Zelgadis sighed as he put down another book. Lina had heard that there was a cure to chimera forms in the massive library of Rufell as well as numerous books on magic and various things. So naturally the whole slayers crew were dragged there. Well the library did have a lot of books on many different things; only most of it was in ancient languages. Zelgadis' cure was probably there; only he couldn't read a damned thing. Well I guess this would explain why the librarian was snickering when I told him what I was looking for... Even though Zelgadis could find barely anything he could read, that didn't stop him from looking. He stayed in the library searching through for hours before he gave up. Amelia and Gourry had long since left, and Xellos had disappeared before they even reached Rufell. It was only Lina and Zelgadis left in the library. After he gave up Zelgadis decided to head over and see what Lina was up to and whether or not she had found anything. He found Lina at one of the tables looking through a very old and tattered up book with a contented grin on her face.
"Hey Lina did you find anything?" Zelgadis said in a whisper trying not to annoy the library staff.
"Well not exactly..."
"What's that you got there?"
Lina just looked up him and smiled. Her eyes darted back to the book and she handed it to him. From examining the book Zelgadis could see that it was very old and had seen better days. The cover was a faded dyed green suede leather and in black ink, two words were printed on the front. Zelgadis squinted his eyes so that he could read the cover title a little better since it was very faded. Much to his surprise it was from a type of elfin text.
"It says 'Aria's Dream' on the cover." Lina said after Zelgadis had been staring at it for a while.
"You can read this?"
"Oh yeah. I'd expect you would be able to too."
"I can read some elf, but there are many different dialects of it. I'm actually a little surprised that you can read this one. I have never seen it before."
"Well it's an old dialect from the northern Eldorwood grove, one that a few of my ancestors knew quite well."
"Some of your family history is with elves?"
"Some of my family is elf. My great-great-grandmother was an elf named Celesta. It's kinda ironic, this is the only book I have been able to find using this dialect and it's my great-great-grandmother's favorite fairy tale."
"It's a fairy tale? A little large for one don't you think?"
"Who says that a fairy tale has to be short?"
"What's it about?"
"Well this story is my favorite too. It's about - " Lina was cut off when one of the library staff was giving them a dirty look for talking too much in the library.
"How about you and I head out of here and you can tell me about the story?"
"You want to leave now? What about your cure?"
"I can barely read anything here. And besides I can always come back tomorrow."
"Okay then, but I'm going to go see if I can take this book out."
Zelgadis followed Lina to the front desk of the library where a thin bird faced man sat.
"Um excuse me I was wondering if I could borrow this book."
"Oh that book! I've been trying to get rid of that old and tattered thing for a long time now. I'll tell you what you can just take it."
"For free?"
"Sure, but why you would want it I don't know." And the bird-faced man went back to his work.
Lina and Zel were surprised when they left the building; it was already pretty dark out. This is when Lina realized that she had not eaten any dinner yet. She was starving. But rather than go to a regular restaurant and eat whatever, they headed over to an expensive restaurant. Their excuse was, 'hey why not?' but they soon regretted their choice when they were seated at their table. Dim lighting, flowers, candles, violin music, the whole place was one extremely romantic dinning experience. Each person at their own table was engrossed in conversation or loving glances with their significant other. That is except for Lina and Zelgadis. Thanks to the dim lighting neither one saw how much the other was blushing. But Lina being Lina was determined to eat, so therefore they stayed. Zelgadis tried to avoid eye contact with Lina, but he found himself glancing at her from time to time. The candlelight danced off her hair and made her eyes shone. He smiled and quickly averted his attention elsewhere, but not in time for Lina not to see his smile under his mask. Hmm... now what is he grinning about? He looks so cute like that, and this place is so nice too. I'd never be able to come into a place like this with Gourry; he'd just embarrass me. Zelgadis is sure being quite. But then that's just him I guess, the strong silent type. Then again I'm not really talking much myself either.
"I wonder how long they are going to torture us like this. I haven't had a chance to order yet!" Lina said with an impatient sigh. Zelgadis just chuckled.
