Meliodas paced back and forth in his cell deep in thought as the moonlight filtered in through his barred window. For five days in a row they had questioned both him and Ban in hopes of breaking them down into confessing they had intentionally blown up Danafor as a strategy to remove the corrupt and unstable kingdom. Obviously after the third day of asking the same question over and over, the disgraced knight kindly told them where to shove their inquiries before requesting to return to his cell. He admitted to his crime of killing Quinton, something that left the knights of Danafor speechless, but vehemently denied starting the fire to destroy the city. Apparently Ban was leading them in circles by saying one thing and then saying the complete opposite once someone else came in. He was enjoying his time messing with them though Meliodas knew it was to get them to leave the two alone for a bit. The Sin stopped pacing and dragged a hand over his exhausted face. He hadn't slept more than a few hours each night as he tried to decipher why they were suddenly coming after them ten years later and how Havenworth was connected to it all. The man had been obsessed with crumbling the stand beneath his feet ever since he met him back in Grantown three or so years ago, even going so far as to launch an attack while his back was turned, but it wasn't adding up as to why now.
The creaking sound of the wrought iron dungeon door opening snapped him from his thoughts and Meliodas quietly slipped up against the wall as he listened for footsteps. It wasn't time for the guards to bring food or water and it was far too late in the night for anyone to visit. The torch on the wall across from him flickered briefly from the sudden breeze the door created before resuming its steady flame. He stilled his breathing as the faint tapping of shoes echoed down the stone pathway, sometimes faltering for a few breaths before continuing on. Whoever it was didn't seem to have ever ventured down here as they continuously stopped before resuming their movements. It was a fairly long hallway that took a good minute to reach where he and Ban were situated at the end, something Baltra had suggested they do to keep prying ears away and the two cells they occupied were used as rooms for the guards.
"Whoever you are, there are no guards down here and I don't bite. Ban snores like a bear though." Meliodas finally spoke as the person remained still, his ears straining to locate the figure still concealed behind the wall of his cell. Ban was dead asleep in the cell beside him, his loud snores another reason the knight was up for hours on end.
"M-Meliodas?" Came a timid voice and he immediately grasped the bars and tried to look left.
"Elizabeth! You shouldn't be down here this late, what if someone catches you?"
Slowly she entered into his view, her hands clasped tightly against her chest as she constantly looked back over her shoulder nervously. A long, deep red hooded cape loosely covered her frame as she shifted to a stop in front of his cell and pulled down the fabric before gently rested her hands over his. "I have some time, the other Sins are covering for my absence. How are you doing down here? Do you know what they plan to do with you?"
"I'm alright, your father is ensuring both of us are taken care of down here. They haven't told us anything yet but I get the feeling the knights of Danafor will try to take us back to their village for a fair trial." Meliodas spoke softly. He could see the tears brimming in her eyes and with a quick shift of his hands interlocked their fingers through the bars. "Don't worry, most of this is just a façade for political reasons. Has Lord Havenworth attempted to contact you?"
"A few times already, yes," Elizabeth whispered as she shook her head sadly. "He has vowed to take my hand once he becomes king of Celnair Keep, within no more than a few weeks' time."
"A few weeks? Is King Everardus ill?"
"I do not know, though he speaks as if it were already planned to happen. I fear a war may break out if he were to ascend to the throne. Father has been talking with others from within the region day and night, refusing to give anyone but the higher ranking generals information. Sir Gilthunder attempts to inform me of any changes albeit he is under constant watchful eyes from Lord Havenworth's men and those from Danafor."
"Elizabeth, listen to me carefully, I need you to stay as far away from Cornelius as possible. If you see him walking towards you then turn around and run. Keep Diane and the other Sins around you at all times. If what I'm thinking is correct, and I hope I'm dead wrong about this, then he is going to use you as a pawn to bring Liones down to conquer it." The knight waited before she gave an understanding nod before relaxing a bit. He was confident the others would watch over her every moment of the day while he and Ban were imprisoned awaiting trial. Nevertheless, Meliodas feared for her safety from behind his iron bars every waking moment.
A creaking noise startled them both and Elizabeth jerked her head to the right, eyes going wide with fear. Meliodas could hear multiple voices filtering down the hallway and he squeezed Elizabeth's hands to get her attention. "Quickly, I can hide you in here behind the bed. Try not to make any noise."
With a frantic nod she released her grasp on him and he pushed open the cell door, delicate eyebrows shooting up in questioning as she slipped in. Meliodas pulled a key from his pocket and closed it as quietly as possible, reaching around and locking the cell himself before stepping away from the bars. Elizabeth gave him an odd look that earned her a cheeky smile in return.
"Safety reasons of course. Come on, it should be dark enough to conceal you from anyone looking in. You can sit on this pillow to make it more comfortable." Meliodas snatched the straw filled pillow from his mattress and tossed it onto the worn stone flooring, reaching out for Elizabeth's hand. She took it without hesitation and with his assistance settled onto the pillow at the edge of the bed, tucking her knees against her chest. He carefully positioned the blanket over the wood framing and made sure he couldn't see her feet sticking out beyond before nodding in approval. It wasn't the most ideal situation to be in but she was safer in here than out there.
"Diane said she would come for me if I were to return late." The princess spoke faintly as he crouched down in front of her.
"If Diane and the others come down here they'll take care of those men and escort you safely back to your room. It's probably just some underlings working for Havenworth here for a late night visit. I'll be right beside you the whole time so don't worry." He gave her a reassuring look as he stood. "Try your best to remain quiet, this should only take a few minutes."
"Be careful."
