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


Everlasting Love: Chapter 8

Servants and servant maids alike fluttered through Austuria's plush and lavish hallways, lighting candles and torches, filling the castle with soft light as the sun began its descent from the afternoon sky.

Zire made his way by the many servants and guards, through several large corridors until he approached the guest wing. He walked down the hall, taking his time to admire and study each large and artistic painting of one king or another that hanged on the walls, until he reached a specific door and knocked.

" Come in." Came the muffled reply.

Zire opened the heavy, wooden door and entered. Inside, a large fireplace crackled as wood burned in its mouth. A large, king-sized bed with lush silk blankets and pillows sat a little off to the center of the chamber and on the opposite side of the room sat Folken. He was quietly bent over a desk, carefully writing something on a scroll with a feather that he held in his left hand.

Zire walked across the room, whistling at the plush, expensive rug he just stepped on. " Wow. This place is really rich, isn't it?" He stated while coming to stand by Folken.

" Hello, Zire." Folken replied, glancing up at the wolf-man and doing a double take when he saw what the wolf-man was wearing.

Zire nodded and smiled knowingly. " Great, isn't it?" He replied turning around to let Folken get a good look at his new attire.

" Yes. Where did you get it?" Folken asked in surprise.

Zire didn't answer him yet. " Are you ready for tonight?" He asked.

Folken sighed and shrugged. " I suppose so."

Zire smiled. " Good food, rich company, and great looking clothes…don't you mean yes?" He teased.

Folken smirked and carefully set down the feather he was writing with. Zire watched Folken's gaze rest upon the box tucked under his left arm.

" What is this?" Folken asked, carefully tapping the box with one of his metal fingers.

" Where can I set it down?" Zire asked with a smile. Folken rose and placed the scroll he was writing on to one side. Then he sealed the ink well and shelved it away. Zire nodded and placed the box on the desk.

" What were you writing?" He asked.

" I'm organizing my thoughts." Folken replied in his cool manner.

Zire nodded. " Always the strategist I see." He smiled.

Folken's face remained stoic and Zire tried not to show how stupid he felt about the remark he just stated. " Ahem!" He cleared his throat, suddenly very uncomfortable before Folken's steady gaze.

" What is in the box?" Folken asked.

Zire smiled again and lifted the lid. " Well, to answer your earlier and current question; I went into the market place earlier this afternoon while you and Van were in the conference with the king. Princess Eries and Millerna showed Meegan, Merle, and myself around. And among the shops we visited, there was one tailor shop that had the most amazing clothes you could ever imagine. We all bought something while we were there, and the princesses bought this for you." Zire explained, lifting up a robe of royal blue and black for Folken to see.

Folken cocked his head and smiled, despite himself, reaching out to feel the soft, silky material.

" What do you think?" Zire asked, unable to hide his excitement. " We all thought it would look perfect on you. I even think the colors compliment your hair." He stated sincerely.

Folken chuckled and lifted the robe out of Zire's paws. He took in the style and raised an eyebrow in compliment at the gold trimming on the sleeves and hem of the robe.

" Try it on." Zire urged with a smile. " The tailor even fixed it so that you don't have to worry about your mechanical arm." Zire pointed out the side with the larger sleeve opening. Folken chuckled again and shook his head, completely speechless. He looked up at Zire uncertainly, but Zire didn't give up. " The princesses said that they can't wait to see you wear this tonight." He explained and turned to leave.

" They said what?" Folken asked, but Zire was already walking out the door, shaking his head with a smile.


Millerna quietly made her way down the candlelit corridor to the great dining hall where the evening dinner would be held. She smiled in her charming way to every servant that passed her by. Walking into the dining hall she was greeted by Eries.

" Well don't you look lovely this evening, dear." Eries complimented as Millerna entered.

" Thank you. You also look very elegant, as always." She smiled, returning the compliment. Eries smiled and the two walked to their places, allowing servants to pull out the chairs for them. Millerna smoothed out the wrinkles on her wine colored skirt and brushed a stray curl from her face with an elegant swipe of her jeweled hand. Eries took a deep breath and glanced at the doors where their guests for the evening would soon enter.

Millerna caught her sister's eyes and smiled. " Why Eries what's wrong?"

Eries shook her head. " Nothing." She replied.

Millerna laughed lightheartedly.

Eries raised her eyebrows. " What's so funny?"

Millerna calmed herself and shook her head. " It's just that you're acting as if we've never entertained guests before." She explained. Eries rolled her eyes and sighed.

Suddenly, the large double doors opened and guards lined up in two straight rows. In the center, elegant and kingly in his new robes, entered Van with Merle by his side. Van's deep red robe with gold trimming complimented the soft pink of Merle's silk dress and strawberry hair.

