King Baltra paced agitatedly within his safe room, constantly glancing out the window overlooking his burning city. Since the very first wave of men entering the city, he had been locked away with Dawn Roar for his own safety while his men were out there fighting and dying for his kingdom. A messenger was being sent to relay messages between Gilthunder and himself but it was driving the king mad, not being able to join his soldiers in battle. Margaret and Veronica were still resting, asleep in the adjoining room as the sun rose high over the walls of Liones. He himself had very little rest despite his best efforts but he needed to know what was going on outside of his tiny prison. Baltra stopped in front of the window once more and placed his hand against the glass, staring hard at the rising plumes of heavy smoke. Gilthunder had informed him of the plan to demolish most of the houses in order to gain a tactical advantage yet it still pained the old man to see everything he had worked hard to build up gone within hours. Generations of homes demolished to protect the city and its people…
The most important thing was that his citizens were safe further North in an alliancing kingdom though one of his own daughters was still out there somewhere, most likely injured and scared. The messengers he had sent to Lord Havenworth's castle returned a short time after the attacks on the city commenced, bringing news from Meliodas about their status. While they were vague about Elizabeth's condition, the king knew she most likely experienced a very traumatic stay within the castle. It was some relief to know that King Arthur had arrived with his men to the castle as well, his soldiers were known to be some of the best alongside with his own. Holy Knight Ban had reported that King Everardus had been beheaded not long before a battle broke out and it pained the ruler deeply to know his friend had met such a grizzly end due to the selfishness of his own son. An explosion rocked the lower ring of the city once more and King Baltra clenched his jaw. Enough was enough.
"I have had enough of this, Slader, I am leaving this room to help defend my city." Baltra ordered as he turned around to look at his personal guard with authority. "I shall not stand for this isolation anymore, I have a duty to my kingdom to fight alongside my men and not hide like a coward. Send word to Gilthunder that I will be joining this battle."
"Of course, Your Majesty, though if I may?" Slader requested as he bowed before his ruler. A tight nod authorized him to proceed. "I will personally escort you through the castle, though I wish to leave the remainder of my team here to protect your daughters. If I have your approval then we shall depart immediately for the castle grounds."
"You have my—" A loud banging on the door disrupted the king and all guards were on edge with their swords drawn. Baltra unsheathed his own blade as well in anticipation of a skirmish. With no response to the pounding, the person banged louder, the doors shaking a bit from the force. With a hand motion the knights swarmed the doors with weapons at the ready. A barricade of heavy furniture had been jammed up against the entrance as precaution yet it shifted the slightest with every hit of the door.
"Open the door, it's Ban! King Baltra!"
"They made it back to Liones?" Jillian breathed out the breath she had held, lowering her sword the slightest bit though she refused to let her guard down. "What's the passphrase?"
"Damnit, we're in the middle of a war and you're going to play this game? Havenworth has made it onto the property, Cap'n is fighting him now but we've got a bigger problem! He's holding Lady Elizabeth captive with Diane and Merlin as well. King Baltra!" Ban yelled through the heavy doors while trying to push them open with all of his strength. It was taking at least four knights to keep the furniture pressed against the doors yet the Sin persisted and started slamming his shoulder against them.
"Let him in!" Baltra ordered and the knights quickly began removing the barricade blocking the large doors, barely removing the last piece of furniture before the doors burst inward violently. Ban stood in the doorway soaked in blood, panting, as he strolled in urgently. The king moved around his desk to meet the Sin halfway. "What happened, Ban? Were they not to stay there until the war has ended? How did he get ahold of Elizabeth?"
"We don't fully know but we think there may have been some of Camelot's knights posing as Havenworth's. They barely beat us back here meaning it happened right after we left yesterday. There's another problem, Your Majesty," Ban quickly explained as Dawn Roar surrounded the king and knight. "Havenworth is threatening Lady Elizabeth's life unless you are there to witness the Captain's fight. Arthur's men are still clearing away at what men remain on the property but the bastard snuck some of his men into the alliancing kingdoms' armies, we've had the sheet over our eyes the entire time."
"Take me there." Baltra barked and the Sin nodded, quickly turning on his heel to lead the way. Slader fell in step beside his king with his blade over his shoulder, signaling to his team to stay behind and protect the princesses. "When did you and Meliodas return?"
"Within a few hours ago, just around dawn and we've been fighting non-stop since. I moved to clear the areas with the heaviest amount of men while Arthur's soldiers are still making their way through the city picking off stragglers. Escanor and Gowther are still defending the main gate with Gilthunder and the others."
"What about Meliodas? Is he fighting Lord Havenworth right now?" Ban shook his head briefly, keeping his eyes and ears peeled as they quickly moved through the barren hallways. He couldn't risk an ambush as they moved through the castle so he remained on guard at all times.
"The bastard is too cowardly to fight him at full strength so he's been sending his men to wear him down. Cap'n is fighting barehanded as well, Havenworth made him toss his weapons as a handicap. He's too afraid of fighting him all out." Ban growled out and even King Baltra made an irritated noise in his throat.
"That damned prince, I never should have let him return to Liones long ago. Elizabeth, is she unharmed at least? What about Diane and Merlin?"
"Diane and Merlin were injured in their fight against Havenworth, Diane with a broken nose and Merlin with at least one broken rib. Lady Elizabeth…" Ban trailed off before stopping to turn and look at his king. He could see the worry, fear, deep anxiety that his daughter had been injured. The knight took a breath in before continuing. "Lady Elizabeth was exposed to the traumatic scene of King Everardus' decapitated head and a skirmish with the prince himself. Havenworth then hired an assassin who attempted to take her life once he fled the grounds. Your Majesty, Lady Elizabeth was stabbed through the side but she is expected to make a full recovery."
"My god…" Baltra covered his mouth in horror as he looked at one of his most trusted knights, the Sin before him looking at him with knitted brows. "How…I never should have let her go there…why was I not informed of the matter after it happened?"
"Your Majesty, please try to understand it from Meliodas' perspective. He could have sent the messenger back with the truth though it could have crumbled your will and caused Liones to fall. He did what he had to do in order to make sure you stayed strong until our return." Ban supplied tersely as he continued leading them through the castle albeit at a slower pace. "He is willing to accept any punishment you bestow upon him after this war is done and over with. Arthur even aided with his medical skills since Merlin was out of commission."
"Elizabeth…" Baltra sighed heavily behind his hand, tears prickling at his eyes.
"Lady Elizabeth has shown to be a very strong and resilient young woman, Your Majesty, I have all the faith in the world she will overcome all of this." Slader added his thoughts as they neared the front doors. Guards protecting the door spotted the trio and immediately began the process of lifting the heavy door bar.
