Chapter 2: Be Well
After the meeting, Meliodas and Merlin made their way to her laboratory across the courtyard, that remained intact to no surprise thanks to the prepared spells and wards against the building.
Walking around the castle, in its glorious ruined state, reminded Meliodas of how time betrayed him yet again. Ten years ago, normal days would just involve waiting for Zaratras to assign them a suicidal mission that no normal order could accomplish, drinking ale day and night, and just be with Elizabeth; how fast this had all changed.
There was destruction everywhere he turned, Gil was kidnapped, Zaratras was dead for the second time now, and he had technically just came back from purgatory- the fastest he's ever returned, thanks to Elizabeth's exceptional healing. Although he had to deal with the problem that everybody knew who he was now, well, not that it mattered much to him. What bothered him was that Elizabeth knew, and that made his blood boil. Elizabeth knowing who he was is the equivalent of telling her who she was. It was a crucial piece of information that Elizabeth for sure will be curious about, and Meliodas had a hard time of denying her anything when she asks. Out of all the Elizabeths, this one was the only one who knew and the only one who had used goddess magic on a powerful scale. A dangerous combination Meliodas swore that he would always control.
"You know this is the first time we've talked with just ourselves since you came back." Merlin mused, breaking the silence of their walk.
"Mhmmm" Meliodas agreed.
"How have you been, Captain?" Merlin asked. And Meliodas is pretty sure the mage was not asking him how the weather was treating him.
"Well….everything sorta went according to plan." Meliodas answered.
"I had imagined" Merlin said sarcastically without humor in her tone, her arms crossed. "What went wrong?"
"Oh, just my brother babbling about." Meliodas said casually and shrugged.
"I never really liked that guy"
Meliodas chuckled "I'm sure you don't like any of my brothers anyway"
Merlin shook her head "No. But I dislike that one the most in particular"
There was a moment of silence before Merlin spoke again. "Dying isn't one of your best ideas" her tone was serious and almost angry. "You know that, right?"
"It had to happen."
It had to. The moment he was faced with all of the Ten Commandments, his head had already calculated two scenarios; miraculously win or lose. Winning meant narrowly escaping and the Commandments will still pursue after, which he won't be able to handle because he'll be too weakened, and he's sure the Sins and the others will try and help him, which will be the worst case scenario. Losing meant he would eventually get the upper hand, if he died using Revenge Counter, at least they would be weakened and would retreat for a while, giving the Sins the opportunity to strike while the iron is hot. Then he would deal the killing blow when they would least expect him. It had many consequences and repercussions, but it was the most ideal scenario.
He had forgotten to account for Estarossa and his emotions slipped up, making him vulnerable to his commandment. He had also not foreseen his younger brother gloat and babble his identity while he choked him on the ground. There were so many things that went wrong and Meliodas thought he'd have to make due with the fact that he was going to miss a crucial part of his plan. But the Sins did exceptionally more than he expected and now only Zeldris was left of them. So yeah, it sorta did went according to plan. And the plan itself was a gamble anyway and he had already drew his good hand, now he was dealing with the bad.
As they neared Merlin's laboratory, the Boar Sin of Gluttony didn't speak further but kept her detached and thoughtful expression, and he just kept brooding in response. Meliodas enjoyed her company despite their silent and short exchanges, which actually what made it all the more pleasant. He could be his old brooding self when he was with her, and the black haired mage wouldn't dwell on things she knew not to dwell on. Meliodas wouldn't be surprised to find out if she can actually read minds, or have some sort of trinket for it. She knew what to say and what not to say in exactly the right times, it was scary.
