Chapter 14 xxxxxxxxxx

Walking into the hall Lina was quickly at her room. Entering it, she could feel the heat and the steam coming off the hot water. Trina quickly showed up to help her take the fancy dress off and Lina was soon down to the bare essentials, namely a big fluffy towel that wrapped around her, and a pair of slippers. Yup, they had bunnies on them! Then she wandered into the back room and took in the sight. There was the big brass tub, now full of water. Lina could feel the pleasant heat through the floor, slippers or no. Some of the other servants were finishing things like arranging candles and flowers and decorative touches in general that made for a soothing effect. There was even a small fountain Lina had not noticed before. It was set in the wall and tinkled merrily in the back groud. Obviously it was connected to some source and earlier on it had been turned off somehow, but it was a nice touch. Lina took it in, it was, well, for a hot tub, perfect! She slipped her slippers off and enjoyed the warmth on her feet. The servants left, Trina said the Queen was bringing some treats of her own and was there anything Lina needed? Lina said no and thanked the girl who giggled, obviously being thanked was a bit of a novelty.

Finally Lina was alone. She dropped her towel and after a minute or two of streching and taking in the whole effect alone, she stepped into the tub. "Hot!" was her first rection, but, by advancing slowly she made it in, and when she was used to it she was able to relax and settle in. She had a few minutes alone with her thoughts which were rather scattered at first, but which soon settled down to a relaxed sensation of peace in the soothing warmth. "Now if only I had Gourry here to finish up our business with." she thought to herself, and was surprised she didn't feel a stab of guilt for once. She smiled.

"Lina, you've come a long way you know" she went on in her thoughts. "One day you really must try settling down for a spell, just to see what it is like." She laughed at that. "So Lina, what the King said was true, was it not? You have to make yourself, you won't find yourself under a rock somewhere. Hmmmm, so, who do I want to be? He, he, the world's most powerful sorceress, so strong even Naga gives it up! Yeah, but don't end up like Rezo!" she added "there was a total JERK! with a capital everything!" She relaxed a bit more sinking deeper into the tub.

"Speaking of Rezo, what are we going to do with Zel? He's moody, never a good sign. I think this war has him spooked, well, who isn't, but I think he's thinking things again, like about his cure and that. Apparently he keeps himself locked into the library all the time just reading old texts. And Amilia is with him. I hope that is good, but he can be so short with her when he is feeling like the world is against him. She doesn't deserve that. And they looked so happy together earlier too. Stupid laws..." She thought for a minute then corrected herself. "No, stupid situation where people fear that which is different so much that they need stupid laws. Well, I suppose Phil is right, if the baby was a chimera there would be a lot of trouble with some people. Still, I don't know if all the people would be so unaccepting." She sighed and thought back over her adventures, and had to admit that people probably would be that unaccepting...

There was a sudden thump and the door to Lina's room flew open as a screaming Amilia was dragged in by a hysterically laughing Naga. "Oh Lina! There you are!" exulted the Queen. "I've got something to show you! Look!" As she spoke she thrust Amilia forward. Lina could see she was wrapped in some sort of a black cape. "No!" she yelled. "I won't, I can't do it. You can't make me, it isn't meeee" Lina was shocked, not knowing what was going on. "Oh stop being a big baby." said Naga sternly. "And anyway you promised!" "Yeah but I changed my mind! I'm embarassed!" wailed Amilia, really pathetically. "And it's not even my colour!" she added. "Wha-what are you two doing?" asked a dubfounded Lina. "Oh just playing dress up..." said Naga mysteriously. "Dress up?" replied Lina, then, with a major suspicion growing in her mind she said even more sternly "Amilia! Have you been letting Naga dress you? Serves you right! Show me, and get it over with, I want to hot tub in peace!"

Amilia wimpered, and then reluctantly opened the cape, while howling "This isn't fair!" Lina's jaw dropped to the bottom of the pool as her pupils seemed to constrict to pinpoints. "Amilia..." she finally said. "I'm sorry Lina, I just wanted to see how it looked, I never meant for her to make me show you..." Amilia stood there, dressed in her sister's outfit. Yes..., that outfit..., and it looked bloody ridiculous. Well, it looked that way when Naga wore it too, but some how it looked stylishly ridiculous on her, on Amilia it was rather clownish ridiculous... Amilia was wearing everything but the oversized sword, well, they had found some different black boots that actually fit. Lina noticed that even the skull and the tiara were there.

"There!" said Naga. "I don't need it any more, but since it was mother's I don't want to throw it out. So I think it looks fine on her, I want to send it home with my sister!" Amilia whined "Please, no, it's yours now. I don't want it!" Lina dug her fists into her eyeballs and said "Amilia, just take it off, and both of you, get into the tub! Then, unable to help herself any more, she started to laugh. Amilia whined and pouted, but took the bikini off, and, finally nude, prepared to enter the tub. Lina realised that Amilia had grown up since Lina had last been in a hot spring with the Princess. She was still big in all the places Lina wasn't, and she still showed a rounder body type than Lina, or her sister, but she had gone from cute, through pretty, and was now beautiful. Well, if Zel wasn't happy with her, then the woman didn't exist that would make him happy...

Lina slid back into the tub, feeling a little self concious, anticipating Naga's disrobing. She had seen her naked before, of course, hell that silly costume she wore was the next best thing to total nudity anyway, and they had gone to hot springs and hot tubs as well, and Naga was, well, beautiful too, but Lina really didn't like the way she always flashed it in people's faces as a challenge. Amilia stepped into the pool. "OOOHHH! Hot! Beautiful!" she said as she slowly slipped into the water. Naga was about to enter in after her sister, when she stopped. She looked puzzled. Amilia clued in and followed her sisters gaze, to a flabbergasted looking Lina who was staring at Naga. Suddenly the light went on in Naga's eyes and she smiled. Not a Naga like smirk but a woman to young woman smile of understanding. She looked down at her body and back to Lina and said in a quieter, gentler voice. "Not quite as you saw it last is it Lina? They're called stretch marks, and they are what can happen when you have a baby. And the belly sag is from little Arthur filling me up too. It will go away after a time, or so I'm told, but I will probably never quite have my Naga the White Serpent body back. And did you notice these?" she asked, giving her breasts a famous Naga jiggle. They still stood out, big and firm and ripe, but, something was different... "It's the milk" explained Naga. "It makes them heavier and they sag a bit too. And the colour around my nipples is darker too, much darker. Take a good look girls, if you bring your own marriage plans home to roost this may be in your future too. But don't get me wrong, if this is the only sacrifice I have to make for the joy of being a mother, I am glad to make it. But I'll never have my virgin body back." With that she laughed and slipped into the tub.

