Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne. My writing is purely for the enjoyment of my readers and myself.


Legends of Gaea: Chapter 7

The night was bright with the light from the two moons in the sky. Little five-year-old Van quietly waited until the sounds outside his bedroom had quieted. He stilled in his bed and waited until the guards had passed by his bedroom door.

Finally, the night grew very still and Van smiled, jumping out of bed. His long nightgown fell down to his ankles. Van quietly sneaked over to his balcony and, with some effort, managed to pull the large doors open just enough for his little form to squeeze through.

Outside, he scanned the castle wall until he spied bright candle light emanating from Folken's bedroom window. Van spied Folken standing outside on his balcony smiling at him. Van smiled back and giggled with glee. Folken chuckled at him and took off his shirt. He unfurled his wings, quietly lifting himself into the still air and flew to Van with open arms.

" Come to me Van." Folken whispered.

Van leaped into his arms and Folken quietly carried them to the castle courtyard where they sneaked into the servants' wing. Silent Folken led Van through the halls and carefully extricated a candle from one of the many brass candle holders on the wall.

" Is everyone asleep?" Van asked a little too loudly.

Folken turned and lifted a finger to his lips, indicating that Van should be silent before they continued into the kitchen. For a few moments the two brothers stood at the kitchen door in silence, letting their eyes get adjusted to the dim light their single candle provided. Folken turned around and gently pulled Van into the room, turning to shut the kitchen doors behind them.

Van scurried over to the pantry and pulled it open. Folken smiled and shook his head as Van popped out with a large platter of homemade bread. Folken lighted a few more candles in the kitchen and helped him lift the platter onto the wooden table in the center of the room. He carefully cut a few slices for them to eat before returning the bread to the pantry and taking a jar Fanelian honey, the sweetest honey on Gaea. Folken smiled as Van jumped up and down with eagerness.

As Folken set the jar on the table, Van reaches for it.

" Ah, ah, ah. Just you wait a minute." Folken whispered. Van pouted and continued to eye the honey jar with great desire. Folken retreated into the darkness for a few moments and soon returned with a small jelly knife in hand. " Here," He offered, taking Van's slice of bread and spreading honey all over its surface.

Van smiled his thanks and took two quick bites, smearing honey all over his lips in the process. Folken grinned and stifled a snicker while spreading honey on his slice of bread as well. After a few minutes Folken stepped into the darkness again before returning with a pitcher of grape juice and served Van a cup.

The brothers enjoyed their midnight snack in quiet contentment.

" Van?" Folken said after they finished and he helped Van get cleaned up.

" Huh?" Van asked, raising his eyebrows just like Folken did when he waited for Van to answer a question of his.

" Let's keep this night just to ourselves, okay?" Folken whispered conspiratorially. Van nodded and mimiced zipping his lips closed. Folken smiled.

" Can we do this again tomorrow night?" Van asked hopefully. Folken laughed and ruffled Van's hair affectionately.

" We'll see." He smirked...


" Van?…Van wake up….Van we're almost there, it's time to wake up." Van slowly felt his senses return and he opened his eyes to see Folken gently rubbing one of his hands in an effort to wake him.

" Are we there?" Van asked, his voice still filled with sleepiness. Folken shook his head and leaned back in his seat.

" I think we should talk before we arrive." He replied. Van sat up a little straighter and looked beside him at Meegan and Merle, who were sleeping soundly.

" How will you begin your request to the king?" Folken asked quietly, glancing out the window.

Van thought for a moment. " I suppose I'll have to apologize for the short notice." He began.

Folken nodded. " A wise choice of action. But afterwards, what exactly will you ask of him?"

Van looked at Folken in silence for a few moments, quietly remembering how much he hated his brother only a few days ago. " I don't know…what would you say?" Van replied a bit testily.

Folken shifted in his seat, his back aching. " I would begin by sharing with the king what your plans are for Fanelia. Tell him exactly what you need from his country and ask him if he has any suggestions to share with you." Folken replied smoothly.

Van frowned and turned his gaze out the window.

Folken sighed, not missing his brother's dark expression. " What is it, Van?"

" What do you mean?" He replied curtly, still not looking at his brother.

" You are upset about something." Folken pushed. " I wish you would share with me what it is you are thinking once in a while. It would help us if we understood each other." He stated, finally letting Van know how much his silence upset him.

Van was silent for a few moments before returning his gaze to Folken. " I don't understand you." He replied flatly.

Folken remained silent.

" I don't understand why you are helping me and why I'm letting you." Van continued with frustration, running a hand through his soft black hair.

