Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne, nor any of its original characters. Please don't sue me!!!!
From the shadows
Chapter 1
I've always liked the shadows, their darkness, their coldness.
My birth placed me in a world were darkness was something alien, unconceivable. My mother always said that I was a child of light, that I was destined to shine over everyone around me. If only she had known…
She died when I was 9 years old. My only contact with light was gone, and I plunged into the darkness I so loved. My father watched as his only son, his heir, became lonely and bitter, but there was nothing he could do to stop it. He had never been there, and I didn't want him anymore.
My life went on, darkness overwhelming light, for six more years.
The day I turned fifteen, my father and I went on a trip. He wanted to introduce me to his allies, to the kings of the neighboring kingdoms. Bazram, Chezario and Fanelia went by in a blur. Asturia came last. I had heard a lot about this merchant country. I knew about its greedy king, virtuous queen, beautiful princesses and chivalrous knights.
I didn't care anymore. I had turned into an object, a precious piece of furniture that my father could parade around, but that wouldn't feel or think.
That was, until I saw her. She was truly what the child of light that my mother so seeked for in myself must have always looked like. Silver blond hair flying, violet eyes shinning, she was a vision. One I had never expected to beheld. Marlene.
During my whole visit I barely paid attention to anything but her. She was much younger that me, but still, like a fool, I fell in love with her. I must have been pretty obvious, for the queen kept giving me conspiratorial glances. Oh, well…
It ended all to soon: we had to return home. Time went by, but she still haunted me. I even took to daydreaming, imagining how she would change day-to-day, becoming even more beautiful. Years kept coming and going, and all to soon I turned twenty three.
That day, my father came to me with the news that I had been betrothed, and that she would be arriving shortly.
I hated him then, more than I even want to remember. How could he do this to me? She would soon come of age and I would have been able to court her! Hate and despair clouded my mind, so that I didn't hear anything else he said, and he left unanswered.
My bride to be arrived two weeks later. I didn't even greet her, I didn't want to see her. No matter what, she would never replace Marlene in my heart, she'd never have my heart as my blond angel did.
Oh, if I had only known, if I hadn't been so stubborn, perhaps…
Six whole months wasted. And when I finally learned her identity, when I finally would have been in a position to win her heart… I had already lost her.
That was the day I learned of the existence of Allen Schezar.