Gracia was in a funk. It seemed like only yesterday she had been free to go wherever she pleased, do whatever she wanted, and not have to take charge of anyone's life but her own. Now suddenly she was thrust back into her previous life, but without the support of her family, and just as hurtful, the only person she had ever really considered a friend was now supposedly her enemy.
Gracia sighed. "Did you really do it, Lina? I'm still torn to think you could do something so...so...evil! I just can't believe that you could do such a thing, and yet, there's nothing to say you didn't but my word alone." Her word. It hadn't mattered what she did during her life as 'an evil sorceress', but now she was Princess Gracia again, and what she said and did would affect not only her, but her entire kingdom as well.
"That's why I have to do this. I have to get to the bottom of this, to find out the truth for myself!" Gracia made a fist and posed dramatically.
Someone coughed. "Umm, your Highness? The troops are ready to move out."
Gracia nearly fell from her saddle, which startled her horse. After a moment of wrestling back control of her steed, Gracia looked down at the soldier who had addressed her.
"Very well. We shall set out at once!" Gracia pulled on her horse's reins, urging it forward. She watched as the soldier saluted her with respect, then dashed back to the nearby troops. "I sure hope I am doing the right thing..."
After the troops were all gathered they set off toward the horizon. Xellos watched from nearby, a smile on his face.
"If by 'doing the right thing' you mean 'playing right into my hand', then yes, you are." Xellos gave a pleased little laugh. "Humans really are too predictable."
111111111111111111111
"Oh, how did I get myself into this?" Sylphiel sighed to herself as she attempted to sneak down the hall of the palace. She had promised Lina she would get the key to her prison door...but that was much easier said than done. She poked her head around the corner to spy on the guard...only he wasn't there.
"Halt!"
Sylphiel jumped in fright as something jabbed into her back.
"What are you doing sneaking about the palace?" The voice demanded.
Sylphiel bit her tongue to keep from crying out in fear. "What did I get myself into?" She raised her hands up in the air to show she surrendered. "I am so sorry! I didn't mean to sneak, but I..got lost again." Sylphiel cringed at the lie.
A hand reached out and gripped Sylphiel's shoulder, turning her to face the guard who had caught her. "Oh, it's you. You've got the worst direction sense I've ever seen, no offense." The guard smiled slightly.
Sylphiel hung her head in embarrassment. "This place is just so big... I am so ashamed!"
The guard patted her shoulder. "Nothing to be ashamed of, miss. I'm just glad it was only you, and nothing more serious."
Sylphiel laughed nervously, trying to figure out how to get herself out of this situation. A glint suddenly caught her eye. The guard had a key ring attached to his belt! Sylphiel counted her blessings as she sorted out how to get them from the guard without bringing harm to either the guard or herself.
She raised her gaze to meet the guard's. "More serious? Has something happened?"
"Oh, no no, nothing to fear." The guard waved her off.
Sylphiel let out a small gasp. "Why sir, you are injured!" Sylphiel raised her gaze to the guard's forehead.
The guard suddenly looked sheepish. "It's nothing."
"Nonsense!" Sylphiel reprimanded. "It's important for you to be at your best to protect Seyruun." She raised her hand up, chanting a spell. "Here, allow me."
The guard finally relented, settling down so he could be tended to.
Sylphiel gently placed her hand on the side of the guard's head, and gently said, "Sleep". In an instant the guard was falling to the floor. Sylphiel wrapped her arms around his shoulders before he crashed to the floor, setting him gently on the ground. She then worked to free the keys from his belt.
"Please, forgive me." Sylphiel averted her eyes, ashamed of deceiving the guard, but then tore down the hallway. She had a mission to complete!
22222222222222222222222
Gourry's muscles were crying out in agony. Of course he was more than willing to do whatever it took to keep Lina safe from harm, yet... "Lina," he whined, "I don't think this is gonna work."
"Not if you give up it won't!" Lina scolded back. "Come on, put some more muscle into it!"
Gourry whimpered, putting in a few more futile attempts before giving up. "I just don't think sawing through the bars with a butter knife is going to work!" He dropped the spent butter knife onto the ground, more than happy to give his arms a rest.
"It is a rather silly idea, Lina." Zelgadis chimed in from his cell.
Lina stomped her foot on the ground. "With attitudes like that we'll never get out of here. Grr! Darn that Naga for tossing us in here to rot!"
"Did she really have much of a choice? We didn't exactly look innocent sneaking in like we did." Gourry looked up at Lina in boredom.
Lina narrowed her eyes back at him. "Now's not the time to get smart with me."
"Quiet!" Zelgadis suddenly hissed out. "Someone's coming."
Lina and Gourry were instantly silent, trying to hear what had alerted Zelgadis. They soon were able to make out the sound of approaching footsteps.
Gourry glanced at Lina. "Maybe the guards are finally going to feed us?" he whispered.
Lina made a face. "If you can call it food."
"Shh!" Zelgadis turned his ear toward the doorway to hear better.
"Whoever it is sounds too light to be a guard. At least an armored guard."
Zelgadis nodded his head in agreement, keeping his gaze locked on the door. Whoever was approaching was headed right for it.
After what seemed like an eternity, the door finally opened. Everyone held their breath, waiting.
There was a nervous pause, then finally the figure entered the room, closing the door behind them. "Umm...hello?"
Lina released her breath, a smile overtaking her face. "Sylphiel, thank goodness! Did you have any luck?" Her smile grew even bigger when Sylphiel produced a keyring. "All right! Way to go, Sylphiel! Now get us out of here!"
Gourry just looked at Sylphiel in confusion. "How'd you get them?"
Sylphiel just blushed and looked away, putting her focus on finding the right key.
"Never ask a girl to reveal her secret, Gourry." Lina scolded. "It doesn't matter anyway. What matters is that we're finally getting out of here!"
"Got it!" Sylphiel gave a triumphant cry as she finally found the right key to open Lina's cell door.
Lina practically tore the door from its hinges as she swung it open. "At last!" She leapt to the floor just outside her prison and danced a little jig. "You have no idea how good it feels to get out of there!"
"You're right; we don't." Zelgadis shot Lina an unamused look.
"Yeah, don't leave us here, Lina." Gourry gripped his bars in anticipation.
Lina and Sylphiel shot each other a look and smiled. "Never ever, Gourry. Let's get out of here."
Everything gave a quiet cheer in agreement, then waited for Sylphiel to free them from their prisons.
"We're finally free. Oh please, Gracia, be safe."
To be continued...
Author's notes: Greetings from the land of potatoes! Getting ready for college and working the holidays got to be more hectic than I thought it would, but I managed to survive. Even better, so far college has been pretty good, and now that things are settling down I even have some time to write. I just wish this chapter wasn't so dry. Ah well... The part with Gracia and Xellos was originally written months ago during my lack of inspiration, and originally I thought to just erase it, but it added an element to the story that I like, so it stays. As for Gracia's fate? You'll just have to wait and find out!
I'm just so glad to finally have everyone leaving that blasted prison! Hopefully all of my scheming will come together and we'll get some more excitement, if not resolution soon. (I'm not ready to wrap things up quite yet, but I've got a fic on hold right now that I am really wanting to work on so I can post it up once this one is done.)
Thanks for being patient with me, and also for the reviews!