Riddles of Love
Chapter: 5
The Final Prize
Well this is the last chapter. Hope everyone enjoys. That and I'm giving Lina her rapier back. I never liked the idea that she changed to a dagger in Next.
The sun crept through the window of Lina's room as dawn came. As the sun rose in the sky the rays of light landed on Lina's face. She moaned as she turned in her sleep. She didn't want to rise from the world of dreams just yet. After another thirty minutes she opened her eyes and looked around. 'Well no notes this times,' she thought as she stretched before hopping out of bed.
She undressed as she headed towards the bathroom and lowering her body into the warm waters of the tub. She relaxed as the water helped to soothe away the aches from the other day. 'I didn't think I ran that much but apparently I did get a bit of a workout,' she thought as she massaged she calves.
After a while in the tub Lina got out and toweled off while she thought about what she would need before going to the clearing. 'Well my magic can probably take care of any kind of ambush that is there. But, just in case I might want to reinvest in a rapier,' She thought as she went about dressing for the day.
After finishing her morning routine she walked down stairs to the tavern where she joined Gourry and Amelia. She smiled at them before saying, "Well, today's the day."
Amelia nodded and asked, "Do you want us to come with you?"
Lina shook her head and replied, "No, I think I'd rather face whatever this is alone."
Gourry looked at Lina a bit worried and asked, "Are you sure Lina? It would be awful if you got hurt and I wasn't there to protect you."
At that moment Lina moved quickly and lightly punched Gourry in the stomach. The blonde swordsman fell to the ground as Lina replied, "How many times have we been over this Gourry? I don't need a protector. So now I'm going alone to prove that I don't need someone watching over me."
Gourry coughed for a second before he got back in his seat and replied, "Okay, just don't hit me any more today."
Lina smiled at Gourry before saying, "I'll stop doing that the day you remember not to say things like you do."
Gourry just sighed as the meal they had ordered came to the table. As they began eating he looked at Lina and said, "Okay but don't get in over your head."
Lina finished off her bite before laughing and replying, "Ha, I'm Lina Inverse. Nothing is over my head."
"Here you go Miss this should be a good weapon for you," the sword smith said as he handed the rapier to Lina.
Lina looked the blade over to see it was quite a well made weapon. "May I," she asked while unsheathing the sword.
"Go ahead," the sword smith smiled as watched Lina.
Lina went through the basic stances as she tested the blade for balance. 'Perfect,' she thought before looking at the blade itself.
It was sharp to the touch and looked to just been forged. As she looked the blade over she noticed a pattern of what looked like wind etched into the blade. She turned to the sword smith and asked, "What does this design mean?"
"Oh, this is a blade I have been saving for years. In this land there is a legend that says this valley was created by that of fire. The earth mother had many sons and daughters born from her and the one that ruled this land was Hretrion the lord of molten earth. His fiery rage kept this land inhabitable from anything other than beings of fire. The earth mother did not wish for this to continue so she sent Sar'arit the lady of the skies to convince the great lord of fire to relinquish his hold on this land," the smith began.
"And, so how did she convince him to let the land grow," Lina asked.
"At first she tried to make him see that it was the earth mother's will. But, the molten lord was to stubborn to just give in. She then tired to broker a deal for him to rule over the inhabited land as it's lord. Again the lord wouldn't give to the deal. Finally Sar'arit lost her temper and challenged Hretrion to a duel. Both lords met at the summit of the great mountain and began their duel which lasted for day on end. But, it was Sar'arit that would come out on top," the smith continued as he saw Lina was enraptured with the tale.
"At the end of the duel Hretrion opened a hole into the great mountain to try and throw Sar'arit into the molten lava. But, the lady of air turned it around on the molten lord and cast him into the pit. She used what power she had left to freeze the lava and trap Hretrion in a room under the earth. It was at this moment that Sar'arit looked upon her foe in triumph. The victory that she though would be grand was nothing more then a petty thing. For even though she had trapped Hretrion the rage still burned within his eyes. His fiery passion still flowed without control. It was in this moment that Sar'arit sacrificed her life for the life of the valley. She entered the frozen room and offered herself to Hretrion," the smith ended his tale.
"So she just gave up to Hretrion in the end," Lina thought somewhat confused.
"Yes, the only thing that could control Hretrion's rage was her level-headedness. She saw that she must stay with him as a consort and in time a lover. As long as the fire rages the wind must blow to direct it's flow," the smite finished.
"So does this sword do anything," Lina asked as she knew there had to be something special.
