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Conclusion
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Title: Conclusion
Author: Gemini
Summary: Everything he had ever wanted, everything she had hoped for.
Rating: NC-17 [Lemon, M/F]
Pairing: Zelgadis/Amelia
Feedback: Sure. Advise me.
Spoilers: Not really.
Disclaimer: The Slayers series is property of: (c)1989-2003 Hajime Kanzaka / Rui
Araizumi / Kadokawa Shoten / TV TOKYO / SOFTX / Marubeni. I do not make any
profit from this fan work.
This was one of the first fanfics I ever wrote, way back in 1999. I wrote it for
my best friend Moonspark who was then and is still now an unabashed Zel and
Amelia love puppy. What IS it with her and the whole gloomy/genki dyanmic? She
worships at the altar of Aoshi and Misao, as well. Oh well. It's not a bad
story. Actually, it won second place in an Amelia/Zel fanfic contest, so I know
it isn't bad at all. I have edited it, though, for flow and for one fuzzy
disgustingly WAFFY moment that damn near killed me, so I had to smite it. Enjoy!
-Gem
Zelgadis was human again. That was the only thought that coursed through his
mind for the next few days. No matter what he was doing, eating, sleeping,
walking, the same mantra went through his head. I’m human, I’m human,
I’m human!
After all these years of hoping, searching, praying, he had found his cure. A
small sorcerer’s guild buried in the wilderness where Rezo had first learnt
magic, a dusty old journal and a miracle. And now he was human again. He had
lost most of his magical ability with his demonic body, but he could still cast
a few basic spells. This time, he was determined to become powerful by training
and earn back all the magic that he had lost along with his stone skin. When his
euphoria had worn off and he stopped running his fingers through his hair and
touching his face, another thought came into his head. Amelia. It was
sudden and a little surprising, how the princess had come into his thoughts. Of
course, she had always been somewhere in his mind, but he had been too
preoccupied with his curse to pay it much attention. But now...now he had the
time and the inclanation to wonder about her.
It had been three years since he had left the justice-loving princess,
and their companions, Lina and Gourry in Seyruun and had gone off on his own.
They had been reluctant to let him go, but he had been adamant. This was
something he had to do on his own. And he had done it, he was human again.
Zelgadis strolled through yet another small, anonymous village and paused at a
full rain barrel to look at his reflection. The face that looked back at him
could be bruised and broken and was very vulnerable. He smiled and poked at his
reflection with his finger, causing ripples to break up his face. He
straightened up, realizing that people had been staring. But, they hadn't been
staring at him because of his appearance, no, they were all just wondering why a
handsome young swordsman would pause to look at himself in a water barrel. Must
be vain, they supposed. He grinned widely at them and continued on his way, his
hair blown by the breeze, his uncovered face free to take in the sunshine. He
hadn’t been this light hearted in years, he actually whistled. He whistled!
Although he was hungry, he didn’t stop in the village. Seyruun was still about
four days away and he wanted to get there as quickly as possible.
Everyday he thought of Amelia. He wondered what she looked like now, if she had
changed. A nagging thought in the back of his head wondered if she had waited
for him. He never actually proposed, nor had he ever really shown his feelings
for her, but he hoped she had stayed true to her stubborn nature and waited for
him to return. She had forced him to promise that, giving him one of her magical
wristbands as insurance before he had left. Zelgadis prayed that she had waited
for him. He knew she wasn’t shallow, but she was a princess, and, because of
her sister's abandonment, she was the only heir to the throne. He was aware of
the fact that there was probably tremendous pressure for her to marry and
produce heirs. Children. Yet another reason why he had not wanted to be with her
when he was a chimera. He was horrified at the thought that any of his children
might be born as chimeras, if he could have had children at all.
Children, with Amelia? I have progressed, haven’t I? Four or five years ago
I would have fainted at the thought. He chuckled to himself. But now,
the hope that he and Amelia could be together was one that he cherished close to
his heart.
He was now two days away from Seyruun and he thought he might burst before he
got there. The closer he got, the more anxiety twisted in his gut, the more
doubt set in. He wondered if he was doing the right thing, if she would still
feel anything for him. Three years was a long time, after all. He scowled and
pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind. Amelia wasn't like that. She
wouldn't just give up on him, on them.
