Author: Katma (kawaiikatma@hotmail.com)
Summary: Hitomi's home, it's been eight years, but she still misses Van. What happens now?
Rating: PG-13 (some violence and romance, but nothing graphic ;-) )
Disclaimer: Hitomi and Van are not mine. I only wish they were. I'm only borrowing them so that I can mess with their lives. Please don't sue me!! I'm a college student (ie, NO money).
Chapter 1
The Meeting
Millerna bounced up and down on the seat of her carriage. Dryden, slouched across from her, smiled indulgently. He watched as his wife's long blonde hair caught the light streaming through the window. The expression of joy on her face and the light on her hair made her look like some sort of angel. Dryden couldn't resist. He leaned over and captured her mouth with his. Millerna made a surprised squeak, but then responded to his kiss, wrapping her arms around Dryden's neck and squeezing tightly.
When Dryden broke the kiss, he smiled at her.
"Couldn't resist. You're cute when you're excited."
"Thanks," Millerna laughed. "I just can't wait to see Van again. It's been so long, and I hear he's done wonderful things with Fanelia. It'll be just like old times."
"Well, except for the fact that we're missing someone," Dryden teased, then regretted it when Millerna's face fell.
"Right, Hitomi. I miss her," Millerna said. "And I've heard rumors that there is a woman in the castle. Obviously, Van has moved on. I wonder whether I will like this woman?"
Dryden sighed. "It's hard to think of him replacing Hitomi. I know Allen has heard the rumors. We'd best keep him away from Van until we have had time to adjust to this new development."
Millerna grimaced. "Oh, yes. You know how Allen gets. He can be so annoying when he gets an idea in his head. I think he thinks Van is betraying Hitomi by seeing someone else. But it has been eight years. Van can't wait around forever. He needs to marry and produce an heir, or the Fanels will lose their claim to the throne."
"Yes, I understand that. But Allen doesn't. All he will say is that Van is a fool to hurt Hitomi, and that Van will pay."
"Honestly. He can be so stubborn! I have no idea what I ever saw in him," Millerna said casually, tossing her head. Dryden's eyes lit up at that statement. He had known for a long time that Millerna had gotten over her infatuation with the handsome knight, but this was the first time Millerna had ever said it out loud. He thought that deserved some sort of reward from him, and he knew exactly what kind of reward to give her.
Dryden grasped Millerna's arm and jerked her into his lap. Millerna let out a shriek of surprise that soon turned into a laugh as she found herself straddling her husband.
"And just what exactly do you think you're doing?" she asked him coyly, looking up from under her eyelashes.
"Kissing you," Dryden responded, and proceeded to do just that.
A long time later, the slowing of the carriage indicated that they had finally reached Fanelia. Millerna pulled away from her husband and hastily straightened her appearance.
"Do I look all right?" Millerna asked anxiously.
"You look beautiful, as always," Dryden whispered, leaning over to steal one last kiss. Millerna pushed him away, slightly annoyed.
"That's not what I meant, and you know it. Do I look presentable? I really don't want all of Fanelia to know how we occupy the time on our journey."
Dryden smoothed an errant curl back and looked his wife up and down. "You look perfect."
"Thank you," she smiled. "Just in time, too."
A particularly violent jerk signaled the carriages stop. Dryden stepped out of the carriage and extended his hand to help Millerna out. Millerna descended gracefully and looked around her. Eires and Allen, who were in the carriage ahead of Millerna, met her on the ground.
"King Van has certainly turned this place around, hasn't he?" Eires commented. Millerna nodded, her eyes surveying the changes Van had made. His castle was of dark gray stone, with soaring towers and delicate arches, creating an air of power combined with beauty. The rose stone that slated the roof matched the paving of the winding paths that twisted and turned through Van's well-manicured lawn. Spiral topiaries lined the walk to the forbidding wooden doors. Orderly gardens lay on either side of the walkway.
"I like it," Millerna decreed. Eires and Dryden smiled at her, but Allen stood apart from the group with his arms crossed. Dryden rolled his eyes at Millerna, and she suppressed a giggle. Allen was certainly good at sulking.
"Allen, " Millerna chided, resting her hand lightly on his tensed arm. "None of us are really happy with the thought of Van with someone other than Hitomi, but SHE left HIM. We have to remember that. We should be happy that Van has the chance to be happy again."
"He's betraying Hitomi's memory," Allen snapped, not relenting in the least. "He doesn't deserve happiness."
"Fine," Millerna snapped. "Be that way. But he is a king. Even if you no longer respect him as a man, respect him as a king, and act accordingly. If not, as your queen, I WILL send you back to Asturia!"
Allen gaped at her, open-mouthed. Behind Millerna, Dryden put a hand over his mouth to stifle a laugh. Eires looked disapprovingly at Millerna. Coming to stand next to Allen, she said in a chilling tone,
"That is no way to treat a respected and admired knight in your service."
"It is if he's acting like a five-year-old. But regardless, it is not becoming to stand out here arguing. Dryden!" she summoned.
