Spring had sprung in the peaceful kingdom of Liones and the city was abuzz with excitement as the morning slowly wore on. Many from neighboring kingdoms had arrived days before the event occurring within the walls, bearing gifts for such a grand occasion. The Holy Knights were expertly controlling the crowds under the sharp, watchful eye of Gilthunder, newly pledged Captain of the Holy Knights. Howzer stood not too far from his captain as he directed for carriages to be parked in their designated area with an authoritative voice. Guests were arriving in the rebuilt kingdom whispering with anticipation for the days event to take place and Liones had welcomed everyone warmly, providing lodging and food for every person. Of course, after the incident with Lord Havenworth security had been bumped up for months following the near collapse of the kingdom and today was no exception. Holy Knights checked every person, carriage, piece of luggage, and even the gifts being brought into the kingdom thoroughly.
King Baltra watched from his study windows as his allies and welcomed guests made their way through the front entrance with his hands clasped behind his back and a gentle smile. He often dreamed of the day where visitors could one day return to the city he had nourished from a young age. The battle with Lord Havenworth had definitely taken its toll on the kingdom; most of the town had been destroyed as part of a tactical plan and restoring the buildings to their former glory had been a long and tedious process. Neighboring kingdoms had aided in the restoration and Baltra couldn't be more thankful for the help. The Holy Knights and Seven Deadly Sins wholeheartedly threw themselves into the heavy construction work as well, guilt weighing heavily on their shoulders as they were the ones who had come up with the idea to level the line of sight. It had taken them all months to complete the work but as soon as it was completed, all those who had sought shelter to the North slowly began trickling back to their homes.
"Your Majesty, the princess is requesting your presence at this time." Slader silently approached his king from behind before dropping to one knee, hand placed over his heart.
"Time already is it, Slader?" Baltra released a small sigh as he turned to look down at his trusted guard. The soldier nodded and the king gestured for him to lead the way. "Are Margaret and Veronica with her now?"
"Yes."
"I see. Time has really flown, has it not? It merely seems like yesterday when I first held her small form in my hands. Now look at her, she has grown into such a fine young woman who has braved herself against a tyrannical king bent on conquering all of Britannia. I know Caroline would be proud to see the woman Elizabeth has become today."
"I agree, Your Majesty," Slader replied quietly as they traversed down the hallway slowly, taking their time before arriving at their destination. "Lady Elizabeth has shown such bravery in the face of death, something I know for a fact some men would cower and run away from. I believe she may have picked up some of that from Meliodas."
"I do believe you are right, Slader. The Captain does seem to have grown quite fond of Elizabeth, hence why we are all gathered here today." Baltra chuckled before falling silent. His knight picked up on the subtle change and stopped to look at him.
"You are not ready to let her go."
"No. A parent is never ready to let their child go, especially their youngest one, but I know this is her destiny and she will treat this kingdom and its people well in my absence. I am just thankful to have had the opportunity to raise her as my own. Will you go and check on Meliodas for me? I wish to have a moment alone with my daughters."
"Of course, Your Majesty."
Slader quickly bowed before disappearing down another hallway with purposed steps while King Baltra slowly continued down his own, the smile sliding from his face to turn into a small frown. Massive change was coming to Liones and frankly, he wasn't sure if he was quite ready for it. After the war and his recovery, Meliodas had approached the king requesting permission to marry Elizabeth. His first reaction was complete disbelief, then it turned it excitement, then overprotectiveness. It honestly took him about half an hour just to finally calm himself down between prodding the knight and crying. Not his best moment, he had to admit. Once he settled back into his chair with Meliodas patiently waiting, the king confirmed one last time that it was what he wanted to do. Meliodas stated that he wholeheartedly vowed to take care of Elizabeth until her last breath on earth, swearing that she would never be sad, hurt, or heartbroken as long as he lived.
Baltra let out a low chuckle as he strolled to his daughters room. He'd always known about the feelings between those two and now here they were. As soon as he'd heard that Meliodas proposed in the garden, wedding planning began the moment Elizabeth came to him over the moon with joy. Caroline would have loved to be here for this moment, watching the child they'd lovingly taken in all grown up and marrying the man of her dreams. It hurt that she wasn't here to witness the holy union but the old man knew she was always surrounding them. Voices filtered into his ears as he neared the room. A Holy Knight stationed outside of the room saluted as the king approached then knocked loudly on the door.
"King Baltra has arrived for Princess Elizabeth."
"Thank you, Pandolf. I will take things from here. Please see to it that everything else is ready for today." Baltra dismissed the knight with a nod then stood outside of the door waiting for his daughter to open the door. Never had he been so nervous until this moment. He had more anxieties about Elizabeth's wedding than his own so many years ago. Maybe it was the fact that it was his youngest or that it was his now former Captain of the Holy Knights and Seven Deadly Sins marrying his daughter. He swiped a hand down his face. Panicking did no good.
Veronica and Margaret snuck out of the room while preventing their father from seeing the dress just yet, using their bodies to block the view much to his amusement. Margaret was wearing a floor-length red dress with off the shoulder straps and a delicate yellow flower pinned above her heart. Veronica went with a shorter purple dress with full sleeves along with the same yellow rose pinned on. Veronica held out one for her father and he allowed her to pin it onto his robe, making a few small adjustments before deciding it was good enough.
"You both look beautiful, my daughters. Your mother would agree wholeheartedly. How I wish she was here to witness this." Baltra spoke softly with a hand on each of their faces. Every day he saw Caroline in their features, a reminder of the kind woman who gave him two new lives to nurture and love. Though Elizabeth was never his true blood, she would always be his own thanks to Caroline.
"I know she is still with us, Father," Margaret agreed with teary eyes before both women were swept up into a tight embrace.
"Always and forever. How is Elizabeth faring?" Baltra asked with a crackling voice once they separated, a hand coming to swipe away the brewing tears. He'd been emotional ever since Meliodas came to speak with him weeks ago, the old king not ready to let his youngest go.
"Diane is in there with her but she is almost done. I am not sure who is more nervous, you or her. Griamore and Gilthunder are with Meliodas now but keep sending a currier between rooms with updates. There is nothing to be nervous about, Father, everything will go perfectly today." Veronica comforted her visibly nervous and emotional father with a hand on his arm. He nodded yet the words barely scratched away at the jitters. Massive change was about to happen and he didn't know whether to be scared or happy about it.
"Of course, of course. Everything has been aligning for years and now they are finally settling into place. Those two will bring in a new era for the kingdom of Liones. I will be stepping down after they are comfortable leading the Holy Knights and citizens. It is about time I retire."
"King Baltra, good morning. I hope you are doing well today." Diane had opened the door and stuck her head out, bowing her head in greeting before slipping from the room as well. A forest green fitted dress flowed over her toned body with a flaring of shimmering fabric after her hips. Long, wispy sleeves tapered off at the elbow with golden hems that matched the neckline and bottom of the dress. A simple yellow rose was pinned to her chest.