Meliodas shifted over to the end of his bed and promptly plopped down on it, the heavy wooden frame groaning from the sudden weight. For being imprisoned it was a fairly comfortable room to be in. He had a sturdy bed, a decent pillow and blanket, a bookshelf with about three water damaged books, three meals a day and he could even roam around at night since there were no other prisoners currently within the castle. Usually he and Ban would arm wrestle or see who could do the most pushups before morning came, sometimes even sparring to blow off some steam. With a casual stretch he fell backwards until his back hit the wall and settled in while waiting for his company. He could hear Elizabeth shift every so often on the floor and guilt pinged across his chest. She had become dragged into his mess because of his lack of taking responsibility for his actions when he was younger and now…now she was probably going to leave him for being a criminal, a highly wanted criminal, and say she regretted ever meeting him. Yet as the footsteps drew closer, something tugged briefly at his hand resting on the bed and he glanced down to see her looking up from beneath her hood with wavering eyes. His fingers instinctively found hers and squeezed in what he hoped was an attempt at comforting her.
"The mighty Captain of the Holy Knights now reduced to nothin' more than a dirty criminal. Tell me," A voice jeered as a shadow hobbled to a stop in front of the bars, the light of a torch filling the cell. "How does it feel to go from the very top to land back in the deep muck below where you once lived?"
"Dorfus, I see you're still wallowing in said muck with these two stooges. Surely you've climbed your way out in the last ten years?" Meliodas looked up at the men with little interest. "Of course, having that crippled leg would make it a bit hard, wouldn't it?"
"No thanks to you. There is no work for the likes of a man with only one good leg." Dorfus spat back as he grasped one of the bars, peering into the dimly lit cell at the knight. "I had to resort to theft and hit jobs just to make it through the seasons after you so kindly blew up Danafor."
"Ya keep sayin' we did it but you ain't got proof other than overhearing us about that child killer's house." Ban lazily called out from the next cell over. Apparently he was faking being asleep.
"So, yer here too? I would never forget that shitty, arrogant voice of yours, Ban."
"Aw, Dorfy, I'm flattered ya remember me! How's that janky leg of yours? Yer lucky Cap'n went light on you otherwise both of your legs woulda been broken." Ban snickered as he approached Meliodas' cell. A medium sized barred window connected the two rooms and the Sin peered through it with a grin while he slipped his arms through the metal. "Shouldn't pick on children by strangling them, ya know, bad for your rep."
"I don't think you're in a position ta be cracking jokes. I heard they're gonna send you back to what's left of Danafor and hang ya both in the square in front of everyone, including Quinton's widow. Poor thing, first she lost her child and then you went and killed her husband. I'll make sure to be front row for your executions." Dorfus leaned into the bars with a rotten smile.
"Quinton was a man who beat Liz to death for helping me survive the streets, posed as a knight of Danafor, which is against the law and punishable by death, tried to blame the death of a child on another child, and you want to defend him? I really must have done some brain damage along with that leg of yours. Come to think of it, why would you suddenly show up with Lord Havenworth and confess you overheard us? Surely you didn't get yourself into trouble by, this is just a hunch, trying to steal from the prince of Celnair Keep?" Dorfus stiffened and Meliodas let out a nishi laugh as he straightened up a bit, noticing one of the men casting confused glances by the edge of the bed.
"What kinda dumbass would do that? One of the most violent knights in the land and you steal from him? I knew you were dumb but I didn't realize it was to this extent! This is gold, Cap'n, pure gold." Ban pretended to wipe a tear from his eye as he burst out laughing. "Maybe ya did give him brain damage when you snapped his leg!"
"We'll see who the last one laughing is, Dragon's Sin and Fox's Sin, that I'll make sure of. Shame ya won't be alive long enough to see Princess Elizabeth married off to Lord Havenworth. I hear King Everardus will be stepping down soon due to his ongoing health problems and Cornelius will take over. King Baltra will have no choice but to hand over his daughter if he wants Liones to stay standing." Dorfus laughed deeply as he turned to leave, casting one last look at the internally fuming knight with a rotten, toothy grin. "You were unable to save Liz then and ya won't be able to save Elizabeth now. Shoulda just stayed in the slums with the rest of us, Meliodas, and maybe you woulda spared them both."
The footsteps receded before slowly disappearing all together as the heavy door shut loudly, plummeting the prison into a heavy silence. Ban muttered a few obscenities at the empty hallway as he leaned away from the bars and retreated back to his bed. Meliodas leaned forward on the mattress and stared silently ahead. He should've taken care of Cornelius when he had the chance and maybe none of this would be escalating into a full-blown continental war. From the time Elizabeth was barely even blossoming into a woman was when he started obsessing over the princess, sending marriage proposals constantly and even forcing her attention every time he was in Liones. Was it his goal all along to cause enough of a distraction to steal Elizabeth away or did he have another motive in mind? This was all becoming too much and the Sin was beginning to feel the slightest bit of regret killing Quinton over a fit of uncontrollable rage. What would Liz say if she were still alive?
"Meliodas? Are you okay?"
Elizabeth rested on her knees in front of him as she delicately reached for his face with both hands, cerulean eyes filled with concern. His face felt cold against her palms and she shivered lightly. As if he were the most fragile thing in the world she slowly lifted his gaze to meet hers, emerald orbs swirling with unreadable emotions and Elizabeth felt her heart squeeze painfully. "It will be alright. I promise you, Meliodas. Even…even if I were to be married off…will you promise me something?"
Meliodas seemed to snap out of his stupor at her words, slightly frantic at the mention of her leaving. "I won't let them—"
"We both know there is a high chance of it happening," Elizabeth interrupted softly as the man before her caressed the back of his fingers against her cheek with almost a sense of desperation. "If that were to happen…I want you to promise me you will not act recklessly, that you will continue to live your life even if mine has been forfeited for the sake of the kingdom. But know that you will be the only one my heart belongs to, Meliodas."
