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No... despite thoughts of what he might want to do to the puppet prince, there was nothing Seifer could do to him that would not damage the plan now set into motion. Fury and anger seethed just below the surface and flared in his blue eyes as he watched Prince Mika leave before shutting the door as forcefully as he could behind the man.

With a sigh Zell flopped down on the bed. This whole thing was taking too long for him. He knew it would probably take longer and it was close to depressing him. Not having any answers... suspecting what was ahead on the diplomatic front... it was hard to keep his bouncy demeanor up. He just wanted Maryline... home. Safe. Dammit! Like Hell he would cry in front of Seifer though! "Think they have the room bugged?" The fistfighter princling said at last.

With a smirk Seifer strode to the bed and looked down on the tattooed blonde. For once, the gunblader was not looking at Zell in a condescending way. In fact... he looked a bit proud of him. Which made Zell worry a little bit.

"Good to see your SeeD training at work, your highness." A compliment of sorts that he could think rationally in such a situation at all to think of it. Another smirk as his eyes darted away to survey the room closely. With sure strides the gunblader marked the pace of the room, still stinging from the insult it represented while at the same time glad that as 'personal bodyguard to the Crown Prince of Aveldale' being so angry at the insult to his prince was within the part. "That's first order of business of course." *Any word?* He silently asked the Merge.

*We Search* A quick image sent to his girl of his arms around her from behind, chin resting on her shoulder, and Seifer continued his visual inspection of their quarters. "Get cleaned up, Prince." He had to work to make it sound like a suggestion, not an order though he chuckled sensing the fistfighter's usual reaction to being ordered around by him even as Zell snuffed it out. With a nod Zell rose and went into the bath area. More communication would have to wait until either the Merge were not so busy or they knew if Dreia was watching them. 'Line... 'Line... how the Hell're we gonna get through this, 'Line?

*A knife?...Maryline!* Even as the Merge conveyed the water dragon's thoughts it wished it had not, the thought echoed a second later by the SeeD fistfighter with such agony it nearly overwhelmed those within the merge as the empaths picked up on his anguish. Yet Seifer was faster than all of them, rushing into the shared bath at the first relay of thought to clamp his hand over the new prince's mouth even as Zell reacted. No thought or glance to the shorter man being in the buff Seifer held Zell still as the wet fistfighter fought against the arm holding him back. One could guess the muffled sounds out of his mouth mirrored those of his thoughts projected. *Maryline! I've gotta GO to her!!*

*Cool it, Dincht! Think damn it! We can't go waltzing in there (much as I'd LIKE to). Illyana's still with Relm and she remembered to gather our cloaks (*back thoughts of praise to her & self-incrimination for overlooking them himself*) so we can't get to her or her here to GET there. (*pause*) We'll need a wizard. And... we should ask Aki before heading over.* The last was growled -Seifer did not want to wait. Still... *aw, F***, Dincht! Finish cleaning up and get your goddamned clothes back on!* Seifer released him with a snap, storming back out of the room and grumbling about how now his clothes were damp on the outside.

Zell no longer struggled in his grip but pulled away with a glower as Seifer released him. He was trying to reign in his emotions and failing miserably but at least he was not about to run off in the nude through the palace to Maryline's chambers any more. Willing the merge to relay his thoughts to Aki the fistfighter concentrated achingly while quickly drying and redressing. **Aki... -choke- 'Line. Me. There. Wizard...?** Even through the connection one could feel his tears. It was not even words so much as images.

Zell's hands shook as he buttoned and zipped his pants while listening to the reply. Did that mean he could go? It didn't matter. He was going. Clothes put back on in haste clung to his still slightly damp body -Zell had been in too much of a hurry (not to mention his state of mind) to dry as throughally as perhaps he could. It was just a good thing he was taking a quick wash so he could lie down again and give Seifer time to clean up too. Zell would never have been able to force himself to clean up after.

