To Protect Her

by Heart-Of-Ice75

"Why did you kidnap me?" - "Lina Inverse our Master wants you dead and you're body be brought back with us for his sacrifice." - "You're not the first ones to want me dead ya know and trying to kill me didn't end very well for those who tried either." - "You'll soon find we're not like your past attempted killers. We're much stronger…much smarter." Z/L, G/S, F/X, A/OC

2. Chapter 2

Yo! Hope y'all are enjoying this story so far! :) No flames or nasty comments please! Nice reviews and constructive criticism only! Thanks!

( Thoughts/Emphasis/Chanting/Casted Spell Name

Dream Sequence/Flashback

"Talking"

Normal )

Lina: 25

Zelgadis: 29

Amelia: 24

Prince Liam: 25

Gourry: 30

Sylphiel: 27

Xellos: 1022 (Give or take…)

Filla: 705 (I don't know her true age, so just go with it…same with Xellos and Sylphiel)

Little Val: 7

…-…*…-…

Chapter Two: Shock! Lina's Biggest Secret Exposed! My Brother's Amelia's Fiancé?

When Fillia and Val, and Sylphiel and Amelia who had gone with them to avoid being Fireballed, returned they set the two pots over the fire to get the water to start boiling. Gourry and Xellos returned not long after the other four got back, with seven large rabbits and two dozen fish and Amelia set to work making rabbit stew also using some veggies and seasonings they still had from the previous night, while Sylphiel cleaned and gutted the fish and then cooked them. Zelgadis had made the coffee as soon as the water had boiled so that was ready and sitting by the fire to keep hot. Lina had fallen sleep as Zelgadis packed, but woke as soon as she smelled the food cooking.

"Sleeping beauty awakens." Zelgadis joked, kissing her forehead before helping her sit up. "And with perfect timing since breakfast is just about done."

"Good I'm starving!" Lina whined, her stomach growled in emphasis.

Zelgadis chuckled a bit, and propped Lina against him. Amelia and Sylphiel served everyone their food, and then got themselves a plate.

…-…*…-…

The Slayers group set off for Saillune as soon as all the food was ate and the dishes washed and packed. Everyone was still tired from the lack of sleep they got and since Lina was in so much pain still and couldn't walk too far on her own, only allowed Zelgadis to carry her as long as he would put her down every once in a while to stretch her legs and give him a break from carrying her. Val being the youngest and used to getting more sleep kept stumbling tiredly until Xellos picked him up and carried him cradled in one arm while the other still held his staff in hand, shocking everyone, especially Fillia who then kept very close to and kept a wary eye on him in case he tried to doing anything to Val, who despite being surprised put his arms around Xellos's neck so as not to fall and leaned his head on Xellos's shoulder and fell into much needed sleep.

"I can see the gate up ahead! We're almost there, we're almost there!" Amelia yelled excitedly. "The guards surely have seen me by now and alerted my father. There will surely be a huge feast in honor of my return home!"

Although exhausted, everyone picked up the pace and arrived about two hours later.

…-…*…-…

"Daddy!" Amelia shouted and threw herself into Crown Prince Philionel's opened arms.

"Amelia, you're back! I happy to see you are all doing well…hm? Maybe not all…Lady Lina, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm just fine." Lina said nonchalantly crossing her arms from where she was being held in Zelgadis's arms.

"There was an attempt on Lina's life and unfortunately more to come. That's part of the reason we're here." Zelgadis informed.

"Hm…I see. Does Lady Lina need a healer?" Phil asked.

"As experienced as Amelia and Sylphiel are I think it would be good idea just in case something was missed or not healed fully." Zelgadis said.

"Hey! Don't talk about me like I'm not here!" Lina yelled irritated that she was being ignored and a decision was being made for her.

"Alright then, right this way. Amelia why don't you show everyone else where there rooms are." Phil said warily ignoring Lina, knowing how stubborn she is and that she could Fireball him to the moon and back.

Lina pouted, trying to refrain from Fireballing everyone.

"Okay dad! Follow me guys!" Amelia said leading everyone to the guest wing of the palace.

"At least she's in a good mood…" Lina grumbled.

"Haha! You will be too, Lady Lina, once the grand feast starts." Prince Phil said leading the two into the royal infirmary.

Lina perked up immediately, "When you mention food…I already am."

"That'll never change…" Zelgadis muttered. I hope Lina didn't hear that.

But she did in fact hear him and promptly whacked his head with her fist.

"Ow!" They both exclaimed.

"That hurt." (1) Zelgadis said bluntly, as he set Lina down on one of the beds and then rubbed his head where she hit at.

"That hurt me too!" (2) Lina retorted massaging her hand.

Luckily the healer walked in the room before any other bodily parts could be injured.

…-…*…-…

Once everyone had their rooming arrangements figured out (Lina and Zelgadis sharing a room, Sylphiel and Gourry sharing a room, Fillia and Val sharing a room, Xellos having his own room and Amelia already having her own room being the second princess of Saillune and the castle being her home) and got comfortable, it was decided that everyone would meet with Prince Phil in the conference room to fill him in on their current predicament. But first…

"Oh my goodness! Liam what are you doing here?" Amelia exclaimed excited, running and jumping into the open arms of a boy as tall as Lina whose eyes narrowed a bit, unable to see the boy Amelia was hugging, and hoping 'Liam' wasn't the 'Liam' she knew all too well. "It's so wonderful to see you again! How are your father King Leone and mother Queen Lyria?"

Shit it is him!

