A Long one today. It was really hard to write this week! I think it was because I felt kind of rushed, there was so much going on this week. I also apologize for the terrible grammatical mistakes my proofreading was rushed as well ;-) I am going to MetroCon this weekend in Tampa, FL anyone else heading that way?? See you guys next week!

Chapter 6 – Always in my Heart

Van took a step forward out onto the east wing balcony and let the sun warm his skin, he closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. His nerves were shot and the better part of his body was sore from all the stress. Merle was not speaking with him currently, not after he blew up on her and Garmen for sending most of the ladies home. Garmen was upset as well, but his diplomatic duties caused him to hide it. On top of all this their was pressure to form trade agreements with nearly every country but Asturia, all of which put Fanelia into a compromising position.

"Lord Van, may I suggest something to you?" Aislynn said a grin spreading across her full lips.

Van raised an eyebrow as he lifted his head from his arms, "Certainly Aislynn."

Aislynn smiled widely, she looked to the door as if to see if anyone was going to be listening in, she leaned in and whispered, "escape."

She slipped a piece of paper into Van's hand before bowing low exposing a fair amount of cleavage . She rose once more stared into Van's eyes briefly before she turned on her heels and fled off into the castle.

A great deal of heat washed over Van as his cheeks flushed slightly. Unaware of himself a familiar set of emotions began coursing through his veins. Aislynn was certainly beautiful and as each day passed she seemed less and less like a vapid and shallow princess and more and more like someone Van could stand to get to know. Feeling ashamed at his own feelings, he gazed up towards the mystic moon. His eyes drifted slowly to the paper in his hand, slowly pulling at the corners he unfolded the secret message.

Van-

Let us escape the castle and the unforgiving eyes of the council, I will be waiting just outside the castle with two horses if you decide to go. I hope to enjoy your company.

Yours Truly-

Aislynn

Van stared at the paper for a few moments his brain rolling over the idea slowly. It would feel rather nice to escape the castle and to go riding with no interruptions, no one calling on him to sign this or that. On the other hand, it was another step towards forgetting Hitomi, and he was unsure whether he wanted to do that or not. Sighing heavily Van balled the note up in his hand and chucked it off the balcony. He stared out over the city, studying the blue sky as is stretched on for miles and miles far on into the horizon, with only a few blue clouds dotted the sky. The sun was warm and bright high in the sky, a perfect day.

Van turned around and whispered to himself, "It'd be a shame to waste such a perfect day signing papers, and listening to council members nit pick at me."

His frown curved upwards into a smile as he dashed back into the castle and made his way to the back entrance near the stables. Pushing past servants doing his best not to knock anyone over he pushed his hands firmly on a large oaken door and stumbled out into the bright sunlight. Shading his eyes from the punishing rays his eyes searched the grounds for any sign of Aislynn. Near the edge of the stables he saw her, bright and smiling looking rather radiant in the sunlight. His heartbeat quickened a little and guilt rose in his stomach instantly. He began to ponder heading back inside when he heard the distant voices of Garmen and Lucian asking the servants if they'd seen him.

"Not today..." Van muttered and ran over to the princess.

"So glad you could make it your majesty." Aislynn said bowing her head gracefully in respect, she was sitting side saddle atop a gray horse wearing a deep blue ridding gown.

"Van will do," he grunted out as he pulled himself up onto the horse, "now let us go before they find us."

The two bounded off into the woods as fast as safety would allow, taking an older trail that would circle around behind the palace and empty out just outside the main entrance to the city of Fanelia. The old trail was falling into disuse but it was still ridable. The sound of a stream flowing along it's merry way could be heard in the distance. The two rode along in silence enjoying the day and the music of the forest for what seemed like hours before Aislynn's soft voice broke the silence.

"So what exactly do you want for Fanelia?" Aislynn asked looking to Van who was riding to her right quietly in thought.

Van turned to her wide-eyed and embarrassed that he wasn't paying attention. He fumbled around for an answer that would work for any question unwilling to admit, "I, um, well you see..."

Aislynn giggled and spoke cheerfully, "you didn't hear what I said did you."

Van blushed slightly hanging his head in shame, "sorry..."

