Chapter 12 – MASTER Fron and his medicine

Van stroked Hitomi's back as she finished crying. He was on his knees beside her in the forest, near the evacuation site. He had just come from the battle at the Hotaru Canyon, where the Fanelian and Asturian armies had defeated Dilandau's army. Sunlight streamed down through the tree branches and fell in patches over the forest floor. It was peaceful and quiet here, unlike the battle he just came from. At the thought of the battle, Van swelled with pride. His army, with the help of Asturia, was able to keep Zaibach back, and Allen and Gaddess would make sure there was no Zaibach army left.

Van felt Hitomi's breathing return to normal as her crying stopped. Van gently pulled her back and looked in to her face. It was covered with dirt and tear stains, but she was still the most beautiful woman to him. "Are you going to be okay?" Van asked.

"Yes, I'm going to be just fine." Hitomi said with a laugh. They both leaned in and kissed.

"HHHGGGRRRMMM!" Merle said, clearing her throat. Both Van and Hitomi blushed as they pulled away.

"Sorry," Van said. "I forgot where I was."

"I forgive you," Merle replied, "but maybe we should take Hitomi back to camp so she can be looked after."

"Good idea." Van helped Hitomi stand and put her left arm over his shoulders to help steady her.

"Oh! I'm sorry!" Hitomi suddenly said. She was addressing the mysterious, hooded person standing a ways off. "I want to thank you for helping me. I'd probably be dead if it wasn't for you. Can I see who you are?" Everyone turned to face the stranger. The stranger came over closer and pulled the hood back to reveal an attractive female with a long, black braid. The face was very familiar to Van, but he couldn't remember where….

"Lola!" Hitomi exclaimed.

Van watched as the girl smiled. She still carried her bow and had a quiver of arrows over her shoulder. She had on a green shirt, brown pants, brown boots that reached up to her knees and a dark brown cape which gently fluttered behind her.

"I wasn't sure if you'd remember me, Miss Hitomi." Lola said with a soft voice. "I'm glad I found you when I did. To be honest, I didn't know how I'd be welcomed, but this never crossed my mind."

"I'm sorry Lola, but you're going to have to explain to me what happened. I don't remember much about being in Zaibach, but-"

"I'm sure you can tell us on the way to camp." Van interrupted. Lola looked closely at him. Her eyes suddenly went wide and she dropped to a knee and bent her head.

"Forgive me, King Van, I should have be more considerate of Miss Hitomi's condition. Please forgive me!" She cried.

"If you saved Hitomi's life, then you already have my deepest thanks and there is nothing to forgive. Please, get up."

Lola stood up hesitantly. She followed beside them as they started heading back.

"You two men!" Van barked at the two soldiers. "Run ahead and get some others to help you take those men in." Van said, motioning to the bodies of the four thugs. They soldiers saluted and took off.

"Lord Van, I know that face, and you have no right to be angry with them." Merle scolded.

"I'm not mad-"

"Yes you are. Don't lie to me. You think they failed protecting Hitomi, but it wasn't their fault. Kilimbod trapped us, including me, in these trees and there was NO way they could have gotten out. I, on the other hand, have my ways." She said smiling, admiring her claws.

"All right, what exactly happened? Did you do that Merle?" Van said pointing to the unconscious thugs.

"Well, I took care of that one, but Hitomi took care of the rest."

Van looked down at Hitomi. "You did that? Whoa…."

Hitomi laughed. "Yeah, that was me, but I'm probably going to feel it for the next couple of days." She moaned. "So, why are you here Lola?"

"Well, after King Van and his companions got us out of the underground hideout, I made my way back to forest where my family and I used to live. Nothing was there anymore, it was all gone, burnt to the ground." Lola said very quietly. "So, I made my way back to the city and it didn't take me long to find out my family had died during the raid. I was all alone. I didn't know what to do or where to go. Then, I decided to go and see the man Palon had told me about. I wanted to come to Fanelia and thought maybe he could help me, and he did. He gave me these clothes, this bow and arranged some transportation. When I arrived this morning, I found the city evacuating in to the mountains, so I went along with the last bunch of people and made it to the camp. I didn't see you there so I asked around and someone said they saw you run off in to the forest and pointed the way. Then I found you fighting that sorcerer, and well, that's it."

"Er, Lola?" Van asked. "How did you get in to Fanelia? The pass was blocked by my army."

Lola blushed and looked away. "Sorry, King Van. Palon's contact was very clear that I wasn't allowed to tell anyone, even you."

Van growled. "I'm going to have to have a very long talk with Dryden the next time I see him."