"Excuse me waiter, my companion and I would like to order." Zel said hailing their waiter with a cool, calm serious demeanor that Zelgadis just seems to carry around with him.
"Ah pardon me sir. So you and your date wish to order correct?"
"Um-I-Ah yes we would." Zelgadis stammered out with a deep red blush. Lina was blushing also, but not as much. She snickered even.
"What would you two like?"
"Lina you want to order first?"
"Okay let me see... (flips through menu) okay I want this, that, that, that, this thing, that one, this and that. Oh a double portion on this one." Lina said pointing out numerous items on the menu.
"Are you expecting others?"
"Nope, that's all for me."
The waiter sweatdroped, but wrote down every last item on his notepad.
"And you sir?"
"Um I'll have your house special, whatever that thing is, and a salad."
"Alright I'll go notify the cook about the large order. I'll be back shortly."
With their waiter gone Zelgadis sighed while some the redness of his blush started to fade.
"Hey Zel, since I am your 'date' shouldn't that mean that you should pay for me?" Lina said with a playful smile bashing her eyelashes over dramatically. Zelgadis' blush returned.
"Well you aren't my date so that means you are paying for yourself."
"Ah Zel don't you like me?" She said with a sugary voice acting all hurt and sad.
"Would you two care for a bottle of wine?" The waiter asked nervously as he interrupted the two.
"What is your best wine?" Lina asked skeptically.
"Zelphilian wine, Felkin or Versai brands."
"And their ages?"
"The Felkin is at least 10 years and the Versai is about 7."
"We'll take the Versai."
"Very well Miss. I shall return with your wine in a moment."
"Lina why didn't you get the Felkin? It's older." Zelgadis asked once their waiter had left.
"Because Versai is a more better quality brand. A Felkin would have to be over 20 years old before it even compared to a 7 year old bottle of Versai."
"Why do you know so much about wine?"
"When you grow up in a wine country you have a tendency to learn some things about wine."
Zelgadis was about to ask where Lina grew up when their waiter returned with their wine. First Lina tested it. With her approval the waiter left Lina and Zelgadis.
"Go on try some, it's very good."
Zel complied and was pleasantly surprised. The wine was very good. Lina had made a good choice.
"Hmm... what to do now? We have a little while till our food's ready. Um Zel since you have to take off your mask to eat why don't you take off your hood too?"
"Why?"
"Because it looks stupid that's why!"
"Well would you rather I went around showing my hideous face?!"
"The only thing hideous about you is that damned hood and mask! You look a lot better without out it and if I'm going to be sitting here eating dinner looking at you the whole night I'd rather see your face!"
"But everyone will stare..."
"In case you hadn't noticed this is like lovers lane here. No one is paying attention to anybody else let alone you. And if they do stare it's because you look interesting. At least people look at you. When people look at me they just glance and don't give a second thought. That is unless they are thinking some sort of negative comment that I'd rather not give an example off."
"You know you shouldn't be so hard on yourself Lina."
"Zel you are such a hypocrite. Would you just please take off the mask and hood, or am I going to have to yank it off myself?"
Grumbling Zelgadis pulled his mask and hood down, exposing his face to the public. Lina smiled triumphantly flashing a victory sign. Zelgadis only chuckled and rolled his eyes while shaking his head.
Lina was right though; no one was looking at Zel. He sighed with relief and glanced at the couples around him. They all looked so happy and in love. And suddenly Zelgadis felt very lonely. How long has it been since I even went out on a real, serious date? A little nagging voice at the back of his head pointed out that being with Lina where they were could be considered a real serious date. Zelgadis just frowned. Lina is only a friend, so this is different. But I doubt that she would go on a serious date with me anyway. And returned his attention to his surroundings. At a table to the left of him, Zelgadis saw a happy couple sharing spaghetti. What was funny about the couple is that the guy sotra resembled Zel before he was changed into a chimera, and with a different hairstyle. And the guy's date looked very much like Lina, only a little more elf like. Zelgadis thought for a moment and then returned his eyes to the couple, but they weren't there. In fact from what he could see no one had been eating at that table for a while.
