#geldris week

[redworld96]

Nanatsu no Taizai | Geldris Week 2021

Gelda: "You're the real Zel... aren't you?"

Zeldris: "What about you... is that actually... the real you?"

NANATSU NO TAIZAI - CHAPTER 324

[yuleira]

Geldris Week - Day 1: First meeting

Based on a wonderful fic @galfridus1 wrote! The scene with these two as children was so adorable and this image instantly popped into my mind. You should go and check her out, she’s an incredible writer! <3 I love her writing style so much. Thank you for collabing with me, Ellie! It’s always so fun working together with you!

Read her part HERE!

(Isn’t Zeldris absolutely adorable in a waistcoast and bowtie? Thank you for this, Ellie, this is my favorite outfit of his.)

[galfridus1]

Geldris Week Day 4: Lost

I’m publishing Chapter 4 of The Call of Duty for today. Hope you enjoy it if you’re following the fic.

Gelda smiled, just about managing to bite back a smirk as she watched Zeldris stare straight ahead. She knew him by now, and the way his face went completely still as he fought to hide his feelings from the world. Beside her, Izraf made a great show of pointing out the various objects which would play their part in the coming ceremony, explaining their importance to the vampire clan: the long, golden sceptre for power; the chalice studded with hundreds of jewels showing their wealth; and the crown set with a huge ruby to symbolise authority.

“When the bride has reached the dais, the music will stop and I will start the proclamations, some of which will require a response from the pair of you,” Izraf said sternly, his eyes squarely on the demon who was somehow managing to keep his face a mask. “It is crucial you follow them precisely. One word wrong…”

“Father,” Gelda said gently, “we’ve been over this a number of times. We have prepared and are ready for tomorrow. Nothing will go wrong.”

Izraf sighed, then sank into the throne, rubbing his eyes then resting his head in his hands. “I know,” he agreed as he reached for her to take her hand. “I just cannot shake this premonition that something will go wrong. These last few days, my sleep has been disturbed,” he confided as Gelda looked at him with concern. “But I trust you, both of you. I know you won’t let me down.”

“Everything is ready,” Gelda said reassuringly as the vampire king rested his head on the back of his chair. She saw Zeldris’s shoulders stiffen, a sure sign that he also was under stress, and she turned towards him with a wide smile. “The day has been carefully planned down to the last detail.”

Zeldris nodded, clearing his throat. “There is nothing else that needs to be arranged?”

“No. Just turn up.” At this the vampire king grinned, his hands relaxing in his lap. “You are right, my daughter, nothing has been left to chance. I need to stop worrying.”

[[MORE]]

“In that case, I will… take my leave, until tomorrow.” Zeldris’s voice sounded strained and Gelda felt her heart quicken, her father’s nervousness starting to become her own. She stepped down from the dais, walking towards the man she was to marry, tension snapping in the air between them as the demon bowed, formally taking his leave from his future sovereign.

The sound of their footsteps echoed across the halls as they made their way through Edinburgh Castle. Gelda wanted desperately to reach out for him, to pull him close, to hear him tell her everything was alright. But he said nothing, and she saw his throat move a little as he swallowed, saw him bite his lip as they approached the main entrance. Unable to take it any longer, Gelda murmured, “Zeldris what’s wrong? I… if you’re having second thoughts?”

“No!” Relief flooded through her as he turned towards her, folding her into his arms. His hold was tight, almost desperate, and she could hear the ragged sound of his breathing, feel the way his hearts thumped in his chest. “Your father is not the only one who has been plagued by premonitions,” Zeldris explained as he pulled back, taking both of her hands in his. “I cannot explain it, but I keep expecting something to go awry. I have never been happy, not really,” he admitted, his eyes sliding to the floor. “This seems… too much like a dream. One that could easily turn into a nightmare.”

Gelda stepped forwards, pulling him once more into a close embrace and pressing her lips to his cheek. “I love you,” she murmured, “nothing will go wrong.”

They stayed locked together for several moments until Gelda reluctantly pulled back. “Do you have to go at once?”

He smiled then, the rare sight calming her nerves. “No, not at once. If you would like to run through the vows…”

“I have a better idea.” Taking his hand, Gelda pulled Zeldris through the heavy double doors and out into the dark of the night. The cool summer breeze immediately rushed over them, ghosting along the skin of her bare arms and raising the hairs on the back of her neck. Taking deep gulps of the fresh air brought earthy hints of heather and bracken, the excitement she felt chasing away her fears. “Do you remember the last time we were here?” she asked with a giggle as Zeldris took her hand.

“I remember you throwing an engagement ring into the undergrowth. An action I sincerely hope you do not wish to repeat.” Gelda laughed, glancing down as Zeldris ran his thumb over the stone on her finger. She did not need to see the rare orange sapphire set in a platinum band, the heat-treated gem chosen to symbolise the fiery nature of her power. The way it looked was committed to her memory. She shook her head playfully as their hands strayed together, fingers interweaving in an instant.

Zeldris sighed as he stared out at the night and Gelda watched as the clouds moved away from the moon, silver light pouring onto the earth below. “Will you miss the demon realm?” she asked tentatively. “It’s… a bit different here.”

