Hi everyone! :D

I'm so sorry for the long wait! "^^

I decided to try and finish this story so that I can concentrate on the others better, so from now on I will try to update this one before anything else (and luckily I'll be able to finish it soon!).

I decided to use the dialogues of the manga, word for word, so that it didn't lose the profound meaning of the scene (you'll know specifically which one..!).

Thanks a lot to everyone that read, commented and liked this fic! And thank you so much for your patience with me! XD

Please, follow me on twitter if you like! I'll appreciate it ^^

( /RoryWild4)

And Bertaz too! (She draws Escalin sooooo well! She's an inspiration and a huge help every time!)

( /BertazHead)

I also recommend reading the stories of: sailingskye and Wolly! They are totally gold! *.*

CHAPTER 5: Silent Words

"Meliodas! Sis-sis is safe!"

Everyone's attention was immediately redirected to Merlin, who was able to save Elizabeth just in the nick of time and was having her float just above them.

"I'm okay."

The princess had only a scratch on her head, and was quickly put down on the ground with everyone else.

Escanor sighed in relief, and looking at the Mage he could see that even her nerves had lessened a little, happy that her Big Sis-Sis was safe.

They discovered that her curse was still active and Meliodas tried to destroy it again but it just recreated itself.

The explanation could be only one: the Demon King was still alive.

They decided to go back to Liones and to discuss possibilities and strategies, they didn't know who the Demon King could have possessed and how strong he could be.

Merlin was just reassuring Meliodas that nothing could come out from the portal to the Demon Realm that was closing in on itself, when suddenly everyone perceived the great power that was instead arriving right from there, someone had just forced the portal open to let an Indura out.

Everyone knew who that someone was.

They had to act quickly, Elizabeth had to stay safe where she was and Meliodas had to protect her, so that left Ban, King, Diane, Gowther and Merlin to go intercept the dangerous monster.

He felt so useless, he couldn't really help anyone as he was right now, he could just help in the discussion but he couldn't be part of any group of attack, or protect someone.

Escanor felt so useless.

He would give everything to be able to help his comrades in any way, to protect them, to fight alongside them.

These thoughts weren't useful either. He just had to find some other way to be of help, he refused to stay cowering somewhere waiting for everything to be resolved, he will do everything he can.

The others were just finishing telling the Captain that they could take care of the Indura, when suddenly, taking advantage of the other's attention being focused somewhere else, Merlin quickly arrived at his side and kissed him on the lips.

It was a quick but meaningful kiss, she was trying to tell him everything that she didn't have time to tell him right now.

Escanor was just able to kiss her back for a moment, and then it finished.

But he would always remember the gaze with which she had regarded him afterwards: her golden orbs were full of emotions, there was love for him, but also worry, fear, and a terrible sense of foredoom. He tried to convey with his eyes his love for her and tried to reassure her, but he wasn't sure he was able to do the secon. She seemed just so lost at that moment.

But with a blink of those beautiful eyes she was right back in the moment, hiding everything that she was really feeling to concentrate on the job at hand.

If the others noticed them they didn't say anything, continuing to talk between them.

Finally the Mage said that they had to teleport there immediately, and just before they vanished she turned towards him, mouthing just a few words, only for him, that made him almost cry from happiness, and then she was gone with the others.

He didn't have time to think too much about what just happened, he and Hawk had a job to accomplish, the pig began sprinting outside the Boar Hat, with him in thow, to play the part of the couriers, advising all the right people in Liones about the problem that had arised, and to stay alert.

Hawk was tireless, sprinting everywhere, but he had to stop and catch his breath.

Sadly when he stopped he was also attacked by some very nasty coughing, that shook violently his frame.

He didn't want to look, suspecting what he would find, and when his eyes lowered on his open hand he wasn't surprised to find blood.

He looked up to the sky, pleading to Mael to give him his strength once more, hoping that his voice could reach the Archangel.

He didn't have too much time, he had already known that, he had also told Merlin about that, his heart clenched remembering her heartbreaking expression at his news.

But that blood was there, almost staring at him mockingly, reminding him of his destiny and how useless he was to stop it, to stop anything.

Suddenly he saw Merlin's eyes, as if she had been there in front of him right now, he remembered everything that occurred between them in the last days, and a great warmth began spreading inside him, giving him courage and determination. He couldn't give up just yet, he had a job to do and he would find a way to be of help, a way to fight like his comrades were doing, even if in different places; he wasn't dead yet! He was the Lion Sin of Pride of the Seven Deadly Sins, Escanor! He wouldn't be stopped by some blood or some stupid destiny!

He clenched his fist tight, as if trying to defeat everything that that blood on his palm represented.

He will fight, he will find a way to fight even without Sunshine and to be proud to be who he was, to be worthy of everything the others had given him, to be proud and worthy of the feelings that Merlin had shared with him.

With that resolution he began running again, his path clear before his eyes, his mind unwavering, and his heart full of the feelings her words had lightened in him.

I love you

Merlin was facing off the Indura with the other four Sins, it was a very dangerous monster and they had to stop it there, at all costs.

She was desperately trying to stay focused on the task at hand, but she couldn't not be worried about her Lion, she had a terrible presentiment that was gripping her heart tight.

She didn't want to think about it, she just wanted him to be safe, and for that they had first to kill the Indura.

They hadn't even begun fighting when suddenly that monster began releasing millions of offspring all at once; they couldn't let even one escape, they were very dangerous already in that form!

In the end they were able to kill all of them.

Except for one.

The direction in which that little beast had flown off was exactly where she had prayed no one of those things would go: Liones.

She shouldn't be worried, there was the Captain there who could kill that thing in no time, but that terrible sensation never let off. She didn't even have the time to make sure that everything was alright because she had her hands full with the original beast in front of her.