"Good morning, Diane. Though you look lovely, I must say it is a little odd to see you out of your armor and training apparel." Baltra chuckled to which Diane merely smiled with a small laugh. Even her hair had been taken from their signature pigtails and brushed out to trail down her back.
"Thank you, Your Highness. It's a little weird to be in such formal attire, but I will do anything for Elizabeth. I should probably go check on King and the others. She is ready for you whenever, King Baltra." Diane gave a formal curtsey before strolling away to find the other Sins with a happy humming.
"We shall leave it to you, Father. Here, you will need this cloth." Margaret handed her father a handkerchief as Veronica started walking away with hands clasped behind her back. With a curtsey the eldest daughter followed suit leaving the king alone outside of his daughters room.
"You can do this, Baltra. You have managed a kingdom for many decades, fought in skirmishes and battles, survived a tyrannical king, and have even raised three daughters to womanhood with only minor destruction of the castle. You can do this."
With a shaky hand, King Baltra knocked on the door and grasped the doorknob. A slow turn of the knob had the door opening and he braced for the scene before him. Elizabeth's back was turned to him as she gazed out of the enormous windows that overlooked the bustling kingdom below. The door shut quietly behind him and only then did she noticed that he had entered, the princess turning to look at her father with a warm expression. Snow white fabric pooled at her feet in silken waves overlain with intricate lace and patterns that trailed upward to the hips before shifting into a fitted bodice. A slightly plunging neckline adorned with golden handstitched thread gave a pop of warm color that tied together with the lace. Loose, opened sleeves swung gently with each arm movement, the material attached to each middle finger. Silver locks were braided and twisted up into an ornate style with a veil resting just above it. Simple pearl earrings adorned each ear, passed down from her mother after her passing. The very same jeweled crown the former queen wore on her wedding day was carefully nestled into the silver locks and it flooded the king with wonderful memories of many years ago.
Liones family jewels adorned her slender neck, the large sapphire surrounded by smaller diamonds that shimmered radiantly in the morning glow. They were passed down through the Liones heritage, starting with Baltra's mother passing it onto him after his sister died from heart failure. Prior to that, it had been passed down from ruler to ruler for their betrothed. Over three decades had the jewelry been passed down and now here it was, being worn by the youngest Liones princess on the day of her wedding and ascension to Queen of Liones. The tears overflowed as Baltra stared in awe at his daughter, his heart soaring with pride while breaking out of sadness.
"Elizabeth…my youngest, my bravest, kindest daughter…I have no words to describe your beauty and elegance in this moment of time. I am proud to be your father. I always have been and always will be. Your mother would be so incredibly proud of how strong you are, my child."
"Father…" Elizabeth teared up as she carefully moved away from the window to embrace her father, the two crying against one another for comfort.
"I wish you happiness in this new chapter of life, Elizabeth. I know Meliodas will cherish and care for you as he has always promised. But if he ever steps out of line, I will have him severely punished by the Holy Knights." Baltra weakly promised much to Elizabeth's amusement. A choked laughed slipped past her lips as she pulled away to swipe at the tears. Baltra caught the remaining few with his thumbs before placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Of course, Father. I do believe Meliodas knows the depth of that promise very well. Veronica has reminded him several times what would happen if I were to ever be the slightest bit upset. Even the Sins have promised to keep him in line."
"Very well. I will accept that he will mind himself in your presence. I do believe it is nearing time to go. Are you ready?" Baltra asked quietly. Without hesitation, Elizabeth nodded with brimming eyes and the most loving smile he had ever seen.
"I have been ready for a long time, Father."
Meliodas adjusted his military apparel once more before deciding it was good enough. He'd been offered a variety of different options though as soon as the familiar set was shown, the knight decided that was it. Not that the other choices were bad or anything, he just chose to wear that as his final day of Captain of the Holy Knights. It signified everything he'd worked so hard for to get to where he was and now it would be the final time of wearing the uniform. Gilthunder had been promoted to Captain in his stead and he couldn't be prouder of the knight for all his years of dedication and service to Liones. Originally the pink haired man declined the position stating that there could only ever be one to hold the title of captain but after hearing the encouraging words of his comrades, Gilthunder accepted the new title with gratitude. Meliodas was leaving behind the title of Captain on the Holy Knight side and instead proclaiming the new ranking of King of Liones.
He was more than a little surprised to hear Baltra announce his retirement shortly after he proposed to Elizabeth, eyebrows nearly shooting into his hairline moments later as the king proclaimed he would take over the kingdom in his stead. It was a tremendous honor to have and the knight was more than thankful for the opportunity to have even been considered, but it was startling to have it thrown at him so suddenly. His plan was to take Elizabeth and travel around Britannia for awhile so she could see the world. Drink all of the ale he could find, explore the lands and find hidden treasures, spend some alone time with her. Typical honeymoon stuff, right?
"Cap'n, are you seriously gonna wear that? Weren't you goin' to wear what the servants picked out?" Ban drawled from his chair, the Sin lazily laid out sideways on the too small chair. He was dressed more casually than his friend with his signature bright red pants and too small jacket that showed his midsection fully. Every time he wasn't wearing his armor or training clothes, it was straight back to the red leathered outfit that didn't even fit well. Why, Meliodas didn't know. That was just a quirk of Ban.
"Says the one wearing stolen clothes from Gremlon in Danafor," Meliodas retorted with a snort. Ban lazily flapped off the comment before rolling his head to look at his best friend, a crooked grin on his face.
"Like he was gonna need it? 'sides, it looks way better on me!"
"Now who decided that?"
"Oi, don't be so rude on your wedding day. I even prepared a speech when I officiate it!"
"You didn't think I was serious about that, did you?" Meliodas asked with a notched eyebrow at his friend and arms crossed. Ban faltered at the statement before busting out in laughter, the blonde joining in with his own snickering shortly after. "How can you officiate and be the best man at the same time? Plus you'd have to fight Baltra for it and I don't think he's going to give it up so easily."
"All I was gonna say is this: 'How Lady Elizabeth accepts this runt of a man who drinks his own weight in ale, fights tyrant kings in his spare time, and makes horrible food that causes explosive puking, nobody will ever know. Might be some bribery in there somewhere—'"
"Oi, oi! Why is it always with the height? The fighting and food thing I'll accept, but the stature, Ban? That's a low blow,"
"Of course that's what yer worried about!"
"Right? But I'll tell you this," Meliodas scooted closer to Ban as if ready to tell him a secret. He held up a hand to cover his lips from prying eyes. "Being this short has an advantage, my friend. Since Elizabeth is taller, I'm at the perfect height to—"
"I'd suggest you keep your vulgar thoughts to yourself, Captain."
Both Sins looked up to see Gilthunder standing in the doorway with arms crossed and a stern expression aimed at them both. Meliodas flapped his hand at the knight before walking over and tapping his knuckles against his armor. "Gilly, looking good in that new Captain of the Holy Knights armor! You're sure to have Margaret swooning with that shining armor. If you're here then that means it's time?"