Ban gritted his teeth as they waited for the doors to open, anger flooding his veins. Even with all of their planning and tactics, Havenworth still managed to come out on top by kidnapping the princess and holding her captive. The sounds of fighting had drawn the Sin to the sparring arena where he found Meliodas battling knights off barehanded, Havenworth watching from above with a smug grin on his face. He had managed to take out a good handful of the men waiting to enter the arena discreetly before he was spotted by the almighty prince who paused the sparring to give him direct orders to bring King Baltra out of the castle walls, holding a blade to Elizabeth's throat in case he tried anything funny. They should've killed him the last time he was within their grasps and maybe now the princess wouldn't be held captive by a maniac in her own home. Meliodas looked like he was still holding up though he was sure there were cuts and bruises littering his body from the intensity of the fighting and he had tossed away his damaged chest plate at some point.
"I'll escort you to the spectator box where Havenworth is residing before regrouping with Escanor and Gowther to formulate a plan to take him down without Elizabeth getting hurt. We will get her back unharmed, you have my word." Ban informed his king as the heavy doors finally began swinging open, the morning light filtering in through the thick plumes of black smoke.
"Elizabeth's safety is priority, Ban, keep that in mind." Baltra gruffed and the knight nodded.
Storming down the stairs the trio swiftly made their way towards the sparring arena with a small army of knights surrounding them for protection. Ban hadn't seen Arthur since they separated, but he had no doubt the king was fighting to liberate the city alongside his men. Escanor and Gowther were nearing their last legs the last time he checked on them, the two Sins having been fighting for nearly an entire day without rest. While the former could handle himself quite well, Gowther was having trouble staying on target from the exhaustion dragging at his mind. Both refused to rest until there were no remaining enemies within the kingdom, including Havenworth himself, and while he commended their strength fighting themselves into the grave wasn't the smartest of ideas.
"Up there, Your Majesty," Slader suddenly pointed out and Baltra felt his eyes widen as Elizabeth's face appeared in his vision. She had a gag tied around her face and was looking down towards the arena with a tormented expression. Aged eyes followed her gaze to see Meliodas surrounded on all sides by fighters, their blades aimed at the weaponless knight. He strategically took them down one by one by using their own weapons against them, slashing and piercing through their armor as he ended their lives where they stood. For someone unused to the gruesome fighting it appeared as a horrendous act against others but for those who had lived through war, it was almost an instinct to permanently disable the enemy.
"King Baltra, such a pleasure to see you once more," Havenworth called out over the sounds of battle once he spotted the kingdoms ruler, eyes briefly darting to the infuriated Sin escorting him. "I would really enjoy your company up here so you can witness the fall of your talented Captain of the Holy Knights and leader of the Seven Deadly Sins! Holy Knight Ban, if you would be so kind as to escort your King to the podium without his personal guard and sans weapons."
"I'm going to slash his throat the second I get close," Ban sneered under his breath as he waved off an uneasy Slader before leading Baltra towards the stairwell leading to the top of the observation stand. The king handed over his blade and Ban tossed it off to the nearest Holy Knight, along with his own, with a little more force than necessary. A massive crowd had gathered from the commotion, both Holy Knights and alliancing soldiers alike, the men cheering on Meliodas. If Havenworth thought he was going to escape so easily from this then he was sorely mistaken.
"Only if you allow me a chance to strike first." Baltra replied darkly and the knight let out an amused huff before nodding. Havenworth's men at the bottom of the stairs made to stop Ban but the Sin shoved them away and gave a menacing glare, warning them to back off or else. He escorted Baltra up the stairs, keeping close tabs on the men moving in behind him and those waiting at the top. Havenworth slowly stood from his seat, lifting Elizabeth up by the arm, and shoved her forward to greet her father.
"Elizabeth!" Baltra shoved past the guards to embrace his daughter as Havenworth pushed her forward roughly. He hugged her tightly, tears streaming down both of their faces. Elizabeth muffled through her gag and the king quickly removed the fabric, letting it drop to the floor.
"Father, please, we have to help Meliodas." Elizabeth begged against his chest, sobbing uncontrollably. "He has been fighting alone for so long, I do not think he can hold out much longer."
"Lady Elizabeth, Cap'n can survive this. You just need to have faith in him." Ban gently placed a hand on her shoulder, looking down at her with a hint of a smile though his expression was strained with tension.
"How touching," Havenworth drawled as he snapped his fingers loudly. Men immediately began separating King Baltra and Elizabeth from Ban who fought back ferociously, elbowing the man who had grabbed him by the neck in the face. Havenworth grabbed the Liones' and shoved them to the front row seats before sitting down himself next to the princess, a tight grip on her upper arm. "If you do not mind, I would like to continue watching this enthralling show."
"If you touch a single hair on either of them I'll slit yer throat myself, Havenworth!" The Sin of Greed snarled as he was forced back down the stairs, a few of the men receiving hard blows to the face in the process.
"What is it that you desire to accomplish, Lord Havenworth? You have already destroyed my city, attacked my men, kidnapped my daughter," Baltra demanded as he kept his attention on his knight battling below, the grunts of men filling the air as they were swiftly taken down. As mighty of a fighter Meliodas was, against that many men would wear anyone down at the rate he was going. "You even dared to behead your own father in your path of conquest. So tell me, what are you after?"
"All of Britannia, of course. But it is not merely a matter of conquest, King Baltra, though that is the main part of it. Your knight down there decided many years ago that he would humiliate me in Grantown by rejecting my official challenge to a battle. I do not take kindly to a lowly knight disgracing my honor and pride as a Havenworth." Cornelius merely stated with a shrug, yanking Elizabeth back towards him as she tried to tug free from his grasp. She winced as her side twinged in pain, warmth trickling from her still healing wound. "Besides, your knight down there was attempting to steal the heart of Princess Elizabeth here whom I had sought after for years, though your kind rejection letters only pushed me further in my pursuit."
"And Danafor? You used the excuse of him destroying the entirety of the village to have him prosecuted and removed from Liones when he was not the one to do so. I am fully aware of your scheme to remove the highest ranking knights from kingdoms before crumbling them." Baltra finally turned steely eyes to the king, noting Elizabeth tensed in her seat. He placed a hand gently against her arm and she looked at him with brows knitted in concern. "Your proposals were rejected solely for the reason that the choice is Elizabeth's alone to make, I will only stand behind her in support. I cannot and will not force my child into a loveless marriage for a deranged prince, regardless of what offers you throw at me."
"Danafor was merely used as a pawn in the grand scheme of everything, King Baltra, it was nothing more than a slum with dead littering the alleyways and a corrupt leadership. They should be thankful I put them out of their misery. When it comes to conquering a nation, you should use every pawn you can including vulnerable princesses."
"You are nothing more than a coward who fears taking on Meliodas at his full strength, Cornelius, and who threatens the lives of others to get your way." Elizabeth spat as she placed her free hand over her wound, blood staining her palm a deep red almost immediately. Baltra took notice and immediately pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to press against the wound in panic. "You have tried to kill Diane and Merlin, you have tried to kill me twice, and now you are attempting to take the life of Meliodas all because you are afraid of him swiftly ending your reign of terror. The only reason he is battling down there right now is to appease your sick, twisted needs in order to prove to you that he will not back down from this fight no matter what you send at him. And neither will the kingdom of Liones."
