sylphiel" said Lina quietly "If you find him first, just promise me you'll take care of him."
"Lina!" responded a shocked Sylphiel "I have my feelings it is true, but no, I would never take him away from you! I'd make sure you had your chance to talk to him. But you needn't worry, he doesn't love me and never has. It's you he loves Lina, and always will. If he doesn't end up with you, there will be no woman who will take your place. You may trust me on this!" Lina gave a brave if tearful smile to Sylphiel and said "I will Sylphiel, I will, it's just so hard sometimes. The heart is a new world for Lina Inverse I'm afraid..." "Lina, listen, you'll be okay, and so will he, no matter what happens." said Sylphiel with a smile. "You are just growing up somemore. It's something we never stop doing as long as we live you know, there is a time for everything, and before now was not your time to be thinking domestically. Now you are ready." "Thanks Sylphiel. You always did have a way with words." smiled Lina.
"But tell me," she went on, "why the shadow on your heart? I hope your future doesn't bode ill?" "I feel like I am riding towards some sort of personal danger, or maybe a crisis, Miss Lina. That's all I know, right now." Lina smiled and said "Things must be better, you are back to calling me "Miss" Lina. Ha, well, call me anything you want if it makes you comfortable." The two women spent the rest of the afternoon chatting on and off as the party progressed back towards the north and the east. Lina pointed out the trees where she had cried her heart out, then later, the hotel where the proposal and subsequent misunderstanding had happened. Sylphiel had something appropriate to say at these spots and Lina finally began to see that Sylphiel's meekness was somehow a strength for her and not a weakness. "Maybe they will inherit the earth someday after all." she thought, remembering an old prophecy she had heard in her travels.
It was a good day for a journey, summer was at its height, and if the region could have used some rain, never-the-less it was rich and beautiful, with fruitful fields and resplendant vineyards. This was, after all, Zefielia the fruitful, Zefielia the fertile and fecund, home of the Eternal Queen! Lina was in familiar territory. And as the party approached the capital her apprehension grew. She longed to beg Zel to turn aside like she had before, but she knew he could not. No, the main road was the road for official parties, and he had no choice, this time. She just hoped she wouldn't meet any of her family. Especially her sister. In fact, she was in a low level panic about it. Despite herself, she found herself trying to crouch down in her saddle. She couldn't help herself even though she realised it actually made her stand out more. She also had to resist the urge to leap down and walk, she knew she'd hold the group up, increasing their time in town, and not really be well hidden anyway. So she gritted her teeth, held her head up, and regreted fervently wearing her usual red and yellow costume, it was a real trademark thing of hers from before she left home, her all powerfull sorceress look she had called it. Luna had been more practical and used phrases like "walking eyesore"...
Lina went over a mental list of the people she used to know wondering what they looked like now, if she'd see any of them, and if they'd be recognisable. She certainly had plenty of faces to look at too. As they rode into town there was a curious throng on the streets watching them. Some of the faces looked so damned familiar too, but she couldn't put names to them. Just as well, just as well, if word went around that "Little Lina" was back it would be sure to reach certain ears, and, gulp, she might, come...
Suddenly, to her horror Zelgadiss called for a halt. A halt! Here, in town! She looked around, fearfully. Was Luna confronting them in the streets? She realised she was panicing and being silly, but she peeked around front half expecting her sister to be standing there in her armour as a Knight of Cephied, demanding they hand over Lina. What she saw was about as bad. They were stopped in front of a large hotel, obviously they had been expected. The horses were being stabled, Zel was presenting some sort of credentials to an official of the queen, Lina had no trouble recognising the uniform, and then she saw it. IT! The little sign beside the name of the inn proclaiming that this was one of the places owned by her sister.
"Wha-what are we doing?" she asked in a panic to anyone in general. "Um, stopping for the night, like we planned." replied a puzzled Amilia. Lina looked around. Sure enough, the sun was definitely headed down. "Oh, oh yes, oh my, Amilia I'm, I'm going to need help here..." "You're positively shaking with fright!" said a curious Gracia also noticing Lina's state. "Yes, whatever is wrong Miss Lina?" asked a concerned Sylphiel. "I-I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" said Lina. "It-it's Zephielia you see, and we are stopped at a hotel owned by my sister L-Luna..."
