Forgotten King: Chapter 10
Sorry if there are some spelling/grammatical errors in this. I AM NOT AN ENGLISH MAJOR!!!!
* Italics mean a person's thoughts
Lina awoke the next morning in Zel's arms. She smiled sweetly at the man she loved as she snuggled closer to him. So this is what happiness is like, she mused to herself. Soon a thought crossed her mind and she was soon pressing her head into Zel's shoulder.
Zel cracked an eye when he felt Lina's head press against his shoulder and her body shaking somewhat. "Dear, what's wrong," he asked with concern.
Lina laid there for a few moments allowing the sobs rack her body. She then looked up to Zel, tears ran down her face as they continued to flow, and said, "It......It's just.......my family is still stuck under Hellmaster's control. I might never get to see them again."
Zel wiped away a tear from Lina's cheek and caressed her hair whispering, "Lina it's going to be ok. It's going to be all right. I'll find a way to free your family."
Lina placed her head back on Zel's shoulders. She wrapped her arms around him in a loving embrace and whispered back, "Thank you Zel."
After Lina released him, Zel stood up and looked down at Lina, "You stay here and rest. I will be back in a while."
"Where are you going," Lina asked with anxiety written in her tone.
"I have some planning to do," was Zel's simple answer as he shut the door behind him.
In the astral plane a figure was watching. He was smiling about the whole ordeal, Yes, this is how I wanted it to go. My plans are almost complete. I will restore them to what they deserve. He watched as Zelgadis walked towards the castle armory and was very pleased. He soon phased out to meet with his partners in crime.
Xellos and Zelas where going over section expenses when Vladimir phased in. "Well Vladimir, what do we owe for your presence here today," Xellos asked in a joking tone.
"I'm not here to chat Xellos. Our Forgotten King is ready to move."
"What?!?!? You mean Zelgadis is going to be coming into the capital," Zelas' eyes almost bugged out as the information was revealed.
"Yes, as we speak he is preparing to take on Hellmaster. It would be good to have your best men, including Xellos, ready to aid him as soon as he reaches the capital."
"My, your in a rush," Xellos absently commented.
"Listen, if the peasants see the true king the will most likely rally around him. They want a change of lifestyle and he is the answer. If you show your loyal to the crown then the people will love you for it. And, I'm sure Zelgadis will reward you, my dear, if you show support to him."
Zelas turned to look at Vladimir and batted her eyes saying, "Seems you have had this planned out for a while, haven't you?"
"This was part of my plan," Vladimir replied as he took a glass of wine from the table.
"Well then why have you done this, and why are you helping us? Last I checked the Knight of Shabarnigdo's job description had nothing to do with things like this," Xellos asked with a seriousness that he only showed when performing his duties.
Zelas blinked twice at Xellos then asked, "He's the Knight of Shabarnigdo? Xellos," Zelas somewhat growled at her second in command.
"Yes,....yes master," Xellos sweatdropped as he backed away a bit.
Zelas took a step forward with a feral smile on her face, "Oh Xellos dear, when where you going to give me this little bit of need to know information?!?!"
"I'm sorry master, I just got caught up in the middle of this and forgot to tell you," Xellos put up a hand in defense.
Zelas stopped and looked at Xellos then smiled normally, "I'll let you off the hook this time, BUT DON'T EVER DO THAT AGAIN!!"
Xellos picked himself up off the floor a few moments later, "Well, like I was asking, why are you doing this? I have had enough of your secrets."
Vladimir rested his elbow on the table and took off his mask with the other hand. "I think this will answer your questions."
Both Xellos and Zelas went bugged eyed as they viewed the face behind the mask. "You.....You look like....," Zelas was silenced by Vladimir's finger on her lips.
"Now you know, so keep it secret will you," Vladimir asked.
Zelas nodded and turned toward Xellos, "Xellos gather a group of my best fighters."
"Yes master," Xellos replied as he turned towards the door.
"Oh, and Xellos get my whip and sword ready," called Zelas from the table.
Xellos facefaultered and recovered asking, "What!?!? Master you not thinking of....," he was soon silenced by the look Zelas was giving him.
"Well looks like you will be showing your support a little more directly then I thought. I have some business I need to attend to," and with that Vladimir phased out.
Zelas looked at where Vladimir had been and thought, I've been wanting to take a crack at Hellmaster for the longest time. But, this is about something more than a grudge. Zelgadis, I hope you know what your doing. Zelas turned toward her map of the capital and planned where to meet the king when he came.
Zelgadis marched down the halls of the old castle. He was moving like in a trance, a trance of anger and rage. He had finally found happiness, finally found what he had been searching for all these years, and it was still shrouded in misery. I will kill Hellmaster with my own two hands if that's what it takes to make Lina happy.
He went down an old, long deserted hallway. He made it to the end of the hall, cobwebs trailing behind him and all. He dusted himself off when he realized what a mess he was and opened the door. The room was totally devoid of light, impossible for even Zelgadis himself to see. He cast a small flare arrow onto a torch and looked into the room. Inside where mounds and mounds of weapons and armor. "Ah yes, the old armory. Now all I need is the old book and we shall be ready to head out."