"Don't try to change the subject. Regardless of you getting married to Princess Elizabeth today, you should still be respectful when talking about her and Princess Margaret. Whatever indecent thoughts you have keep them to yourself." The Captain scolded yet a smile grew on his face as he accepted the fist held out to him, tapping it firmly. Ban gracefully flopped out of the chair and caught himself with no hands, the Sin standing tall to stretch before resuming his usual slouching posture.
"Ah, it wasn't anything inappropriate, Gilly! Just talking about how I'd be closer to her heart is all." Meliodas casually played it off with his hands latched behind his head, the Sin innocently smiling up at the knight. Ban snickered but quickly looked away with a whistle when Gilthunder sent him a warning look.
"King Baltra is expecting you to be on your best behavior today, Meliodas. Every kingdom that aided in the war has come to show support for your transition to King of Liones. Acting out of line shows uncertainty in the decision and could affect—"
"Gilthunder," Meliodas interrupted the knight with a hand up who promptly closed his mouth and waited for the Sin to continue. Regardless of recently being promoted to captain, Meliodas was still technically in charge until the crown was placed upon his unruly locks. "You don't have to worry about this, honestly. I know what's at stake and that making a good impression as a strong leader is important. I trained you, didn't I? I showed you how to be a good leader and maintain communications between your knights, citizens, and foreign kingdoms. I taught you how fight efficiently and reliably while ensuring the safety of your allies. I've given you all of the tools necessary to lead an army and defend your home, passing down my knowledge to the next generation who will serve Liones."
"You have and for that I'm grateful, Meliodas. I know I shouldn't worry but sometimes you tend to go overboard in things. You have a bad habit about being a little…unpredictable." Gilthunder laughed nervously as the blonde merely shrugged as if he didn't know what he was talking about.
"If you two are done, there's a wedding to be had. The others should be waiting outside for you, Cap'n. What do you say? Are you ready?" Ban clasped his best friend on the shoulder with a bright smile, one that was returned immediately.
"I've been ready for a long time, Ban."
Hundreds filled the ceremonial hall in anticipation of the unification of the youngest Liones princess and the Captain of the Holy Knights. Some had traveled for days on end just to be able to witness a rare event in the large kingdom. Word had spread far and wide, from South to far North, and alliancing kingdoms sent carriages with gifts and words of congratulations. A few smaller kingdoms had even sent letters stating that they would consider alliance with the new king, building the network connections of Liones to a new level. Baltra waited anxiously behind the curtained archway that would lead to the stage where Meliodas and the priest were waiting. Elizabeth waited calmly at his side, an arm looped through his.
"Are you alright, Father?"
"O-of course, Elizabeth! Just preparing myself to let you go. It is a nerve wracking day for any father, after all." Baltra quickly replied yet his daughter placed a hand against his aging face delicately.
"I will always be your daughter, no matter where I am in this world. Mother inspired us all to be strong and when she passed away, you took over that role to care and nurture us. You faced what no parent should have to yet look how things turned out. Three beautiful, kind and caring daughters who love their father the most in the world. This is not a goodbye. This is merely moving on to the next chapter of life. You will always be a part of my life as I am of yours." Elizabeth gingerly soothed her fathers worries away with her words, the king letting out a shaky breath before nodding. He quickly wiped away the tears that were threatening to overflow.
"You always had a soothing way with words, Elizabeth. I love you, my daughter."
"And I you, Father."
Gentle orchestral sound filled the air and both father and daughter readied themselves as the curtain slowly began pulling apart. Instantly Elizabeth's eyes found Meliodas waiting at the altar, his own emerald ones locking onto hers the moment she became visible. The most loving and tender expression filled his face causing Elizabeth's heart to start skipping a beat with heat flushing her cheeks as he smiled. The princess returned the gesture with welling tears threatening to fall. Baltra glanced between them with a warming chest. It was how he felt about Caroline the moment she started walking towards him in that elegant wedding dress, their emotions laid bare on their sleeves. They slowly walked down the red carpet as the musicians played softly, all eyes on the King and Princess. Ban stood behind Meliodas while Diane waited on Elizabeth's side dabbing at her eyes with a cloth. The castle priest stood centered with the Bible clutched lightly in both palms.
"M-Meliodas," Baltra started once they reached the bottom of the few stairs that led to the awaiting wedding party. He cleared his throat and tried again with Elizabeth patting his arm encouragingly. There were so many eyes on him and it was hard to keep focused. "Captain Meliodas of the Holy Knights of Liones. Today, in this moment, I give you the hand of my beloved daughter Elizabeth Liones, third princess of Liones. I entrust her safety, happiness, and life to you until the day you both may leave this earth and reach the Heavens above. In addition to handing my daughter over, you will hereby be sworn in as King of Liones after the ceremony. You will succeed my reign as is customary when taking the hand of a princess. Do you accept these terms?"
"On one condition," Meliodas announced loudly with a finger up. The crowd began murmuring unsurely and even Baltra froze in place at the unexpected answer, incoherent words sputtering from his lips. Elizabeth giggled under her breath while waiting for her father to regain his composure.
"W-what would that be…?" Baltra stuttered out in disbelief. They'd already gone over everything prior to the ceremony so why was he suddenly changing the agreement? Gilthunder, who was standing beside Ban, smacked an armored hand to his forehead in disbelief while the Fox's Sin barely contained his snickering. Diane glanced between Elizabeth and Meliodas in panic. The remaining Sins merely shook their heads from the front pews albeit with knowing smiles.
"The one condition is…that you remain King of Liones until we return from our honeymoon! Only then will I accept the terms of becoming king!" Meliodas declared loudly for all to hear. Baltra began to feel faint. He scared him half to death over that?!
"I-I…suppose?" Baltra wheezed out but it was good enough for Meliodas who reached out a hand for Elizabeth. Giving a soft kiss against her fathers cheek, the princess reached up to accept the outstretched hand. Slader carefully escorted the king to his seat as the wed-to-be stood across from each other.
"We are gathered here today under the blessing of God to proclaim Princess Elizabeth Liones and Captain Meliodas of the Holy Knights in holy matrimony. If anyone objects to this unification then please speak else hold your peace." The priest waited a few breaths before continuing on with his sermon. None objected to the union. "Very well. We shall start with you, Lord Meliodas. Do you vow with every fiber of your being to love, protect, and nurture Lady Elizabeth so long as you both shall live?"
"Of course," Meliodas replied easily without glancing at the priest, gaze locked onto his soon to be bride. He squeezed her hands a little tighter as the officiant turned towards Elizabeth.
"Princess Elizabeth, do you vow with every fiber of your being to love, protect, and nurture Lord Meliodas so long as you both shall live?"
"I do, wholeheartedly." Elizabeth replied lovingly. A few tears escaped yet she let them, too absorbed in the eyes of her soon to be husband.
"May we have the rings?" The priest asked while looking at Diane and Ban, waiting for them to disperse the jewelry.
