Disclaimer: Don't own nothing! :D
"Ah, that was damn good." Lina said, rubbing her stomach as a sign of fulfillment.
Everyone mumbled their agreement, scrapping their chairs back before lifting themselves up to stand. "Off to the hospital, then?" Xelloss asked, more to Lina then to anyone else.
She shrugged before nodding. "I guess so." She paused for a second before continuing. "But I want to go alone."
They all stared at her, their faces showing a mixture of concern and disbelief. Sighing, she waved her hand. "Oh, don't be such babies. I can go alone, I'm a big girl."
None of them looked convinced, and Zel took a nervous step forward. "Lina, I really think you should rest a little more after what happened back at the castle. Your hair hasn't even returned to its natural color yet."
Lina grimaced at the memory, taking a strand of her hair to twirl around her fingers. "Well, at least its not white anymore. For some reason the color came back faster then usual, so I should be back to normal in no time. It only looks a little faded."
Zel's face was still set into a frown, but he turned away with a sense of defeat.
Hiyo gave her a small, unconvincing smile before turning away to hurry up the stairs to her father's room. "Do you mind if I escort you, Lina-san?" Xelloss offered, giving her a smile.
She rolled her eyes, giving him a worn-out look. "Didn't I just say I wanted to go alone?"
"Yes, I know."
"Then why are you asking?"
"Because I wanted to give you a chance to enjoy my company up front. If you don't want me to come that's fine, but I'm sure that you are aware that I'm going to be following you whether you like it or not."
Lina stared at him for a long moment, trying to figure out if he was joking. When she wound up with the conclusion that he wasn't, she sighed and nodded, leading the way to the front door. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't be too much of a pain in the ass, ok? I have a headache already."
OoO
"Is there a Fairagg here, Ms. Nurse Lady?"
The middle-aged woman seated behind the desk looked up at them, her eyes peeking over her tiny red spectacles. Holding up a finger, she looked down at the pad next to her. "Ah, yes. He's in room 202, just down that hall. Last one to the right." She pointed her finger to the hallway behind them, her face never turning into a smile.
Lina nodded, and took Xelloss by the arm to drag him down the corridor. As they walked, an uneasiness fell over them.
Just before they reached the blue door with the numbers '202' imprinted into the wood, Lina stopped abruptly, causing Xelloss to stop as well.
"Lina-san?"
"I meant it when I said I wanted to go alone." Her voice was firm, and the determined gaze she gave him from beneath her fluffy bangs accented her seriousness.
Chewing the inside of his lip for a moment, Xelloss pretended to be deep in thought. After a bit he turned his head to her, smiling. "Very well, Lina-san. I'll be in the lobby when you're ready to leave."
She gave him a smile, and looked both ways down the hall to make sure no one was there. When she had found they were alone, she stepped forward to wrap her tiny arms around his torso in a quick hug, then spun around just as fast and yanked the door open just before slamming it.
Xelloss stared at the closed door for a moment, and then a small smile crept onto his lips slowly. Turning away, he took his time strolling down the ill-carpeted corridor to the waiting room.
"Who's there?" A voice called from the farther part of the room. Lina paused for a moment, deciding whether or not to announce herself.
"L-Lina Inverse?" She offered almost shyly, stepping out of the shadowed doorway and into the florescent light.
Two pairs of strikingly blue eyes stared at her from the other side of the hospital room, and Lina let out a low whistle. "Wow...you're like twins!" Both of them let out a small chuckle, their eyes twinkling simultaneously.
The king stood up, his grin identical to the one spreading across his son's face. There were truthfully only minor differences between them, for instance the king's hair was shorter, and fully aged a deep gray that made his eyes seem even more dashing. Of course the king had many wrinkles around his eyes and mouth, but that didn't make his looks any less handsome.
His son, Fairagg, had a full head of blond hair the color of wheat, and a smile that lacked the charming dimples his father had failed to pass down. The blonde hair was long, and it looked His chin was squared, and there was a 5 o'clock shadow darkening his attractive features. His muscular body imprinted from under the thin hospital sheets made him seem Lina looked downwards to realize that he had been holding out his hand, and she reached to slip her palm above his in a warm handshake.
"I'll take that as a compliment, Ms. Lina. And it's a pleasure to meet you. It was such a disappointment that I couldn't have met you sooner, but last I heard you were under the weather. I hope you are well now." His voice was deep, and how easily her name rolled off his tongue brought a slight shiver up her spine.
"Yeah, same here." Lina responded lamely, her gaze switching to the king as soon as her hand was separated from the prince's. He walked over to take her small hand between his huge, warm ones, just as he had done the day before. "I don't believe that we have properly met, Ms. Inverse. I am Gregory; King of Nara." He gave her another grin.
She returned his smile before taking a seat beside him in one of the hospital chairs. Once they were all settled, and the introductions had ended, Gregory looked to his son with a renewed seriousness. "Fairagg, it is very lucky that Ms. Inverse is here today, because I wanted her to hear this. I have some news that might shock both of you, but I still think it important that I tell you now before she embarks again on her journey."
He sighed, and glanced at Lina before continuing. "My dear son, I regret to say that I have not been the father that you have always needed. Even before my encounter with the spear, I was so wrapped up in my duties that I didn't take time to think about your feelings. When your mother passed away, my fears had come to life as I had to try my best to raise you on my own." He shook his head solemnly, hanging it down low with shame.