"Oh, I get it" said Amilia softly. "Okay, don't worry so, Lina. We will help you. Besides, she might not show up. I don't think Zel has given a list of individual names, just that we are a party of diplomats. We shall see. Anyway, come, we can go inside now and get you hidden in a room. Come to mine tonight okay? You can sleep in my bed if it will help you feel better." "No, no Miss Amelia" spoke up Sylphiel. "You need this trip to get to know your sister better. Lina can stay in my bed." Normally Lina might have had misgivings about this arrangement but she was so grateful that someone even cared that she managed to blurt out a stuttery "Thank you" and slump off her horse, allowing herself to be lead into the hotel, where she was packed straight way to the room. And there she stayed.
Fortunately, Sylphiel didn't want to join the throng at the table, or at least so she said, and Lina wasn't left alone. Some supper was sent up, even a hot bath which Sylphiel managed to get Lina into, allowing her to soak some of the tension out while Sylphiel massaged her shoulders. Little by little, Lina began to relax. Finally Lina breathed a sigh of relief and settled down. "Thank you Sylphiel." she said in a bit of a dreamy state. "I am so sorry to put you through this. I have a real phobia about my sister, and her stick, and I'm just not ready this trip to face her. I wouldn't be able to remain calm, and if I panic I'd probably blow whatever chance I had of reconcilling with her. I wish we hadn't had to stop, but, here we are."
"And here you are, Miss Lina." said Sylphiel handing her a cup of wine. It was a good, light, local wine, not too sweet, not too tart, and just right with the alcohol content. Plus, Sylphiel had added a few of her own herbs to improve on the relaxation effect. Nothing potent, just a little bit sophorific. It was enough. Soon Lina was well relaxed and if not ready for bed, atleast able to get out of the tub and settle down. "I owe you one, Sylphiel, thanks." she said. The black haired girl smiled and was starting to say she was owed nothing when a knock came at the door. Lina hid in the bedroom as Sylphiel opened it, but it was only the Queen and the Crowned Princess come to say goodnight. Lina came out and talked to them for awhile. Again she realized that Gracia hadn't touched a drop of alcohol. Wow, a reformed Naga, wonders really never did cease. Anyway, the plan was the inevitable early start in the morning, so it was off to bed for the lot of them. And since the night passed without incident, Lina actually had a good sleep.
Naturally, morning was early, the rotter, and woke Lina out of a very pleasant dream about her wedding night. Gourry had just gotten to the part in their wedding night where he was heaping praise on her enormous bosom when "POP" reality called in the form of Sylphiel with a candle telling her to get ready to leave by sun up. Lina sighed and took a minute to try and fix the dream in her memory, then noticed the large breakfast in the room. She washed quickly, got dressed, realised someone had washed her clothes for her (this had happened a lot lately and she was begining to like it actually) and sat down to eat. Maybe it was the dream, or the hour, or the fact it was Zephielia, or some combination, but she actually wasn't that hungry this morning.
Soon there was a knock on her door and Gracia and Amilia were there to take her out to the horses. Lina went out and mounted her horse, and looked around as the rest of the crew was getting up too, and the guard was forming. Zel was issuing orders. Suddenly Lina felt a tug on her pant leg and looked around to see a little red haired girl pulling on her clothes. The little girl beamed up at Lina and said "Are you Lina Inverse?" Lina knew panic, but had never in her life experienced a full blown panic attack before, and she vowed afterwards to never do that again, but, between the tension she was under just being home, the lack of sleep, in spite of Sylphiel's relaxation draught, and the fact the kid looked familiar, due no doubt to the fact that she was Zephielian too, Lina just suddenly lost it. A loud scream of terror split the air as first Lina shrieked at the kid, and then Lina's horse shrieked at Lina's shriek, and suddenly there was a thunder of hooves and Lina bolted for the edge of town.
Some of the guards and a few of the towns people had hit the dirt at the sound. Others had popped their heads out of windows. A few guards had jumped on Gracia and Amilia, which didn't make them feel all that happy. Zel shouted at Lina to stop then threw his sheet of orders down and stomped on the ground a few times in frustration. Finally the pandemonium quieted down, order was restored, and the troop was off, a rather steamed Zel in the lead with Amilia trying to comfort him, while Sylphiel and Gracia discussed the merits and demerits of shrieking sorceresses. The little girl had, of course, run off crying, and was presumed to be somewhere getting comforted by her mother. For all that, that was the only incident involved with them leaving town.