Zelgadis rummaged through the room looking for one object. One object that seemed to be missing. He searched for what felt like hours and had still not found it. He was about to give up when he caught sight of an old trunk he had not searched. While berating himself mentally, he opened the trunk to find what he had been looking for. He pulled out an old book from the trunk and dusted it off. Though it was ages old it look brand new when the dust was cleared. Zelgadis smirked as he headed back towards the main hall, Now to awake them.
Lina had wondered out of her room after waiting for an hour on Zelgadis to return. She walked into the main hall to see Gourry standing by the door, like he was on guard or something. "What are you doing Gourry," Lina asked.
"Oh, hi Lina. Glad to see your better. What am I doing? I'm standing guard that is my job," Gourry responded dumbly.
"Guarding from what though? No one ever comes to this castle," Lina said slightly exasperated at the swordsmen.
Gourry put he finger on his mouth and began to think. About ten minutes later he slammed his fist into the palm of his other hand and said, "Yes people do come to this castle and I have proof."
"Like what," Lina asked with an amused smile on her face.
"Well, you came here, so what is stopping anyone else."
Lina glared at Gourry evilly. So he's not a total nimrod it seems. "Well Gourry I'm just going to look for Zel, see ya."
Right as she turned around she saw Sylphiel smiling at her warmly. "Hey Sylphiel," Lina called out, "Do you know where Zel went?"
Sylphiel walked up to the sorceress and said, "Hi Miss Lina, glad your feeling better. No I haven't seen Zelgadis."
Lina let out a sigh and said, "Well there goes hope of finding him easily."
"Finding who easily," Zel asked from the top of the stairs leading into the main hall.
All three looked up to see Zel in a breastplate with his sword by his side and a book in his hand. "Um....Zel what are you doing," Lina asked a bit concerned.
"We're going to see your family Lina," Zel replied, in a tone of seriousness that meant he meant business, as he opened the book and flipped through it.
Lina looked up to Zelgadis and almost screamed, in fear of what he might do in this state, "What do you plan on doing with that?"
Zelgadis didn't hear, he thumbed through and found what he was looking for. He began the spell and soon all in the hall heard the incantation. "Long dead soldiers of days past rise again and serve me. I summon you from the abyss of time. Here my call and become one with my will. Let your souls become one with my army and let it live once again!"
The room was filled with a bright flash. Everyone, including Zelgadis, had to shield their eyes from the light. Lina shielded her eyes wondering what in the world Zel was doing. A second later she heard what sounded like metal moving. It came from both sides of the hall and it was the sound of metal scrapping together. When she opened her eyes she was shocked to see the suits of armor that were in the hall had come to life. She looked up the stairs to see Zelgadis coming down with a smile on his face. As he approached her she asked, "How did you do that," while almost instantaneously jumping into his arms.
"Well, let's just say father taught me about a few family secrets before he died," Zel answered and pulled Lina into an embrace.
Lina looked into Zel's eyes and saw how determined he was. She snuggled into his chest and said, "Zel, I am touched with what you are doing for me, but you don't need to fight Hellmaster."
Zel breathed in Lina's scent as she came closer and then cupped her chin, tilting her head up towards his. "If I don't then you will be miserable, and I can't stand that."
Lina looked into Zel's eyes and couldn't help but tear up, "But, I can't shake this feeling that we don't know everything about Hellmaster. I'm afraid that you might get hurt or...or....," Lina couldn't bring herself to say it.
Zel looked down at Lina and wiped away a tear as it made its way down her face. "Don't worry, I won't let that happen," Zel then kissed Lina gently on the lips.
Lina kissed Zel back as some of the fear in her heart began to wash away. She still had worries, but there was something about Zel that seemed to make them seem trivial and unimportant. Soon, they broke off and Lina looked at Zel, "I'm coming with you."
"You don't need to put yourself in that kind of trouble," Zel started but was cut off.
"Listen here, I can take care of myself, and you might need some of my magic," Lina said with a look daring Zel to contradict her.
"It you insist then there isn't much I can do about it," Zel said jokingly as he smiled down at her.
"No you can't," Lina replied teasingly, "and I like it that way."
Zel turned to Gourry and Sylphiel, "We will need your help as well. Sylphiel your healing and protection magic will be a good help. Gourry your ancestors served my family for generation and I am now asking you to continue the line."
"We're with you Zelgadis," they replied in unison, ready to help their king in anyway.
"Now come on, we have a little brat's party to crash," Lina said with a mischievous grin plastered on her face.
"FORWARD MARCH," Zel cried out and the armor started to march along with the group towards the capital.
Disclaimer: Any characters or ideas from The Slayers do not belong to me. I am not selling this material, just writing for the heck of it as I go.
Feedback is requested, please send all comments to [email protected]