(Age 17)
Beth is a year older than Elizabeth, so it was ten years since Zaratras's death.
[Words: 4481]
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Chapter 4:
Reunions
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I yawned sleepily, curling up into Melly's warmth more as he crept through the abandoned castle hallways. Most had yet to even rouse at suck time, only the maids readying for the day and late-night patrolling guards. Melly had come into my room to wake me up to show me something.
Another yawn escaped, and I rubbed my eyes, just a bit grumpy at having had my sleep interrupted, but I was also genuinely curious about whatever it was he wanted to show me.
He opened a door and I shivered at the immediately chilly breeze that hit us. It helped to wake me up and I lifted my head from his shoulder as we stepped out onto a balcony high up in the castle.
"What want to show me?" I questioned.
Melly smiled. "You'll see in a few minutes."
Three minutes later, I got to witness the sunrise for the first time since arriving in this world—and it was one of the most beautiful things I had seen right up beside Meliodas.
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"Please open the door!"
I jumped at the loud banging, worrying my bottom lip and tightened my grip on the throne's armchair as Father coughed harshly into his fist.
"There's nowhere left to run!"
Dad rested a hand on my arm and it brought my eyes back to him. "Elizabeth, you must go."
"Can't you come with?" I begged even though I knew it was useless.
"I will be fine."
"But—"
"Hurry, before the Holy Knights get through. You know what you need to do, and I have utmost faith in you, my child," Father interrupted, his voice firm but gentle all at once. I ground my jaw back and forth, I really didn't want to leave him but… the banging stopped, and then sparks began flickering. Gilthunder.
Seeing the change, I panicked and stood, rushing over to the servants' passage behind the banner. I pushed it open and slipped in, closing it behind me. I listened with my heart in my throat as the main door finally gave way. I backed away as I heard Gil's voice.
I picked the front of my dress up and hurried along. If I moved quickly enough, I could get to a back and secluded exit from the kingdom. Veronica and I had discovered it years prior when we had gone exploring. Thank the stars for that.
Once I shoved the stiff stone door open, with only a slight struggle, I heard the sound of a horse. I waited for a moment before moving again. I peered around the corner and spotted just who I needed.
I rushed forward. "Howzer!" I called in a hushed tone. He turned to me, face filling with relief.
"I got a random horse. I thought getting Lula would be too obvious," he explained as I began to unstrap the skirt portion of my dress. I had made it removable for this very purpose.
"B-Beth?!" He sputtered, face turning red. Poor Howzer. "What are you—?"
"A dress will only slow me down." I shrugged and climbed onto the pale-coated horse. I teased: "Plus I'm wearing trousers underneath."
He sighed heavily with a shake of his head. "I've got to get back, be safe alright? Don't make me blow my cover and come find you."
I grasped his hand that rested on the stirrup, holding it tightly with both of mine. I smiled, ignoring the burning in my eyes. "Thank you, Howzer. I'll repay you someday."
"I'm your friend," he stressed. "Repay me by keeping safe, got it?"
I smiled and kicked the horse into a canter.
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Hawk, a short and plumpy pig that could astonishingly talk, was currently grumbling and angrily kicking the dirt below his hoofs. "I don't know why I even put up with the guy!"
There had been another incident that evening which ultimately resulted in the tavern owner of the Boar Hat insulting and threatening the pig with cooking him. (It was a common occurrence and unfortunately, at this point, one of them should have probably gotten a hint and stopped antagonising the other, even if unintentionally). Thankfully, the Boar Hat had closed for the night, and he had eaten his delicious scraps, so he didn't have to worry about going back any time soon for them!
But Hawk continued to grumble about his blond companion when he reached the riverbank nearby. He paused for a moment in confusion when his nose caught the smell of something coppery which was odd because there wasn't anything around to make that sort of smell—it certainly hadn't smelt like this when he was here earlier in the day. With his curiously spiked, Hawk, snout brushing along the ground, began to follow the smell until he finally discovered just what was causing it.
His eyes widened, a squawk escaping in his shock, and he rushed forward to the unconscious girl that lay on the riverbank.
"Miss?!" He called. It was a stupid attempt to get her to wake up, and knowing he wasn't going to be able to do anything himself, Hawk began rushing back towards the Boar Hat with speed that kicked up dirt.
He burst through the door, surprising Meliodas who was finishing up the cleaning for the night. Meliodas blinked.
