Amelia slowly descended the richly carpeted palace steps, into the large throne room. At the end of the long; winding staircase, her father was waiting for her.
“Amelia….” He began in a gruff, but good-natured tone of voice.
“Hey Amelia! Long time no see!” a familiar voice exclaimed from behind her.
Amelia turned around, looking for the source of the voice. A short-statured redhead wearing a sorceresses’ tunic stood there, grinning mischievously. Her glinting ruby eyes seemed to light up the hall.
“Lina-san!” Amelia breathed, mouth open in astonishment.
Next to Lina, Gourry stood; holding a somewhat messy cake and smiling sheepishly. The words “Happy Birthday” in icing were smeared and blurred, but she knew they held true meaning. Bringing up the rear was Xellos, the eternal smile stretched across his face. Her friends were just as she had remembered them….and they hadn’t forgotten her, even after all this time. Eyes shining with happiness, Amelia reached out to tightly enfold each one in a hug.
Letting her grip on Lina go, Amelia scanned the room nervously. Where was he..? She smiled a little as she saw Zelgadis standing discreetly behind the others, looking like he was hoping the floor would swallow him up. The Saillune princess started to approach him, but thought better of it. He might feel more comfortable talking to her later; Zelgadis just needed time to loosen up a bit.
“Here, Gourry-san! I’ll show you where to put the cake….” Amelia steered Gourry in the direction of the kitchen with a sunny smile, glancing back over her shoulder quickly to catch a glimpse of Zelgadis, still isolated. Gourry nodded, and went with the young princess. Xellos was suddenly missing.
“Ok, Zel. You can come out now” Lina teased playfully, elbowing the apprehensive chimera in the ribs.
“Leave me alone” replied the not amused Zelgadis, starting to turn on heel and walk away. But Lina roughly grabbing him by the shoulders stopped him in his tracks.
“Look, Zel..Let’s be honest here. I know how you feel about Amelia” Lina voiced, glaring at the very shocked chimera.p> “You…you. But….how?” Zelgadis managed to stutter, eyes widening in disbelief. Was it that obvious? Those fleeting glances at Amelia, when he thought no one was looking, the way he tried to always protect her. If Lina knew, then…. gods, what if they all knew?
“It doesn’t matter how I know! Stop being such a jerk!” Lina practically shouted at him, grabbing him by the collar of his cloak. Zelgadis just stared at her in total bewilderment. Suddenly the sorceress’ voice grew softer, more amiable as it only did for very few. Lina let go of him, backing away a little, as her expression grew almost disappointed.
“I’m just saying…that this might be your last chance to tell her…” Lina finished, turning to follow Amelia and Gourry. She noticed Zelgadis’ stunned expression, and winked briefly, walking off.
Zelgadis stood there for a moment, thinking Lina’s words over carefully. He knew that she was right, this could very well be his last opportunity to let Amelia know how he felt. Wait a minute…who was he kidding here? Amelia could never truly have feelings for him. She probably was only pretending to because she felt sorry for him. How could he have been so foolish..? No one could love a rock.
Zelgadis put his hood up over his head, contemplating that leaving right there and then would be more applicable than humiliating himself any further. It would be better this way…right? As he started for the palace door, Xellos phased in directly in front of him, blocking his escape route.
“Ne, Zel-kun…taking the easy way out? Amelia-san would be very unhappy” Xellos’ smile never wavered as he wagged a finger in front of the irritated chimera’s face. Zelgadis glowered at the trickster priest with a sharp glare that could melt ice. Xellos must have seen everything that had happened in the past few minutes.
“What do you want, Xellos? This isn’t your business” Zelgadis narrowed his eyes when he saw Xellos glance over to Amelia and Lina walking out of the palace kitchen, talking excitedly about something. Gourry lagged behind, looking somewhat bored.