Amilia giggled to Lina "Sorry for the dramatic entrance, I don't know what came over us, it was sort of like making up for stuff we never had a chance to do when we were younger." "Yeah, the screaming, the hair pulling, the tattling, the temper tantrums..." added a now smirking Naga. "Sounds wonderful..." said Lina quietly. The sisters looked at her then at each other. "I'm sorry Lina." said Amilia. "We forgot you don't get on with your sister like we do." Lina smiled back, a bit sadly. "Well, I didn't quite mean it that way, but no, I'm sorry, please. You have not seen each other in far too long, and you have every right to be happy with each other. Hey, you even adopted me, even if only as a joke, and I think you are wonderful sisters, so go ahead and play. Don't worry, I will make good with Luna, as soon as this war thingy is out of the way."

Amilia floated over and threw a big hug around Lina. "Wha...?" said a surprised Lina. She then settled into the hug, and in reality, it felt kind of nice. Amilia let go and Naga said "Tonight is a night for open feelings. Say or do what you feel is right, just be honest about it. Ask anything you want, you might get answers. Only wait until the ladies have arrived with the treats." she added, hearing a soft click as the door was opened again and some serving women brought in a cart laden with goodies. Some were old favourites of all three of the girls, and some were obviously new delicassies from Westhold, or maybe even from the east itself. In the middle was a steaming vessel filled with some sort of a drink, which smelled divine! The servants quickly set out three small trays near the bathers and set the cart beside the Queen. With a silent bow they departed. As they left Queen Gracia asked "Cymbelene, did you tell the cook to make a pot for the staff as well?" "Yes Madam! And thank you very much!" the head servant replied. "You are welcome, dear lady." replied Gracia. "Now, I think unless we ring, we won't need to be disturbed again." "Yes Madam!" the servant replied, as she left and closed the door behind herself.

"Ahhh, alone at last!" said a happy Naga. "Speaking of alone," said Lina, "I had asked Sylphiel to join us tonight, but I don't see her." "Oh," explained Naga who was filling the cups of each of them with the delicious smelling dark brown brew that was in the steaming vessel "Prince Erik returned with some rare magical healing herbs, and she has made herself busy with helping prepare them against their being needed. I think she forgot. I also think she had help doing that, he, he, he... though not by me." "Yes, she mentioned that there had been a few "sparks" between the two of them when I talked to her earlier." laughed Lina in reply. "Oh? Well, miracles DO happen!" responded Naga.

She went on to explain "Prince Erik puts on a good show in public, but around women he's almost painfully shy. If something has sparked between them I hope it flares into life! He's far too sweet a man to go through life without a special someone, and I think he'd be an excellent daddy too. If sis here wasn't so taken with her living statue I'd try to set her up with Erik. OHOhohoho!" she ended with a laugh. "You'd what! With who? Gracia!" sputtered a surprised Amilia. "Now now, you'll spill your drink." said her sister. "Yes." said Lina. "Can we drink it now? It smells so good, seductive actually." "Yes, yes, let's drink!" said Naga holding her cup up. "Wine and wineglasses be damned, here's a toast to old friends reunited, may we never be parted again!" "CHEERS!" they all said to that, and proceeded to drink.

Naga, knowing what was coming, sipped her drink and watched in amusement as the other two first sipped, then found they couldn't stop and ended up draining their cups. They looked at each other wide eyed. "What is this stuff?" said a thoroughly amazed Lina. "Pardon me, but now I know what the silly old saying "There's a party in my mouth and everyone's invited." means!" exclaimed Amilia. "Nice isn't it?" said Naga with a smirk. She reached for the vessel and started to refill the cups again. "It's more fun if taken slowly, so sip, don't guzzle, okay?" The others nodded. "We'll try" said Amilia with a giggle. "It comes from far to the east and is extremely expensive." explained Naga. "They probably wouldn't trade it at all, but they don't have tea or coffee like we do and so they want what we have, and they trade us for this. It's called, as near as we can come to it in our language, chocolate! The form we are drinking is called cocoa, but it also can come in other forms, some of which are mixed on or in the delicassies on the tray." she went on.

"Chocolate..." said Lina as Amilia stared at her cup dreamily. "This stuff could be addictive." "No, it's too expensive." said Naga. "It is one of the rare few treats we have here at the castle that we don't share with the populace at large. For every ton we import, the payment is a half a ton of tea, a half a ton of coffee, and a hundred pounds of rubies. And that is a lot of rubies! Plus some gold to pay the caravans that shipped it. Expensive stuff. Still, we manage to hold consumption to about a ton a year, don't forget we have to share this with the knights and lords who help run the kingdom. And share it with the staff too, it's too good to be cruel and not let them have a taste when we are drinking some." "Aww, that's great!" said Amilia happily thinking of how just her sister was.

"Speaking of expensive," said Lina, "your kingdom seems quite rich. That must make you happy!" she concluded, remembering Naga had more than a touch of avarice. "Yes, we have a couple of large gold mines and numerous silver mines too." said Naga. "We also have some ruby and saphire mines and more rarely, emeralds, topaz, and opals, including a few very rare purple ones. They are so rare they haven't been valued actually. Plus, we are very well off agriculturally, we have a good climate, lots of water, well, we covered some of this on our little hike if I remember." "Yes, we did." replied Lina.

"Well, that explains the silver plate on my bed!" giggled Amilia. "What do you mean, plate?" asked Naga seriously. "Errrr, well, the bed and the four posts, you know, like Lina's, only it's silver..." said a slightly confused Amilia. "Yes, yes it is" said Naga. "You mean to say you thought it was plated? My dear silly, it is absolutely solid stering silver!" "YEEK!" shrieked Amilia in amazement. "Solid Sterling Silver!" "That's what I said." replied Naga. "So, who slept there!" asked Amilia. Naga gave a chuckle. "In olden times it was built for the Royal Mistress! OHOhohohohohoho! But when I married, my King and Husband told me I was all the Queen and Mistress he'd ever need and promptly handed over the keys! OHOhohohoho!" That's rich, sister dear!" Amilia laughed at the joke like laughter had just been invented.

"Well, but who's room is this then? I was told it was the queen's?" asked Lina, confused by what she just heard, and a bit in shock from the staggering amount of silver that was in the bed. "This is the Queen's chamber." replied Naga. "But then why did she only get brass?" asked a flabbergasted Lina. Now it was Naga's turn to be flabbergasted in return. She gave her head a good hard shake and started to laugh. "OHOhohohoho! OHOhohohoho! Brass? Lina my dear old friend, do you really mean to tell me you have been so long out of the circuit that you failed to recognise old, patina covered GOLD! OHOhohohohohohoho! OHOhohohohohohoho ! That is the funniest thing I've EVER heard you say! OHOhohohohohoho! OHOhohohohohoho! OHOhohohohohohohohohohoho!" Naga was just about doubled over from her laughter. "G-GG-GGG-GOLD! GOLD?" shrieked an amazed Lina. She looked around and said "No! It looks like, wait, I never thought... could it be? Okay, gold is softer than silver, so okay, I guess I can see that if it is gold plated..." "NO WAY!" shouted Naga triumphantly. "This tub is over a foot thick so it would support its own weight when it was set into the specially designed recess in the floor!" "But, but it's, it's..." "Eight feet by eight feet by four feet, and that's just the cavity we are soaking in!" responded Naga, still triumphant. "And your bed too, thick gold to hold up its own weight. And all solid twenty four carat GOLD! Lina! In these rooms alone is enough wealth to buy the town of Zephielia!"