Folken looked down at his lap, trying to think of a reply and finding none.

" I can't understand how you could just forget about mother and I for ten years and then turn around and destroy everything you worked so hard on." Van says with a deep frown. Folken nodded, understanding his brother's confusion.

" I'm sorry that I've hurt you Van." Folken replied. Van blinked in surprise. Folken continued. " I'm sorry that I've hurt mother, and I'm sorry that I betrayed my kingdom when they needed me most. That's why I'm trying to make things right now. I can't tell you why I turned away from everyone I loved. Perhaps it was because I felt that I was…that I…" Folken stopped in mid-sentence and turned his gaze to the window.

Van shifted uncomfortably as a heavy silence settled upon them. They rode in this manner for several minutes until Van decided to speak again. " What made you leave Ziabach?" He asked, staring at Folken intensely.

Folken closed his eyes, remembering Naryia and Eryia, remembering his horror and outrage when he realized the truth behind Dornkirk's 'master plan'. Folken shook his head. " I realized the truth." He answered, bitterness evident in his soft confession.

Van leaned back in his seat mulling over Folken's words. He could tell there was more... much more and was about to press Folken about it but just then Merle stirred and opened her eyes.

Yawning widely she stretched and effectively destroyed the tender moment both brothers were feeling. " Are we there yet?" She asked moving to lean on Van again.

Van shook his head. " Soon." He replied.

Merle wrapped her arms around Van's arm and stared at Folken through sleepy eyes.

Meegan stirred and awakened. She looked out the window and smiled. " Oh look!" She exclaimed. " I can see the castle!"

Merle released Van's arm and looked out Meegan's window with excitement as her tail twitched back and forth happily.

" Van?" Merle asked turning to look at him. She paused and frowned with concern. " What's wrong, Van?" She asked after taking notice of how troubled he looked. Meegan glanced over at him as well, questions in her eyes.

Van shook his head. " Nothing's wrong, Merle. I'm just thinking about what I will say to king Aston." He explained. Folken remained silent.

" I'm hungry." Merle continued. " Do you think we will be able to eat something when we get there?" She asked hopefully.

Van grinned. " Sure, Merle. There will be food for us when we arrive."

Merle smiled and clapped her hands together excitedly. " Oh yummy!"

The coach traveled through the streets of cobblestones and bridges, passing many little shops and quaint homes before entering the grand gates of Austuria's castle. High above, seagulls screeched and circleed the castle courtyard.

Merle twitched her whiskers and frowned. " Oh no." She murmured to herself. " It smells like fish."

Meegan smiled. " That's because the docks are right outside the castle walls." She replied helpfully.

Merle wrinkled up her nose. " I hope they don't make us eat more fish." She replied.


Inside the castle all the servants were bustling around happily. Eries stood among them telling everyone what needed to be done before the guests arrived.

A young servant boy made his way over to the princess and bowed respectfully. " Your majesty, I was sent to tell you that the guests have arrived."

Eries thanked the young boy and took a few maids with her to the courtyard, ordering the rest of the servants about her to prepare the guest rooms and have the mid-day meal ready. She made her way outside and waited in silence as the coach approached and came to a stop in the center of the courtyard.

A wolf-man jumped down from the reins and bowed before her.


Eries nodded and welcomed him courteously. " And you are?" She prompted as Zire rose from his bow.

" I am Zire, Your Majesty. Servant of King Van Fanel." He smiled and turned to stand to one side as Eries commanded a guard to help the remaining visitors down from the belly of the coach.

The first to step off the coach was Meegan who curtsied respectfully.

" Welcome to Austuria." Eries greeted. " What is your name?"

Meegan looked up at Eries's kind face and smiled timidly. " My name is Meegan, Your Majesty. I am a servant of the king's dearest, and closest friend, Merle." She explained before taking her place beside Zire.

Following Meegan came Merle who walked right up to Eries with a bright smile on her face. Eries nodded elegantly and welcomed her graciously. " Welcome to Austuria, Merle."

Merle nodded. " It's really pretty here." Merle said admiring the well kept terraces and gardens that surround the castle courtyard.

Eries smiled knowingly. " Thank you." She replied kindly. Merle nodded and waited with the others while Van stepped off the coach.

Immediately Eries and all her servants, servant maids, and guards bowed in homage to the young hero king. Van approached Eries as she rose and he bowed before her on one knee, tapping his chest with head bowed.

Eries smiled and bid him rise. " Welcome king Van." She greeted him kindly.

" Thank you for excepting us at such short notice." Van replied gratefully.

