OK, I'm back. Here's the thing: while working on this chapter, I left the computer on without saving cuz I thought it'd be fine, but my evil sister closed it and about half of it was lost! NOOO! So I had to rewrite it. I apologize in advance cuz I rushed a little to get it out faster and it shows in the later part of this chapter.
Another thing: I'm going out of town this Sunday, so I won't be updating for about two weeks after that, give of take a few days. I'll try to update again before that, but I can't promise, unless you don't mind a shorter chapter. Don't be too upset, though. I'll be on the road with plenty of time to brainstorm for more chapters. Yay!
Please review! That's your opportunity to tell me how I can fix any major mistakes, make plot suggestions, or anything else. As always, feel free to use the number system:
Also, let me know how you feel about a shorter (but faster) update before I leave.
Thanks to MochaExpress, my newest reviewer.
Disclaimer: Me not own Escaflowne. Not sue.
Now, time to enjoy!
In the private Tyrdonian gardens, beneath an ancient Bruñel tree, gathered the members of the royal Kanzaki family. A stone table rested directly under the shade, around which the king, queen, and their two oldest children were seated. The queen rested her head on the palm of her hand, looking back and forth from King Emries to Prince Deruca with interest as they. Princess Demerit hardly made an effort to disguise her boredom, looking around absently and sighing from time to time while cooling herself with a fan too extravagant for such a casual setting. Despite her efforts to counteract the heat and humidity, strands of her golden locks stuck to the nape of her neck.
Meanwhile, the remaining children splashed noisily in a large fountain. The sculpture in the center depicted two winged women holding the clay pots from which the water flowed. The twins Flora and Fauna sat in the shadow of the tall statue, giggling and periodically whispering in each other's ear. Their long red hair was matted against their backs, swirling like seaweed when it touched water. Though neither of the girls had many friends outside of relatives and servants, they were perfectly content with getting lost in their own little twin world. That was probably why they still seemed to be so young: they had little influence from people their own age.
Emries often said that he would have to separate them if he ever wished them to marry because no child would grow up if they always had their favorite playmate around. A child alone will too soon be grown while two or three by the way will, young, children stay, he would say whenever he threatened to move Flauna into separate bedrooms, sent to different finishing schools, or anything else that would require the seventeen-year-olds to be separated.
Hitomi entered the clearing just in time to see her younger brother Rubious sneak up behind the twins and pour a handful of dirt on each identical head.
"Ahhh! RUBIOUS! I'll kill you!" Flora screamed. She bounded out of the water toward her half-brother, who was rolling on the ground while clutching his sides, his high-pitched laughter filling the air.
The ten-year-old boy stole out of the furious red-head's grasp before she could exact her terrible revenge. As he scampered off to Hitomi's side, Flora turned back to her distraught sister and began helping Fauna groom the dirt from her long crimson strands.
"Hitomi! Where have you been? Father was just about to send a search party to find you," Rubious said, hugging his sister around the waist.
"I was in my room, silly. Why didn't anyone come for me earlier?" Hitomi replied, ruffling his already unruly chestnut hair.
"Because you sleep like the dead, sister!" he sprinted off back to the stone table.
"Hey! Get back over here!" Hitomi yelled after him, green eyes flashing mischievously. She slowed as the shade of the Bruñel tree reached out to shelter her from the beating noonday sun. It's crimson leaves were broad and new, shedding a tinted red glow onto the garden floor as the light shone through its ruby foliage. The snow-white bark was in deep contrast with those who were seated under its shadow, the four adults all wearing brightly colored robes. Hitomi knew by their casual garb that there would be no weary visits to the court this day. Thank the gods for that. It's much to hot to be out, she thought.
As she approached, she saw that Rubious had made himself comfortable on their mother's lap. Emries worried that Aunica was coddling the boy, but Hitomi wasn't concerned. Her mother had looked into her son's future, something she did on extremely rare occasions, had seen Rubious as a great warrior. She did not tell anyone but Hitomi what she had seen because it was widely believed that the power to see into the future was one of the most dangerous powers anyone who wielded magic could invoke. She did, however, use her knowledge of Rubious' destiny to appease Emries. It was Aunica who saw Hitomi drawing near.
"Hitomi, darling, at last you resolve to grace us with your presence," she smiled warmly.
"Sorry, mother. I did not sleep well," Hitomi stood beside Aunica and placed a kiss on her forehead.
"She probably fell asleep on the roof of the Tower again," Demerit spat out snootily. She flipped her perfect golden hair and fanned the other side of her neck. "Really, Hitomi, you might as well just join the gypsy clan if you're going to insist on living like one of those heathens."
The eldest princess referred to a band of nomads that had come to Tyrdon to trade only a few days before. They had made their camp just outside the palace walls. Many feared their presence would bring out other "riff-raff" and drifters, but they had done nothing but provide good business for the local merchants.
The other glared back. "Maybe I should, sister. I already prefer their company to yours."