"I'm so happy for you, Elizabeth! I know Captain will take care of you," Diane whispered as she carefully placed the ring in the princess' free hand. She quickly hugged the bride before shuffling back to her spot with a tissue to her eyes.
"Take care of our princess, yeah?" Ban lightly slapped the ring into Meliodas' hand to which the Sin wrapped his fingers around his friends. They shared an intense look before both grinning and releasing the grasp. Elizabeth and Diane gave them a curious look though Meliodas merely shook his head. Man code was a hard thing to explain.
"Lord Meliodas, if you would please take Lady Elizabeth's left hand and place the ring upon her finger. Once that is done, please do the same thing, Lady Elizabeth."
Taking Elizabeth's hand tenderly, Meliodas slipped the jeweled ring onto her finger then brought the back of her hand to his lips. After placing a feathery kiss to her skin, he lowered it back down so the ceremony could proceed. Doing the same motion, Elizabeth put his ring on but interlocked their fingers. Satisfied they were ready to continue, the priest decided to bring the ceremony to completion.
"As witness today to this holy matrimony and union of two souls into one, under the guidance of the Lord and kingdom of Liones, I now pronounce Princess Elizabeth Liones and Lord Meliodas as husband and wife. You may now seal your unison with a kiss. Congratulations and may you both have a long, prosperous marriage." The priest smiled to them both before closing his book silently and stepping back.
Meliodas wasted no time and before Elizabeth could even form his name on her lips, she found herself dipped down as her husband sealed the deal. Her arms wrapped around his neck for support and the room went wild with cheers and shouts. Baltra openly sobbed beside his personal knight with his remaining daughters delicately crying and giving their well wishes. Ban whooped as loudly as he could in celebration, the Sin jumping over to latch Diane in a side hug. The two parted and righted, beaming uncontrollably at each other. Elizabeth tenderly wiped away her tears as Meliodas let his blur his vision for a few moments longer.
"Well, how does it feel to be officially married now, Elizabeth?" Meliodas asked while escorting her down the stairs. The entire room had stood and was clapping and shouting their congratulations. King Arthur was seated closest to them, the redhead sobbing happily and blubbering out something the knight couldn't understand. He shook his head in amusement. Such an emotional king.
"Better than I could have expected. I have been more than ready for this day to come, Meliodas. Now we can continue our life together without worry. I look forward to travelling to new places with you." Elizabeth replied happily.
"Let's hear it for Lord Meliodas and Lady Elizabeth! Hip hip hooray!" An old man in the crowd shouted and Meliodas knew exactly who it was. Hubard found his wandering gaze and snapped a salute as the room erupted in chant. The knight returned the gesture before beginning to guide his bride down the carpet. Flowers suddenly rained over them as they walked, pink, white, and yellow fluttering everywhere in a small storm. Elizabeth saw one land directly on Meliodas' nose and plucked it off with a giggle. Taking advantage of the heavy cover of the flowers, Meliodas reached up and pulled Elizabeth in for another kiss, this time savoring the moment a little longer.
"I think I could get used to this," The knight mentioned casually after they separated, the princess flushing bright red at the sudden action. He snickered then brushed a few petals from her bangs. They had grown back out nicely since Havenworth's attack but he loved her either way, lopsided bangs and all.
Upon exiting the ceremonial hall, the newlyweds were to attend a banquet with her family and the visiting kingdoms in a more closed environment. Afterwards there would be dancing, music, fireworks, and even performers to celebrate. The entire town was invited to the later celebrations with the castle being open to any and all. King Baltra went all out for the wedding and Elizabeth was grateful just for his presence there. Instead of heading towards the awaiting feast, Meliodas turned down a different hallway and dragged his wife to an undisclosed location. Servants bowed and gave their well wishes as they passed, none thinking twice about where they were going. Elizabeth glanced curiously at Meliodas but the blonde merely grinned with a finger against his lips.
"Do you trust me, Elizabeth?" He asked cheekily.
"With the entirety of my being, Meliodas." Elizabeth replied earnestly.
"I have a surprise for you, but you have to promise you'll keep your eyes closed. Shoes are optional as well since I know you so well by now. Just try not to hit me with them, okay? I've heard horror stories about those things." Elizabeth muffled a laugh behind her hand before nodding in agreement. Meliodas pulled out a piece of fabric from inside his jacket and motioned for her to bend down a little. With deft fingers he concealed her eyes and grabbed her hands to guide the way. They carefully made their way towards the back of the castle and just before opening a set of doors, the Sin peeked out to make sure everything was in order. "If you are so inclined to, your feet projectiles may come off now. Just be careful where you aim, this suit was just cleaned."
"Feet projectiles? Never in my life have I heard such a unique description for shoes," Elizabeth laughed but nonetheless removed said projectiles carefully this time. Wouldn't want to assault her new husband minutes into the marriage. Meliodas scooped them up then placed one of her hands over his arm. "You surely have a way with words, My Lord."
"I try my best, My Lady."
As soon as the doors opened, fresh air brushed against Elizabeth's face and hair. The scent of flowers hit her nose and she let out a relaxing sigh. She always enjoyed the blooming flowers with their vibrant colors and intoxicating smells. Considering spring was now in full motion, the grounds were covered with thousands of the plants much to her joy. She was carefully guided down a handful of stairs before bare feet hit familiar cobblestones, their surface smooth and cold. The surroundings appeared in her mind with ease, the princess knowing where each and every crack was, how to navigate around the fountain, even a memory map of the hedges.
"I'm going to take your blindfold off, ready?" Meliodas waited for her nod before reaching up and untying the fabric. As soon as it was off, Elizabeth blinked a few times before letting out an audible gasp.
The entire courtyard had been transformed into what could only be described as a wonderland. Bushes upon bushes of roses lined the outer edge of the space, all vibrant and in full bloom despite the early season. The fountain was burbling gently with bundles of flowers lined around the edges, all varying types and colors. The trellis above the bench had vines intertwined through the slats, forming a shaded resting area with wisteria twists hanging like curtains from the slats. Elizabeth stared in awe at the entire courtyard until a hand grabbed hers and guided her towards the bench. She sat down slowly, still in a stupor at the drastic change in environment. If she hadn't known the area so well she would've assumed it was a brand new place. It took a few blinks before she realized it wasn't the same courtyard. The layout was entirely different though with similar features.
"I…this is not the normal courtyard." Elizabeth looked at Meliodas but he merely strolled ahead with his hands locked behind his head. He reached the fountain centered in the courtyard before sharply turning around and throwing his hands out.
"That's because this belonged to your mother, Caroline. After the fight with Havenworth I asked the Sins to help restore it back to what it was years ago. I know you may not recognize it, but I could never forget such a tranquil place as a kid. You were around six or seven and by that time, King Baltra had started to let it become dilapidated in his prolonged grief. Granted, I'd only seen it once after arriving to Liones but I remembered what it looked like. I don't want any part of the castle to bring up memories of the war, which is why I had it redone. Luckily Arthur offered his full assistance and a bunch of flowers from the East. Apparently he spread word to the other kingdoms as well and they brought whatever they could. You'll have flowers for weeks, Eliza—what's wrong?" Meliodas immediately returned to her side, crouching down in front of the weeping woman. She sobbed into her hands while he rubbed her arms comfortingly.