Lina just shrieked in amazement as Naga laughed. But who could blame Lina, that much gold was hardly ever to be found in one place, even in a bandit hoard. And gold was soft, so it had to be thick to hold its own weight. Brass had seemed a logical alternative. Finally Amilia yelled at them "SHUTUPPLEASE!" and they managed to stiffle themselves. "By the gods Naga! You always wanted a mountain of gold! You have succeeded!" said Lina finally. "I'm literally rich beyond the dreams of avarice, Lina Inverse." said Naga quietly, as she poured more cocoa for her friend and her sister. "So, what's the King's bed then?" asked Lina. "Carved from a solid ruby?" "No, it's a simple affair, wooden, with far less wood, and far poorer in quality than the nice bed Miss Sylphiel enjoys." replied Naga. She smiled an open smile, lost in thought for a minute then said "In truth, the bed is made of something far more precious to me than all the gold, silver, rubies, or fine woods ever could be any more. It is made out of love."

Lina and Amilia looked at each other and sighed deeply. Naga went on "Let me give you some history of the bed. In days of old the kings used it only on nights they didn't wish to sleep with their wives or mistresses. It was kept simple, apparently to discourage use, so the king would make lots of babies. However, starting with Alfred's great-grandfather, a change came over the monarchy. I guess his great-great-grandfather took debauchery to the maximum and his great-grandfather was so disgusted by it he became a quiet reformer. Only took a wife, no mistress, the first of an unbroken line to do so. And although he and his queen slept apart at times there was a quiet love between them that was something new in the Great Hall here. And they raised their son, the grandfather of Alfred, and the great reformer king, Aethelred by name, to respect and enjoy what they had. This room was unused until he died and his queen moved in here to allow the new King, Athalstan, Alfred's father, to have the use of the King's bed with his queen. She never slept apart from him, except maybe once or twice when one or the other was sick and the doctors had him or her to the infirmary for observation. She never used this room. Well, but her husband was alive when her mother-in-law died, and she died in the same accident that made Alfred King..." she ended, looking sad.

"May we know what happened?" Amilia asked quietly, after a pause. Naga continued "Well, they used to like to go to the mountains, to do a sport called skiing." "Oh, that's the one where they go downhill on snow wearing those long boards on their feet." said Amilia. "Yes" replied Naga. "Well, one spring, about eight years ago now, they decided to go on one last ski before spring set in. Erik was a student at medical school and couldn't go, and Alfred was busy with his mad monks at the time." "Oh the warrior priests?" asked Lina. "Warrior monks." replied Naga. "How did you hear of them?" she added out of curiosity.

Lina briefly explained about the meeting in the garden of the Unknown God. Naga smiled. "He has more than a touch of wisdom! Alas, his poor father forgot his though.He was warned against going skiing by the locals and the wardens who knew the area, but he insisted there was no danger. Apparently they had a lovely day of it, and the King, his wife, and their daughter, Alfred's only sister, were skiing down the hill, racing each other for the last run of the day, when an avalanche broke loose and swept them away. They didn't find the last body till the summer. Because skiing was such a favourite sport of his father's Alfred had them buried up on the mountain. He never went there again, except once, on our honeymoon, when he showed me their graves, then, with tears in his eyes, he introduced me to the ghosts of his family. It was the only time in that whole trip I cried, it was so sad."

"And it made up my mind for me that I had to get back in touch with you and daddy, Amilia. Of course I couldn't get away instantly, and when I was ready to try, the first time, I was pregnant, and couldn't go. Then I gave birth and was recovering, about two weeks after that, we heard the first rumours of war, and then they were confirmed, and then, in the middle of our panic, who rides in but your very own Lord Zelgadiss wanting to speak peace on behalf of Seirune and the west. I recognised the door being opened! So I convinced the King I was the only ambassador who could convince daddy in a hurry that we were peaceful. Then the shadow warriors appeared, and we knew I would never get to ride to Seirune in state, not safely, even with a large army. So we came up with a hastily conceived hairbrained scheme to have me walk to Seirune, with Arthur, because I would not leave him, and me, just out of my child bed too. The King said he'd only allow it if fate sent a sure sign. And Lord Zelgadiss rode back with that sign." Here Naga turned to Lina. "The only sign even I could accept. Lina Inverse."

"And yet I suddenly felt shy and afraid, and I veiled myself, and kept it on until the throne room at Seirune, and, here we are. Thank you both, for coming, it means more than I can say...' she stopped, a tear in her eye, unable to go on. "Oh Gracia..." said a tearful Amilia in her turn. But Lina had spent more time with Naga the White Serpent than Amilia had, having know the woman before her as her sister Gracia for most of her life. She knew Naga only for the short time before she left home under a cloud, and it had been Lina who had gotten to read her friend as she was now. She moved across the tub and threw her arms around Naga, and said softly "You poor thing, you are as scared as the rest of us, aren't you?" Naga wept on Lina's shoulder. Finally she blubbered "I, I didn't mean to be scared for our party, I...I'm sorry..." "Don't be" whispered Lina. "It's, I'm, Oh GODS Lina! What if we lose? Arthur and Alfred! I couldn't live without them! And the Kingdom! We didn't cause this! All those men and women and families that will have to suffer and lose if we are to stay safe, and how can we? And I can't even so much as cast a simple lighting spell to help!" She went off in a fresh stream of tears. Amilia also snuggled over and hugged her sister. When things calmed a bit she whispered in her turn "If needs be, I will take my nephew. He shall be my first born son..." she said simply. Naga turned and hugged her, still with tears in her eyes. "We shall see..." she said finally. Lina said in her turn "They aren't getting to you unless they go through me first, Naga. And I don't let people go through me very easily, as you know..." Naga gave her a teary smile. After a few minutes things settled down again. A few treats were handed around, and, chocolate being chocolate, spirits revived. "Thank you Lina" said Naga softly. Lina replied, more brightly "Ah, don't worry about it Naga, worry is just a mind killer. It isn't over till it's over, and even if we only have one chance for victory, there is no reason to think it won't come to pass."