" Of course, Your Majesty." Eries stated with a soft smile. " Consider Austuria your second home."

Van smiled and nodded his thanks to the princess. He glanced around at the faces before him and raised his eyebrows in question. " Where is princess Millerna and Allen Schezar?" He asked.

" Princess Millerna is helping refugees at this hour. She will be arriving to the castle in a short time. Sir Allen Schezar is away in Fried, aiding the young King Chid." Eries replied.

" Ah." Van nodded while the final traveler stepped off the coach. Eries and all those present turned their attention to Folken who walked up to the princes of Austuria and king of Fanelia.

Eries blinked and found herself staring at him. He bowed before her on one knee and gently took one of her hands, kissing it softly. She felt her cheeks flush. " Welcome to Austuria." She managed to say calmly.

Folken looked up at her and their gazes met for a moment. Eries had seen Folken many times within the courts but she had never been so close to him. And she realized that he was not only charming but also very handsome. And then she looked to Van her mind trying to understand why they were traveling together for Folken had betrayed Fanelia and Zaibach.

" Forgive me." Eries began, confusion evident in her voice. " Are you now aiding the king of Fanelia?"

" He is my current advisor." Van replied before Folken could even open his mouth. He glanced at Van whose eyes dared him to say anything otherwise. Folken nodded, holding her gaze for a moment longer.

" Yes." He replied. " I am determined to do as much as I can to make right the wrongs I have committed."

" I see. You seek redemption." She clarified.

" An impossibility, perhaps." He replied.

" Perhaps not Folken. A good heart and a wise mind will always succeed in finding the light."

Folken bowed his head and finally looked away, walking to stand behind Van. If he had stared at her any longer, Eries was certain her legs would have given way. She didn't know that in that moment Folken had felt the same way.

Eries motioned for the group to follow her into the castle where they were shown to their rooms.

" A mid-day meal has been prepared for anyone who wishes to replenish themselves before the conference with king Aston." Eries explained.

" Thank you for everything, princess Eries." Van replied gratefully. " We will certainly sit to eat as soon as we have changed from our journey.".

Eries nodded and left them to prepare for the afternoon.


Three hours later, in the grand dining hall…

" So tell me Van, what is it that I may do to help you?" King Aston asked while pouring himself a cup of wine.

" I would first like to thank you, Your Majesty, for excepting myself and small company with such short notice." Van began.

King Aston shook his head and smiled. " Do not worry Van. You and your friends are always welcomed in Austuria. Now, tell me what you need."

Van began while a servant reached for his empty goblet and filled it with red wine. " I want to rebuild my country and I am searching for support." He stated while the servant continued on to Folken and filled his goblet as well. Folken remained silent for the moment, watching how Van handled himself.

Aston glanced at Folken before returning his gaze to Van. " What kind of support are you looking for?" He prompted.

" My people will need temporary shelters until the kingdom is ready. Also, we will need supplies of food and building materials to get us started." Van replied.

" I see." Aston said, rubbing his small mustache.

Folken watched the king's body language, knowing that he was worried about something. " Is there something that troubles you, Your Majesty?" Folken asked gently.

Aston looked at him in surprise. " Um, well,…ah, yes." Folken waited in silence while Van looked at him and then the king.

Aston sighed and explained himself. " I would love to help you and believe me when I say everything Austuria can do for your kingdom will be done. But we are still struggling with the refugees from our own country. In fact, princess Millerna is outside overseeing several camps we have created to help provide homes and food for those in need as we speak. Our supplies are a little low."

Folken nodded, understanding the predicament they were in. " I see." He replied softly. Van listened quietly, unable to hide the disappointment he felt. King Aston took a sip of his wine and continued. " But, we can get you started with the supplies available to us." He continued.

Van raised his eyes to see that the king had been looking at him. Van felt his face flush slightly and tried to do a better job of hiding his emotions in the future.

" Thank you, your Majesty." Folken replied gratefully. " Anything you can provide for us will be most appreciated."

King Aston nodded and waved off Folken's thank you. " Ah, no thanks are needed friends. Tell me, when do you intend to begin rebuilding?"

Folken and Van glanced at each other. " By the end of the month." Folken replied.

Aston nodded and Van glared at his brother for not letting him speak. " Well, then," Aston continued as he rose, indicating that the conference was over. " I will have materials prepared for you by that time. Meanwhile, I wish for the two of you and your friends to join my daughters and I tonight for dinner."

" Thank you, Your Majesty. We will gladly attend." Van replied.

" Good!" Aston smiled and the three bid each other a good afternoon until the evening.