A scowl grace Cornelius' face and she knew she hit the mark dead on. The king swiftly stood, dragging her up with him despite Baltra's attempt to keep her sitting and walked up to the edge of the box, shoving the princess nearly over the edge. Elizabeth glared up at him through her silver locks and tried to use her tied hands to push herself up from the edge but he kept her rigid in place. "Captain Meliodas of the Liones Holy Knights, do you see what you have done? You have corrupted the princess into a strong-willed, disobedient woman who dares to speak back to a King."
Meliodas knocked down the last enemy in the arena and plunged their own sword through their chest before looking up towards the observation stand with heavy pants, eyes widening as he saw Elizabeth struggling to keep herself from falling over the edge. He stumbled towards the stand, keeping his eyes on the princess. Diane began struggling against her captor while Merlin remained still, staring at something just past Meliodas' head. "Cornelius—"
"I think she needs to be taught a lesson, do you not agree? I might as well take what was rightfully mine as her husband-to-be. I am sure you were looking to take her first kiss, Meliodas, but that claim shall be mine." Cornelius yanked Elizabeth's head back up before slamming his lips against hers purely for the spite of the knight below. He could see the fury reach a breaking point as Meliodas grabbed a blade from a fallen knight before twirling it around in preparation of throwing it at the king. Elizabeth waited until Cornelius' lip shifted before she opened her mouth and bit down hard. He howled in pain and jerked away with a hand over his mouth. She spat at his face and uncontrollable anger contorted his features. A bloodied hand slapped the princess across the face before unsheathing a blade from his belt. The king held it up for the knight to see with the metal glistening in the sunlight, before swiftly swinging it downwards to stab the princess. Elizabeth slammed her eyes shut out of fear as King Baltra started fighting off the guards holding him back ferociously in order to save his daughter.
"Don't!" Meliodas screamed as he reached out his hand in vain to stop Cornelius. "Elizabeth!"
"Now, Gowther!" Merlin ordered suddenly, Diane also taking the cue and slamming the back of her head into the guard holding her captive. A swift punch knocked out the one holding Merlin, the Sin ensuring they would both never get up again. Meliodas tossed the blade in his hand to Diane so she could defend herself.
An arrow shot out of nowhere and struck the crease of Cornelius' arm causing it to jerk backwards suddenly, the blade changing course and missing Elizabeth's face by a hairs breadth. Silver locks fluttered to the ground as the metal sliced through her bangs, the princess' eyes going wide at the close call. Havenworth cursed in pain, loosening his grip on the blade and princess who used all of her strength to rip the weapon from his hand. She held it threateningly at him as she stumbled backwards, hunched over in pain as her wound stretched open. King Baltra stood to back his daughter up when a glint of green and silver caught his eye on the seat behind him. It was Meliodas' blade. Glancing between his daughter and Lord Havenworth, the king lurched for the blade and yanked it from the seats in one smooth movement, swinging the blade towards the man holding his crippled arm.
"The tide has turned, Cornelius Havenworth. I suggest you surrender or be slain by my very hand." King Baltra threatened lowly as he shifted Elizabeth behind him, the princess lowering the blade until it slipped from her fingers to clatter against the floor. "There is no more escaping your crimes."
"The tide has not finished turning, King Baltra, I assure you." Havenworth hissed as he snapped his fingers while darting for the stairs in his hasty escape. Nearly half a dozen men rushed towards the king with their blades raised. Baltra pushed Elizabeth back up against the edge of the wall, glancing downward with Lostvayne raised in defense. There were too many to defend against in this small area and his daughters safety was priority at this point, so he did what any father would in the situation.
"Meliodas, catch!" Baltra called out below him before scooping Elizabeth up in his arms, kissing her lovingly on the forehead and tossing her out of the viewing box without a second glance moments before he clashed blades with the enemy.
"Father!" Elizabeth cried out as the view of her father disappeared from sight. "Someone, please!"
Elizabeth closed her eyes out of fear as the ground grew closer, the wind whipping violently at her clothes while she fell. She couldn't die, not yet, not with her father fighting off a small army by himself and Meliodas so injured. She hadn't even given him the proper response to his confession, something she wanted to do once this war was done and over with. Something warm wrapped around her body and Elizabeth jerked her eyes open as her fall abruptly ended with a cloud of dust kicking up and a grunt. She coughed mildly to clear the irritant from her lungs while something tugged at her hands, freeing them from the restraints.
"Elizabeth, look at me, are you okay?"
Elizabeth blinked some dirt from her eyes and looked up to see Meliodas looking down at her in relief, tears welling in his eyes as he used his hand to wipe some dirt from her face. A sob escaped her lips and she flung her arms tightly around his neck, trembling against his strong embrace as the shock of everything finally settled over her. Meliodas placed his hand at the back of her head and let out a shaky breath. Thank the Gods she was alive.
"Captain! Elizabeth!" Diane cried out as she hurried over, Merlin slowly following behind with a hand over her ribs. "Are you both okay?!"
"Diane, Merlin!" Elizabeth sobbed as she looked up at her friends with overflowing tears, the Sins smiling comfortingly down at her. "I was afraid I would never see you again after we were captured!"
"Cornelius made the mistake of keeping the two of us together in his rush to beat Captain back to Liones," Merlin said as she looked down at the pair with a hint of a smirk. "He also made the mistake of bringing the battle to our turf. Luckily, Gowther still had enough energy in him to make the perfect shot to take out one of his arms, he won't be able to use it as well anymore."
"You can thank me for that, Cap'n,"
Ban sauntered over with Escanor and Gowther trailing him, the former moving straight over to assist Merlin. Meliodas carefully pulled Elizabeth to her feet, keeping a hand over her wound to staunch the fresh bleeding. Diane swiftly moved in to support her other side and take over applying pressure. Elizabeth winced at the pain but tried to keep a brave face for the others. "When this is over I'm buying you enough booze to knock out an entire platoon, Ban. You saved our asses."
"I'll take a raincheck on that for now, you have some unfinished business to complete right now." Ban interjected seriously as he glanced back towards the observation box. "Slader has returned to King Baltra's side after clearing the men out, though the king seems to have remembered how to fight. Didn't leave any for him."
"Meliodas," Elizabeth spoke quietly and he immediately turned his attention to her. A delicate hand rested against his dirty and blood covered face, the princess looking at him with a tender expression as he covered the back of her hand. "I will be fine, please go end this for the sake of us all. I will be waiting here for you when you are done."
"I expect your response when I return, Elizabeth," The knight gently pulled her head down to rest against hers, staring softly into her watering eyes. "I'll come back to you, I promise."
"I know you will, Meliodas, you always have." The princess lightly placed a kiss against his forehead before pulling her hand back, gaze unwavering as he stepped back.
