A/N: Hello. I have been dying to write this chapter for weeks! But I didn't want to rush things too much. So I paced my chapters and I'm realy happy with how things have been going. I hope you all enjoy it.

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Naoki stuck close to her sister. Hitomi had spent her night dreaming horrible dreams and even though she tried to play them off as nothing Naoki wasn't fooled. Hitomi was her sister and the only one she had to play with when she was little. She had always known when Hitomi had a better hand in cards than she did and she always knew when Hitomi had a secret to tell. She could read Hitomi better than anyone else and she knew there was something wrong.

"I'm ok." Hitomi mumbled at her sister when she saw the young blond staring at her over her tea cup.

They had gone to the tea room to keep Debi company, seeing as the other's were being truley horrible to her. Everyone of them sneered at or made fun of the Lady. Everyone except Millerna who looked to be trying to be nicer to Hitomi and in turn Debi because Hitomi had claimed Debi as a friend.

"Are you sure?" Naoki asked, "You look off."

"Yes, I'm sure. I just didn't get a lot of sleep." Hitomi didn't look at Naoki as she spoke. She knew that even behind her veil Naoki would see her lies plainly.

Hitomi was just happy the others were Naoki's concern for her sister. The last thing she wanted was strangers questioning her. Not to mention they still had an hour before they could leave without seeming rude.

The Fanelian Seer hated how they were kept seperate from the men during the day. Seeing Van right then would have made everything slightly better.

"The Ball is in two days." Debi said quietly, having heard Naoki and Hitomi's conversation, "You should try to rest."

"Thank you." Hitomi smiled at her new friend, "I will later."

Naoki drank her tea and glared at Nessa who seemed to be watching them much too closely.

What was with that girl anyways? Naoki didn't like her and never had. But there was no need for her to treat everyone as though they were dirt. Especialy not her own cousin.

Naoki wished she could have a cousin. She wouldn't treat them horribly, ever. She'd be happy just to have more family around her.

"I wish you were our cousin." Naoki finaly said to Debi in a normal conversation voice so that the others would hear her, "It's only me and Hitomi. Of course we have Merle and Van as well but they are rather like siblings to me now. I've never had a cousin."

"Cousin's are nice to have." Debi smiled at Naoki, "They can come and visit and yet you don't have to see them everyday like you do siblings." she glanced at Hitomi to give her a look, telling her she was joking when she stood up, "Lady, are you well?!"

Hitomi reached out and took Debi's arm, "Please, find Van and bring him here."

She could barely sit up on her own.

Naoki rushed around the table and grabbed her sister before Debi turned and ran out the door.

"Hitomi!" Millerna ran over to them and helped Naoki lay Hitomi n the floor as the Seer gripped her temples.

"I'm sorry, Milelrna." Hitomi said quietly, "I ruined your tea party."

"No worries, Hitomi." Millerna pushed the veil up enough so she could feel the pulse on Hitomi's neck, "Just try to relax. Your heart is beating very fast. Too fast."

Hitomi tried to reply but couldn't. Everything around her felt unreal. The other Laides looked like dolls and the room was bending as if made of paper. Suddenly she was looking at a pair of very old eyes.

"I've found you, witch." the voice echoed through her head and she screamed. She felt like her skull was being ripped in two, "I've found you."

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Van ran past Debi.

The poor girl was terrified and out of breath.

Van stopped outside the tea room and felt his blood freeze. Hitomi's scream was filled with pain.

Inside Van could see that nearly everyone had backed themselves against the walls as if a wild animal stood in the room. Millerna and Naoki were the only ones by Hitomi's side.

"Hitomi!." Van dropped to the floor and pulled Hitomi into his arms, "Open your eyes, Hitomi. I'm here. Please, just open your eyes."

Hitomi continued to scream and even fought against his hold.

Van threw Hitomi's veil away from them and placed a hand over her eyes, "You're ok. Whatever you're Seeing can't hurt you. I've got you."

Slowly she relaxed against him and her screaming stopped.

"Zaibach." she whispered, grabbing Van's arms when he moved his hand away, "They want me, van. They're looking for me."

"It's ok." Van whispered, brushing her hair out of her face, "I won't let them have you."

He scooped her up in his arms and stood, looking at the others in the room.

"She's very pretty." Debi said from the doorway, "I hope she's ok."

"She will be." Van said before shooting Millerna a look, "Now explain to everyone why they aren't cursed by looking at her."

Millerna blushed and looked away as Van carried Hitomi out of the room with Naoki on his heels.

Merle was waiting for them just outside the room she shared with Hitomi and Naoki, "I heard something. Is she alright?"

"She needs some food and a bit of rest." Van laid Hitomi on her bed and gave her a small smile when she opened her eyes, "Who's scaring who now?" he asked playfully.

"I'll get her food." Merle offered and Naoki went with her.

"I'm sorry I scared you." Hitomi said weakly, "You always end up carrying me."