Naga spoke, again softly, "Listen Lina, I've wanted to say this for a long time. It's about the night we broke up. I'm sorry. I really have missed you. I never meant..." "No, don't be sorry, you don't really understand." said Lina, interupting with her reply. Amilia looked puzzled, but it was obviously private and so she asked "Should I leave you two alone?" Lina's eyes opened up and she chuckled "For the Golden Lord's sake no! Listen, here's what happened. We had been together for almost two years by then. We were high up a mountain, it had been cold and stormy and we were snuggled together. Even with our magic we couldn't get a fire going in the damp, so we snuggled together under our capes, sharing the body heat. We talked about friends, family, love, the future, we had a rather intimate time of it all. Then the wind came around to the south, all warm and fresh, and blew the clouds away, and there was a big, full, romantic moon right in front of us. We looked at each other, and we were both so lonely and had talked ourselves into wanting human contact so much, well, we kissed, Amilia, a big long romantic, don't break it till you have to come up for air, kiss. It was a spontaneous thing, then we giggled, and blushed and felt shy. I don't think either of us had ever kissed another human being like that before, of either gender. Anyway, we warmed up and settled down to sleep, apart, let me say. And for your sister, as far as she knew, when she woke up I was gone."

"Yes," said Naga, "And I blamed myself for making you think I was trying to seduce you, and I cursed myself and cried for you, but I was too ashamed to come after you anymore. So I drifted around. I heard of your adventures of course, how you were traveling with the swordsman who bore the Sword of Light, and how you destroyed Shabradnigdo. Then we met again and pretended nothing had changed, and we defeated Shabradnigdo together to help that elf child Lark. Then Hellmaster, and the barrier lifted. And then I went away, I couldn't bring myself to ask how you were, I couldn't ask, couldn't talk, about that kiss. I kept kicking myself. Finally you went away to the west it was said, to the outer realm. So I went also, but to the east, to go as far away from the place of my failures, as a daughter, as a sorceress, as a sister, as a princess, as a friend, as a rival, yes, as a human. And as I went, I found that, no matter how I kicked myself, I couldn't still the accusing voice inside me, the one that kept saying I was a failure, that I lost everyone I ever cared about, you Lina, you and daddy, Amilia, and yes, even mommy too, all due to my failing, regardless of the truth. If you say I was only screwed up, I'll thank you for being that nice. Brandy became my only friend, it shut things up, for awhile. Still I needed money for that, so one day I wandered into Westhold, and heard they were looking for a Royal Sorcerer. So I ended up here. Perhaps it was for the best after all. But now you say there is more to the story, Lina?"

Lina nodded slowly. "I had an, um, incident in my past, having to do with, um, a kiss, and my sister... Please forgive me but I can't talk about it, not right now. Just know something happened, and I relived the nightmare after we had fallen asleep. I woke up in a panic, and ran off. Finally I cried it out of my system, and then, I couldn't face you again, at least not right away. I thought you'd find me in a few days, you always did in the past, and I could explain then, but you never came. I wondered what had happened, I even looked awhile, but you had vanished. Then I met Gourry and my life started to change along different lines. Finally, as you said, we met again, but by then I wasn't alone with you, not to where we could talk anyway, and you seemed the same as always, so I never could, um, clear up things either. I am the one who is sorry Naga. I know you kissed me out of loneliness and wanting some tender human contact, that was why I kissed you too. I just never expected the dream after." Lina slumped, looking miserable.

Amilia was sitting there, her jaw just about dropping into the water. "Wow! You two aren't kidding that you have history!" she said, amazed. "So Gracia, please, go on! Tell us, how did you become Queen?" Naga slid over and hugged Lina and said "So it was all just a misunderstanding... Cheer up Lina! I forgive you, and I still ask you to forgive me, and let's put it behind us." Lina smiled saddly and said "It involved Luna again, so there, now you know why I am sad. Thank you for forgiving me and of course I do forgive you too Naga. You are right, let's put it behind us. And yes, as Amilia asked, do tell us how you became Queen! It sounded interesting on the road and in Seirune. Let's hear all the juicy details!"

Naga looked at her quizzically, then chuckled and said "Well, okay, why not. Let's see, I spoke of some of my past earlier. I had gotten as far as hearing about the job, I believe. Well, I applied, and, well, as you know, the people of the outer lands didn't develop magic like we did, something about being outside the Mazoku shield I think. So, of course, Naga the White Serpent, attitude not withstanding, won handily, and was appointed. Surprisingly, Westhold has a few magical secrets of it's own, and I found lots to study and some things that needed to be corrected in light of my better knowlege, coming from the West and all. And of course I had the King's ear and a generous salary, and was quite the freak at court with my "In your face" attitude. But there was always something about the King that was different. For one thing, he was one of the few men who had no problems looking me in the eye, instead of these!" she said, jiggling herself for emphasis. I found it refreshing!"

"Hear, hear!" chimed in Amilia giving her own ample bosom a jiggle like her sister. Lina muttered "Knock it off you two and get on with the story..." Naga laughed "OHOhohohohoho, Lina's still at it!" "At what?" Lina said dangerously. "Look, just put everything on hold for a minute, and do me this one little favour. PLEASE tell me what it is about my small breasts that everyone finds so amusing!" She looked at the two sisters. They looked at each other. Suddenly they burst out laughing, Naga with a full voiced peal of amusement, Amilia with an embarassed, "I'm sorry but I can't help it" giggle. "It's your reaction, Lina." said Amilia apologetically. "My what?" asked Lina in a small, very dangerous voice. "It's the way you blow up sky high over being called flat chested!" replied Naga, looking Lina square in the face. "You, you, youyouyouyou..." Lina gasped. She vibrated a minute then said, slowly and deliberately, "All this just because my reaction amused you? When your power returns..."

"Oh I'll be waiting for you, my dearest Dragon Spooker." chuckled Naga with a friendly smile on your face. "Oh, and you had to go bring that one up too didn't you!" yelled Lina. "OOOOOh, I wish I knew who started that! And why?" She slammed her fist on the side of the tub and then grimaced. That hurt. However, because it hurt, she happened to look at Naga and see the laughter in her eyes, and how hard she was vibrating, trying not to laugh. Something about the way she looked... Somewhere deep inside the penny finally dropped for Lina. "IT. WAS. YOUUUUUUUU!" she shrieked at Naga who burst out laughing her famous laugh full force. Caught between the two opposing forces of Lina's shriek and Naga's laugh Amilia seriously wondered if she'd be able to hold her breath long enough if she ducked under the water. She decided in the end not to, because Naga might need her to interpose herself between her and Lina's soon to be cast Dragon Slave. Lina had that unmistakeable look about her. However, by a supreme act of will, Lina brought herself under control. Naga stopped laughing and Lina took a really deep breath.

