Chapter Three

Zelgadiss frowned at her as he pulled his facemask down to sip his coffee. "It's none of our business, Lina." He paused. "Why did you ask her that..?"
"Because before I went to bed, I thought I saw her with Xelloss."

^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Xelloss? Lina saw Medb with Xelloss? Zelgadiss frowned heavily at Lina, and in answer, he took another sip of coffee. After a few moments of silence, he finally spoke. "What would he want with Medb?" He remembered last night when Medb had asked, "What do ye want with me?". Perhaps she should ask that question of Xelloss.

"Who's Medb?"
Had he called her Medb? "Oh, same person as Gwin. She has two names."
"Oh. Well, to answer your question, I haven't quite figured that out yet, but there's something very strange about that girl. I just don't know.."
"Shh.. Here she comes!" Amelia whispered.

Medb approached them, followed by two men, each carrying at least two trays apiece. "All right.. 'ere ye are!" The food was placed onto the table. "Enjoy." She walked off, and Zelgadiss watched as Lina, Amelia, and Gourry pigged out on the food they were brought. Then he sighed as Lina and Gourry argued over a piece of sausage. Some people.. Sighing, he shook his head, and took a sip of his coffee.

~*~Z~*~

Later that day, Zelgadiss found himself following the path he had noted yesterday, curious as to where it led. Besides, he wanted to get away from the three. He had wanted to think ever since this morning when he found out Medb had supposedly seen with Xelloss so he could straighten up the details, but he had been tied up until he used the excuse that he needed to get some fresh air. Amelia had offered to go with him, and he sweat dropped at the idea, then politely declined her offer, saying he needed to think. So Amelia reluctantly stayed with Lina and Gourry.

He found himself studying his surroundings as he walked, not minding the muddy path. A gentle breeze blew through the treetop, rustling the leaves. Birds that had stayed behind for the winter chirped gleefully as they flew from one branch to another. A squirrel did some last minute gathering of nuts before the snow came, and it chattered at him as he past.

Ignoring it, he went on down the path and, looking down, sighed heavily. He was getting mud all over his boots. No matter, they were washable.

As he raised his head, he gasped. Before him lay a beautiful sight. A beach. And a lake! The most beautiful lake he had ever seen. It was a dark blue, and obviously very deep. A fish leaped out of the water and sailed back in, water flying behind it. The beach was empty of people, making it far more attractive to Zelgadiss. And if it had not rained, he would have gladly removed his boots and walked barefoot across the beach.

He crossed his arms across his chest and slowly made his way forward, his cloak flapping behind him, teased by a sudden gust of wind. His thoughts turned to the young barmaid whom, he had discovered by asking a few questions, was part elf. "The only elven person around for miles", he was told. He wasn't sure if her being part elf was very important, but what he did think was interesting is that she knew how to fight with a sword. "A little warrior" she was called. He found that surprising.

"What", he wondered aloud, "would a little elf warrior be doing serving drinks and such at an old inn?" No answer came to him as he strode across the lone beach. He would have to find out himself.

Another thing that plagued him still was her reaction towards him. "So, Zelgadiss. We meet at last.. Pray, tell me, what do ye want with me?" Her cold, scared words echoed in his head. Although she was drunk, he knew she had some wits about her.

"But", he thought, "maybe she misunderstood me. But.. wait.. No, she didn't. This morning she knew my name. 'Lord Greywers' she called me. And last night, she had said my name. Who are you Medb Morrigan? What is your true identity? WHY MUST YOU INVADE MY MIND SO????"

He stopped walking and turned to stare across the deep blue lake. But the only sound he heard was the waves licking upon the shore and the lonely cry the wind carried in its cold fingers.

~*~E~*~

Life used to be so simple for Medb before she met Rezo. She lived in a small house not far from the inn, and would make a daily visit to see her parents, who were buried in a small grove of trees not far from her home. Everyday she would practice fighting with the small sword that used to belong to her brother, who had left home when she was five.

She worked at the inn, and had a wonderful life, although no one ever courted her. But that did not matter to her. She was content. There was no need to rush things. Then she met Rezo, and her world turned upside down. Oh, not immediately, of course. It was about four or five months after that when the dreams started.

At first, they only occurred one or twice a week. "Beware of Zelgadiss Greywers', she was told. "He is your enemy."

Then they got worse. Every night the man appeared, harassing her relentlessly. But sometimes, the man's brow would furrow, and he looked so pained as he gave his warning in a choking voice, that Medb would wake up crying.

Sometime after the dreams came to her every night, Rezo returned. But this time, he came to her, not to the inn. When she had heard the knock on her door, and came running to answer- her hair braided loosely, clothed in an old dress she used for cleaning, and a smudge of dirt on her cheek- he had smiled down upon her with a look on his face that melted her heart.

As time passed, Rezo and her became good friends. Then their relationship grew. For her, the blind man with, she thought, a kind heart became a father/big brother to her. To him, she was something more.

Then Zelgadiss stumbled into her life unannounced save "Beware of Zelgadiss". She became angry and confused. Although she was stared of this man, he intrigued her deeply.