"It's okay," She said smiling widely, making her eyes glisten a little, "I asked what you wanted for Fanelia? The future of your kingdom..."

"The future of Fanelia..." Van let the words roll of his tounge, pausing before moving into his answer, "I hope to see Fanelia completely restored, to have a confident heir and it would be nice to be on the same plane as a kingdom such as Asturia, but honestly, I just want my people safe and happy...as long as they have that I am satisfied."

"Noble." Aislynn began, "that is all one can hope for their people. Especially after the war, all our people want is to be protected. No one wants to go through any of that again..."

"No. No one does." Van answered, "Tell me Aislynn, why are you here?"

Aislynn paused a little, fielding the question with all the grace in the world, "Honestly. The same reason that you called on us... My father feels that Fanelia would be a good match, so he sent me here..."

"I see." Van said quietly, "we are both pawns to a hierarchy of heredity and heirs. Tell me one last thing Princess, how do you feel about marriages such as these?"

"I used to believe that I could not find happiness in a marriage if there was not love there, but then as I got older and I watched my own parents, who had an arranged marriage, I learned that love grows, you can learn to love someone, appreciate them if you will, as long as you can get along. My parents were happy, and I believe I can be too." Aislynn said whimsically staring off into the distance as if she was already picturing a future with Van. "Love means nothing if you cannot get along."

Van frowned a little, "my parents, they loved each other, that is why they got married. It is hard for me to imagine getting married to someone I do not love. Although I do see the point you make."

"Lord Van, if I may, the past haunts us for many reasons, but it is wise that we let said ghosts remain in our past, if we are ruled by them it can only lead to self destruction." Aislynn's voice was slow and steady, almost rehearsed in her response.

Van rode quietly for a long time absorbing the statement. Closing his eyes he breathed in deeply, his hands gripped the reins tightly, his voice was barely a whisper, "Her name was Hitomi, she was the greatest thing I have ever known, I love her. Deeply. She completed me in every single way imaginable, nothing could ever replace her, but the fact of the matter is she is gone. Something I never really thought I would say out loud..."

Aislynn rode silently along, listening quietly as Van poured his soul out, a slight feeling of accomplishment washed over her.

"She is always going to be in my heart and I need my future wife to understand that, I will move on without her, but a piece of my heart will forever be hers." Van stared intently at the back of the horses neck, unsure of what exactly he was doing or saying, for some reason in his heart, he felt lighter.

"I would never ask to replace her, nor do I ask for the past. What I ask for is your future, and if you allow the ability to be a good friend and wife for you someday. If you choose me that is." Aislynn said reaching over and placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Van looked up at her a small smile on his face, "I appreciate that Aislynn..."

"You know," Aislynn said thoughtfully, "I never met the Lady Hitomi but I heard stories, she seemed like an amazing woman...I would love to hear about her...if you feel up to it."

Van smiled at this, most people just wanted to dole out advice and tell him to give up and move on. He looked over at Aislynn and studied her for a few moments, she was pretty and they could talk without Van feeling the need to bang his head against a wall. She seemed intelligent as well, a Good Queen for Fanelia, and her seemingly genuine respect for Hitomi and her place in his heart was refreshing. Silently Van looked up at the tree tops, I promise to never forget you Hitomi... I think you would approve of Aislynn... Van thought to himself

Van fingered the pendant around his neck, "Hitomi is the most caring person I've ever known in my life..."

Merle leaned back against the wall a frown permanently etched across her features, unsure of whether to be infuriated or distraught over the current state of affairs in the castle. Not having spoken to Van in nearly two days made things even worse for the cat girl. The longer she'd seen the Princess Aislynn the longer she'd regretted ever pointing her out as one of the women that would make a perfect match, something about the Princess from Cesario felt off, unable to put her finger on it Merle had taken to stalking the princess around the castle. She'd nearly been caught twice but thanks to some strategic use of servants she'd be unnoticed. She sighed out loud letting the silent room hear her frustration.

