Elizabeth and Ban were walking in relative silence, after they had abandoned the Apprentice Holy Knight Jericho. Elizabeth felt a little bad, and had made sure Ban hadn't left her completely exposed as he had clearly been intending, but they still had left Jericho restrained without her armor or any weapon and in less clothing than Jericho was probably comfortable if the rage on her face had said anything.

Though, Elizabeth supposed it was a better way of getting them out quicker - and Jericho didn't have to die, so that was good.

The princess winced with each step, though, her leg feeling as though it were throbbing. It probably was, she hadn't really given it a chance to rest, or a moment for herself to actually deal with her injuries. Elizabeth glanced at Ban, who had absolutely no sign of having been in any kind of fight if you ignored the holes in his pants. Which weren't even from a fight, Elizabeth reminded herself. Those were from the restraints to keep Ban in prison, and he had left his cell without any kind of help.

Any sign of exhaustion was just as nonexistent as any kind of wound on Ban, his eyes merely bored as he hauled the armor he had stolen from Jericho with them.

She'd be lying if she said she wasn't a tiny bit jealous.

Shaking her head, Elizabeth took a deep breath and forced herself to walk a little faster. Was it really this far from the entrance? It hadn't felt like it coming in.

"You all good, Princess?" Ban hummed, slowing a little himself so Elizabeth could keep up.

No.

"I'll be fine!" she smiled reassuringly. "Thank you for the concern though, Sir Ban!"

Ban didn't look convinced, but shrugged. "Whatever, let's stop here and go through this stuff and continue in a bit. My arms are getting tired."

"You sure?"

He dropped all the armor as his answer, arms splaying wide and a grin on his face as he gestured to the pile of stuff that Elizabeth guessed wouldn't actually fit either one of them.

Elizabeth laughed softly, a little breathlessly, but didn't protest as she leaned against the wall. She didn't dare sit to watch Ban, not entirely sure she'd be able to pull herself up after, and she wasn't too interested in letting Ban carry her - nor did she want to even ask that of him. He began to rummage through the armor, and she took the moment to actually take a look at her leg.

She grimaced at the sight.

It wasn't awful, in fact she was certain the others had far worse injuries. But looking at the gash made her stomach churn. Taking another deep breath, Elizabeth leaned further on the wall and put most of her weight onto her less injured leg, lifting the one with the cut to get a better look at it.

It was hard to see at first, honestly. Up until now she had been ignoring the blood slipping down and drying down her calf, but now she had to acknowledge it. She was risking infection at this point.

She startled as the sound of something tearing filled the air, and nearly fell on her ass from the sudden movement, though she relaxed slowly when all that had happened was Ban wordlessly offering her a long strip of cloth. Elizabeth took it without hesitation, and he went back to rummaging in the metal as she began to tend to her leg.

It didn't take long to wrap the cloth around and scrape off a little bit of the dried blood - and bits of grass stuck as well. Elizabeth cursed herself though, knowing that waiting this long to do anything was going to bite her in the near future.

She felt eyes on her and glanced up, seeing Ban also judging her leg with a small frown.

Did he have to deal with infections? She was tempted to ask, because it wasn't like he had to wait a certain amount of time for wounds to heal and he also didn't have to treat them like anyone else.

Elizabeth huffed to herself and let her leg fall back to the ground, though tried to not put as much pressure on it as she had before. Maybe she could ask later.

Ban dusted his hands off before turning his frown to the stolen armor. "Well, unfortunately everything's too small and don't think you'd want this junk." He glanced up and grinned. "Ready to get back to looking for the Captain?"

Elizabeth offered a small smile and a nod.

If she used the wall for more support than before, and Ban walked at a slightly slower pace, neither of them said a word about it.

Meliodas wasn't sure what he expected, but Hawk was definitely not getting many scraps for the next month.

Hawk had just let Elizabeth go on alone.

He had let an injured Elizabeth go on alone into a prison crawling with trained guards.

Sure, Baste was a lot emptier now.