“If you mean will I miss the shrieks of the hydra, no I will not,” declared Zeldris, “but…” He trailed off, his voice growing slightly wistful as he stared out at the land. “This is beautiful.”

With a smile, Gelda held up a hand, the tips of her fingers tingling as she summoned her power. Flames burst into the air, flickering in her palm to fill the black sky with streaks of orange and gold, illuminating the landscape in a fiery glow. The princess watched as the hills of Edinburgh were cast into sharp relief, her eyes running over the dips as the vast expanse of earth stretched before her. All of this was the vampires’ domain. She heard Zeldris take a sharp breath beside her but she continued to gaze out at the night.

Mulberry gauze spread through the night, curling together with Gelda’s fire. She felt Zeldris’s power licking against her own, the two forces mingling as their magic grew. Purple and orange flames burst around them like fireworks as a ball of colourful energy floated towards the sky, flashes of Hellblaze containing the fire and carrying it like a lantern into the dark.

The orb whizzed through the atmosphere, rushing over the castle, twisting around the towers and turrets. Gelda felt Zeldris’s arm circle her waist and she leaned into him as they watched their magic explore every inch of the structure before exploding in a shower of light at the very top. Sparks of every hue scattered through the dark, crackling and hissing as they shone like stars. Zeldris pulled Gelda closer towards him, his pulse quickening as she turned in his arms, their lips melding together.

The worry that had plagued him subsided as she tilted her head to deepen their kiss and he immersed himself in the aroma of roses and the spice of their magic. The ache of longing and want bloomed in his chest as he held her; he had carried it since the day she had accepted his suit, and he had been surprised to find that it did not fade, whether they were together or apart, a constant reminder of the love he bore. For he loved her, more than he could ever hope to explain.

“Master.” The unwelcome greeting rang through the still of the night, setting his teeth on edge in an instant. He practically snarled as he reluctantly left the warmth of Gelda’s embrace, her eyes going wide as he pulled back sharply. His jaw clamped shut as he looked at his tutor, long moustache gleaming in the light of their power which was still falling like a fountain over the earth, glitter dust swirling through the sky. Examining Cusack’s features, Zeldris tried to divine the reason for his presence, but the demon’s face was impassive, giving nothing away.

“My apologies, Your Highness,” continued Cusack suavely, his low voice sonorous and vibrating with authority. “You are wanted at home, without any delay. I was sent to fetch you with the utmost urgency.”

Without realising it, Zeldris cocked his head to one side. “Urgency?” he asked, allowing one eyebrow to raise just a bit. “You had better tell me what the problem is,” he added sternly as Cusack gave him an impassive stare. “You will not keep secrets from princess Gelda. After we are wed tomorrow she will be your liege.”

“I am afraid I am not at liberty to say what has occasioned the summons. But I can confirm that I would not be here if this ran contrary to your interests.” Cusack strode forwards, his hand resting on the hilt of the sword that swung by his side. “Come with me, young Prince,” she said softly, “it is worth your while.”

The maniacal look in his tutor’s eyes was a little unsettling but Zeldris complied, turning to the woman at his side. “I love you, always,” he whispered as he gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek in deference to Cusack’s presence. “I cannot wait until we are husband and wife. I will see you tomorrow.”

“I love you too,” Gelda called as Zeldris and Cusack summoned darkness to build wings over their backs and set off quickly towards the demon realm.

***

The atmosphere was frantic. The moment the pair set down outside the portcullis, Zeldris could feel the tension. Servants were rushing about in all directions, some yelling instructions at more junior staff. Zeldris’s eyes darted from left to right as he strode towards the gates; even in their present state of panic demons scattered before his advance, clearing a path as he made his way to the throne room.

The doors to the demon king’s lair opened without ceremony, a fact that made Zeldris even more uneasy. Cusack had said nothing on the journey, given him no hint of what to expect, only looking at him with a lopsided grin. The throne room itself was far more calm, the movements outside it stilled. The king sat like a monolith in his golden chair, and Zeldris could feel his power snapping through the room. His father was evidently in the foulest of moods, if he could not even keep himself together.

As Zeldris approach the dais, Cusack following a respectful distance behind, he stopped short, biting down on his tongue. The palace was in an uproar and the king was swallowed by rage, so where was his brother? Invariably at moments like these, after the loss of a battle, Meliodas would stand at the king’s side, offering what comfort he could with his own bountiful power. It had always made Zeldris feel left out, knowing the king wanted Meliodas at such times, and not him.

“You took your time,” the king snapped, each word punctuated by a crackle of electricity. Zeldris ignored the temper, staring steadily back as his father glowered with menace. Eventually, the king relaxed back in his chair, but the heavy anger he carried did not dissipate.

“The wedding is off.”

Zeldris’s stomach fell like a stone, his mouth falling open in shock. “But… why?” he cried, his hands clenching into fists at his sides, and he pressed his fingers hard into his palms. “They sent us the dowry! I have to…”

“I sent it back.” The demon king stood, looming over his son as he stepped down from the throne. “I have kept my word. They have nothing to complain of.”