"It…I barely knew my mother yet somehow…sitting here now, it is almost as if I can feel her presence with me. I cannot explain it," Elizabeth muffled out. Meliodas carefully shifted her hands away from her face and placed a tender kiss against her forehead before resting his head there.
"When I was younger, before I came to Liones, there was a time when your father and Queen Caroline visited Danafor. That was years before I ever decided to leave my town to start over somewhere new. I met your mother on the streets as a poor beggar looking for any spare change, just trying to get enough for a cheap meal. With them was the Holy Knights, the very first time that I'd ever seen one. I was in awe at how they carried themselves so highly, their armor so clean and perfect. Unlike Danafor knights, they were kind and caring. They offered candy to the children and even a few coins to those adults falling on hard times. Apparently in my starstruck state, I didn't realize there was a horse and carriage coming until somebody grabbed me and pulled me away in the nick of time."
"Mother…was in Danafor? You have met her before?" Elizabeth whispered with wide, teary eyes and to that Meliodas nodded lightly.
"When I looked up, I saw it was the Queen who had saved me from being trampled. Her beautiful, pristine dress was now covered in mud and slurry because of my mistake. But she was more worried for my safety than the sullied clothes she was wearing. 'Are you alright? Were you injured at all?', she asked. Me being the articulate person I am, I just kinda of let out a garbled answer and she looked at me for a few seconds before laughing. It was a beautiful, twinkling laugh that sounded like bells ringing. She helped me up after shooing away your father and the knights, telling them it was only a bit of mud and it would wash out."
"I'll never forget what she did next, Elizabeth, because it's the reason I had such drive to become a Holy Knight. Queen Caroline took the time to introduce each and every knight there with her, explaining their rankings and what they meant. Your mother had noticed how entranced I was with the knights and took it upon herself to fuel that admiration into a pursuit. She answered every question I had and even let me carefully hold one of their swords. Your mother gave precious time from a political visit to give a small, hopeless child a bright beacon in life. Queen Caroline is the reason I became a Holy Knight. I received a letter shortly after they left inviting me to come to Liones when I was ready to become a Holy Knight, a personal invitation from your mother. After coming to Liones a few years later, I learned that in addition to Margaret and Veronica, there was another daughter."
"Meliodas, are you…are you telling me you have been in the castle for nearly ten years? How did I not notice your presence?" Elizabeth asked in disbelief while leaning back to look at his face better. Not once had she noticed a small blonde child running amongst the massive halls of the castle. Surely her father would've told her about bringing in a child to shelter. Her husband nodded before leaning back on his heels, keeping his hands intertwined with hers.
"Because I asked Baltra not to. In exchange for Queen Caroline giving me the opportunity and welcoming me into her home, I vowed to serve Liones until the end of my days. Griamore and Gilthunder were already protecting your sisters so he offered to have me watch you. You were quite the wild child and there were times you've evaded even my sight for a bit. Your favorite pastime was to climb the massive tree in the main courtyard. Can't tell you how many times you nearly gave Baltra a heart attack doing that."
"You have been watching over me for so many years, Meliodas?" Elizabeth breathed out and her breath hitched a bit when he nodded in confirmation. She always wondered how blankets were magically pulled over her after falling asleep in the library or how meals and medicine had been delivered without the servants knowing how. Now she knew. "How…I mean, why? Why did you choose to protect me from the shadows when Griamore and Gilthunder openly followed my sisters around?"
"I…hadn't earned the right to do such a thing, Elizabeth," Meliodas explained quietly.
"Earned?" She cocked her head in confusion.
"I was an outsider who came from the slums of a desolate kingdom. I had no right to be given such a high-ranking position from the start, but your father trusted his wife's judgement in me. Baltra asked me to be like the other knights yet I refused. I hadn't earned the right to sidle up next to a princess and protect her out of nowhere. I didn't want to make you uncomfortable and at the time, I preferred to remain in the shadows. The only time you started seeing me was after I had become Captain of the Holy Knights. Our first face-to-face interaction was when Griamore snuck you out of your lessons to watch the sparring matches. I was training with three other knights but we briefly locked eyes before I put my armor on. That's also where you met Ban."
Elizabeth placed a hand against her head in an attempt to process everything. Meliodas had been by her side from nearly the very beginning. Always watching over her, protecting Liones, rising to the top of the Holy Knights division and commanding the Seven Deadly Sins. Never in a million years had she imagined that her mother was the reason for them meeting. Fate was a strong belief in the Liones lineage ever since their rise to royalty decades ago, and that same belief was the reason for their triskele crest and quotation. May the stars ever be your guidance. In the brief time of knowing her mother, that was the motto Caroline Liones lived by, often explaining to the young child how fate controlled our lives. Things happened for a reason. Her meeting Meliodas, growing to know him, falling in love with him, and now…having just married him within the last hour. It wasn't coincidental. It was their fate all along. Her mother knew from the moment she'd met him.
"Elizabeth?" Meliodas asked quietly after a few minutes of her not responding, the princess lost in her thoughts. He brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear which caused her eyes to finally look up and into his. "I'm sorry if I'm overloading you with information, but I wanted you to know that because of Caroline Liones, I was able to meet you."
"There is a long saying in the Liones family," Elizabeth started hoarsely with a throat full of raw emotion. Everything was making sense now and the crashing waves of emotions were toiling in her mind. She had to take a few extra seconds to compose her thoughts before looking into the concerned eyes of her husband. "That it is not luck nor knowledge that guides us in our path through life. Fate controls our destiny starting from birth. Before you left to fight Lord Havenworth here in Liones, after you had left the room I said, 'May the stars ever be your guidance.'. I am sure Father has mentioned it as well before you left on dangerous missions. What little memories I have of my mother include her talking about fate and how it chooses our paths for us. You said that she saved you in Danafor, right? I…my heart is telling me that it was not coincidental that my mother saved you, Meliodas. It was your fate to come to Liones. To meet me. To become Captain of the Holy Knights. To save the kingdom from destruction. To defeat a threat rampaging through Britannia. To become the next great leader of the kingdom."
"Elizabeth…" She quickly shook her head to stop him. Her thoughts were tumbling from her mouth and she needed to get them all out before they disappeared.
"Meliodas, I cannot thank the stars enough for guiding you to me. And to my mother for starting your journey to your destiny. I never realized until now how you have directly altered my life. If not for you…I could have been married off to Lord Havenworth in order to secure an alliance. I could have been trapped forever within cold stone walls without ever seeing the world. Without you, I could have died in the attack when I was fourteen. You have saved my life more times than I can recall and for that, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, Meliodas. You were only ever destined to be mine and I thank the heavens above for sending me someone so loving, caring and compassionate." Elizabeth cupped his face lovingly as the tears fell, the salty substance caused by sheer overwhelming gratefulness and endearment. Meliodas stared with wide eyes and mouth slightly agape. His eyes twitched briefly before he quickly looked down so his bangs covered them.
