A figure was lying in the grass. Out cold. A couple of Saillune palace guards had spotted him earlier on, but had decided to let that drunken stranger sleep off what ever he had been drinking. He would have a terrible headache in the morning and probably be stiff from lying on the cold hard ground. So justice would be served best, if they just left him there.
We are as clouds that veil the midnight moon;
How restlessly they speed, and gleam, and quiver
Streaking the darkness radiantly! – yet soon
Night closes round and they are lost forever;
Oh, no. Not again! Lina sat up in her bed, still dizzy from the many glasses of wine she had drunk at the wedding reception. She thumped the wall behind her.
"Hey, cut it out you two! Some people aren't going on a honeymoon tomorrow and need to catch some shuteye!"
The young sorceress banged her fist against the wall again, and the muffled sounds on the other side stopped.
"Thank-"
But on the far wall giggles could be heard.
*thump*
"Ow!"
Lina clutched her hand and glared into the darkness.
Why me? Why did I get the room between the two pairs of newlyweds?! “LIGHTNING!”
A brief yet bright light flared in front of her.
“Arrgh! My eyes!”
In a sour mood, Lina stood up to open the heavy curtains. After bumping against some furniture in the unfamiliar room she found the window. The full moon still high in the summer night lit the room enough for her to see. She glared out of the window trying to shut out the noises from the two bedrooms adjoining hers on either side.
Lina had clamped her hands over her ears. She had truly tried to be happy for her friends, though she still hadn't quite managed to get them to tell the whole story. All she remembered was charging those monsters. Then, after what must have been weeks or so, she had awakened in a hospital bed in Saillune. Apparently someone had placed her on the doorstep, together with a note and some money.
But the place of that fight was a long way away! It took us three weeks to get there in the first place! The young woman shook her head, trying to clear it from the fuzziness from the alcohol in her system. In the end she decided that it was a mystery probably best solved when she had a clear head. The others would be away on their honeymoon for a while so she would have enough time on her hands and it would occupy her in the mean time.
The others… they were so happy to see me alive and kicking. They had joined up just before Saillune… Amelia and Naga sisters, who'd have thought? Well, that'll teach our chimera to make promises! But they seem happy enough. Perfect matches the lot of them! I'll try and be happy for you guys! Her silent promise made her remember the last few days.
The others had involved her in everything, but still she felt like a gooseberry, especially when they went all mushy over each other. She had tried to enjoy going out with Naga and Amelia, choosing dresses and flowers. Well, in the end she had pretended that she was going to be a bride, too, and had tried on that lovely dress in the window of the seventh bridal shop.
That dress... Naga and Amelia had crooned when they saw her. It was lovely and she had felt so pretty. The silk bodice was encrusted with small pearls and diamonds, glittering like stars and the silken skirts had flowed sensually past her slender hips and legs. The shopkeeper had told her, he had bought it from a travelling salesman, who had been in dire need of money. He had never thought he'd find a woman, who would fit the slim cut. So he had put it in the window as an advertisement.
“It fits you as if it had been made just for you, Miss Lina!” Amelia had cried.
Lina had regretted the feeling, having to leave it behind. Even now she could remember how the dress had felt on her petite body.
Like a lovers caress... She sighed and almost lost her balance. But she caught herself just in time. The feeling of loss and loneliness crept upon her. A single tear dropped on the windowsill.
“Enough already. Stupid girl. Crying over a dress you'll never have the chance to wear!” she chided herself. Anger, yes, that would pull her out of this stupid train of thought.
This isn't like me - to be all weepy and depressed! She spent a few moments mentally whacking herself,then decided to take a short walk around the gardens to clear her dizzy head. She'd levitate down to the ground, so she'd not have to go past 'their' rooms. Quietly she slipped into her gear and climbed onto the sill, steadying herself with one hand on the frame.
“LEVITATION!” confidently she stepped out of the window – and dropped.