"Porky," he deadpanned. "What's the matter this time?"
"There's an unconscious girl at the riverbank!" He grabbed a piece of the blond's trousers in his mouth, tugging him towards the door. "I think she's hurt!"
Meliodas dropped the cloth, and jogged out the door, following after Hawk. The duo skidded down the embankment, and Meliodas's nose picked up the lingering smell of blood and he was hit with—familiar.
His demonic side reared its head angrily as he realised just who it was at that riverbank.
Elizabeth.
His Beth
It took a lot of his strength to hold back the growl that rumbled in his chest wanting to escape. How dare—when he got his hands on the bastards that had hurt her—
He dropped to his knees beside her, hands hesitant to touch, unsure about what type of injuries she bore and if turning her would worsen them. Eventually, he rolled her over to reveal a long but shallow abrasion on her hip and small nicks on her skin. He let out a breath he hadn't realised he had been holding and napped her bag, throwing it over his shoulder before lifting her.
She hung limply in his grip, head rolling to rest against his shoulder, but she was breathing, and that was all that mattered to him in that instant.
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"I wonder what happened," Hawk questioned as he watched Meliodas work to clean and bandage her thankfully minor flesh wounds. She was sleeping peacefully despite the almost wet breathing from inhaling water, which was all they could ask for at that moment.
Meliodas hadn't spoken a word since they had recused her. He broke his silence with: "I think she was attacked."
His voice was tight, and Hawk shifted at the tone, not having heard it from the blond before.
If… if Hawk were more confident in his emotional identifying, he would say Meliodas's tone was… angry, dark, a controlled fury. He never heard that tone before, especially from the blond. It left an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"Who'd attack her then?" Hawk mused, trying to push those thoughts (and uneasy feelings) aside. She seemed pretty harmless, minus the bow she had on her person, but she didn't have a quiver full of arrows—maybe she had lost it?
"We'll just have to ask her when she wakes up, won't we?" Meliodas smiled over his shoulder at Hawk, starkly contrasting the serious look from moments before.
"Imma head to bed then," Hawk hummed and began for the door, then paused when he suddenly thought of Meliodas being alone with this woman. He gave the blonde a look. "Don't even think of doing anything to her!"
He scampered off, leaving the demon by himself to watch over the unconscious Beth.
Meliodas snorted at Hawk's words. That pig, honestly. With an exhale, he swerved back to Elizabeth. He shifted; his blood sang for revenge because how dare they lay a hand on what's his. His, his, his—
Beth stirring brought Meliodas back, the Hellblaze that had begun to creep along his skin retracted, and he let out a heavy breath to centre himself.
(Not again. He refused to loose control like that again.)
He crept forward, wondering if she was waking up.
A dazed blue eye blinked open—curiously, she wore an eyepatch over the other—and exhaustion was evident in her features. Her brows furrowed in confusion, then her eye widened, and she jolted upwards.
Meliodas jumped forward, hands landing on her shoulder. "It's okay." She jerked away from him, and a strangled noise escaped. "You're safe." His grip tightened but in a reassuring way.
She fought against his grip for a few more moments, seemingly out of pure bodily reaction, before she settled, muscles tense.
She blinked up at him. Meliodas could tell she wasn't very coherent, her exhaustion getting the better of her. "Huh? Wha—?"
"You're safe," he soothed again, gently pushing her back onto the mattress.
She squirmed under his grip, eye searching the dimly light room, evidently looking for something familiar to her, but when she didn't find anything, her single blue eye returned to him. She frowned again, this time in confusion. "I—I, I—"
"Just rest." Meliodas pulled the cover over her. "We'll talk in the morning, okay?"
She made a sleepy hum from the back of her throat as she settled, falling back to sleep. Meliodas sighed and drew back. His brows became pinched, however, as his eyes landed on her eye patch again. His fingers twitched, a hand reaching to pull it up, but he paused just shy of touching it.
No, he shook his head and stepped back. He would ask her about it instead of prying without her consent—but that didn't mean it didn't leave him wondering if there was a specific reason to cover that eye.
He pulled the curtains shut and blew the candles out before leaving the room, the door closing with a soft click.
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I was comfortable.
That was all I really knew as I came too. I was covered with a soft duvet and the mattress was plush. But with heavy, crusty lids, I forced my eyes open as I became increasingly aware of the uncomfortable feeling of my injuries.