"Elizabeth…"
"Please, I need you to promise me in case we are unable to meet again like this." Meliodas studied her face for a moment before giving a short nod.
"I promise you, Elizabeth Liones, that I will protect you with the entirety of my being no matter where you are in this world. I cannot promise to move on without you for I offer you my heart, sins and all, if you will have it, Elizabeth." Even in the dim moonlight of the cell he could see her face immediately turn red at his confession, blue eyes growing wide. A loving expression slipped onto his face as she attempted a response.
"I-I…"
"Lady Elizabeth! The Holy Knights are about to start their rounds for the evening!" Elizabeth jumped at the sudden voice and looked around for its source only to find none as she stood, Meliodas looking around as well. "Up here! Hey, Captain!"
Diane's face suddenly appeared in the window of the cell, her hand waving to them both before she disappeared from sight. It was less than thirty seconds later that she appeared at the front of the cell with her hands interlocked behind her back, Gowther at her side giving a little wave as Meliodas stood and made to unlock the door.
"Eh? Lady Elizabeth? What's she doin' down here and in your cell no less, Cap'n?" Ban popped up in the middle window as the lock clicked open, the Sin giving a lazy wave to the princess.
"Ban, you seriously didn't notice her right here the whole time?" Diane asked incredulously as Elizabeth exited the cell and stood beside the knight, arms wrapping tightly around her midsection. The hood was pulled low over her face and she fidgeted as Meliodas strolled from his keep. "Captain had to hide her so those guys wouldn't see her! Are you really that oblivious to your surroundings?"
"We can argue about how big of an idiot he is later when the kingdom isn't at threat of being leveled," Meliodas interrupted the conversation with crossed arms and a heavy expression. "I want someone with Elizabeth at all times and if you see Havenworth keep him away no matter what. If any of his men try something, you know what to do."
"Understood, Captain." Gowther shot him a thumbs up before leaning over to look at Ban. "Hello, Ban."
"Yo, Gowther." The Sin replied before letting out a wide yawn.
"We should hurry back, their patrols are about to swing this way, Lady Elizabeth." The Sin of Envy spoke gently to the silent princess, touching her arm gently.
"Elizabeth?" She glanced up briefly at the slightly distressed blonde knight with tear filled eyes before quickly turning away and swiping at her face.
"Lady Elizabeth," Diane said softly as she carefully gathered the trembling princess in her arms. "Everything will be alright, don't worry."
"Make sure she gets back to her room safely." The knight nodded as she began guiding the crying girl towards a hidden door along the stone wall. Meliodas watched them leave with a twinge of sadness. She was upset and there was nothing more he could do for her at the moment with him imprisoned and her under the watchful eye of the guards. They didn't make it more than fifteen feet before they stopped, Diane nodding at something the princess said as she stepped back. The captain furrowed his brows in confusion at the sudden stop and opened his mouth to ask what was wrong when Elizabeth spoke.
"W-wait,"
Elizabeth pulled away from Diane and hurried back over to Meliodas, tugging her hood back in the process while tears continuously flowed down her cheeks, looking at him with a swirl of emotions. Without a word he opened his arms for her and she accepted it readily with a small sob. She latched onto him tightly while he rubbed a hand up and down her back, the warmth of his body comforting.
"No matter what happens, Elizabeth, I'll always come back to you alive. No matter where you are in this world." Meliodas soothed as she trembled against him, his heart pounding against his chest. "Even if I have to fight off an entire army I will find you and when I do, I'll be waiting for your answer. It'll keep you going until we meet again, okay?"
"Are you sure you will be alright?" Elizabeth sniffed as she slowly released her grasp around him, her hands coming to a rest on his shoulders. With a loving touch he wiped away the tears falling down her face and gave her a confident smirk.
"I promise you, Elizabeth. You should go before the guards arrive, they may not be that forgiving with you being down here after curfew."
Meliodas escorted her to Diane, keeping a hand on the small of her back as a method of comfort. Gowther popped his head into the prison corridor and motioned with his hand to hurry, quickly stepping aside to let the princess enter. Diane gave the captain a reassuring wink as she helped Elizabeth up and over the high lip of the doorway before grabbing the inside handle of the door.
"The next time we meet, I shall give you my answer, Meliodas." Elizabeth turned and gave him a slightly wavering smile just as the door shut.
"I'll be waiting for it, Elizabeth."
He could hear the door latch secure then everything fell silent inside the prison. A heavy sigh escaped and he ran a hand roughly through his hair. It could be weeks, if not longer, before he saw her again and the dull ache of longing was already beginning to form in his chest. That was if they survived the death penalty Danafor was surely going to give them and the large-scaled war that Celnair Keep was going to ignite. King Baltra hadn't been down to inform them of any news and it weighed heavily in the pit of his stomach, knowing full well his hands were tied when it came to the matter.
"Seriously though, can I be the best man?"
"Hell, if we don't die in this war you can officiate it for all I care, Ban."
