III. Van Fanel
Knocking at the door of her own home came to Celena as a particularly odd thing to do at the time. She stood at the front, looking at her feet and waiting for someone to answer. The satin shoes she had on were beyond saving, she noted with some sadness. Earlier that day, she had told her rescuer that they had reached her house, but at that point it had just been starting to appear among the trees. Now, her feet were sore with the painful discovery of how deceiving distances could be.
A servant opened the door, recognised her immediately and stepped aside for her to enter. "Lady Celena, are you well?" She nodded with a smile, realising how she must look under all the dust. He lingered there with the door ajar for a few more moments, trying to locate anyone else who might have been accompanying her. "Master Allen has been waiting for you since yesterday afternoon. He's quite worried, I must say... I just managed to get him out of his study for lunch."
Celena wanted nothing more than a hot bath and perhaps some sleep on her nice bed, but she had to reassure Allen first. It was only natural for him to react like this and she had known he would. "Could you show me to him, please?" She asked and the man led her to the garden without delay.
Her brother sat in the terrace reading some letters, while finishing his meal. The high noon sun shone on his hair, turning it into a cascade of light and his elegant pose told much about the kind of man he was – but not everything. The sword resting by his belt completed that tale.
"Onii-sama!" She called and three paces later he was holding her shoulders and looking her over, concern written across his features. "Do not worry, I may be filthy, but I am perfectly all right." That seemed to soothe him.
"Celena, what happened to you?" He paused, guiding her to a seat next to his. "You poor thing. Sit, eat, you must be exhausted! I was about to go out searching for you... tell me everything!"
She was more than happy to comply and thankfully sat on a cushioned chair, recalling with dread the stiff seat at the front of the carriage. Maybe that was why my saviour did not like carriages, she thought humourlessly in the back of her mind. It had been a pretty uncomfortable experience, especially aggravated by the rush of blood to her cheeks whenever her stomach growled. Her respect towards men who had to drive those things for a living had doubled.
She told Allen all about what she had gone through in her trip up to present time, from what had befallen her driver and escort to the way she had left the carriage up the road and walked down to the house. For some reason, though, she held back on the descriptions of her saviour. Red eyes were an unusual trait and she did not want Allen to form an ill opinion of him just because of that. Jeture knew how she had reacted to it – Celena had been sure he was some demon come to reap her soul away. Of course, she was also familiar with her tendency to act before thinking, and thinking stupidly before acting.
"It's a shame he didn't tell you his name. I would have liked to thank him for saving my little sister and bringing her home unharmed," Allen was saying. "I'll report that attack in Pallas as soon as I have the chance, though. I'll have soldiers searching the woods for those scoundrels! Teach them a lesson myself if I can." Celena smiled, and placed a comforting hand over her brother's.
The love and care he felt for her were things she would never grow indifferent to, no matter how many times he demonstrated them. The next thing he asked, however, straightened her face in a flash.
He wanted to know more about what had gone wrong with the Edissi's son. She gave him a curt reply and wasted no more time in excusing herself to her bedroom.
Allen made no protest, even encouraged her, and soon the youngest Schezar was in her bedroom on the upper floor, unfastening her dress and flopping down on her bed, while pleasant sounds of the maid drawing water came from the private bathroom. Her muscles felt so heavy she could swear there was lead in them. In the meanwhile, she stared at the ceiling she knew by heart, ornamented with small paintings of flowers and birds, and went through everything that had happened again in her head. She sighed.
It was over now; her little adventure was over and she doubted she'd ever go through something like it again or see her rescuer once more. It had felt strangely good, like it had been the first time she had ever been alive. And not just because of the rush of adrenalin her fear had spurred. She had imposed her will – only on small things, true, but even that she would not have managed under normal circumstances –, she had shouted at her rescuer, called him mad and even insulted him!
Of course she had not done that bit on purpose, nor was she particularly proud of it, for that matter. She felt guilty over what she had said and for causing him hurt; after all, she was more grateful than he would ever know. She sighed. What must it be like, being him? Travelling from place to place... I wonder if people always react to his eyes the same way that I did... with fear. Probably not, I must the only one who is silly enough to overreact that way because of such a little thing.
"Lady Celena, the bath is ready. I'll take these clothes downstairs for repairing and cleaning now, if you don't need anything else?" The woman was indicating her dress and shoes and Celena let her be on her way after offering some words of appreciation.