Or maybe he would. Military training show up in weird ways sometimes.

*Please send a...* There was a pop of someone apparating in the bedroom and Zell stepped through the door to see Bill Weasley standing there looking back at him with concern and sympathy but also a quiet determination that dominated. *...wizard...*

"Sorry I'm late." A shrug and sheepish hint to his smile was all the indication that there was an argument among the red-headed siblings who would get this duty. Mostly why the twins COULD NOT go. Stepping towards him Bill placed a hand lightly on the fistfighter's elbow. "Let's go." Seifer nodded his good luck and stepped past them into the bathing area even as the pop of their disapparation resounded lightly.

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The soft pop of a wizard apparating signaled their arrival and even as they did Zell took a step towards Maryline, her name soft and falling from his lips & conveying the depths of his emotion. The merge had reported no security IN the rooms, but there were those outside and people too. He did not see that Maryline was half undressed other than to notice she was unharmed. Aki holding her close... Zell just thanked Hyne or anyone else that would take it that he had been there to save her. Trained eyes caught the glint of metal and he froze, inside and out. Hazel-blue eyes moist sought the blue he loved so well. It had not dawned on him... she was trying to take her own life.

He couldn't move. Did she... maybe not want to be with him? So much that she would run away... and try to kill herself? "Line...?"

The oldest Weasley looked at the scene they apparated into & instantly winced. It had 'let's make a jealous lover' written all over it. Though he was sure that was not the case... the wizard watched the SeeD closely. To be surprised that Zell did not seem to acknowledge at all what would be the average person's first conclusion. Or perhaps he was, and all the fury and anguish that flowed from Zell at worry of her safety did not function in the face of her being with someone else? No... that did not make sense. Bill had still been woozy from being brought to this world but he remembered how the fistfighter had hit the silverhaired dragon for the goodbye kiss he was giving Princess Maryline. How was this different? Bill of course could not even see the reflection off the knife though he was taller than Zell.

Cassandra was much better at handling children. She just smiled brightly. "The beach sounds like tons of fun! Did you ever build sand castles with your parents?" She continued to lead him, squeezing his hand tightly as they came up to the river. "Now I will show you what happened with everything all at once. Are you ready Jyn?"

Calanthia just remained distant. Her one hand rested ontop of the wolf's head as her wolf stayed by her side. It was the most quiet she had been in a long time. However, when they came up to the river, violet eyes glared out at the older bengal. "Cassi.. don't do it! You don't know what kind of effect it will have on him! What are you going to do if he can't take it!?"

Cassi just glanced back at her sister and winked. "Not my problem if he can't handle the truth is it? He chose to find out! Who am I to tell him no now?" The bengal then pointed into the calmest pooling of water she saw. "Look there in the surface, Jyn. Tell me; what do you see looking back at you?"

Immediately, Cala ran over and wrapped her arms around Jyn, looking up at him with a gentle smile. "Its okay Jyn. Please don't cry. Everything is alright, I promise." She glared over her shoulder with such anger. "Are you happy now?! Look what you've done!"

Cassi just smiled brightly, seeming to be completely untouched by Jyn's suffering. "Jyn, you've gotten hurt very badly to your head. That woman right there," She pointed an accusing finger at Calanthia. "was the cause of your injury. She helped to hurt your head." The bengal went to step forward but a growl from the younger sister kept her at a radius as she walked around Jyn. "You are a grownup, Jyn. You have been for quite some time. Its only because of that bump to your head that you think you're little."

Calanthia looked at Cassandra and growled. "That is enough, Cassi! Hush your mouth already, or I'll shut it for you!" It was rare her anger was ever shown but this fleeting moment was wasted on young Jyn. She looked up at Jyn with such care. "Its okay Jyn. Why don't you sit down for a little bit and rest? You've had a hard day."