"There is something that I have never told you, Fairagg. I have always been very sick, and many years ago my doctor had informed me that this sickness has no cure known to man...even today there is still virtually no hope." His voice had fallen flat, and despite herself Lina felt the tears prick at the back of her eyes.
"What I am trying to say, is that I will die very soon. Maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after, or even next week. In my wake of terror I sought power, and I was granted a terrible power that has corrupted my beloved kingdom." His head fell into his hands, and Lina turned her head to Fairagg. His face was torn, his eyes sad and broken. The look on his face made her want to embrace them both, and tell them everything was ok.
"Father, it's not your fault. How many times to I have to tell you-"
"Wait, Fairagg, that is not all I have to say." The king held his hand up, his tone firm.
"My one last wish is that once I die, you and Ms. Inverse are to...marry." The hesitation was obvious in his gruff voice.
Lina and Fairagg both stared at him, mouths agape in naked astonishment. Lina jumped from her chair, her hands both placed atop her head in frustration. "But I don't even know him!"
Gregory nodded, sighing heavily. "Yes, I understand that. And I did anticipate this, but I knew even before I met you Ms. Inverse that you would be the one to stand beside my son as queen."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I knew while the spear had control over me that I was in some sort of trouble. My mind might have been in a bit of a fog, I'll admit." He paused to reach into his jacket for a handkerchief that he nervously wiped his forehead with. "But it is done, and in my will it states that unless you marry Ms. Inverse, you will be disowned by the royal family and erased from the will."
Fairagg's face had become flat, and he stared at his father with no expression readable. Lina shook her head. "How did you know my name if you didn't even know who I was yet?"
"I didn't exactly know your name yet, but I wrote that the person that separates me from the spear will be The One."
"How did you know it would be a female?" Fairagg decided to speak now, his voice bordering on just plain pissed.
"Xaldin told me, but he didn't speak of any names." Lina blinked, and a small smile spread onto her face thinking about the 'puppet'.
Her smile disappeared at the realization of reality. "King Gregory, with all due respect, there is no way in hell that I'm marrying your son."
She turned her head to Fairagg. "No offense." A smile finally appeared on his face, and he nodded. "None taken."
"It's just that right now isn't the best of times for this to happen, I'm not exactly single..." She frowned as her voice trailed off, and she started to wonder. Are Xelloss and I a couple?
Gregory smiled a knowing smile, his eyes seemed much duller all of the sudden. "The matrimony doesn't have to take place anytime soon, my child. Take your time in making a final decision. Until you have decided, whether I'm dead or alive, Fairagg will still rule as prince. Your decision can be made tomorrow, or in three years."
Lina held her hand up to protest, but her eyes met Fairagg's, and she saw something desperate deep in his blue eyes. Her mouth closed slowly, and her hand dropped back down to her side. "Could I have a moment alone with Fairagg, Gregory?" The king nodded, lifting himself out of his chair. Giving Lina a supportive pat on the shoulder, he left quietly without making eye contact with his son.
Once they were alone, Lina sighed, collapsing into the chair she had abandoned only moments ago.
Fairagg broke the silence, his face more relaxed now that his father was gone. "I'm sorry about all this, Ms. Lina."
She waved off his apology, a half smile brightening her face. "It's not that big of a deal, your father isn't a bad guy. And call me Lina."
He grinned, nodding. "Alright then, Lina."
They sat in silence again, their gazes holding for an extended moment. Lina looked away, breaking the intense contact. "How do you think we should handle this?"
"Well, I don't see any reason why we can't at least get to know each other a little more so that we can make a solid decision. Now, I know that you aren't in any position to be married to me at the moment. But who says friends can't go out for a cup of tea?" The bright smile that lit up his face almost brought Lina to her knees, but a vivid image of the night before snapped her back to reality.
"Err, that's really sweet of you Fairagg but I'm sort of on a mission right now. In fact I think I'm supposed to be leaving the village soon...maybe even today."
He smiled. "Where is it you're heading?"
The question startled her, but she recovered somewhat quickly. "I don't really know yet, but I'm after something."
Fairagg nodded, understanding by the tone of her voice that she didn't want to go into any further detail. "Then is it alright if I accompany you? I'm actually a very well trained swordsman, and I'll do everything within my power to protect you."
Lina's eyes widened, and she couldn't stop the instant replay that ran through her mind of her and Gourry's first meeting. Tears brimmed her eyes, and Fairagg sat up instantly, his eyes clouded with concern. "I-I'm sorry Lina, I didn't mean to upset you." Lina shook her head, wiping away the annoying tears. "No, no. I just got something in my eye, I'm fine." She tried to give him a smile, but even she knew that it must have looked just as forced as it really was.
He held eye contact with her for a long moment before slowly nodding, as if deciding that her excuse was legitimate enough for his taste. Lina watched him sit back onto the uncomfortable looking hospital pillows, and noticed that his face was slowly falling into a deep frown of what she supposed to be thought.
She watched as a thousand emotions crossed over his face, and took her sweet time noting ever angle and curve of his flawless tanned face. A bit of guilt filled her mind, she'd admit, but this man was god like in every way imaginable...unlike Xelloss.
Xelloss!
Lina hopped out of her chair, nearly falling over herself as she scurried to the door. "Ah, listen Fairagg, I'm really sorry about this but I've got to be going now. Someone is waiting for me in the lobby, and I don't think I should keep him there any longer. I'll try to keep in touch, but I can't promise anything!"
She was in such a rush, that Lina didn't even catch the last words Fairagg uttered just as she slipped through the door.
"I'll have you for my own, Lina Inverse. You'll see."
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