Meliodas and Zeldris sending Ruin flying into the prison, and the Holy Knight creating a crater in the wall had turned some heads. Friesia's melted armor, now melded to her skin just from Gelda's flames, had sent some running into Dalmary out of fear. And then Ruin being so easily defeated with just a punch had sent the rest running for the hills, any guards still deciding to see the commotion quickly fleeing upon seeing two dead Holy Knights and the Dragon's Sin of Wrath stained in blood - mostly his own, but what they didn't know couldn't hurt them.

But that didn't mean there weren't still a few guards left, or that Elizabeth had managed to avoid them all. And he had a feeling the guards wouldn't care if she was a princess.

The Weird Fangs surely didn't care, and they had hurt her enough.

Gelda's grip on his arm was firm as Hawk led them down the hall Elizabeth had disappeared to. Her nails dug into his skin, holding him in a place where Zeldris had ripped his shirt. Her veil of darkness was gone for now, since their only light was fire from the torches hanging on the wall.

Zeldris kept himself between Meliodas and Hawk, occasionally glancing back at him and Gelda, a small frown on his face every time he took in Meliodas' tense posture.

Meliodas stuffed his hands into the remains of his pockets, and Gelda's grip tightened just slightly, and honestly he was glad she was holding onto him like this. It was grounding, in a way. Ensuring he didn't lose control and bring everyone down with him again.

Hawk was too nervous to say anything, after having caught sight of Meliodas' expression upon saying Elizabeth was on her own.

He didn't think Meliodas would actually hurt him, but… he really didn't want to risk it.

None of them wanted to risk it.

Meliodas took a deep breath, and forced his shoulders to relax. He felt eyes on him and glanced up, meeting Gelda's gaze. She was frowning just like Zeldris, though hers was more concerned than her husband's. She gave his arm another squeeze, though it was more gentle, and she rubbed her thumb in small circles in an attempt to comfort him, if just slightly.

The blonde wouldn't admit that it did help, and his shoulders slumping now was less of a struggle.

Meliodas kept his eyes on the walls from now on, trying to remember their way back out while worry still gripped his hearts in an iron fist.

His conversation with Zeldris ran through his mind. Elizabeth was hurt. She had gotten hurt. He can accept this. He needed to. He would accept this. She would and did get hurt and he couldn't do anything about it right now, and he had to accept it. He had to.

Except…

Except what if she wasn't just hurt? What if she was almost dead, and she died when he got there? He just had to witness her death, it could technically be at any time. She'd hold out until they found her and she'd die right in front of him. What if she did die?

He couldn't accept that. He couldn't handle that.

There wasn't a reality that existed where he could handle her dying.

Gelda stopped, forcing Meliodas to do so just before he ran into Zeldris. Zeldris, who had turned around and was looking over Meliodas' shoulder, back down the corridor they had just walked. Gelda turned as well, her hold on Meliodas loosening. Both were frowning, silent, and Meliodas' brows furrowed at their expressions.

Hawk was still walking, not noticing at first that they had all stopped, still sulking about the promise of a decrease in scraps. His ears perked up though when he realized he only heard his steps and he turned, racing back with a small squeal definitely not because he was afraid of almost wandering off alone in this place.

He bumped into Zeldris, who glanced down at Hawk and narrowed his eyes slightly, a warning to stay quiet, before he reached for his sword and that had Hawk hiding behind him even more. Both Gelda and Meliodas were also tense, small sparks appearing in Gelda's hands after letting go of the blonde. Meliodas just stood absolutely still, looking like a snake ready to lunge at anyone who got a little too close for comfort.

Hawk heard it now, footsteps. They were unhurried, and… and more than one, unless somehow whoever had more than two feet like Hawk. But he should be the only nonhuman creature in the prison right now, right?

His eyes widened though at the two people who had stepped into view.

"Elizabeth!"

Elizabeth smiled wide at Hawk, letting go of the wall she was heavily leaning on to rush over as best she could to pet him. Hawk leaned into her touch with a relieved sigh. If Elizabeth wasn't mad at him, maybe she could convince Meliodas to be less harsh after leaving her alone.