The sun was setting in the distance casting beautiful reds and oranges across the sky, giving the illusion of fire in the distance. Merle kicked her foot back against the wall pushing off and moving to the window of her bedroom, she climbed up into the window seat and pushed the window open. She dangled her legs over the edge and stared out into the kingdom of Fanelia. At the castle gates below she saw Van and Aislynn ride up acting rather cozy with each other. She frowned deeper than before. Whatever it was that gave Merle that sick feeling in her stomach needed to be found out sooner than later it seemed.

"What are you up too Princess Aislynn?" Merle whispered crossing her arms across her chest, leaning her head against the window. "If Hitomi where here none of this would be happening..."

Merle sat still watching the city of Fanelia below her, it was almost completely restored to it's original splendor now. Merle would not let anything ever harm Fanelia again, not while she could do anything about it. Especially sneaky suspicious Princess from Cesario.

"Hitomi that was the best night of my life ever! I do not think there is anything I can do to repay you." Yukari half screamed at her best friend as the trio left the Kat-Tun concert.

"I am glad you had fun Yukari," Hitomi said placing an arm around Yukari's shoulder, "What about you Aiko, did you enjoy yourself?"

Aiko looked up chewing on her bottom lip, "yes, I had so much fun, thank you so very much Hitomi..." Her eyes were a little brighter than usual, and she seemed relieved to be away from school.

"I am glad." Hitomi said, she yawned and stretched her arms in the air.

Yukari glanced down at her watch and then back up at the girls, "it is nearly 2am! I really gotta get home!"

Hitomi nodded in agreement and the trio made their way to Hitomi's small compact car parked in the the back parking lot. "I'll take Yukari home first since she lives on the other side of town, if that is okay with you Aiko..."

Aiko nodded quietly to herself. Yukari and Hitomi giggled and laughed the whole way to Yukari's house, doing their best to include Aiko and make her feel part of the group. Each time they extended a hand in friendship it made Aiko's stomach turn. The guilt inside her was enough to make the average person throw-up, but Aiko new exactly what she had to do, and guilt was not going to get her anywhere she wanted to be. Aiko was so deep in thought she'd failed to realize that Yukari was exiting the car and saying her goodbyes.

"Oh, I am sorry, I was lost in thought, have a good night Yukari." Aiko said moving from the backseat to the front seat.

Hitomi and Yukari shared their own goodbyes before Hitomi climbed back in the car and started the engine, she was silent for a few moments, before turning to Aiko, "you alright? Not many girls I know that can resist the charming good looks of Kat-Tun!"

"Oh I am fine really, why are you so nice to me?" Aiko said startled by her own bluntness.

Hitomi stared at her for moment shocked at the question. She fumbled around for an answer, "I guess I am just nice. I think you are nice to, you seem really quiet, I didn't want to force you to do something you didn't want to do. I dunno, I just kinda assumed we could be friends..."

Aiko nodded taking in the answer quietly, she chewed her lip as her emotions where torn in two different directions. She stared at Hitomi for a few moments, letting it sink in as to who she was really looking at. The Seer who helped bring Dornkirk down, and bring peace to Gaea. Yukio would be furious at her later, but perhaps with Hitomi's help things would not end up so bad after all.

Aiko drew in a deep breath and lowered her head, her voice was shaking as she spoke, "I am from a place you may know well, called Gaea."

Hitomi slammed on the breaks causing Aiko to fly forward and almost smack her head on the dash board. Her knuckles where turning white as she gripped the steering wheel and all the blood drained from her face leaving her pale and sickly looking. Her voice was barely above a whisper, scared to say the words that were now falling out of her mouth, "You are from Gaea?"

Yukio nodded, "is there somewhere we can go to talk? There is a lot of things you should know."

Hitomi was too shocked to even respond, she just stared straight ahead so many questions were racing through her mind. Unsure what to do, or even how to process such a revelation, Hitomi pulled off to the side of the road, and turned slowly to face Aiko. Her heart was beating so heavily in her chest she was sure that Aiko could hear her.

"Tell me everything..." Hitomi said staring intently at Aiko.

The inevitable cliffhanger, sorry guys ;-) Who hates the Princess from Cesario? So the next chapter will be really juicy. We are going to depart from Van and company for a little while, we'll just let him and Aislynn get cozy for know. :evil grin: I will see you guys next Thursday, thanks for reading and reviewing! Have a great week everyone!