"Elizabeth…" The knight croaked out with trembling shoulders, his hands shakily grasping hers to keep himself steady. Without another word, Elizabeth slipped from the bench and sank to the ground to embrace the man she loved more than the world itself. He sobbed quietly against her chest while she ran slender fingers through his unruly locks, resting her head against his tenderly.
"It will be okay, Meliodas. I will always be here for you just as you have for me."
Meliodas approached the main gates of Liones on Hawk after finishing an alliance meeting in Camelot for the past week, exhaustion dragging his mind down. King Arthur had suggested his presence in order to appeal to the smaller kingdoms in the East during an annual conference held within the city. For the past two years as King of Liones, the former Holy Knight strived to keep connections and trade routes open to strengthen the bonds throughout Britannia. Normally Ban would go with yet the Sin somehow became infatuated with a new maid that served in the castle. He later found out it was King's little sister Elaine so obviously it caused tensions between the two, but luckily Diane kept a hold of King in order to help out Elaine. Merlin offered to accompany him though solely for the reason of checking in with her pupil. Before his departure, the Sin of Lust informed him of her extended stay in the city in order to test new medical treatments for the various ailments amongst the citizens. Meliodas had no other choice than to temporarily release her of Sin duties for the duration of her absence. He wasn't planning on telling Escanor yet, the man obviously in love with the raven haired apothecary.
"What do ya say, Hawk? How about we crack open some Bernia Ale tonight and sleep the next few days away? I'm sure Ban will get you some nice treats as well." Meliodas asked the steed with a few pats against his neck. Hawk threw his head back in agreement before lurching forward with renewed vigor. Food was always a motivator for the horse and often the blonde noticed he acted more like a pig than an actual horse. It had taken a long time for the steed to lose his stubbornness with Ban's betrayal of feeding Waldo and not him, but a few good bribes with treats loosened that grudge in the matter of a few seconds.
"Your Majesty! Urgent news from the castle!" A Holy Knight came sprinting towards him from inside of the walls, halting Hawks quickened pace. Meliodas looked at the knight with furrowed brows and waited for him to catch his breath. He hadn't even entered the city yet and there were already problems. Gilthunder should've been able to handle things in his absence along with the remaining Sins.
"What's going on?"
"It…it is…about…Queen Eliz—"
Before the man even finished panting out his urgent news, Meliodas had kicked Hawk into high gear and the two tore into the city. Hawk dodged people left and right as he charged his way from the lower rings up to the castle grounds, snorting heavily as he put his all into every step. Meliodas tightened his grip on the reins. He thought there was still enough time. Merlin said at least a few more weeks but apparently things had gone downhill faster than anticipated. A few citizens jumped out of the way but he was too focused on the upcoming castle towards to yell an apology. "Get me to the front doors, Hawk!"
Holy Knights guarding the main entrance to the castle squinted at the small cloud of dust trailing through the city and heading their way. One of them had flagged Captain Gilthunder who walked over to survey the situation with a hand on his pommel. "Captain, what do you think it is? An enemy attack?"
"No," Gilthunder replied immediately while relaxing his hand from his blade. So, he'd found out as soon as he returned. If he didn't clear the path then there could quite a bit of destruction for him to clean up later. With a hand thrown out, Captain Gilthunder gave his order. "That would just be His Majesty receiving the news about his wife. Clear the path for King Meliodas to return!"
"Sir!"
Hawk flew up the final pathway to the castle with Meliodas standing anxiously in the stirrups. He prayed he wasn't too late. Surprisingly, the castle gates were already opened with Holy Knights stationed on either side with hands up in salute. As they rushed past, emerald spotted the familiar pink locks of Gilthunder waiting for him at the bottom of the main stairs. Before Hawk could even finish slowing down, the king was dismounting and sprinting to meet up with the captain who fell into step immediately.
"Welcome back, King Meliodas. I'm sure you've heard of the news?" Gilthunder asked as they sprinted up the stairs and towards the massive main doors in the process of opening. Holy Knights flanked behind them yet they were no match for their speed and stamina.
"A Holy Knight alerted me before I even made it into the city. What's going on? Is everything alright, Gil? Merlin told me there were a few weeks left. What changed so suddenly?" Meliodas asked breathlessly as they sprinted past the knights stationed inside of the castle. Gods, he hoped he'd get there in time. It was risky leaving her in that condition yet she assured him everything would be fine until his return. Elizabeth.
"Things have progressed since late last night I'm afraid. She's weakened but is still in fairly stable condition. Queen Elizabeth is refusing treatment until you have returned to her side. Forgive me, I should have gone to Camelot myself and let you stay here."
"Arthur wanted me there and I had an obligation to speak with other kingdoms about an alliance. Elizabeth convinced me to go but maybe that was a mistake. Merlin isn't with me because she's staying in Camelot to try some experimental treatments on the citizens there. Did she leave anything with you before departure?"
"Yes. A small book of instructions for the servants and a box of supplies in the event of sudden worsening. I believe Diane and her sisters are with her now to keep company. I fear there may not be much time left, Meliodas. It's a good thing you arrived when you did."
The two rounded the corner to the main chambers only to find a group of people anxiously waiting outside of the door. Upon hearing the clanking of armor and running feet, they all scattered back to allow the king and Captain to gain access to the room. Just before Meliodas made to throw the doors open, Gilthunder stopped him with a heavy hand on his shoulder. "Meliodas, barging in there won't be good for her health. Please take a breath to calm down and then enter after knocking. Margaret and Veronica will take their leave upon your arrival. It's up to you if you wish for Diane to remain."
"Thanks, Gilly. You've become a good counselor since becoming Captain of the Holy Knights." Meliodas let out a few sharp breaths to calm himself and shot the knight a grateful smile. The knight merely snorted and shook his head before motioning to the door.
"Someone has to keep you in line. Now go, be with your wife."
After knocking thrice, a servant cracked the door open to see who it was before fully opening it and Meliodas slipped through. There were a handful of servants running around with supplies, preparing for any situation. Emerald immediately pulled away from the chaos to see the princesses of Liones on one side of the bed and Diane on the other. He couldn't see Elizabeth until he shifted closer and that was when the brunette noticed him.
"Captain! We weren't expecting you back so soon. Elizabeth, look who's back!" Diane quietly exclaimed to her best friend with teary eyes, a hand clasping the delicate one of the queen.
"We shall take our leave now, Meliodas. She has been doing so well in your absence, a little weakness though that is to be expected. Come, Veronica. Let us take our leave so they may be alone. Will you follow, Lady Diane?" Margaret greeted the king before turning to the Sin in question.
"Yes. Everything will be alright, Elizabeth. Meliodas is here now. You don't have to hold on anymore so just relax. I'll see you later, okay?" Diane tearily told the queen before shifting out of her seat and following the princesses of Liones out of the room. She stopped next to the captain then put a hand against his shoulder gently. "She's done so well, Captain. Some peace and quiet will do her some good, okay? Let us know if you need anything."