"You are not a freak, Jyn. You are wonderful. Do not let her words bother you." Calanthia was more then surprised that Cassi's words had not swayed him away from her. This only caused the female to hold him and nuzzle him comfortingly. "I promise Jyn everything will be alright. You can trust me." Violet eyes looked back at Cassandra. "I think you've had enough of your fun for one day don't you, Cassi? You've already damaged him enough!"

Cassandra laughed. "You were the one who damaged him first! Making him fall off the side of that cliff because you couldn't keep your mouth shut!" Beaming brightly, she looked back at Jyn. "Well only Calanthia there could answer exactly how long ago it was you were hurt. My guess, from after what she told me, its been a long while now."

"Yes I did and I'm sorry Jyn. I jus-MEW!" It was so startlinh as she ripped away and pushed aside like a doll. She landed with a thud on the ground. The white wolf sniffed at Cala in concern before innocent violet eyes looked back up at Jyn with worry. "Jyn, please." Her voice sounded so desperate but she had nothing left. The bengal was slow to rise back to her feet as she ran after Jyn.

Cassandra was quicker then Cala. She ran up beside Jyn and smiled brightly. "I do not like this. I like you, Jyn. That is why I won't hide things away from you, like Calanthia back there." Her voice was low and coy. "I will always be honest with you Jyn. I can't promise you my sister will be the same." The bengal walked in stride with him. "If you really insist on looking for Mama, I will go with you but I don't think you'll find her, Jyn."

Her ears flicked at these words. "JYN! Please, please don't listen to her! She doesn't care if you are hurt or not." She finally caught up but it was obvious how different her and her sister were. Unlike Cassi's brash behavior of walking beside him, Cala walked behind him. Her voice held her plea. "Jyn, I'm sorry about all this. If you please just sit I can explain. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. But it did. Cassi there will not help you find your Mama. She'll just keep toying with you. Please, Jyn?"

>>It was all he could do to refrain from crying as he walked, his throat tight. He heard their footsteps behind him. His hearing was so sharp, now noticing he could hear the creatures with a clarity he never had before. Was he some sort of superhero?<< Leave me alone. I gotta find mama. I can't trust either of you! >>The only person he could trust it seemed was Samantha<< Mama'll know what to do...she'll fix everything.

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>>She couldn't look at him. She just couldn't. It was too painful after seeing a glimpse of tears as he moved about. She was too ashamed...too beaten...too in love with him<< I wanted to keep you from this...nothing but misfortune would fall upon you if you came. Royalty is something beyond your capabilities to be amongst with. >>She heard his escort moving behind them, which unnerved her further. Who was there? Seifer? Trelweny? Her hand relaxed along with her body as the first tear slipped down her soft cheek<< I came here, to request that I be removed from the royal family. >>The female continued softly, another tear sliding down. She felt Aki stiffen in surprise against her. Oh...so they didn't know that<< Because I love you. I wished nothing more then to simply live in peace, as a commoners wife. As a commoner. I wanted our children to be free of political ties...and for everyone to be safe. Great rewards however call for great sacrifices. >>She was going to give up everything who she was, to start anew with him. Her honor...her name...the chance for money and power<< And when King Roman offered everything back, I was going to decline. >>Her cheeks were now slick, shimmering blue eyes moving to fall on the back of Zells head. The hand on the bed twitched, wanting to touch him. She didn't dare<< A common mistake, most royalty makes...is that they exist for themselves...when really...we exist for the people. They give us power, and they can take it away. For we need them, more then they could ever need us. This is the philosophy I live by...And it is why I wanted to shed that skin. For as much as I love Dreia...I find I love something a great deal more. >>Heavy. The conversation was heavy, and intimate to the point he felt as if he was imposing on them. It was all he could do to listen, and hold Maryline. Steadily it transfered from saftey, to comforting as the necessity shifted. And eventually, he slipped the dagger out of her hand and onto the bed, to embrace the golden haired princess in a tender hug. What a mess all this was. What a mess<<