Zeldris began to nudge the two back, his heel poking Hawk in the chest. When Hawk didn't budge, Zeldris kicked back just a little harder and that got Hawk moving back with a yelp as metal dug ever so slightly into his skin.

"What the heck, Zeldris?" he huffed. Glaring up at Zeldris, Hawk's confusion only grew as both he and Gelda slowly moved back, Gelda moving to pull Elizabeth even further away while Zeldris kept his eyes glued to Meliodas and the mystery man Elizabeth had been with. Hawk froze, and Elizabeth's brow furrowed as they watched, the silence almost suffocating.

Elizabeth was most confused - the two were radiating what she could only assume to be tension, a silent anger maybe? No, anger wasn't the right word. Besides, Ban hadn't seemed angry at the idea of reuniting with his captain earlier, so that couldn't be it. But Elizabeth couldn't put her finger on it, other than whatever it was, it was very nerve wracking. At least, this close it was.

"What… what's going on?" Hawk asked, looking up at Gelda anxiously. Gelda didn't respond, but did crouch to wrap an arm around Hawk and her other around Elizabeth, pulling them close in something that could be interpreted as a hug but definitely didn't feel like one. Zeldris also offered no answer, though he did glance back, and he seemed to relax ever so slightly.

Not that that helped either Hawk or Elizabeth relax themselves.

Just when Elizabeth thought she really was going to start choking from the stifling silence, it evaporated in an instant with Meliodas' face breaking out into the happiest expression Elizabeth had ever seen.

"Ban!"

Ban grinned right back, laughing in delight as they charged at each other. "Captain!"

Elizabeth's jaw dropped as they began what she could only assume was a greeting that went back years, smiles brighter than the sun could ever hope to be. Their hands slapped together loudly and she winced, her own hands stinging just imagining how hard they were hitting each other, but outside of sound she could barely keep up just seeing them, they were moving so quickly.

They stopped, and Elizabeth jumped when Ban suddenly slammed into Meliodas, sending the blonde flying through multiple walls, the Fox Sin not even attempting to keep his laughter down. Elizabeth leaned forward as much as Gelda would allow, ignoring her muscles screaming at her to keep still, and she could see Meliodas in the crater they had created. She bit her lip harshly, but let out a gasp as Meliodas launched himself from the wall just to fly into Ban and send him flying in the opposite direction.

Meliodas was openly laughing now as well, clutching his knees to keep from falling over as Ban recovered and rejoined them.

Elizabeth didn't hear what they had said next, too stunned with the sheer power both were radiating - it was overwhelming, and neither of them seemed to be even trying. Elizabeth blinked, and was confused once more as Gelda tightened her grip and Meliodas and Ban were on their stomachs and goddesses above, were they arm wrestling?

She couldn't help herself, a giggle breaking through the confusion because it all just seemed ridiculous but also they were so happy and shouldn't they be leaving Baste now, they had found and broken Ban out. Zeldris' expression had also morphed into one of slight amusement, though he was still eyeing the two sins with concern.

It took Elizabeth a second too late why Zeldris might be concerned.

"Go!" Meliodas shouted, a wild look on both his and Ban's faces.

The floor began to tremble, and Gelda tightened her grip even further and Elizabeth could feel Gelda taking a deep inhale just as the cracks began to form and her eyes widened.

Next thing Elizabeth knew, the floor completely gave out underneath them and there was suddenly nothing under her besides Gelda's arm digging painfully into her stomach. A scream got caught in her throat, because she wasn't falling, not as fast as the building around them. She squeaked as Gelda dodged a piece of the upper level plummeting, and she closed her eyes tightly and scrambled slightly to get a better hold on Gelda. Vaguely, Elizabeth could hear Hawk actually screaming, though it was soon drowned out by Gelda herself plummeting to the ground as well now and the air rushing past was all Elizabeth could hear.

