Chapter 15 xxxxxxxxxx

Lina awoke in Amilia's bed. "So this is how a mistress is treated, not bad, but I'd rather be queen I think!" she joked to herself. "Ah me, well I better find out how Amilia and Zel are." Seeing that the sun was up she knew the ordeal was over. She walked up the hall, tucking her robe around her as she approached the door to the room. The two guards outside it were alert looking, and yet they had been the two detailed to stand guard the evening before. They had a scary, determined look to them, these guards were obviously serious about their task. Lina had learned enough about the place to know there were no real permanent palace guards, but rather every principality under the rule of King Alfred sent a unit of troops to guard the great hall in it's turn. Lina thought to herself that if all the guards in Westhold were as well trained, and she suspected they were, then Westhold would be a very scary place to do battle against. No wonder the Kahn of the east was sending a million men. Lina shook her head at the thought, until a few weeks ago she didn't even think there could be a million people on the earth, let alone a million men of the right age and condition to amass a million man army.

Lina was allowed to go to the door and knock quietly. A minute later a red eyed Amilia opened the door and peeked out. "How are you?" asked Lina in a worried tone of voice. "We survived, don't worry." replied a dead tired Amilia. "I'm sorry, I had to know. I'll leave you alone now." said Lina. Amilia smiled and said "Thanks for needing to know. I don't mind that it was you, Lina." as she sleepily closed the door again. Lina padded down the hall and to her surprise found a tired looking Naga pacing in the hall. "I haven't slept either, Lina" she said, her bloodshot eyes confirming the truth. "They are alright." said Lina quietly. She felt like yelling at her friend, but something told her that was not the best way, this time. Instead, she simply said "Naga, go to bed. If we need to talk about this then we will do it better after everyone is rested. Good night." "I'm sorry Lina, I didn't know what else to do..." said Naga in a tired and weepy voice. She sniveled down the hall and went into the King's chamber.

Lina shook her head and thought for a while. "This is too wierd, I think something's up." she said at last, to herself. "After the war I might need to look into this. This doesn't fit with Naga's, or, from what I can tell, King Alfred's, character. Hmmm, oh well, breakfast time!" Lina got dressed in a hurry and went out to the main hall. Naturally she was the only one there. Oh well... A hearty big breakfast later and she was out the door seeing what was happening the night before. There had been a light rain in the wee hours by the looks of things, everything was wet or damp, there were a few puddles in the lower parts of the terrain, and the air had that fresh smell to it. "Ahhhhh...!" she sighed, taking a deep breath.

There was a bit of a stir in the horse stables and she wandered over out of sheer curiosity. A lot of extra horses were stabled there. Asking a few questions she found out that they were the horses of the guard from the western boarder that had arrived yesterday afternoon after they had been relieved by the arrival of the promised troops from the west. Seirune had sent a contingent, and some of the costal states, and, what's more so had Elemikia and even Zoana. Lina nodded sadly. Oh well, at least there was a chance of holding the gate now. Well, nothing for it but to wait.

Anyway the afternoon promised to be colourful, this was the gathering day, the day the muster of the full force of the army of Westhold was to arrive and form ranks outside the Keep, then prepare to march away to battle. Already the staff at the hall were readying a great meal, for the troops would be hungry, especially those who had done forced marches to get down from the northern most principalities and dukedoms. Lina thought sadly that it was unfair that so many men had to be torn away from their families and march off to the grim prospect of death, but she had no bright ideas of how to stop it either. This was simply not going to be a nice war.

"Lina, what are you going to do?" she asked herself in a moment of introspection. This was no bandit hunt. Still, Darkstar and Shabradnigdo had been no less scary and powerful, a million man army might not be undefeatable. And no matter what else, as long as you lived, there was always hope. Lina decided she wanted solitude that morning so she headed to the garden which was the shrine of the unknown god. She thought about what had happened recently and what was going to happen, and she used the time to wrestle with her fears. She knew once battle was joined there would be no time and she had to have them faced and controlled before then. At one point she even did the unusual and approached the altar and, kneeling down offered up a sort of prayer.

"Hey, unknown god? I don't know you, I don't know if you know me, I don't even know if you're real, or just a crazy invention, like that twit Martina and her Zoamel Guster, er Gustav, oh WHAT EVER... er, sorry about that, um, I'm not used to just praying without chanting or whatever the ritual is supposed to be you know? I hope you are real somehow, it would be nice, oh, there I go again, look, god? Is this really what you want for mankind? That we should fight each other and hurt and kill each other? I mean, what's the point? I know that when danger comes to me I will do what I have to, even kill, to defend myself, but does danger really have to come? Well, I guess it does, or we wouldn't have it, but it's hard to accept you know? Isn't there a better way? What do we have to do to find it? And can you please help us with this war? See, I want my friends and family to live, and I want to live. I want Naga's son to grow up, and have all the brothers and sisters Naga wants to give him. I want Amilia and Zel to work things out and have a life together too. And I want to find Gourry so I can tell him I love him, and I hope he still wants to marry me, and I want to make peace with Luna..., oh, I'm rambling again, I'm sorry. It's something I do when I'm confused and scared, like now. Please forgive me for disturbing you, I just need to talk to someone you know? I suppose asking for a sign is pointless, you are unknown, how would we know what to look for? But could you send some extra help, maybe? Okay, I don't know what else to say, I'm sorry if I bothered you, um, thanks for listening, I hope..."