The water was just the right temperature and granted delicacies of special salts and bubbles. She stepped in and closed her eyes, focusing on the feel of the warm little ripples and soft foam brushing against her skin. It was bliss.
Indeed, what must it be like, to live like that stranger did? He had said he was an adventurer, but now that she thought about it more carefully, there was something that did not fit there. Wouldn't he need to have a better sword if that were the case? And even if he was, she somehow had the feeling that those eyes held a slightly different story.
And his voice – its timbre was still printed freshly in her memory and she thought about the power behind the tones again. She had never known a man capable of conveying such strength with simple words, except perhaps Allen, but only when he was talking to his men or something like that. Then again, all the other men she could say she had ever been in close contact with were either servants or nobles who had never had to do a thing in their lives... much like her. And another little paradox about her red-eyed sprang to mind. He had told those thieves he did not do heroics, and yet he had stepped in to save her when all odds were against him.
Strange man, indeed, but no matter, I am probably just being silly again. He was free to do as he pleased, go wherever he felt like. Wasn't that a dream come true. How many lands had he seen, how many people did he know? She could have asked him, but he did not seem to be too talkative – or maybe she had just let those red eyes intimidate her into keeping as still and quiet as possible, lest he suddenly turn out to be some sort of wild predator. In any case, it was just like her to only think of these things when it was too late. She still could not believe she hadn't even asked him his name.
She had read a romance once, where the main character's sweetheart was a man like that. He would take her to a million places – cities built upon lakes, snowy mountains and palaces in the most exotic of lands, with a fair amount of candlelight here and there evidently – and all the while, he would tell her about some episode he had gone through, and each tale was better and more exciting than the last.
She stopped to catch her breath and reminded herself that that was only a mushy-Millerna book, written purposefully for the hearts of romantic young ladies like her friend and herself. Her adventure, if she could even call it so, was over and her own romance story would never be like that. This had to have been the closest she would ever get to it in her life and now was time to put it behind her and go back to being Celena, the one rule-abiding Schezar.
Making up her mind to stop thinking like that, she stepped out of the water and went to bed, determined to let sleep wash away what the water could not. Suddenly the walls around her life were too tight, and everything felt like it was pushing them tighter still. She had always been content in the way she lived her life – at least until Allen came up with this most recent husband-seeking scheme of his. She had never dreamed a day would come in which she felt as caged as she did now, what with all the rules, choking dresses and ceremonies.
Now that she had been allowed to have a sip of freedom, the after-taste was a bitter one. She hid her face beneath the pillow...
Celena opened her eyes some time later to find she had fallen asleep and Allen was gently stroking her hair. "Sorry for waking you, little sister. You must still be very tired, but I have some good news and thought they would cheer you up." He was whispering and she smiled lovingly at him.
Times like these were when she loved him best. He wasn't a Knight Caeli then, just a brother who cared deeply for her. He had an uncanny ability to see right through her moods, though figuring out the causes behind them was a different thing altogether. Celena's guess this time was that he thought she was upset because of Elric's "refusal" combined with the emotional stress from the attack. It was not so, although she was surprised to find how right he was about her physical fatigue. She had needed that sleep more than she had cared to admit, even to herself.
"I've received a letter from the Princesses. We've been invited to go to the Palace to attend the celebrations that are to be held in honour of the Fanelian Prince. He will be arriving in a week from now for a formal visit of our country. Isn't it wonderful?"
Her eyes lit up; it was more than wonderful. She was a great friend of princess Millerna, the two of them having a lot in common, but unfortunately the royal title had kept her friend too busy for them to meet lately. This would be a grand opportunity to see her again, catch up with their talk and, who knew, perhaps even go to the town's bazaar together. She was sure that the invitation included her and Allen staying as guests in the Palace during those days.
Of course, there was also the downside, but Celena refused to consider it too much. Allen was bound to try to introduce her to every eligible man around, but the celebrations the Asturian Royal Family held were always so grandiose, it would certainly be worth it.
"My, it certainly is! I cannot wait to see Millerna again! There are so many things I have to tell her. When will we be leaving, brother?" Her joy was so contagious that Allen laughed.
"Don't worry about that, I want you to rest and regain your strength for now. Go to sleep, we'll talk some more at dinner." Kissing her forehead, he left her to her thoughts once more.