But after 3,000 years of knowing her, Meliodas could easily read what the mage was thinking too. Merlin didn't say much, but Meliodas could tell that she was greatly troubled by this war. He had guessed it was because of Camelot's demise and Arthur being missing, but she hadn't made it clear as to why that kingdom was so important to her. Meliodas had known her for so long to know she was never one to get involved in any human business, much less getting involved in their war. It's not like Meliodas didn't care about Arthur, he just found it unusual for Merlin to be so invested. He didn't want to attack Camelot so soon, he wanted to make sure Liones was safe first. But Merlin had insisted to strike while there were still no recovered commandments. She was right of course, but it was still reckless. Being reckless was his job, but this could have sever consequences.
They entered her laboratory and the room was filled with vast crates and vases scattered on the bare stone floor, wooden shelves lined the walls that towered towards the ceiling stacked with books, scrolls, vials, and potions of different colors. Meliodas couldn't help but pick up a scent of something foreign in the air. It was't vile nor pleasant, but it was something unusual to him, and the scent of it hinted that the object was alive. Meliodas cringed at the thought of a living being kept in a cage somewhere, ready to be used as an ingredient for an experiment. Merlin floated to the center of the room, whirring her sacred treasure to life and was already engrossed in the brass cauldron atop a stone dais.
"So, how do we go about this, Captain?" Merlin inquired as various objects and liquid potions floated to her hands.
"We go about it as planned. We need to survey Camelot before we make an actual strategy, so I'll leave that to you." Meliodas answered.
Merlin sighed "There's a field that's blocking the area and I can't see anything past it. I'm blind to it." Meliodas didn't have to see her expression to know that she had her brows furrowed in frustration. If there is one thing Merlin hated, it was the unknown.
"Zeldris probably put it up. He probably knows I'm alive by now and he wouldn't want me snooping around" Meliodas said with a slight revere in his tone. Despite his younger brother giving the order of his death, not to mention severing his limb, he was impressed how prepared Zeldris was. Then again, his little brother was always the overly cautious one.
"I wouldn't have imagined" Merlin snapped sarcastically and Meliodas smiled apologetically.
"He wouldn't be that dumb" Meliodas pointed out. "Besides, only he could conjure up a barrier that powerful. That fucking cheater" He cursed. Meliodas had known about Zeldris' borrowed power when he last fought him, well, the last two fights ago, the one being thousands of years ago. It was the very same power he sought to get and one of the reasons to why he had agreed to invade Camelot in such a short time. The demon seal was also releasing more and more demons everyday and a couple of Albions were the least of Meliodas' worries. He needed to talk to Zeldris before the worst of his worries happen, but he also doubted that his little brother would be delighted to welcome him back in his loving arms. But Meliodas needed to just get close enough so he could get his point across, and hopefully before his other little brother had recovered. Estarossa definitely wouldn't like what he had to share with Zeldris.
"That's why I'm going to cheat as well." Merlin smirked, despite being irked just moments ago. She finally turned around and eyed the shelf above him. He looked up suspiciously, not wanting to be surprised with a tentacle on his head or something exploding in his face. Then a middle sized crate floated from the topmost shelf and made its way to Merlin's waiting hands. The crate opened from all four sides without the need of Merlin's touch as she whirled her hands to reveal a small light blue creature with bat like wings and a single closed eye that took up most of its entire body, brown tuffs of hair forming into a fringe like style adorning its head.
"Orlondi, wake up" Merlin commanded the creature. The overgrown eyeball like creature floated above her hands, but its eye remained closed and its wings wrapped up in its own body. Despite its gruesome figure, it looked somewhat peaceful. Meliodas stifled a nervous chuckle, as he was right on the money about some poor creature ready to be sacrificed for a spell or concoction the Boar Sin of Gluttony was about to do.
"Orlondi, wake up!" Merlin repeated loudly and the small blue creature opened its eye to reveal a shinning red iris that was almost enchanting if not for the rest of its figure. Orlondi stretched his bat like wings and Meliodas was surprised as the creature sprouted a thin line below its eye and formed an 'O' as it yawned.
"What the hell is that?" Meliodas exclaimed in disgust. There were a handful of weird creatures residing in the demon world where he grew up, but there was nothing like that flying around there.