"I look forward to it, Cap'n~"
Cornelius watched with nearly uncontainable glee as a carriage left Liones castle with both Meliodas and Ban headed back to Danafor to pay for their crimes nearly two weeks after their hold beneath the castle. He had to bite the inside of his cheek as they were escorted out from the prison in wrist shackles, a sight so exhilarating the prince nearly forgot to breathe, before being loaded up into the waiting prison cart. Meliodas caught his eye and gave him a calm, collected gaze as he settled into his seat with the barest hint of a smirk, Ban kindly sending the prince a flash of his finger and a lopsided grin. The Holy Knights serving directly under the captain lined the pathway leading up to the main gate and snapped to attention, saluting their captain as he passed by. Lady Elizabeth stood amongst the Seven Deadly Sins with a brave face as she waved until the main gates shut, instantly collapsing against one of the female knights completely distraught. For Cornelius Havenworth of Celnair Keep, it meant one of his largest obstacles was now out of his hair and he could continue his plan. Of course, there were still some minor setbacks such as the remaining Seven Deadly Sins who surrounded Princess Elizabeth around the clock. Every time he saw an opportunity to speak with her one of them would magically show up and whisk her away. The largest of the bunch, Escanor, conveniently blocked his view every time so he didn't know which way she was taken and it frustrated him to no ends. Getting rid of two of the strongest Sins was fairly easy once he managed to run into a Danafor man who knew firsthand what they had done a decade ago, even though the piece of scum of the man had been stealing from the keep's supply wagons, yet now the others were swarming around the princess and heavily guarding her. Even some of the Holy Knights he would see escorting her around and it never failed that a Sin would show up when he thought he could catch her alone.
One knight in particular seemed to be the closest out of all of them, a brown-haired woman who was practically attached at the hip with Elizabeth, and whenever he drew within the same area as them both she would turn and send a murderous glare his way before moving away with the princess and returning to their conversation. Even the men he sent in his place were sent crawling back on their hands and knees, some begging to be relieved of their duties and sent back to Celnair Keep. Cornelius chewed on the tip of his thumb anxiously as he strolled down the halls of Liones castle, their departure nearing within the next hour. His father and King Baltra had been talking for days now about alliancing the kingdoms in order to better ready themselves against the upsurge of smaller kingdoms who were steadily growing their armies. Not to mention all of the strongholds that were beginning to collapse one after another in the recent weeks, a warning sign that unrest would soon be among them.
He reached the front doors of the castle and strolled past the bowing servants with his nose up. Being in this stuffy and ancient castle was driving him mad yet the only thing that made it the least bit tolerable was…
Lady Elizabeth was waiting at the bottom of the stairs with her guard, the brown haired Sin standing beside her with a relaxed posture. It wouldn't take long before she would notice him so he stopped, taking his sweet time admiring the woman he would take as his. She was in a light blue, long sleeved fitted gown that flared out just the slightest bit from the waist before concealing her curves beneath layers of bunched silky fabric. The back of her dress scooped down just past her shoulder blades and revealed the curve of her spine just enough for a tease for the prince's eyes.
"Lord Havenworth, have you prepared everything for your journey home?" A pink haired Holy Knight appeared beside him silently, eyes watching him with interest. What was with the damned knights in this place suddenly popping up everywhere? "I am called Gilthunder, sir, we have not properly been introduced to one another yet."
"Gilthunder, I have everything in order, thank you. I do not require assistance to my awaiting carriage." Cornelius replied lightly as he kept his eyes on the silver-haired beauty now conversing with the other Sins. Getting rid of the other two was easy but the rest of them posed a problem since he had no dirt on them and blaming them for a false crime could backfire easily. Not to mention they were rumored to be the strongest in all of the kingdom and possibly Britannia.
"I have been ordered to escort you from the premises per King Baltra's word,"
"Is that so?" The prince felt his lip twitching as he resisted a heavy sneer, shoving his hands into his coat pockets. Winter was beginning to draw closer. "I appreciate the company then. Tell me something, Gilthunder, did the traitorous Meliodas ever reveal his past to any of the other Holy Knights?"
"Captain never told us about his past and it's fine being that way seeing as everyone has their sins and secrets. Even those of higher rankings." The knight's gaze bore into the prince, analyzing him deeply as if searching for the concealed truth.
"Are you implying something?" Cornelius questioned with an arched brow.
"Not implying, Lord Havenworth, though I know full-well about your pact with Dorfus. Seems you threatened the man for stealing your property and vowed to have his head removed from his body if he did not confess what happened ten years ago. You seem to have a pretty high interest in the captain, so why now? Why would you all of a sudden want him gone from our rankings?"
"I do believe that is none of your business what my reasonings are for exposing a criminal hiding within the comforts of a castle." The prince turned his head to glare at the knight who remained undeterred.
"My orders are to investigate into the recent events and there are a few signs beginning to point back to you, Lord Havenworth. Make no mistake, these are not accusations being thrown around right now but rather an inquiry as to what your part in all of this is."
The prince let out an amused huff as he continued his descent. "Spend all the time you wish on your little detective work, Gilthunder, but know that my role in this is nothing more than a man who wishes to see justice served to those taking advantage of the hand feeding it."
Gilthunder watched the man continue on his way with scrutinizing blue eyes. The prince certainly had a bigger part in this scheme, that the knight knew of for sure, yet he refused to give anything away. Dorfus had confessed everything he knew after some probing and intimidation from both the Holy Knights and Sins, even claiming that Havenworth had been specifically searching for witnesses who were there in Danafor ten years ago. If that were the case then his plan could have been slowly building up over the past few years, maybe even starting since he met with Meliodas in Grantown. Maybe he would need to take a ride down South to find out the truth of what really happened.
"Lady Elizabeth," The princess turned at her name being called and watched with wary eyes as Lord Havenworth stepped down to the pavement, making his way towards her with an easy smile. Diane shifted herself in front of her friend and gave the prince a hard glare while the other Sins watched with piercing stares. "I have not been able to converse with you in such a long while. Would you be willing to spare a moment for a private chat? It shall only take a moment of your time."
"Of course, Lord Havenworth. Diane, if you would." Elizabeth lightly touched her friend on the shoulder, giving her a comforting smile and the knight nodded briefly before sending a warning glare at the prince and stepping aside. She knew nothing would happen with the five Sins nearby and sharply watching every movement yet that didn't stop the feeling of unease wash over her as Cornelius took her hand and led her away. Her royal obligations overruled her personal disliking of the prince yet she had to abide by the formalities before his departure. His grasp was cold and unwelcoming, unlike Meliodas' warm and comforting touch and the young woman missed it dearly.
