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Hitomi got dressed slowly and Debi helped her with the buttons that ran down the back of her dress. The Seer wasn't sure if it was the fitted dress or her nerves that had her feeling like she was about to be sick.
"Drink this," Debi handed Hitomi a glass of red liquid.
"What is it?" Hitomi wrinkled her nose and hoped she wouldn't get any of the red substance on her wedding dress.
"Fruit juice," she shrugged, "I can't remember which fruit but it helps with stomach problems."
Hitomi sipped it carefully and put it down before she was even half way through it, "I'm so scared I'm going to spill it all over me," she said when Debi gave her a worried look.
Debi laughed, "Well, I'd be scared too. This dress is amazing."
"Why does it have to be so early," Merle groaned as she and Naoki came into the room already dressed and ready.
"Because somewhere in Fanelian history someone thought it was a good idea that weddings be held at sunrise," Hitomi found herself yawning despite her nerves, "Something about the Gods all blessing the couple or whatever."
Hitomi couldn't remember the story exactly and her mind wasn't on old histories anyways. In just under an hour she was getting married.
Her stomach wouldn't let her forget it.
"What if I get sick up there?" Hitomi asked, suddenly panicking.
"You won't." Naoki smiled, "You'll see Van up there waiting for you and you will forget everyone else who's there."
"I hope so." Hitomi sighed and slipped into her shoes before standing, "We should all get down there." she said, looking out at the lightening sky.
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Van couldn't stop moving. He's been pacing for two hours seeing as he was ready early since he wasn't able to make himself go back to sleep. He had woken up, remembered what day it was and couldn't get his eyes to close again.
Folken spoke every now and then but never really expected an answer, which suited Van just fine. He was just happy he wasn't waiting by himself. His older brother had down stairs just after Van had managed to nearly kill himself on a potted plant he had somehow not seen. The thing was almost as tall as he was. But his mind was on the day, not on where his feet were going.
It had been Folken who suggested that they sit in the library and eat some breakfast to past the time. So far Van had forced down half a piece of toast and a few bites of an apple. That was all he felt he could eat without getting sick.
"People won't like that you have me in the wedding." Folken said and Van stopped walking.
It was the first thing that Folken had said in two hours that had fully caught his attention.
"You're my brother. You have to be there or it wouldn't feel right." Van smiled, "Besides everyone who has a problem can just suck it up. It's my wedding, not theirs."
"True." Folken grinned but it quickly faded, "I hope Zaibach stays away."
"I do too." Van said, walking over to the window, "I know it's too much to hope for.■
"You never know." Folken walked up behind his brother and Van could see both their reflections in the glass, "Maybe today will go smoothly."
"I don't care about the day. Just give me this morning and I will be a happy man." Van straightened out his dark blue jacket before checking his white high collared shirt in the window's surface.
"You look like a King." Folken said quietly, "And I'm sure Hitomi will look every bit a Queen." he smiled, "The sky is getting brighter. It's time for you to get married."
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The waiting was the worst part. Hitomi could hear the music and she knew when Van entered the gardens due to the musical change. The Fanelian band had started playing an old song back from the days of the first dragon slayers and the first King's.
Hitomi wanted so badly to just look out around the doors to see what Van looked like. If what Naoki said was true then she really needed to see Van because she felt like at any moment she would need to run for a basin. Or even an open window.
She heard the music cue for her to step out and found that her feet were carrying her without ever having been told that she was ready to walk by her brain. The sky was a beautiful red and white and Hitomi was lost for moment in the bright morning light. When she finally did spot Van under the white and gold flags and banners, each with Fanelia's crest, she smiled and knew that she would never be able to stop smiling.
Van was all she needed and as long as she was his wife her world would be complete.
Hitomi sighed at her own cheesy thoughts but couldn't bring herself to think of anything else. Every word of it was true no matter how clichх it was and she wasn't about spend them thinking about how else she could describe it, especially not when she had nearly reached Van.
With a smile as wide and happy as her's, Van held out his hand for her when she reached his side and tightly squeezed her fingers in his.
"I might cry," Hitomi warned Van in whisper.