"Ban, watch over things here."
"Aye, Cap'n, but you might need a weapon first." The Sin pointed out and Meliodas looked around for his long tossed aside sword, hand scratching his head as he tried to remember where he put it. In all of the excitement he forgot where he put the damned thing. It didn't blend in well either so it should be easy to find.
"Now where did I…"
"Captain, I believe this is yours." King Baltra appeared around the side of the observation stand with Lostvayne in his hands, the blade smeared with fresh blood. He handed it carefully to the knight who clenched it tightly in his grasp. His sheath had been discarded after his chest plate had been too damaged to continue wearing but he could make do without it. "Lord Havenworth was seen heading towards the North side of the castle grounds, the men were ordered not to intercept."
"I'm going to finish this here and now, Baltra, you have my word." Meliodas swore as he looked up at the man who gave him his second chance at life. The king nodded and stepped aside, snapping a salute to his highest ranking knight. Returning the gesture, Meliodas took off across the castle grounds with the encouragements from the other Holy Knights and soldiers. There was nowhere else for Havenworth to run once he hit the old gardens as it had been sealed off for years now due to the crumbling foundation. It used to belong to Queen Caroline but was neglected due to King Baltra unable to bring himself to visit the once flourishing flora. Now it sat overgrown and broken down with only one way in and one way out.
While he was already bruised, tired, and a bit bloodied from his match against dozens of Havenworth's men, the blood of the woman he loved staining his palm pushed him faster to end things once and for all. It didn't matter how many men he had to fight before facing the corrupt king or how many times he got knocked down to the ground, he was going to pay for the sins he had committed. Meliodas' armored feet pounded into the dirt as he curved around the castle, blade readied at his side. Havenworth would die in that garden without honor, the former prince now nothing more than a low-life criminal on the run from justice. Revenge would be served for all of those slain by his hands, that Meliodas would ensure.
The sun was still slowly climbing up and over the top of the castle as Meliodas reached the gardens, his steps slowing as he surveyed the area. There had been recent activity as he noticed some of the weeds along the ground had been trampled over, a trail leading directly into the garden along with a few splatters of fresh blood. With careful steps the Sin made his way to the collapsed entrance and climbed over the once ornate stone archway. From here he could see most of the garden without hinderance yet there were still areas shrouded in darkness and heavy piles of debris. Havenworth was hiding amongst shadows but it wouldn't save him. Nothing would save him from the Dragon's Wrath.
"Cornelius, still running and hiding like the coward you are? You can't escape this anymore," Meliodas called out as he slowly listened for any movements around him, shifting his feet silently to quiet the noise from his cuisses. "All of your crimes over the past decade have finally caught up to you. Your sins have gone unpunished for far too long."
The knight heard a small clattering to his left and stopped, listening for other sounds of movement following it. When he didn't hear any he kept moving, knowing it was an attempt at a distraction. "No matter what tricks you try to pull it won't stop your fate of falling by my hands. Come out and face me like a man in your last moments on this earth."
"You want me to fight you like a man? Fine, then we will both go out in a blaze of glory, Dragon's Wrath."
Cornelius shot out from behind him blade raised and Meliodas whirled around just in time to parry the attack, forcing the king to stumble backwards from the force. Giving him no time to steady himself Meliodas shot forward with his blade swinging, Cornelius barely managing to hold off the onslaught of heavy blows. The two danced through the debris, swords clanging sharply as they battled with everything they had. The Sin managed to dodge many of his heavy swings, returning with powerful strikes in an attempt to shatter his blade once more. The king snarled in anger and feinted a side swing only to change at the last second, a heavy punch landing against Meliodas' face and sending him tumbling into the dirt. The Sin spit out a mouthful of blood and blocked against Cornelius' heavy downward strike, his arms shaking from the effort of staving off the sharp blade and his full weight on top. There was no denying the man standing above him with the deranged grin was physically bigger and stronger than him yet dying here wasn't an option. Not when he had the love of his life to return to.
"Having trouble, Dragon's Wrath? Surely with how enamored people are with your title you would put up a better fight. I would almost say I am disappointed." Cornelius taunted as he pressed harder against his blade, forcing Meliodas' arms to strain against the weight.
"You haven't seen anything yet, Corni," Meliodas let out a strained laugh as his elbows hit the broken cobblestones beneath him, giving him better leverage while Cornelius thought his strength was failing. "I wouldn't dream of letting this fight finish so easily. I still have to pay you back for that kiss you just stole!"
Pulling his legs back towards his body, Meliodas launched his feet up into the king's armored abdomen and sent him staggering backwards. Before he could regain his footing the knight swept his leg out, catching Cornelius in the ankle and sending him crashing to the ground. Now it was the king's turn to block the heavy blows aimed at him, his larger sword barely holding off the fast, heavy blows of the smaller weapon. With a grunt of effort Cornelius swung his blade out in hopes of catching the knight off guard only to find he was no longer in his view. Scrambling to his feet, he began looking around in search of the small blonde with his blade held defensively in front of his body.
"Playing games, are we? Was it not you who said to fight like a man?" Havenworth taunted as he slowly moved deeper into the ruins, sword swinging wildly towards any small noise. "I am sure you would have loved Princess Elizabeth's first kiss, to taste those succulent lips with your own. Pity that you will not be able to ever experience such a thing."
"I'm merely following your example of fighting like a man, Corni," Meliodas replied from somewhere within the garden, his voice echoing around the frazzled king. "Besides, you've entered my territory now meaning it's my game, my rules. You're going to pay for all of the pain you've caused to those I cherish, especially Elizabeth. And for your information, I have already taken Elizabeth's first kiss and I will continue to take them over and over until your putrid lips have been purged from her mind."
"Do you know what I was going to do to Lady Elizabeth? Everything you ever hoped of enjoying with that woman I was going to snatch from you before your very eyes. I would have stolen her hand in marriage, taken her to my chambers and locked the door, then forced her to—"
Meliodas launched himself from behind a pile of debris, the edge of his blade narrowly missing the nape of Cornelius' unarmored neck. The king swung his sword out but hit only air, eyes narrowing as he looked around once more. He was fast, faster than he could see. There were too many places for him to hide in the dilapidated garden and he had to constantly watch his back.
"I warned you to keep her name out of your filthy mouth unless you want me to remind you what happens when you don't listen, Cornelius." Meliodas growled from somewhere to the front of the king, his voice constantly shifting from spot to spot. King Havenworth slowly spun in a circle, eyeing the piles of debris warily. The knight was moving too fast to keep a constant track of and it was aggravating him to no end.
"Seeing as you have yet to lay a single blow upon my body I am going to have to call your bluff, Captain."
A blur shot out to his left and Cornelius swung in that direction only to find nothing more than a rock rolling to a stop in front of him. He whirled around just in time to have a blade slice through his breastplate, the metal splitting open like softened butter. He released a string of curses and quickly abandoned the damaged armor, letting it drop to the ground loudly as his eyes darted around. "Come now, surely you can take a jest, Dragon's Wrath."
