Now and Forever

Chapter 4

"What do you mean he's already passed out drunk? It's only eight in the morning!" grumbled Meliodas. "We're supposed to be going to the city for supplies; I have no idea what kinds of ingredients he wants!"

"Let me see if I can get him up" said Diane. The giantess picked up the unconscious Sin of Greed and shook him violently while loudly yelling at him to wake up. However, Ban didn't even bat an eye.

King floated towards them, "I've got this". He leaned forward and quietly whispered into Ban's ear. The Fox Sin's eyes snapped open and he leapt to his feet looking more sober than they had seen him in a very long time. "Are we going or what?" he asked in a clear voice.

"What the hell did you say to him?" asked Hawk in astonishment. "I just said that if he didn't come to town to shop for supplies, then the Captain was going to make dinner." There was a unanimous shudder and Meliodas scowled as everyone burst into laughter. He glanced over at Elizabeth as they made their way back into the Boar Hat and his expression softened. She was trying her best not to laugh and to hide her smile behind her hand, but was failing miserably at both. He caught her eye and winked, causing her to turn a violent shade of red and promptly trip up the stairs.

The group was finally getting ready to set out when there was a knock at the tavern door. They all looked up as Gilthunder walked in, stopping in his tracks and looking surprised to see the majority of the Sins gathered in one place. "Yo, Gil! What brings you to the Boar Hat on this beautiful day? We were just on our way to Liones" Meliodas said with a grin.

Gil glanced over as Elizabeth came out of the back storage room with a shopping list. She was concentrating more on the list than where she was placing her feet and stumbled over the well worn threshold, but Meliodas leapt forward and caught her before she could hit the floor. "Elizabeth! What am I going to do with you?" he laughed as he looked into her startled blue eyes and gently brushed a strand of silver hair from her flushed face. As though suddenly remembering their audience, he quickly placed her back on her feet and, with an even quicker motion, grabbed her rear before moving back towards the rest of the group. This was more than enough to set off Hawk and, yelling insults like a battlecry, ran towards Meliodas who merely sidestepped at the last moment. Instead of slamming into the Captain, he collided with Ban and everyone watched as they both went tumbling out the front door.

"You were saying?" said Meliodas as he turned back towards the Holy Knight as though nothing had happened. Gil could only shake his head in wonder at the interruption.

"The King sent me to make sure the Princess was safe" he said pointing a look in Elizabeth's direction. She flushed and, staring at her shoes, refused to meet his eyes. "And" he continued as he turned back to face the others "to invite you all as honored guests to the royal ball that will be taking place in one month."

Surprise and delight lit up Elizabeth's face; her curiosity won out over her embarrassment, and she moved to stand with Meliodas and the other Sins. "Father is throwing a ball!?" "Your oldest sister may or may not have convinced him that it would be a good idea" said Gilthunder with a wink.

Diane suddenly came running through the door, having finally found the bottle of shrinking pills that she had somehow misplaced in her backpack. "What did I miss?" she asked breathlessly.

"You've all been invited as honored guests to a royal ball in one month" summarized the princess. "One month!? But that doesn't give me much time to find a dress! You'll help me, right?" cried Diane. "Of course, I'm going to need your help too!" Elizabeth smiled.

"Does that mean you'll be there?" asked the Holy Knight.

"Formal attire and an awkward dinner followed by dancing? Ugh, don't signme up" grumbled Ban as he came back into the tavern with Hawk in tow.