He was passing a small inn, decorated with a sign of a dragon breathing fire,
when he became aware of what sounded like a fight coming from inside. There were
loud, angry voices and one of them sounded awfully familiar. He paused and
cocked his head, listening to the voice, wondering if he could possibly be
right. He was just about to make up his mind when a solid wooden chair flew
through the window with a crash and beamed him on the head. For possibly the
first time ever, he wished he was still a chimera. The chair that normally would
have broken on impact with his head, smacked into him and knocked him
unconscious.
“Is he awake yet?” a familiar voice swam into his head. Zelgadis groaned and
raised his hand to his head to feel the large bump that throbbed pullyully.
“I think he's about to be.” A man's voice responded. "Do me a favor
Lina and take it easy, will you? We can't afford to keep replacing
windows." Zelgadis’ head jerked up and his eyes snapped open
Did he say Lina? he thought. A blonde blur hovered over him. He rubbed
his eyes and focused. “Gourry? Is that you?” The blur shifted into the
smiling face of the former Swordsman of Light.
“Glad to see Lina didn't kill you.” Gourry said, patting Zelgadis’ hand.
Lina was hovering at the end of the bed, looking vastly relieved. “Well, thank
Ceified. I was afraid I had killed you! How ironic would that have been, facing
down Shabranigdo and Dark Star, and then finally becoming human only to be taken
out by a chair." She smiled at her quip.
Zelgadis grinned and forgot his pain for the moment. He wanted to show off.
Spreading his arms out, he asked “What do you think?”
Gourry chuckled. "It's great, obviously."
Lina nodded vigorously. "Of course. What kind of spell was it? A
hybrid?" Her eyes shown with curiosity. Lina was always eager to learn
anything having to do with magic.
Zel was about to answer when he saw something gleaming on Lina's finger. It
looked like a ring. Wide-eyed, he pointed to her hand. "Is that...did
you...?"
Lina blushed slightly. "Yeah. We did. About a year and a half ago."
For some reason, the idea of Lina being married struck Zelgadis as slightly
shocking. He had gotten used to the idea of Lina and Gourry together, but
marriage for him involved settling down and he could never see Lina do that.
“You actually got her to marry you? She actually walked down the aisle
in a dress and said the vows and everything?” he asked Gourry. Lina scowled.
"I'm right here, you know!" She protested, giving them both an evil
look.
“Yup. Amelia picked out the dress and pretty much planned the whole thing. ”
Said Gourry, confirming that yes, Lina Inverse had not only worn a dress, but
she had done it in front of a room of people. That was only slightly more
surprising than the idea that she had actually grown up enough to admit her
feelings for Gourry. Zelgadis was momentarily stunned. He just kept looking from
Lina to Gourry and back again.
“What?” asked Lina, starting to look a little grumpy. Gourry just laughed
good naturedly and took the bowl that held some cool water and the cloth he had
been mopping Zel’s forehead with.
“I need to get downstairs, I think I left the door unlocked. Plus, I need to
patch up the window. Lina, I really wish you would stop doing that, especially
in your condition and all.” He walked towards the door, kissing Lina’s cheek
as he passed her. It was then that Zelgadis noticed something else. Lina was
pregnant. VERY pregnant. His head was about to explode. Everything was changing
so fast. First he was human and now Lina and Gourry were married and expecting a
child. Briefly he wondered if he had wandered into some bizarre parallel
universe, or maybe he was dreaming. He would wake up and not only would he still
be a chimera, but Lina and Gourry would be back to their old selves and fighting
over chicken or something stupid that Gourry had said.
Lina waddled over to him and carefully lowered herself into a nearby chair.
“Ugh. I really hate this sometimes. I feel like I just ate a twenty course
meal and had seconds.” She rested her hands on her belly and studied Zelgadis
with her sharp eyes, taking in every bit of his new appearance. “So how does
it feel? I mean, to be human again.” She asked.
Zel momentarily forgot his shock and ran his hands through his hair, wincing at
the pain as he brushed past the lump. Lina blushed a little.
“Heh heh, sorry about that. I’ve been having really crazy mood swings
lately and this guy called me fat and I just, well, lost control.” She said,
slightly embarassed.
Zel smiled. “I take it he’s a crispy critter right now?” he asked.
Lina looked thoughtful and patted her belly. “Actually, I can’t use magic.
It’s really strange. I can cast some really low level spells, but that’s
it.”