An uproar of voices followed with Hitomi and Demerit hurling various insults while Rubious egged them on, Aunica and Deruca trying to appease the girls' anger, Emries threatening to lock the girls in their rooms for the rest of the day, and Flauna pleading with him to have mercy on Hitomi. Could he not see that Demerit had spoken the first unkind words and, in doing so, had caused their favorite sister to only defend her integrity?
"SILENCE! I command silence at once, you horde of banshees!"
All but Deruca lowered their heads and murmured "Yes, my lord." in procession.
Emries motioned for Deruca to join him in rising to his feet. His son's tall frame met the king's height, delicate rays of light glittered like new gold threw his spiky blond hair. He spoke for his father.
"All of you, return to your quarters and make ready for the mid-day meal at once," his rich voice seemed to fit perfectly with the air of calm that had returned to garden.
Hitomi lifted her head slightly, always anxious to see her usually serene brother crack his iron whip, or however that expression went. It was always exciting to see gentle Deruca, who many felt would be to soft to rule over the country, act like a king. Never miss a chance to practice for the real thing, do you? she thought.
He continued, "We have been invited to dine with the Elders of the sojourners' clan. We have accepted and leave to be received by them in one hour's time. Carry on."
What! We're going out? In this heat! Hitomi thought. Just when a girl thinks she's gonna catch a break…
Hitomi thought."Yes, my lord," they responded again and made their way to make ready.
Flauna were the first to bound off to their room. Demerit shoved past Hitomi and glared back at her as she made her way alone to the shelter of the covered walkway. Hitomi glared daggers at her when she turned away. The tension she felt in her muscles relaxed slightly when she felt her mother lock arms with her and Rubious fall in step beside her. Though an inch or so taller than her daughter, Aunica rested her head on Hitomi's shoulder as they walked, showing playful affection that few ladies of the court gave to anything but imported silk or a finely cut diamond.
"Darling, why do you quarrel with Demerit? It's not ladylike, and you know it vexes your father so to see his children at odds," she cooed gently.
Hitomi sighed as they entered under the shady sidewalk and continued toward the living quarters.
"Mother, I try not to, but she makes it so hard to keep quiet. Why doesn't father say anything to her?"
"He does, darling. When no one else is near, he implores her to 'hold her serpent's tongue.' She says that she will each time, but his talks seem to make little difference."
"Then why doesn't he punish her? He always takes away my horse or tell my tutor to give me twice as much work."
"He takes from her the same way he takes from you. Did you notice her fan? It is her favorite one she uses at festivals and weddings and such gatherings. He took it from her the last time she provoked you. Why else did you think she used it though there was no one to admire it?"
"She said it was out of style. That's why she didn't take it when we first went to greet the gypsy caravan."
"She deceive you, my little one. It was locked away in my bureau for nearly two weeks after it was given over to your father."
Hitomi sighed. If talking and punishment aren't going to keep Demerit off my back, then what will?
"Why don't you say something to her, mother. You were always the best at settling arguments between Flauna," Rubious chimed in.
It was true. Though the twins rarely fought, there was little anyone could do to calm their tempers when a clash ensued. Aunica had been an exception. She had a way of playing mediator that caused Flora and Fauna both to want to yield to the other's demands and make amends.
Hitomi secretly suspected that she used the magic she had learned as a priestess to strengthen their bond. Twins were exalted as a single powerful soul manifested in two bodies by the worshipers at Viridian temple where Aunica had been taught. She no doubt felt greatly honored to play Flauna's mother and would to anything to prevent a separation between them.
Hitomi turned back to Aunica when she heard her speak.
"I would try to speak with her myself if I thought it would do any good, but Demerit is a grown woman and has no use for another mother."
"Then why not approach her woman to woman?" Hitomi suggested.
Now it was Aunica who sighed. "This is a very complicated thing you ask of me. You see, children, when Flauna's mother died, it was widely thought that your father had decided he could not bare to lose another wife some day and had resolved never to marry again. If that had been so, then Demerit would have been selected to become queen. She would have had all the power of a ruler without having to give up her freedom by marrying. Demerit sees me not as a mother figure, my darlings, but as a victorious rival of sorts. Do you understand?"
The trio turned the last corner that stood between them and their mother's privet chambers. As they approached, both children stayed quiet while trying to understand what their mother had just said. Did their sister truly believe that their mother had cost her the crown?
They entered the room to find a string of lit candles around the large vanity mirror that stood against the opposite wall. A servant appeared from the adjoining room and curtsied.
"Could you fetch the prince and princess clothes to match the gowned I will be wearing to greet the gypsy king, dear?" Aunica said gently to the woman. Though obviously a few years older that her, she treated the servant woman as though she were a child doing her a small favor. When asked why she did this, Aunica often told whoever had inquired because she had knowledge of things that no one person could see in a lifetime and therefore was a much older soul than they.
"Yes, m'lady," the woman made her exit and left Aunica, Hitomi, and Rubious to themselves.
The sibling immediately plopped down on the large goose-down bed. The fluffy white sheets never seemed to be less than dazzling white. Though the queen usually shared a bed with the king, she slept in her privet rooms whenever he was away on "matters of diplomatic urgency" as he called them or stayed with his councilmen for days and days during times of grave importance.