About a mile out of town they caught up to a red faced Lina who was both embarrased and quite angry at herself at the same time. She looked so pathetic actually, that Zel had to let go of the anger he was trying to save up to use on her. "I'm sorry Zel" she said, "I'm sorry everyone! I can't really explain but that little girl just, well, she reminded me of me when I was that age, and I just, it just, uh, well, you saw what happened..." "Yeah, yeah." said Zel quietly. "Well, I remember you were so afraid of this place you had us go around when we came up to get the Queen the first time, I suppose I can't say I wasn't warned. But Lina, she couldn't have been more than four years old..." "I am really sorry Zel." Lina replied. "I can face down Shabradnigdo himself and stare the likes of Hellmaster Phibrizzo in the face, even prepare to battle million man armies, but I am terrified to death of my sister, and just being home in Zefielia was too much of a razor's edge for me, I fell off."
"It's okay Lina" piped up Amilia who was still riding next to Zel. "I remember how you acted when Miss Filia gave you your sister's letter. I mean, you prepared your own tomb to save her the trouble, I can well imagine you are mortally afraid of the woman." She then smiled at Lina and added "Look, try not to do this again, and we will not speak of it any more, okay?" "Deal!" said Lina with a relieved smile. With that she fell back into the center of the troop near to Gracia. Or more like Naga, judging by the look on her face. "Oh, just don't say anything!" Lina said curtly. And amazingly, Naga didn't, but that smug smirk of hers spoke volumes anyway. Lina wished she could wipe it off her face, but alas, she had put it there, she was just going to have to bear it. Sylphiel asked in a sympathetic tone "Is there anything we can do Miss Lina?" Unfortunately, the effect was somewhat lessened by the fact that she couldn't keep a giggly smile off her face either. Lina sighed "Oh, just ignore me till I get over it, I don't have the time to tackle my estrangement with my sister right now.
Sylphiel replied to that "I don't have a sister, what's it like?" Lina looked at her sharply, but the girl was sincere. So an answer was in order. "Oh, I think for most people it's wonderful." Lina said with a sigh. "I mean, in theory, but don't ask me for details, I'm one of the dysfunctional ones." "Oh it's nothing of the sort!" spoke up Gracia, rather loudly. She was still riding beside the other two women. "Little sisters are an annoying pain! They never know their place, get into all your stuff, and think they are just as good as you when in fact they should be waiting on you hand and foot!" "Hey!" came the shout from the head of the line. Obviously, being only several feet away, Amilia had heard, which was doubtless what Gracia had wanted anyway. Amilia gave Zel a pat on the shoulder as he was obviously, even from behind, rolling his eyes to the heavens, then she let the column surge ahead so that she fell back to where the others were.
"I heard all of that!" she said as they caught up to her. "I'd tell you how unjust you are, but I know why you said that. You're just plain jealous!" As she said that she made a peculiar sign where she held up her right hand clenched in a fist, except for her little finger which was proudly extended for all to see. "Hmmph! As if! Of you?" retorted Gracia, seemilngly unimpressed. She then asked "Oh, did mommy teach you that one too?" "Yup!" beamed Amilia. "Well don't look too smug!" came back Gracia holding up her own right hand in the same way. "Now that I'm back he'll remember that this one was a much better fit!" "No he won't!" Amilia replied passionately. "And what's more," went on Gracia, "I've been practicing with this one, so I'm twice as strong as I was before, which was always stronger than you anyway." As she spoke she held up her left hand in the same little finger extended fashion and waved it in Amilia's face. Amilia responded in the same way and said "You think it's easy to bend stone? Ha! I'm going to be the stronger when I'm done, and I'm almost there!" "Uh, your Majesties..." said Lina rather flatly, "If it isn't some sort of state secret, what's with the mysterious hand signals? "Hmmm? Oh, you don't know this one?" asked Amilia. "It was something our mother taught us." She held up her right hand again and said "This is the little finger you use to wrap your father around." Gracia nodded and held up her left hand and added enthusiastically "And here's the one for your husband!"
Lina looked over to Sylphiel and groaned while the raven haired girl burst out into a pleasant laugh. "Oh, I see what you mean" she said. "Yes, my father was rather wrapped around my little finger too, he, he, he. And thank you your Majesties, for demonstrating what having a sister is like!" "You're Welcome!" the two sisters piped up at once. "Well, I'd have gotten to the teamwork if I'd had some time." muttered Lina. Lina looked down at her hands and said, quietly, "I never got much of a chance to wrap my dad around this one, I was too busy with Luna to notice..." She looked over to her other hand and went on "And this one was just trailing along minding it's own business when Gourry came and wrapped himself around it. I can't believe it now, but there were times I really tried to make him let go. Ha, ha, how ironic then, just when I finally decide to close my hand and grasp him tightly forever, he takes me the wrong way, and slips off..."