"How have you been doing, Lady Elizabeth? I am sure you are distraught over the loss of the captain who has watched over you for years now." Cornelius started casually as he strolled her away from the Sins, stopping just far enough to be out of ears reach. "I could tell he cared about you deeply."
"I am doing fine, Lord Havenworth. With all honesty, there is a part of me that wishes to understand what happened that evening and the events prior, though I know it is not my place to pry into such private matters. If Meliodas wishes to tell me honestly about his past then he is more than welcome to. I…I am sorry, this must be a vexatious conversation for you." Elizabeth lightly wiped beneath her eye as the tears welled up once more. It was difficult to talk about the man who had offered his heart to her before being carted away in chains, possibly never to be seen alive again. It had been over a week since she had spoken with him and only a few days since his departure yet she yearned for his presence constantly.
"Not at all, My Lady. You are free to cry if you please." The prince kept a firm grasp on her hand while he waited for her to regain some composure. "If you ever feel the need to get away from the memories, Celnair Keep will always be open to you."
"Thank you Lord Havenworth, for the kind offer. I will keep it in mind." Elizabeth gave a small smile as she gently removed her hand from his grasp and clasped them against her body. He was getting a bit too comfortable holding her hand like that.
"Lady Elizabeth, I would like you to consider my proposal once more. I can provide you with a safe home, food, warmth during the cold winters, and as a powerful king I shall do everything in my power to make you happy. I believe our union will be beneficial to both kingdoms if the rumors of an upcoming war are truthful. Will you at least think it over and respond with a messenger?" Lord Havenworth implored in a soft tone that made Elizabeth nearly do a double take. Was this the same man who had threatened multiple times to take her hand by force?
"Apologies for interrupting, Lord Havenworth, but your father is waiting on you to depart for Celnair Keep. He wishes to make it back to the castle as soon as possible." One of the knights under his command saluted as he approached, bowing quickly to Elizabeth.
"Tch, always in a hurry, that old man. Forgive me Lady Elizabeth, it seems duty calls. Please consider my offer at least?" Cornelius gave a deep bow and Elizabeth returned with a quick curtsey.
"I…shall mull over your offer Lord Havenworth and send a messenger with my decision." The princess stated slowly as he swiftly passed her by without a second glance, heading for the opened door of the carriage.
"Excellent! I look forward to hearing from you. Until then please take care Princess Elizabeth."
The door shut and the small caravan of carriages began moving out, the princess letting out an unsteady breath as she watched it leave. The uneasiness in her stomach still rested heavily and she wished Meliodas was here. A hand rested on her shoulder and she glanced over to see Diane watching her with worried eyes. "Are you alright, Elizabeth?"
"I am fine, Diane, just…" Upset? Heartbroken? Confused?
"Missing the Captain?" She nodded. "Knowing how he is, he'll be back in no time I'm sure of it." Diane smiled kindly at the princess.
"But what if a war breaks out and Liones gets dragged into battle? I do not wish to see more people hurt in this world if I am able to prevent it." Elizabeth muttered sorrowfully as her friend walked her back over to the other Sins with an arm around her shoulder. "What if…Meliodas never comes back? I may have to become married off for the sake of the kingdom yet I still have not given him my answer. What do I do if I never have the chance to give him my answer? Will I ever see him again?"
"You will, Lady Elizabeth," Merlin interjected, her expression softening as she reached out and cupped the princess' face in a motherly manner, pulling her close. "If you believe wholeheartedly that Meliodas will come back to you and put your utmost faith in him, then he will return. The Captain never goes back on a promise, I assure you. Didn't he vow to return to you no matter where you were?"
"Yes," Elizabeth replied barely above a whisper as the tears slipped from her eyes.
"Then there is nothing to worry about knowing he will come back for you." The Boar's Sin pulled the princess into a tight hug, gently stroking her hair as she silently sobbed.
"We're all here for you, Elizabeth," Diane soothed as she rubbed her back.
"There is no one stronger than the Captain when it comes to fighting for those he cherishes, I know he'll make it back." King added in, Gowther eagerly nodding his agreement.
"The Captain is a hardy survivor Lady Elizabeth, there is no need to worry about that." Escanor threw his two cents in as well.
Elizabeth wrapped her arms around Merlin as the tears continued to flow, a protective circle of warmth encasing her. She would still worry about his safety and health, but with the Sins fully believing in their captain she decided she would too. She would wait for him to return even if she were married off to save the kingdom, even if a war were to be raging across the continent, and even if she had no home to return to.
Meliodas would come for her just as he promised.
"Hey, Cap'n," Ban drawled as they settled back into their prison cart to sleep after stopping for the night, the driver setting up his camp not too far from them. "Somethin' ain't right with the direction we're going."
"You mean the fact that we aren't even headed towards what's left of Danafor?" Meliodas replied quietly. "Yeah, I noticed it yesterday. We're headed too far East to be going towards the village. My informant contacted me months ago, they don't even care about that incident anymore since most escaped and survived. Claims they said it was some faulty lanterns that exploded which caused the town to burn down."
"I'm tellin' ya, the amount I used wasn't enough to blow up the whole town." Ban glanced at the man a good fifteen feet from them, the heavier set driver plopping heavily onto a fallen tree with his dinner, the fire crackling loudly in the silent night. "It was only enough to blow the supports of the house to smithereens and collapse it all in on itself. Someone must have set us up somehow."
"You think it was the two that were with Dorfus?"
