Everyone knows au I guess, let's go!!
Zaratrus had been the one to find them, a young boy and an infant no older than a week stumbling through the wastes. The boy had the uniform of Danafor, proving himself a survivor of whatever calamity had befallen the kingdom. Zaratras let out a shout, running to the boy's side.
The moment he approached the bot flinched back, curling protectively around the babe and hissed at him with black eyes snd sharp fangs,
"Stay back!"
Zaratras stopped short, realization striking. The child is a demon, one that was wary and frightened after some terrible tragedy snd he'd just ran up with no regard. He tried again, more delicately,
"I'm sorry, I was so surprised snd happy to see someone in this mess. Are you alright? What happened here?"
The demon boy continued to glare at him warily, but his growling faded, indicating that he wasn't as hostile. Zaratrus tried to wrack his brain on everything he'd learned about the demon clan, trying to remember the best way to interact with a hostile demon. The stories only said to run when thag happened, he remembers, so he'll just have to wing it.
"Hey, why don't we get you and the child in you're arms looked at?" Zaratras said, slowly reaching a hand out. He held it, hovering in the air to indicate this is the child's choice, "I am Grandmaster Zaratrus, and you are?"
The boy stared at him a minutes, glancing between the hand and the druid's face as if trying to find some trick. He doesn't take the hand, voice raspy form lack of use and strain.
"I'm Meliodas."
Zaratrus is taken aback, he recognized the name. King Baltra and his had been considerably concerned when word of a child by the name of Meliodas had reach the status of Grandmaster within Danafor's army. If this was he than no wonder he reached such a rank, the king of Danafor was selfishly greedy and foolish and having a demon in his clutches would have been a warrior the king would be eager to gloat about. The title of Great Holy Knight was probably to prevent anyone from discovering his secret demon and trying to steal or kill Meliodas for themselves.
"I am glad too you're alright, I've heard tales of your abilities Meliodas." Zaratrus grinned, accepting the boy's refusal, "What happened here?"
"Soem cultists were messing with something they shouldn't have..." Came Meliodas'shaky reply, "It's my fault. I didn't realize in time... I could only save Elizabeth and... and..."
The boy trails off, tipping forward. Zaratrus jumped into action, catching both joy and infant before they reached the ground. Handing over the baby, presumably Elizabeth, to King Baltra whom had trotted up on his own horse with a small explanation of who these children are, Zaratrus lifted Meliodas up. He was thin, covered in many severely infected jnjuries, and looked like he hadn't eaten or slept on days.
The baby was much better off, clearly having been the boy's priority.
ooooh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, I love this so much
And when they get to Liones, I can see Mel refusing to be treated by the healers there, not bc he doesn't want anyone to know, but because he knows that they can't treat him. Or at least not without unintentionally harming him through trial and error, which is how Merlin might introduce herself (if you want).
Meliodas struggled to stay awake in Zaratras' arms, not wanting to take his eyes off of the infant for even one second. When Baltra turned around, hiding her from sight, the demons eyes snapped open as he tried to sit up and reach for her, but was held firmly by the grandmaster. "Hey, hey, Meliodas, it's okay", Zaratras tried to soothe him, "it's okay. Both you and the baby will be taken care of as soon as we get to Liones. You can rest in the meantime."
"No! I need-", Meliodas protested but was interrupted by a coughing fit. The demon cursed his useless voice. He wanted to scream and cry and get Elizabeth back in his arms! He was the only one who could protect her, she was his everything-
Panic rose in his chest until he heard her giggle and realized that King Baltra was playing with her in a very fatherly manner. Maybe she would be okay for a bit... just for... a few... minutes...
Zaratras adjusted his grip when the demon suddenly fell asleep with no warning, going limp in his arms. "Oh my, that was fast", he quietly commented to no one in particular.
"Let's get these two back to Liones quickly, Sir Zaratras", Baltra half ordered half suggested and Zaratras was fully on board, mounting his steed.