“Yes they do!” Zeldris protested, ignoring the way Cusack was pointedly clearing his throat. “This is their custom. Once the dowry has been accepted the engagement cannot be broken. I have to…”

“What you have to do is lead this damn war.” The demon king snarled, his low growl echoing through the chamber. “You will do your duty and right the wrongs that your br… the traitor has done to our clan. So you can forget the vampires. Your place is on the battlefield.”

As Zeldris stared, feeling his hearts pound, Cusack stepped forwards. “Young master, what you need to know is that Meliodas has…”

“Do not speak that traitor’s name!” The demon king’s face darkened, swirls of Hellblaze gathering like a storm around him.

Cusack inclined his head, then continued, “The traitor has left our clan, defected over the love of a disgusting goddess, so the rumours suggest.”

Zeldris turned to stare in unabashed surprise at his tutor. “W-what?” he managed to stutter as the blood drained from his face, remembering the way Meliodas had berated him for feeling affection mere months before. “But, that cannot be possible,” he protested. “Mel- he would never…”

“He killed Aranak and Zeno on his way out.” Zeldris watched in horror as Cusack’s eyes practically glowed with delight. He’s enjoying this, Zeldris thought as his tutor visibly worked to suppress a smile.

“So we are not only missing… him, we have lost two Commandments as well?” Panic squeezed at his chest, restricting his airways. He barely registered as Cusack started droning on about how the army would need a new leader, one more reliable and committed to the cause than the last. Shaking his head to clear away the buzz, he demanded, “Where is he? Do we know where he has gone?”

“Finally, someone has asked the right question.” The demon king shot Zeldris a look before returning to the throne, his height still dominating the room. “Derieri and Monspeet have been scouring Britannia, looking for our missing citizens. They have just sent in an interesting report. Our lost people are being held in the fairy king’s forest, along with some other unmentionables who appear to have claimed sanctuary there.”

Zeldris took several deep breaths in an attempt to force his pulse to slow. Thoughts ran in circles through his head, and he closed his eyes as he tried to make sense of the conflicting emotions which warred for dominance. The vampires would not stand for the insult his own father had visited upon them, his months learning their customs had taught him this much, though how they would respond to the slight he could only imagine. There was only one thing for it: Meliodas would need to be fetched back home and the empty Commandment positions filled, and soon. Otherwise, Izraf was liable to make a bold move, one that would assuage his pride at the expense of his safety.

“Then I will go, with your permission, Your Majesty.” Zeldris withstood his father’s withering stare. “I have a plan,” he said, making sure his voice rang with confidence he did not truly feel. “Give me the Commandments. I will find them new homes.” The demon king’s eyes narrowed, but he muttered the words of the spell, the spheres of his magic floating to his son.

“The fairy king’s forest is practically impenetrable…” Cusack began as Zeldris said the reciprocal spell to stow the power away.

“Practically being the operative word.” Zeldris ignored his tutor to regard the king. “I know how we can do it. Give me your blessing and I will bring them down.”

Slowly, the king nodded his head in agreement. “I will do more than that.” Zeldris gasped as tendrils of darkness shot from the king, slithering through the air to circle his wrists and ankles, holding him firmly in place. He could feel the king’s power running through him, tearing at him as it burrowed through his veins. He grit his teeth, forcing himself not to cry out with the pain as part of his father’s power became his own.

“You should find that gives you a little advantage,” the king intoned as Zeldris shook with the pain. “Now go, and spare no expense. Take whichever of our warriors you require. My only command is that you bring the traitor back alive. I have unfinished business with him.”

Zeldris bowed low, taking his leave. He wanted to run, to ready the demon forces and start his campaign at once, but he made himself walk at a sedate, steady pace. If I do not act soon, Izraf will get there before me. He shook his head, trying to shift the fear which was slowly trickling through his form.

“And Zeldris, do not mess this up. Failure will under no circumstances be tolerated. Cusack, you and Chandler are to remain here,” the king barked as Zeldris’s tutor also made to leave. Zeldris frowned, hardly understanding the command. If anyone would be well placed to fetch Meliodas home, it was Chandler. But it was not his place to question the king.

Without further word, Zeldris moved as swiftly as he darted out of the throne room. Once on the other side of the doors, he quickened his pace to an undignified trot, pelting through the corridors and so down to the basement where the man he needed to see was being held prisoner.

Without ceremony, he disintegrated the barrier erected to keep the danger at bay. Even his father had his doubts about this individual but Zeldris knew with certainty, whatever sin he was about to commit, that in this moment he had nothing to fear.

“Good morning, or is it good afternoon?” Gowther asked kindy as he turned his chair to face the new arrival, his hands deftly controlling the wheels of his seat. “I lose track down here. But news of your brother’s latest act has reached even my ears. Since you are apparently unaffected by my Commandment, I presume you are not here to exact any sort of revenge?”

“No. I just want to bring him back here, and fast.” Zeldris rested his hands on his hips as Gowther’s mouth twisted to a smile. “Now here is the plan, and you are going to tell me what I need to do to make this work.”

“Will I now?” Gowther murmured, then he smiled, placing his hands out, palms upright. “I dare say I could be persuaded, if I am sure of your motive,” he confirmed as he gestured to a chair placed opposite his own. “I can only advice that you start at the beginning.”