"Your jokes are as tasteless as the jerky we found in your pantry," Meliodas retorted with a snicker. "You have no taste in food or armor it seems. Nothing more than weakened metal probably sold to you by a sketchy merchant. Did you pick it up in Danafor when you were there? Almost seems like the quality Bernard made back in the day. Man was known for cheating outsiders to the cheap stuff."
"Had I known you were going to be showing up for a visit I would have prepared a meal to die for." Cornelius snapped back, only receiving a sharp bark of laughter in response. "Am I that amusing to you? In your position it would be wise to pay more attention to your enemy rather than laughing about carelessly."
"Humor isn't your forte, Corni, just leave it to the professionals."
"I thought this was a battle between knights not a comedy competition meant for court jesters." Cornelius jerked at a loud clang from behind him, whirling around to find an armored foot aimed at his face. The two crashed into what remained of a marble fountain, the rock exploding from the force of the impact and tossing up a massive cloud of fine dust. Meliodas jumped back as the king swung his blade wildly, the tip catching him across the top of his shoulder. He hissed in pain and clamped a hand over it to ease the stinging as warmth flowed from the wound. While it wasn't a crippling injury it still limited his range of motion with that arm so he switched to his left hand.
"I figured it would ease some of the tension emitting from your body seeing as you're swinging wildly out of fear. Are you that scared of a knight shorter than you? Rather pathetic if you ask me,"
"Enough of this!" Havenworth roared as rolled from the pile of rock with a heavy cough, swiping at his face to clear his vision. He felt his blade connect with something yet he couldn't see through the dust cloud to find what it was. "You wish to play dirty? Fine, let us play dirty then Meliodas!"
Cornelius removed a hardened ball of gunpowder from his waistband along with a striker stick and began striking the metal near a wick emerging from the ball. Once a flame took hold of the fibers he hurled it towards an area he assumed Meliodas would hide behind and moved for cover behind a large piece of debris. After a few tense moments the ball exploded loudly, sending shrapnel flying at high rates of speed throughout the area. He prepped another one, throwing it behind another pile of heavy debris to flush out the knight. Meliodas narrowly dodged the first explosion, sprinting out of the way just in the nick of time yet another orb landed close to his new hiding spot. He was trying to flush him out of hiding while simultaneously destroying the piles of debris. The knight sprinted back towards his first hiding spot, keeping as low as possible to avoid detection. The second explosion sent a shockwave just before he reached a safe spot and searing pain raced up his calf.
"You cannot hide forever, Meliodas. I will blow up the entirety of this garden if I must in order to see your corpse." Havenworth called out as Meliodas dragged himself to safety, clenching his injured leg tightly. A piece of the bomb must have imbedded itself into his skin but he couldn't leave it in there or it would only cause an infection to start. So, doing what he was trained to do in the field, the knight removed his left leg armor and pulled a small knife from the back of his belt. Another explosion sounded off further away and Meliodas quickly went to work by digging the tip of the blade into the wound, clenching his jaw tightly to stop the pained scream bubbling up in his throat. It took a minute of stopping and restarting but he finally found the piece and flicked it from his leg, releasing a strained breath to quell the pain. Blood pooled beneath him as he clamped a hand over the wound to slow the bleeding.
"Have you died already? Pity, maybe I will continue where I left off with Lady Elizabeth." Havenworth called out, not too far from his hiding spot, and Meliodas abandoned his piece of armor. Trying to reattach it now would alert the fighter to his position and he couldn't afford to waste the limited time.
"It'll take a lot more than a few explosives to take me down Corni, you should know better by now." Meliodas called out as he limped along the debris, keeping one eye on the king at all times. He disappeared behind the rubble and the knight took the opening to sprint across the open space in the garden.
"Found you!" Cornelius crowed as he reappeared across from Meliodas with a lit bomb in his hand. "Say your prayers, Dragon's Wrath!"
"I could say the same for you!" Meliodas snarled as the bomb went airborne, the wick quickly burning away. "This is the end for you, Cornelius Havenworth!"
Using the strength of his good leg the knight turned sharply and ran towards the bomb with his hand outstretched. Cornelius took a few moments to process what was happening and began running the opposite direction, weapon dropping in the process. Meliodas latched onto the bomb and as soon as his foot hit the ground, he hurtled it towards the king with all of his strength before darting sideways to take cover. He curled his body up and covered his head, using Lostvayne to take the blunt of the explosion instead of his flesh. The blast sent debris flying through the air and rocks came raining down over the knight just as a massive shockwave sent him tumbling a few feet across the cobblestones. A loud ringing filled his ears and Meliodas slowly removed his arms to survey the scene once his body stopped rolling. The main section of the garden had been completely obliterated and there was no sign of Havenworth in the now leveled ruins, but that didn't mean he was safe just yet. He needed to find his body and ensure he never moved again.
Meliodas struggled to stand up as blood poured down his leg, the explosion apparently causing more damage in addition to the open wound he already had from the shrapnel. Mildly charred skin raced up his leg, ending just past his knee, the skin oozing with crimson and throbbing painfully. The lack of his armor caused his skin to be exposed as the heat tore through his pants with ease, claiming stake to his vulnerable skin beneath. Crimson trailed down his face and he hastily swiped it from his eyes, the armor protecting his arms now smeared with red. He panted heavily as he slowly limped his way to the other side of the gardens, Lostvayne at the ready in an unsteady hand. As much as he wanted to throw the towel in and give into the darkness washing over his mind, he couldn't, wouldn't. Hundreds if not thousands had suffered at the hands of this man and he alone was responsible for getting revenge for those who couldn't. Especially those close to the knight.
A pained wheeze dragged his eyes just opposite of the destroyed fountain and he stopped, attempting to catch his breath as he studied the heinous scene before him. Cornelius Havenworth laid half crushed beneath a large chunk of rock that was pinning him down by the lower abdomen, blood quickly pooling around the king. Meliodas wheezed out a half amused chuckle as he made his way to the trapped man, hand tightening against his blades handle. What the king thought was a dirty cheat in a fight ended up being his downfall and the knight found it ironic. Cornelius darted his eyes to the approaching knight, his jaw clenching weakly.
"Come to finish the job? I am sure if you wait just a minute longer then all of the blood will have already left my body." The king sneered as Meliodas stopped beside the man, emerald eyes glaring down at him with a cold hatred. All he had to do was thrust Lostvayne through his chest and it would be over. No more falling kingdoms, no more countless lives lost, no more threats against Liones and Elizabeth. Just one stab and it would all be over.
"Your sins have finally caught up with you Cornelius Havenworth and for that I shall claim your life in repentance to those you have wronged, as Captain of the Holy Knight of Liones and as the Seven Deadly Sins' Dragon's Sin of Wrath." Meliodas stated firmly and the man merely wheezed out a laugh, blood trickling from his mouth.