"Why did you decide to come to Fanelia?" Hitomi asked.

"Well, to be honest, you were the first person to be nice to me in years, since I was captured, and I thought that if the King of Fanelia came to rescue you, that it was a pretty good bet you were in Fanelia. I was hoping I could stay in Fanelia, find some work-"

"I'd be honoured if you stayed in Fanelia." Van exclaimed. "I'll talk to Lord Finkbone when we return. He can help you." Lola inclined her head in thanks.

"So, where did you learn to shoot like that Lola?" Hitomi asked.

"My father was a hunter and he would take me out with him. He was an excellent shot and taught me everything I know. Then, after the Destiny Wars, living in the woods helped tone my skills." Lola cleared her throat. "If you don't mind me asking, how long have you been a magic user?" She asked Hitomi.

"Uh?" Both Hitomi and Van responded. Van looked down at Hitomi and gave her a sly grin. "More secrets?"

"No! I'm not a magic user! What are…oh! You mean what happened with the pendant."

"What happened with the pendant?" Van asked puzzled.

"Well, Kilimbod was about to zap me with his magic. My first instinct was to run, but then something inside of me told me to grab the pendant. When I did, a pink shield appeared before me and blocked Kilimbod's attack. My grandmother visited me in my dream after I was knocked out and told me that I used the protection power of the pendant. The Atlantians all used to use it, but after they became peaceful, they forgot about it."

"Wow." Van said. He stopped suddenly as Hitomi came to a halt and looked up at him with a very confused face.

"Not that I'm not glad you're here Van, but weren't you in the middle of a battle?"

Van told them about the battle and then Hitomi and Merle tried to piece everything together for Van, starting with Hitomi running after Hanna and then to Hitomi finishing Kilimbod off with the pendant. Shortly after, they could hear the sounds of the camp up ahead.

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"What in Gods name happened to you, Hitomi?" an anxious Celena exclaimed as Hitomi hobbled in to the clearing, supported by Van. "King Van? What are you doing here? What happened?" she added as she ran up to them. Celena's jaw hung open as she looked Hitomi over. Hitomi's tunic and leggings were ripped up, her hair was a mess, her face was dirty, and Celena was pretty sure she could see the trail where tears had fallen.

Hitomi gave her a weak smile. "We ran in to some trouble." Hitomi lost her footing and stumbled. Van was right there beside her and held her up. "I think I need to sit down." Hitomi moaned. Celena motioned them to follow and lead them to a pile of large rocks. Merle found a blanket and put it down as a cushion. Van gently helped Hitomi sit. Celena noticed that Hitomi winced when Van touched her right arm.

"Merle, go find Hitomi some water." Celena ordered.

"Come on, Lola." Merle said as she took the shy girl's hand, "I'll introduce you to Lord Finkbone."

"All right, let's get this tunic off." Celena said as she helped Hitomi pull off the brown tunic.

"Those bastards!" Van yelled. Celena looked over and saw what made Van shout out. There was a large, bloody stain on Hitomi's shirt, by the upper part of her arm. As Van steamed, Celena carefully rolled up the sleeve. She found long gash, still bleeding, with huge purple bruises all around it.

"Hmm..?" Celena said as she studied the wound, "I'm going to have to get a healer. You need stitches, Hitomi. Stay here, I'll be right back." Celena got up and walked away.

Van knelt down by Hitomi and took her hands in his. "I'm so sorry, Hitomi. This is all my fault. If I hadn't have come for you, you wouldn't have gotten hurt like this. I'm so sorry."

"Stop apologizing, Van! If you hadn't come for me, we wouldn't be together right now. If this is what I have to go through to be with you, than I'd rather go through it a hundred more times than spend another second away from you!" Hitomi blushed at what she just said.

"Really? Just to be with me?" Van stuttered.

"Yes, stupid! Please don't ever regret coming to get me. I don't."

Van leaned over and kissed Hitomi's hands. She bit her lip and smiled.

"It's over now. Fanelia is safe, Dilandau and Kilimbod are dead, and I'll heal." Hitomi whispered.

"And we can finally be together." Van whispered back.

Oh God! Hitomi thought. I can't believe we are actually saying these things! And so soon! I've only been on Gaea for…three full days and this morning! Yikes!

Van continued to stare in to Hitomi's eyes. Hitomi stared back into his chocolate eyes, until she realized some of the city people were watching them.

"Ah…Van…maybe we shouldn't do this here. People are watching." She said blushing.

"So? Let them." Van smiled wickedly.

Hitomi blushed some more. Then, Celena walked up with a short, elderly man, who had white, bushy hair and a thick, white mustache.