[galfridus1]

Geldris Week Day 3: Broken Seals

I’m excited to publish this piece I wrote for @nntzine which fits today’s prompt. I hope you enjoy it.

The room was quiet, silver light and dark shadow flitting across the polished stone walls. A soft breeze wafted through the window, filling the space with the pensive still of night. There was no sound to be heard save for the gentle wash of the lake as it lapped at the shore, the familiar splash of waves against rock. The soft air, perfumed with the scent of seaweed and brine, mixed with the hot oil of the lanterns as it gently ghosted over her skin. It was as if the earth was holding its breath, as if it too wished the night would never come to an end.

Gelda’s eyes fell on the demon lying beside her and her heart was instantly filled with tenderness and longing. It was rare that they were able to spend time together in this abandoned castle on the very edge of northern Britannia. The humans who had constructed the simple stone edifice, on a island in the middle of a salt-water lake, had long since retreated, fleeing the dragons which sometimes stalked the area. Zeldris had found it and painstakingly restored a few rooms, creating a sanctuary where they could hide from the war, where they forget their responsibilities and prejudice of their clans.

Yet, much as she did not wish it, the night was drawing to its close. The sharp calls of guillemots and the noise of cormorants as they made their almost comical grunts heralded the imminent coming of dawn. Even as she watched, the sky grew lighter, streaks of pinks and golds lighting the now-visible cloud. She sighed, forcing the air from her lungs in a failed attempt to control her emotions. It would soon be time for them to leave one another’s arms, and who knew when they would see each other again.

As if sensing her perturbation, Zeldris stirred, his eyes flashing dark as they gazed into her own. The mark on his forehead swirled with his power and she had to stop herself reaching out to trace over the patten. He too glanced out of the window, then made as if to go, before evidently thinking better of it and relaxing back into the pillows. Gelda fell into his comforting embrace, relishing the feel of his skin under her palms and the way his hair brushed against her cheek. It was almost without thinking that their lips brushed together, their kiss slow and chaste; she struggled to breathe, the ache of longing and loss threatening to overwhelm her.

[[MORE]]

“We have to go,” Gelda murmured reluctantly as she pulled away, shivering slightly as she left the warmth of his arms. “My clan’s hunting party will return soon.”

Zeldris wrinkled his nose, before checking himself and smoothing his countenance into an expressionless mask. She laughed at this, the sound swallowed by the soft drapes and comfortable furniture, so different to the echos one would make in the great halls of Edinburgh.

“I know what you’re thinking and it’s alright,” she reassured, forcing herself to push her sadness aside. She had to make it so they enjoyed these last moments together. “I can’t see myself eating dragon any more than you could drink human blood.”

“I did try if you recall,” he replied, an edge of complaint to his tone. “It was… an experience.”

“Is that what you’re calling it?” she asked innocently. “It looked more like a diplomatic disaster to me.”

“I was not prepared for the taste,” he grumbled as Gelda broke into fits of giggles. “How was I know it tastes like liquid iron? I have no concept of how you vampires can possibly enjoy it.”

Gelda smoothed back the dark hair from his forehead, running her fingers lightly over his scalp, and she felt him grow still under her touch. “Anyway, no harm done,” he continued, swallowing slightly as she scraped her nails lightly along his skin. “It passed off without incident.”

“Only because I covered for you!” She pushed herself up on her elbows, pleased to see him looking sheepishly up at her, before his brows drew together in apparent confusion.

“I have wanted to ask you for some time why you did that.” He sat up in bed, head cocked slightly to one side. “We had not set eyes on each other before that day, and had barely spoken two words together. You had no reason to come to my aid.”

Gelda felt a blush creep up her neck and into her cheeks, her gaze sliding sideways to the woven coverlet. She bit her lip, wondering just how she was supposed to answer that question, whether she could bear to reveal the truth. She jumped slightly as Zeldris cupped her face, forcing her eyes to look into his own.

“What is it?” he demanded more forcefully as she remained silent. “Will you not tell me?”

Several more seconds passed, his gaze never wavering until the pressure to talk became overwhelming. “Alright. If you must know. But it’s really embarrassing,” Gelda felt her blush deepen, heat pooling in her face, and she could feel the cool air moving over her glowing cheeks.

“I… I had seen you before,” Gelda admitted, and Zeldris looked at her with keen interest. “It was in the demon realm. My father dragged me and Ren along to the negotiations as token females. The alliance with the demons meant a lot to him and he didn’t want to leave anything to chance. My cousin and I were supposed to, you know...” She could not continue past the lump in her throat. The memory of her mission, as explained to her in no uncertain terms by the vampire king, caused her revulsion even now the ordeal was over.

“I’ll kill him,” Zeldris muttered as he pulled her into his arms. “Or hurt him at least,” he seethed as Gelda opened her mouth to protest. “I hate the way he uses you.”

“I was lucky. Nothing happened,” Gelda said quietly as she pulled back a little, noting the look of black fury on her lover’s face. “Your clan were surprisingly respectful. Ren and I were shown around by one of your colleagues, Melascula was her name if I remember rightly. We went to the library, the research stations and then the training grounds.” Zeldris froze as she added, “We watched you and Meliodas sparring.”