"You are no different than I, Dragon's Wrath, for we both have claimed lives of those deemed evil yet others would beg to differ." Meliodas merely scoffed as he raised Lostvayne to hover over Cornelius' heart, the blade trembling the slightest. He grit his teeth and steadied his hand to ensure a centered strike. Blood trickled into his sight and he quickly swiped it away with one hand. He wanted to see the expression of the fallen king, engrain it into his memory and keep it as a reminder that what he had to do was justified.
"That's where you're wrong. I know the difference between those who are evil by heart and those wrongfully judged for their crimes. How I received my name was by those who only saw me as a ruthless monster that ruled the slums of a city with an iron fist. In reality, I was doing what I had to do just to survive and protect those around me who couldn't defend themselves. That is the difference between you and I, Cornelius. I will never be a ruthless murderer like you."
"Yet there you are with your blade above my heart ready to strike, Meliodas," Cornelius coughed up more blood and let his head drop against the ground, eyes becoming lidded as death drew near. His breathing became raspy and gargled as lungs became filled with blood. It wouldn't be much longer now.
"This is nothing more than putting a dying man's life out of misery. There is no malicious intent behind my actions at this moment despite everything you have done to those I cherish most. All of the persistence, the threats, every single mark you have made against Elizabeth. Your death is my revenge for those sins, regardless of your own recklessness being the reasons for this demise. There is no God where you're going, Cornelius, so I suggest you clear your conscious now. " Meliodas responded quietly and Cornelius opened his eyes a bit more to fully look at the knight with an unreadable expression, studying the truth shining through exhausted emerald eyes. A small smile tugged at his lips and he shakily reached a hand towards the man, fingers outstretched. Meliodas grabbed his hand and held tightly, nodding at his now dying enemy in acknowledgment. Even though he hated the man from the bottom of his heart…death was still a terrifying aspect that no person should ever have to suffer alone.
"You were indeed a worthy opponent Dragon's Sin of Wrath Meliodas, and you have my final bit of respect. May your honor drive you to succeed in your future battles, knight." Cornelius panted out as his hand slipped from Meliodas', moving to rest against his chest. Meliodas realigned his sword above the fallen king and tightened his grip. He had to take a few breaths to steady himself and with one final glance at the fallen king, put his second hand over the head of the pommel.
"As were you, Lord Cornelius Havenworth."
Lostvayne pierced through Cornelius' chest and the man released a shuddered breath before falling still, his eyes closed with the ghost of a smile still gracing his lips. Meliodas waited a few moments before pulling his sword from the body and stumbling backwards then collapsing against the ground with a pained grunt. The blade clattered away from the knight as he laid amongst the debris utterly exhausted and unable to move another inch. After years of fighting with the tyrant from the South…it was done. Britannia, the kingdom, the citizens, his fellow soldiers and friends, they were all safe now. Elizabeth…was finally safe.
"Eliza…beth…" Meliodas breathed out just before the darkness crashed over him and dragged him to the bottom of its depths.
The news of King Cornelius Havenworth's downfall spread like wildfire across the lands, many cheering that the tyrant was now dead and life could continue peacefully. Although those outside of the walls were celebrating, the soldiers who had fought the long hard war were less enthusiastic regarding the news. Hundreds on their side had lost their lives in the wage against the tyrant and a deep mourning filled the hearts of all who survived the onslaught, most with severe injury. The kingdoms who had lent their soldiers in Liones' time of need soon came filtering in to claim the bodies of their fallen, King Baltra personally convening with the leaders to express his remorse at their passing's and offering any assistance they needed. The Holy Knights had suffered casualties as well and under Gilthunder's guidance began preparing a funeral service for their comrades, the Sins lending their hands as well. King Arthur offered the kingdom his aid once his fallen men were accounted for, the king often taking time to help bury the dead of his alliancing kingdoms and his own soldiers.
Elizabeth wandered slowly through the grounds in a casual, long-sleeved dress as she surveyed the damage done to the city with a hollowed gaze. Houses had been demolished, the bodies of Havenworth's men still littered the grounds, innumerable amounts of blood soaked the earth beneath her feet. She could see the haunted and tired faces of those who had fought and survived, but was it really a victory on their end? Yes, the tyrant king was dead, but those who fought in this war would be disturbed for the remainder of their days. She had barely slept a full night since the battle nearly a week ago now as her own trauma constantly resurfaced every time her eyes closed, the images instantly jerking her from an already restless sleep. Elizabeth could see it in her father's eyes as well, his aged face now gaunter and more worn down, the bags beneath his eyes deeper than before. No amount of comforting words could ever erased what they both witnessed.
The princess slowly made her way to the back of the castle grounds, towards the leveled gardens that used to belong to her mother. The place where Cornelius Havenworth perished and where Meliodas…It pained her too much to even think about and she shook her head in an attempt to clear her thoughts. A few guards called out to her as she passed but the princess had everything tuned out as she followed the path she had traversed every day with slow steps. The sun was beginning its decent for the evening as she finally arrived at her destination, the damaged remains of the garden glowing warmly in the sunlight. Not even bothering to lift the bottom of her dress, Elizabeth clambered over the broken stone and stepped into the garden, cerulean eyes landing towards the spot that drew her in every time. Her heels clicked softly against the chunks of cobblestone that once lined the ground in an intricate pattern as she made her way to what remained of the fountain. She had never seen such a once beautiful place now turned into a war zone, a powerful struggle between two knights.
Elizabeth settled carefully down on a chunk of marble before hunching over and resting her hands against her face as the never ending tears spilled once more. Coming to this place forced the pent up emotions dwelling within her chest to burst forth, as if there were a presence washing over her and telling her it was okay to do so. No one ever bothered the princess here so it became a safe space for when she needed a break from everyone. The Sins tried their best to comfort Elizabeth but their words meant little when she could no longer speak with the man she loved.
"This is where you've been hiding, Lady Elizabeth, they've been lookin' for you everywhere."
Elizabeth slowly looked up to see Ban crouching down in front of her with slightly worried expression, his hand cupping his cheek. He looked a bit worse for wear, just like the other Sins, and she could tell exhaustion was dragging him down. Without even bothering to hide her tears the princess motioned for him to join her and he promptly settled against the ground with legs crossed. "Who has been looking for me?"
"Your father for one, along with your sisters. Diane has been worried sick about you in between caring for King. What are you doing way out here?" Ban spoke lowly as the princess turned her head away from him, eyes still watering. He gave her all the time she needed to answer, knowing full well the effects of long term trauma. The princess had been through more in the past two months than most people in their entire lives.