Feeling a bit better for talking, but a bit sheepish too, and not knowing why, Lina got up and wandered back out to the main court yard. She went to see if Sylphiel was around, but after asking around and looking for a while she just couldn't find the raven tressed girl anywhere. "Oh well, must be busy..." she thought. So the morning passed, rather aimlessly actually, and Lina was wishing something would happen. It was still a bit too early for lunch, which was going to be late anyway because of all the preparations for the arrival of the troops. She observed that summer was just begining to get on, it was funny how quickly things could change. For once in her life, she looked forward to fall, for if she saw it it would mean the war was over and won. She was sitting near the front gate, thinking this and other cheery thoughts when she becme aware of a stir among the guards.

Picking up her ears she realised there was something on the road moving towards Stronghold. The guards were debating what it was, some suggested it was an early arrival of troops for the muster, others said it was the wrong road for the troops to be taking. Still others said it might be some sort of illusion caused by the rain from last night evaporating in the heat of the near noon sun. There was a discussion going on about whether to get the captain away from his duties of preparing for the arrival of the muster or wait till it got closer. "If it's trouble he'll be angry we didn't warn him right off..." said one guard. "If it isn't he'll be just as angry we disturbed him." responded his mate. "We need to send out a rider, but the captain has to order it." said a third. Lina saw her chance. She quickly cast Ray-Wing on herself and as she floated up she said to the guards, who, even thought they knew she was a sorceress, were still startled to see her take flight, "I'll go. I can be faster than a rider, and I can defend myself better too. Wait for me..."

With that she was off towards the vague movenent on the western road. Zooming in quickly she realised it was a large, no, absolutely bloody hugh army of men moving towards the city. She quailed for a minute, she had never seen so many soldiers all at once before. What was going on? She debated going back and warning the guards to prepare for war, but something told her to take a closer look first, so she kept going forward instead. As she closed with the army she suddenly realised she could recognise the standards! Seirune was there, and Elemikia, most, if not all the costal states, and other small kingdoms and free states too. Zoana was prominent, and, by the gods! There was Zefielia! What was going on? Then she saw...

"PHIL!" she yelled down to Seirune's ruling Prince. "What the hell is going on?" A chorus of "Hi Lina" or of "Hey it's Lina Inverse" rose from the nobles, many of whom Lina had met in one way or another, at one time or another, and from the rank and file too, for she was rather well known. And not always for the best of reasons. But like anyone was going to tell her that, to her face at least...

Phil called back up "Hey Lina! How are you? You taking care of my girls?" Lina cocked an eye and called back down to him "When did you hire me? We never discussed pay or anything..." Phil laughed. "Still at it, I see. Well, to answer you question, after you left we, my fellow rulers and I, got to talking, and we realised there was no way we could seriously leave you to struggle by yourselves, it wasn't just! Oh, and we also realised that the western gate in the narrow pass there was not the most defensable set up going, so, well, we just decided the only logical choice was to show up en mass and join the party, he, he." Lina had to land and give her head a shake. "That makes no sense to me, but I admit I'm not a military tactician..." "Tactics have little to do with it." said another voice. Lina looked over. "Hey Zangulas! You too!" "Yup, we're here!" laughed the King of Zoana, and former rival to Gourry Gabriev, as he patted his famous, or infamous, magical, Demonic Howling Sword. "How's Martina?" Lina felt compelled to ask. "Well, she's pretty good, for being eight months into our third child..." Zangulas smirked back. "She decided all things being considered she'd stay home this time and pray for victory." "Wow, three kids!" replied Lina. "Yup! One each, and we'll see in about a month what the new one's going to be!" he replied. "Er, so, how come tactics have nothing to do with this?" Lina went on, wanting to change the subject before she ended up with Zangulas' life history.

"Well, a wall gives a tactical advantage it's true, but a wall where all you can do is wait as the enemy moves up en mass and batters at you day after day until the inevitable happens is bad strategy. Better to ride out to meet him, and if you can meet another ally on the way who can join strength to strength, even better!" "Where did all these men at arms come from?" was the next question. "We combined all the fighting men available in the west." Phil said. "To be honest, we did what this Kahn of the east seems to have done, we conscripted every fighting man we had and melded them into a makeshift army. It isn't the greatest, but it is the best we could do in the time we had." "They're going to freak at the castle when I tell them what's happening, but you'll be more than welcome. Speaking of which, I better get back, the gate guards were arguing about if you were an invasion force or not when I left. See you all at the keep!" Lina said.

She turned to go and as she did she saw the banner of the Swordsmen of the Eternal Queen. "Oh!" she said and ran up to get a better look. The swordsmen were of course the elite force of Zefielia, Lina's own country. In his day her own father had been part of that elite regiment. As she ran up one swordsman, none other than their captain by the looks of things turned and called out "Hey! Little Lina!" Lina stopped, dumbfounded. No one had called her that name for years! Not since Luna had "suggested" her future lay out in the world and had basically sent Lina away from home. She stared and said "I'm sorry, I should know you, but I don't remember..."

