Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.

Escaflowne: All you need is Love, Isn't it?

Chapter 28

At the Great Arena

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As the last of the circus performers exited the combat field, the sixteen knights that had competed in that day's tournament came to stand by the entryway.

"This should prove interesting." Erwin thought out loud.

"I say Sir Allen dispatches the Fanelian King in less than five minutes." Stephen stated confidently.

Most of the other knights present nodded in agreement.

"Don't be so sure. Lord Van did defeat Sir Allen at the end of the war." Erwin reminded the others.

"But that was in Guymelefs, this is hand to hand. There's no one in all Asturia who can compete with Sir Allen Schezar, what makes you think that Fanelian will be able to?" Alex Bolter, a 17-year old knight asked.

"Watch your tongue." Erwin snapped. "That Fanelian is a King and a hero of the Coalition War. His very name demands respect." He spurned his fellow knight.

Alex lowered his head in shame for the disrespectful manner in which he made reference to Lord Van.

"Still, do you really believe he stands a chance against Sir Allen?" Stephen asked.

"To win? No, but I think it will last longer than you think." Erwin grinned then excitement flashed in his eyes as Sir Stanley ordered match to commence. "They've begun."

All the young knights leaned forward just a bet as if that simple action would give them a better view of the match.

Both Hitomi and Merle were on the edge of their seats at the start of the match. Queen Millerna glanced over at them with some amusement. "Relax, the match has only just begun."

No sooner had these words passed her lips that the two combatants charged each other and in a span of just two seconds their swords clashed five times in a series of attacks and counter-attacks. The speed with which the two fought astounded everyone in the arena and everyone in the royal seating box jumped to their feet including the queen and her sister.

"My god, I've never seen anyone attack with such speed." Stephen exclaimed.

"Nor I." Erwin agreed along with the other knights.

While Allen remained confident and relaxed while waiting to be introduced, the moment he stepped out onto the field his concentration level rivaled that of Lord Van. 'You're my friend, my comrade Van but I cannot hold back. Even if it means humiliating you in front of all of Gaea, I must battle you with my very best effort, for my Queen, for Asturia, for the order of the Knights of Heaven. I must defeat you.' His face turned stern and cold as they bowed to the queen then turned to face off.

Once Sir Stanley signaled the start of the match, and the two competitors took their attack postures, Van wasted no time and charged Allen at full speed. Without hesitation Allen matched his charge. The King made the first strike, which the Knight blocked then countered with two successive attacks. Both, the King blocked and attacked again, and again the Knight blocked and countered, which the King blocked. From the moment the two swords made contact the first time to the time they met for the fifth time, only two seconds transpired as both warrior backed off for a moment but only for a moment.

Again Van attacked and again Allen charged to meet him. The speed and fury of their attacks seemed more that of two old foes battling to the death rather than two friends attempting to sever a blossom from the other's lapel.

The contest continued at lighting speed as both swordsmen battled fiercely. So intense was the match that everyone in the stands was on their feet gasping and cheering. Hitomi and Merle watched in total amazement and shock with their hearts in their throats.

During one exchange where the two combatants stood toe to toe exchanging attacks and counterattacks, for a minute straight, their swords crossed nearly a hundred times before Allen backed way only for a moment then charged and attacked again.

"How long have they been fighting like this?" One of the younger knights asked.

"At least fifteen minutes now." Erwin assumed.

"They can't keep this pace up. It's impossible." Stephen replied.

"They don't appear to be slowing in the least." Erwin observed. "If anything, I think they may actually be getting faster."

"By Jichia, how can they fight like this? It's not human." Another knight commented.

"None of us would last a minute in the arena against either of them." Stephen stated plainly.

All the other knights simply nodded slowly in agreement.

