A-Z of Melizabeth

Y is for...

Yes

Thank you to Kinkxdark for suggesting this prompt

The night was dark and silent. Beneath Elizabeth's bedroom her engagement party raged on, but missing a key part of it. The bride-to-be, herself, had escaped to her chamber, silently thankful it was deemed uncouth for the future couple to share a room before their wedding. She didn't want to be anywhere near the man right now.

There was nothing wrong with him, really. He was handsome: dark hair and sea blue eyes, tall too. But he was in the same situation as Elizabeth. Their marriage was nothing more but a reassurance between kingdoms that there would be no war. On the night of their engagement, a week prior to the party, he'd apologised on behalf of everyone in their families. Elizabeth wanted to hate him. She wanted to spit his words back at him, fire acid into his sweet eyes and hurt him as badly as she felt.

But one look into his eyes told her everything. They were more alike than she cared to admit. He, too, had someone back home for him.

"Who is she?" Elizabeth asked, at least trying to be amicable. The two were having tea together in the Spring afternoon sun.

The prince winced, "He's a stable boy."

Elizabeth hadn't uttered a word. It was bad enough being engaged to someone she didn't love, she couldn't imagine that the one she did love, even if they were able to be together, would be ostracised, and maybe even killed. "I'm sorry," She whispered into the breeze, her words were carried along it, vanishing into the horizon.

The prince shook his head, his eyes filled with sorrow that made Elizabeth's chest ache. "Don't be. It is not your fault, princess. We each have a duty, and life is not always going to play in our favour." He took her hand and kissed it gently. "But, if I may, I could not have asked for a sweeter, kinder bride-to-be. I hope that we may become friends and that you forgive me for not being able to love you as a husband should love his wife."

"There's nothing to forgive," Elizabeth replied, "I only ask you forgive me for the same."

Taking one of the sandwiches, the prince raised a dark eyebrow. "You have someone as well?"

She did. A loud yell snapped her back into the present. Alone in her room, with a party she did not want going on beneath her. She imagined her fiancé, surrounded by guests he couldn't stand, all asking where she was. Any guilt she felt for leaving him to fend for himself downstairs vanished when a familiar knocking sounded at her window. Elizabeth slept in one of the highest towers in the castle, so her visitor could only be one person.

Elizabeth opened the window, allowing the visitor to climb in. It was Meliodas, her childhood friend and sweetheart. It was funny how similar he was to her future husband. They were both cheery and loved animals, and neither could cook. Meliodas tripped over the window ledge, causing him to catapult forward into Elizabeth's lap, as she yelped and dove down to cushion his fall. His head landed on the tops of her thighs, his feet still hanging on the edge of the window ledge.

Sheepishly, he raised his gaze to Elizabeth's. "Hey, Ellie!"

The princess shook her head, "What on earth are you doing?"

Meliodas pulled his feet down from the ledge, then stood up, brushing himself off and smiling impishly. Elizabeth sighed and took a seat on the edge of her bed, in no mood to play his games.

"Can't a man see the love of his life whenever he feels the urge to?"

Elizabeth's fists clenched. "On this night? Meliodas you are cruel." Her voice cracked as she spoke, and she clenched her eyes shut tight. Her visitor knelt down in front of her, gently unfurling her hands.

"Elizabeth?" His voice was unusually quiet. "Ellie, what's wrong?"

"Don't you remember what tonight is?" She whispered, tears trickling down her face. Every movement of Meliodas' only sharpened the knife sticking into her chest. He wiped the tears off her face with the grace and gentleness of someone touching fine art, fingers softly tracing the marble of a statue, terrified any moment it would break. When Meliodas didn't reply, Elizabeth let out a shaky breath. "It's my engagement party."

Meliodas sucked in a sharp breath. His gentle stroking paused and Elizabeth deeply mourned the loss. Neither spoke. After a moment, Meliodas continued his ministrations. "I did know." He said, "I'd hoped maybe to keep up the charade a little longer but I don't think either of us are in the mood for it."

He sighed again, his hands slipping down and gripping hers. "Actually," He began. "There was a real reason I came here." His eyes trailed up to hers, and Meliodas offered her a weak smile. "I'm here to say goodbye."

A jolt shuddered through her, and her stomach dropped down to her feet. The shock must have been obvious on her face because Meliodas paled and suddenly gripped her hands tighter. "Ellie, wait-"

"Goodbye? You're leaving?" Elizabeth said, her voice hysterical. She snatched her hands back and stood suddenly, pushing past where Meliodas was still kneeling on the floor, staring up at her. "Explain yourself, please!"

Meliodas stood, his green eyes glassy. It was unusual to see him cry, but not impossible. Still, Elizabeth didn't allow that to affect her. The shock had settled and morphed into a violent rage.