When King Aston organised a celebration, it was usually something worth beholding. They were always several days' long and he somehow managed to come up with something new each time, a surprise treat for those attending. The usual fireworks, dinners and balls were in order of course, and sometimes even a tournament in the great Pallas Coliseum for the men to entertain themselves.
She didn't know much about the Fanelian culture, though, just that there was some sort of a close relation between the small country and the dragons that wandered the valleys near it. A yawn overwhelmed her and she went back to sleep, deciding to go down to the library and look for some books about that country later.
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A full week passed and before she knew it, Celena was unpacking her bags in the room assigned to her at the Royal Palace, hoping she had enough time to ready herself before the reception to the Fanelians. She had no idea about at which time of the day they were expected to arrive; all that she did know was that it could be at any minute now. False fever alarms and over-protective brothers had managed to delay the trip to the Castle up to this very day, but life was smiling down on her. Staying with Millerna for these days would do her good and make her feel more like herself again – and she had someone of whom she did not know anything to thank for it, the Prince of Fanelia.
Her search for books on Fanelia among her brother's collection had come up with no results. All she could find were maps with an uninteresting variety of geographical information, but nothing on the culture itself. She remembered her brother had spent some time in the neighbouring country once, but she much preferred resorting to the next best source: gossip with Millerna during her full two week's stay.
She had not seen the Princess yet, but guessed she would be coming up her door any minute now, telling her how late she was and to hurry up. In fact, why not play a little game? She bet to herself that if it took more than ten minutes, Millerna would not be coming at all. Positioning the clock on her nightstand so she could see the minutes passing from where she was, she continued preparing herself.
Knock knock
There. Seven and a half minutes, the Princess was getting slow! Celena abruptly opened the door with a bright smile and was only too embarrassed to find a young man there. "Yes?" She asked meekly, hoping her blush of embarrassment wasn't too noticeable.
"I have a message from princess Millerna, my lady Schezar." His tone was completely business-like and Celena was not sure if he could altogether see her, despite the fact his eyes were turned her way. "She politely requests that you join her outside the Castle's main gates to go down to the city." He bowed at the end and, after her timid acknowledgment, scurried down the hall to take care of whatever other businesses he had.
She walked back in and looked stupidly at her reflection in the full-length mirror hanging on the wall opposite of the bed. "That was rushed... And I thought I was late! Why does she want to go to town at this hour? I take back what I said, Millerna! You need to slow down," she told her counterpart.
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Celena was not unfamiliar with the vast halls of the unique Asturian Castle. Being a close friend to the Princess and having lived there for some years herself, both young women had spent a great part of their childhood exploring every corridor and secondary passage they could get to.
The building itself had been constructed over one of the many canals that came from the sea and criss-crossed the city, but not all of that water was confined to the lower levels – the interior dock where the Royal Ships were harboured alongside the most important military vessels. A good portion of the waters actually made it to the other side of the Castle, conducted through special canalisations – fountains and small interior pools along the way included – or isolated corridors parallel to stairs or walkways, where one could admire their crystal clarity. Celena thought that it had been a brilliant idea from the architects who had designed the place, to make water a central element, for it beautifully brought out the essence and History of the littoral country that had made its way to greatness and prosperity through its merchant ships and armada.
Two of such corridors could be found flanking the main staircase and that had always been one of Celena's favourite spots. She inevitably paused at the bottom to admire the streams, when she heard her name.
"Celena!" Millerna was at the top of the stairs waving at her, with a young maid in tow carrying a rather large and heavy-looking box. "Oh, I'm so glad you could come! It's wonderful to see you again!"
"Same here, Millerna. But you did not have to be so hasty, I am staying for two weeks." Millerna had put on some high heel shoes that were considerably slowing down her descent, but she finally made it to where Celena was and they were able to share a friendly hug. "Are you not supposed to be waiting for the Prince of Fanelia to arrive right now?"
"No, that was earlier today, the reception just ended. And I'm not hasty, my friend! Since I have to go to town I thought I might as well go with my good friend Schezar, what's wrong with that?" That made them both giggle. Celena knew the Princess had something of a crush for her brother and the use of her last name had become a small recurrent joke between the two. Millerna would teasingly say that the main reason she was her friend was so that she could get closer to Allen, and Celena would reply that hers was so he would get off her back.
