Chapter one

Heatache and Loss

"Ready Prince Van?" Balgus asked as he prepared the five year old's saddle.

"I'm ready!" Van said, as Balgus picked the child up and had him settled on his black stallion. "We're gonna look for Folken right?!" The prince asked with excitment, dancing in his dark eyes.

"Yes, prince, we are."

Van had a close relationship to his brother that no one could describe, he admired his older brother so much. When Goau, King of all Fanelia, had died, his brother acted as a second father towards him. Balgus wanted nothing more than to tell the young prince, that he was certain that they would find him. The small child had lost so much. His father was no longer alive, Van took his fathers death very hard, it had taken him so long to allow himself to be happy again. The samari didn't know how the child would take the loss of his brother.

"I'm know we'll find him this time Balgus!" Van said, determination written all over his face.

Balgus smiled at his future king, he admired the small boy's bravery so much.

"I'm sure you're right, prince."

Balgus hopped onto his horse and they were off.

The young prince and the knight traveled across the villages of Fanelia.

Many people walked the streets of the markets, many of them stopped to stare at the prince on top of the black horse. Van never let their comments or stares get to his head.

"He's a coward, He's the one who ran away from sucession." a village person said.

"I thought that he was to young to become king, by the right of dragon slaying." Another villager replied.

The young prince brought his horse to a halt.

"He is not! He is not a coward!" he yelled with determination, the pride showing for his older brother.

Balgus seeing that they had upset the boy, too stopped his horse.

"Enough of this!" he yelled, angry, that they upset their future king. "I won't have that type of rumor longering! How dare you speak that way in the presence of your future king!"

The men ran in fear of the rage of one of the prince's guardians.

Van watched as the men ran, hurt shone in the child's eyes.

"Don't worry, Prince Van, Prince Folken will surly return, I know he will!" Balgus tried to reasure his prince.

Van nodded, and they again, began their journey to find the lost prince.

Hours later they had arrived at the forest, were the dragons roamed.

"Folken!" Van shouted, just hoping that he would hear his brother's voice calling, hoping that just maybe he was alive, just wishing that no harm had come to him.

"Lord Folken!" Balgus bellowed. "Your highness are you here?"

Nothing but the sounds of night creatures, roaming the forest.

"Folken!" Van shouted louder, climbing a rock hoping that it would give him a better view. "Brother, please answer me!"

Still no answer. van coulden't help but be discouraged.

They rode through the forests for hours, bit with no avail.

"Lord van, we must retire, your mother will be in an awful state of worry if we do not return." Balgus said guidinf Van's horse over to him.

"You're giving up? Van yelled. "Folken's here I know it, I can feel it!" Van had never been so frusterated in his life. "He could be hurt! we can't leave yet! You don't understand! He-"

"Your highness!" Balgus said sharply, cutting the prince off. "I do understand that you are worried about prince Folken, but we won't be able to search for him if you become ill and sleep deprived. This is for your own good!"

Van looked away. He had never felt so alone or helpless.

Tears welled in his eyes as he looked at Balgus once more.

"Why did he have to leave me!" he yelled to the heavens. "He promised me that he would never go! he promised! First father, now him, why?!"

He felt Balgus' comforting, hand on his small shoulder. "Sometimes, prince, things happen that we can not change. There are no words that i can speak to abide your heart ache, but I would like you to know," Balgus spoke gently to the young boy "That I will stay by your side, as long as the fates will allow, and protect you."

"Balgus!" The tiny child sobbed, clinging to the man. Balgus was only one man, who never wanted to be close to a child, he didn't know what to do, he did the only thing that he could do, comfort the small child. Blagus had never experianced the innocence, or purety of a child. The friendship of a child, Blagus admired the boy's bravery so much. The truth was that Balgus was now one of the closest things that Van had to a father now, and Van was the closest thing that Balgus would ever have to a son. He was glad to call this boy the future king of Fanelia.

"Your highness, don't cry lord." He spoke gently. "You are the future king of Fanelia, be brave my lord, it'll be alright."

Van lifted his small head, to look at the man that he considered his hero and fainted esaughsted.

Authors notes: I just wanna thank my best buddy Christine for reviewing my story first and not telling me that I'm a freaking psyco, your printer works better than mine! and to my big sis for forcing me to watch Escaflowne! one note, I call van! hahahahaha Oh and also thanks to James, You got me the Escaflowne soundtrack! *giggles insanly* Oh and to my other sister that gave me the money for my videos. *drools over Van* heh heh heh.

Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne. THERE YOU HAPPY!

*continues to hear voices in head*

Oh, they're still there!

*bangs head on computer table*

Hope you liked it! If you didn't well TOO BAD!!

review please ^-^ Tell me if you liked it hated it or if you think i'm just freakin insane, got any ideas well e-mail me! okay buh bye.