She shook her head sadly. She felt someone lift her right hand and turned to see Gracia lift it to her mouth and give her a kiss of friendship on the back of her hand, then hug it to her cheek. As she let it go again Gracia said to Lina "We'll win this thing Lina, and then we'll find your Gourry. It's something I didn't mention a minute ago, but, men have little fingers too. I am hopelessly wrapped around my Alfred's finger, and as for Arthur, why he was born with his daddy and me wrapped tightly around his!" Lina smiled, and then laughed out loud. "Yep, that's Gourry! Got me wrapped around one of his jellyfish like tentacles! And I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be. Ah me, if he gives me a second chance I'll wrap him around all my fingers so tight it cuts the circulation off!" "There! That's the spirit!" said Gracia with a big smile of her own. With that the party carried on and the day was pleasantly spent by the women. Some of their banter even got some of the guards chuckling, which basically made for a most pleasant journey.
Except that Zel couldn't relax his guard. He confessed to Amilia at one stop that he kept seeing Shadow Warriors behind every rock and bush. She hugged him long and thanked him for his vigelance. He hugged back, perhaps sadly. But despite the tension, they made good time with no incidence, and one day the high road to the narrow pass stood before them. There was a greater sense of excitement now as the troop rode up to what was clearly the border of the known and unknown worlds, indeed, except for the small gang of friends, none of the other riders had been that far east in their lives! They clattered up the pass, eagerly wondering what they might see at the top. Well, the humans were eager, no one seemed to stop and ask the horses how they felt about climbing a steep rocky trail with people on their backs, but, for all that, the top was reached and there before them was the high gate with it's big iron door. Lina could now understand the peculiar construction and it made sense. They really could reverse the position of the locks and the walkways and fight against any enemy encroaching from the east. She gulped and fervently started wondering who to pray to that that would never happen.
Now Gracia rode forward letting the guard of Westhold see her. There was a clang and the big iron door swung open. Out came the captain of the garrison without weapon or shield, clearly he knew who she was. "Your Majesty! Health and welcome to you, we are glad at your safe return!" "Thank you good captain!" replied the Queen. "It is good to be back. Please allow me to introduce to you my younger sister, the Crowned Princess of my homeland Serune, the Lady Amilia." With that she motioned Amilia to come forward and be recognised. "I vouchsafe for her and the rest of the company here with me." Gracia went on. "I think you may know some of the others, the Lord Zelgadiss, the Lady Lina, and a new guest, the Lady Sylphiel. also, these 20 brave men who have ridden guard these many leagues, I vouchsafe for all, and crave you permit their entry." The captain chuckled and said "Permiting such a party into our lands is allowed to me, but I must impose the following stipulation, that you ride straight to Stronghold and present yourselves to the King for his final approval." Gracia chuckled back and said "You do your office well good sir! And thanks to you for it!" With that they were waved through the gate.
A small party of riders was detailed to go with them, as befitting the return of the Queen and the Heir apparent, and Gracia even returned the exit visa, which was quickly framed and hung in a place of honour. With that, they were off eastward again. "I didn't realise you were so formal" said Amilia. Lina seemed to think you were laid back in this country." "What do you mean?" asked Gracia. "Oh the vouchsafing business and all that." was Amilia's reply. "Oh, you don't understand." said Gracia. "I could come in, because I am a citizen, the mother of a citizen, and of course, the Queen. But only the King can override the authority of the Captain on duty of any boarder guard. If that man had wanted to, he could have left the rest of you outside the gate, and even I couldn't say otherwise. You see, at least while he is on duty, he is ultimately responsible for the security of that boarder, and by extension, of the whole country, so, only the King, the personal embodiment of the country, can say "yes" if he said "no". Now, I didn't think we'd have any trouble getting through, but it is good to follow a protocol if you have one. So, little sister, here is your chance. If you, or Lina, or anyone else want to get me into trouble, just start something." "Oh, big sister! Really!" said Amilia, but with a laugh. Lina, who had been riding just behind chuckled "Tempting, tempting..." "Just promise me you'll do it privately okay?" said Zel to her. Lina giggled and actually stuck her tongue out at him which put such a perplexed look on his face that Lina and the two sisters had to laugh. With that they ate up the distance to Stronghold.