"Ha, ha, well I'm not surprised, you used to look down on me, instead of up!" said the man as he removed his helmet. Lina did a double take. The man in front of her was a well developed specimen, almost a god. If she hadn't found another one in Gourry, she'd be tempted. But, he looked familiar. Suddenly it clicked. "No! It can't be! SHORTY?" Is that you?" she practically shrieked as she ran up and gave an old friend a hug. "Ha, ha, ha, I haven't seen you in years! How's life?" asked her old friend. "You've really grown you know! I bet you are breaking hearts..." she teased back. "Ha, well, not anymore, I'm taken!" he said with a big smile as he gave Lina an odd look. "And yes, I finally decided to grow up, I was just a late bloomer. You've turned out very pretty too, you know, Lina. Quite the petite little beauty aren't you? Still got your temper?" he added. "Err, ha, ha, ha, well, you know, somethings never change do they?" said Lina nervously recalling some of the antics she had pulled on Shorty. "Yup, that's true, at least from the reputatuon that goes along with the stories told about you." Shorty said in his turn. "But, we'll catch up later, okay?" "Yeah!" said Lina as she backed off. "Gotta go make some people happy! Later everyone!" she called out and waved.

She then called forth the Ray-Wing spell again, and popped into the air. One last look at the sheer size of the army and she was off like a shot to the keep. As she zoomed over the gate she called to the guards "Get your captain, he has the whole host of the West to receive!" Startled, they ran to obey. Lina landed by the doors to the hall and strode in, demanding the King or the Queen. She found out they were still sleeping, apparently the Queen had been up until late, for some reason, and the King hadn't slept either. So they were tired, obviously. Lina wanted to reach them anyway, but the guards at the door looked imposing, so Lina went outside and sudenly jumped up and Ray-Winged back into flight. She circled the castle quickly then nipped over a wall and was now floating outside the windows of the private chambers of the King and Queen. She peeked in all the windows, then suddenly found what she wanted.

Looking in the window she could see the royal couple, sound asleep in their bed. The picture it presented made her give a little gasp, and stop for a moment, against her will not to spy, she had to look. Naga was right, the bed, though well made, was plain. But the picture it presented with the sleepers that were tucked into it showed Lina that Naga had also been right when she said it was really made of love, and was more precious than the golden bed Lina had been sleeping in. The scene was simple enough, the room was plain, really, it could have been almost a peasant's house. The main feature was the bed, on which the King lay sleeping, lying on his back. His years of training were evident, as he wasn't wearing clothes, and his tightly muscled chest and arms were evident to Lina. A blanket covered both him and the Queen below their waists, but Lina imagined the legs would be well developed too. The Queen was lying on her side, as she almost always did as long as Lina had known her. When she did that, and was asleep, she had a certain almost doll like beauty to her, one that had charmed even Lina the few times she had awakened in the night and seen Naga, all those years ago. Even then she had seemed rather fragile somehow, and Lina now knew why. But, this time it was different, for Naga was lying with her head and shoulders on the King's chest, and even in sleep he had an arm craddling her. The fragile doll was now protected, and looked secure. Her fair, pale skin contrasted nicely with his slightly darker, more tanned body, but the real crowning glory to the picture was their hair. Hers was still black and shiney while his was such a pale blonde it was silver in this light. And his had to be almost as long as hers. Now it was scattered, and mixed with hers, like some sort of a shimmering black and silver aura around them. It lent them a sort of "other worldliness" look. Almost angelic somehow, Lina thought. And to top it off, at the foot of the bed was a cradle, proof that the couple had joined their lives together in the most lasting way possible. Lina found herself hoping that she and Gourry would look like that someday, not that she wanted anyone to see. But, she was here for a purpose, and after a few seconds she shook herself away from the blissful scene. Rising up a bit, so the sleepers wouldn't realise she had been spying on them she tapped the window sharply and called out "Naga! Get up! You've got company!"

She waited a bit impatiently until the window flew open and a sleepy Naga was there, now in a robe of course, saying, "Lina, what the hell..." "Get up girl, your daddy's coming for a visit!" Lina interupted, then went on "And he brought a few guests with him!" "Wha, what? Daddy? Guests? Huh?" said a now confused Naga. Lina lowered herself and looked Naga in the eye. "I don't know how he did it, but he's raised the west. I'm serious, he's marching in, along with many of the kings and/or generals, of the various lands we used to wander in when we thought it was the whole world." Naga gulped and looked startled. "Wh..., wh, why?" she finally asked. "Because," Linawent on, "they are bringing with them every able bodied fighting man in the west. I am serious Naga. If they have one man less than one hundred and fifty thousand men at arms with them, then I have bigger breasts than you do..."