"Um Lina did you see a couple eating at that table over there before?" Zelgadis said pointing at the table where he had seen the two.
"That one? Zel that table has been empty since we got into the restaurant. Why? Are you seeing ghosts?" Lina asked him with a raised eyebrow.
"Maybe..." Zelgadis knew he must have just been imagining things, but he did feel an odd chill in the air. This place probably doesn't have the best heating.
After waiting far to long (Lina was about to march over to the kitchen and demand to know what was taking her food so long, but needless to say, Zelgadis managed to stop her.) the food arrived. The proportions were a lot larger than what they expected and for once in her life, Lina wasn't sure she would be able to eat everything. Zelgadis could see the concern in her face and he chuckled.
"Don't worry Lina, we'll probably be able to eat everything. If not we could always take the rest of it back in a doggy bag for Gourry."
"Yeah I'm sure the cook would be happy about that." Lina laughed and started to dig into her food.
What amazed Zelgadis about how Lina was eating was her speed. She was eating extremely slowly and she was being very neat and careful.
"Lina why are you eating so slow?"
"Zelgadis look around you. Now tell me what is different about eating here right now apposed to when we normally eat in a restaurant."
"Well lets see... it's darker, less crowded, not as noisy, much more expensive, and it's just the two of us eating not everyone else..."
"You see? I usually have to fight for my food. Otherwise Amelia and Gourry would take it all. Amelia may look small and polite, but she eats almost as much as I do!"
"Well not quite."
"Yeah but she sure eats more desserts than me."
"I'll agree with you on that one."
"Plus this place is a little more ritzy than our normal eating destinations. It would be rude and impolite if I ate like I haven't eaten in months."
"I guess so. Ew yuck, this doesn't taste that good." Zelgadis said commenting on his dish in front of him.
"Well I don't like this one, so how about we trade?"
"Okay. (tastes a forkful of Lina's rejected dish) What are you talking about this is good!"
"Well I just don't like it, but I like this one! Why don't you like it?"
"I don't know, but I'm going to steal some of your food." Zelgadis said stealing some of her items.
As retaliation Lina grinned and stole some of his. It ended up that they shared everything on the table, laughing and grinning like idiots. They talked about various things while continuing their food war. To strangers Lina and Zelgadis looked like everyone else in the room, a happy couple enjoying their meal.
After Lina and Zelgadis were finished they paid the tab and headed for the inn that they would be staying at. Not surprisingly though, they had finished the whole meal. (Relm: Poor Gourry gets no leftovers. ^_^) The inn that they were staying at wasn't too large but it seemed nice and clean. A place to stay is a place to stay. Better than sleeping on a rock. Lina thought as they walked over to the front desk of the innkeeper.
"Excuse me we would like two rooms."
"Ah two rooms. Hmm... let's see where did I put those keys? Oh yes there they are. That will be 10 silver pieces please."
Lina put down the money while Zel picked up the keys. They were about to leave when the innkeeper stopped them.
"You two are mages aren't you?"
"Usually a cape indicates so."
"Well no magic in this inn!"
"What? Are you nuts?!"
"I'm serious! I've had this inn destroyed far too many times in the past by spell happy casters."
"So we are forbidden to use magic here?" Zelgadis said looking the innkeeper straight in the eyes.
"Forbidden? Ha! Wouldn't matter if you weren't! You can't cast magic here, there's a magic barrier here. No magic spells work!"
"What if our rooms are dark? We can't use a light spell!"
"You use these!" The innkeeper handed Lina a large bag full of candles.
Rather than argue with the innkeeper longer, Lina and Zel just headed up to their rooms.
"What number did you get Zel?"
"16. You?"
"17."
"Right next to each other huh? Oh you haven't told me about that book yet."
"Here come into my room. Once I get some of these candles set up I'll tell you about the story."