Taking a break from her duties, she stepped into her leather boots and placed her hooded cloak around her shoulders. Pulling her braid out from under the cloak, she stepped outside, knowing a breath of fresh air might do her some good. Absently she headed towards the lake, unknowingly going the same way Zelgadiss did.

As she walked down the muddy path, she bowed her head in thought, not seeing the lone figure that stood still on the beach staring out at the lake, his cloak blowing behind him. So intent on her thought was she that she did not see him until she collided into him.
"Medb! Are you all right?"
"Oww.. Zelgadiss?"
They stared at each other, both standing in complete silence until Medb's voice broke through. "Can we talk, Zelgadiss? About last night?"

~*~L~*~

Lina Inverse stood leaning against the wall of her room, staring out the only window in her room. Lina's room was much like Zel's was, nothing to really brag about. Her black cloak lay draped across one of the chairs, her sword leaned against the wall in its sheath, waiting patiently to be used. On the nightstand beside her bed was a small candle she had lit to fill her room with light.

Earlier, Amelia and Gourry had left her to her thoughts, which she was grateful for. She had much to ponder. Like Gwin, for example.

When she met Gwin, or Medb, yesterday, she immediately knew that there was something strange, almost different, about this girl. What really threw her off was when she happened to look into the open door of a room, and spied Xelloss holding Medb close, running a hand over her red braid. When Xelloss seen her, he clutched Medb closer, and offered Lina a wink. She had rushed toward her room after that, and spent half the night thinking.

Medb, she had noted, hadn't got much sleep last night. Obviously someone was keeping her awake last night. Xelloss? "But what would Xelloss possibly want with Medb? This doesn't make sense." She would just have to find that out on her own, and if she found out anything else, let the other know.

Xelloss was smart. If he were up to something, it would take a lot of patience to find out what it was. Lina did not like this. Not one bit.

Suddenly, a knock at her door brought Lina back to now, and she looked to the door, a frown forming on her lips. The knock came again, louder, more impatient. Gourry's voice reached her ears. "Lina? Lina, are you in there??"

"Come in Gourry.. It's open.."

The door of her room creaked open slowly, and Gourry entered, the Sword of Light sheathed at his side. He towered above Lina, a worried look in his blue eyes. Strands of his extremely long blonde hair fell into his eyes.

"What is it, Gourry?"
Gourry frowned slightly, his arms hanging limply at his side. "I've.. been thinking." He scratched the side of his head in a thoughtful manner, a serious look on his face. "Why.. does this Gwin person have two names? Is she trying to hide something? And this morning when you said you saw her with Xelloss.." Confused, he shook his head. "I just don't understand."

Lina sighed heavily as she watched Gourry, her thoughts on Medb. "Maybe I'll get some answers from her.. She's my best bet right now." She walked over to her cloak, and slipped it on. And, making sure her sword was sheathed at her side, she grabbed Gourry by his hair and pulled him out of her room. "Come on, Gourry. Let's go find Medb. I deserve some answers!"

~*~G~*~

Zelgadiss and Medb stood side by side on the beach, staring out across the dark lake. Their cloaks fluttered in the occasional gusts of wind that brushed past them as Medb shared her feeling with him. "Every night I 'ave the same dream. A.. man comes ta me, and 'e whispers things in me ear.. Givin' me a warning."

She paused to collect her thoughts, and Zelgadiss watched her out of the corner of his eyes. Strands of her fiery red hair came loose of the braid, and framed her lovely face, making her more beautiful than before. She rubbed her slender hands together, and he watched, trying to resist grabbing them, and holding them in his own stone hands. She took a deep breath, and let it out, her chest heaving. His face burned crimson, and he turned his gaze back to the lake.

"The.. reason I was scared of ye is because 'e.. told me.. to 'beware of Zelgadiss Greywers. 'e is your enemy.' " She puffed out her chest as she quoted the dream-giver, doing her best to imitate the man. Zelgadiss looked over, and blushed crimson once more, coughing. "Uhh.."
"Well.. that's what the man with purple 'air said ta me! I not be a lying!"

"A man with purple hair told you I was your enemy? Was his hair about.. here?" His icy blue eyes locked with her lively green ones, he sorta gestured with his hand to his shoulder. She nodded.

"Aye, 'twas! And.. 'e carried a long black staff that 'ad some kind of jewel at the top!"

Zelgadiss' hands clenched into fists. Xelloss. So, Xelloss WAS up to something. But what? And telling this beautiful girl that he was her enemy? Why, he'd never even seen the girl before yesterday! He could only think of about three reasons Xelloss would bother this girl: One, he could feed on the dark emotions the dreams gave her. Two, he would be able to upset Zelgadiss by giving the girl a bad image of him. And three, there must be something very important about this girl, or Xelloss wouldn't have bothered with toying with her emotions except for his own sick pleasures.

"How long have these dreams been occurring?"

"I am not for sure. All most a year, I believe."

"Ahh.." He slipped into his thoughts. Lina had said she saw her with Xelloss before she went to bed. Was that really Xelloss and/or Medb?