Slayers:  In Vino Veritas Page 5

    Lina woke to the sounds of townsfolk talking in the street.  Light streamed through the window.  Rolling over, she blinked at the window a moment, the stretched.  She felt a little sore.          Oh.
       In an instant she sat up, looking about the room.  She was alone, her clothes still tossed on the floor, but there was no sign of Zelgadis.  The events of the night before made her flush, particularly when she saw the open wine bottle on the dresser.
       It was no dream, she thought.  Oh, gods, don't let him be gone.  Don't let him regret, or be upset, or call it a mistake.  Please, please, please......
       She jumped up and threw on her clothes.  Glancing back at the bed, she noticed a few spots of blood on the sheets.  For a second she was confused, then realized what it was from.  SHe stared a minute longer, nervously wondering what would happen now, when there came a knock on the door.
      Clearing her throat, she called, "Who is it?"
      "It's me.... Zelgadis."
      Oh, please, gods, please!  Please make him happy about this.  Out loud, Lina called, "Uh, come it."
      Zelgadis entered the room.  He was bathed and dressed.  He was also blushing.  They looked at each other a moment, then he dropped his eyes.
      "Lina,"  he began, "I ..... if you want to ignore ... er.... go ahead and fireball me if you're mad...."
       "Zel," she said sadly, "Are you sorry about last night?"
       He glanced at her face, then said, "I understand if you'd rather pretend it never happened.  Um..... I AM sorry....."
        Lina bit her lip.  "Do YOU wish it never happened?"
        "NO!" he denied quickly.  Then he groaned.  "Please, Lina, don't torture me.  Just tell me, are we..... are you...."
        "I love you,"  Lina whispered.  "I have for a long time, and now more than ever."
       Zelgadis's face changed in a way she'd never seen before.  He smiled, a wide, genuinely happy smile.  Kneeling, he produced from under his cloak a beautiful single lavender rose.  Taking it, smiling hugely herself, Lina noticed that the rose had no thorns.  No thorns for them ever again.

FINIT

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