"This is Orlondi" Merlin introduced them both as if the creature was sensible enough for such things "I gathered him from our fight in Eidenburgh years ago. You might know him, Captain. After all, he is royalty" Merlin added with a delighted tone as she smirked.
Meliodas raised an eyebrow and he opened his mouth about to protest at such a ridiculous notion, but then the name suddenly hit him like a wrecking ball. "Wait, you don't mean- this is?" He couldn't finish his sentence as shock and disbelief overcame him.
The flying eyeball, Orlondi, had finally woken up from its sleepy stupor and eyed it surroundings. Its field of view didn't reach Meliodas and it only addressed the mage who was right in from of him "What is it now?" Orlondi the vampire demanded.
Merlin ignored the eyeball and turned to Meliodas, still smirking, to answer his question "Yep, it's him." Merlin didn't even clarify who, but the mage had a knack of reading people's minds.
Meliodas' eyes were wide in shock and his brows were frowned in disgust, not knowing what to make of the flying creature who was once vampire royalty. Meliodas wasn't very familiar with the vampire clan, his arrogant old self only had time for the vampire king himself, Izraf. But he did take small notice of the vampire royalty once, when rumors spread that his little brother had been associated with one. He had remembered though, that this particular one was a fucking prick, so as the rumors in the demon realm goes. The vampire had requested an audience with them constantly, and Zeldris was always the one to entertain them. His old self's temper and patience wouldn't last a minute as the vampire king and the rest of his charges were arrogant and ambitious. Well now, they paid the price of Izraf's arrogance, seeing as how one of his sons were now…this. "Gods, Merlin…" He finally managed.
Orlondi hand't seem to notice him yet and clearly wasn't in a good mood "What are you on about n-" the former vampire stopped as his one eye had finally landed on the yellow haired being in the room. "Who's that?" Orlondi asked, his eyes squinted to look over Meliodas who waved and grinned innocently in response. He didn't want to be recognized by the former vampire, fearing it could ruin Merlin's plans for the flying eyeball. Then again, would it really matter if Orlondi was eventually going to be cooked along with the vials that were being added to the cauldron?
"Is he gonna be an ingredient or something?" Meliodas asked.
As if the eyeball couldn't be large enough, it's eyes widened in panic and shrieked "What?! Lady Merlin, please, I thought you said I'm going to be useful!"
Merlin sighed in exasperation "No, I'm not going to cook you and yes, you will be useful" She explained to the panicking eyeball.
Orlondi's tiny hands went to its torso, if it could be called that, and started to fidget in unease. It didn't have an eyebrow, but its eyes were slightly lidded and Meliodas thought that it was its best attempt at a wary face. It looked at him then at Merlin with its inquiring but quivering eye. Meliodas had remembered faintly that this vampire was a cocky brat, so as Zeldris kept spouting about. Seeing him in such a state made him both in awe and on edge towards his fellow Sin.
"I'm going to send you to Camelot and your going to do the eyeing for me." Then Merlin's Sacred Treasure floated right next to the flying eyeball and it glimmered an image of Merlin and the room they stood in. Orlondi looked at the orb suspiciously and the Sacred Treasure revealed an image of itself but with distorted copies in an endless loop, like a mirror facing another mirror.
"That's impressive" Meliodas complimented her 'handiwork.'
Then Orlondi eyed him again in suspicion before it turned to Merlin with an angry look "No way, I thought that place was overrun with demons? and I had enough with that lot" it huffed and crossed its tiny arms. Meliodas wanted to inquire on how the little thing knew so much about the outside world when he was just released from a crate just moments ago, but decided against it as it might not be the appropriate time.
"You don't get to have a say in it" Merlin told the eyeball.
"What if I get eaten or stepped on or something?"
