Zelgadis' Gambit

Chapter: 14

Peace Talks

*Findel pops his head up wearing the handkerchief from the Gumby skits by Monty Python* "My brain hurts!" Man, I think this was the worse battle with writers block I have ever had. I started this right after then new year and I'm just now finishing this chapter. This is like the sixth rewrite of this chapter and I finally feel it is good enough to put out there. I'm sorry this took so long and will not blame everyone for throwing random household objects at me if you are that mad. Hopefully, that will not happen again and I'll be back on schedule.

It was early morning on the skirmish lines near the borders of Rand and Freysa. The night guards were being relieved of their posts as the sun began to crest over the hills. Most of the soldiers were outside of their tents taking care of weapons and armor before they were to line up for their meal. As the men of Freysa were tending to their equipment, there came a glint from over a far hill. The rear guard of the army scrambled to prepare in case this was some kind of trick. The sergeant of the squad pulled out a spy glass as he located the glint out on the hills. The glint was that of a carriage that was heading towards the front. As the sergeant continued to watch he saw the platoon of troops crest the hill as well with the Freysa standard leading them. The sergeant smiled before saying, "Stand down boys. The mages have arrived."

There were loud shouts of celebration from the rear guard that alerted the rest of the army that the advisors they had been waiting for had arrived. The shouts grew into a roar as more of the army joined in on the welcoming cry. Though the army had not seen the duo of Rose and Grey they had heard many stories from letters that were sent by family. The army had been kept abreast of the adventures of the two mages and now they were finally going to get a peek at the two. As the carriage came to the rear guard it came to a stop the accompanying platoon spilt to both sides of the vehicle before the commander stepped forward and announced, "By the power of the king of Freysa I present Lady Rose and Lord Grey."

The door to the carriage opened and out stepped Grey in his normal attire of grays. He stopped as his feet hit the ground and turned before offering his hand to the other occupant of the carriage. The slender, gloved hand of Rose took hold of Grey's before she appeared in the doorway of the carriage. Rose smiled as she stepped down to the ground and stood beside Grey. She waved as they began to walk towards the command tent in front of them. As the two continued to walk Rose smiled while saying, "Thank you for all of your hard work."

The two walked into the command tent where the general of the army was waiting. After the flap of the tent had closed behind them the general smiled. He was an older man with his hair starting to gray in places. "I hope you two will be able to send my men home," the general spoke as he took in the two advisors that had made a name for themselves.

Rose smiled before replying, "That is what we are here for. One way or another we will put an end to this."

Grey nodded before he produced a cloth that he tied over all of his face but his eyes. He then pulled his hood up before replying, "Yes, and hopefully once this is over peace can be restored to the countryside."

Rose looked at Grey before scowling and asking, "Why are you covering your face? No, one here has a problem with how you look."

Grey sighed while closing his eyes and replying, "I understand that but I doubt the nation of Rand has ever seen someone like me. If my visage turned the negotiations south then that would not go well."

Rose frowned at the idea before saying, "I understand," before grabbing Grey by the shirt and bringing him down to her eyes, "But, when we are done that thing is getting burned...do I make myself clear."

Grey gulped as he saw how much this move bothered his partner. He nodded before she let him go and the two turned back towards the old general as if nothing had happened. The old general smirked before turning and saying, "You kids today."

The general opened the flap to the tent and looked out over the battlefield. He smirked before saying, "Well, looks like the diplomats from Rand have arrived. You two should get going and by the time you are done we'll have a tent ready for you."

The two finished their march up to the meeting tent where the diplomats on each side where to meet. Grey pulled the flap back to allow Rose to enter before he entered behind her. The two walked up to a table to be met with two diplomats from the country of Rand. The groups looked at each other before the main diplomat for Rand stepped forward and said, "I am Rask, head advisor to the king of Rand. This is my associate Fairen."

Fairen nodded his head before coming forward and saying, "We welcome you though I must ask why is it that you conceal your features from us. This is not a good sign of openness."

Rose's face fell into a scowl and she moved forward about to launch into a tirade but Grey's hand covered her mouth. Rose looked back at her partner with annoyance before Grey replied, "First off, you launching into a harangue over a minor detail will not bode well for our negotiations. Second, I wear this mask because I am well aware that I am the only one of my kind in this land and did not know how you might have reacted. If you wish me to remove the mask then I shall."

Rask sat down at the table before replying, "No, if it aids you in the negotiations then it is not necessary for you to remove the mask. Now, if we can get down to business..."

Rose sighed as she flopped down on a large pillow inside a big tent that had been setup for her and Grey to use while they were in negotiations with Rand. She laid back as her brain felt like it wanted to revolt. They had made progress but they still had quite a way to go on the whole deal. "This is a lot more work than I thought it would be."

Grey smirked as he grabbed a plate of fruit and walked towards the pile of pillows that Rose had taken dominion over. He sat on the edge of the pillows before picking a grape and holding it to Rose's lips. "Well, not everything can be as easy as fighting bandits."

Rose smiled before taking the grape. After she finished she sat up and said, "If I remember correctly sometimes bandits are not that easy either."

Grey looked at Rose before returning, "The one time I get tagged and you're going give me grief about it."

Rose laughed lightly as she leaned on Grey's shoulder. She reached her left arm around his back until she took hold of him in a light embrace. "Now don't pout on me. I have to tease you every once in a while. Who else can keep your ego in check."

Grey leaned back slightly, though being careful not to lean his full weight onto his partner, before sighing and saying, "Either way...once we finish this we should have full reign to begin our hunt for who we really are."

Rose laid her chin on Grey's shoulder and sighed before saying, "I know...but..."

Grey turned his head to look at Rose out of the corner of his eye. He saw the anxiety on Rose's face as she looked back at him. Grey placed his right hand over Rose's before saying, "This is what we have wanted since the beginning what would make you hesitant about that now?"

Rose sighed as she turned her left hand and took hold of Grey's right and replied, "Well, just the way things have become between us. What if we find out the truth and we can't be together because of something we can't remember. What if we belong to others...or are enemies or something that that nature...," before she was quieted by Grey.

Grey turned towards Rose while not letting go of her hand. He smiled before saying, "It does not matter. I promise that I will not let anything in our past come between us."

Rose squeezed Grey's hand while replying, "But, we are only two people...what if we can't change what happens."

Grey came closer to Rose before saying, "As long as we are together there is nothing that we cannot accomplish," and then closed the gap and captured Rose's lips in a gentle kiss.

Rose sighed into the kiss as she brought her body close to Grey's while reaching behind him to fully embrace her lover. After a moment the two separated but continued to lean to where their foreheads still touched. Rose smiled, "It seems you've convinced me that we will have to overcome anything that confronts us."

"And, what changed your mind so quickly," Grey asked with a mischievous smirk on his face.

Rose brought her hands up to Grey's head while slowly running her finger on his hair, "Because, if I have to go without that kiss for long I might just destroy everything in my sight," before pulling him in for another kiss.

The two kissed for another moment before separating and Grey laid down on the pillows. Rose followed suit and laid down with her head finding a resting place on Grey's shoulder. The two laid there for a few minutes before brought his hand up and ran his fingers through Rose's hair. He heard Rose sigh has he continued his attention to her hair. Grey smiled as he could not be happier than to be with the woman he had grown to love over the short time they had been together. He sighed as he heard Rose's breath become steady. He looked down to see she had fallen asleep. He smiled before slowly wrapping his around the small sorceress and making himself comfortable. 'I'll do whatever it takes to make you happy Rose,' and with his last thought Grey drifted off with Rose in his warm embrace.

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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