She couldn't be distracted, she had to focus.

Escanor please, be safe

The little Indura landed exactly outside of Liones, luckily there were the three misfits waiting for it, but they couldn't even scratch the thing, instead they were completely overwhelmed by it.

Gilthunder didn't want to give up, they had to stop that beast there, he climbed again on his feet and closed his eyes, prepared to receive the fatal attack.

The fatal attack that never hit him.

"Made it...just in time."

Escanor was there, in front of the other knight, he had taken the hit for him, protecting the young man and saving him from certain death.

The three Holy Knights were very shocked to see him because, as Howzer reminded him, they knew that he had lost Sunshine and he was now powerless.

However that didn't vacillate his determination, he had already decided, he didn't have much time anymore, but as a Holy Knight, as one of the Seven Deadly Sins he couldn't just stay back and watch, it was his duty to protect the younger ones, to make sure they'll have a future. He was resolute to put his life on the line, as his comrades were doing.

"The Seven Deadly Sins' Lion Sin Escanor, reporting for battle!"

He was more than aware of his weakened state, but he didn't hesitate before launching himself against the enemy, his determination spurred him on, and his feelings for his friends and the woman he loved so much were helping him stay on his feet despite all the wounds he was receiving from the beast.

"Your...opponent...is...me!"

He continued to interpose his body between the little Indura and the three wounded knights, who were looking at him in marvellous respect: he had become a true shield, never letting a hit land on them.

The wounds he was receiving were countless, the pain that he must be suffering would have already taken down a lesser man, but he had received in the past a true powerful attack from Meliodas, and the pain he was in now was nothing compared to that, so he just tightened his jaws going on to shield the other Knights.

The beast took his right arm, maiming him for good, but he just continued to stay planted there on his own two feet.

What a pathetic view he was giving, he was sure that his comrades would have laughed at him, to see him reduced like that.

No.

He was wrong.

No one would have laughed, no one was laughing at him.

They were all powerful and extremely kind, they had accepted him, day and night, treating him as one of them, as their equal.

The fact that he had been at all able to fight alongside them for all this time was his greatest pride, and the proof of that was in his heart, so in his final moments he wanted to be with them all, even if only in his heart.

He had also lost his left arm and his right eye and was a bleeding mess all over, he had enough strength to just remain there, in front of the enemy, still standing high and proud.

He knew he was about to die, his last thoughts were for Merlin, the only woman he could have ever loved so much, the one woman who had accepted him and his feelings, the marvellous woman with whom he had shared so many beautiful and unforgettable moments, who had shared her body, mind and heart with him, the special woman he was about to leave against his wishes.

He just hoped she would find happiness anyway, and that she would forgive him.

The three Holy Knights behind him were shouting in horror, the beast was about to devour him, darkness was descending upon him and his consciousness.

"I am...the Lion's Sin, Escanor...of the Seven Deadly Sins…"

I'm sorry Merlin, my love

"Invigorate."

Suddenly Escanor's world was again bright and clear.

He opened both his eyes only to find in front of him no more little Indura, but instead the bright Archangel.

"Escanor, your prayers indeed, reached me."

"Mael! You really came!"

He was ecstatic with joy, he had another chance to be of help now!

However Mael made it immediately clear that he was there to save the people who needed help, that he didn't have the slightest intention, nor the power, to battle the Demon King himself.

At that Escanor just laughed and told the Archangel that he hadn't asked for his help for that reason.

"Can you… lend me your Sunshine power?!"

Escanor's words left everyone there shocked, but the surprise quickly changed to sadness on Mael's face, he also knew how bad the Lion's health was. He told him as much, his body was at his limit because of the burden of carrying the Grace.

"Even if you could fight...it would only be once more...after that, with total certainty… you will die."

Those were really heavy words, and sadly true, the three Holy Knights were even more shocked, they couldn't think about one of them dying, especially the Lion, one of the strongest, if not the strongest, out of all of them.

"You'd be throwing your life away for nothing!"

The Archangel went on, trying to reason and convince the man in front of him.

"Even so, I don't mind."

Escanor answered with a very bright smile on his face, taking everyone aback.

"I'm not throwing my life away. I'm risking it… for the sake of the Seven Deadly Sins. If they are risking their lives to fight for someone else's sake… then I want to risk my life to fight for them!"

He was resolute, totally unmovable, and that was clear to everyone there.

He had made up his mind, with the little time that he had left he would do whatever he can to make sure that every one of his friends would be alive and have a bright future ahead of them, he would ensure their future, he would protect their happiness!

He would stay by their side until the very last moment.

Merlin's eyes showed up again in his mind.

He would make sure that she would come out of this alive, and he would pray for her happiness after all this. He was so very grateful for the moments that they had, but sadly he couldn't have anymore, and he hoped that his love would at least be of some comfort for her.

Mael was looking at the little man in front of him, seeming so fragile in that form, seeing his determination and his real greatness; he was very sad to know that he would die, he was a being worth of carrying his Grace, and was also the best man he had ever known, he was really as bright as the Sun.

Slowly the Archangel trusted his hand towards Escanor.

"...you've still got some time before noon comes."

The Lion smiled at him, grateful for his gesture and his comprehension, trusting his hand towards him and clasping them.

"...yeah... you're right."

He immediately felt the power surge inside him.

Wait for me, I'm coming to battle alongside you, my friends

Merlin… I hope you can forgive me… I love you

I hope I was able to give justice to this event, it was a scene soooo meaningful, sad and inspiring! It made it obvious the growth of Escanor as a character! I loved this part very much!

I hope you liked this! ^^

Please leave a comment, they're always appreciated! And I like to know what you think! :D