“That is a secret! But, Lina-chan could be right, you know…” and with those words and his customary secretive smile, Xellos blurred and vanished, to reappear only when he saw fit. Zelgadis sighed quietly, and pulled his hood back down, turning to face the others. Lina said something to Amelia, he couldn’t tell what. Amelia smiled, nodded and turned to walk up the palace steps.
“Hey, Zel! You better get ready for the party!” Lina called over her shoulder, retreating to a different wing of the palace. Gourry reluctantly followed her. Zelgadis stayed behind, leaning against the cold stone wall. Alone with his thoughts again. This was it; he had to find out the truth tonight. He closed his eyes, wondering how to confront Amelia.
Several hours later, a party in the palace grand hall was in full swing. Amelia was standing near the immense double doors, greeting guests with a charming hostess’ smile and accepting gifts with a gracious nod. Prince Phillionel was in a deep conversation with some nobles about the importance of a new peace treaty. Lina and Gourry were near where a large buffet of food once was, ravenously waiting for the cooks to bring out more. Xellos was mingling with several other guests, and coming and going as he pleased. Zelgadis stood in front of a large marble pillar, quietly sipping a glass of punch.
Every few minutes, Zelgadis would raise his head slightly, glancing at Amelia. The young princess was wearing a flowing, gauzy pink gown that swirled around her lithe form with every step she took. Perched on her head was a golden tiara. The gemstones embedded in it matched her eye color perfectly. Amelia was the center of attention, and appeared to be enjoying it immensely. How could he get her alone? Maybe some fresh air would clear his head.
Out of the corner of her eye, Amelia spied Zelgadis walking out the French doors that led to the inner palace court. This was her chance..! She quickly shook the hand of another guest and inconspicuously slipped out of the party, unnoticed by all except for Lina. The sorceress paused in her eating to smile knowingly. Gourry blinked and followed her glance. Seeing nothing unusual, he turned back to the food--only to discover there was none left.
The pale impression of the moon shone off the waters of a small fountain in the center of the court. Some rare and beautiful foliage adorned it, flourishing in the night ether. To the sides, there were some statues of famous philosophers. Zelgadis seated himself on the edge of the fountain. Dipping a hand into the cool water, he shattered his faint reflection. A rustling noise coming from the bushes brought a hand to his sword hilt, but he relaxed slightly when he saw who it was.
Amelia gingerly sat down next to Zelgadis, taking care not to sit too close.
“Stargazing..?” she turned to the chimera, ignoring the lump in her throat and silently praying this was the right thing.
“Not really. You have to make a wish though, it’s your birthday” Zelgadis replied hastily, staring up at the deep blue midnight sky and the faint twinkling stars in it. This was probably the last time they would see each other. He would go off with the others again, and Amelia would stay behind and fall in love with someone worthwhile. It was just the way things would go. And yet….he didn’t want to leave her.
“Alright…” Amelia closed her eyes, wishing for the one thing she knew could never come true. About a minute passed, the young princess opened her eyes. Zelgadis had turned to her, looking slightly perplexed. She just watched him, the moonlight illuminating both their forms. This was the way she had always wanted it to be. If only this moment could last forever….
“What did you wish for..? It must have been important” Zelgadis noted, a hint of amusement in his voice. Amelia raised her blue eyes up to meet his own, and he moved back a little, face flushing slightly. What was she doing..?
“Courage. I wished..for courage” Amelia answered, moving a bit nearer to him. He blinked.
“Why that?” Zelgadis asked, in a slightly apprehensive tone of voice. In the deep blue pools that were Amelia’s eyes, he could see her soul reflected back to him. Unrequited love, barely smothered hope…and longing. But for what?
“To do this” Amelia rejoined, and wrapped her arms around his neck. Before a startled Zelgadis could utter a cry of surprise, Amelia was kissing him.
A few moments later, Zelgadis pulled back and looked at Amelia, gaze searching. It was true. She really loved him. A slow, but genuine smile spread across his face as he pulled her close.
“It looks like both our wishes came true tonight.”