A brown wooden ceiling with exposed green support beams was the first thing I saw. There was a flash of familiarity, but I couldn't place it. The walls were a yellowy cream with the wall beams the same green. Pale pink curtains were covered the window.
I squinted lightly—I couldn't place why this room seemed so familiar.
I shoved that away for now as I pushed myself into a sitting position. I took that chance to glance around properly. It was a nice room but had to be a master room, instead of a guest.
I sighed and slipped my legs over the side of the bed. The last thing I could remember was some Holy Knights chasing me. I had to abandon the horse only a week into my journey; it was too much of a risk, and so I continued on foot. But I had been caught off guard, and I'd run, only to jump into a river of rapids to escape. I couldn't remember anything after that, so I guess I'd passed out…
I was seriously lucky to be alive. I could have—should have—drowned. I must have washed ashore at an embankment during a slow-moving part of the river. But that brought the questions of: where was I? Who had found me? Was I in any further danger?
My bag sat on a chair placed beside the bed. It had been placed there purposefully. The way it was sitting practically screamed it. I reached forward, pulling the bag onto my lap to search through it. I wasn't missing anything and thankfully my sketchbook was not a complete wreck despite the swim I'd taken.
A completely logical explanation for that, I'm sure, I mused in amusement but dumped my bag on the bed as I stood. I sway, suddenly light-headed. I sat back down again. Perhaps I had just stood a bit too quickly…
I worked up the courage to stand again. This time, the light-headedness was nowhere near as bad, and I took deep breaths as I shuffled for the green door. I opened it and peered down the curved, not quite a spiral, staircase. It was the middle floor by the looks of it.
Why was this so familiar?
I heard movement from downstairs, along with voices that were muffled because of the distance. It took me a moment to gather both the physical and mental strength to descend the stairs. I took it slowly, both hands on the railing, and my heart began racing with my nerves.
When I reached the bottom step, I stopped short to listen to the talking. I instantly recognised Hawk's voice, even after sixteen years. The feminine tone and his speech pattern were something I had always found adorable.
Meliodas answered Hawk's question about me and when I would wake up, and I shimmed backwards until my ankles hit the bottom step; he must know that I was awake, despite answering that he didn't know, but was choosing to wait for me to make my appearance at my own pace.
I clutched my elbows as the situation finally hit me. Oh, stars.
Suddenly, I found it hard to breathe, an invisible hand clasping my throat, and I felt my body tremble like I was nothing more than an observer in my own body.
A panic attack, I realised numbly.
I heard my blood pound in my ears and for a moment, I thought my heart was going to burst from my ribcage.
My knees trembled but I didn't have a chance to hit the ground because I was caught. At the back of my mind, I knew it was Meliodas, but the front didn't come to the same realisation. It didn't matter because I clutched his shirt like it was a lifeline and buried my face into his shoulder.
I was hit with the smell of wheat and—I grasped onto that thought, using it to ground myself, I needed to focus. He smelt of fresh wheat—maybe ale, but it was a light smell, likely because of his occupation. There was something I couldn't place despite how much I tried to think and think and think and think—
"Wha—happening?"
"She's hav—panic attack—be quiet."
It was like I was submerged beneath water.
I nearly jolted when a hand ran through my hair. It was a familiar sensation—Mel had always done that when I was younger. I craved that feeling, the familiarity, of his fingers running through my hair.
I took a breath, trying to take a deep one in an attempt to slow my erratic heartbeat. I clenched and unclenched my fists repeatedly.
I choked on a breath, and Meliodas shifted slightly, his other hand moving down from my shoulder to my shoulder blade.
I bowed my head, finally myself again, despite how drained I was feeling after my panic attack. "M'sorry."
"Hey, no need to apologise." Mel patted my head.
I pulled back; his grip lingered slightly before he dropped his hands. I glanced over his shoulder into the tavern before looking back at his face. "Where am I?"
Meliodas smiled, sitting back on his heels, arms resting on his knees before the look turned to concern. "You're in the Boar Hat, and I'm the owner of this place. We found you unconscious at the riverbank last night. What happened? How'd you end up like that?"
I grimaced; however, before I could say a word, there was a loud banging on the door. I froze.
"Open up! We, the Order of the Beard of the Mountain Cat, serve under the Holy Knights and are stationed at the mountain's base! We're in search of a wanted woman! All buildings in the area must be searched!"