Naga was speechless. In fact she seemed to sway like she was about to faint. The now robed King came out of the shadows and caught her. "I'm sorry to disturb Your Majesties." Lina said to him. "I thought Queen Gracia would want as much warning as possible. Now I need to find her sister and get her ready too. Please excuse me." With that Lina rose up and over the wall and went out to the main court yard to see where Amilia was. "Probably asleep too..." thought Lina. Suddenly she spotted Amilia, alone, in one of the gardens. She quickly landed beside her. "I thought you'd be asleep." she said to the smaller, raven haired girl. "I wish...," Amilia answered in a tired voice.

She went on "Well, actually, I did for a bit, but last night was emotionally hard. Yes we did talk a bit, and about important things too, but for the most part Zel was so silent. Well, it's his way I guess. I don't understand what Gracia thought she was up to, she's gotten very strange, or else this kingdom is wierder than we thought." She shook her head and said "When it was over, Zel said he was silent because he was resisting his urges. and I believe him. But I know he feels crushed and humiliated by this, and in his eyes he had that look, like he's going to run away again. I'm scared Lina, I know he won't take me with him if he goes..." she concluded, getting a bit weepy.

"I'm so sorry Amilia." replied Lina. "It seemed very out of character for your sister to do what she did, and we need to straighten things out. But not this day. I came to tell you your daddy is coming." Amilia looked startled. "Really?" she asked. "Oh, it must be he came with the troops to that wall, and is using this as an excuse to come visit. It will be great to see him again, but I suppose he'll want to take me back with him." She sighed. "Not this day, he's not." said Lina. "I'm not sure how, but he's raised the west, Amilia, and he and every king and general from the west is riding with him at the head of at least one hundred and fifty thousand men at arms. I know because I Ray-Winged out to see them. Remember Zangulas? He's one of the kings who's coming with him." As with Naga, Amilia was stunned to silence. Finally she looked to Lina and shook her head. Lina smiled and said "Go get Zel, he's part of Seirune's household now, he better be ready to meet his Prince, and show him that he's guarding his daughter!" After a minute of confused hesitation Amilia simply said "Right!" and ran off. Lina wandered back out to the courtyard, and found it abuzz with people busy trying to prepare for the unexpected arrivals.

In short order the King and Queen appeared, looking as startled as everyone else, and rode in what state they copuld to the front gate to greet the guests. Floating up to the wall near the gate Lina could see out and now there was no mistaking the absolute mass of men maybe a mile off now. They kept a measured pace and would arrive in less than half an hour, a very anxious one for the people in the courtyard as last minute touches were arranged, guards were set in honour guard rank and file, all ready to do their King proud when he greeted this unexpected arrival of the kings of the West! Lina noted that Naga had left Arthur behind. Oh well, the crowds would likely scare the poor infant.

About five minutes before the approaching army arrived Zel and Amilia arrived. Amilia was in a pretty white dress and was seated on a white horse. Zel had put on some armour it seemed, to look appropriate, though anyone who knew him knew his own chimeric skin was harder than the rings he wore, but still, it didn't hurt to look proper. His shield bore the white serpent of Seirune and he was standing guard to Amilia, or Amilia the White Serpent as she was now supposed to be nick named. Somehow it was fitting, and Lina determined then and there that if she had to bind him in chains and levitate him back he was not going to run away from Amilia if she, Lina Inverse had anything to say about the matter. But that was as far as she got, for outside the walls a series of orders were suddenly yelled and with surprisingly reasonable precision the unimaginable vast army halted.

A party of several horsemen, big enough to form a squadron of cavarly in some of the smaller states in the west, came forward. Outside the gate they stopped and the trumpeters raised their horns and blew a greeting. After a brief pause, sheerly for the drama of it, a brave lone man appeared on top of the battlements to the gate and called down "Who goes there?" Phil puffed up to answer but Zangulas beat him to it, perhaps by accident, perhaps by feeling it wasn't the time to risk a justice speech. "Friends!" he shouted back. "Friends that Westhold never knew she had, but friends never the less, loyal and true, come to help in her hour of need." The guard glanced at King Alfred, who gave a stunned look to his wife, who gave him one back. He nodded to the guard who then answered the assembled leaders of the west "Friends, you are unlooked for, but therefore are you the more welcome in this hour. Enter and be greeted by Their Royal Hignesses King Alfred and Queen Gracia of Westhold!" With that a trumpet sounded and the gates swung open to reveal the King and Queen sitting on their horses, trying to look as if they were greeting long lost relatives, and only partly succeeding.