"Nah, they're too stupid to even put their shirts on correctly," Ban snorted and scratched his face. "Who else did we make enemies of?"
"There's Dorfus, that one old man who ran the alley a few streets over from the bakery, Quinton who's no longer in the picture. You pissed off the entirety of the castle guards when you stole all of those explosives. Honestly, probably most people in Danafor we've pissed off."
"Haaaah, who the hell did it? It's not makin' any sense!" Ban groaned loudly, exasperated.
"Keep it down, these parts ain't the greatest to be wandering around at night." The driver snapped at them both before turning back to his meal. "Not like it matters anyways, we're all most likely gonna be killed."
"Why do you say that?" Meliodas asked as he leaned around Ban to look at the man peaked interest.
"Hell, may as well tell you since we're gonna die anyways," He grunted as he shifted around on the log, plate of food resting on his leg. "I was paid to take you as far East as possible, don't know the exact reasoning why, but I overheard from some guards that the snobby prince mentioned something about loose ends? Not sure it was worth going through rogue territory for the money, shoulda just took it and run."
"So why didn't you?"
"Threatened to hunt me down and kill me if I didn't. Guy is a nutcase,"
"What's your name?" Meliodas shifted to the other side of the carriage next to Ban.
"Elden."
"Nice to meet you, Elden. I'm Meliodas, this is Ban." The Sin waved lazily but kept his back against the bars, remaining unusually silent.
"Lemme ask you boys somethin'," Elden set his plate aside and stared at the two with hard eyes. "What in the hell did you two do to get on the bad side of Havenworth? I heard anyone who pissed him off was carted off and never seen again."
"Don't know, that's what we're trying to figure out. But one thing's for sure," The Sin of Wrath stood and made his way to the cell door, hands shoved into his pockets. "You might wanna duck now."
"Wha—?"
A series of loud explosions shook the area and sent the driver falling backwards off the log just as Meliodas slammed his foot against the bars, the joints of the metal giving way and flying off into the darkness. The blasts ignited the surrounding grass as the Sins escaped from their prison, quickly turning into a roaring blaze. They were surrounded on all sides, shadows of men dancing along the ground. Meliodas did a brief count of about twenty or so men and he knew they weren't there for just their valuables.
"Stay behind the log, old man, this is about to get messy." Ban warned as he cracked his knuckles with a gleeful grin.
"A-ain't gotta tell me twice!" Elden squeaked as he repositioned himself against the tree, frantic eyes darting all around as his nails dug into the bark.
Meliodas strolled towards the closest handful of men with casual steps as he glanced over them. They weren't normal bandits judging by their sheer numbers and the fact armor adorned their bodies, confirming his suspicions. Most likely Cornelius had sent either his men or someone else's men after them to ensure they never made it back alive. "Sate, sate, sate. Who wants to tell me who sent you here and why? You aren't normal bandits happening upon a defenseless prison carriage."
"None of your business, Dragon's Sin of Wrath. You should be more concerned about this becoming your final resting place." One man shouted out over the roar of the flames and Meliodas locked onto where he was with piercing emerald eyes.
"Lord Havenworth sure hates you, huh, Cap'n?" Ban snickered as he stood beside his friend with a hunched posture. "I get the feeling he just wants ya out of the picture so he can take our dear Lady Elizabeth, but of course we won't let her go that easily."
"I think a visit to Celnair Keep is in order after this for a little chat, Ban, you up for it?" Meliodas answered calmly as the men began sprinting forward, their swords drawn high above their heads.
"I've been ready since the moment I met that asshole,"
Elden's body was petrified against the log as he watched the two men take down the enemies with ease. It was obvious they had years of training and skill to master such a large number of attackers with precise, fluid movements and fast reaction times, swords flying into the air as Meliodas and Ban knocked them from their grasps with nothing more than their bodies. The driver swore to never get on their bad side as the last of the men fell to the ground, a sword pointing directly against his heart.
"Why did Havenworth send you?" The captain demanded as the man beneath him rapidly begged for his life. "What do you know about his plans?"
"P-please, we were just hired to take out the carriage carrying two Sins that was headed out East! He paid really well and we took the job!" Ban crouched down next to the man with his hand placed against his cheek, looking almost bored.
"That doesn't sound like the entire truth, bud. Unless you want a sword through your heart I suggest you tell us everythin' you know. What are Havenworth's plans and why does he want us dead?"
"I-I think he wants to launch an attack on Liones soon! T-that's what the rumors are anyways, I don't know for sure! Please don't kill me!"
"Why does he want to attack Liones? What's in it for him if he does?" Meliodas pressed the tip of the blade against the man's chest and leaned down closer with a menacing glare.
"H-he probably wants to conquer as many kingdoms as possible and Liones stands in his way to make it to the top. I'm pretty sure he was the one who destroyed Arvendon by taking out the top generals and then moving in when their rankings were in shambles. A few other kingdoms have fallen as well since he recruited everyone he could to launch a large-scale war across Britannia."
"How long does it take for the kingdom to collapse after the higherups are removed?" Ban asked.
"M-maybe a few days or so? Depends on how fast he can get his men infiltrated into the castle and then crumble it from the inside out." Realization hit Meliodas and the knight cursed under his breath. What happened two years ago…Havenworth had attempted to overthrow Liones at that point and time in a plot to gain power over Britannia. They never could get an answer from the men they captured alive and thus they were convicted of attempting to overthrow the kingdom and executed privately.
"Do you know if he's conquered Camelot yet?" The man shook his head.
"No one has been able to touch Camelot under King Arthur's reign, I think they're safe from being invaded." Meliodas pulled the blade back and stood straight, a heavy sigh releasing from the downed man.