“Huh. I guess that makes sense…I mean, if you take into account what
happens when it’s 'that time of the month' it’s not too shocking that you
would lose your powers during pregnancy.” Zel replied.
“Anyway,” said Lina, “tell me how it feels to be human again.”
Zel smiled. “It’s the most wonderful feeling, I can’t describe it.” He
wanted to ask her about Amelia, but was afraid of what she’d tell him. So, he
asked her a different question. “So where am I, anyway? An inn?” Lina sat up
a little and looked proud.
“It’s our inn, Gourry’s and mine. We own it.” She said, sweeping her arm
around the room.
“Really?” asked Zelgadis. This night was definitely going down on his list
of nights where nothing but weird things happened, along with the night when
Noonza got drunk and that time when he met those transvestite dwarves.
Lina nodded. “It was a wedding present, from Amelia and Prince Phil.” Amelia
again.
Zel felt his heart beat faster at the mention of her name. “So, how is
Amelia?” he asked carefully.
Lina, of course, didn’t miss a thing. “I take it you’re on your way
to Seyruun to see her.” She said.
Zel blushed a little and looked down at the bed sheets, where his hands were
nervously picking at a stray thread. Looking up at the red head, he nodded.
Lina folded her hands across her belly and looked smug. “And to think, you
were teasing me and Gourry about having a clue? Ha ha.”
Zel turned a little redder, but looked at Lina seriously. "Is she...I
mean...will she..."
“Not married, not engaged and most probably dying to see you.” Lina answered
with a smile. Zelgadis gave a little sigh of relief and laid back into his
pillows.
The next morning he was off on horse borrowed from Lina and Gourry. He waved to
them as he rode away and they both waved back energetically.
“Invite us to the wedding!” Lina called out. When he was no longer in sight,
they turned and went back into the inn.
“Hey, Lina, do you think it will work out?” Gourry asked.
"Of course, jellyfish brains!” She replied with an arched eyebrow, but
her words were more like endearments than insults, they both knew that.
Gourry smiled at his glowing wife. Bending down, he kissed her big belly.
He straightened up and kissed her forehead.
“Good. Now, I have to go clean the kitchen and then I have to go to town and
get some s fos for the window.” Lina nodded and kissed him back. She watched
Gourry as he walked into the kitchen and patted her belly absently before going
back into the dining room to see about straightening it up.
Amelia, for some reason, was jittery. Something was going to happen, she could
feel it in her bones. She couldn’t sit still, flitting from one end of the
palace to another, nothing holding her attention for too long. She wandeintointo
the library where her father was reading, listlessly picked up a book, thumbed
through it, put it down and began pacing the room.
“Amelia, what ever is the matter?” asked Prince Phil, concern for his
daughter in his voice.
“Oh, Daddy, I don17;t17;t know. I just feel like something is going to
happen and I can’t sit still.” She replied, chewing her bottom lip.
Phil looked at his daughter and thought for the millionth time that she
looked so much like her mother. She had grown so much, not just physically, but
mentally as well in the past three years. He was still surprised at how she
would calmly voice her opinion about something or how she would argue
philosophical matters with his priests. She was a woman now and that upset him.
Four times, much to his relief, she had turned down marriage proposals. He just
couldn’t stomach the thought of his little girl married. Oh, he knew he was
being unreasonable and that, if anything, he should be pushing her to get
married. She was the next in line for the throne and there was always a question
of heirs. His advisors had told him again and again, “Princess Amelia needs to
find a husband. She needs to produce an heir.” But he hadn’t wanted to hear
it. Now, as he looked at her, he got the strangest feeling that he was about to
lose his little girl.
When Zelgadis saw the outer walls of Seyruun, his heart swelled. The flags of
the royal family were flying, indicating that they were in residence. She was
near, he could feel it. He trotted into the city, and he was, as always, amazed
by it. It teemed with people going about their daily activities, talking and
laughing and living. He still felt slightly apart from them, a residual effect
from his days as a chimera, when he would skulk about in the shadows, trying not
to be seen. But, as he dismounted his horse and tied it to a conveniently
located hitching post, he couldn't help but feel energized by the city's life
force.
He followed the familiar streets towards where the palace sat, looming over the
city like a guardian diety He reached the main gate and the palace guards
immediately blocked his way and demanded his business. Zelgadis reached into his
travel pack and produced a package with a letter attached. “Could you give
this to Her Royal Highness, Princess Amelia? It is a very important message from
an old friend. I’ll wait here for her response.”