Finally she calmed down and said in a quiet voice "Actually, there's some truth to what you say about my over reacting. Just tell me why?" "You over react dangerously, blowing even me up with Dragon Slaves." responded Naga. "I didn't have a spell to counter the Dragon Slave with, so I found other ways to get even with you for that. Like the preposterous rumours of the Dragon Spooker. Actually, I didn't start a lot of them, they grew themselves, I just didn't stop people from blowing things out of all proportion. Let me think, it started innocently enough, some jerk was making a pass, and I asked him if he had ever heard of Lina Inverse, the sorceress famous for being so mean even the dragons were spooked by her. The guy gulped and said yes he'd heard of you. So I explained to him that I was your Mentor, and that if he didn't let go of my hand, which he was busy kissing furiously at the time, and buy me the biggest meal and the largest keg of brandy around to make up for it, he was going to find out what it was like to have a sorceress more powerful than even Lina Inverse mad at him. It worked. But the next day as I was leaving town I overheard people talk about how I taught you to spook dragons and I just kept using it. After awhile I started hearing the wierd stuff back spontaneously, "Lina Inverse tortures and easts baby dragons for breakfast!" that sort of thing, and well, I saw no reason not to get back at you for being fireballed or something, and I just encouraged it. Well, I had fun, but I guess it's time to lay that one to rest too, so I apologise for it Lina, along with the breast jokes, I'm sorry to have offended you with either. But I warn you, I don't know if I'm going to be able to stop for awhile. But hey, cheer up, big girls like me inevitably sag over time, where as you will look down right virginal to the day you die, you'll get your revenge in the end."

Lina looked down and after thinking about it said "I knew that too, now why didn't it ever click in? Jeepers, you are making it hard to fight you, you're going to have apologised everything away by the time your power returns." "Like that's going to stop you?" smiled Naga. "True enough..." responded Lina. "Will you two stop it with the fighting business?" said a perturbed Amilia. "Anyway, Gracia was supposed to be telling how the King wooed and won her, not arguing about how spooky the dragons find your breasts... er, no wait, that didn't come out right..." "Lina cocked an eye at the younger girl and said "First, Gracia. Then, you." "Yeah, okay, whatever..." gulped Amilia. "Please go on with the story, Gracia." she concluded.

Naga went on "I have an idea Lina, remember how most of our fights ended? After you weakened and I'd give up using the magic on you for safety and then we'd end up with you trying to run away and me swooping up and beating on you for fun?" "No" said Lina, warily cocking an eye at the sisters "I don't remember things that way, but we did run, yes..." "Well," Naga went on with a smirk, "after the war, even before the magic comes back, let's start there. I'm sure the exercise will do me good, and losing a race to me again will no doubt make you humbler!" Lina looked up and stared at Naga, who stared back. Then she did something very un-Lina like. She started to chuckle, then to laugh. "Okay. okay." she finally said. "You made me laugh, I'm happy again. And yes, we can race! That will be fun!"

"There we go, that's better!" said Naga. "Now on with my story. Well, there I am installed as Sorceress, doing a great job, and fairly well liked by everyone. Heck I even took a real liking to the King! Actually, I fell in love with him, in a friendship sort of way, not romantic, not then at any rate, or at least I got as close as Naga could come to that state. He was, is, kind, generous, warm, open, caring. I had not felt this sort of warmth from a man since mommy died and daddy changed." Amilia whispered "You left too soon Gracia, he came back..." Naga looked at Amilia and nodded "I know that now... well, to be honest about the love, Naga would wonder sometimes, after seeing Alfred dispence mercy with justice what life might be like as his queen, and wonder why he never found one, but she never dared hope she'd ever fill that role. Heck, she thought love was never to be hers, to tell the truth. She had resigned herself to being a virgin for life even before you met her Lina. I'm glad she was wrong!"

She then sighed and became more serious. "Now to get on with the story, it was noticed... that I had a thing for the bottle, especially about once a month, and then..." "Once a month?" asked Amilia naeively. "Think about it..." replied Naga. "Errr, oh, oops!" said Amilia getting it, then she asked "Why did you have to get drunk?" Naga sighed and said "I couldn't stand the site of blood after..., after..., mother..." she said, growing silent for a second. The room was steamy hot but it seemed to chill suddenly as Naga remembered that fateful night again. She wiped a tear away, Amilia seemed a bit burry eyed too. "Well, enough of that, I couldn't stand the site of blood, not fresh blood at any rate. So when it became "That time of the month!" I'd sneak away, as Lina might recall, and what she didn't know is I'd hole up for a few days and drink my self silly. Eventually I'd run out of booze, but I was good at timing it so that I'd wake up with the blood old and then I could stand it to clean myself up and carry on being Naga."

"I wondered where you went!" said Lina. "But my time usually hit then too, and I was happy just to take things quiet without you or anything else going on while that happened." she added. "And you would never explain. Is that why you like hot springs so much?" "I like them for many reasons." replied Naga, now recovering her normal voice, "but yes, that's one of them. I'd clean up well, before going in to one, but I never felt truly clean, clean in spirit I guess, until I had a good soak. Anyway, my little binges were up to a week long by the time I was hired, and it was noticed. I never could explain, and I didn't want to.

Then there was the first, uh... anniversary night here..." "Aniversary..." said a quiet, sad Amilia. "Oh Gracia..." "Of when your mom was, uh, you know?" asked Lina, who just wanted to be sure. Naga nodded. "I never could handle that night at all." she said quietly. "So I'd drink like I was trying to kill myself, and who knows maybe I was. I couldn't stand the accusing voice inside, the one that said that I wasn't good enough, that mommy would have lived if I had been faster." "Oh no, no, Gracia! No! It wan't your fault!" said Amilia. "I knew that logically." her sister replied, very sadly. "But my heart wouldn't believe me, and it always had the louder voice. It still does actually. The first year I was here I locked myself away and didn't come to for half a week, and I was sick for the other half. I always did this, right from the first year on. And they have such good mead here. And fruit brandy. Not grape like we are used to but other fruits that are fermented and distilled. It was a waste really. Oh yes, I was slowly sliding down the slope to being a gutter drunk, truth be told. But for the moment, I was still able to do good work when I was sober and made many worthwhile discoveries so they kept me on. But the drinking was noticed."

"And then came the second "aniversary" night. I had taken a vacation, as before, and had packed a suitably big cask of brandy into my room. Oh yes I was ready. But, just before I started, there was a knock on the door, and the King was there asking if he could just have a little chat. Well, of course you don't refuse a King, and yet, somehow, I could sense that in this case it was allowed, if that's what I wanted, and that got to me. No demands, no pulling of rank, nothing, just a man wanting to talk to a woman. And just to talk. I mean he had been very friendly and of excellent manners all the time I had known him. And even that night he looked me in the eyes, I had no doubts he was not in anyway "trying his luck", as it were. So I let him in. And that made all the difference. Now how did that happen? Well, start by understanding that I was emotionally as tight as I could get without exploding. If this had happened when I was calmer nothing probably would have happened. But I wasn't, I was nervous and jittery and emotionally unsteady. The King seemed to read me like a book and was right on target with his comments.