Dryden came forward and extended his arm. Millerna put the tips of her fingers gracefully on his arm and the pair began to walk forward. Millerna turned on last time and hissed at Allen,
"I'll be watching you. Behave!" Then the group continued up the pathway. As they neared the oaken doors, the doors slowly opened to reveal Kenyu and Merle. Dryden and Millerna inclined their heads at the pair, who returned the gesture. Just before they proceeded into the Grand Atrium, Merle caught Millerna's eye. She winked at her, and then turned to greet Allen and Eires. Millerna noted that Merle was fairly dancing with excitement. Van's new girl must be something if she can inspire this level of devotion in Merle, Millerna thought. She vowed to keep an open mind when greeting this girl.
Two liveried footmen opened the doors to the Grand Atrium. Millerna and Dryden proceeded down a luxurious red carpet to a raised dais where Van stood. As they stepped onto the dais, Van's kingly demeanor slipped, and he grabbed Millerna in a big hug. Millerna laughed and returned the hug. As he pulled away, Millerna studied Van's face intently.
"You look happy, Van. That's good."
"And you, hime," he teased, "look more beautiful than ever."
"Hey," Dryden said good-naturedly. "That's my wife you're talking to!" He pulled Millerna possessively to his side. He and Van exchanged laughing looks, and then engaged in the violent hugs that males always engage in.* Allen and Eires soon approached, but they did not quite get the same welcome.
"Eires," said Van, extending his hand. Eires took it and bowed coldly over it. She then stepped aside for Allen. Allen accepted Van's hand and knelt, showing his willingness to serve the king. He couldn't resist, however, glaring up at the man who had betrayed Hitomi. Van's brow crinkled confusedly. He had no idea why Allen was acting like this. He glanced at Millerna, who shrugged imperceptibly and rolled her eyes. Van sighed. There was nothing he could do about Allen's anger now. He had duties to fulfill.
"You must be tired after your long journey. Your rooms have been prepared for you. Go, relax, explore the grounds, enjoy yourselves. Tonight is your own. Dinner is at seven, but if you would prefer not to dine in the Great Hall, dinner will be brought to you. The other members of the delegation I called have already arrived, and so the conference will start tomorrow at nine."
With that, Van dismissed them, bowing deeply and gesturing to two liveried servants. They quickly moved out of rank and led Millerna and her court away.
Van rolled his shoulders under his heavy state clothing. He was hot. He was also frustrated at the coolness of his reception by his old friends. Van didn't know what was going on, but he didn't like it. He needed to cool down and work out his frustrations, and he knew just how to do it. Van unclasped his cloak and handed it off to a servant. To another, he handed his crown. Then he stalked off outside, heading for his haven.
Summary: Hitomi's home, it's been eight years, but she still misses Van. What happens now?
Rating: PG-13 (some violence and romance, but nothing graphic ;-) )
Disclaimer: Hitomi and Van are not mine. I only wish they were. I'm only borrowing them so that I can mess with their lives. Please don't sue me!! I'm a college student (ie, NO money).
Chapter 1
The Meeting
Millerna bounced up and down on the seat of her carriage. Dryden, slouched across from her, smiled indulgently. He watched as his wife's long blonde hair caught the light streaming through the window. The expression of joy on her face and the light on her hair made her look like some sort of angel. Dryden couldn't resist. He leaned over and captured her mouth with his. Millerna made a surprised squeak, but then responded to his kiss, wrapping her arms around Dryden's neck and squeezing tightly.
When Dryden broke the kiss, he smiled at her.
"Couldn't resist. You're cute when you're excited."
"Thanks," Millerna laughed. "I just can't wait to see Van again. It's been so long, and I hear he's done wonderful things with Fanelia. It'll be just like old times."
"Well, except for the fact that we're missing someone," Dryden teased, then regretted it when Millerna's face fell.
"Right, Hitomi. I miss her," Millerna said. "And I've heard rumors that there is a woman in the castle. Obviously, Van has moved on. I wonder whether I will like this woman?"
Dryden sighed. "It's hard to think of him replacing Hitomi. I know Allen has heard the rumors. We'd best keep him away from Van until we have had time to adjust to this new development."
Millerna grimaced. "Oh, yes. You know how Allen gets. He can be so annoying when he gets an idea in his head. I think he thinks Van is betraying Hitomi by seeing someone else. But it has been eight years. Van can't wait around forever. He needs to marry and produce an heir, or the Fanels will lose their claim to the throne."
"Yes, I understand that. But Allen doesn't. All he will say is that Van is a fool to hurt Hitomi, and that Van will pay."
"Honestly. He can be so stubborn! I have no idea what I ever saw in him," Millerna said casually, tossing her head. Dryden's eyes lit up at that statement. He had known for a long time that Millerna had gotten over her infatuation with the handsome knight, but this was the first time Millerna had ever said it out loud. He thought that deserved some sort of reward from him, and he knew exactly what kind of reward to give her.
Dryden grasped Millerna's arm and jerked her into his lap. Millerna let out a shriek of surprise that soon turned into a laugh as she found herself straddling her husband.
"And just what exactly do you think you're doing?" she asked him coyly, looking up from under her eyelashes.