Elizabeth's next few breaths were labored, and she could now feel the floor underneath her legs, and Gelda's arm slipped from around her. Gelda patted her back lightly before turning her attention to Hawk, trying her best to get the pig to calm down. Elizabeth blinked, looking down at the ground and she coughed, dust still settling and surely the building hadn't fallen that quickly, right?

Must've blacked out for a second, Elizabeth reasoned, and she did her best to steady her breathing. She forced herself to sit back on her knees, it hurt but she had to see the damage. She gasped, head whipping around and she couldn't believe it.

Baste Prison was utterly demolished.

From an arm wrestle.

She was so dumbfounded - and a little nervous now after that display of casual power - that she didn't notice Meliodas crouching in front of her at first. She yelped when she turned and was met with bright green eyes very close, but she slumped under the gaze upon seeing the concern written all over Meliodas' face.

He smiled at her - and she noticed it didn't quite reach his eyes, how could she not with him so close? - before standing and offering her a hand. "Let's get back to the tavern and get you patched up, yeah?"

Elizabeth laughed quietly as she accepted his hand and let him pull her up, his arm going around her waist to support her. They all took a moment to collect themselves - Ban and Zeldris brushing rubble from their hair, Gelda reforming her veil of darkness around her, and Hawk whining softly after being hit a few times from broken bricks that didn't cause too much harm.

Elizabeth smiled to herself as they started the trek back to Mama Hawk. The anxiety from seeing Ban and Meliodas so carelessly toss each other around, the realization of just how strong they were, it was finally slipping away a little bit. She was still a little worried about what she had gotten herself into, but as Meliodas' arm tightened just a fraction around her as they walked, Elizabeth also felt an odd sense of confidence.

Maybe, just maybe, they really could save the kingdom.

Elizabeth's smile widened at the hope the thought brought her.

Gilthunder's face remained neutral as he listened to the knight - Golgius of the Weird Fangs - who had practically crawled to Gilthunder to deliver the report. He was trembling, the sound of metal scraping against metal grating on the ears but Gilthunder pushed the unpleasant noise to the back of his mind to form a headache later.

"So, the rumor was true then. It was the Seven Deadly Sins."

"Y… yes, sir."

"How many?"

"I… I don't know for… for sure… Prin… Princess Elizabeth was with them, though."

Gilthunder's brow furrowed, and his lips tugged down slightly. The princess was with them?

That may cause an issue.

Well, more of an issue. Golgius' news of the Fox Sin's escape was already putting a damper on his mood, Baste no longer standing wasn't as much of a concern to Gilthunder.

If Elizabeth was with them, which wasn't the actual issue, he wouldn't be able to go all out like he wished. If he did, he'd hurt her, and that was the issue.

Gilthunder decided to also push that to the back of his mind. He'll cross that bridge when he got to it.

He had Golgius describe who had been travelling with Elizabeth, and it only further confused Gilthunder, though he forced his expression to remain passive. The only one he recognized was the blonde Golgius had described, Meliodas, it had to have been him. The other two descriptions sounded like people he recognized, though the pink haired knight couldn't put his finger on why he may find them familiar.

Gilthunder dismissed Golgius, with the knowledge now that two of the Sins were accounted for at least. They were travelling on some massive green pig, along with the missing Princess Elizabeth and two foes they knew next to nothing about. He could work with that information.

"You really let them break him out?" drawled a voice from above. "That makes things annoying."

He turned to the window, where a boy had remained in the shadows while Golgius had been in the room. The boy was floating beside the glassless window, and looked away from it to send Gilthunder a look with a mix of annoyance and boredom on his face.

"Considering their mode of transport, I doubt it will be as annoying as you believe. Do you still want to get revenge?"

Gilthunder watched the boy's face morph into a glare, jaw clenched and hold around a green pillow growing tighter. "Of course I do."

"Then I'm sure you'll be more than happy to find them, King."

The boy - King - continued to glare as he turned to look outside again. His fingers twitched, and his bored look slowly relaxed into one of glee. Gilthunder could only assume King was thinking of Ban again, imagining the immortal man finally taking his last breath.