Eries and Millerna rose and greeted them kindly with smiles and nods as Van walked to his place beside Eries. Merle stepped up to the seat on the princess's other side.

Next to walk in between the two rows of guards came Zire and Meegan. Zire smiled and walked proudly, his cape of ice blue with tints of silver swished behind him and Meegan seemed to float in her royal purple gown of satin and chiffon.

Eries and Millerna welcomed them as the two wolf-people separated from each other and headed for their respective places. Millerna smiled brightly as Meegan came to stand beside the princess.

" That gown looks beautiful on you!" Millerna whispered to the young wolf-woman's ear.

" Oh, thank you, princess! And thank you for giving it to me. I don't know how I can ever repay you for your kindness." Millerna shook her head. " Don't worry about it. I can't fit in the dress any more and you look so much better in it than I ever did." She replied softly.

Finally, Folken entered the dining hall. Everyone in the room stared at him. Van gulped as he took in his brother's appearance. Every guard glanced up at him as he passed by and Van, for an instant, saw his brother as he should have been: Folken as a king.

Eries and Millerna glanced at each other and shared a knowing smile before returning their attention to the handsome man coming to join them at the table.

" Welcome everyone." Eries greeted when Folken reached his place. " Please, let us sit." She said warmly.

" Father will be joining us in a little while." Millerna continued as everyone took their seats.

Merle sniffed the air and smiled as the scent of wonderful smelling foods reached her sensitive nose. The dining hall was soon filled with servants carrying trays of every kind of food Merle can think of. She watched with excitement as the platters were set on the long table. The fine silver shined and glimmered in the light of the candle flames, creating an atmosphere of warmth and friendliness. Plates and cutlery were set and glass goblets were filled with sparkling white wine.

Meegan smiled excitedly. Never before had she ever been to such a wonderful event and she took notice of every detail. Zire watched with deep anticipation as the servants lifted the silver lids from all the platters in unison. Everyone was instantly assaulted with smells too wonderful for words and more than one stomach began to rumble.

Eries was handed a plate of cheese and she picked a few cubes before passing it on to Merle who shoveled two paws full onto her plate before passing what was left to Zire. He took the plate and frowned.

Meegan, sitting across from them, stifled a giggle. Van took an experimental sip of his wine and another, and another, and another…Millerna looked up at him and smiled.

" Is it good, Your Majesty?" She asked sweetly. Van nodded and set the half-empty goblet on the table.

" It's really good!" He exclaimed as a servant reached over his shoulder and filled the goblet up to the brim again.

Eries glanced at Folken who glanced at her at exactly the same moment. She blinked, the light of the candles dancing within her eyes. Eries felt herself blush and was relieved that the only light in the room was from the candles.

" Why does he make me feel this way?" She asked herself as his gaze traveled across the table to Van, who sat directly in front of him. Eries took this moment to quietly admire Folken's facial features. Her eyes traveled down his face, taking note of the perfect eyebrows, dark-deep red eyes, smooth delicate nose, full soft, pink lips, and a perfectly rounded chin.

She took a sip of water and tried not to be too obvious as she studied the odd markings on his face, purple streaks running to each temple from the corner of each eye, the interesting eye-drop under his right eye…

Suddenly the doors to the dinning hall opened and a guard stepped in, exclaiming in a loud voice the king's arrival. Everyone stood as two trumpets proudly announced the king's presence. King Aston entered with a large smile upon his happy, round face. His beady eyes scanned the dinning hall before him a few moments before he stepped up to his seat at the head of the long, lavishly decorated table. All eyes rested upon the king and waited for his motion to be seated.

" This is truly a joyful event!" He exclaimed, glancing purposefully at Van. " Today, Austuria has agreed to help the kingdom of Fanelia and its king rebuild from the ashes of war."

Eries and Millerna glanced at each other and smiled.

" How wonderful!" Millerna exclaimed, looking at Van and then Folken.

" Yes. What a wonderful way to express Austuria's friendship and loyalty." Eries agreed.

Aston nodded and smiled widely. " Yes, yes. Now, lets eat!" He exclaimed excitedly and took his seat. Everyone followed suit and soon the dinning hall was filled with the soft chime of fine cutlery and the murmur of friendly chatter.

Merle licked her chops as she dug into the steaming chicken leg on her plate. " Now this is what I call food!" Merle exclaimed with a smile.

" It sure beats fish doesn't it?" Zire asked, nudging her gently. Merle looked at him with surprise, her mouth full of chicken.