"But shouldn't you be with them still? And what do you have to do in town?"
"I'll explain everything on the way, come on." Celena just nodded and walked the remainder to the main entrance with Millerna and her handmaiden. There, a guard who would be doubling as escort and driver joined them. Millerna quickly gave him the directions and they were on the move. "Oh, you'll never believe what happened! Do you remember Maes?"
Celena had to think for a minute before images of Millerna's last birthday came to mind. Maes had been a gift, she could not remember of whom, and he had been a sweet-looking blue kitten, too shy and too sleepy to even unfurl his fluffy tail from around himself when he was picked up. Needless to say, the Princess had adored the little animal instantly. By now, though, he should have already grown into adulthood.
"The Fanelians arrived ahead of schedule this morning and I was still asleep when their ships came in sight of the port. My handmaiden had to come and wake me, otherwise I wouldn't have made it to greet them! So, I took out all my clothes for the day and put them on the bed without thinking. When I came back just minutes ago from the reception, what do I find? Sir Maes, the cat, lying down comfortably atop what used to be my dress for tonight's dinner! He shredded it, all of it, and now I have to take it to the seamstress in town... I hope she can fix it in time. I swear that cat must have swallowed an energist before he came here!"
Celena had listened through the not-so-fantastic tale and found it almost impossible not to laugh. She knew her friend too well. "Millerna Sara Aston, admit this instant that that is just a lame excuse to get yourself a new dress! I am sure you could have managed to find something else to wear in that modest three mile long closet of yours!"
"I wouldn't call it lame... and besides, I'm being selfless. This way we can spend time together and you can get a new dress for yourself too! Trust me, you'll want one!" Celena's good mood did not falter but she did raise a suspicious eyebrow.
"Oh, is that so?" Millerna just nodded with an all-knowing smile gracing her features. "And why, might I ask? I'm not exactly like you when it comes to men, you know that..."
"Side-effects of already living with the most beautiful man on Gaea, that's my diagnosis." She sighed and side-glanced Celena in mock contempt and the other mirrored her actions. "But you should have seen them! All lean and muscular and..."
Celena's face could have gotten green for all Millerna cared, now that she had started divagating nothing would stop her. She zoned out of the one-sided conversation with a smile to let Millerna wear herself out. She loved her friend, but this obsession of hers with men was something she would never understand and in all honesty, she wished with all her strength she would never end up like that. Of course she wanted to find her "prince charming", but she certainly did not go looking for him in every handsome face she found. So, Celena focused on the houses passing outside the window and the people wandering by, until either they got to the seamstress or Millerna realised no one was listening anymore.
Predictably, the trip ended before Millerna's speech and the Princess' talk turned to other matters when they entered the small shop. Celena always had to keep reminding herself whenever she went to that place that, despite the modest size and looks, that house probably held the monopoly over Pallas' haute-couture business. Every lady she knew had at least one dress made there, and a minimum of three if they wanted to be seen as equals by the other aristocrats. Same thing went for men, though on a smaller scale.
A smiling girl was coming their way to receive the two, but a plump woman with round rosy cheeks and wearing one of the house's exquisite dresses intercepted her and came instead. Special honours for special clients, Celena thought to herself, recognising the woman as the owner. "Princess Millerna, your presence here honours our humble establishment! How may I be of service to you?"
"Thank you, Madam Rockbell. I have a dress that needs some desperate attention. I'm afraid my pet cat had a little too much fun with it. Do you think you could have it ready by the end of the afternoon?" The handmaiden carrying the box stepped forward, but the head-seamstress did not bother to look it over and just ordered one of her employees to take it to the back.
"For you, my Princess, anything." She bowed her head. Celena found herself once again thinking, this time on just how much of that respect came from her friend's title and how much came from her background of numerous purchases on the shop.
"And my friend Lady Schezar would also require a new gown for this night." Before she could react to what Millerna had said, the woman had nodded and left to get her samples.
"Millerna, I do not need a new gown!" She turned to the Princess to weakly protest.
"Oh, hush Celena. Just be giddy and superficial for once, all right? Let's have some fun!" Millerna had hooked her right arm in hers and taken her to a seat at Madam Rockbell's desk, smiling like crazy. "Besides, you'll need the dress to impress those handsome Fanelians I told you about... you really should have seen them!"