"Kissing you," Dryden responded, and proceeded to do just that.
A long time later, the slowing of the carriage indicated that they had finally reached Fanelia. Millerna pulled away from her husband and hastily straightened her appearance.
"Do I look all right?" Millerna asked anxiously.
"You look beautiful, as always," Dryden whispered, leaning over to steal one last kiss. Millerna pushed him away, slightly annoyed.
"That's not what I meant, and you know it. Do I look presentable? I really don't want all of Fanelia to know how we occupy the time on our journey."
Dryden smoothed an errant curl back and looked his wife up and down. "You look perfect."
"Thank you," she smiled. "Just in time, too."
A particularly violent jerk signaled the carriages stop. Dryden stepped out of the carriage and extended his hand to help Millerna out. Millerna descended gracefully and looked around her. Eires and Allen, who were in the carriage ahead of Millerna, met her on the ground.
"King Van has certainly turned this place around, hasn't he?" Eires commented. Millerna nodded, her eyes surveying the changes Van had made. His castle was of dark gray stone, with soaring towers and delicate arches, creating an air of power combined with beauty. The rose stone that slated the roof matched the paving of the winding paths that twisted and turned through Van's well-manicured lawn. Spiral topiaries lined the walk to the forbidding wooden doors. Orderly gardens lay on either side of the walkway.
"I like it," Millerna decreed. Eires and Dryden smiled at her, but Allen stood apart from the group with his arms crossed. Dryden rolled his eyes at Millerna, and she suppressed a giggle. Allen was certainly good at sulking.
"Allen, " Millerna chided, resting her hand lightly on his tensed arm. "None of us are really happy with the thought of Van with someone other than Hitomi, but SHE left HIM. We have to remember that. We should be happy that Van has the chance to be happy again."
"He's betraying Hitomi's memory," Allen snapped, not relenting in the least. "He doesn't deserve happiness."
"Fine," Millerna snapped. "Be that way. But he is a king. Even if you no longer respect him as a man, respect him as a king, and act accordingly. If not, as your queen, I WILL send you back to Asturia!"
Allen gaped at her, open-mouthed. Behind Millerna, Dryden put a hand over his mouth to stifle a laugh. Eires looked disapprovingly at Millerna. Coming to stand next to Allen, she said in a chilling tone,
"That is no way to treat a respected and admired knight in your service."
"It is if he's acting like a five-year-old. But regardless, it is not becoming to stand out here arguing. Dryden!" she summoned.
Dryden came forward and extended his arm. Millerna put the tips of her fingers gracefully on his arm and the pair began to walk forward. Millerna turned on last time and hissed at Allen,
"I'll be watching you. Behave!" Then the group continued up the pathway. As they neared the oaken doors, the doors slowly opened to reveal Kenyu and Merle. Dryden and Millerna inclined their heads at the pair, who returned the gesture. Just before they proceeded into the Grand Atrium, Merle caught Millerna's eye. She winked at her, and then turned to greet Allen and Eires. Millerna noted that Merle was fairly dancing with excitement. Van's new girl must be something if she can inspire this level of devotion in Merle, Millerna thought. She vowed to keep an open mind when greeting this girl.
Two liveried footmen opened the doors to the Grand Atrium. Millerna and Dryden proceeded down a luxurious red carpet to a raised dais where Van stood. As they stepped onto the dais, Van's kingly demeanor slipped, and he grabbed Millerna in a big hug. Millerna laughed and returned the hug. As he pulled away, Millerna studied Van's face intently.
"You look happy, Van. That's good."
"And you, hime," he teased, "look more beautiful than ever."
"Hey," Dryden said good-naturedly. "That's my wife you're talking to!" He pulled Millerna possessively to his side. He and Van exchanged laughing looks, and then engaged in the violent hugs that males always engage in.* Allen and Eires soon approached, but they did not quite get the same welcome.
"Eires," said Van, extending his hand. Eires took it and bowed coldly over it. She then stepped aside for Allen. Allen accepted Van's hand and knelt, showing his willingness to serve the king. He couldn't resist, however, glaring up at the man who had betrayed Hitomi. Van's brow crinkled confusedly. He had no idea why Allen was acting like this. He glanced at Millerna, who shrugged imperceptibly and rolled her eyes. Van sighed. There was nothing he could do about Allen's anger now. He had duties to fulfill.
"You must be tired after your long journey. Your rooms have been prepared for you. Go, relax, explore the grounds, enjoy yourselves. Tonight is your own. Dinner is at seven, but if you would prefer not to dine in the Great Hall, dinner will be brought to you. The other members of the delegation I called have already arrived, and so the conference will start tomorrow at nine."
With that, Van dismissed them, bowing deeply and gesturing to two liveried servants. They quickly moved out of rank and led Millerna and her court away.
Van rolled his shoulders under his heavy state clothing. He was hot. He was also frustrated at the coolness of his reception by his old friends. Van didn't know what was going on, but he didn't like it. He needed to cool down and work out his frustrations, and he knew just how to do it. Van unclasped his cloak and handed it off to a servant. To another, he handed his crown. Then he stalked off outside, heading for his haven.