"Yes, this sword draws on the power of the wind to chill all that it strikes. As it's counterpart was made to burn it's enemies," the smith replied.
"So you have another like this," Lina asked with an interested tone.
"I had made one. A broadsword...but it was purchased by a young man years ago...I can't even remember what he looked like," the smith sighed.
"That's okay. I'll just pay for this and be on my way," Lina smiled as she paid for the item and flew to the clearing.
Lina landed in the clearing to be met with a dueling circle arranged with stones. As she looked around she heard, "Hello Lina," behind her.
She turned to be might with the gray outfit of Zelgadis Greywords. She jumped slightly at seeing him again and in this circumstance as well. "Zel what are you doing here?"
"I'm the one that's been sending you those notes you loved so much," Zel smirked as he looked at Lina.
"Your the one," Lina shouted as she took a step back. "So that means you have whatever prize you promised me," Lina smirked at the idea.
"I do...but I never said it was free. To earn it I have one request. Let us duel here without use of magics or special abilities."
Lina looked at Zel somewhat shocked and then asked, "What's brought this own?"
Zel smirked as he walked closer. "Twice we've met that we were enemies but we never got to test or skills. I want to see how we would fare in a straight duel."
Lina nodded, "I guess that's acceptable. We will go to first hit then and don't be sore when I win."
Zel smirked before drawing his blade and said, "Oh really? Time to see."
Lina drew her new rapier and stood in a defensive stance. She had watched Zel fight before and knew he liked to take lunges and jabs before truly attacking. She waited as Zel moved forward and jabbed at her defense just as she thought he would. She then parried him back slightly and swung a blow towards his shoulder. He dodge easily and tired to slip under her guard. Lina quickly parried and back away slightly. 'This isn't going to do. He's much better at sword play then I am. I have to find a weakness,' Lina thought as she prepared for the next shot.
Zel moved forward with a lunge only to have Lina dodge to the side. He then quickly spun and tried to hit her from the side. He smirked when Lina parried and backed away again. 'Good, she knows not to stay in close. This should be interesting,' he thought before going into a defensive stance.
Lina quirked an eye as she saw Zel was on the defensive. 'He's trying to lure me into a trap,' She thought as she held her ground. "So where just going to stand here until one of us drops," Lina tried to taunt Zel.
Zel just kept his cool and replied, "I can wait a long time. How about you?"
Lina sighed and knew someone would have to make a move. She then moved quickly and tried one of Zel's own lunges against him. As she was about the hit her target Zel moved to the side and quickly parried upwards. Her rapier went flying and Zel's sword was at her throat. "Looks like I win," Zel replied with a bit of triumph in his voice.
It was at this time that Lina noticed the pattern of Zel's broadsword that matched her rapier in craftsmanship. "So your the one that bought the fire lords sword."
Zel chuckled and replied, "So I see you know the story...just a legend if nothing else."
Lina was about to agree when the smith's words played in her head, ' As long as the fire rages the wind must blow to direct it's flow.'
She smirked as she got an idea and turn to face Zel. She watched as he looked her over wondering what she was doing. Before he could utter a thought Lina sprung to her tiptoes and kissed Zel on the lips. As her lips graced Zel's she felt him freeze before he began to lose balance. Lina held onto his shoulders as they fell to the ground. Lina released Zel from her kiss and pinned his shoulders saying, "I think I won this one."
Zel smiled as he let the sword go and brought his hands to Lina's waist. "I wanted to see you again ever since we last spilt up."
Lina lowered her body on to Zel and rested her head on his chest she sighed before replying, "I know...I know. I've missed you as well Zelgadis."
Zel wrapped his arms around Lina; content to lay with her for as long as time would allow. He heard her sigh once more and then felt her move off of him and sit on the ground. Zel copied Lina and looked at her before asking, "Got tired of laying there?"
Lina nodded, "Yeah, because I couldn't do this," she replied before kissing Zelgadis again.
This time Zel wasn't caught off guard and returned the kiss as passionately as Lina gave. He ran his tongue along her lips asking entrance. When Lina gave him permission their tongues danced and twined together as the kiss continued. After a few moments they separated and just looked at each other for a while. Zel then smiled and stood up. He helped Lina up before saying, "I have some wine with me if you'd like to join me?"
Lina nodded as she cuddled close to Zel as they walked. Once they reached the cave she smile and whispered, "Happy Valentine's day."
Disclaimer: Any characters or ideas from The Slayers do not belong to me. I am not selling this material, just writing for the heck of it as I go.
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