The guard eyed the package and Zelgadis for a long moment before deciding
it was okay. He summoned a foot soldier and gave him orders to deliver the
package to the princess. “And tell her he’s waiting at the main gate for her
response.” He said and dismissed the soldier.
Zelgadis, for his part, was more nervous than he had ever been in his entire
life. He felt a bead a sweat trickle down his forehead and he swiped at it with
slightly shaky hands.
Amelia was on her thirtieth lap in the library when there was a slight tap on
the door and a soldier entered.
“Yes?” asked Prince Phil, rising from his seat.
"I have a message for Her Royal Highness, Princess Amelia." The guard
replied, bowing. “The gentleman who sent this is waiting at the main
gate for your response, my lady.”
Amelia’s shaking hands reached out and accepted the package. She opened the
box first and felt tears come into her eyes. It was her wristband with the
talisman on it that she had given to Zelgadis before he left. She opened the
note and read the words written on it in the precise handwriting she knew so
well. “I thought I should return this to you.” The note said. Amelia felt
like she was going to explode, just fly to pieces. Instead, she turned and ran
out the door.
Amelia pounded down the stairs, her heart soaring, tears flowing down her face.
He was here, he was finally here! She burst out of the main doors, startling the
guards and nearly falling on her face. But she regained her balance and flew to
the main gate, her dress billowing behind her.
Zelgadis saw her coming and she took his breath away. She was taller, her hair
was longer, too. She looked graceful, even when she almost fell on her face as
she rushed out the door. Amelia shouted to the guards to open the gates. Neither
of them heard the loud groan of the hinges as the gates opened, nor did they
hear the clatter and bustle of the busy city around them. They only heard and
saw one thing: each other.
He’s human! Amelia thought as she rushed towards him. He looked so
handsome, standing behind the gate with hands clenched at his sides and a
slightly nervous expression on his face. He took a step forward and another and
another and soon he and Amelia were rushing towards each other. Amelia reached
him and nearly knocked him over with the force of her embrace. He regained his
balance and wrapped his arms around her slender waist, burying his head in her
hair.
“Amelia.” He whispered. Finally. She smelled like roses and for
a moment, he just enjoyed the feeling of her silky hair against his chin. But he
had to see her, look at her, so he gently pushed her away.
Holding her at arms length, he studied her. Her big blue eyes were wet with
tears that trickled down her cheek. He gently wiped them away with his thumb,
enjoying the sensation of her skin. She was beautiful. While he was away, she
had grown into a woman. “Amelia, you take my breath away.” He told her. She
smiled up at him.
“Zelgadis…you, you’re human.” This time, she was the one doing the
studying. She ran her hands over his face and through his hair, which no longer
was made of wire. “You’re wonderful. But I always thought that.”
Zelgadis smiled, a wide, wonderful smile, and, with the palace guards and the
whole city of Seyruun looking on, he kissed her.
They were married in a simple ceremony a little more than a month later. They
would have liked to marry sooner, but Lina had her baby not long after they were
reunited, so they waited until she was well enough to travel. Zelgadis and
Amelia were eager to see the child, and maybe just a little curious about it. It
was, after all, the child of Lina Inverse, Bandit Killer, Dragon Spooker, enemy
of all living things and Gourry Gabriev, Swordsman of Light.
Little Lara Gabriev won everyone’s hearts. She had inherited her father’s
good humor and Lina’s red hair. Gourry was absolutely enthralled with the
child and at only a few weeks old, she had him wrapped around her tiny finger.
She slept in her mother’s arms during the ceremony and played with her
father’s hair during the small dinner afterwards. Amelia smiled at the baby
and played with her, while entertaining visions of motherhood and the children
she and Zelgadis would have. Zelgadis surprised everyone when he asked if he
could hold the child. He cradled her in his arms and smiled a little. He was
happy, but he still didn't feel quite right, there was something unresolved.
Zelgadis pushed the thought to the back of his mind. He gave the sleeping child
back to her mother and went to find Amelia. She was talking to her father.
Zelgadis walked up to them and bowed to Prince Phil, who bowed back. He then
grabbed his new wife around the waist and led her to the dance floor, where they
waltzed in perfect time.