He started by asking why I was unhappy. Not if, why. I tried, unsuccessfully, to deny it, but he just looked hurt that I'd try that on him and I found myself confessing that yes I did have a secret hurt but no it wasn't the kingdom's fault, so not to worry. He looked sad for a minute then said I needn't tell him if I really didn't want, then he said that the reason he asked was because he was watching someone he cared about sliding down a slippery slope to ruin and he felt he had to at least make an effort to extend a hand. He then added, even more sadly, that there was nothing he could do if she didn't want to reach for it. I didn't go into details but I told him I had had a tragedy in my life nine years ago that night and that I never could stop the agony the memory brought me. He looked thoughtful for a minute then said "Well, a child, a lover, or a parent then, and given your age I suspect the latter. I know that tragedy, I lost both my parents and my only beloved sister to an accident seven years ago just earlier in the spring, and that is what made me King, long before I ever wanted to even have to think about it." He then briefly told me about his parents and the avalanche."

Naga paused for a breath then went on "Sounds tragic doesn't it? But I could see he genuinely hurt for his parents so I answered in a low voice, telling him things I had told no one else to that time. Not even you Lina, although maybe I should have, but..., maybe it was better the way it happened, we cleared a lot of things up on that walk that we might not have said otherwise. I told him it was my mother, and that she had been murdered before my very eyes. I then remember bending into a ball, all curled up in my chair and howling with grief. He said, very gently, "There's more to this story..." I managed to get out that I couldn't talk about it, I just couldn't. He replied, right on the mark "You feel guilty about it. I know that one too, I refused my father's invitation to go skiing that weekend he died, for no good reason other than laziness. I told him I was busy of course, but in reality, I wanted a weekend off from everything, because I was tired. I think he knew that too, but let it slide. Now I'll never know if I could have made a difference for any one of them. You see, they took the minimum staff with them, so there were too few hands to look for them after the snow rumbled. If I had been there..." He actually started to cry silently.

"How can you cry?" I asked him. "That's something I can't do. I wasn't fast enough, I failed her, I'm not worthy to mourn her..." I managed to get out. By now, of course, I was on the edge of the razor. I was farther into my emotional nightmare than I had been, oh, probably since the night it happened. Alfred then said the words that made the difference. He moved over to me and took my hands and looked me in the eyes. I was too far gone to object, it felt safe somehow, and in his eyes was genuine concern. "Did you love her?" he asked. I nodded. "Then you are worthy to mourn her. Failure is an act of fate, mourning is an act of love. You didn't hire the murderer, you didn't strike the death blow yourself, you just were not able to react fast enough in a sudden, dangerous, and very quick situation. But just because you failed to save her doesn't mean you didn't love her. Therefore you are most certainly allowed to cry, to mourn and grieve for her. In fact, you honour her by doing so."

"I know it seems so simple in the retelling, but it was just what I had needed to hear for nine long years. I was only sixteen when it happened, and I didn't know what to do. I was so scared that night, so scared, I blamed myself. I needed something that night that daddy was not able to give me, after all, he had to deal with a murder, the danger of more assasins, the possibility of a coup or an uprising, even a possible invasion for war, anything that this murder might have been a pretext for. He had to keep us safe in all of that too, and deal with his own grief. He didn't do anything wrong, he just couldn't be there for a sixteen year old girl who needed him, not some nurse or aunt or anyone else, but she needed her daddy to tell her it was okay to do what was really needed. The one thing that Alfred alone, besides daddy, could give me because I had come to respect, admire, and even love him so much. I couldn't do it, I couldn't give myself that permission, I needed someone I respected and looked up to to do it for me. Silly perhaps, but blasted emotions are like that. Anyway, the bottom line is simply that he gave me permission to cry for my mother. Until that night, last year, I had screamed, and laughed, and hated, and loved, and been crazy, but I had never, NEVER, cried for my mommy! And now, the one man who could do it, at the one time of the year I would listen, had come forth and given me the release I needed. As he spoke, the tears flowed for the first time, tears so hot they scalded my cheeks. But oh, the difference it made. He held me and rocked me like a little girl, he stroked my hair and I just wailed on and on, mourning and finding the release I needed. It was okay to cry. I wasn't bad for crying. I was good, I was loving mommy. Oh the peace that came with that..."

Naga stopped and just rocked herself for a bit. Amilia scooted over and hugged her. "I couldn't stop crying from the moment it happened." she said, then added "But I never saw the actual moment of the killing, nor did I have to kill that bastard either..." Lina looked down and said "I never knew until this past while just what you had been through Gracia..." Naga looked up with a smile and said "Not Naga?" "It didn't seem appropriate somehow." said Lina. "From you, my dear friend, it will always be appropriate, in fact, I would be honoured if you called me always by the name you knew me by!" Lina brightened. "Okay then, Naga, I will!" The girls all had a bit of a tension clearing laugh, and Naga want on. "Well, I cried my self to sleep, long after the tears had dried up from crying so much. I awoke to find I had slept a day and a night, and that the King had sent nurses to watch round the clock lest I needed anything. Someone had changed me out of my Naga costume and dressed me in a luxurious white nightgown. I have never worn that Naga suit since. It was my mother's and I wore it to honour her, or so I thought, but I think maybe it was a misguided way of having her hug me, because it was something that had been next to her body and now it was next to mine. But I no longer needed it any more.

I was given a cup of a soothing medicinal tea, courtesy of Doctor Erik, and the King was sent for. He shoo'd everyone out and sat on my bed and asked how I was feeling. I remember blushing as I told him I felt fine, better than I had in many years. I bowed to him, feeling shy and ashamed at my emotional outburst, I mean, he is the King after all, and started to apologise for my behaviour. I was stopped by the King forcefully lifting my chin up till I was looking him in the eyes and then he told me, quietly, but firmly, never, ever, to apologise for mourning for my mother. I was looking in his eyes, deep blue pools that they are and, well, being a girl, and all that I had been through, it was inevitable. My heart, sore and bruised as it was perhaps, could still take the next step. I realised I loved the King as a man. I simply said "I love you..." and waited for what ever the outcome was to be. I fully expected him to laugh or something. But what he said, in a strange voice, was "Really?" Then he smiled, a rare shy smile, as if I had given him something he never expected, maybe that he had never hoped even. I did notice his cheeks coloured a bit and a strange hope leaped in my breast, that maybe there was hope even for me that I might find love.