"You won't. Trust me"
Orlondi laughed "That is the funniest thing you've ever said, Lady Merlin." Then he stopped when he looked at Merlin who's face was nothing short of humorous.
"F-fine!" He exclaimed "What do I need to do anyway?"
"Like I said, just survey Camelot and I'll have you back when it gets dark." Merlin answered impatiently.
The moment Orlondi agreed, the contents of the cauldron that Merlin had concocted spewed smoke that concentrated itself in a circular shape just above the blue eyeball. It glowed an eerie green and small sparks of lightning crackled.
"I'll transport you to my study in Camelot since it's the only place I can access. Once there, get out of the castle immediately before Zeldris finds you" Merlin instructed, clear and precise.
"W-wait! Zeldris?" Orlondi gasped. He opened his mouth to protest but his words were replaced with a gargling scream when the smoke had finally enveloped him. Merlin apparently did not want to waste anymore time.
"A little harsh, Merlin" Meliodas muttered as the overgrown eyeball had finally disappeared from the room.
Merlin merely shrugged. "Well, I needed something sturdy and undead for a project like that and he was perfect for it."
Merlin's sacred treasure glimmered an image of a similar dark stone room with towering shelves that were stacked with books, a large oaken table sat in one corner and a similar looking cauldron was at the center, to where Orlondi had just appeared. The image moved and was now showing a small window incased in metal fastenings.
"Yes, get out through there" Merlin instructed. Orlondi struggled trying to get the window opened with his tiny arms, but eventually became successful with one strong budge. And then they were out. Merlin instructed him to fly away from the castle as fast as he can. Orlondi had ducked through small houses trying to hide from the red and grey demons that were walking and flying everywhere. Meliodas could make out two Albions that were made as sentinels in the distance to where Camelot's main entrance should be. He and Merlin stood there in silence as they took in of what remained of the kingdom. There were no fires nor any type of struggle within, the humans were merely standing idly like empty shells through the town, no doubt their souls already taken from them. To the far distance, there were humans moving about, gathering wood and weapons in some kind of stupor. Meliodas guessed they were cursed under the commandment of Piety. There were no Commandments around, so they were unsure on how many had recovered, but it was a risky uncertainty nonetheless. The afternoon went on and Meliodas had enough information to confide him that their attack wouldn't be too hard.
Merlin had instructed Orlondi to fly to a secluded part of town, much to the former vampire's protest. The sun was setting and it bathed Merlin's laboratory in a beautiful sea of gold and fire. The vials and potions twinkled and bounced off their different colors against the light, making the room a kaleidoscope of colors. This suddenly reminded him of a certain color of blue and gold he would like to see.
"It's getting dark. I should head back" Meliodas declared. He looked at Merlin, expecting her to agree and have Orlondi back since she did promise to have him back before dark. But all the mage did was nod, still heavily concentrated on the images of her sacred treasure. Looking for Arthur no doubt.
"I'll leave you to it then" Meliodas tapped the mage lightly on the arm before he headed for the door. "Don't work too hard."
Merlin just scoffed in response and Meliodas looked back with a reassuring smile as he opened the door to leave.
—
The sun was almost disappearing from the horizon but still casted a feint light as Meliodas walked through the courtyard on his way back to the castle. The bustling castle quieted down as knights and workers retreated from their duties, tired from a long days work. The guards that were stationed at the entrance greeted Meliodas as he entered inside.
Elizabeth would have been done with her stuff by now, so she would have already made her way to his room, as she previously arranged. Meliodas smiled as he remembered his princess fearlessly asking Bartra if she could room together with him, right after giving them an earful of sleeping together in the nursery.
It had turned dark in the halls as the sun was replaced by the crescent moon and scattered stars. As he turned towards their castle wing, the halls there were lit by torches and candles as a maid was lighting them one by one. As Meliodas walked, the maid looked up and stopped with her work when she saw him and made her way towards the blonde Sin.
