Lina's Nocturne

Chapter: 7

Dreams and Memories

Another chapter coming right up.

They never understood, they never looked at him the same after then. In the beginning he was nothing more than a street orphan that only had a name. He had been bought and sold so many times that he could not remember the names of any of the places he had worked for. Then one day his luck turned and he was acquired by a noble man to tend to his young son. He was treated by a servant but at least here he lived by much higher means than any other place. Zelgadis did his job and everyday was the same...that is until he heard that music. He had been called to the master's music room and when he got there he heard the master play the piano and it was like the music of an angel. Zelgadis felt the shackles of his soul release as he heard to beautiful sound the instrument created. It was after a moment that the master noticed him and he asked, "You asked for me master?"

The master stopped playing and place the covering back over the keys. "Yes," he replied before standing, "I want you to make sure this piano is clean for the party this week. Don't miss a thing."

"Yes, master," Zelgadis replied as he set to work.

Hours later he had finished and was about to leave when he felt an urge to try the piano. He had never played before, never been taught the art of music, but he wanted to try at least once. He sat on bench and reached for the pedals with his feet. At the age of fourteen he was barely tall enough to do it. He flipped the covering up and placed his hands where he had seen his master's hands. He had a good memory, that secret he kept to himself, and began to try and match the notes. At first he failed at making the correct sounds but after a few minutes of going up and down the scale he found it. It was then that he began to play and the music just seemed to come to him. He did not know the song he was playing but his hands seemed to know on instinct alone. It was at this moment that her heard the doors fly open and heard, "What is the meaning..."

Zelgadis looked over while he continued to play to see his master looking at him dumbfounded. Zelgadis stopped and put the cover back before standing and saying, "Sorry, I just couldn't resist."

His master shook himself from his stupor and responded, "That is quite alright my boy, quite alright."

Years later found Zelgadis with a noble name though he did not hold it by birthright. It was his best kept secret as his master had adopted him as his second son and Zelgadis' skills at music had only increased. He had been with many music instructors and all had praised him as a virtually virtuoso and natural musical savant. Zelgadis played concerts, attended parties and social outings, but always knew he was not like the rest of them. All of the years of training on being a noble could not erase the nagging that he was not of noble birth and the only reason he was living the high life was because no one had found that out. He knew that marriage was out of the question because they would want to know his background and pedigree and he would be found out. He normally kept to himself and created the only thing that gave him joy; his music. It was in this environment that Zelgadis stayed for eight years before the fire of revolution came. His noble family were fleeing France and his adopted father begged him to come along, "Zelgadis, you are like a son to me you must escape this madness before your gift is lost to slaughter."

Zelgadis shook his head before saying, "I'm not a true noble and no matter what you say I will never be a true noble. I will stay here and for once shape my own life."

His adopted father sighed before saying, "Then I wish you the best of luck son," before escaping with the rest of his family in a horse drawn carriage.

Zelgadis clenched his hands as he walked towards the center of town while thinking, 'They never understood me...all they saw was someone to play their music for them. No, one truly accepted me, but now I can begin anew. This age of fire will come to an end and when it does I will be there to shape it!'

Zelgadis shot up in bed as the memories of his past came back to him. That had been so long ago, so very long ago that he had begun to forget. 'Until she showed up and fished through everything I was trying to bury,' he thought though the anger he had originally felt had faded seen.

It was about that moment that the door opened. He had expected to see Amelia but instead Lina was there with a covered tray of what he was sure was his meal. Lina smiled as she looked at him and said, "Good your up."

Zelgadis looked at her but did not say anything as he observed the young girl that seemed to be actually happy to see him well. 'I guess she has had a bit of a change in heart after learning a bit more about this place,' Zelgadis thought as he continued to watch Lina.

Lina set the tray down before pulling up a chair and saying, "So are you going to talk or just sit there and look at me."

Zelgadis smirked slightly before saying, "And, what would you like to talk about?"

Lina smiled as she brought the plate of food into her lap before saying, "Who are you really? And, how did you become the master of this mansion?"

Zelgadis sighed before looking away and replying, "I am Zelgadis Greywords but my life story is what you want. I was born in France in 1761. I was an orphan and as the fate of most orphans I was bought and sold for most of my life. It was when I turned twelve that some would say my luck changed. I was bought by a noble family as a servant to their young son. It wasn't a bad job but my life was not my own. Then one day I was assigned to clean my master's piano."

Lina took a spoon and dipped it into the soup before moving it towards Zelgadis. Zelgadis looked down before saying, "I'm not a child."

"Just take it. You used up a lot of energy and shouldn't be moving," Lina commanded before asking, "So were you just born with musical talent?"

Zelgadis took the soup into his mouth and swallowed before continuing, "Yes, after a moment of testing I began to play the same song that I had heard my master play. After my talent was discovered my master adopted me and gave me a noble name as I continued on improving my musical skills."

"Well that was great luck," Lina replied as she continued to feed Zelgadis.

"Not really," Zelgadis huffed before taking in another mouthful of soup.

"Why not," Lina asked somewhat dumbfounded.

"Because in those days everything was about birth and blood. I had neither to tie me to the family and if anyone found out then my life would be forfeit. You cannot understand the stress and strain cause by constantly looking over your shoulder and being in a state of almost paranoia that someone might discover your secret."

Lina frowned at his description before saying, "I can see how that would make someone unhappy."

Zelgadis looked out the window before saying, "The only thing I had was my music...and then war came."

"You mean the French Revolution," Lina asked as she moved forward to offer Zelgadis more soup.

"Yes, the revolution came and my adopted family fled the country. I side with the revolutionaries and it wasn't long before I was part of the army," Zelgadis replied before trailing off.

Lina looked at him before asking, "Are you okay? If you want to stop you can."

Zelgadis nodded before saying, "I think that's enough reminiscing for now."

Lina watched Zelgadis as he laid back in the bed. She placed the empty bowl back on the tray before she said, "I'm sorry."

"What," Zelgadis asked as he looked at Lina.

"I'm sorry for causing so much trouble. I guess I was overreacting to what has happened to me and I didn't completely understand what strain you go through to run this place," Lina bow her head.

Lina felt his fingers on her chin as he lifted her eyes to look at his. "We are both at fault. I should have told you more about the mansion. And, you must learn a little patience. Some things take time."

Lina bit her cheek. She did not like to criticized but it was a valid argument. Part of this was because she could not wait for Zelgadis to tell her what she wanted. She smiled before saying, "I guess I'll let you rest," before picking up the tray and leaving.

Zelgadis laid back in his bed as he thought, 'There might be hope for her after all.'

Disclaimer: Any characters or ideas from The Slayers do not belong to me. I am not selling this material, just writing for the heck of it as I go.

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