"I will. Thank you, Diane." Meliodas briefly placed a hand over hers and gave her a tired smile before moving to take a seat next to the bed.
Elizabeth blearily looked up at him the moment his hands encased her own. She was pale and had a sheen of sweat covering her entire body, cerulean eyes dulled from exhaustion and weakness. Meliodas carefully swept apart her bangs that had stuck together with a strained expression. He shouldn't have left her alone. Arthur would've understood yet he still had a duty to his kingdom and its people. She'd put his worries to rest and told him to go, that she would be fine until his return. "Meliodas…"
"Elizabeth, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone to Camelot. Merlin assured me there would be a few more weeks. How are you holding up? Do you need anything right now? I promise I won't leave your side from now on." The king spoke softly with a hand cupped against her face. She shook her head lightly with an amused huff. Always so worried.
"No, I do not need anything right now. Do not worry yourself so much, Meliodas. I have been doing fine for the past few hours…" Elizabeth trailed off with a pained face and a hard grasping of his hand. The very breath left her lungs causing sharp heaving when the pressure alleviated for a moment. The pain was picking up in intervals and her body was signaling the time was near. Meliodas tried his best not to panic yet when she wouldn't snap out of the pain spell washing over her, he snapped a finger at a nearby servant. The fear was making him more aggressive than he needed to be yet the love of his life was suffering without relief.
"Can't you do something? She's in pain right now!"
"Forgive me, King Meliodas, we have already followed the instructions left by Lady Merlin. There is nothing more we can do until it is time." The servant apologized profusely with a bow. The king grit his teeth though the tension eased once a clammy hand reached up and grazed against his cheek. He latched onto it immediately and turned worried eyes back to his wife.
"It is almost time…are you ready?" Elizabeth asked breathily with rubescent cheeks that stood out from the paleness of her flesh, the pain clearly draining the queen. Meliodas' breath hitched as he glanced between her and the servants readily waiting around with supplies at the ready. It was all happening so fast, there wasn't even any time to prepare himself.
"I'm not sure how to be ready, Elizabeth. I…I don't know what I should do…" Meliodas replied honestly to which his wife laughed with shimmering eyes.
"There is no need to panic. Nature will take its course and do what it must. I know you can do this, Meliodas. As long as you are by my side then I will have no trouble getting through the pain. Now…let us bring a new life into the world. Together."
Things had progressed rather quickly after that with Elizabeth feeling the urge to push growing by the minute. Her screams echoed throughout the room as servants scrambled to get into position. Meliodas kept his eyes only on her face while holding her clenching hands firmly. Tremors shook his body as each scream resonated within his mind, the panic taking over as they progressed louder and faster. She couldn't hear his encouraging words over the raw emotion pouring from her throat so he did his best to keep her comfortable with a cold cloth on her forehead. At one point she fell back against the pillows with heaving breaths and closed eyes, the energy sapped from her body yet he urged her to keep going. Elizabeth weakly rolled her head back and forth against the pillow, unable to speak another word.
"You're almost there, Elizabeth. Just a little longer then you'll be done, I promise you. Please hang in there just a little longer." The king pleaded with a cracking voice. Never had he seen her cry out and writhe in pain, it was almost unbearable to even watch her suffering for hours on end. The skies were turning vibrant shades of oranges, yellows, and reds as the sun settled for the evening. Still, Elizabeth couldn't find the strength to even open her eyes let alone respond to his pleas after nearly an entire day of struggling.
"I do believe I see something," a servant called out and Meliodas whipped his head up to look at her in bewilderment. The older woman gave the hand signal for one more final effort and then it would be done.
"One more time, Elizabeth, one more push and our…our baby will be here. That small life that we created will come into this world with the greatest parents ever. Obviously they'll take after me and my boyish charms, but with your gentleness and kind heart. You've done so well today, Elizabeth. I can't explain how proud of you I am, how amazed you've made me with carrying a child in your body for many months. The strength you carry is more than any army can amass, more than any one man can possess." Meliodas choked the words out with tears overflowing sans interruption. He tried to blink them away yet they kept coming so he shook his head in defeat. Elizabeth looked up at him with as tender of an expression as she could muster then brought his hand down to her lips.
"Our baby…will have the greatest father in the entirety of Britannia. I can tell already, Meliodas."
"And the most amazing mother, Elizabeth."
It was both blissful and terrifying to hold such a tiny being in his arms, the king nearly petrified in place. He was completely entranced by the little round reddened cheeks, button nose, and tuff of silver hair that stuck out from the wrap. It was hard to believe that Elizabeth was carrying him for so many months and now he was here in the flesh. A finger lightly poked and prodded at the full cheeks, gently pushing them up and down in awe. The little one scrunched their face up at the disturbance and Meliodas switched to grazing a thumb over the area to soothe the skin. The baby calmed before resuming its nap and the king let out a soft chuckle.
"Like father like son, right? Doesn't take much to fall asleep,"
"Everything alright?" Elizabeth mumbled from beside him while cracking an eye open. She'd been sleeping deeply to recover from the birth yet like magic she awoke when the baby was the slightest bit unhappy. The level of intuition awed the king yet it only made the love for her grow as he carefully shifted a hand to rest on silver locks. She leaned into the touch while closing her eyes at the reassurance.
"Everything's fine, don't worry. I think I can handle this with all of my experience as a Holy Knight, Captain of the Seven Deadly Sins, and now King of Liones. Our little knight is in safe hands." Meliodas declared proudly to which Elizabeth let out a small huff of amusement. He cocked a brow at her reaction though she merely shook her head as if seeing his reaction. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing. How could I doubt that answer?"
"Well, it depends on if you truly believe those particular skills can aid in the holding of a future Holy Knight, My Lady. Of course, he will no doubt be fiercely protected against any and all threats including Ban's overwhelming stench of ale, Diane's screeches of excitement, Gowther's strangeness, King's flustered personality, Escanor's ridiculous strength, and Merlin…probably best not to leave her alone with the baby. There's also the endless flow of people wanting to touch him, hold him, kiss him…I'm starting to think this job is going to be a difficult one, Elizabeth."
"Not to mention my father and sisters," The queen murmured to which the blonde nodded. He stroked her hair softly and for a few minutes, it seemed she was asleep until she took a deeper breath in and pushed herself up.
"Take it easy, I don't want you pushing yourself. Whatever you need I'll get it." Meliodas kept a hand on her back as support before shifting to kneel right up against her side. As if on cue, the newborn began fussing with his little face all scrunched up and hands grabbing the air. Elizabeth reached out and gently took the baby after pulling one side of her dress down to feed. "How did you know he was hungry? He's been sleeping like a rock the past few hours."
"Babies need to eat every few hours to keep up their strength. Plus, a mother's intuition," Elizabeth hummed while waiting for the infant to latch.
"Mother's intuition, huh? You think your mother was the same way?"