At this point the fact he was King had faded from my memory, I was thinking of the man. Anyway, he kissed me on the forehead and told me to rest. The rest of the story was, well, rather simple. We saw each other daily, and the visits became longer and more private. It took a good month before we kissed on the lips, but I think for both of us that first kiss sealed it. Anyway, four weeks after that he proposed and I told him there would be nothing that could make me happier than to be his wife. I wasn't even thinking about being queen or anything like that. Another four weeks later came the fastest Royal wedding ever held in Westhold. Then, as I told you, Lina, came the wedding night! And yes, I never had told him, in all that we had said, not from the time I was hired, until the night of my wedding, that I was Royal. He had assumed I was well brought up in a wealthy family from Seirune, and like I said to you Lina, I told him I was from the wealthiest one going, the Royal family. That's when I gave him what is now Amilia's ring to examine. He looked stunned and then laughed about being a virgin. I think I made him nervous, can you imagine."

"Oh I can imagine that." said a smiling Lina. Naga smiled back and continued. "He briefly explained about the mad monks and I believed him, then I took his hand and said "All that means is that we are going down this road hand in hand insead of you leading. I love you." and for some reason, I had the courage to start things, more than he did. I kissed him, and, well, my dear little Arthur tells the rest of the story. And yes, I am so happy! She ended her story with the happiest smile that Lina had ever seen on her friends face. Amilia was beaming too, and Lina realised that she too was smiling a big smile. "Aww, that's just so, so, cute?" said Amilia. "Sweet?" suggested Lina. "Nauseating!" said Naga with a laugh. "No, my life was full of ups and downs and it still is, but now I'm not alone and I have a sense of purpose and direction that I never had in the past."

"Um, say Gracia, if you don't mind my asking," put in Amilia, "The last, um, anniversary, to use your word, was what, about three months ago now. How did you survive that one? If what you say is true it must have been your first sober one since.., it..., happened, what, ten years ago now..." Naga smiled a very sweet smile and looked at her sister with a twinkile in her eyes. "Well, you could say that I found something to occupy my time, something that kept me busy and shifted the focus, so that, while I didn't forget what day it was, it added to the meaning of that day, and changed it for me forever." Amilia looked at her sister expectantly, and Lina was all ears too. Naga savoured a few seconds of mystery then announced "I gave birth to Arthur!"

"Oh my!" Lina found herself saying as Amilia gave her sister yet another hug. "I'm so glad" the Princess said to her sister, the Queen. "Daddy and I always worried about you, especially on that night of the year..." Naga gave her a warm smile and said "Don't worry about me any more. It's you two we have to get squared away now. Lina, I hope we find Gourry for you, a war this big has got to be attractive to a poor mercenary. Too bad his physical description matches half the men in Westhold. But, if he's here, we'll find him! But you, my dear sister, hmmm, you have a real nut to crack don't you?" she went on. Amilia looked down. "We were so close..." she said whistfully. "I don't know what to do. I see daddy's point about the succession being in trouble, but it is so unust that people could be unfair. I honestly can't see myself marrying anyone else if I can't have Zel." She sighed. "You might have to, you know..." said Naga, gently. "NO!" said Amilia with sudden passion. Then she broke down. "I- I can't stand it. He's so moody lately! He's going to leave, I know it! If he goes I'm following, and if Seirune can't accept a chimera for a ruler after me then let them appoint a new heir!" She wept. "Hey, it's okay." said Naga, hugging her for a change. "It hasn't happened, at least not yet, and maybe we can find..."

Just at that moment the back door, the one leading straight into the tub room, opened with a bang and a tall stack of books on legs staggered into the room. "Can someone help me please?" a muffled male voice said from behind them. The door, bouncing back from being opened so strongly, swung shut behind them. That broke the tension. Lina screamed and blushed! Amilia screamed and ducked behind her sister, blushing furiously. Naga stood up to her full height, not blushing, not hiding herself either, and pointed a finger at the books, laughing her most terrible laugh as she did so. The books gave a start and tumbled down to reveal the shocked face of...Zelgadiss!

"What do you think you are doing you horrible little man!" barked Naga as Zel turned away, but not before answering once and for all the old question that yes indeed, chimeras could blush! And furiously too! He went to the door apologizing as he went, but before he could get there Naga ordered "STOP!" He did so and said "What? Why? This was an accident, let me go so you can get dressed." Accident eh?" sneered Naga. "Who do you think's going to believe that one? Maybe that works as an excuse where ever you come from, Mister Lord Zelgadiss, but around here you just bought yourself a world of hurt, as the saying goes. So, couldn't wait any longer to see what Amilia was really like? Or just checking out the fabled beauty of the Queen of Westhold?" "What?" said Zel half turning before remembering the girls were naked. "What load of craziness is that, Your Majesty?"

"Crazy?" said Naga dangerously, as Amilia and Lina just looked on and blinked. "OH no, my friend, you forget where you are! This pleasant little kingdom is only a few generations out of a barbarian age where the Kings had absolute power. No my poor man, this isn't the west. Here, the nakedness of the Queen is the King's perogative, and he is the only man allowed to view it, apart from the royal doctor. You can bet that by now the guards know, if not the King, that you are here. You just invoked the death penalty on yourself, accident or not." "NO!" shouted Amilia as she sprang forward and knelt before her sister, grabbing her hand in supplication. "NO! If he dies I die, please Gracia, Your Majesty, help us!" She began to cry. "Amilia, calm down and let me think." ordered Naga. Zel gave an exaggerated sigh and stood there, facing the door. "What do you recommend then?" he said sullenly.

Naga was silent for a time as if in deep thought. Lina took the opportunity to nip out and dress in the night clothes laid out on the bed for her. When she came back Naga looked up and announced "In Westhold it had been the perogative of the Royal Sorceress to punish people who transgress against her herself. I can claim that righ and punish you myself. Only mark my words, it will be a punishment that is fitting to the crime or the King may not leave it alone. However if I have punished you enough, then he has to declare the punishment just and leave you alone." "How about banishment? asked Zel. "No, nothing that simple I'm afraid, you'd be hunted down." said Naga, thinking hard. She then looked around and saw Lina was dressed. "I must look something up, and get dressed, Lina will you make sure Zel stays here until I get back? Even though I never use them, these are my chambers and I can order people to stay out of them, even the King. If Zel goes into the hall he will be arrested and taken to the King, and I don't think I can help much if that happens. Come Amilia, you better get dressed too." With that the two sisters wrapped their towels and robes around themselves and left.

"Oh bloody hell..." said Lina quietly. Zel shrugged and said "I was returning some books that had been lent to me earlier today. Why I had to take them back I don't know but the librarian insisted there was no one to help and that it had to be tonight, and so I ended up with all those books on magic taken from the library of the Queen. I must have miscounted the doors though, because I ended up in the tub room instead." No, you got it right." said Lina sadly. "The library is through that door there. I guess that you just didn't know there was a tub party going on... Did you find anything at least?" she asked.