"It just gets so lonely in that great big room when your father's away. I don't feel so alone in this cozy little habitat," she had told them with a smile. She loved calling that particular room a "habitat." She said it made her feel more like she was just one of the gods' simple creatures.
Hitomi stared up at the mural on the ceiling Rubious snuggled into one of the large pillows. Tracing over the numerous flowers and vines of the garden scenes with her eyes, she listened to the sound of rustling fabric as her mother disrobed and put on the dress draped over the slim mannequin that stood beside the covered window.
She thought back to her sister's obvious disgust for her. Yes, she had known Demerit had never liked her. She had not known, however, the reason why or that her dislike stretched to her mother as well. What her mother said had made sense. When Aunica became queen, it meant that Demerit was from then on doomed to wander about the castle with no purpose other than to make herself pretty so that their father could marry her off and ally Tyrdon with whatever country she was promised to. Otherwise, she could have been the most powerful woman in the land and have stood a chance at being one of the few women who were truly respected and revered. Now, she believed that Aunica had stolen that chance from her, and Hitomi and Rubious were a constant reminder of that reality.
Hitomi continued to think about the origins of Demerit's hatred. What had happened to her mother, Dione of Elpis? Her marriage to Emries had been arranged. Though both tried, the pair never became more to each other than familiar strangers. Dione took a lover after a time, and Emries had been kind enough to simply divorce her, letting her shame be her most severe punishment. Neither Deruca or Demerit looked anything like Emries, causing many to say that they were children of her lover. However, Emries often said rather proudly that they had simply inherited their mother's beauty and all his charms.
But what had become of Dione? Had she gone back to Elpis after that? Would she be invited to Demerit's wedding someday? Hitomi couldn't remember a single time where Dione was present. She thought she might catch a glimpse of the infamous lady when Demerit was engaged to the Duke of Weiss for a short time. Unfortunately, the Duke had been quite elderly and in bad health. He died only a few months into the engagement, much to Demerit's relief, and any chance of Dione resurfacing was gone again.
So what did happen to adulteresses?
Hitomi turned on her side and rested her head in the palm of her hand.
"Mother, what happens to adulteresses?"
Aunica sat at her vanity. She finished adjusting her emerald-studded broach, her only piece of jewelry aside from her wedding ring, and picked up an ivory hair brush.
"As far as I know, they are sent to temples and convents to atone for their sins and spend the rest of their lives in the servitude of the gods. Well, the ones who aren't executed, any way. Why do you ask such grave questions, little one?"
Hitomi returned to her former position.
"Just curious, I guess. What would happen to her children?"
Her mother fixed the last of several hair pins in place and stood, her form graceful as she crossed to room toward her daughter.
"I imagine she would never see them again if she lived. They would become illegitimate and…simply have no place in society. Who would want bastards? Oh, I don't want to think about it," she shook herself as if to shake the thought from her mind. "What an awful thing for children to have to suffer."
She sat next to Hitomi and combed her hair with her fingers. Aunica's green eyes shone with tears. Hitomi reached up and pulled her mother in for a hug.
"I'm sorry, dear. It's just this talk of children and adultery. I could never do anything to put you or Rubious in danger of such a retched fate."
She pulled back from Hitomi's shoulder.
"The ladies-in-waiting will be here any minute with your clothes. Let's brace ourselves for them, shall we?
Hitomi laughed half-heartedly. The ladies-in-waiting were little more than gossiping hens, her father always said. Their mindless chatter was a refreshing break, however, from the seriousness of her daily routine.
She let her grim thoughts slip from her mind. She pictured it as sand falling through the tight grip of her fist.
"Mother, about the invitation to Fanelia, I was wondering¾ "
"Hush about that for now. Your father wants to talk to you about that tomorrow morning. You are to read his cards at sunrise, when the spirits are most active."
Hitomi knew how to read Tarot, a tradition passed on from her mother's side of the family. She often only did so for bored servants or as a party trick for court ladies. Her father had never taken it too seriously and certainly never asked her to read them for him. Any time he felt the need for magic counseling, he asked her mother. Hitomi cast a worried glance at Aunica.
"It's not what you think, darling. He wants to know about the journey we are to make to Fanelia. You can never be too careful."
Her shoulders relaxed. He only wants me to warn him about anything that will go wrong on the trip over there. Probably nothing more than a broken carriage wheel or lame horse.
"Mother, where was Rohan?" she turned back to Aunica. Hitomi realized that the usually rambunctious youth had been nowhere to be seen at the garden. He would have defended me against Demerit's assault.
Her mother rose and stood next to the window, preparing for the onslaught of "gossiping hens."
"The gypsy king has a daughter," she said with a knowing smile.
Hitomi smiled back. Before she could open her mouth again, the room was filled clucking women, all ready to play dress up with their favorite green-eyed princess.
1 - boring, I'm not going to read it anymore
2 - kind of interesting, but still boring
3 - king of interesting, I'll keep reading
4 - interesting, I'll keep reading
5 - interesting, I'd really like you to continue
6 - very interesting, I'd love for you to continue! J