“Well, I bet that was a humiliating sight.” Gelda could see Zeldris’s jaw working as he forced the bitterness out of his tone. “I still do not understand…”

“You almost beat him,” Gelda said softly as she took his hands in hers. “I’ve never seen anyone move so fast. Then after that you took on this tall brute in spiked armour, and he was clearly out of his depth.”

Zeldris chuckled as his fingers slowly interlaced with hers. “Galand is a hot head, but he is useful enough.”

“You let him land several blows.” Their eyes met as Gelda continued, “You didn’t have to do that. It puzzled me, then I worked out why. You wanted the fight to be fair.”

“He gets very despondent sometimes,” Zeldris explained.

Gelda’s heart thrummed in her chest as a little warmth coloured his cheeks. “I thought it was kind,” she murmured over his hesitation, “and I haven’t seen anything since to contradict that impression. I wanted to get to know you more. And besides,” Gelda added, a smile curving her lips, “you looked so… you know...”

“What?” Zeldris asked as she trailed off and he looked at her closely and she struggled not to laugh out loud. “Are you saying you were influenced by my physical appearance?” He stared at her, incredulous. “Gelda! I would never have imagined you could be so brazen!”

They fell back to the bed, laughing as their arms wound around one another. Her heart ached as she watched his dark eyes lightening, emerald shining in the early morning light as the mark on his forehead faded to skin. “I love you,” he murmured, and she reached for him, only to find her fingers brushed over air. Alarmed, she pulled back, fear gripping her insides as wind rushed painfully in her ears. Her insides jolted sickeningly, and she felt a splash of bile hit the back of her throat as the world around them spun sharply, the room swirling like a vortex before it faded to black...

In my deep sleep here in the seal, Zeldris… I’ve been dreaming about my days with you.

Waking was like returning to the surface from the depths of the sea. Her lungs screamed in protest as she struggled to breathe, her limbs shivering, weakened from millennia of lying in a space on the edge of sleeping and waking. She felt sick, dizzy, disorientated, a metallic taste permeating her mouth. But as she looked around at the rolling hills of Edinburgh, darkened by the deep velvet of night, memories returned to her in a flood of hope. She had been sealed and released, imprisoned then freed. After all these centuries, Zeldris must have finally come for her.

Gelda fanned out her powers, scouring the area, searching for even a trace of the energy she loved, but her efforts became increasingly desperate. Something was wrong. There was no one, nothing of significance to be felt for miles and miles, and certainty no sign of demon magic. Human settlements were all she could find, with a party of that race fast converging upon them. Evidently the humans had felt the crack of the seal and come to investigate, a fact not lost on the remains of her family.

“Spread out!” the vampire king yelled. “Don’t let any of them get away.” She heard the rush of wind in her ears as her brethren flocked to obey his command, followed seconds later by the screams and shrieks of despair from their prey. The vampires had returned to Britannia, bringing with them destruction and death.

And she knew as she smelled the rich aroma of blood, gaging in revulsion as she tasted the tang of iron on the air, that she could never be the same again. She wanted nothing, none of this morbid reality, only the dreams she had been forced to leave behind.

As her clan continued their macabre feast, Gelda stood still, detached from the world, remembering the feel of comforting arms, the soft timbre of of Zeldris’s voice as he whispered in her ear, knowing with certainty that she would never see him again. Blinking back tears, the princess gazed up at the sky, love and loss gnawing painfully at her insides.

“Please kill me,” Gelda murmured to herself as she closed her eyes and prayed for death.

[galfridus1]

Ellllllieeee. Can you do a demon!Gelda and goddess!Zel?

Yes. Yes I can. Thank you I love this! This isn’t in the universe of Love and Salvation so I can play with the characters a bit more. I hope you don’t mind.

This is for you Kat so have some angst.

Gelda and Elizabeth, the two princesses of the demon clan and their most powerful warriors, are leading a mission to subjugate Britannia. They are attacking the human settlement Camelot and have run into a spot of difficulty. Their king, Arthur, is a pretty good fighter and is holding a lot of the demon forces at bay pretty much single-handedly. And on top of that, unbeknownst to the demons, the humans have formed an alliance with the goddess clan and Meliodas and Zeldris, the two princes of the goddess clan, are protecting the city.

Gelda decides enough is enough. Breaking through Camelot’s defensive ranks, leaving Elizabeth to lead the offence, she makes her way up the stairs to the top of the tallest tower of the castle, from which one of the goddesses is sending flashes of Arc in the direction of the demon forces. Her idea is that she will take this goddess out (from the trajectory and force of the attacks this one seems the weaker of the two) and the move onto the next one. However when she gets there it’s sort of love at first sight. The two just stare at each other as the battle rages below them.

Then they remember themselves and start attacking, Gelda sending the fire of Hellblaze and Zeldris golden showers of Salvation’s Light. It’s like a firework display. They dodge around one another, asking each other barbed, unoriginal questions like, “how can you be so vicious?”, “no, how can you be so vicious?” until they start to make genuine enquiries about one another, and they find out neither of them are really committed to the war, they don’t even know what it’s about and that being a royal in a magical clan is not all it’s cracked up to be.