Lina bit her tongue to avoid the giggle that wanted to escape. With a bang the gates opened fully. An order was yelled and the guards of Westhold snapped to attention, then did a smart little drill move to open the ranks and let the King and Queen, with Zel and Amilia, go forward. As the King and Queen rode up it appeared to Lina like King Alfred was trying deserately to decide what the protocol was for greeting this many dignitaries at once. However, the emotions of family solved that problem for him. As he got to the point where he would stop and make some sort of greeting his Queen suddenly spurred her horse forward and said, with tears in her eyes "Daddy! What are you doing here?" "Gracia..." said Phil tenderly as he opened his arm to her. She sank into his shoulder weeping. Amilia also felt overwhelmed and rode up. "Daddy...' she sniveled. "Amilia..." said Phil just as tenderly, opening his other arm out and hugging both his girls. The King looked startled and some of the other kings gave a chuckle, then someone started to clap, and in a minute there was a general round of applause. When it died down King Alfred spoke and said "Well, uh, now that the formalities are over, let me just say you are all most welcome. Please, Your Majesties and other worthy dignitaries, please, come into the hall of Stronghold and be welcomed! As for your men, if they can bear but a little march to the other side of the city they will find there a vast plain that they can encamp on. Provisions will be provided, I hope, we were expecting our army towards evening, and so have food and drink ready for a multitude. Come now and be most welcome!" With that he rode up to Phil and extended his hand in greeting. "Son!" boomed Phil taking the offered hand and shaking it heartily as he let his girls go. "Er, Dad!" replied Alfred, a little uncertain what to make of it all. With that they rode into the city as orders were made to move the vast army.

In a short time they were moving and passed by the city and within an hour or two a vast tent city had sprouted on what was once a green prairie. Food was sent out, plain fare, but hearty, bread, meat, several kinds of vegetables, and kegs of mead. Lina had a moment's indecision as to whether to join the high table or go eat with Shorty and the other Zefielian's, but seeing the bustle in the camp she realised he'd be too busy now and decided to make her visit in the evening. She made her way in to the hall and was soon seated at the table with Alfred, Phil, Naga, Amilia, Zel, Zangulas, and several others. She noticed that the same basic fare was offered to the royalty, obviously there had been no time to do anything special, but, as with all the cooking she had eaten since arriving at Stronghold, it was good stuff, and all seemed to be enjoying it immensely. The only thing conspicuous by its absence was anything alcoholic yet no one thought to ask for it, or else they understood about Gracia...

The servant girl Trina was busy bustling around like the other servants and when she came to the table to deliver a batch of steaming rolls Lina casually asked, "Has it ever been this busy before?" "No my Lady!" the poor girl panted as she bustled off again. Lina shook her head. A hugh hall had been built, apparently most of the time it was rather empty, but now it was filled to the brim it seemed. King Alfred made a point of going from table to table and talking with the various dignitaries while Naga stayed at the head table close to her father and sister. Of course Arthur was retrieved from somewhere and soon the table was laughing, mostly at the faces Phil pulled as he got his grandson to giggle. Naga looked worried and happy at the same time, whereas Amilia on the other side of her father seemed relieved to have his comforting presence near. Zel looked tired, which was unusual, it took a lot to make a chimera seem so, and he was withdrawn, much more than usual. Lina wished she could know what to say to cheer him up, but there were no words appropriate for what he had just gone through the night before. Hopefully time and Amilia would work their magic.

As for Amilia's worry about him leaving, that was a real possibility, and Lina felt frustrated she didn't know what to do about that. Well, nothing would happen before the war, so hopefully there would be time to think. And so a busy lunch was passed. Sylphiel and Prince Erik surfaced from somewhere and reported that they had almost completed all the preparations for the medicines and other powders, potions, and magics that might be needed for the healing of wounded warriors. From their tired looks, and the stains on their fingers, Lina had no doubt that they had been doing just that. White magic was, obviously, just as complicated as anything Lina ever studied in the Black, or the Shamanist fields, which were the areas she was expert in.

She chuckled to herself as she recalled her first meeting with Sylphiel and how she had though the woman a bit of a silly twit for all her gentleness and her well mannered upbringing. Then she had helped with her magic and saved Lina's life, more than once, and Lina realised that she wasn't anywhere near so silly, she simply had a different way of doing things. And now here she was working her fingers to the bone to help prepare for a war, something that Lina knew was an agony to the woman's gentle soul. And she was supposed to be Lina's rival for Gourry. Well, if Lina had to lose Gourry to anyone, Sylphiel was just who she'd want him to go to. Lina felt amazed, had she really matured so much? A couple of years earlier, as a teenager, she might have dismissed Sylphiel or felt angry that she even stood in the role of a possible contender, but now she realised that she was growing up after all, maybe her sister had been right. Sylphiel looked over at Lina and was greeted with a very warm smile. She answered in kind, though she wondered a bit at what Lina was so happy about. Oh well...

After the meal Lina found herself drifting again. This was truely the first hell of war, the waiting. The Hall was bustling, out riders had come to report the near arrival of the troops of Westhold. They were sent out again with messages that the great army encamped on the plain were friends and not to be feared, which was good, nothing like two strange armies meeting unexpectedly in a war to start a battle, but when they were supposed to be allies, it tended not to help things.

Lina wished there was something she could do, but everyone was busy it seemed. The servants had things well in hand and while they appreciated the small help she provided there were really no openings for her. Sylphiel was still busy with the last of the preparations, they would be done by night fall. Lina helped a bit, getting packaging ready, making some bandages, but it wasn't much. Mostly it was kick up the heels and wait. She looked for Zel and Amilia but they were busy enough with Phil, and Seirune business. Lina shrugged and went looking for Naga, but she was off with the King somewhere.