At the other end of the table king Aston enjoyed the company of his guests. " So Folken," He began, cutting a piece of steak into bite-sized pieces. " How does it feel to be free from Ziabach's clutches?" Folken nearly choked on a piece of chicken he just swallowed.

Van looked up, his gaze flickering from his brother to the king and back again. Eries listened silently while Millerna chatted with the others dining on the other end of the table.

Aston continued as if he were talking about the weather. " I think that it's wonderful you are helping Fanelia's king." He stated with a smile. Van set his fork down and stared at the king, Folken glanced at Van unsure of how his brother would react. " And to think you were the one to order the assault on Fanelia." Aston continued, seemingly oblivious to the tension building on either side of him.

Van looked at Folken who looked down at his plate feeling ashamed. " Why did the king have to mention that? Of all the things we could talk about tonight…" Folken fumed internally. But any other thought the king had wanted to say was cut off when a new voice entered the conversation.

" You ordered the attack on Fanelia?" Aston, Van, and Folken all looked up in unison to meet Eries's curious gaze. Folken glanced at Van who looked at the princess with a curious expression of his own.

Folken took in a deep breath while King Aston took another bite of steak.

" Yes…I ordered the attack on Fanelia." Folken began as Van squirmed in his seat, deeply uncomfortable. " I was foolish enough to believe the Emperor and his twisted plans for a brighter future." Folken continued.

Eries frowned. " You were close to the Emperor?" She asked. Folken nodded. " What changed your mind about Ziabach and its purpose?" She continued.

Folken felt the eyes of both Van and King Aston rest upon him, waiting for a reply. Folken chose his words carefully. " I had to loose everything that meant anything to me." He began slowly. " I realized the truth."

Eries gazed at him and after a moment turned to Van who remained silent. By now everyone else in the room had fallen silent as well, the topic of the current conversation having reached every ear present. Eries returned her gaze to Folken who was looking at Van with a carefully blank expression.

" To disagree with an empire as powerful as Ziabach is admirable, but to stand against it takes a heart of gold." Eries stated honestly. Folken looked at her, surprise evident in his eyes.

Eries turned her gaze to Van. "Van, King of Fanelia," She continued while Van looked up at her intently. " You are very brave and very wise to accept help from others and to be willing to trust the man sitting before you." Van looked down at his plate. " I am honored to be in the presence of not just one, but two great heroes." Eries stated proudly.

Aston smiled. " Well said, my dear!"

Zire smiled and picked up his goblet. " To two of Gaea's greatest heroes." He proclaimed, raising his goblet up high. Everyone, with the exception of Folken and Van, raised their goblets as well." To two of Gaea's greatest heroes." They echoed in unison.


The evening finally came to a close and everyone wished each other a good night's rest. But as the castle grew quiet and calm, and as the moons stepped out from behind the nighttime clouds, Folken decided to go out for a midnight stroll.

Outside, the gardens were silent as the moons shone down upon all the foliage and closed flower heads. A serene midnight breeze whispered through the trees and caressed Folken's hair. He brushed a few bangs away from his eyes with his good hand and wrapped the dark-blue cape, provided to him by Millerna and Eries, more tightly around his chilled body. The air was crisp and refreshing to his senses and he took in a deep breath, enjoying his midnight stroll through the quiet gardens.

His mind traveled back to the dinner. King Aston had suggested that Van travel with Eries and Millerna to Egzardia to gain the support of its king. Eries had second the idea stating that Egzardia's king was very wise and kind. Millerna had said it would be a great asset for Fanelia to have close relations with the kingdom. So Van had agreed and Folken remained silent, still trying to control the turmoil within his heart over words shared about Ziabach only a few moments earlier.

Folken closed his eyes. " I don't want to think about Ziabach anymore." He told himself while moving to sit down on a marble bench. While he contemplated he heard the distant song of ocean waves. The breeze that brushed by his nose left a salty smell in the air and invigorated his senses. His gaze traveled around the immediate area and he sighed, preparing to head back to his guestroom and catch a few hours sleep before the departure early that same morning.

Suddenly, the sound of music reached his ears. It was a soft, almost ghostly echo. A beautiful voice sang a melody he had never heard. The sweet, tender notes reminded him of a lullaby. Folken rose and decided to investigate. As he followed he soon heard another sound. Something accompanied the singing and Folken paused in his steps to consider it.

A harp. He listened for a few moments before continuing his investigation. The beautiful music lead him to a section of the gardens he had never visited before. This section of the gardens was glorious with hundreds of flowers and shrubbery. Some even blossoming at night.

He followed a stone path that wound around a small, beautifully terraced hill and up four large, grand stone steps that passed between two tall pillars of marble. The path continued around a lake where swans and ducks resided, enjoying the music that floated from within a large, gazebo of glass and intricately carved white wood. Folken gazed at the structure, built in the center of the lake, admiring the setting before him.