Said boy, whose name is apparently Liam caught Amelia and swung her around in a circle laughing. He had flame colored hair that was slightly longer than shoulder length, tied into a low ponytail and ruby red eyes. He wore a loose white shirt that showed a bit of his muscular chest, brown pants and dark gray almost black boots. A ruby magic amplifying talisman was worn around his neck on a sturdy silver chain another one was clasped on the dark gray belt around his waist which long sword was also attached to. A silver circlet with a large diamond and two smaller rubies on either side of the diamond was worn around his head.

"It's great to see you too Amelia! Father and mother are doing fine, thank you for asking." Liam said setting her back down. "Well first off…I have something to tell you before this meeting begins. Would you prefer I tell you alone or do you mind if you're friends hear?"

"I don't mind my friends hearing." Amelia said smiling, looking back at everyone and again to Liam.

"Alright then. The reason I'm here is because…" Liam trailed off suddenly and looked intently and thoughtfully at Lina whose eyes widened and slipped behind Zelgadis and Xellos trying to obviously hid for some reason.

Shit! Shit! Shit! Dear LON please don't let him say anything! Lina thought frantically. I don't want everyone knowing…not yet at least!

"Lina? Lilina! Sister! It's been awhile! How are you?" Liam asked.

No, dammit!

"Sis? Lina's a PRINCESS?" Everyone one but Phil exclaimed.

"…Guess the cat's outta the bag now. Thanks a lot Liam…" Lina said accusingly, coming out of hiding from behind Zelgadis and Xellos, received a hug from Liam, and then said nonchalantly, "Yeah I'm royalty as well. Liam, here is my twin brother. My full name plus the title is Princess Lilina Fate Inverse Zephilia of the Kingdom of Zephilia. My father is King Leone and my mother is Queen Lyria. Their children consist of, from oldest to youngest: Crown Prince Lan Trey Inverse Zephilia, Princess Luna Naysa Inverse Zephilia, and Prince Liam Kneil Inverse Zephilia and myself. Although we're twins, sadly I'm still the youngest of the Inverse Clan and the fourth in line for the throne."

"But definitely not the most underappreciated." Liam added with a glint in his eyes and a fond smile, which Lina returned.

"Some, not many, outside my kingdom, know who I really am, excluding the other kingdoms of course and Crown Prince Philionel." Lina nodded her head toward Phil. "Amelia, before you and Gourry showed up, when your uncle Randionel tried to kill Phil for the throne, your dad recognized me and came to talk to me alone during one of those nights I travelled with them before the assassination attempt. I had asked Phil to keep my true identity a secret from everyone, so he has all this time."

Lina reached into one of her cape's dimensional pockets and pulled out a ruby and diamond encrusted silver tiara circlet, and a small silver dagger, like what Phil showed her the first night they met and like what Amelia showed Prince Pokota's father the day he and his kingdom were cured, and silver badge like item, similar to what Amelia has, except both badge and dagger had the Zephilia royal crest and showed everyone.

"But why keep it a secret Lina?" Amelia asked.

"Really Amelia, do you know how many more bandits, assassins and gods know who or what else would come after me, especially knowing I'm of royal lineage and considering how many enemies I already have?" Lina asked exasperated. "I'm not even sure letting Xellos here know who I am is a good idea…"

"I already knew who you really are Lina." Xellos said cheerfully.

Lina blinked slowly and then mumbled, "Of course… Why, am I not surprised…?"

"Well I guess when you put it like that…it does make sense. Especially since it is you, we're talking about." Amelia replied thoughtfully.

"Damn right it makes sense!And what's that suppose to mean, Amelia?" Lina yelled at a now cowering Amelia and crossed her arms huffing. She turned her head away from the group had a faraway and somewhat fearful and sad look come upon her face and added quietly, "Plus I was afraid of facing everyone's reactions and being treated differently because I'm royalty…"

"Well as you can see Lina, none of us are treating you differently, overreacting too much or making too big a deal of it. Even if we did you'd probably Fireball our asses into oblivion, am I right, my dear?" Zelgadis comforted, placing his reassuring arms around Lina's waist from behind.

"You're damn right I would!" Lina replied hotly leaning back against her beloved.

Zelgadis chuckled and placed a kiss on her temple.

"Miss Lina, shouldn't we be getting to business now?" Fillia asked.

"Wait! Liam still has to tell us why he's here!" Amelia exclaimed.

"Oh yes, that's right. Well Amelia, Lilina's and my father and your father have decided to join Saillune and Zephilia in union by the marrying of you and me. I am now your fiancé." Liam said.

Everyone was startled into silence with the exception of Lina's loud "WHAAAAAT?" Amelia was the most quiet and very still. She blinked and slowly a blush and a large smile appeared on her face and she threw herself into Liam's arms and hugged him tightly. Liam's eyes widened, obviously not expecting this reaction but hugged her back anyway.

"If ever I were to be put in an arranged marriage, I always hoped it would be with you." Amelia whispered, making Liam smile softly.

Amelia pulled back and turned towards Lina smiling hugely, "Miss Lina this means we're going to be sisters now!"

Poor overwhelmed Lina let out a strangled scream and promptly passed out.

End Chapter Two!

(1) In one of the Slayers episodes (I can't remember which one at the moment) Lina jumps up and hits Zel with her elbow hurting both Zel and herself because of him being 1/3 rock golem thus being hard to hit (lol get it? Okay that was bad I know) with the rock hard skin and all. Zel then says, "That hurt." bluntly and obvious like.

(2) "That hurt me too!" is what Lina retorted back to Zel, in that episode, after he said, "That hurt."

I know this chapter's short but I couldn't think of anything more to write in it… Still I hope y'all are likin' this story so far! And remember kiddies! No flames or nasty comments please! Nice reviews and constructive criticism only! Thanks!