Lina took to looking at the statues in the hall trying to figure out how they were carved, she remembered the incident with the golem making where Naga had made a most elaborate if mysterious creation, while Lina had hardly been able to make a lump of clay that looked like a lump of clay. So, a part of the afternoon passed for Lina, and she found herself down a deserted hall looking at a fairly big piece of work which portrayed a man seated on a stool, hunched forward with one hand under his chin as if thinking, or was it indigestion? Lina chuckled at her own joke as she went behind the statue to marvel at the detail the sculptor put even in the back, the part that was not going to be seen against the wall. Now, she may not know how it was done, but even Lina could appreciate that this statue was a labour of love for someone. Suddenly there was a bang as a door opened.

Feeling in a reflective mood and not wanting to be disturbed Lina crouched down hoping the statue would hide her. There were two people moving along the hall by the sounds of it, and they were speaking in the low giggly voices of lovers. Great, two lovebirds. Well, Lina hoped they'd be so absorbed with each other they missed her. She really didn't need a reminder that Gourry wasn't here. The couple passed close by then stopped right on the other side of the statue. With a start Lina now was able to recognise the voices. It was Naga and Alfred! "Oh great..." thought Lina, "They'll think I'm spying or something. I wonder what sort of cup I'll get to drink..."

However the couple didn't seem to realise she was there. It sounded like Alfred suddenly swept Naga into an embrace and said "Damn this war!" followed by what had to be a long kiss. When they finally stopped he said "I can think of things I'd much rather do that muster the army, that's for sure." "And do they all start and end with me?" giggled Naga. " You know it sweetness!" was the reply. By now Lina was biting her tongue to keep from making a sound, it was syrupy, but, they did think they were alone, and after all, she did have a vague idea that when Gourry finally got around to calling her something like that it wasn't going to sound as sappy, somehow...

Another kiss, then the King said with a sigh, "Well, much as we might feel like shocking the staff, we had better get going. Today is going to be busy." "Will we have tonight?" asked Naga rather pensively. "Yes, under no circumstances am I missing tonight with you, beloved! But, in the morning we must ride away, no help for it." Lina suddenly perked up and paid attention. They were leaving in the morning? Aaaah! She hadn't realised the departure was quite so close! What were Naga's plans? What of Amilia and Sylphiel? The royal couple moved off and Lina finally breathed a sigh of relief. Okay, now she had something to do, she had to get ready, the departure of the army and her departure for the place where the enemy might try to quarry through the rock wall would be close together. Giving the seated stone man a pat of thanks for hiding her Lina scrambled off to her room and began packing what she thought she might need.

She had only reached the point where she had packed everything once and thought it over three times when trumpets began sounding in the court yard. The armies of Westhold were arriving! Lina went out and made her way to the wall to see the specatcle, along with everyone else. It was very similar to the earlier arrival, except the armies were coming down from the north and moving in somewhat more of a battle formation. Spotting Trina, Lina moved over to her and got a colour commentator for the arrivals. The younger girl was happy enough to tell the important newcomer all about the various regiments that swept in to view and turned to the left or right as they moved to their assigned places to encamp. Some of the armies were colourful, some were plain, but they were all determined, and had Lina any doubt about what she had been told of the constant training the men of Westhold did, it was answered in full that afternoon. Farmers or townsmen they might be, but given the call they were all soldiers, obviously well familiar with their arms, their armour, and their battle drills.

And just men? No! Lina was surprised to see that there were companies of light cavalry and archers marching in who were clearly women, and clearly warriors. "The infantry and the heavy cavalry are the only fighting forces where we have no women, Lady Lina." explained Trina. "In single combat a well trained woman has as much chance to win as a well trained man. But in group actions the greater strength of the men eventually wears women down. We know, we have tested this, and all women understand that when it comes to brute strength men do have the upper hand. But on a horse with light arms and armour, or with a bow, there is no difference, and most of the various lords allow women to serve in these capacities. And some victories have been won because the women were there to do their job!"

"Wow!" said Lina. "Okay, so it must be great to be a woman in Westhold!" "Well, I think so!" said the servant girl in reply. "Of course I know little of the rest of the world. Is it true that in your west women are somehow second to men?" Lina looked startled, then laughed. "Well, in some places, yes it is. In others it is the men who are second to women. But in most places it is fairly equal between the two sexes, yes." "Oh, but you can own property, make your own living, marry who you want, and manage your own life without needing a man's approval, can't you?" Trina asked. Lina said "It depends where you are. In most places, yes, in some places no, and in some places, like I said, it's the men who end up on the short end of the deal. However, as to my comment earlier, I can't think of too many places where women are allowed into the army at all, and usually they do honour guard work or get used as spies and assasins, not fighting in a war. Here they recruit you and honour you. I've just never seen it before is all." Trina smiled "Well, I'm glad we do something that amazes you! Ha, it would be sad indeed to think you had seen it all, already."

Lina smiled back and Trina went on with the colour commentary. Regiment after regiment swept in, some from the south, most from the north and by evening as the last were arriving it was clear that there were two mighty armies of nearly the same size camped on the great plain. Lina said "Well, it must just about be supper. Then bed I guess, something tells me we will have an early start tommorrow." "Yes!" said her companion. "Tommorrow this will all be undone as the army packs up and then marches away to victory!" "Or death..." said Lina softly, speaking to herself. Unfortunately it was overheard, and Trina's sobbing reply of "Yes, or that..." suddenly reminded Lina that Trina had to be under a lot of strain too. "I'm so sorry Trina!" she said turning to the girl. "I meant to think that remark and I went and said it, I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to upset you..."