A faint "Oh no" escaped before I could stop it.
"Guess that explains it," Meliodas hummed.
"Have you got a back door?" I asked meekly.
He blinked. "Yes, it's in the kitchen."
I stood, ignoring the light-headedness this time and stumbled for the kitchen door. "Sorry for the inconvenience."
"Hold on a second." He grabbed my arm, righting me before I could walk into a counter and I stopped, turning to meet his eyes again. "I'll try and distract them while you sneak out back, okay?"
It was my turn to blink. "Are—Are you sure?"
He nodded.
"Hey!" Another voice shouted this time. "Open up!"
Meliodas released my arm, and I loped into the kitchen and opened the door, just as I heard Meliodas open the main door.
"You bellowed?"
I stifled a giggle, but I peered around just as the first guy spoke again, angrily this time. Mel and Hawk bantered something offensive between themselves and he'd not taken it lightly.
But it was also my chance. I dropped off the wooden patio and tried (key word being tried) to sneak into the woods but I was caught almost immediately.
"Allioni! A woman ran out the back!"
Damnit.
I heard them give chase, but because of my head start, I was able to keep a distance. I leapt over a log, then skidded under a root that went through a dried-up river. My training really came in handy.
I heard a commotion behind me.
But just as I reached the tree line, I was snatched up. I yelped, the scenery becoming a blur of motion and I was suddenly up in a tree in Meliodas's arms—where he promptly groped my breast. He gave a satisfied nod, and I felt my cheeks burn red. I squeaked again, crossing my arms in an attempt to stop him. He just grinned at me; I gave him a deadpan.
"Thanks," I said shortly. I need to try and remember the times he might grope me.
"I'm telling you, lady, feel free to punch him." Hawk glared up at Meliodas.
It was then I realised the knights had been dealt with.
Seeing that the issue was resolved, I promptly flicked Meliodas's nose. He just grinned again.
I probably just egged him on, but funnily enough, if this turned into a game, I would very much enjoy playing it.
Meliodas stood and jumped down. My stomach twirled at the sensation of falling.
He set me on my feet, and I finally got the chance to see our height difference. There wasn't all that much. Oddly enough, I was nothing more than a thumb length taller. Huh.
"So why are you a wanted woman anyway?" Hawk asked.
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "Well you see, I'm actually the Third Princess of Liones."
"Ehhh?!" Hawk gapped up at me, and I bit back a smile at his bewilderment.
"Then you're a runaway?" Meliodas tilted his head, brows furrowing.
"Not really, but kind of?" I offered. I had no idea what I was technically classed as. I crossed my arms and clutched my elbows as I put on a more serious face. "You see, the Holy Knights are attempting to start a Holy War. They've even gone as far as to lock my Father and older sister up."
"I thought the king was sick?" Hawk questioned.
"They used my Father's sickness as the linchpin." I pursed my lips. "I don't know what they're trying to accomplish by starting a war," Lies. "But they're conscripting people from the kingdom and surrounding villages, making preparations slowly but surely. Their reach will probably extend out here soon."
"Seriously?"
"That's rough," Meliodas commented apathetically.
I snorted, amused at the lack of reaction as Hawk chastised him for his tone. "You never take anything seriously!"
"But what are you trying to accomplish by running? What's your plan?"
"Eh." I tilted my head and gave him a deadpan look. "I was looking for you, Meliodas."
His eyes flashed wide with his surprise and something else that I couldn't name. "Wait, you recognised me? Why didn't you say something before?"
"Well, I didn't really have a ch—ah!"
The cliff gave way and then we were falling. I couldn't stop the startled shout that escaped. Oddly enough the descent felt slow compared to Melodias's movements.
"Oh, give me a break!" Hawk yelled.
I spotted Meliodas oh-so-casually falling from the corner of my eye, and I bit back the snort of laughter.
But then I hit a piece of earth and flailed a bit in surprise before I felt an arm around my waist. My vision became a blur of motion once more.
"I've gotcha," Mel grunted as he landed feet first. Instinctively, my arms grasped his shoulders, my fingers clenching at his shirt. Meliodas moved again, grabbing Hawk and the semi-conscious Allioni. He leapt out of the way of the falling debris and then launched us up into the air and up the cliff face.
It was a weird feeling, moving so fast—kind of like bungee jumping, almost feeling like your insides are weightless.