Both warriors maintained a serious yet emotionless expression as perspiration steamed down their faces and matted their clothes to their bodies; they remained focused on their objectives. Their resolve never faltering for a moment as they battled. As one would launch a series of attacks, the other would fall back for a moment then counter with a series of attacks as well. This continued on for another ten minutes. Finally, during one series of attacks by Van, Allen saw an opportunity. A fatal mistake that Van had exposed himself to Allen before, which allowed the Knight to disarm the King in the past. And as the Knight brought his sword around to send the King's sword sailing in the air, the King drew back on his weapon, spun and attacked again. This caught the Knight off guard but only for a moment. He quickly recovered and back peddled while blocking the King's attacks. Then he launched his own attack once more.

Forty minutes into the contest and neither competitor showed any signs of slowing down. The stands were filled with old man, young children and frail woman who collapsed from the excitement of the match. In the royal seating area, both Hitomi and Merle were near exhaustion simply watching the match. Leaning over the stone barrier they emitted a series of groans, gasps and screams as well as some incoherent words during the course of the action.

Hitomi stared on, her palms covered in sweat, her face as pale as a ghost.

'This is too much. They're going to kill each other, if not with their swords, then from pure exhaustion. This has to stop. It has to.'

She was about to turn around and ask the queen to call an end to the match when she caught sight of Van's eyes.

'He's so determined. So focused.'

Then she saw his hands and how he had woven the end of the handkerchief between the fingers of his hand closest to the end.

'I can't stop him now. Not after asking him to fight for my honor. Believe in him Hitomi. Just believe.'

She looked over at Allen and saw a similar resolve. For the first time in the match the two warriors took a moment to catch their breath as they circled each other.

'Regardless of who wins, my honor is secure. You've seen to that Van.'

She smiled but the smile was replaced by a gasp as they each launched another attack.

While both warriors seemed to be constantly on the attack, it was necessary to alter their attacks slightly to block and counter, but because their movements were so fast, it was impossible for the untrained eye to tell the difference and difficult even for the trained eye. And while it appeared that neither fighter was slowing down in the least, their muscles were telling them otherwise. But neither man would subject themselves to their pain. Their focus was so complete that neither realized that their gloves began to drip with the blood from their raw hands. But after the next exchange, which saw them cross swords 50 times before each man backed off, they both realized the end was near for one of them.

'I have to make this last attack count. I have to reach his orchid with this attack or I've lost, I have nothing left. I have to do it now.' Van told himself as he circled his opponent.

'This is it, all or nothing. He's better than I ever imagined. I have nothing left. I have to do it now. It's now or never.' Allen told himself as he mirrored Van's movements.

Readying themselves for one last attack, they continued to circle about, drawing ever closer with each step. Finally, in a lighting quick flurry of lunges and blocks they stood once again toe to toe attacking and countering, until they each attacked at the same instant. It took but an instant but it seemed to take an eternity to the two warriors. As Allen's sword, blade side down sliced through the stem of Van's orchid while at the very same moment in time, Van's sword, blade side up came under his opponent's weapon and sliced the stem of the Knight's flower.

Both flowers fell to the ground at the same time as the two men stood perfectly still, their swords still extended. Slowly they withdrew and sheathed them.

The crowd remained perfectly silent as they waited for the announcement from Sir Stanley. The noble official walked up to Allen first and checked his lapel then gave a quick inspection of the rest of his clothing. Not a mark was found. Then we walked over to Van and checked his lapel. He had to look twice and the second time he took several long seconds to study the material around the stem. It was faint, barely noticeable, but it was there; a small cut of no more than six or seven fibers, clearly made by a sharp object, a sword.

Sir Stanley took Van's right arm and raised it in the air. "Lord Van has been marked. The winner of the match is King Van Salanzar de Fanel of Fanelia."

The arena erupted in applause as both warriors with given a standing ovation. The young knights, who had been standing out of sight at one of the arena's entryways, stepped forward and applauded the two competitors.

Releasing Van's arm, Sir Stanley backed away and applauded the two combatants as well. The three men then turned toward the royal box and bowed. Looking up they saw everyone including Queen Millerna standing along the edge applauding. Van stole a glance over at Hitomi and saw a smile on her face as tears streamed down her cheeks. Standing next to her was Merle who was in the same state.