Trina turned a teary face to Lina and said "It isn't your fault Lady, we are all aware of the horror that comes our way." "You have loved ones in that army don't you?" asked Lina softly. "My father, my two brothers, and, and..." "A sweetheart." finished Lina. "I'm sorry Trina, if it helps, I have friends I care about in the other army too. And my sweetheart went missing after a misunderstanding, and I can't find him. It's as if he's dead..." She stopped and looked startled. "Lady?" asked Trina quietly. "Dead!" whispered Lina. "I never thought of that. We hunted bandits in the west, and we were good at it, my magic and his sword. But we parted company and, and, maybe someone found him, and wanted revenge, and, oh GODS!" she suddenly yelled. "And I wasn't there to help him! Gourry, NO! Don't be dead!" With that Lina burst out crying and ran off leaving a startled and confused Trina to herself.

It was Zelgadiss who found her in the garden of the unknown god. She had gone there to weep in peace and get her fear out of her system. She had knelt by the altar and had poured her tears and fear out onto it, having no one else to talk to. Finally Zel came and put his hand on her shoulder and had asked what was wrong. She told him. "Lina, I'm sorry, but that possibility did already occur to me. I didn't say anything because I didn't want to take away your hope. But listen, you don't know he's dead any more than you know he's alive. So here's what you're going to do. You will buck up your courage for now, the war is hard upon us now and needs to be won first. Then, when it is over, you and I will hunt for him. And if our worst fears are true, we will find who did it, and wreak such vengence upon them that they will curse the fact they were born before the end."

Lina looked stunned at Zel for a minute, then said "That is the most horrible thing I have ever heard you say, and yet, it is just what I wanted to hear. Oh Zel, may it be we find him alive and we don't have to do that." "I agree." said Zel quietly. "Now, come Lina, it is time for supper, and then plans will be made I guess." "Okay." said Lina simply, as she stood up and prepared to follow Zel. As she walked out she suddenly realised she had forgotten to take her boots off. "I'm sorry! I meant no disrespect!" she said to the stones. She walked out and said to Zel "The strain is getting to me I think, now I'm talking to rocks!" Zel chuckled and said "Or you are developing a theological conciousness. Don't worry Lina, as I understand it this shoe business is a sign of respect cooked up by the Westholders. for all we know the unknown one is offended by bare feet. But since he hasn't spoken up, who knows? If he even exists?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right Zel, but that bit about why is the Lord of Nightmares a woman if there is no man for her struck a chord somewhere, and I don't think it was just because of my feelings for Gourry." replied Lina "Would it surprise you to learn that I have asked that question too?" asked Zel. "I have wondered more than once why, if the Golden Lord could be fertile and make the four worlds all by herself, did she make all life divide into male and female elements? Even the individual Mazoku and the Gods are preferentially male and female. Look at Xellos or the Beastmaster, they don't breed, at least not as we understand the concept, but they take a male or female form as they see best for them, and I'll bet that if we saw beyond the shapes of their astral forms they would somehow seem male or female even then. Why then only a female supreme goddess?"

"I like the King's answer" said Lina. Zel gave her a quizzical look and Lina related her brief meeting in the garden with King Alfred. Gee, was it only yesterday? Yet so it was, before the tub party and the disaster that had followed. "So, daddy is waiting in the background till we are old enough to realise there is another face besides the golden shining one of our mother? Hmmm, in an odd way that makes enough sense that I won't dismiss it as a possibility. He, he, there Lina, now you've gotten me all theological too." Lina laughed and her spirits lifted. Then she stopped and was serious again.

"Zel" she said a little hesitantly, "Amilia thinks you are going to leave her. Is that true?" Zel was quiet and serious for a minute. Then with a sigh he said "Yes it is Lina. But think about it from my point of view, okay? I can't marry her as a chimera, the succession won't allow for any...thing... not fully human on the throne. Amilia is as hurt by this as I am, and I think I begin to see in her a willingnes to be desperate and try to force it through otherwise. And if she tries hard enough I would probably give in. My flesh is stone, but my heart is human. Last night, well, I'm glad she was there, it helped, but, I've never felt desire so all consuming before, and every ounce of it was directed at Amilia. I love her, Lina, and I want her as a man wants his woman, and the danger is, if she tries, I will give in. Then what? Does she abdicate? The people love her, but there is not the same feeling towards Phil's brothers and their offspring. If she goes, now that Gracia cannot take her place on the throne, the real prospect of civil war looms. And if she stays, with my baby as her successor, there could be one anyway. No, I have to leave, it was just a dream Lina. But now, I have to wake up."