"I needed some space…though it does nothing to quell the ache in my chest," Elizabeth replied quietly with closed eyes. She didn't want to look at Ban, see his sympathetic eyes or the worried expression plaguing his face. "I do not understand how so many people can go to war when…all of this is the outcome…"
"It's human nature to fight for a highly desired prize, unfortunately. People like Havenworth believed the life of others were of no value to him unless they were fighting for his cause. War has never been a pretty thing and it never will be. Most of us will be haunted until our very last breaths, Lady Elizabeth. You have been through an extraordinary amount of trauma as well."
"Did he believe it was worth it in the end?" Elizabeth asked and Ban looked at her with a slightly cocked brow. "Did Lord Havenworth believe all of the lives he had disrupted and stolen for his cause, was worth it for him? Did he justify himself for his harmful actions and threats?"
"He may have believed so before his death but we don't know what his final thoughts were, Lady Elizabeth. It's best to put it behind you and not dwell on the matter."
The princess shook her head sadly knowing Havenworth only cared about defeating Meliodas before conquering all of Britannia. A slight wind picked up and she raised her head to the sky, watching with sorrowful eyes as the clouds slowly made their way across the expansive heavens. The two remained silent for a while, neither having anything of comfort to speak of. It wasn't until the sun was nearly dipping below the castle walls that Ban shifted from the ground, briefly dusting off his loose pants before holding out a hand for the princess. She took it slowly and allowed the knight to escort her back to the castle, their walk tranquil as it could be.
"Your father wishes to make a formal announcement tonight before a feast to honor the soldiers," Ban started up casually as they began encountering knights cleaning up the grounds, the men bowing briefly to the princess before resuming their duties.
"I wish to pardon myself from the dinner."
"I don't think you have a choice, Lady Elizabeth. Your father mentioned specially honoring—"
"Please, I cannot bear to think about it right now," Elizabeth cried out as she withdrew her hand from Ban's arm and stepped away, looking up at him with pained eyes. "Merlin said she has tried everything and yet…"
The Sin grabbed her hands carefully and bent down to be eye level with her. "What has the Cap'n always told you, Lady Elizabeth? What was it that kept your faith in him alive?"
"That he would always return to me alive, no matter where I was in the world," Elizabeth muttered as she hiccupped slightly, tears trailing softly down her face.
"Exactly. He'll come back to you, Elizabeth, have faith in him like we all do." Ban squeezed her hands gently and she nodded. The knight released her hands before offering his arm once more.
The two traversed across the grounds and in through the main entrance of the castle, passing by knights of every alliancing kingdom. They were adorned in their formal military wear and Elizabeth glanced between them and Ban in confusion but the Sin merely shrugged as he led the princess deeper into the castle. She wasn't aware all of the other alliancing kingdoms had gathered their generals inside of Liones, or maybe she had been plainly oblivious to the fact, and now she understood why her father wanted her to attend the dinner. Looking down at her now dirtied clothes the princess realized she would need to change before the banquet but speaking with Merlin was more important at the moment.
"Lady Elizabeth, there you are! Hurry, we don't have much time before the dinner begins!" A maid called out once she spotted the princess walking down the hallway, scurrying towards her with a handful of other maids. Elizabeth looked over in time to be yanked from Ban's arm and hurried down the hallway, her spluttered protests going unheard. Ban merely shook his head with a snicker before shoving his hands into his pockets and continuing on his way with a wave.
Elizabeth sulked as a formal gown was shoved over her head before being tied tightly at the backside, the princess avoiding her gaze in the mirror. She didn't like seeing the gaunt, tired expression that always adorned her face now as it freshly reminded her of the recent battle and what they had all lost. All she wanted to do was go back to being alone in a quiet space. A maid brushed her hair out while another slipped heels onto each foot, a third fussing with her bangs fruitlessly.
"I'm afraid there is not much I can do about them, Lady Elizabeth, they were cut very oddly. Forgive me," The woman apologized as she stepped back, admiring her work with a frown. Elizabeth reached up to touch the lopsided fringe with little interest. It was just hair, it would grow back eventually.
"Do not worry about it—" A knock on the door interrupted Elizabeth and she shifted her gaze to the door as a maid answered, bowing before allowing the person to enter. Diane took one look at the princess and fluttered over with adoring eyes, the layers of her dress swishing from the movement.
"Elizabeth! You look so pretty in that dress!" The Sin cooed as the maids finished their final adjustments before leaving the room silently. "It reminds me of the dress you wore for your sixteenth birthday. You always have the cutest dresses, I'm so jealous."
"Thank you, Diane, yours is lovely as well. You are free to take whatever you wish from my wardrobe." Elizabeth replied with a soft smile though it quickly slipped from her face. Diane gave her a sympathetic look as she grabbed her hands and encased them lightly.
"Everything will be alright, I promise Elizabeth. We're here for you," Diane consoled gently as she embraced her friend tightly, feeling the small tremors from the princess. "We just need to be patient and faith."
"It has already been a week Diane, Merlin said there has not been any improvement on his condition," Elizabeth sorrowfully shook her head before turning her gaze towards the windows, a terrible ache filling her chest. "What if he never wakes up? I never gave him his answer. He confessed of his love for me yet now…"
"Believe in the Captain as we all do, Elizabeth, it's what will keep you going. His words helped me stay strong when I was falsely accused of murdering my mentor when our mission went south. He was the one who made a deal to take me under his guidance in exchange. The town was more than happy to hand over an unwanted criminal. All of ours stories are similar, Elizabeth, Captain was the one who saved us and helped form the Seven Deadly Sins." Elizabeth looked at Diane with slightly widened eyes, her mouth opening the slightest bit. "Without him, most of us would be jailed or worse right now. You can ask the others and they'll tell you similar stories."
"I was unaware of that," She whispered and her friend merely shook her head.
"He's the glue that keeps us all together as a family; a family you are a part of Elizabeth. But we can talk about it later, your father is waiting for you now. We wouldn't want to keep him and the other generals waiting any longer."
Diane escorted the princess from her quarters towards the main hall where her father would deliver his speech, the two chatting idly to pass the time. Elizabeth glanced out through the massive windows into the garden as they strolled by before turning her gaze back forward. Would they ever get to enjoy another evening beneath the stars amongst the flowers and fountain? A loud buzz filled the air as Diane guided Elizabeth up the stairs to the balcony that Meliodas had led her up just a few months ago on her birthday. Had it really been that long ago already? The princess really wasn't sure anymore as the days had just become one big blur the past few weeks. The curtains separated to reveal her father standing at the edge of the balcony and her sisters waiting at the sides for her, all eyes turning to her once she stepped through.
"I'll see you in a bit!" Diane whispered before swiftly exiting.
Elizabeth's sisters moved in on either side to support her as King Baltra began his announcement, his words of gratitude falling over Liones' allies with raw emotion. The words filtered in and out of her head as the princess gazed over the soldiers filling the room below her. She felt a frown adorn her face as she noticed all of the Sins weren't present and the princess briefly wondered if something had drawn them away. Thunderous applause filled the air and Elizabeth snapped from her stupor to clap alongside her sisters, completely unaware of what was going on. Baltra gave a final wave before turning to descend down to the floor to mingle with his comrades, stopping to cup his youngest's face lovingly.