"As long as they're happy tears then it's ok," Van smiled, whispering back out of the corner of his mouth.
"And I have a handkerchief should you need it," the Holy Man before them smiled gently before adding, "Now, if we may start?"
Van smiled and gave a slight nod as Hitomi blushed. She hadn't even seen the Holy Man past Van when she walked over and when he had spoken she was sure she was going to tip over in shock. Thankfully, Van's tight grip on her hand kept her from swaying too much, so Falling was out of the question as well. Unless of course she brought Van down with her but that would a be a nightmare.
"Stop thinking about all the bad things that could happen," Van said in her ear as the Holy Man addressed the gathered nobles, "Just think about now and remember every detail of our wedding day. I know I will."
Hitomi smiled at Van, happy beyond words that she had met him years ago in that river. She was happy that he had never once feared her or really questioned her Sight. He treated her like a human being and not like a freak show that should be hidden from sight until useful.
He loved her. And above everything else that was what mattered.
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At the end of the vows Hitomi knelt on a pile of pillows and Van carefully placed a crown on her head. It had been specially made for this day and as she smiled up at him he felt his heart stop.
This was his wife. Never again would he be alone. This was the one person he would trust his life with and had on occasions had his life saved by her.
"I love you," he whispered, helping her to her feet as he felt his throat tighten.
"I love you too," her eyes were shiny but she had yet to cry and he was damned if he was going to be the first the cry on their wedding day.
Van cleared his throat and turned towards those gathered and held up his and Hitomi's joined hands as everyone clapped and shouted.
"It's a fine day for Fanelia," Folken said as he hugged his brother and then his new sister-in-law.
"It's a good morning," Van said with a grin he directed towards Folken.
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Hitomi couldn't stop smiling even as she walked through the many guests on Van's arm. Everyone was shaking their hands and smiling brightly at the newly married couple. Hitomi was worried that her face would break if her smile didn't ease up for a bit.
There was a squeal and then Hitomi felt herself being squeezed. Turning with a laugh Hitomi hugged her little sister as the girl bounced and danced in place in her excitement.
"Queen of Fanelia," a voice said from behind and Hitomi found Millerna standing there with a friendly smile, "I will never forget this day. You are a very lucky lady."
"You're telling me," Hitomi smiled and hugged Millerna before seeing the girls that stood behind the Asturian Princess, among them stood Nessa.
Beaming, Hitomi stepped past Millerna and hugged Nessaline, "Thank you for coming. I know you are not fond of me but I hold no ill will towards you. Be happy and enjoy the feast," The Seer whispered to the stiff Princess.
Hitomi smiled gently at the other girls glaring at her before nodding to each and turning her back on them to link arms with her new husband.
"That was very generous of you," Van said as he slipped his hand into her's, "You will be an amazing Queen."
"I'll learn," Hitomi shrugged and kissed Van's lips. Applause erupted around them and causing the couple to blush, as they pulled apart.
Van led Hitomi over to the table that would seat the royal family as the feast started. There were presents laid out across the table and Hitomi wondered just what could be in each box. Surely she would never have need for so many things in her life.
A flutter, a breeze, a barely felt presence had Hitomi turning to see Dilandau standing not far from the table with Doen and a few other Fanelian guards flanking him as if to keep him from doing anything stupid.
Hitomi stood and walked over to him slowly as he bowed before her.
"I am unarmed and alone," Dilandau said as he straightened, "I just came to see it with my own eyes."
"See what?" Van asked, walking up behind his wife.
"A Seer Witch crowned as Queen." Dilandau smirked at Van, "You do realize that you have doomed your kingdom to be without an heir."
"And what makes you say that?" Naoki pushed up to stand in front of Hitomi. It seemed everyone had noticed the arrival of the Zaibach soldier.
"Seer's are cursed people. They bring nothing but pain to those around and as punishment the Gods have made them less human, less real. Seer's are unable to have children. Thank the Gods for that one," Dilandau sneered at Hitomi, "I can't imagine a bunch of Seer's ruling any Kingdom in the future. The little brats would destroy everything they got their filthy hands on."
