Next Morning
Morning finds the two travelers heading to the small town of Amberhill.
"Hey, Gourry, I need you to stay close to me for the next couple of days." Lina looked up at her best friend as they were walking, hoping that she caught him in a not too stupid moment.
"What can you still cast?" Her prayers were answered.
"A light spell, and maybe a really weak fireball if I had to."
"Ok, at least you won't be too defenseless. Just stay close to me ok?"
"Sure." Lina tried to hide a yawn.
"Lina, you look really tired. I know that you didn't get much sleep last night. Between that and you not feeling well, why don't you let me carry you before you collapse?" Gourry's voice was full of concern for the petite girl at his left side.
"No, I'm fine. Trust me." Lina gave him a tired smile and yawned again. Gourry just sighed and shrugged his shoulders as he continued walking.
After about ten minutes of walking, Gourry heard a soft thump as Lina collapsed on the ground.
Silently, Gourry picked her up, and began walking to the town. After an hour of walking they reached the town. Once inside, Gourry scanned the town, and went to the first Inn he saw.
"Can I hep you sir?" The man behind the counter asked Gourry this in a hushed voice as he saw the sleeping girl in his arms.
"We need a room for a week." Gourry shifted the still sleeping Lina in his arms and got out he gold pieces needed to pay the rent.
"You have a really pretty wife there, sir."
"She's not my wife, she's my best friend."
"Well, she still is pretty all the same."
"That she is. Thank you. Oh, and can you have some food sent up later?"
"Sure thing, sir." Gourry carried Lina up to the room and placed her on the bed.
Making sure that the room was secure, Gourry left the room, and walked back into the lobby.
He approached the front desk and got the directions to the nearest apothecary, but before he could leave through the front door he heard Lina screaming.
"Zel, NOOOO!!! Come back! I am so sorry! Don't leave me. Please forgive me!" Gourry took out his swords he bounded up the stairs to their room. The sight that greeted him was Lina curled up in the middle of the bed, crying in her sleep. After sheathing his sword he gently shook her awake.
"Come on, Lina, wake up."
"Gourry!" Lina threw her arms around Gourry when she woke up.
"What happened?"
"I had that dream again, but it ended differently this time. He told me it was all my fault that he was dead, and that he would never forgive me." Lina started to cry fresh years all over again.
That isn't the Zelgadis that we know. It was just a bad dream." Gourry held her to his chest and rubbed her back until her body slowly stopped shaking.
"Come on. Let's go wash your face, and go downstairs to get something to eat. Ok. It's my treat." Gourry was hoping to make her smile, but instead it made her cry harder. Mentally he kicked himself or his slipup about taking her out to dinner.
"I'm sorry, Lina. I forgot."
"I.....I'll be Hiccup Ok. Hiccup Trust sniff me." Lina gave him a watery smile that broke his heart.
The rest of the night passed without incident as Lina and Gourry headed toward their room. As usual Lina slept on the bed, and Gourry slept on the floor at the foot of her bed.
The two slept through the night, no dreams or intruders to invade their slumber. Little did they know of the things they would have to face the next day.
Early the next morning........