Can I have Your Daughter?

Chapter 1

Today was the day. He had to do it. There was no getting around it any longer. Meliodas had faced some pretty terrifying opponents before, but this was going to end up being his toughest challenge yet.

Perhaps that's why he was so shaken right now; his fists clutched at his sides, his heart racing.

"You can do this," He reassured himself, before the large double doors opened before him and a young lady bowed to him, "You may now have an audience with the king, please step this way, my lord."

This was it. No turning back now.

He followed the young woman in, and down the long corridor to the throne. King Bartra sat in all his age and glory, and Meliodas gave him his typical greeting, "Yo, King Bartra, been a while." He had his usual cool smile on, but his insides were twisted to the point he may get sick.

King Bartra smoothed his long silver beard as he acknowledged Meliodas and waved the young woman out of the throne room, Meliodas had completely forgotten she was still there.

"So nice of you to return after kidnapping my daughter," The king mused, looking on Meliodas with only a half serious face.

"You know I didn't kidnap her. I couldn't make her do anything even if I wanted to."

King Bartra laughed loudly at that. It was true. His adopted daughter Elizabeth had always been something of a free spirit, and it made him proud that she continued to be as such even now. She would one day make a fine lady of the kingdom, perhaps even queen someday.

"I would have liked to see her upon your return from Camelot, Meliodas, please let her know her family misses her dearly." He pressed, hoping the words would convince Elizabeth to come home, where she belonged.

Meliodas gave a light-hearted grin, "I'll be sure she gets the message."

The air in the throne room changed then as Bartra straightened up; down to business, "I'm assuming there is an actual reason you requested a formal meeting with me, Meliodas, not just to shoot the breeze?"

Right...

Meliodas straightened himself as well as he regarded the King of Lioness, "Your Highness, I have come asking for a favor."

This certainly came as a surprise to the king, as his brow shot up questioningly at him, "And what favor could a man of your power want from me?"

Meliodas swallowed hard, looking on the king. This was it. The moment of truth. The moment that separated the men from the boys, "King Bartra, I humbly ask for Elizabeth's hand in marriage."

The room went silent as Meliodas stared the king down in confidence, and the king's eyes grew wider and wider in disbelief.

"Your majesty, I cannot tell you that your daughter will always be safe, nor can I promise that she would always be happy..." Meliodas gave a soft smile as his eyes fell to the ground and he remembered every single tear she shed on their adventures together, but those tears drove him to look back up to the king with renewed vigor and confidence, "but I can promise I will always love and protect her with every fiber of my being. Please, your highness, grant me your blessing."

Silence again. This was maddening.

This time, Bartra regained himself pretty quickly, clearing his throat, "Meliodas of the Seven Deadly Sins, you are a hero to this country and a close friend. I owe more to you than I would like to admit at times, including the life of my daughter Elizabeth..." He paused seeming to choose his next words as carefully as possible, "But, I cannot in good judgment grant you your request."

Meliodas' eyes went wide, "Well, why not?" he didn't seem angry, but he definitely sounded like he was holding back.

"There are many in this country who still regard you as a traitor and, many others who have not forgotten why you were given the name 'dragon sin'. Elizabeth is a princess of this country and one day could rule over it. She cannot wed a man like you. I'm sorry, but this is the way it has to be."

It was Meliodas' turn to be silent, as he first watched the king trying to measure his seriousness, when he suddenly grinned again, seemingly unfazed by the king's refusal, "Sorry old Bartra, you see, I can't really take no for an answer." The grin on his face was like a challenge to Bartra, saying, 'Just try and stop me.'

King Bartra stood, his demeanor changing, "Meliodas if you try to go through with this... no matter how pure your intentions, you will become a traitor to this country again, and you will be dooming my daughter to a life of treason as well."

"It's not really up to me, now is it?" Meliodas produced a small box from his trouser pants and flipped it open with a quick flip of his wrist. Inside situated in satin folds was a modest little silver ring with a silver tinted pearl placed neatly between twisting metal pieces that came together to form beautiful fleur designs. "I'm sure Elizabeth knows what it would mean if I told her you said no. So it's up to her. But if she says yes, then I want you to know that I will protect her; no matter what the cost."

Meliodas turned and was gone, disappearing into thin air.

King Bartra remained stock still at his throne. He knew that Elizabeth would say yes... but the price for treason was too high. He would not let his daughter fall victim to her own childish attraction.

"GUARDS!" He yelled, and quickly the room was filled with Bartra's personal guard, "Your Highness!" They addressed in unison, taking to one knee and bowing before him.

"Find Meliodas and the Seven Deadly Sins. The captain of the Sins is attempting to kidnap princess Elizabeth and make her a traitor to the country!"

None of them even questioned the king, they turned and left just as quickly as they had entered.

"I am sorry for this old friend... but I will not see my daughter's life end, even if making you my enemy would destroy her..."