"Well, I already heard your detailed account of them, thank you very much."
"No, you didn't. And I know because you didn't stop me. Most unusual, I might add. I know you haven't converted to my ways, so don't tell me you've found a... Oh, look!" Celena never got to know what it was she had found, for just then a sea of models and samples and different patterns and accessories for the dress viciously overwhelmed her.
She started examining them reluctantly, saying that she didn't like any, but then the good items started showing and she was slowly hypnotised into becoming as giddy and superficial as Millerna on a good talking spree about men. Not that she would ever compare it so.
The hours passed quickly and by the time the sun started to come down, Celena and Millerna were happily chatting back in their carriage about everything and anything, bringing along a box with the patched up dress for Maes to never touch again, and another containing a receipt for a gown that would only be ready in a few days and a simple dress for Celena to wear at dinner that night. Not many people would be attending, since the real festivities only began the following day and most of the nobles had houses of their own in the city, but Millerna had wanted her friend to look good.
"What are they like, the Fanelian people?" Celena asked out of the blue.
"I told you before! Handsome, tall, tanned skin..." Millerna was about to enter her dreamy-mode again, but a laugh from her friend anchored her back down to the real world.
"Not that, silly. I mean... how are they?" She asked again, accenting some words. She knew the wording of the question wasn't all that different, but Millerna should understand.
"Well, they all seemed very nice and serious, I think. The Prince, especially, he was a sombre one. A bit on the arrogant side, perhaps, but charming all the same! Then there was this other man. He was kind too, but old enough to be our grandfather and had a nasty scar across one eye!"
"Millerna! I don't care what they're like individually! I mean in a more general sense... what do you know about them and their culture? For instance, I heard there was something about dragons somewhere?"
"Oh, that." She was almost disappointed. Obviously, her other line of thought was much more interesting in her opinion. "Well, yes. They have all these myths and legends including dragons – you should sit one of them down to tell you some at dinner!" One warning glance from Celena was enough to set her back on track. "I've heard that they also worship a Dragon God – Escaflowne, the Warrior – and in order to become King, there is some sort of rite including a dragon that the Prince must perform in the time he comes of age."
Celena nodded. That was interesting, but somewhat scary. "Weren't you in Fanelia some years back, Millerna?"
"Yes, with your brother too... and their capital city is beautiful. It's on a valley surrounded by lush forests, with land dragons wandering on one side and steep mountains looming overhead on the other. I first met the Prince and his older brother then. They were both very nice and welcoming, but there were some rumours recently that something happened to the older Prince when he went to perform this rite. I'm not sure whether they're true or not, but only the younger is here now, if that means anything."
"That's awful! Do you think this rite could be something dangerous? Land dragons are such vicious creatures!" Celena gasped.
"For all I know, it might very well be something dangerous. Fanelia is known to have some of the finest warriors and samurai in Gaea. It makes sense that the rite should be something worthy to fit in with that tradition."
"Jeture! I hope nothing bad happened to that Prince!" Celena shuddered and Millerna made a face to indicate she agreed with her friend.
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The hours kept rolling by and the time to meet the famous Fanelians came soon after the two girls' return to the Palace. Celena was wearing the gown she and Millerna had gotten at Madam Rockbell's that afternoon and a handmaiden had arranged her hair, pulling half of it up but leaving some curls loose so they could grace her bared, white shoulders. The dress itself was simple, but stylish nonetheless.
She was just giving herself a final check on the mirror in her bedroom when Allen came to pick her up. Deciding that her hair had not suddenly started a revolution without her knowing it – nor would it later in the night – she answered the door and walked with her brother to the banquet hall bellow.
Allen was in a rather cheerful mood. He had been busy during the afternoon too and obviously had some plans for the evening.
"How was your day, sister?" He asked awkwardly. Celena knew him well enough to be able to tell that there was something he wanted to say to her and this was just the warm up. Still, she responded as gently as she would if she had not understood that.
"It was fine. I went to town with Millerna and got this dress for myself." She gave a small spin to show it off. Allen had a somewhat patient smile on his face and she decided to give him a hand in dropping it. "How about you, brother dearest?"
"I was busy myself. I had talked to the Royal Guards before about your little misfortune and they had promised to send a unit to search the woods for those scoundrels who harmed you. Well, I have checked their progress today and found that the thieves' lair has been discovered and everyone apprehended."
