As Sure As the Dawn
Chapter 10
An Escaflowne fan fiction by:
The characters of Escaflowne used in this are property of Bandai entertainment. The writing and original characters are my own. This is my first Fan fiction so please e-mail and tell me what you think. Only constructive criticism please.
"Folken, you look pale, what's wrong?" Hitomi asked.
"Well I'll let Tara tell you what she told me earlier. Then I think you'll see." Folken looked in her direction, "Can you do that little one?" He asked.
Tara nodded her head and retold her vision but she remembered more this time. "And I saw the pendant glowing in front of me and it swung towards the palace." She added.
Merle suddenly understood, "Uh, oh, I have bad feeling this is my fault." Merle looked towards Folken who only nodded.
"You left Celena all alone? Merle that's not very smart you know that's when… he comes around." Hitomi scolded in fear, she held Tara close to her heart and began to tremble. Van was shuddering uncontrollably; there was no way he'd let that pyromaniac get anywhere near either of his girls. He reached instinctively for his sword, but it wasn't there, he'd left it in the bedroom.
"What do we do now?" Hitomi asked.
"We should rebuild the passage to the palace and return that way, then we could retreat here if Dilandau shows up, we should send word to Allen, he'll be concerned about Celena, and I'll contact my spies in the uprising, I have a feeling that's where Dilandau has gone." Folken looked drained, He hadn't had enough sleep and now he'd have physical labor to deal with.
"If I might interrupt," the captain spoke up, "I'm Captain Michael Windstorm, and I have a crew of twelve men who can help fix that passage." He offered.
"Thanks Michael, that will be great," Van recognized the captain of his best leviship, "Bring the ship into the same room where Escaflowne is, it should be big enough, and we may need it."
"You heard him men," Michael turned to his men, "Let's get to it," the five of them headed back out of the corridor they'd brought Escaflowne in through.
* * *
Spendil followed Dasuko after she delivered another message to Dilandau. He was careful she didn't see him but Dilandau had been right, she was intriguing. He had to find out more about this girl.
She went into a room he'd never seen the inside of and he peeked around the doorframe. What he saw both amazed and disgusted him, he saw a room full of girls, about ten. They were strewn about the room on couches and beds some sitting on the floor. When he realized what the were wearing he pried his eyes away, turned around and leaned against the wall next to the door. Dasuko came out of the room and saw his horrified face.
"So now you've seen it." She looked into his eyes with such conviction and pleading Spendil began to wonder why he was there. He should have just left her alone, but her eyes were so beautiful, deep blue pools he got lost in.
"Yes," he answered lamely.
"Now you know what I meant."
"I have to go." Spendil turned and began walking away.
"Spendil, you can't fight him, there's no way out. If he wants you here you can't escape, the guards will just throw you back to him and you've seen him when he's angry…"he turned to face her again.
"But this is just sick! I mean he's a girl for crying out loud! Not that I blame him, the thought is appealing, but it's still sick. Even more so because he's not really a guy." Spendil couldn't stand it; he took both of her hands in his. "And if that doesn't disgust you I don't know what will."
"You can't imagine how much it disgusts me." She looked towards the ground but even then, she couldn't hide her moist eyes. Seeing her tears Spendil hugged her impulsively.
"Dasuko, I can't let him do this to you." He whispered; she was so desperate to be held she melted into his embrace and Spendil nearly flew.
"There's nothing you can do, we're both trapped."
"But maybe we can be trapped together."
Dasuko realized what he was saying and pushed away from him.
"Never, I won't let anyone take advantage of my feelings like that Spendil, I haven't know you for more than twenty four hours it's absolutely absurd, to even consider what you're suggesting." She turned to leave and he grabbed her wrist again.
"I could make you do what I want, all I have to do is order you to and you have to, on penalty of death." She looked at him in horror.
"You wouldn't."
"And what if I do?"
"I'd rather die." He grabbed her other wrist.
"Oh, would you? Then why are you still alive, I'd think a real man might be more impressive than the Pyro down the hall." She looked into his eyes defiantly. "So come stay with me for a while see if I'm as bad as you think." He suggested.
"Only on one condition."
"And that would be?"
"Nothing physical, I'll stay with you and away from him if you like but the second you try and force something on me I'll run back to him and tell him horrible you are." She didn't think he'd ever agree to that.
"Deal," he agreed and she nearly fell over, if he hadn't been holding her wrists, she would have.
"Thank you," she whispered and he hugged her again.
"I won't force anything on you, I never could, but maybe you'll change your mind about me."
"I doubt it."
He let her go and she returned to the room. He walked back towards Dilandau's study; they had things to discuss, ten of them to be exact.
* * *
Van was holding Hitomi; she'd broken down in tears after they left the group. Van had suggested they all get some rest while the crew started working, not to mention the fact that he was feeling mentally exhausted.
They'd gone back into the bedroom they'd been in before and Van just wanted to hold her and know she wouldn't leave. Hitomi on the other hand felt like she'd put her love and her daughter in danger, if only she'd had Van stay with her, if Folken could be King, if… Van rescued her from her downward spiral of turmoil.
"Hitomi, I love you." He held her close and refused to let go.
"I know, I love you too." She gazed into his beautiful brown eyes and felt tears streaming from her own as her vision blurred.
"It's all my fault, I've been nothing but trouble for you from the start." She cried into his chest.
"Oh, Hitomi, is that what you think this is?" he caressed her tenderly and she cried harder, "Hitomi, I've done nothing but learn to love and adore you more and more from the start." She pulled away enough to look into his eyes.
"Really?"
"Really, this isn't your fault, it's Allen's and Merle's. Allen left Merle and she left Celena, the only other danger was of some terrorist taking you by force, and very ill planned at that."
"But now it's serious, Dilandau could find us, he could capture me and Tara, or… I don't want to think about what else could happen."
"Then don't, I already have one girl having visions right now, I don't need two, that reminds me, give me your pendant."
"But Van, I need that."
"No you don't, I won't let you wear it, remember last time?"
"All right, and you should take Tara's as well she already doesn't feel good." Hitomi reminded him as she took the pendant off.
"Good," Van tossed it aside, "I'm glad you're thinking straight, I need you to be alert and aware these next few days." She nodded and he lifted her to kiss her lips.
* * *
"Dilandau, there's something we must discuss." Spendil stood in the doorway to the dark room that constituted Dilandau's study.
"Spendil, come in, What ever it is I'll be happy to hear you out."
"It's your concubines." Spendil stood, rigidly before Dilandau's desk.
"So you've found my treasure trove. I should have know you'd look into it." Dilandau sat back with resigned solemnity.
"Don't you think it's a little strange, I mean you aren't exactly, how shall I put this… a guy."
"Do I look like a guy to you?"
"Well, that could be debated."
"If I have concubines do you think I'm not a guy?"
"That too could be debated."
"I'm debating you right now Spendil, what is it you really want, hmm? Perhaps that pretty little messenger girl? Dasuko?" Dilandau saw the look of rage in Spendil's eyes and knew the look well, he'd seen it in Van's eyes when he fought 'for Hitomi,' it was all too obvious.
"Yes, I want her to remain with me instead of in your harem!" Spendil was boiling now.
"Oh, I don't think I can do that, as I said earlier she's so intriguing."
"What is it you want, what ever it is I'll do it, just give me Dasuko!"
"Oh, it's nothing really."
"What do you want?!"
"Nothing much, just a certain blue print for the destiny prognostication engine, that you happen to have." Dilandau smirked.
"Done, I'll have the blueprint to you in an hour, but the second it's in your hand I want Dasuko in mine."
"You strike a hard bargain my friend, but I agree."