She bowed in respect before speaking "Sir Meliodas, I haven't seen the princess all afternoon, but could you please tell her that I've already put her possessions outside of your chambers?" The maid asked.
"Sure. Thanks!" Meliodas replied. The maid bowed again before going back to lighting the torches as Meliodas turned to another well lit hall, nearing his room. As he walked, he was deep in thought of already planning tomorrow's itinerary, especially since he had agreed on deploying the Sins to Bernia. With Elizabeth's subtle requested for his small involvement on the matter, he was going to need to plan the Sins's mission more carefully. He didn't actually plan on leaving for that mission at all, but it was fun hearing Elizabeth order him around. It had reminded him of a certain memory 3,000 years ago. When a four winged, silver haired goddess would question and order him around, the first ever being to do so. He neared his room when he heard loud trotting from behind.
"Elizabeth!?" He heard a high pitched voice call behind him. He turned around to see his least favorite pig at the end of the hall where he cam from, surrounding the space with the noise of his clacking hooves.
"Hawk?" He called. The pig turned and trotted his way towards him.
"Meliodas! Have you seen Elizabeth? I've been looking for her all afternoon" He asked. Odd, has no one seen her this whole afternoon? Meliodas pondered.
"Stop screaming" He shushed "She's probably with her her father or went to work in the study. But she might also be in the room now" He answered, cocking his head to the side to point to his chambers.
"Huh? Why would she be in your room?"
"Beee-cause she wanted to? And she technically doesn't have anywhere else to sleep."
"What?! Why would she want such a thing?! And how come I didn't know about this?!" Hawk shrieked angrily, his voice bouncing off the stone halls into an echo.
"Quiet dow. Besides, it's not your job to know everything we do" He grabbed the pigs ear and started to lightly pull it as he dragged him towards his room.
"Ow! Ow! It is, who knows what you could do to Elizabeth"
Meliodas grinned "Stuff you don't need to know."
Hawk continued to scream a slew of curses as he was being dragged across the hallway. A few steps away from his room, Meliodas could see the small box of Elizabeth's possessions the maid had talked about just beside the door. He paused as he was puzzled too see it still outside the room. He finally let go of Hawk's ear to carry it. Odd, it wasn't heavy at all, so Elizabeth should have been able to carry it. The box only contained a few clothes and little trinkets, the only thing that would give it some weight were a few books. He opened the door hastily to see it dark and empty. Why wasn't she back yet? He started to worry.
"Hawk, did you check the study when you were looking for her?" Meliodas asked, not looking at the pig as his eyes were looking over the room. He made his way to the bed at the center, dropping her things there.
"No, I don't even know where that is" Hawk answered. With that, Meliodas darted out the door and ran.
There was no reason to worry, he thought. She might be having dinner with her family or was caught up in something that kept her so late. Still, he ran. His movement swift and silent as his footsteps quickly made their way to the opposite wing of the castle. He didn't like it when he didn't know where she was, even in her own home. Years had made him always on edge to Elizabeth's whereabouts, and a place like her own home isn't any different, especially not if everybody hadn't seen her all day. That's why he always had to check on her every morning to know where and what she would do for the day so he wouldn't panic like this if nobody would see her.
He finally reached the study and quickly opened the double doors. His hearts skipped a beat before they calmed and he let out a sigh of relief. There she was. She had fallen asleep on the large table in the center of the room. Her head was resting on her arm that lay across the table, loosely holding a piece of paper. Her silver hair blanketed the sides of her face, pieces of paper had flown to the floor due to his entrance. The room was lit only by the moon that shone through the window across the table. Meliodas guessed that she fell asleep just before the sun had set as she hadn't lit a candle.