"Mm. From what I heard, the moment she saw me I was picked up into her arms and never put down again until my father agreed for adoption. I like to think she knew what my fate was in that moment."
Meliodas quietly slipped his arms around his wife and child, never more thankful in that moment for where fate led him. The letter he'd found in the safe house four years ago was a personal letter from Caroline Liones herself. Whilst Elizabeth slept to recover from the kingdom attack, the knight took it upon himself to open it and scanned over the page slowly. The former queen thanked him, first and foremost, for giving her the opportunity to meet him in Danafor during a political visit. She claimed it made the long journey from home easier to handle without her children. Caroline expressed her gratitude for the opportunity and explained that whenever she could, she would teach the children about the Holy Knights to give them hope for the future. Then she apologized. Apologized for not being able to take him from such a desolate kingdom, apologized for not being able to do more to help him and those suffering around. She'd expressed her regrets in not being able to help him more but Meliodas merely shook his head at the letter. Caroline Liones had helped him more than she could ever realize.
That letter gave him the push he needed to leave Danafor for good to search for a purpose in life. The interaction, albeit brief, opened the door to becoming the knight he'd always dreamed of. It wasn't in the manner he wanted to do it though. Killing Quinton was an act of rage for the death of his friend, but it caused the mark of his sin to forever be imprinted in his flesh. Growing up in the slums meant you had to learn how to survive. If Quinton was a man who beat his own flesh and blood to death, who's to say he wouldn't hesitate to take the lives of others? For a long time, Meliodas believed what he did was justified. That a murderer needed to be disposed of. Then along came Havenworth. The only other man he'd relished in killing.
All of the pain he caused, the destruction, loss of life, kingdom collapses. There was no worse man than Havenworth in Meliodas' eyes, the mad prince welcoming himself a death sentence. Yet even after his grand finale, it turned into a mercy killing rather than a revenge kill. The arrogance of thinking he'd won in an enemy's territory was his ultimate downfall that led to him being crushed after an explosion. An explosion caused by his desperation to beat the number one knight of Liones, the Captain of the Holy Knights and the Seven Deadly Sins. A knight who beat and humiliated him in front of dozens multiple times. A knight who refused to let him have his way. Even going after Elizabeth had been foiled every time from the very shadows he lurked in.
In the end, what was his true goal? Was it to take over all of Britannia to become a powerhouse…or was it all just to prove he could defeat Meliodas and take everything he cared about? During his recovery after the fight, the blonde had plenty of time to mull over everything in between medicine induced sleeps and Merlin's treatments. Havenworth's obsession with Elizabeth began after the festival fight in Liones so many years ago, the prince constantly sending letters of proposal to King Baltra. Each and every one was shot down, especially since she was still so young and not of wedding age yet. They got progressively more aggressive as the years passed, fueled by the Grantown incident and constant watchful eyes keeping the princess safe from harm. The deranged prince had even gone so far as to blame the Danafor incident on him and Ban since the killing of Quinton, important documents found in the abandoned castle office after he fled for Liones.
The only reason Havenworth had burned the town down was merely to have some blackmail in case he ever found out who the Dragon's Wrath was. It made Meliodas' blood boil. All of those lives lost on a gamble? Based on rumors of him as a ruthless child who defended the weak and unable from corrupt knights? The knight had promptly kicked over the desk in a fit of boiling rage which sent the papers fly everywhere in a whirlwind. A few more kicks had the heavy wooden desk splintered and scattered throughout the luxurious office.
Even now as he sat on the bed cradling his wife and newborn son, Meliodas couldn't help but let his mind wander back to the path fate had chosen for him. Was fate really something they couldn't change? Did the heavens above decide how their lives played out? Elizabeth mentioned that everything happens for a reason, so was it the goal all along to end the tyrant? Everyone around agrees it was for the best but…was it worth it in the end?
His son started getting fussy so he snapped out of his deep thinking in a slight panic, eyes going from his wife to son. Elizabeth had finished feeding and was trying to soothe to upset infant with little pats and shushing noises, gently swinging him in her arms. Meliodas gently placed a hand upon the child's head and not even a few moments later, he was nodding off into a food coma. It was almost as if his touch alone soothed all of the worries in the world. If only it worked on everything else in the world, the knight mused silently.
"You have the magic touch," Elizabeth said softly as she gently brushed over the little tufts of silver hair with her fingers. From the moment she laid eyes on the small child, she was smitten. His poof of hair, the little button nose, chubby red cheeks. A tiny hand opened and closed so she placed her finger in it. He latched on firmly.
"What can I say? Guess I'm just that good, Elizabeth." Meliodas huffed proudly then placed his chin on her shoulder and leaned his head into hers tenderly. Together they watched their son for a bit, entranced in such a tiny yet fierce creature. A little tiny snore emitted from the baby and both parents laughed quietly. "What do you think he'll be when he grows up?"
"Hm, hard to say. He could be anything he wants to with our full support. A Holy Knight, a king, an adventurer. Whatever he wishes to become, I will stand behind him and help guide his decision. All I pray is that he is happy and healthy." Elizabeth replied after a minute of thinking.
"Let's just hope he doesn't want to become a Sin," Meliodas replied so quietly that Elizabeth barely heard it despite the short distance between them.
"Why do you say that?"
"We're a group of people who have committed heinous crimes against Britannia, not exactly a great group of people to look up to. I don't want his hands sullied with the blood of our sins. It's best for him to not know."
"Meliodas," Elizabeth looked down at him with hint of concern. "You and the other Sins are more than just criminals. You are people who defend their home with pride and assist others who need help, no matter where they are. The past that has branded you sinners is no longer. Now you are heroes who helped end a war and take down a tyrant threatening to burn down everythin in his wake. Without you bringing the rest of them together, Liones may not even exist anymore."
"How am I supposed to tell him his father is a criminal with a killing record staining his hands?" Meliodas nearly whispered. His son would probably be disgusted with him forever and leave home to avoid the killer. It was his worst nightmare despite his child being a day old.
"That is up to you when the time comes. But know that your accomplishments that stemmed from that sin engraved upon your skin greatly outweighs your past. Letting go of your burdens is the first step to healing, Meliodas, but I feel he will be forgiving no matter what blood has stained your hands. Because I have already forgiven your sins from the moment we met."
The king looked up at his wife a bit stunned before cupping her face and kissing her lightly. He pulled back to rest his forehead against hers, for once relishing in the turmoil of emotions washing over him. Tears slipped down his cheeks and he let them. The heavy burden of carrying his sin was beginning to crack and crumble into little pieces. She was his everything and he thanked the stars above for the path fate decided for them. "Thank you, Elizabeth. For everything."
"Oh, I think Tristan needs to be changed now."
"I think I hear my name being called…"
"Meliodas…"
"Kidding, kidding!"
It's finally done! It took a long time, but I finally got the creativity back to finish it. Thank you for all of the support and patience! I'll be getting Curse of Kalstrom chapter 1 back up shortly too.