"It's my pleasure." Van kissed her lightly.

"Zaibach will find me." she sighed, "I think they always knew they would. That's why they didn't rush things... He called me a witch."

"Witches aren't all bad, are they?" Van asked as Hitomi closed her eyes.

"Mayeb I am a witch." Hitomi said, "I mean, a good one." she smiled with her eyes closed, "Witches make things happen, right? I mean, I See things before they happen and now I can do odd things when I need to. I try to do the right thing when I can."

Van just smiled, taking her hand in his, "Well, at least you are my witch."

He was worried. More than worried. He was scared out of his mind for the first time in his life.

Facing the dragon hadn't felt anything like this.

Van looked down at the sleeping Seer and tried to control his racing thoughts.

He loved her and there was no way he was about to let Zaibach take her away and use her as a tool for their horrible plans. They couldn't realy expect him to just sit by while they stole his future bride away? They'd have to be mental to think he wouldn't fight them - that he wouldn't fight for her.

Van gently pulled the ring he had given her from it's hiding place beneath her shirt. He had planned on waiting untill she was ready to announce their engagement but now they didn't realy have a choice. It wouldn't be as easy for them to take away the Fanelian Queen as it would have been for them to sneak out with the Fanelian Seer. Everyone would have just said that she was following a vision if they woke up one morning to find her gone.

As much as Van wanted to ignore the fact that not too many people would be bothered by Hitomi's disapearance as a Seer but he knew they wouldn't be able to look away if the Queen was suddenly gone.

There was a light tap on the open door and Van looked up to see Debi standing there with a large mug of tea.

"She looked like she was in pain so I brought her a brew for head aches." she was staring at the floor. Van guessed she was probably embarrassed to find him kneeling next to Hitomi's bed.

"Thank you." he stood and brought a chair over for the Lady to sit in, "She will appreciate it when she wakes."

Debi sat, still not looking at Van who went back to kneeling next to the bed.

"I gave this too her just a few days ago." Van held up the ring and saw Debi smile, "She said she will be my wife."

"I'm happy for you." Debi said quietly, "She always speaks so highly of you."

"She said she wasn't ready to be married but now to keep her safe I have to talk her into a public announcement and a spring wedding." Van gently held Hitomi's hand, not looking up as Naoki and Merle returned with a tray piled high with food.

"So you will announce it at the ball?" Naoki asked, closing the dorr behind her.

"I believe so." Van turned to Debi, "But I will need your help."

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Hitomi glared at her reflection in the mirror.

Her head hurt and her corsette was too tight.

Stepping into her pale green and gold dress Hitomi hoped everything would go well at the ball.

Van had talked her into the announcement but it had taken hours for his words to sink in.

Zaibach could not easily take a Queen out of her own kingdom.

Which of course was true but she had hoped to wait untill next spring to get married. Not the spring that was only a few months away but the one that was over a year away. Or maybe she would have waited for the summer after at.

All she knew was that she wasn't ready for any of it and every time she even tried to imagine how this night would go she became queasy.

At least she was able to get ready on her own.

Merle and Naoki had gotten dressed early to be the first ones down stairs to watch everyone arrive.

That made it all the more easier for Hitomi to take her time and pace the room whenever she felt like she might be ill.

Catching her reflection again inthe mirror she stopped.

At least the dress was pretty.

Pale green silk with a light gold trim and lace. She even had a nearly transparent gold veil to wear with it. Millerna had told the Ladies that Hitomi had never worn a veil before coming to asturia and that no one had earned any bad luck from being around her, but that didn't change the fact that it was still an Asturian custom for her to wear one.

Hitomi looked over her hair once more before pinning her veil in place. It had taken her quite awhile to get her hair mostly piled atop her head. While her hair now reached just past her shoulders there were still a few pieces that refused to be pinned back. So in turn it looked as though she would have to deal with the shorter pieces framing her face and neck.

The shoes went on next, green just like her dress. And then the gold gloves and her Fanelian court ring.

Her engagement ring was in the pocket of Van's jacket.

There was a knock and Hitomi almost shouted for whoever it was to go away but thought better of it.

Opening the door she found Jason standing there grinning at her.

Instead of a hello Hitomi held out her wrist and asked in a frustrated tone, "Can you help me with these buttons?"

The tiny gold buttons were just too little for her to grab while wearing silk gloves and for some reason all of her dresses had those buttons on the sleeves. She had to have the gloves on when the buttons were done up or else her sleeves would end up all wrinkled from trying to slide them back to make room for her gloves.

It was annoying.

Laughing, Jason took her wrist and did up the buttons, "You look lovely." he said before doing up the ones on her other sleeve.

"I'm nervous." she sighed.

"Well, you are about to announce your engagement to a room full of very important people. I would be nervous too." He squeezed her hand and asked, "Should we get this over with?"