"Change of plans, we're going to Camelot first and then to Celnair Keep, I need to see an old friend first. You get to send a message to Lord Havenworth for me," Meliodas sneered as he looked down at the sniveling man before him. "Tell him the Dragon's Wrath is coming for him and then make yourself scarce. Tell him nothing of what happened tonight, understand?"
"Y-yes! Thank you!" The man cried as he scrambled away from the Sins before taking off towards the wall of flames and jumping through it without a second thought.
"Didn't think he'd jump through the fire, coulda gone over there where there's none." Ban pointed to the large smoldering patch of grass that had extinguished itself not too far from the flames.
"As long as he gets the message to Havenworth in Celnair Keep I don't care what he has to go through." Meliodas deadpanned as he tossed the sword clenched in his hand aside. "We need to find the nearest town and send a message to Liones immediately. Elden, how far is the next settlement from here?"
"I-It's maybe an hour or so? I believe Camelot is not too far from there, we can be there by morning if we leave now." The driver slowly stood from his crouched position and dusted off his pants, grimacing at the unconscious bodies littering the ground. He was just thankful they hadn't killed them or him. "You both saved my life it's the least I could do for you, Meliodas."
The Sin smiled brightly at the man before dusting his hands off and plopping them against his hip. "Well then, gents, we have another long ride ahead of us so let's get going."
King Arthur sat upon his throne with his hands clasped against his chin as he tried to process the troubling news that had just reached his kingdom. One after the other nearby kingdoms were falling seemingly overnight, even the strongest holds were crumbling as if they were nothing more than straw. There had been no sightings as to who was behind all of it and it bothered the king deeply. Camelot had thankfully only had the very rare occurrence of a skirmish but no more than that. The one thing that seemed to be a connection between them all was the fact that their highest ranking generals were suddenly found guilty of treasonous crimes and therefore exiled from their homes. Days later the castle and cities would fall during the night, the citizens fleeing from their homes in search of refuge. He had sent messengers out to the castles he had the closest affiliations with; Liones, Instuidora, Pagon, Odreloburg, and Ebarus. Out of the five only two had responded that they were still standing and there was yet to hear anything from two more. King Baltra had sent an urgent letter explaining the situation within Liones castle, Captain Meliodas and Holy Knight Ban had been charged with the destructive of Danafor ten years prior according to a witness Lord Havenworth had come across. There was that name again. Havenworth.
"Where have I heard that name before?" Arthur hummed in thought as he racked his brain. "Havenworth…Havenworth…ah! He's from Celnair Keep! I think I've met him a handful of times along with King Everardus. Not the friendliest of princes if I remember correctly. That…doesn't make any sense though. The citizens of Danafor believe it was an oil lamp failure so why did the Captain and Ban get arrested for something that wasn't deemed their fault?"
The doors to his throne room swung open with a loud bang and the king jerked his head up in surprise. It was still very early in the morning, the sun had yet to rise over the city walls, and after a restless night of heavy thoughts he had decided to think in the throne room with the intention of it being a quiet place to think. His highest ranking general was being escorted by a handful of other guards by the arms, the knight fighting hard against their grasps. Arthur stood and swiftly made his way across the stone floor to intercept them. "What is going on here? Why do you have my general being dragged like a criminal?"
"King Arthur, General Mathis has been seen tampering with the fund documentations for the kingdom and pocketing the money himself. A few of the guards caught him in the act this morning." One guard stated with a sharp salute to the king and Arthur tensed the slightest bit. This was beginning to sound exactly like what happened in Liones and other kingdoms throughout Britannia. So, they'd finally made their way into Camelot.
"Your Majesty, I would never reallocate the funds for the citizens for myself! You know this!" General Mathis looked up at his king with fierce eyes, his jaw clenching in anger. His eyes briefly darted side to side and the king gave a small nod, the message clear.
"Leave him here, I will handle this myself."
"But Your Majesty—" Another of the guards began protesting, quickly glancing at his counterpart.
"Now. Leave us." Arthur ordered with his arms crossed over his loose white tunic. The men nodded before releasing the general and retreating from the throne room whispering amongst themselves.
"Arthur, I believe we have been infiltrated," General Mathis stated quietly as the king helped him stand, the knight brushing the dirt from his hands. "I was patrolling and found some men attempting to gain access to the funds vault. I confronted them and they quickly outnumbered me then began dragging me away. None of my men were seen on the way here."
"They had it all planned out then to try and bring down the highest ranking knight in the kingdom. Here, King Baltra has written to me that Captain Meliodas and the Holy Knight Ban have been arrested for the destruction of Danafor ten years ago." The king informed his general as he pulled the letter from his thigh pouch, handing it to his most trusted knight. He had received it a few days ago and was waiting for the general to return from a nearby mission to report it to him.
"This…Danafor never believed it was them who did it, they assumed it was faulty lanterns that had caused the explosion of that house and then spread to the rest of the town. I have known those two for a long time now and I highly doubt they were the ones behind the fall of that kingdom. This reminds me of an incident two years ago when Captain Meliodas reported an attempted infiltration at Liones had failed. I believe this is what's happening amongst the other kingdoms and now ours." Mathis rolled the letter back up and returned it to his commander.
"I want any knight or staff member that you don't recognize imprisoned and interrogated to see what they know, I won't allow our kingdom to fall in Britannia's time of need. Send out back up requests to any allied kingdoms far and wide, tell them to prepare for war. Camelot lends its full aid to Liones if they so need it."