He made his way towards her, making his footsteps quiet to not startle her. He tucked strands of silver hair behind her ear to admire her. The moonlight shadowed her face in the most beautiful way. Long lashes tickled her pink cheeks, her rosy lips formed a small 'o' as she breathed in and out rhythmically. She was so radiant, her warmth felt like the sun had just appeared right after a rainy day, gentle and refreshing. But he swore, she looked the most beautiful at night. Her creamy skin turned to porcelain when bathed in moonlight and her hair glowed like liquid silver that flowed down her back, it was like she was the moon itself. She was both the sun and moon to him, ever lighting his dark world ablaze. No one else could ever save him from the darkness from which he was born, even after 3,000 years, it was only she.
He moved his hand to her cheeks and frowned. She was warm, abnormally warm. He moved his hand to her forehead and his brows further furrowed as he felt they were hot as coals.
"Elizabeth?" He called gently. When she didn't respond, he cupped her cheeks again, caressing his thumb to gently nudge her.
She stirred and her eyes slowly revealed glistening blue orbs. Her eyes quickly looked over the room before they made their way to his green ones. She smiled warmly at him "Meliodas" she croaked. Her voice was harsh and dry and it made Meliodas worry all the more.
"Are you sick?" He asked as he surveyed her with worry.
Elizabeth sat up right and stretched and winced at some pain Meliodas knew nothing of "I just had a bad headache. That's why I figured I should sleep to make it pass" she replied with the same croaky voice. Her skin and voice made it sound like it was more than just a headache.
"Are you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine" She said reassuringly. And then to Meliodas surprise, she raised her one hand above her forehead and it glowed, and he felt her familiar magic bathe the room. "Be well" She casted her healing spell.
Meliodas felt a shiver down his spine and the room felt all the more cold. Elizabeth already knew how to heal, and she had done it quite a few times already in small waves. ounces. But this one felt a little more powerful, and she had done it in such an effortless way, unlike the way she did before. And she had never once said that exact same spell before. "W-where did you learn to do that?" He shook his head. Wrong question. "I mean. When did you know how to say that?"
Elizabeth looked at him, puzzled "Oh. Sir Hendrickson did" She replied "While you were gone, there were so many injured and I tried to heal as much as I could, but I kept getting tired. So Sir Hendrickson taught me that if I said the words, they would have more power. And I've done it so easily ever since. He said the druids follow the way the goddesses did it" she replied. She had started gathering up the pieces of paper that were scattered along the table. Meliodas helped her, trying to contain his dread and trembling hands.
It was true. Elizabeth had been healing at half capacity all this time, all because she didn't know exactly what she was doing. And he didn't want to teach her, afraid of the consequences.
"Wow, That's cool!" Meliodas feigned surprise, like he always did, masking the worry and anxiousness that always came when her powers reawakened. "What other cool things did you learn while I was gone?" He said in a smirk, teasing her.
She giggled and for a moment his worry dissipated at the sound "Not much, just that…" She paused and her eyes wondered in thought "although there is something, though I didn't learn that one."
"What is it?" He asked curiously. He clenched his fists and cursed mentally. What the hell happened while he was gone?
"Right before you woke up. The demon, Derieri was it? Attacked Sir Zaratras and I panicked because I saw what that did to you" She looked down as if forlorn but continued "Then it came out of nowhere. I casted a ball of light at Derieri's hand that stopped her and it….disintegrated her hand" Elizabeth's voice lowered at the end, like she was disgusted with herself for harming a demon. And it clawed at Meliodas' heart because it was so like her.
Ark. Fuck. He cursed. She didn't know just healing spells anymore, she can fucking Ark. Then it hit him, like somebody had slapped him loudly in the face. So that was the magic he felt. He was jolted from purgatory when his body had sensed a feeling of their natural enemy, of the Goddesses. But his true self had kept him from going berserk because he also felt that it was such a familiar, comfortable presence. It was her. And he would always feel it, if it was her
"What's the matter?" Elizabeth asked, returning him from his wandering mind.