He finally stepped closer and saw the form of a young woman. Her back was to him as she played a golden harp with delicate, artistic fingers. Without thinking, Folken walked across the small bridge and stepped into the gazebo for a closer look.

He studied the figure before him. The woman wore a long cape of midnight-blue. A large hood, connected to the cape, hid both hair and face from view. Underneath the cape was a beautiful gown of pearly white material that shimmered softly whenever the light from Gaea's moons touched it. Folken found himself reaching out to stop one of the hands that danced on along the translucent harp strings.

The woman gasped, startled, and stiffened instantly. For a second no one moved and then, finally, the woman pulled back her hood and turned to him.

Folken raised his eyebrows with pleasant surprise. " Princess Eries?"

Eries blinked and then smiled. " Folken!" She laughed warmly and squeezed his hand affectionately before he finally released his hold on her. " I wasn't expecting anyone but the swans and ducks to be here." She confessed with a sigh of relief.

Folken smiled down at her, admiration evident in his eyes. Eries blushed and returned her gaze to the harp before her.

" You have a beautiful voice." He complimented.

Eries smiled, lowering her eyelashes demurely. " Thank you."

" I have never heard that melody before." He continued. " What is its name?"

Eries smiled up at him. " I honestly don't know." She confessed. " Mother used to sing the melody to me when I was young." She explained.

"I see." Folken replied softly. He glanced around. " This is a beautiful place."

Eries glanced around and nodded. " Yes. Marlene had it created for mother when she died. It was intended to be a memorial of all the beautiful things mother loved." Eries explained.

" Marlene?" Folken asked.

" Yes. She was my older sister. We were very close."

" She isn't here anymore?" Folken asked softly.

Eries shook her head sadly. " No. She died a little over nine years ago now."

" I'm sorry." Folken replied quietly.

Eries shook her head. " Its alright, My Lord. As time has gone by I remember her now with joy rather than grief. I'm thankful I had a chance to know her, and I'm blessed for doing so."

Folken looked at her intently and the two fell into silence until Eries spoke again. " Do you have any siblings?"

Folken nodded. " Yes. One. A younger brother." He explained.

Eries smiled. I'm sure the two of you are very close. Folken didn't reply. Eries plucked a few strings on her harp for a few moments before speaking again. " How did you get so close to the King of Fanelia?"

Folken remained silent for a moment. " I asked to meet with him alone. We exchanged words and came to an agreement to work together and rid Gaea of Ziabach's memory while rebuilding Fanelia to the glory it deserves."

Eries gazed up at him with admiration and Folken suddenly realized that he had interrupted her practicing. He sighed and decided to take his leave. But as he prepared to move Eries stopped him, raising her hand in quiet invitation to stay.

He glanced at her hand and then at her face. " I didn't mean to interrupt." He stated apologetically.

Eries smiled knowingly. " Yes you did." She smiled. " And I'm happy that you did. Please, sit." Eries motioned to a small marble bench beside her.

Folken obeyed and Eries continued to practice. Folken sat silently, admiring how her hands and fingers knew which strings to pluck. His gaze traveled up her arms to her shoulder, neck, face and hair. He smiled as she began to sing again. As the melody blossomed into life it touched Folken's heart. He closed his eyes and allowed the music to carry him into blissful peace.

Eries did her best to calm the excited flutter of her heart while she played and sang for the only man that had ever been able to capture her heart and soul so completely.

" I can't think like this. He is only being polite." She told herself. Eries chanced a glance at Folken and she smiled. His eyes were closed and his mouth was curved into a small, peaceful smile. " How beautiful you are." She whispered to him in her mind. " Oh how I wish this night, this moment could last forever!" She whished to the stars above. Her melody began to die and her hands plucked the final notes, ebbing away into the silence of the night. For several moments neither Eries nor Folken moved, both captured in the perfect magic of the night. But time continued and Eries finally turnned to Folken as he opened his eyes.

" Thank you, dear princess." He whispered. Eries nodded, not trusting herself to speak. He helpped her rise from her place on a rounded, marble seat. And as they both walked out into the night Eries turned to him.

" I wish to you sweet dreams, Lord Folken."

Folken looked down upon her with admiration and wonder. But he quickly lowered his gaze. " Thank you, Princess Eries." And he gently took one of her hands and kissed it softly. " May your dreams also be sweet and filled with all things pleasant."

Eries smiled and blushed. " Thank you, Lord Folken."

" Until tomorrow." He said softly, releasing her hand.

" Until tomorrow." She replied before he turned and walked back the way he had come.