The queen made a small gesture to which Sir Stanley nodded then she proceeded to leave the seating area to head down to the field. As she started walking toward the back curtain the turned. "Hitomi, won't you come down with me?" The Queen offered.

The teen gave a small gasp and blushed, but quickly recovered her wits and bowed. "Thank you Your Majesty." She replied as she began following the entourage. Before passing the curtain, the turned back, "Merle, aren't you coming?" She asked.

Scratching the back of her head the catgirl grinned and said. "Nay, you go ahead." She waved her friend on.

As Hitomi passed the curtain, Merle sat back down and folded her arms over her chest. "Beside, I wasn't asked." She pouted.

Sir Charson looked over at the catgirl with a hint of sadness in his eyes. 'Poor thing, always overlooked.'

Down of the field of combat, Van and Allen turned and extended their hands to each other. As they clasped hands, they both winced in pain. Withdrawing, they each pulled off their gloves and were shocked as blood poured out when they removed their hands. The crowd gasped in horror and the official ordered medical attendants be sent for immediately. Only after removing his glove and seeing torn soars and blisters on his hands did the pain over the rest of Van's body register; the right bicep which had cramped up in the middle of the match, the right hamstring that he pulled in the first five minutes of the contest, and his hands and forearms which throbbed from the strain of their owner wielding his sword so tightly for so long. He looked with shock over at Allen who showed the same stunned expression. In the Knight's case, in addition to his hands and forearms screaming in pain, his back which he twisted not once but three times during the match and his left hamstring which he pulled were all letting him know just how much he had abused them.

As the medical attendants rushed up to them they quickly poured clean water over their wounds then poured alcohol to disinfect. If the alcohol on their open wounds caused the men any pain, they refused to show it, having steeled themselves once again to the suffering. Quickly but carefully the attendants bandaged their hands, bowed respectfully and left the field. Allen prepared to follow them off when Sir Stanley stopped him. "The Queen wishes for you to remain on the field." He informed the younger Knight.

Allen nodded and remained, standing just a few feet from Van. Turning to the young King he said. "Congratulations Van. That was an amazing demonstration you put on. You've truly become a master swordsman."

"Thank you Allen, but the demonstration was not mine alone. I understand now why you're regarded as the finest swordsman in all of Gaea." Van replied.

"A title that is rightly yours now." The Knight added.

"I fought not for this title but rather for the honor of my love, Hitomi Kanzaki." The King countered, running his hand over the handkerchief that was still secured to his sword.

Confusion crossed the Knight's face once again as he asked. "What do you mean by that and what is the significance of that cloth?"

Van thought for a long moment then gave a half grin and said, "You'll have to ask Hitomi to explain it clearly but Hitomi asked that I fight to preserve her honor and this handkerchief was a symbol of that honor and her favor towards me."

"I see." Allen said. 'Smart girl.'

Both men turned their attention to the entryway from where the royal vassals began unrolling the royal carpet for the arrival of the Queen.

As the carpet reached its end the two warriors stepped onto it and bowed down onto one knee both grimacing in pain in the process as they waited for the arrival of the Queen.

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AN: MAN! What that long. J But I think it was worth it. ^__^ I hope you agree. It was going to be longer but I decided to place Millerna's words of praise and Van returning the favor to Hitomi in the next chapter. It should be much shorter but very sweet. J I hope you liked the fight. I built it up so much, I'm afraid it may turn out to be a let down. I didn't put as much detail in the actual attacks because I wanted to convey a sense of speed. Swords flying so fast its seems but a blur to the naked eye. I hope I got that sense across.

Okay, now before all the women that read is story chastise me for calling women frail, I'm not saying all women are frail but rather the ones that were, and were in attendance at the arena passed out. ^_^

Again, thanks for the warm comments. I really do appreciate them.

A. Amishi

PS: Just 6 more days till ACEN'03!!!!!! ^__________^