Or like forgotten lyres, whose dissonant strings
Give various response to each varying blast
To whose frail frame no second motion brings
One mood or modulation like the last.
“Don't drink and fly. Now I know what Naga had meant with that. A good thing it was only one story”, she muttered as she found herself on her butt after a somewhat sudden landing.
“Hmpf?”
The sorceress freaked as she realized, that the ground under her not only was soft and moved, but was pinching her delicate behind. She was up on her feet and backed against the wall within seconds, staring at the dark shadow she had landed on. The 'thing' shakily rose from the ground, dusted itself off and turned to face her. She tried to concentrate on an attack spell, but the alcohol was still blurring her senses.
“Now, now, Lina. How nice of you to drop in”, the shadow sneered.
“X-Xellos?” Lina managed to stammer, mind racing, “What are you doing in Saillune?”
“Sore wa himitsu desu”, the trickster priest giggled.
The sorceress tried to whack him over the head, but threw yet another dizzy spell. She stumbled into the Mazoku, who caught her by reflex.
“Sorry, I think I had a little too much to drink”, she straightened in his arms and tried to push herself away, but Xellos held her tight, still grinning.
“Let go of me!” she pummeled him until he relaxed his grip somewhat. Bonelessly she almost tumbled to the ground, only to be caught in his arms again.
“It seems to me, you are in need of a little helping hand, Lina. But tell me, what were you trying to do? The first floor isn't high enough for a suicide attempt”, he had tilted his head a little to one side as he mocked her.
“Just wanted to get some fresh air to clear my head”, Lina muttered quietly.
“Well, shall we go for a little walk?”
“As I don't think I'll be managing on my own. Yes.”
Lina walked silently beside the Mazoku, who had placed a steadying arm around her shoulders. He was humming a strange, almost haunting, yet melodious tune.
“Now, Xellos, what were you doing underneath my window. And don't you dare tell me that's a secret or I'll -“
“- Fireball me? That would be nice, but probably not very advisable in your current state of mind. But to tell the truth, I had intended to congratulate the newlyweds. Unfortunately the overflowing joy and happiness in the near vicinity was – well – somewhat overwhelming.”
An evil smile played over Lina's lips. He caught the expression and smiled back. She looked at him puzzled, and he grinned even wider.
“Lina, you forget, that I can sense your feelings, especially as we are so close. In fact, it was your anger that woke me, shortly before you fell on me.”
Why is he telling me this? Lina asked herself. It wasn't like Xellos to give her a straight answer, no matter what the threat.
And why do I believe him?! She shook her head gingerly still feeling the after-effects of the heavy red wine she had drunk. The weird feeling in the bottom of her guts, mysteriously magnified by the closeness of the Trickster.
"... You don't think so? I'd hate to think it would rain on their honeymoon", Xellos sounded surprised.
"Um, sorry, wasn't listening…" she tried to grin at him, but only managed a half-hearted smile.
"I was commenting on the fine weather, warm during the day and cooler at night time. Perfect for a romantic holiday. You know: Small talk", he squeezed her shoulder a little, still grinning like a maniac.
At this the world seemed to turn and Lina clutched at his shirt so as not to fall. She hated feeling so helpless. Fury burned in her eyes as she silently dared the fruitcake to comment.
"That's the spirit, Lina", was his simple reply, reading her anger easily, "Maybe it would be better if we sat down for a while. I'm not feeling too steady on my feet myself, with that overdose of love, laughter and happiness AND you jumping me from the first floor…"
"You - !" Lina started angrily. She stopped herself and looked into his smiling face only a few inches away from hers, the sheer bliss at her anger visible in his smile. After a couple of moments of silence, the Mazoku opened his eyes. His amethyst gaze met her fire-opal stare.
"Well, shall we sit and talk or not? There is bench not far from here," he asked quietly, guiding her in the right direction.
"That - may be a good idea", she finally answered, trying to ignore the queasy feeling in her guts.