"Elizabeth please, wait a minute, stop pacing and let me elaborate."

She froze in her path, glaring furiously at the man. "Oh, by all means, go on. Because you know what it feels like, Meliodas? Abandonment." Elizabeth flung a hand up and began pacing again to hide her tears. "Of course. I can't expect you to stay here while I get engaged and married off. I can't stop you from moving on, and I certainly can't expect you to wait for me either but...dammit-"

Meliodas stood and ran to her before her legs gave out. The two lovers sank to the floor, Elizabeth sobbing into Meliodas' chest. Hands smoothed down her silver hair, and a deep voice uttered soothing words to her, but it was all in vain. The princess continued to sob until there were no more tears for her left to cry.

"Ellie, you have to know, I love you more than anything in the world. Some days, I feel like my heart might burst and that scares me. It was fine before, you know? When we were kids. No responsibilities, no worries, just you and I on top of the world. But you know how things work out Ellie, life doesn't play fair. I still love you, and I always will but I-" He licked his lips, pausing for a second, "You're a princess, Ellie. I'm not royalty. Right now, we're impossible. I wouldn't insult you by marrying you now when I have nothing and I can barely feed myself."

"You know I don't care about that. Status, money, it means nothing to me. I'd rather live constantly starving than live without you."

Meliodas chuckled, "Still the same old Ellie, huh?" He pressed his lips to her knuckles. "I can't allow myself to do that. If not for you, then for my own pride. I'm leaving in the morning, for America. They say it's the land of opportunities, and I intend to take full advantage. When I return, I'm going to come here and sweep you off your feet. I'll take you to our house, we'll spend our days eating good food, taking care of our house, land, and we'll make love whenever we like. It'll be our little paradise. I'll win your heart fair and square."

Elizabeth laughed wetly. "You already own it."

"Your heart is the greatest gift you've ever given me, and I'll take good care of it. I understand if you won't wait for me, but please know I'll never look at another woman. You're it for me, Ellie."

He sat up, reaching into the back pocket of his baggy trousers, and pulling out a simple gold ring. "Elizabeth Lyones, will you marry me?"

"Meliodas, of cou-"

"Wait!" He interrupted, pressing the band into her grasp with a wink. "Don't answer yet. It'll give me something to look forward to."

Elizabeth pressed the hand that held the gold ring to her heart. "You already know my answer."

Meliodas didn't answer, leaning forward and pressing a kiss to Elizabeth's soft lips. "I love you, Ellie."

She could only kiss him back, equally as soft. Her voice was lost. When she managed to find it again, it was hoarse and scratchy, as if she hadn't used it in years. "I love you too."

The pair stood, Meliodas helping Elizabeth to her feet. He was short, reaching up to her collarbones, and pressed a soft kiss to the base of her neck. Then, without another word, Meliodas turned around and climbed back out the window the way he came. Elizabeth strode over to the window, watching as the silhouette of her lover vanished into the shadows.

There were no goodbyes. Meliodas would return.

Clutching the ring like a lifeline, Elizabeth pulled herself away from the window and closed it. Then, she undressed and climbed into bed. The ring was warm in her palm, and fit on her ring finger perfectly. But appearances were to be kept up, and the simple band couldn't replace the glamorous and elaborate ring her fiancé had gifted her.

Instead, she sat up and reached over to the table by her bedside, pulling out a necklace she hadn't worn in years. She removed the pendant and replaced it with the ring. The chain was long enough that it would be hidden under her dresses and hang directly over her heart.

Above, the stars were covered by a thin veil of cloud, below the voices of her people and her family penetrated her bedroom. In the distance, she saw herself married to the wrong man. But there was hope. She knew that time would change things and that Meliodas would return, and their dream would come true.

Even then she knew her answer would never change, and no matter how long passed, days, months, years, decades, centuries, her heart would still and forevermore belong to Meliodas.

When he returned, he would ask her to marry him. And when came the time to reply, her answer would always, and forever, be yes.

The End.

A.N. Heya folks! How's everyone been? I've been good! It's actually my birthday tomorrow, so consider this a gift from me to you, though, I really should have written this months ago. Honestly, my passion for the anime has kind of waned, even though I watched the new season. Maybe I should catch up on the manga instead. Anywho, I'm in my second semester and my gf and I are still going strong!

I've also been writing a lot on my AO3 account, so I'd encourage to see my works there, I'm very proud of them. Also, a big bombshell has just been dropped on my personal life, and I'm entering an insanely busy time in education, so I think the final chapter is going to take me a while to finish. But like I said, it will be done, no matter what.

I'd like to thank each and every one of you for following, favouriting, and reviewing. You've really kept me going when things got tough and I'll be grateful forever to each and every one of you. Please let me know what you thought, and favourite and follow if you haven't already.

Lots of love you you all xxx