"Nothing" He laughed lightly, hoping she wouldn't notice his distress. His years of perfecting a poker face still hadn't prepared him for this "You have to show me that sometime, nishishi" and Meliodas would make sure that she would never have to use that anytime soon.
"I don't think I can though" Elizabeth answered sheepishly.
They finished straightening up the library and Meliodas asked for her hand as they made their way out to the hall. Elizabeth blushed and smiled as she accepted it, squeezing his hand when they intertwined.
He asked about her day while he was gone to avoid the subject of her powers. She got a bit flustered when she talked about reporting back to her father, which he figured must be because of their little banter. Then she had spent the whole afternoon in the study and had fallen asleep because of her headache, which explains why nobody saw her. She probably didn't hear the others call for her, and no one had bothered to check since this wing was partly destroyed. Meliodas wondered how bad her headache must have felt, Elizabeth rarely used her powers on herself, well forgets to anyway. She would heal others first and would be too exhausted when it was her turn. Maybe now since she learned how to use it properly, she would have no trouble using it on herself, he guessed. Still, Meliodas worried.
"It's still so odd tho…" She mused.
"What is?"
"That I still don't feel well after healing myself for the second time" She muttered almost a whisper, clutching her head.
The second time? Meliodas wanted to carry her right there and have her in bed to rest. But before he could, she looked at him and saw right through his distraught.
"I'll be fine, though. Maybe I just need a bath" She smiled reassuringly. It was so typical of her, he thought. To put on a brave face and tell him that she was fine when he could feel the heat from her body rise. He had also noticed that the hand he was holding was trembling. "Are you sure?" He insisted.
She nodded "Mhmm. I've just been a little cold lately"
They reached his room and Hawk was there waiting outside, relieved to see Elizabeth. The pig fretted over her as he had been worried sick looking for her and gave Meliodas a bad look to which he just ignored. He readied the bath immediately as they entered.
"Go on in the bath, I'll ask a maid for some extra blankets" He instructed as he handed her a towel. He looked over through her clothes in the box settled on the bed and saw nothing there that could warm her. And some extra clothes, he mentally added.
"Thank you" her voice was getting weaker and Meliodas worried terribly. He would also have to send Hawk out to call for Merlin.
He helped her to the bathroom, wishing she was comfortable enough to have him there so he could watch over her, but there was also Hawk to worry about. The pig might make her feel worse with all his snorting. She smiled at him as she walked to the center of the bathroom, signaling him that she'll be fine. He closed the door and could hear the lock click from the other side. He looked down to see Hawk already guarding the door. He rolled his eyes and walked out of the room to look for a maid. When he saw one walk by, he asked for the things he needed.
When he came back to the room, he was relieved to hear the sound of running water. Elizabeth had at least managed on her own in there. But his demon ears could hear that her breathing was labored.
"Hawk, I need you get Merlin." He ordered the pig who gave an accusing look in response.
"Nuh-uh" Hawk shook his head vehemently "who knows what you'll do while I'm gone!"
Meliodas rolled his eyes at the pig, very much irritated for real this time "I'm not going to do anything. Listen, she can't heal herself and this is not some normal fever." He commanded sternly.
Hawk looked hesitant but stood up and made his way to the door when they heard a loud thump behind the bathroom door.
"Elizabeth?" Meliodas called out. She didn't answer.
"Are you ok?" She didn't answer again.
Meliodas was panicking now, his hearts were squeezing as he called for the third time. "Elizabeth?"
Hawk also call out to her and knocked on the door using his hooves. Still no answer.
Meliodas had just about it and knocked furiously at the door "Elizabeth, if you don't answer me right now I'm going to open the door, you understand?" He leaned his ear to the door to hear the water still running but no answer, and no breathing.
He quickly forced the door open with hardly any effort, careful to not have opened it too forcefully as Elizabeth might be on the other side.
All blood drained from his face, his hands felt cold as he saw her unconscious on the floor, still dripping wet and naked.
"Elizabeth?!"