"Here she is, Master Fron."

"I heard you have a nasty cut, young lady. Let's just take a look at it." Van quickly hopped out of the way as Master Fron carefully examined Hitomi's injures.

"Yes, Lady Celena was correct, you will need stitches, but other than that, you're going to be just fine. Let's go to my wagon so I can clean the wound. I'm afraid you'll get an infection if we don't soon. Follow me, please." Hitomi, Van, and Celena followed Master Fron as they wove through the crowds. Fron's wagon was one of the bigger ones in the encampment, having enough medical supplies to last for a couple of months. Van helped him bring out two stools and a little folding table. Fron had Hitomi sit while he retrieved the necessary supplies. Then, he sat on the stool beside Hitomi and started cleaning her wound.

"Tomi! Tomi!" Hanna yelled as she ran up. She stopped in front of Hitomi and looked wide-eyed at Hitomi's arm. "What happened to you, Tomi?"

"Oh, I just had a little accident Hanna. I fell-"

"Down the mountain?" Hanna squealed.

"No, not down the mountain silly, just on some rocks. I'll be fine. Tell you what. How about you and Tylan look for a really nice rock or leaf to bring back to the city as a souvenir. And since I have to stay here, will you find one for me too?" Hitomi asked the little red head.

Hanna's eyes glittered with excitement. "Okay!" And with that, she ran off, only to be replaced by Merle, Lola, and Lord Finkbone.

"Oh my dear girl! What a terrible thing you went through! But as Lady Merle tells me, we all owe you a great dept of gratitude. Is there anything I can do you for you?" Lord Finkbone asked Hitomi.

"No, no thank you Lord Finkbone, I'm –OWWWW- fine." Hitomi said after wincing from the solution Master Fron was using on the wound.

"Well, if there is ever anything you need, just come see me."

Hitomi nodded in thanks.

"The Lady Merle also introduced me to the Lady Lola and told me her story. I thought, that since you don't have any servants of your own, perhaps Lola could work in the castle has a maiden for you."

"Oh no!" Hitomi said, shaking her head, "I couldn't have Lola be my servant! I don't want my friends working for me."

"Well, maybe servant was the wrong word. I meant like…a lady in waiting. Someone who could be with you around the castle, someone to talk to, to help you out when you needed it." Finkbone stuttered.

"Oh, please Miss Hitomi, let me be one of your ladies. It would be such an honour to live in the castle and serve you!" Lola said.

Hitomi was doubtful as she looked around at her friends. Merle, Lola, and Lord Finkbone were all smiling and nodding, obviously believing this to be a good idea. But then why was Van turning red?

"I'm really not comfortable with the idea of having a servant. I didn't grow up in a castle so I'm not used to these things." Hitomi replied.

"Oh, Lady Hitomi, it's more of a custom on Gaea. All ladies have ladies in waiting, or lady friends around the castle to…ah…." Lord Finkbone started.

"To hang out with, girl talk, go shopping with, fix each others hair, that kind of stuff." Merle jumped in. "Lola wouldn't be cleaning up after you if that's what you're afraid of Hitomi."

"Well, in that case, I'd love to have you join us in the castle Lola…on one condition." Hitomi said.

"Yes?" Lola gulped.

"You can't call me Miss Hitomi anymore. My friends call me Hitomi." She winked.

"Of course, Hitomi." Lola said shyly.

During the conversation, Fron continued to clean the wound and Hitomi continued to wince.

"Alright, I really don't want to watch this." Merle blurted out. "Sorry Hitomi, but it's creeping me out. Come on Lola, I'll introduce you to some of the people you'll be seeing around the castle." She said as she grabbed Lola's arm and walked away with her.

"I better be getting back to the children." Celena said. "I'll come check up on you later today, Hitomi. I hope you feel better soon!" she finished as she left.

"I suppose I better let everyone know we can go back now." Lord Finkbone said.

"Wait, Lord Finkbone." Van spoke up. "Do you think it would be okay if everyone stays up here for a few hours. It's just that it would be much easier to bring the army and guymellefs back in with no people on the street."

"That's a good idea, Your Majesty. It will be like a holiday. I'll spread the word that everything's okay. Excuse me." Lord Finkbone said with a bow to Van and then to Hitomi.

"As much as I hate to, I better get back and see how Allen is making out. I'll come see you as soon as I can." Van said to Hitomi. "And thank you for being strong." Van came over and placed a gentle kiss on Hitomi's lips.

Hitomi gave him a warm smile as he pulled away. "Okay, I'll see you later." She watched as he ran back into the forest to retrieve Escaflowne. Then she brought her attention back to Master Fron. He was working at the little table, preparing the stitching needles. Hitomi shivered and made a face.