It was getting late and almost everyone had left. Lina and Gourry had taken
their baby and gone to sleep in one of the palace guestrooms. Zelgadis was
sitting at a table, one hand absently stirring a drink, the other arm supporting
the tired head of Amelia.
“Zel?” Amelia asked, her voice slightly nervous.
“Yeah?” he replied, looking down at her.
“I’m kind of tired. I guess, um, well, we should go to bed.” She
blushed bright red. Zelgadis chuckled and kissed Amelia on the forehead.
“I suppose we should.” They got up and said their good nights to everyone
that was still there, ignoring the sly looks some of the people gave them.
Amelia led the way to her bedroom that they would now share. She walked a little
faster than Zelgadis, blushing and nervous. He kept a leisurely pace behind her,
amused and a little pleased at her nervousness. He thought it was cute. Amelia
hesitated at the doors of her room, turning around to see if Zel was behind her.
He was standing at her elbow, a small smile quirked on his lips. As much as she
had dreamed of this moment, she had no idea what to expect and had little to go
on, just a few whispered conversations with servants and once, with Lina, who
had been almost as embarrassed as she was. She hesitated a little more, her hand
making a move to open the door when Zelgadis swept her up in his arms and kicked
open the door. She squealed at his sudden action. He smiled and stepped over the
threshold, kicking the door shut with his foot before depositing her on her
feet. He leaned on the heavy wood door frame, grinning wickedly. “Well
here we are.” He said. Amelia stood in front of him, looking embarrassed and
unsure and maybe a little scared. His heart melted at the sight of her, standing
in front of him, scared and trying not to show it. He held his hand out to her
and she took it, allowing herself to be drawn into the warmth of his embrace.
“We don’t have to do anything tonight, if you don’t want to.” Zel
murmured into hair.air. Amelia gave Zel a squeeze, she felt like she was going
to cry. He would wait if she wanted. That was all she needed. Amelia unwrapped
herself from his arms and caressed his face. She drew him down to her and they
kissed for a long time. Finally, Zel pulled away and looked Amelia in the eye.
“Are you sure?” he asked. Amelia answered by kissing him again, this time,
running her hands across his muscular chest. She helped him shrug out of his
jacket and then her small hands eagerly unbuttoned his shirt. Zel sighed into
her mouth and savored the feel of her hands on his skin. It had been a very long
time since he had been with a woman, since before Rezo had turned him into a
chimera and he had forgotten what it felt like to hold someone so close and to
feel their heartbeat.
Amelia broke their kiss and shyly looked at Zelgadis. Gods, he was handsome. She
thought. Handsome and smart and kind and perfect and all hers. She didn’t care
if he was a chimera or a human, she loved him and that was that. “What?”
Zelgadis looked down at his brand new wife with a slightly amused look on his
face.
Amelia smiled at him. “I love you.” She said. “I always have. I never
cared what you looked like, to me you were always perfect.”
Zel kissed her sweetly, silently thanking her for being as wonderful as she was
and for loving him. He broke off the kiss and picked Amelia up again, this time
taking her to their bed. He gently laid her down, as if she was made of glass.
“I love you, too.” He said and kissed her passionately.
That night, Zelgadis had what started out as a bad dream. Rezo was turning him
into a chimera again, the old nightmare was back. But, suddenly, the nightmare
vanished and Zel found himself standing in the place where he, Lina and Gourry
had battled Shabranigdo and won, with Rezo’s help. He heard the familiar
jingle of a staff and turned around to see Rezo standing behind him, looking at
him with opened eyes. “You?” Zelgadis asked, startled.
Rezo bowed his head, his expression pained. “Zelgadis, please, forgive me for
all that I did. I cannot rest until you do, and you will never have
peace.”
Zelgadis did something he never thought he would, he forgave the man who
had very nearly ruined his life. “I forgive you. Rest peacefully, Rezo.”
Rezo smiled and faded away, leaving Zelgadis alone on the clearing. He was free,
free of any hatred or misgiving. Free of all the pain and humiliation and anger.
Completely free. Zelgadis stirred and woke up. He looked down at the head that
was resting on his chest. Amelia slept peacefully, stirring a little when
Zelgadis stroked her dark hair. He smiled and closed his eyes. He had no more
bad dreams that night.
Oh ho ho! Want to know what happened between the kissing and the bad
dream? Well, now you can! Read my first and only lemon! Conclusion: Zel and
Amelia's Wedding Night...the next chapter!
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