"That is wonderful news! Now I will not have to worry about any more travellers going through the same that I did," she shook her head enthusiastically. However, her sharp "sister-senses" were telling her that those were not the most important news Allen had. "What else did you do?"
"Well, I found an old friend among the Fanelians and we talked. I met some of the nobles too." Allen was starting to look at her with more excitement now. He surely thought that this time he would find someone suitable for his sister among all the available candidates, and that it was just a matter of introducing her to the various families throughout the festivities. "You'll have to be at your best, Celena! This could be it!"
The last thing she wanted to do was disappoint her brother, but his happiness would likely mean the opposite for her and that was quite a dilemma that put her in a very ungrateful position. She decided that when the time came, it came, and she would know what to do then. Clinging to the hope that whoever ended up as her husband was someone she could love, the two entered the banquet hall and found that all the important people were already gathered there.
A long table was set with porcelain and crystal, at the head of which sat the opulent king Aston. On his left hand were the princesses Eries and Millerna and further on two seats were vacant, indicating where the Schezar siblings were supposed to be. Some more nobles occupied the rest of the chairs, but they weren't the ones to next catch Celena's eye, for across that row were the guests' seats. She could now see exactly what Millerna had meant when she had talked about the Fanelians, and she could not help but agree with her – to some extent.
A brief introduction of the foreigners and small exchange of pleasantries later, and Celena was able to identify the most important individuals of that group. All had an air of being warriors, but four stood out. Three bulky men sat next to the "leader". They were the main samurai of Fanelia, the Generals who were in front of the army. She had only heard about one before, he was the most imposing one too, Balgus. Her brother knew him well. The other two were called Luva and Asona.
And then, sitting on king Aston's immediate right, was prince Van Slanzar de Fanel, the teenager who would take on the throne of Fanelia in one year's time as stated by Fanelian tradition. He had short black hair that covered his forehead and rebelliously reached his maroon eyes. Celena agreed with Millerna in that he was good-looking, but not in a fashion that particularly appealed to her. He had a "lost boy" combined with "I'm the heir to the throne" style that did not quite fill her measures.
Once everyone was settled and the food started coming in, conversation on that end of the table started mildly enough.
"Prince Van, tell me, how do you find your accommodations?" Princess Eries inquired.
"Very suitable, thank you. The rooms are quite ample and we have everything we require," he said and the Princess, having been the one in charge of picking out the bedrooms and preparing them for the visitors, smiled with satisfaction. "I find I quite like the Asturian style of architecture. Of course, at Fanelia we don't have these sort of things."
More or less everyone nodded and smiled in agreement, but Celena was curious. "Pardon my ignorance, but may I ask why is that?"
Maroon eyes locked on to azure ones, and held them while answering the question. "Fanelia is a modest country. We have few allies and aren't as prosperous as Asturia in its trade activities." He remarked with a glance at the smiling King next to him. "And to be quite honest, we cannot afford spacious buildings like this Palace, simply because we have little space on our capital city."
Several laughs echoed after that and the Prince grinned himself. From what followed, it was made apparent that the cramped Fanelian construction was considered something of a bizarre trademark of the country, which left Celena feeling rather silly. Allen's voice cut through her embarrassment.
"But you have one thing we do not, which is your forests, and the land dragons therein." The Knight turned to his sister to make a sort of publicly secret confidence to her. "And don't let the Prince fool you with his modest talking, my sister. Why, just out of their Drag-Energist commerce they make about as much money as a third of Asturia's brute income."
"Now, now, Sir Allen. Jealousy does not suit you," General Balgus said. It was a rather strange experience, for Celena would never have guessed the man possessed a sense of humour under the stoic façade. It might have been an uncomfortable statement on any other occasion, but it was common knowledge that Allen and him were friends. "Still wishing you could upgrade your weapons and equipment?"
"My friend, it is the fate of the military: we always want to use the best, but have to make do with what we have. Not that I have any reasons to complain. The Army of Asturia is one of the finest in men and equipment, second only to Fanelia I would say."
"Right you are, Sir Allen," the King put in. "Though the time of the military and wars is long past. The Seven Countries of Gaea are well at peace now – a well-deserved peace for us all. Who would have believed me if I said ten years ago that we would be gathered here today, having dinner with our neighbours and friends from the East!"