"You look beautiful tonight, Elizabeth. How are you feeling?"
"Thank you, Father, I am doing fine." Elizabeth replied almost instinctively and he let out a small sigh, knowing it was far from the truth. He could always see right through her mask.
"Stay strong, my child, for we shall all overcome this tragedy we have suffered. If you wish to excuse yourself for the evening, feel free to do so but please take care of yourself. I will explain to the guests of your absence." He kissed her head lightly before exiting the balcony, Slader instantly at his side.
"Ellie, would you like some company tonight? We do not mind forgoing our plans for you," Margaret spoke lightly as she brushed her sister's jagged bangs gently. Veronica nodded her agreement, a gentle hand resting on her shoulder.
"We can do whatever you wish to do, even if it's just taking a stroll."
"Thank you for the offers, Margaret, Veronica, but I wish to be alone for the time being. I…just need some time to think." Elizabeth gave them the best reassuring smile she could before departing the balcony herself, leaving her two sisters in silence.
"Do you think she'll be okay?" Veronica asked sadly, looking at Margaret with pinched brows. Her older sister clasped her hands gently to provide a little comfort. "I've never seen her so…dejected."
"Ellie is strong but what she went through was very traumatic. Time will heal but all we can do now is offer our support. She has been through a lot."
Elizabeth wandered around the halls, mostly avoiding the massive groups of high-ranking generals and their soldiers, often quickly excusing herself from a conversation lasting longer than a minute. She couldn't handle the flashbacks when the men brought up Lord Havenworth, her skin crawling with fear at the mere mention of the now deceased man. She passed the banquet hall where dinner was being prepared and slowly made her way down the hallway towards her room, glancing once more at the garden where she fatefully re-met Meliodas. Her feet guided her to the door and Elizabeth shivered at the chilly air as she walked down the stone stairs, glancing around at the mostly dead shrubbery. Winter was turning the nights into a nearly sharp, bitter cold environment but at the moment the princess could care less. The cold almost made her feel more alive than ever and she made her way to the stone bench. Torches flickered in the light breeze as she settled down, resting her hands against her lap solemnly. It wasn't the same anymore without the familiar blonde locks and boyish smile that Elizabeth cherished so much, now the garden feeling more like an ominous graveyard as the sun finally lowered for the day. The stars above seemed almost invisible as she looked up at them, their lights dull and barely sparkling.
The tears slipping down her cheeks nearly froze from the low temperatures but she paid them no heed, her chest feeling empty and heavy. Meliodas hadn't woken up after his battle with Lord Havenworth and even Merlin didn't have an answer as to why he wouldn't wake. Every day she had visited in hopes of his awakening yet he never stirred, his body beaten and bruised remaining in the same position. He had been severely injured in his fight and while most never doubted his skill as a knight, they were murmuring amongst themselves about his failure to wake. Elizabeth sniffled and pinched her eyes shut. She tried to have faith that he would wake up but the longer it went on, the harder it was to keep believing it would happen.
"Is everything alright?" A male voice gently asked and the princess shook her head, not even bothering to look up at the newcomer. While she wasn't necessarily looking for company at the moment, it was considered rude to send them away so callously.
"No, nothing is alright anymore. I try to have faith yet with each day it seems to crumble more and more, I am unsure of what to do." Elizabeth replied as she placed her palms against her face. "This war…has carved a deep wound in us all and keeping the faith has slowly become harder to do as with such a deep pit to fill. I try to keep the faith yet not even the Gods are answering my prayers."
"What's causing your faith to crumble?"
"Meliodas has yet to awaken after his fight with Lord Havenworth and I fear he will never do so. Even Lady Merlin has told me she is unsure of his unresponsiveness. I have not even given him the answer I have been holding onto for weeks now."
"An answer?" The person asked curiously and she nodded against her palms. "What kind of answer would that be?"
"He offered me his heart, sins and all, and I have been holding onto my response until this battle was over with. But I may never get the chance to tell him that I accept his heart, body, and soul with every fiber of my being," Elizabeth peeked through her fingers to look at the ground with watery eyes. She didn't even care anymore that she was opening herself to a complete stranger. The heavy weight on her chest needed to be lifted or it was going to suffocate her. "I may never get the chance to and I do not wish to have that regret with me for the rest of my days."
"Well," The person said slowly as they settled heavily onto the bench next to her. "I don't see a point in holding onto that regret anymore."
"What?" Elizabeth slowly lifted her head to look at the person, confused. "Forgive me, but who…are…"
"I accept your heart, body, and soul, Elizabeth Liones, from now until the ends of our days."
Meliodas grinned widely as the princess gaped at him, utterly speechless. He was still pretty bandaged up and holding onto a cane, but he was awake and staring at her with a tender expression in his military apparel. After a few moments of trying to comprehend the situation, Elizabeth let out a heavy sob and flung herself at the man she loved, tightly wrapping her arms around his neck. He returned the gesture albeit a bit slower than he normally would. The Sin held the love of his life as tightly as he could, ignoring the pain in his shoulder while breathing in her comforting scent. Tears prickled his eyes as Elizabeth pulled back and placed her hands against his face, crying uncontrollably.
"You…Merlin said…when did you…why are you…" She stuttered out and Meliodas merely chuckled at her being flustered, swiping away her tears with his thumbs.
"He woke up late last night, shortly after you visited and before you retired for the evening." Merlin supplied as she and the other Sins entered the gardens. "Captain has been using that time to regain some mobility in order to escort you to the dinner tonight. His injuries were pretty sever but over time, with my specialized treatments, he should be back to full health."
"Sorry we didn't tell you, Elizabeth, but he made us promise to keep it a secret until the time." Diane held up a hand apologetically, the other helping support King who was in a little better shape than Meliodas.
"He threatened us with endless training drills if we spilled the secret," King added with a small laugh, his hand pressing lightly against his ribs. "Sorry, Lady Elizabeth. Our hands were tied."
"See? I told ya to keep yer faith in the Cap'n and everything would be fine, Lady Elizabeth." Ban gave her a toothy grin with his hands planted on his hips. He looked out of place in Holy Knight formal apparel. His tie had already become loosed along with a few shirt buttons for comfort.
"Well, Elizabeth, now the big question is since everyone is here," Meliodas started as he pushed himself up from the bench with the aid of the cane, turning to hold out a hand to the wide-eyed princess with a smile. "Will you accompany me to tonight's dinner as my date? I'll be heartbroken if you say no."
Elizabeth swiped at her tear-stained cheeks a few times before smiling adoringly up at the man who had lovingly stolen her heart, reaching a delicate hand out to him. Warmth spread across her cheeks and she nodded eagerly, cerulean eyes filling with love.
"For as long as you will have me, Meliodas."
Awwwwww, not much longer now!