"Lots of interesting suff, but nothing pertaining to my main mission. Ah geepers, now what's going to happen? This is bloody insane!" said Zel. A minute later Amilia bounced into the room, as if in response to the question. She came up and shyly hugged Zel. "I won't let them do anything to you Zel, I won't, I won't" "Don't worry." said Zelgadiss quietly as he hugged back and rocked her a little bit. "We'll survive this I'm sure." Zel sad down on the bed, exasperated at the sudden turn of events. Amilia sat beside him, hugging him and feeling sad. It had been such a nice night too. Lina decided she was nervous about it all and went into the tubroom, and to sooth herself ended up eating the rest of the snacks. She was going to drink all the cocoa too, but a rare stab of guilt made her bring the last cup out to Zel. "Try this and get a bit of pleasure from tonight, okay?" she said as she handed it to him. "But just sip it okay?" Zel gave the cup a curious sniff and then took a sip. "Wow!" he said. "I could get used to this! It makes tea seem bland somehow!" Amilia smiled and said "Yup, it's called cocoa, or chocolate or something like that and it comes from the east. The same one that wants to invade us." "Figures, somehow." said Zel. They passed the time rather quietly, waiting for Naga to return. Finally, after all of half an hour, a mere eternity to the waiting trio she did return, bearing a silver cup.

"Right! Drink." she commanded, holding out the cup. "What is it?" asked Zel. "Your punishment." she replied. "No, really?" said a sarcastic Zel as he looked at the cup suspiciously. He said "What's in it?" "The ingredients are a secret." replied Naga "but you will be punished." "Give me some details, you are starting to make the death penalty sound good." said Zel, still sarcastically. "The death penalty is by torture." said Naga. "This cup is also torture, but you will survive." "Pain then." said Zel. "I have to convince the King you have been punished." said Naga, "It can't be a cold cup of tea."

"Maybe cold tea is torture for some of us." said Zel who was immediatly shut up by Amilia clamping her hand over his mouth. "Oh no, isn't there another way?" asked Amilia. "Well, if the King is in a good mood, he could just be castrated and blinded, but I have the feeling that's not what he's likely to decide." said Naga gently to Amilia. "Oh no! Come on Gracia! This is unjust! It was an accident!" said a worried Amilia. "Isn't this all a bit harsh?" asked Lina, not sure what to make of it all. "I didn't make these rules." said Naga sadly. "Please, Zel will live after this cup does what it does?" asked Amilia. "Yes, live and be fine." said Naga, holding it out to Zel again. "I still want to know what's in it." said Zel. "And what it does, exactly."

"Zel." said Amilia as she took the cup from Naga's hands. "Maybe it's better not to know. Anyway, you know you must take it, let's get it over with, okay?" Zel looked sharply at Amilia and said "No! I don't think I want to take it if I don't know what it is or what it does. This was an accident. Kind Alfred seems a reasonable man, I'm sure if it was explained to him it'd be okay, it was just an accident!" Amilia looked over to Naga who just shook her head. Amilia looked to Zel and said "If they kill you I will die too Zel, probably by my own hand." Zel stared at her and said sharply "That's crazy and you know it! Are you going to commit suicide if I get killed in this war?" "Yes, no, I don't know, I just know I love you and I'm young, and I'm foolish, and..." Amilia dissolved to tears. "Oh this is getting out of hand!" said Lina with concern. "There are already guards at the door." said Naga quietly. "It's not as if we can pretend nothing happend, I warned you. Look, you can take my cup, it will not be nice, but it will be over by morning, and you will live, or you can go out the door and try your luck with the King. I can't force you, only warn you and try to help you."

"Please Zel" begged Amilia. Zel sighed and said "I can't believe I'm doing this." With that he took the cup and drained it. Naga hung her head and said "It is called "The Cup of Priapas" It will, um, how to explain this, it will cause you, your, um, male member to do it's thing all night long." "That's my punishment?" asked a slightly freaked out Zel. "Um, no, there is a catch. It will fill you with an unbearable urge to relieve yourself of those feelings." replied an even more embarassed Naga. "But there is a catch. If you act on that desire for relief, you will find it, and you will soften again, but, you will never have hardness there again for as long as you live." Zel's jaw dropped.

"WHAT?" he yelled. "Keep your voice down or the guards will come" shushed Naga quickly. "This is crazy!" said Zel more quietly but perhaps more dangerously. "I KNEW I should have waited till I found out what was in the cup! How stupid can I get?" He glared at the Queen. Amilia took his hand and said with a sob "It's my fault! I shouldn't have insisted! But I didn't want you killed!" Lina said "Hey Naga, it's not for me to interfere, but this is the wierdest and perhaps worst thing I have ever seen you do." "You have a better plan?" hissed Naga in sudden anger. "No..." said Lina backing off. "If anything bad happens to Zel from this I'll never talk to you again, officially or otherwise, Gracia!" hissed Amilia in her turn. "Well, what do we do now?" interjected Zel, still angry. "In a few minutes the cup will start to work." said Naga. "Then all you have to do is resist the urge to relieve your, um, urge, until sunrise, at which point you'll go limp, then fall asleep, and sleep till the afternoon, or maybe the evening. Then it's over." By now Zel was shaking in anger. "You have stripped me of my dignity, you know. Where shall I stay for this ordeal?" "In this room I'm afraid." said Naga. "I can't protect you any where else. And stripping you of your dignity is part of the punishment, I'm afraid." "I'm staying too!" said Amilia, a strange light in her eyes. "No. That won't be safe!" said Naga, very worried. "Yes it will!" replied Amilia "and I'll tell you why. I want this man to be my husband and the father of my children, chimera or not! I WILL NOT let your cup succeed in preventing that! Nothing will happen, tonight! And you'll have a real battle with an angry sorceress in her own right on your hands if you try to remove me!" Naga looked helplessly at Lina. "Hey, don't look at me, I'm not interfereing in this." the redhead replied, still stunned by what was happening. Naga shook her head. "What will daddy think? Okay, I can't protect him from the guards if they have to come in to fight Amilia. I have no choice, you can stay. But remember what I said, please!" "I will." said Amilia quietly. She looked at Zel and smiled. She took his hands and sat beside him. "Please leave us now." she said. "Let us give Zel what dignity we can." "You won't be disturbed, I promise." said Naga. "There will be a guard outside the door, if you need help, let them know they will do what they can, even come to get me. Come Lina, I guess you better sleep in Amilia's room tonight, I'll take you there." The two women left the room. Lina looked sadly at Zel and Amilia and said "Good luck you two. See you in the morning."