We rest – a dream has power to poison sleep:
We rise – one wandering thought pollutes the day:
We feel, conceive or reason, laugh or weep;
Embrace fond woe, or cast our cares away:
The aforementioned bench was underneath an old magnolia tree in full bloom. Xellos had let go of Lina as they had sat down. Only then did she notice how warm his embrace had been - and how cold the stone beneath and the air around her were. She shivered involuntarily and glanced at Xellos who had tipped his head back to gaze into the stars through the branches of the ancient tree.
"So, Lina, do you really think it will rain?"
"What?!"
"I guess that means 'no'. Isn't Saillune pretty this time of year?"
"Xellos!"
"Is that a 'yes'? Never mind. So, what are you going to do while they're away?" he was still gazing into the night time sky ignoring
her fidgeting and angry looks.
What is he playing at? the sorceress asked herself startled Small talk and Xellos, somehow I can't imagine it... He's trying to keep me unbalanced... That must be it! He is playing with me, enjoying my confusion, anger and frustration! Her thoughts calmed a bit and she realized that the Priest was still waiting for an answer.
"Oh, um, I guess I'll spend some time in the libraries and go and hunt a few bandit gangs when I get bored", she tried to shrug but shivered instead. She shot a look at Xellos, "What about you? You got any plans you care to share the knowledge of? Or is the fact that your plans are a secret - a secret, too?"
He chuckled at that comment, righted himself and turned to face the sorceress. She was grinning, very much like the Trickster himself.
"Sore wa himitsu desu!" they said in unison and burst out laughing. Lina even had had the wink and finger down to par.
"Am I that predictable?" Xellos wailed in mock terror.
"That's about as secret as the secret - if it is a secret or not - to tell if your plans are a secret", Lina stated still gasping for breath.
"Then that's one hell of a secret!" Xellos overly exasperated outburst sent them into another round of laughing fits. Lina almost fell of the bench but Xellos managed to catch her again. He held her and noticed her shivering and pulled her closer to him. The redhead tried to protest but to no avail.
"You're cold. I'll warm you up in no time", he said simply, pulled her legs over his, so she was sitting on his lap and wrapped his cloak around the two of them. Lina soon gave up her struggles, being much weaker than the Mazoku. And it was nice and warm within the cocoon he had created around her. She cuddled up against his chest and listened to his heart softly beating. The Priest looked down at the trusting young woman in his arms. 'Listened' to her content and with a small sigh dropped his head to rest lightly in her red hair.
This must be similar to what Amelia feels when Zel holds her. Lina's thoughts had drifted back their earlier paths. It would be nice to have someone to hold you now and again. To give up the responsibility together with the control. Even Naga realized that, when Gourry proposed. I - I hope they'll be happy together…even - even if it means I have to go on alone.
She felt his face resting gently against her, his warm breath the only sound in her ears. Xellos' sigh expressed her feelings. She felt the tears inside her closed eyelids, welling up uncalled, too many to be contained. She wept silently against the Mazoku's chest. He tightened his arms protectively around her. A small gesture but it's meaning hit Lina like a sledgehammer.
He won't ask why Lina realized the world spinning madly around her. He'll never ask why. He knows what I feel and that is enough for him. He likes his secrets and won't press me to tell him any of mine.
She snuggled up against him, no longer weeping. Eyes closed to shut out the giddy feeling in the bottom of her guts. A second sledgehammer of realization hit her: It hadn't been the wine all along, had it?
Oh Xellos! She stretched slightly to place a kiss on his lips, so invitingly close.
"Lina, no!" the Mazoku's arms went limp around her and his head lolled back. Lina looked up, alarmed.
"Xellos? What's up? XELLOS!"
It is the same! – For be it joy or sorrow,
The path of its departure still is free:
Man's yesterday may ne'er be like his morrow;
Nought may endure but Mutability.
>'o'< the end >'o'<
By Cougaar (13th June 2001)