General Mathis bowed in confirmation of his orders and immediately swept from the room on a mission. Arthur ruffled his red locks with a sigh, dread beginning to fill his stomach. Britannia was about to be launched into the largest war it had ever seen and the odds weren't looking good for victory. He would need to get with King Baltra in person to discuss everything but leaving now when his home was swarming with enemies wasn't the wisest of ideas. If he could somehow get in contact with someone from Liones…
Arthur sighed heavily as he began pacing back and forth, trying to process everything. He was afraid they would try to infiltrate Camelot since nearby allies had been brought down in the recent weeks but he didn't think it would happen this fast. Who knows how many were already within his walls, plotting to get rid of General Mathis and collapse the city. He would need to get with his other generals once every infiltrator was rounded up and imprisoned, interrogated. Should he send someone to Liones in his stead to speak with King Baltra and come up with a battle plan? The kingdom had his full support no matter what but if they were running low on time, would it be better to start sending troops there? What about Celnair Keep? They were further to the Southwest, maybe a few days of non-stop riding to reach it. If they had a part in all of this then maybe they were already planning to march towards Liones. He needed to start sending messages so they would arrive by noon today and seeing that the sun was just barely rising in the sky, time was running short.
The doors slammed open once more and King Arthur unsheathed his sword. The sun had barely risen and it was too early in the morning to be having these kinds of constant interruptions—
"Yo, Arthur!"
The king immediately lowered his sword in shock, the blade tapping loudly against the stone floor as he stared at the new intruders. He rubbed his eyes just to make sure he wasn't hallucinating from the lack of sleep yet the two figures remained standing there. Had his prayers been answered already?
"C-Captain Meliodas? Ban? What…I just received the letter regarding your arrests a few days ago! How did you make it to Camelot so fast?" Meliodas clasped his hands behind his head with a smile and Ban snickered as they entered the room.
"That's a story for another time, we've got bigger issues at hand right now. A massive war is about to break out across Britannia and we suspect Lord Havenworth is behind the falling kingdoms. If we're right, he's gathering troops from the South and West in order to create a large army in order to conquer Liones and the territories further North." Meliodas lowered his arms as he stood before the king, his casual demeanor dropping. "He lied about sending us back to Danafor to pay for our crimes and then sent men to eliminate us last night not too far from here."
"What about Liones? If you aren't there to lead the Holy Knights then who is?" The king sheathed his blade and relaxed a little. He thanked the heavens for their speedy answers to his prayers. Rather impressive luck and timing if he had to say so.
"I have that taken care of. The Sins are watching over Lady Elizabeth and the castle in collaboration with the Holy Knights. Gilthunder is now in command while I'm away."
"Lady Elizabeth? Does she have a part in all of this?" Meliodas' eyes hardened and Arthur knew right away. "Is she going to be used as a pawn in all of this?"
"That's what it's leaning towards," Ban interjected with his arms crossed. "Havenworth has been after Elizabeth for years now and every time he suggests a treaty between Liones and Celnair Keep, he throws in a proposal for her. King Baltra denies it every time and now Cornelius is banned from the city permanently for causing a commotion every visit he is there." The king hummed in thought before digging around in his pouch.
"Here, these arrived from Instuidora and Pagon, albeit no word from Odreloburg or Ebarus. I believe they may have fallen as well." He handed the two knights the letters and waited as they scanned over them, their darkening expressions confirming his fears.
"He's taking down anyone who could be a threat surrounding Celnair Keep while taking in anyone who can fight from the weaker territories. Bastard is going to wipe out half of Britannia at this rate." Meliodas growled as he returned the parchments.
"I am curious though," Arthur piped in and both Sins looked at him expectantly. "What purpose would acquiring Lady Elizabeth do for Lord Havenworth? How does she fit into any of this?"
"Think part of it is he knows the Cap'n here has feelings for her," Ban grinned as he grabbed his friend by the shoulder and leaned down. "He's just jealous because he can't get a princess like our Lady Elizabeth since the Cap'n is always around her and it seems she's got the hots for him, too."
"R-really? Just from jealousy?" The young king asked with wide eyes as he glanced between the two. Meliodas whacked the taller Sin in the chest to get him to back off and sent him tumbling across the floor with a grunt.
"That's part of the truth, Arthur, but because Elizabeth is still unwed he sees it as an opportunity to have Liones under his control and make Baltra bow down to his whims." Meliodas corrected Ban's statement and his ally nodded in comprehension.
"That would make more sense, surely Lord Havenworth wouldn't start a continental war just because of a princess…"
"He would." Both Sins replied seriously and the king laughed uncomfortably. Just how uncouth was this Lord Havenworth?
"Well then, uh, since you are both here, mind lending a hand? Seems there are some knights here that are trying to remove General Mathis from his posting and I fear they will attempt to crumble Camelot." Arthur formally offered the two Sins with hopeful eyes.
"I could use a warmup before heading to Celnair Keep, what about you, Ban?" Meliodas grinned at his partner with his hands planted on his hips.
"Sounds good to me, Cap'n~" Ban replied with a sly grin and a crack of his knuckles.
"Thank you both! If you are going to Celnair Keep afterwards, I would like to accompany you as I have some questions for Lord Havenworth myself." Arthur gushed gratefully, grasping Meliodas' hand tightly and shaking it enthusiastically.
"Make sure you have everything prepared before leaving Camelot, Arthur, there's the chance you won't be coming back for a while." Meliodas warned lightly as the king before him finally pulled back his hand. "Ban and I will take care of things around the castle while you do that. We're going in discreetly so no extra guards will accompany us."
"Of course, Captain, I will get everything ready in the meantime." Arthur shot them a smile before hurrying off to find his other generals, leaving the two Sins alone in the throne room.
"Let's get going, we're running out of time." Meliodas turned on his heel and headed back towards the towering wooden doors with casual strides.
"Aye, aye, Cap'n."
Finally done! I struggled a bit with this one but I feel it flows well. Off to write the next one! Anybody else hate Havenworth yet? Also, thank you for the kind reviews!