Every one drank to the King's statement, and the meal progressed steadily from there on. Celena thoroughly enjoyed hearing the tales their guests had brought from home, and the food was delicious to go with them. The more she heard, the more she felt that someday she would like to visit the Country of the Dragons and its cramped capital city.
The one thing that counterweighted that enjoyment was the Prince's gaze. Those eyes caught Celena's many times throughout the evening. At first, they would hold no more than curiosity, but as time passed they had steadily evolved into an almost intimidating fixed stare.
By the end of the evening, she was feeling rather perturbed by the interest shown in her, which at the beginning she had assumed to be only due to her silly question earlier on. Even as the Prince talked to someone else, his eyes would sometimes turn her way, insistent and piercing, and the feeling that the rest of the room dissolved and the back of her head suddenly turned very heavy let Celena know exactly when it was one of those times. An eerie sense of foreboding was invading her, but she did her best to dismiss it as nothing.
When the servants finally cleared the table, everyone made to leave for another room, stomachs satiated and ready to continue with the pleasant discussions through the rest of the night. Celena was about to tell her brother that she was not feeling too well and would retire, when the very object of her discomfort chose to walk up to her. Allen must have seen the approaching Prince, but did not care or did not notice how she felt, for he discreetly left her side.
"My lady. I see you are alone, would you care to join me on a walk outside?" Prince Van of Fanelia was holding out his arm to her and Celena could not help but to give an expertly concealed bitter smile. Do they really enjoy themselves that much phrasing orders as invitations that women cannot refuse?
"Of course, prince Van." She hooked her arm in his after a curtsy, but did not dare to gaze into his eyes. The look inhabiting them had haunted her too much already during the meal. He led her to the side, and a gust of fresh wind suddenly blew through her hair as the doors were opened and they stepped outside into a balcony. It was nice feeling the clean air around her, but Asturian nights were chilly. Celena covered herself as best as she could while following him.
"Lady Celena Schezar, if I recall? You are Sir Allen Schezar's sister?" Van said once he had shut the door behind them again. They were now alone and no one would come out to disturb them. A strange panic came upon her, but it was one she could manoeuvre herself around. Everything within her was telling her to not let the talk go further.
"Yes, m-my Prince." She stuttered, not exactly faking, but rather purposefully accenting the cold she was feeling. Her dress may be pretty – too pretty perhaps – but it was not made to endure the temperatures of Asturia by night. She hoped he would realise that and take her back inside.
"Please, call me Van... Here", he said with a thoughtful smile while placing his coat over her shoulders. It was warm, so now her excuse was gone. Millerna, now would be a good time for you to come outside and drool over this one Fanelian! "I couldn't help noticing you earlier at the table... I thought I'd come and apologise for those times you found me staring at you and for laughing at your question's expense. It wasn't very polite of me."
She lowered her head as she assured him it was fine, suddenly feeling some shyness over the reasonless panic. Now she could see that he was actually rather considerate, and she had to admit he had a kind voice. But at the same time, Celena had to wonder if this little encounter had anything to do with her brother's afternoon doings and the ill feeling that had assailed her during dinner crept its way back.
"I met your brother some years back and I have heard many stories about him and your father, but I didn't know he had a sister. I must have a talk to him very soon about forgetting to mention you." Celena was startled and instantly blushed. It was the sort of thoughtful flattery that she had heard before coming from past suitors, but with Van, there was a strange seriousness to it that she couldn't really place or understand.
"How did you meet my brother...?" How she wished that that little question could have come out with a bit more determination.
She forced herself to look back at the Prince's maroon eyes, hoping to find something different from before, but he had been observing her too and the instant their gazes locked, the same foreboding surged dangerously through Celena's veins. There was nothing wrong with the Fanelian, but... it was definitely not right either.
Then a flash of Elric Edissi's face replaced his and she gasped in fright, averting her eyes and murmuring some apologies and general nonsense, not entirely sure whether they were directed at him or herself. She abruptly covered her mouth, turned her back to the Prince and ran away from the balcony, passing right through her brother and several others. She didn't even think to stop and bid her farewells. The youngest Schezar sprinted straight to her room, failing to notice the several pairs of eyes observing her flight.
What just happened...?, Celena asked herself, closing the door behind her and lying fully clothed on her bed.