Numerous little candles were lit all around the room and shadows danced off the walls. Zel lay on one end of the bed staring at the ceiling while Lina situated herself cross-legged on the other side. Zelgadis rolled onto his side and faced Lina.
"Well?"
"Okay, well this story takes place in a time where elves were almost treated like slaves," Lina started off. Considering how long the story is Lina figured she might as well tell it herself rather than read it from the book, "In this time lived a beautiful elf named Aria. She was very tall for an elf's standards so she almost looked like a short human only her ears betrayed her. Aria had long blond hair and blue green eyes. She was very pretty, but very lonely. She had no family and was sold to a grumpy old noble as a house slave at a young age. Aria lived a terrible life, she had nothing to be happy about. She worked all day doing so much work, got very little food and sleep and was forced to do it all over again the next day. What little sleep she had was her only salvation from her harsh life. There in dreams she could do whatever she wished, and be whoever she wished. But she was still very lonely."
Lina's face was more animated and her eyes twinkled as she talked. Zel was transfixed by her. Her voice was almost hypnotizing in a soothing way, and Zelgadis could picture in his mind everything Lina said.
"Then one day after a very depressing day Aria crashed on her bed sobbing. I hate my life! she cried. And she fell asleep with tears rolling down her cheeks. Her dream was different than normal. The grass was a light blue and the clouds were purple. Everything seemed so misty and bright. It was so beautiful. That is when Aria met Edwin. He was a short man but a bit taller than Aria. He had short wavy chestnut brown hair and warm green eyes. He blushed a bit and clumsily introduced himself to Aria, embarrassed and everything. Aria laughed, she liked him and felt special from the attention he gave her. And Aria got to know him better; every dream after that first one had Edwin in it. Every time she slept he was there. Edwin was her shining young prince, whom she looked foreword to see every night."
Lina shortly paused and looked over to Zelgadis.
"You aren't bored are you?"
"Oh no. Why would I be?"
"Well the story is really nice, but I might not be telling it as well as it could be told."
"Never you mind that. Your doing just fine."
"Where was I? Oh yes. I remember now. In far away kingdom a country away from Aria lived a young unhappy prince. His parents where very concerned about his happiness and tried their best to make him happy. Only what they did was succeed in making things worse. The prince was bored and lonely. He was isolated in the castle to prevent him harm from danger, and no one treated him normally. He was their 'heir prince'. They treated him like a holy higher being that needed to be worshiped, and in essence they alienated him. He was lonely for people just to talk to. Also being shorter than most, princesses of equal rank, possible suitors just made fun of him and never gave him the time of day. He was very lonely, that is till he met Aria. Prince Edwin went to bed one night and in a dream he met a beautiful and enchanting elf named Aria. Every dream after that Aria was in. He was sharing the very same dreams that Aria was dreaming only both thought the other was just a dream character that didn't exist in real life. But that didn't matter though, Edwin still cared about Aria and Aria still cared about Edwin. In fact it got to the point that they were in love with each other. This both made Aria very happy and very depressed. She was happy every night when she went to sleep, but was very sad whenever she awoke. It was the same thing every time. She would have a wonderful dream with Edwin and then awake in the morning hoping to see him standing in front of her bed only to find him not there. This depressed her so much that she couldn't stand it anymore. She made a final decision one night before she went to bed and went to sleep so that she could tell Edwin. Like always he was there and happy to see her, and her heart ached. She told him that the next night's dream would be the last one that they would share. That after that dream if she didn't awake and find Edwin there in her room she would kill herself."
"Would she really have killed herself? Isn't that a little unrealistic?"
"Zelgadis consider what her life is like. Could you imagine what it would be like to spend your whole day in misery to only take comfort the love you have for nothing more than a dream character?"
"But Edwin isn't a dream character."
"Yes but Aria doesn't know that."
"..."