Then we were back up top, and I sucked in a breath, feeling my heart pound in both exhilaration and nervousness.
"You there!" Whatever his name was—I couldn't actually remember, he was a minor character that died quickly after all. "How dare you lot survive without my leave!—"
I gave a strangled noise in disbelief. I felt the breath of an airy chuckle against my cheek from Meliodas.
"—I shan't revise my death tally conclusion!"
"Nobody asked you to conclude anything!" Hawk shouted in return.
"Hey, you okay, Beth?"
I blinked. "Yea—yeah?"
"When I give the signal, run towards the forest. Got that?"
I mutely nodded as Meliodas set me back on my feet. I turned back to the knight just in time to see his eyes widen and then move forward. I felt my stomach plummet.
"Fate is smiling upon me today! The crest on that earring is that of the royal family. Meaning that you… in conclusion, are Princess Elizabeth!"
I meekly stepped back, clutching my elbows again.
"So you really are a Princess?!" Hawk squeaked. I ignored him, feeling the blood drain from my face, and focused on the approaching Holy Knight.
"An official decree has been issued to locate you. The order was to capture you alive, but if you died in an accident, that would be regrettable but unavoidable."
Shit.
"Run!"
I moved, rushing for the treeline, listening to Hawk and Meliodas behind me.
"Conclusion! Accidental death!"
I threw myself to the ground and felt a weight settle over my body. At the same time, I felt the use of magic.
I clenched my eyes shut, listening to the loud sound of falling trees and rustling leaves. There was a huff above me, and I twisted my head to look up at Meliodas as I felt his hair brushed against my face.
I blinked as I met his eyes.
"Are you okay?" I rasped, eyeing the rips in his clothing. I spotted his signature red dragon tattoo.
He gave a jerky nod. "Completely fine."
I let out a breath I hadn't realised I had been holding.
You okay, Hawk?" Meliodas turned his gaze away, and I followed his sight to Hawk, who had a rather big splinter in his back. "Ah, looks like it."
Hawk gave the best deadpan look a pig could give. "I'm a pork-on-a-stick! You call this okay?!" He burst into tears and ran off. "Mummy!"
"A pig? Well, no matter…"
I pushed myself onto my knees and watched as the Holy Knight approached, raising his sword then—
I curled inwards, tensing as I felt his magic—a weak spicy smell (I wasn't sure how to describe my weird ability to feel magic) that I could taste on my tongue—filled the air only for it to be overtaken by another. My breath caught as it was tinted with the smell of wheat and—pomegranate? (That was it! That was the other piece of Meliodas's scent!) and there was a strong gust of wind that sent my hair flying wildly.
I opened my eyes as the guy was sent stumbling back.
"How can this be?" He snarled in confusion. "I'm certain I struck you! But I was the one to—What is that?!" His open monologue was weird. "A sword with a broken blade?"
I stood, clutching my elbows again—an old habit of mine.
"Hold on, your face seems familiar." He drew back in shock, only for the look to turn horrified. "But if you are—how can you look the exact same as you did—?!"
Meliodas dropped into position. "So, have you figured out who I am?"
"I-It can't be!" The look of horror grew even worse, if possible. He drew his own sword back. "It truly is you!" and swung his sword down, only for Meliodas to swipe his broken one.
I smelt wheat and pomegranate again, far stronger than before that I could taste it this time and watched as Meliodas performed Full Counter.
I turned away, shielding my face from the explosion. I listened to the scream, the sound getting quieter the further he flew.
"Seven Deadly Sins, Wrath Sin: Meliodas," Meliodas commented quietly to the man no longer standing before us.
My heart pounded.
Meliodas put his sword away and peered back at me. "All good? No other injuries?" He moved closer; a worried furrow of his brow appeared.
I waved my hands. "I—I'm completely fine."
Just a bit breathless in awe, I added silently.
Meliodas hummed. "I guess you wanted my help with finding out what the Holy Knights are up to, right?"
I nodded and he smiled, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Guess we better find the other Sins then. More than one is always better, especially since I've been wanting to find them anyway." He wiggled his brows, a grin stretching across his face. "And what's better than a girl to help draw in customers and intel?"
"…As long as I can make my own outfit." I squinted at him. "I don't trust you to give me something normal."
He grinned wider and I deadpanned.
His laugh made me realise just how much I missed him. I felt rather breathless again.