Lina nodded saddly. "Zel, after we find Gourry, the three of us are going to look for a cure, no matter what it takes. No, four, for Sylphiel has noticed this too, and has offered all her power to help. Then, if Amilia is still free, you are going back to her if I have to drag you kicking and screaming all the way. If not, well, we'll burn that bridge when we come to it." "Well, I know you Lina, so I know better than to say no. Okay, you've got a deal!" he gave her a smile and they shook on it. Then they went into the hall to eat.

The meal was even more crowded, for now there were the nobles and generals of Westhold added to the throng. A lot of talking and getting to know each other was going on between the two groups, as well as a lot of sizing each other up. Still the supper, though simple seemed ample enough and soon, as bellys filled and the mead horn made its rounds at this meal things loosened and lightened up. An aunt of the King appeared to do the honours of the welcoming ritual with the mead horn and her husband, the King's uncle, took the ceremonial first sip on the King's behalf. Lina was amazed that King Alfred's love for his wife would be strong enough for him to fly in the face of an important custom, which the greeting ritual obviously was, but she again felt a little lump of happines for Naga that it was so. Then the horn made its rounds and friendship was served. Lina took her sip, and since it was her first taste of mead found that Naga had been right, it really was delicious!

Then supper came, and Lina set to, being emotional was hungry work after all, and as she did she observed the people at the table. It was soon evident to her from the way Naga kept glancing over to Zel and Amilia that she wanted to tell them something, but the moment was never right, or the crowd too thick, or both. Oh well, she could apologise later, or whatever it was. The meal went on, and people seemed to be taking their time about it, partly because they were hungry, and partly because afterwards, the council of war would start, and the orders given to march away. It was the last ritual of peace that would be known for many a day, this sitting and eating with friends new and old.

Alas, it was not to last! The meal had gotten to the dessert stage when there arose a yell from outside the doors to the hall "Way to the King!" someone yelled, and the doors flew open with a bang. A man, obviously tired, ran in and sank to his knees at the head table and said, without being bidden, "Majesty! I left the wall two days ago in the evening when the outpost runner arrived. I have not stopped in two days. He had taken three to do the same thing! They are coming!" he then fell silent, as did the hall. The King looked pale then said "Give this man meat, drink, and rest! For our guests, the meaning of his message is simple. There is a mountain some one hundred and fifty miles into the plain passed the defensive wall, where we have set up an outpost. It is so tall you can see twenty miles to the horizon, even more on a good day. And if there is a large army on the move you can see the dust even before the army is visible. The enemy was about one hundred and seventy five miles from the wall five days ago. If they have been forcing their marches they might now be less than one hundred miles. A smart commander would rest his troops for a day then take them by easier marches the last distance to make sure they had strength for battle. I estimate they will be at the wall in about five days. We have some eighty miles of our own to cover in the same time, and we may not have the luxury of resting. Gentlemen, we leave as soon as light permits in the morning, and we do not stop until we have to, and so on till we arrive. I'm sorry. Now, let the hall be cleared and we will begin the final planning stage. Let the servants brew strong tea and coffee, we will have to explain things to our guests and get explanations from them too before we can know how best to deploy our various strengths. This will take awhile I'm afraid."

As he spoke he gave a heartbroken look to his Queen who bit her lip to avoid crying. Lina understood. She went over to Gracia and said "I think we have plans of our own to make, Your Majesty." The distraction worked. Naga looked over and said "Why do you call me that Lina?" "I didn't want to be disrespectful in public, you are the Queen after all." she replied. "But now I need to consult with Naga the Serpent about the battle for the cliff." "Yes, let's go, you are right." The Queen got up and whispered to the King who nodded and gave her a quick kiss. Naga flushed slightly, but smiled, and then left with Lina. To their surprise Amilia and, of all people Sylphiel, went with them. "Uh, this isn't social, I'm sorry, Ladies." said the Queen. "We know." said Amilia. "You don't understand." added Sylphiel. "The battle for the ramp, or what ever you want to call it, we're coming too."

"HUH?" said Lina and Naga together. "Listen, it's simple." said Amilia. "And I've already put my foot down with daddy, so there isn't any help there. The entire army from the West is here. If they lose, there is no one left to make a second effort. It is do or die time. So, since I have nowhere safe to go back to and no one to command in a defence, it comes down to each of us doing our own part to win the war here. I chose to go with you Gracia. First off, you have no power, so it's just Lina alone, but not now. Second, if we win the victory will be total, and I'll be all right, if we lose, that will be total as well, and I'd rather die trying than sit around in Seirune waiting."

"And for my part," Sylphiel went on "you girls will be slinging some heavy duty magic around out there. I can't help attack, but I can defend, and help you heal and restore if need be. You are good Lina, no, you are great, but you are not the Golden Lord of nightmares. Well, once, briefly, you were, but not now. We have to keep you away from those Giga Slaves after all." she ended with a smile. Lina laughed. "I remember Sylphiel, don't worry. And okay, I can't argue against your logic, so, if the Royal Sorceress here, Naga the Serpent approves, welcome aboard!" Naga looked a bit like a deer in the headlights might look, once headlights were invented, then with a resigned sigh said, "Oh well, this whole thing is getting out of my hands, so why not. Welcome, and we are glad to have you ladies, we really are. Okay, into the sitting room here, we need to talk."