"Master Fron, I have a question for you." Hitomi said.

"Yes, my dear?"

"When Lord Finkbone suggested that Lola become my Lady in Waiting, why do you think Van turned red?"

"Well, usually only people of royalty get ladies in waiting, or pages, or things like that. I guess Lord Finkbone thinks you are royalty or…." He stopped.

"Or what?"

"Or he believes that you will be soon."

Hitomi blushed at what that meant. She hadn't thought about that since Hanna brought it up yesterday. She could tell Fron was smiling underneath his moustache. Are we the only ones not talking about it? It's way too early! Isn't it? She thought.

Fron decided to put a special healing cream on Hitomi's arm before he stitched it up, but it would have to stay on for just under an hour. During that time, Merle and Lola came over to visit. They listened as Master Fron told them humourous stories. At one point, someone came over and all gave them fruit to snack on. Soon, it was time for the stitches. Hitomi squeezed Merle's hand as Fron started his work. Hitomi winced and tried not to look.

"So you can fight wizards and men, yet you're afraid of a needle?" Merle mocked.

Hitomi bit her lip and nodded yes. Merle just laughed.

"Hey, don't laugh! This hurts!" Hitomi told her.

"You're too tense." Fron told Hitomi. He then told Lola to go in to the wagon and get a little, red drinking pouch. Lola brought it out and gave it to Hitomi as Master Fron instructed. "Take a few sips, my dear. It's a concoction of mine which will dull the pain and help you relax." Hitomi gratefully took the pouch and drank from it.

"Yikes! That's strong stuff! But, wow! I feel better all ready!" She said as she visibly relaxed. "What's in here anyway?"

"Oh, just a mixture of herbs and medicines and-"

"Wine!" Merle finished as she grabbed the pouch from Hitomi and took a whiff. "You put dark wine in here? That's the strongest stuff on Gaea!"

"True, but for forty years it's been the best thing to help my patients relax."

"I can see why." Merle grunted.

"Can I have some more of that?" Hitomi asked eagerly.

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Lola and Merle were helping Hitomi into the castle. About an hour ago, a messenger on a horse had come up the mountain to let the people know that they could return. Hitomi had ridden down in Master Fron's wagon since she was unable to walk. She was a little tipsy from the wine and kept falling in and out of sleep, but her arm was all stitched up and going to be fine.

Hitomi's good arm was around Merle's shoulder as they staggered through the hallway. Her other arm was in a sling. Fron said it would prevent Hitomi from accidentally re-opening the wound. Hitomi, in her drunkenness, kept making comments about one tapestry or another. Some she found very amusing.

Hitomi stumbled and dropped to her knees, pulling Merle down with her. Apparently, she had fallen asleep again.

"Help me get her up, will you!" Merle groaned.

"How? I can't move her arm?"

"We're going to have to carry her some how. This would be easier if she wasn't so heavy!"

"Heeeyy…who you callin' fat?" Hitomi slurred.

Just then Van, finally out of his armor, came around the corner. He started running as soon as he saw them.

"What's wrong? Is she okay?" He asked.

"She's going to be fine, Lord Van." Merle answered. "She just had too much 'medicine'."

"Medicine?"

"I believe Merle said it was called dark wine, Your Majesty." Lola said.

"Are you telling me that she's drunk?" Van asked as he started to snicker.

"Yes! Congratulations! You figured it out! Now will you PLEASE get her off of me!" Merle yelled.

Van reached down and scooped up Hitomi into his arms. Merle exhaled in relief and got up. "Master Fron said to take her to her room to sleep." She said.

"Heeyyy! Look who's here! It's Vanny! How's it going Vanny?" Hitomi said, waking up.

"Hi Hitomi. How are you feeling?" Van asked as he smiled at her.

"Have you always been this handsome?" Hitomi asked, oblivious to his question.

Van turned red as Merle and Lola giggled.

Luckily for Van, they had reached Hitomi's room. Merle ran in and quickly put an extra blanket over the covers, since Hitomi was still dirty from the morning's events. Van put her on the bed. She was already fast asleep as he took off her boots.

"Okay, time to go!" Merle commanded, as she started to push Van towards the door.

"But-" Van started.

"But nothing. Master Fron says the most important thing for her right now is rest. Don't worry, Lola and I will keep an eye on her. I'm sure you have a million things to do, so you better get to them."

"But-"

"We'll let you know when she wakes up. She's going to be fine and she's not going anywhere. Now, get out." She pushed Van in to the hall and closed the door.

Van smiled and walked away.