"Edwin when he heard what she was going to do he was mortified. It stressed him out very much but he tried not to show it for Aria's sake. When Edwin awoke in the morning he knew he must take action. Alarming many people in the kingdom Prince Edwin left on a journey with much haste. He didn't even give his parents time to object, he was gone. Edwin's advisor old him he was nuts to chaise after a dream girl that didn't exist, but Edwin just ignored him. Riding on horseback Edwin traveled far without knowing where he was going. He just let his gut feeling be his guide going were he felt he should head while clutching a small little box.
Aria on the other hand prepared for her decision. She worked very hard that day till she would be very tired at nightfall. She nervous and very unhappy, but she tried to keep her mind occupied. At night she got ready for bed placing a small dagger by her nightstand and used a sleeping aid to help her sleep. And she slept intending to spend her last dream with the one she loved. Only when she fell asleep Edwin was no in sight. In her dream Aria waited crying wondering why Edwin didn't come.
Edwin didn't come because he didn't go to sleep. That whole night he traveled not taking one brake. Finally in the early morning hours Edwin reached a town. He knew once he entered it that Aria was near. He blindly walked the streets till he found himself in front of a very large nobles house. Edwin pounded on the door screaming for someone to let him in. Finally one of the house servants saw him in. He demanded to know which room was Aria's. The servant wouldn't have told him though if Edwin hadn't told who he was. Edwin rose up the stairs up to her room. Once inside he was speechless. There, Aria the girl of his dreams slept soundly like a heavenly angel. He dared not speak, almost afraid that if he said anything she would disappear. Then Aria started to stir. She opened her eyes and tried to focus on the blurry image before her. She became wide eyed. It was Edwin!
Without saying a word Edwin ran over to her and scooped her up in a tight embrace. He told her he loved her and pulled out the little box. Inside the box was a wedding ring and Edwin asked her to marry him. Aria started to cry and said yes.
They gathered up her belongings and Edwin saw to Aria's freedom. They headed off to Edwin's home and Aria was surprised when she got there. She had thought of Edwin as her prince but she had no idea that he really was a prince. Edwin's parents didn't quite approve of the match, but for once in their life, Edwin was truly happy so it didn't matter. And Edwin and Aria married and lived happily ever after..."
"I can see why you like that story so much..."
"Yeah I grew up hearing it. It's one that has been passed down in my family. My great-great-grandmother liked it so much that she made a song about it and sang it to my great-great-grandfather and after he heard it he was so moved that he proposed to her."
"Wow. Hmm looks like it's getting kinda late. I should turn in. Are you going to join me back at the hunt that damned library tomorrow?"
"Sure hey you never know we just might get lucky."
"Yeah I hope so. Good night Lina." Both Lina and Zelgadis got up facing each other. Zelgadis was only a few inches away from her face when out of a weird impulsion Zelgadis kissed her. Zelgadis' eyes were glued shut and he wondered what he was doing, Lina wondered too when she kissed him back. It was a very deep, sweet and tender kiss that lasted a long time. When the kiss broke off Zel still had his arms around her tightly, hers wrapped around him and both their faces were inches apart.
"I should go now, good night Lina..." Zelgadis said in a whisper fearful that if he spoke any louder his voice would betray him.
"Good night..." Lina said equally as quite as he got up and went out the door quietly.
Outside Lina's room Zelgadis was very puzzled. He didn't know what possessed him to do that, but one thing was for sure he had this warm fuzzy feeling inside that he never felt before and it felt nice.
Back in her room Lina blushed brightly but felt the same nice warm feeling.
That was so strange. And why do I feel this way? It's not like I have never been kissed before. But then why does this book always bring out romantic impulses when it's told? Maybe you could answer that one Celesta...
Outside in the moonlight two ghostly figures sat in front of the lake in a loving embrace. A woman with long red hair and elf ears and a man with short blue lavender hair.
Lina picked up the book and started to read.
(Elfin translation)
Once upon a time long ago, elves were slaves to humans and beautiful elf slave named Aria lived. She was a tall elf with long silky blond hair the color of the sun and her eyes sparkled like two aquamarines...