"Well, thanks for the news," Hitomi smiled, "But I've probably read the same books you have about Seers. Children are never mentioned, true, but neither to do any of the passages mentioned any of the women being barren. Don't you think something would have been said before now about such a natural part of a Seer's life?" Hitomi raised an eyebrow, her smile still in place, "I'm sure it was nothing but concern that brought you here but I already know what you know." Hitomi waved to the guards. "Take him to the boarder. I don't want to see him."
Dilandau looked shocked at her unconcerned words and her easy dismissal of his presence, "That is all you have to say?" he asked as the guards took him by the arms.
"Yes. Why? Where you expecting me to be upset?" Hitomi took Van's hand and walked away from the pale blond man.
"He is evil," Van said when reached their seats.
"He is misguided," Hitomi said, sipping her wine, "He has a dark heart and a mean manner but it all in what he was taught."
"His words didn't bother you?" Van asked, brushing Hitomi's ever-lengthening hair away from her neck.
"No. I've had those fears in my heart for awhile but I have seen away around them, if indeed they are true." Hitomi kissed Van's cheek before he could ask her what solution she had found and she quickly changed the subject.
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When morning came only one of the royals was awake to see the sunrise. Van hadn't been able to sleep much. He was too afraid that at any moment he would wake to discover that the day and night had all been a dream and that Hitomi was not next to him in bed.
He hadn't told her how unnerved he had been by Dilandau's words at their wedding. He didn't want her to worry. And by the time they crawled into their bed all thoughts of Zaibach were gone from Van's mind.
The pale sunlight filled the room and Van gently pulled the sheets up to cover Hitomi's bare back. She was sound asleep and breathing evenly.
Van let his eyes wander over his new wife. The thin sheet that now covered her didn't erase his memories of the night before and he found himself feeling rather giddy. She was beautiful. Clothes or no clothes, Van still felt his hands shake as he touched her face.
He loved her. And she was now his wife.
"Everything ok?" Hitomi mumbled, feeling Van's fingers on her cheek.
"Everything's fine." Van kissed her lips and brushed her hair away from her face, "Go back to sleep."
No sooner did Hitomi's breathing even out again Van heard the lightest tap on the door.
Dressing in silence Van carried his boots over to the door. Somehow he wasn't surprised to find Folken standing there waiting for him.
Ready with a smile Van suddenly caught the look on his brother's face and blurted out, "Are you alright?"
"I'm not sure," Folken said quietly, taking Van's arm and walking back towards his own rooms, "My memory of Zaibach has been fading. I started writing everything down that I could remember and now the lists are longs but they make little sense to me. I don't remember my time there. It's all blurry like a dream. I can't figure out my own notes and I was hoping you would look them over. I know much of what I remembered had to do with your new wife because I have her name at the top of many of the lists."
Van nodded and felt his heart sink a little. Everything was suppose to be alright now that he and Hitomi were married. This was suppose to be the start of their happy lives.
The lists were indeed many. And by the time Van had even made it half way through one of the stacks, Hitomi came into the room, looking pale.
"It's just started, hasn't it?" she asked, placing a hand on of the lists, "All this is part of it. Part of them."
"I'm trying to remember all that I can to help you." Folken sighed and pulled off his outer shirt, "I don't want you to have the future they had in mind for me." he straightened his back and suddenly Hitomi found herself kneeling on the floor, looking up at black wings.
"Brother..." Van sounded as though his heart had just been torn from his chest.
"They did something to me," Folken looked from van to Hitomi, "I would have died if I stayed any longer. There is still a bit of white at the tips." he turned to show them, "Hopefully that means there is still hope for me."
Image after image filled Hitomi's mind and she felt tears fall from her eyes. He would live. She could See that but the fight wasn't over yet.
They had taken only one step so far in blocking Zaibach's plans. Having become Queen had thrown their plans off track by miles but that didn't mean that they would just give up. Zaibach had other plans to fulfill.
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A/N: I started a new job! I've been so busy I don't know what to do with myself lately. I love it. Anyways, hope you all liked this one. The next one will be a bit slow in coming but I have about half of the first chapter already typed out so hopefully within a week or two you will have the start of the second half. :) Hopefully.