The bath was well built and deep. He spotted the door to the sauna, but instrad of going in there, he opened the door to allow the steam to fill the whole room. Quickly stripping, he dropped his clothes by the bench and stepped into the water. It was murky, not form filth, but from oils and herbs added to it, making the water fragrant and relaxing. He found the submerged bench and sat, rotating his shoulders back and forth to loosen them. The warmth of the tub, the steam and the scents of the herbs and oils combined to make the room dim and inviting. Maybe he could just sit back and enjoy it. He leaned back and closed his eyes.
Lina checked again to make sure the blankets were tucked tight around the princess's sleeping form. Gourry had already retreated to his room. Since they were theonly quests at the inn tonight, they each had their own room. Lina thought it a bit odd to find an inn so deep into the forest, away from all other civilization. When they found it, they didn't think to question their luck, and Lina certainly wasn't about to start asking questions now. That wasn't like her, but she was too relieved to bother. Amelia could still be very ill. Lina hoped that a good night's sleep would do the trick. Quietly leaving the room, she carefully shut the door behind her.
Lina felt a little guilty. It had been at her insistence that they had traveled so far north, into these deep forests, to hunt down the bandit gang. And then, to find that they had a relatively decent sorcerer on staff! When he'd shot off that powerful Burst Rondo, she'd taken to the air, assuming that the others followed. She thought that Zel would have Ray Winged the others away as well. She'd been horrified to realize that he'd cast Protection instead. Lina hadn't known that Amelia was down and couldn't be moved. For one terrifying moment, she'd thought she was seeing her friends die. But Zel's power kept them safe. After Lina killed the enemy sorcerer, Zel had even found the strength to heal Amelia!
That Zelgadis was amazing, she thought. He was so dedicated to his friends. She remembered Zolf and Rodimus, the two men who had sworn loyalty to Zel, and then been killed by Shaburnigdo. She went into her room and stared at herself in the mirror. Zelgadis had used almost every ounce of his power to save Gourry and Amelia. Lina suddenly found herself wondering if she'd do the same. Sure, she'd allowed herself to be possessed by L-sama in order to save Gourry, and then Gourry had saved her, but...... she suddenly felt that despite that one time, she'd never exerted herself in the protection of her friends. She neer let them know that she worried about them sometimes. She never told them what they meant to her. Amelia, so perky and bold, even against the worst odds. Gourry, simple and warm and true. Gourry even seemed to love Lina. What did I ever do to deserve that? Lina wondered. And Zelgadis, determined and driven and quiet. Sure he got frustrated with her, and never hid that, but he'd challenged Gaav to protect her. If only Zel would realize that this transformation meant nothing to those who cared about him.
Disgusted with herself and conscious of her own faults, Lina lost all interest in sleep. Idly thinking whe could scrounge more of that good bread, she padded down the stairs and hall to the main room of the inn. The fire still roared in the fireplace, and the innkeeper's wife was cutting more bread, filling a wooden bowl with thick slices. Lina gave her a smile and sat down.
Sliding the bowl across the table, the wife asked, "Aren't you tired?"
"Totally beat, but I can't sleep." Lina wolfed down a slice of bread, and watched the wife cut another loaf. Her movements were graceful and sure, cutting perfectly even pieces in a single stroke of the knife. The wife saw her watching and smiled.
"Jam?" A pot of preserves and a spreader sat on the table near Lina's elbow. "I'll get more tea." As she walked, she seemed almost regal. The movements were as sure and smooth as cutting the bread had been. She almost seemed taller than before, but Lina ssumed that it was an illusion, since Lina was seated, looking up at her. The wife poured a steaming cup of tea and set it down on the table. "You seem troubled, dear. Whatever is the matter?"
Lina sighed. "I'm worried, I guess. It was my idea to come out here, and if Zelgadis hadn't seen your light, I don't know what would have happened to Amelia."
The wife smiled. "Well, now, Princess Amelia will be fine. Disaster averted. It is indeed fortunate that young Zelgadis saw us. He seemed very concerned about the princess."
Now, why does that bother me? thought Lina. "Yeah, well, he's awful protective of her, even though he acts like her worship of him drives him crazy."
"Does it now?" Maybe it's just that he doesn't regard her as she does him."
"Yeah," Lina agreed. She thought a moment, and said, "Zel doesn't say much though. He's very sensitive about.... well, I guess you noticed that he's... um..."
"A chimera?"
"....!" Lina's jaw dropped.
"Dear, I'm pretty observant. Anyway, it's not like he's a Mazoku. He's just human. It's clear when you look at him that he's had it rough."
"Yeah, he's always looking for a cure, but never finds one."
"And you help him?"
Lina stared at her hands. "We searched for the Clair Bible. And found it. But only I got to see it. And there were other pressing matters, so I clear forgot to ask how to cure Zel."
"And now you feel guilty about that omission."
"Yes!" Lina stared into the fire. "I guess I'm realizing that I'm not the friend I claim to be. I mean, Amelia would never have forgotten to ask..."
"What about the big fellow?"
"Gourry? Gourry says he's my protector, but recently I've been thinking about him alot."
"Are you in love with him?"
"NO! I mean, um..."
"You don't know."
Lina looked directly at the wife. Her face was so kind and trustworthy. Lina was reminded of Auntie Aqua, how her wisdom had helped. Lina rested her chin in her hand. "I thought I knew. I risked my life for Gourry. And I would have died, but he saved me. I guess that's a pretty powerful bond, and yet...."
"What?"
"Well, he's an idiot! I mean, he never remembers anything, and he makes the dumbest comments sometimes, and I just get so MAD at him! I don't think I could be in love with someone who's such a yogurt-head. It's terrible after all we've been through, but that's it. And I feel like I'm a rotten person because of it."
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