And they don’t want to fight anymore. But they have to. Meliodas and Elizabeth are now going head to head on the battlefield and they are both wounded. With hurried goodbyes and a promise to try and see each other again, Gelda and Zeldris pull back the demon and goddess forces, rescuing their kin and removing them for healing. Elizabeth is furious, going on over and over again about how arogant and annoying and not good looking at all Meliodas is while Gelda does her best to pretend to sympathise.

She and Zeldris meet in secret and they grow incresingly fond of one another and decide to elope. Gelda shows up at the meeting place at the edge of the fairy king’s forest a little early but smiles as she hears a rustle in the bushes. She turns, smiling, expecting to see Zeldris but stops short to see it is not the goddess but a human dressed in gold armour. Before she can ask what he is doing there, Arthur attacks her with Excalibur and mortally wounds her. Zeldris then flies into the clearing, witnessing Arthur removing the blade from Gelda’s chest.

Arthur turns to Zeldris, pride glowing in his features. “I did it!” he exclaimed. “I’ve ended the war. Victory is ours!” Zeldris loses it, and attacks, killing Arthur in an instant. He scoops Gelda up into his arms and holds her until she dies, breaking down as she takes her last breath.

Then, of course, Elizabeth shows up and draws the conclusion that Zeldris has killed Gelda. She challenges him, and he accepts death at her hands.

Meliodas, seeking revenge for Zeldris’s death, meets Elizabeth on the battlefield. Both are sick of the war, plagued with grief at the loss of their siblings. They are a bit kamikaze and take risks they would not normally, and both end up killing one another.

At this point, the demon queen and king of the goddesses decide enough is enough and end the war. Their surviving heirs, goddess Estarossa and demon Mael becomes the joint kings of Britannia.

[galfridus1]

Geldris Week Day 6: Found

This is the final chapter! Hope you’ve enjoyed it if you’re following this story.

It was cold, grey clouds rolling like waves across the pewter sky. Zeldris took deep breaths of the chilled air, trying to chase the feeling of panic that made his hearts race and his stomach clench into knots, but the rush of the wind as it battered against his body stirred his blood, and he felt his breathing quicken involuntarily. Anxiety was an emotion he had little experience of dealing with, and he found he did not like it one little bit.

He wanted to run, to fly far, far away, to do anything but harm the woman he loved. He swallowed hard as images of Gelda were seared into his brain. He could see her sliced through with his sword, blood pooling on the primrose silk draped over her form and running down this blade like crimson paint. He could practically smell the vampires’ fear, hear their cries of anguish, taste the iron tang on the breeze. Leaning over sharply Zeldris spat bile into the grass, closing his eyes tight; there was no way he could fulfil his father’s command.

But if he refused…

Rubbing his face Zeldris looked towards the sky, feeling a cool mist dust over his skin. The rain was light, barely making an impression on the lands that surrounded him though the bracken bent under the press of the wind. He had to stop stalling, to act, and act fast. If he failed his mission, another more sadistic would take it. Perhaps even the king would take matters into his own hands.

That thought got him moving. With quick strides, Zeldris made his way towards the golden edifice of Edinburgh Castle, his feet practically gliding over the undulating ground. The light drizzle grew increasingly intense, droplets coalescing together before pelting down from the sky, first as light summer rain then a serious shower. Sheets of water swept downwards, soaking the ground, puddles of it seeping around the edges of his boots as he trudged onwards. He relished the discomfort, willing the rain to lash him like a whip; he deserved nothing but pain for the sin he was about to commit.

[[MORE]]

I love you.

The memory of her words and her soft smile, pointed fangs peeking through, made him pull up short. He stood, face tilted towards the sky, brain working like fury and water running in rivers down his face as he tried and failed to come up with a solution. Frustration took hold as he dismissed one plan after another, but nothing seemed to stick and the urgency of the situation pressed down upon him until it was impossible to think.

It took him a while to register that he was screaming to the heavens, his fists balled so tightly it was painful to release his fingers from their grip. If Drole and Gloxinia could have seen him now, no doubt they would regret their decision to join the demons, to accept the Commandments which bound their souls to that of the king. In fact, if he had not been able to seal the giant king’s magic, Drole would most likely not have made the switch.

Zeldris stood frozen, his mind working in a frenzy, the air leaving his lungs in a sigh as he settled on the answer. As long as he was thorough there would be nothing to fear. He trudged on, picking up his pace as the wet began to soak through to his skin, and he shivered in the ice of the wind. He could barely see in front of him, the landscape blurred to dull greens and greys and the odd flash of mustard, but still he knew the way. He could feel Gelda’s power calling to him, the warmth welcome as it ran through his form, and he sent out his own signature in response, trying to tell her what he was about to do, to provide her with some comfort. He didn’t care that the others of her family would notice; he wanted the vampires to know he was coming. That way they would all be in the same place and easier to deal with.

I love you.

Pressing on against the downpour he found himself outside Edinburgh castle, the golden stone and chromatic glass of the windows faded in the low, grey light. He was not surprised to see them waiting for him, the gate of the castle lowered to show the vampires sheltering within. His eyes ran over the mass of their king, the smaller forms of Orlondi and Ren until he found the one he sought. He swallowed hard as violet eyes met his own, wide and shining with unshed tears.