Hitomi smiled at him, happy that he could actualy see her through the veil and thanked the Gods that he and Debi had become her friends. Between Jason and Debi they kept Van's plans silent while also helping Hitomi to agree that it was all for the best.

She gripped Jason's arm and let him lead her to the stairs that would bring them to the Ball room.

"I think I'm going to be sick." she whispered as the massive room came into view.

"You'll be fine, just breathe." he said soothingly, "Van is in that room. Just think of that."

Hitomi closed her eyes and took a few breaths before opening her eyes again.

Van was in there.

So were Naoki and Merle.

Millerna and Debi were in there.

Everything would be fine.

"I see you are well enough for a night of dancing." Princess Nessaline frowned at Hitomi, "And yet you spent the entire day in your rooms ill."

The Princess had appeared out of nowhere while Hitomi had her eyes closed.

"I still feel quite ill, but I wouldn't miss this for the world." Hitomi smiled at the woman and added brightly, "Your concern for my health, Princess, is very touching. Thank you."

Nessa looked ready to spit venom, "Just remember that tonight is about making new friends. Dancing with king Van would be insulting to the other Lords who wish to dance with you."

"Are you telling her to stay away from her friend?" Jason asked with a smirk, "How silly of you, Princess. If she didn't dance with King Van then everyone would start asking questions. They can't very well look like they don't get along in public, now can they? It would say ill things about Fanelia."

"You speak out of rank." Nessa huffed and walked past them with her nose in the air, her golden gown billowing around her.

"You are amazing." Hitomi whipsered as they entered the room, "I feel better about this already."

"And just think," Jason said as Hitomi froze at the sight of so many people, "If those men who attacked King Van the other day hadn't been caught the local Lords and Ladies wouldn't have been able to come."

"Just think..." Hitomi said quietly as she tightened her hold on his arm.

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People were respectfull but barely any one even attempted to speak to Hitomi. It looked as though most still thought Seers to be bad luck.

Being ignored wasn't a bad thing at all in Hitomi's mind. It meant she did't have to try to follow a conversation when all she could think about was Van.

Jason walked her around the room before bringing her to their table. Hitomi didn't know the older Lords and Ladies she was seated with and once again after the first introductions she was left alone. No one spoke to Jason because of his low rank so he kept he company and tried to keep her calm.

"I'm not ready for any of this." she admitted when their food was set down before them.

"It's all for the best. I mean, it's not like it wasn't going to happen eventualy, right?" Jason handed Hitomi her wine glass.

"I suppose so." Hitomi took a gulp of wine and for once was happy she wasn't able to eat around others. She was afraid that if she did eat it wouldn't have stayed down for long.

"Then there is no reason to worry." he said quietly, "You are in love and you should be happy that in a few minutes time you will no longer have to hide it."

"Nessaline is going to hate me." Hitomi said, looking in the direction of the Princess' table.

Jason snorted, earning glares from their table mates, "And that is a new thing?"

"I guess not." Hitomi laughed, finaly starting to relax truley, "You realy must come visit us in Fanelia. We owe you so much and it would be nice to have friends visit instead of enemies for once."

Jason smiled and as the band started up he squeezed Hitomi's hand, "Not long to go now."

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Van barely even touched his food. Every few seconds he would check to be sure that the ring was still in his pocket.

He was so nervous that more than once Debi had to nudge him into saying hello to someone who had greeted him.

Watching Hitomi whenever he could he was slightly envious of the way no one was flocking around her. He on the other hand had to keep telling ladies he was sorry but could not save a dance for them. They all pouted, trying to catch his eye but he was too distracted.

When the music started he gripped Debi's hand so tight he feared he had hurt the girl. She only smiled and told him to take a few deep breaths before he approached the King's seat.

Trying to ignore the shaking that had started in his knees Van walked over to King Aston and asked to make an announcement.

"What sort of announcement." Aston asked, one eyebrow raised.

"A personal one, sir. I have found the love of my life." Van smiled at the older man and saw Aston's eyes widen.

There was no way Aston could say no to such an honest request without worry of insulting Van.

When Aston finaly nodded in his direction Van held up his hand to stop the orchestra and the dancing couples all turned to stare at him.

"Dear Lords and Ladies, Princes and Princesses, Kings and Queens, It is my pleasure to announce to all today that I have found my future wife." he saw many people turn to look at Debi who was still standing nearby, "Being here in Asturia has taught me that I just can't live my life without her. And lucky for me she feels the same." a few of the older couples laughed at this. Van smiled and held out his hand for his bride to be. People gasped and Van thought he even saw a few Ladies stomp their feet in anger as Hitomi stepped around Debi and took his hand, "Lady Hitomi, Fanelian Seer and dearest friend has agreed to marry me. Fanelia will be celebrating this spring and my kingdom will once again have a Queen."

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A/N: Yay! I finaly got to give you all the one chapter I've been dying to write. I hope you liked it. Please review and tell me what you think.