As Izarf strode forward, the others followed in his wake, Gelda stepping gracefully along beside them. He did not take her gaze from her as they converged on him, no doubt with faces dark and leering. He did not care. This would be the last time he would see the woman he loved, who he adored with every fibre of his being, for who knew how many long, lonely years, and he was going to commit every aspect of her to memory. He willed the way she moved to be locked into his brain, the shine of her golden hair, the way her neat braid swung a little as she walked, the delicate blush on her porcelain skin. It was all he could do to hold back, to stay standing still and he fought the urge to run into her arms.

If he was to avoid a confrontation he would need to move now. Before the vampires reached him, the words of the spell rasped like metal on the breeze as he shouted over the battering wind and the incessant patter of the driving rain. Power bloomed through him, pulsing and twisting, but Zeldris ignored it as a mulberry gauze spread from his fingertips to build a dome over his supposed foes, locking them away from the outside world. The material shimmered, shifting and spreading an eerie light over the hills. He saw none of it, his eyes locked on Gelda as her face softened with her smile.

I love you. I will come back for you.

Her lips moved, the rose bud twisting and stretching, but could not hear her voice, could not make out what her last words to him were. Her hand pressed against her cage, fingertips splaying slightly against the lavender haze. He stepped towards her, fighting back tears but managing to hold eye contact until her smile broadened and he could see the forgiveness etched on her face. A sudden pang of disgust made him to drop his gaze to the floor, breathing hard, the grass around his black boots bending under the force of the weather. Letting go a shuddering breath, he murmured the final phrase of the spell, the howl of the wind muted by a loud crackle and hiss as the dome collapsed in on itself, pulling the vampires within into the depths of the earth, away from war, from disease, safe even from time itself. They would rest there between waking and sleeping until he came to release them from the seal.

“I love you!”

He screamed, damp eyes snapping upwards to where Gelda had moments ago stood before him. But there was nothing there, only the sodden land dotted with the deep greens of bracken and heather, tiny purple tips adorning the spiked stems, a slight depression in the leaves where Gelda’s feet had once been. The pain was unbearable, consuming his soul as warm tears ran to mingle with the cold rain.

“I love you, and I will win this war,” he yelled to the sky, determination firing through him as his hands clenched at his sides.

***

The pain in his arm was nothing, barely even noticeable over the fury, the shame, the utter humiliation at being subdued so damn easily. Zeldris struggled against the hand that gripped at him almost lazily, pressing his arm into his back, twisting it until his weapon he held fell with a clang to the stone flagons. Teeth grinding together, he pulled hard, aiming a kick at his brother’s shins. Meliodas had, after thousands of years, just strolled into the kingdom he had subjugated and in a few seconds flat knocked both him and Estarossa to the floor. The traitor looked more like his old self compared to the last time Zeldris had clapped eyes on him, power pulsing from his form and cold face set like stone. There was no hesitation in his brother’s movements, no sign of wavering; it was as if he knew their father had said the little shit could just walk straight back to his birthright, no questions asked.

The black pit that was Edinburgh rose up before him, engulfing him in desolation and rage. He snarled, tugging with all his might in a bid for freedom, bile splashing the back of his throat as his brother leaned towards him, shivering as the traitor’s warm breath ghosted over his skin.

“Gelda is alive.”

Zeldris stilled in an instant, muscles taut. It had to be a lie. Meliodas always had played fast and loose with the truth; this was merely another of his tricks. Readying himself for a renewed attack, Zeldris angled his body so that he could flip backwards and kick the damn shit in his odious face, whatever the strength of the grip pinning his arm to the small of his back. He had thought of little else since he had seen the tear in the ground, the dark nothing where Edinburgh Castle had once stood, where he had secured the woman he loved so that she would come to no harm. Somehow, the traitor had found her and killed her and whatever happened next he would have his revenge.

“I re-sealed her,” Meliodas whispered, Zeldris straining to catch the barely-there words. “She is waiting for you.”

“Lies!” Zeldris snapped.

Meliodas chuckled, cutting off his retort. “She asked me to kill her,” he said lazily, Zeldris’s hair standing up on the back of his neck. “Such loyalty! She did not want to go on without you.”

Throat closing up, Zeldris shut his eyes, taking careful sips of the air to try and quell the rush of emotion. It was almost unbearable. Gelda alive, so distraught she had asked for death at the hands of his own brother. He swallowed hard as his mouth watered uncontrollably even as his hearts pounded like drums and he struggled to breathe. She was alive, maybe even within his reach. He bit his lip hard, the tang of iron coating his tongue. She was alive and he loved her.

“Help me become demon king and I will take you to her. You can both be free,” Melidoas coaxed, his voice soft as feathers. “No more sacrifice, no more duty. I will release you from your service. You and the princess can live exactly as you please.”

“Why should I believe you?” Zeldris hissed, his voice little more than a wisp on the wind.

“Because you want to.” Zeldris’s arm dropped to his side, blood gushing once more through the veins leaving little trails of sparks, and he quickly clenched and unclenched his fingers to regain control of his limb. “I know you, remember? You are also loyal, to a fault. Do precisely as I ask and that loyalty will be rewarded.”

The world shifted. The ache he had carried since sealing his love adjusted itself, morphing to a duller throb. His surroundings pulled back into focus, the pale face of his tutor, the cracked stones on the floor, the wide, glowing eyes of the shining goddess who had caused all the problems. He sucked in a breath as she shot his brother a sharp look, one that radiated a concern and tenderness Meliodas did not deserve.

“You will see her again, I promise,” murmured the prince and Zeldris relented, his body almost collapsing as the tension peeled away. He had no choice: if there was the slightest possibility Gelda could be restored to him, he had to take it, even if the chance of success was little more than a fool’s forlorn hope.

“I… am trusting you on that,” he muttered reluctantly, turning to meet his brother’s pitch black eyes as Meliodas folded his arms across his chest.

[galfridus1]

Demon Gelda and human Zeldris? 💖

Another clanswap! Ok. This is the last one I’ll do thanks everyone who sent asks, it was a lot of fun 😊

Zeldris was a prince of a kingdom which was crushed in the Holy War between the goddesses and demons. The kingdom was not even a target, just one of the many settlements that got between the two great powers. He was the only one who survived the battle, escaping down a drain pipe, and he was left with this great sense of guilt and shame that he ran away while his people were killed.

He decided to atone for his mistake. Braving the sulphurous atmosphere of the demon realm, he journied down to the depths of the earth, determined to demand his revenge (even though the goddess clan were equally to blame, the propaganda had the humans believing that the demons were the aggressors so Zeldris believed it was the demons who were responsible). He journeyed through Britannia and so down into the earth, growing hardened and more skilled along the way.

When he reached the gates of Hell he had no idea of how to proceed. He banged on the gates, demanding an audience with the demon king. He made loads of racket so in the end Gelda was sent out to try and shut him up. And she succeeds. When Zeldris clapped eyes on her he got a bit tongue tied.

Still, he managed to croak out his grievances. Gelda explained about the geopolitics of the Holy War and he was left rather stunned, not sure what to do or where to go. His whole life was directed into achieving revenge and now his purpose was gone. He traveled back up to Britannia older and wiser and more confused and hurt than before.

More years pass and eventually Zeldris dies. His soul goes down to Hell where Gelda finds him. Understanding what has occurred in his life she pleads for clemency for his soul with the goddess queen, which is denied. Deciding she cannot live with the injustice, Gelda ties her fate to that of Zeldris and refuses to let him into Hell, believing that the goddess clan will thus admit him to heaven.

But they do not. So Zeldris’s soul is left to wander the world for eternity. Gelda is punished by being stripped of her demon powers and cast out upon the earth to search for the man she gave up her position for. He had no idea she was seeking him and so never stops, always moving from place to place, Gelda never managing to find him. He is still wandering and she is still searching, the two souls destined to be together yet fated never to meet.

[galfridus1]

Twilight AU. "I know what you are."

TWILIGHT!

Ok I have not read the books and have no intention of doing so but @maybeishouldwait and @penumbrcge made me watch the first (and in my case last) film so here we go.

Zeldris is the new boy at school after his family move to a new area following the death of his mother. He has an older brother he doesn’t get on with but secretly admires. Meliodas has always been the popular one and immediately makes loads of friends at their new school, leaving Zeldris out in the cold. He just wants to study and get on with things and this school is very focused on social activities (read getting drunk and behaving like teenagers).

That is until he meets Gelda. They are forced to sit together in a social studies class (no one will sit next to Zeldris and Gelda arrives late). He tries tentatively to make conversation with her but she is extremely rude and brushes him off. Annoyed, Zeldris decides after a restless night to confront her for being so brusque with him.

He follows Gelda to her car the following day after classes have finished, intent on confronting her. But one of the idiot kids at the school is joy riding and nearly crashes their car into him. Somehow, even though he is the direct line of the car, Zeldris is saved, the car ending up a blistered and broken wreck in front of him. Gelda is standing next to him, a bit of metal in her hands. They all go to the hospital and Zeldris overhears Gelda being scolded by her family (Orlondi and Ren who are at school with them and their foster father Izraf, who is a bit intimidating). He starts to think there is something not right with this family.

After the hospital incident, Zeldris and Gelda grow more close, even though Gelda tries to be standoffish at first. They go to the woods and Gelda turns a funny colour in the sunlight, they go to a restaurant and Gelda doesn’t eat anything. Basically the clues are all there and eventually Zeldris works it out. “I know what you are,” he tells her and she confirms she’s a vampire. At this point Zeldris is introduced to the family.

Ren, it turns out, is a bit unstable. She tries hard to break the couple up out of jealously and when that doesn’t work she kidnaps Zeldris, tying him up in a dance studio where she determines she will make him a vampire. She’s on the point of biting him when Meliodas shows up with the friends he has made, Derieri, Monspeet and Melascyla. They attack Ren with dark magic (while Zeldris looks on both fascinated and horrified) until Ren flies off into the night. Gelda shows up just as Meliodas is telling Zeldris that they (and Monspeet, Derieri and Melascyla) are all actually demons. It’s news to him, he has a hard time adjusting but Gelda helps him accept that he too is a creature of the night. She helps him master his magic and in the end the two of them go flying to celebrate, their dark silhouettes standing out against the moon.