Disclaimer:
I do not own Escaflowne. My writing is purely for the enjoyment of my readers and myself.Everlasting Love (The Rebuilding of a Nation):
Here begins the second section, or sequel to Everlasting Love. Folken and Van have experienced some exciting adventures in their search for support in rebuilding Fanelia. Now they will begin reconstructing their homeland. There will be many difficulties for the two brothers and their budding friendship will be tested. New friendships will be born and new enemies will rise.*************************************************************************************
Chapter 16~ From The Ashes
Dried, cracked earth and shallow riverbeds stretch as far as the eye can see. The heat swelters into increasingly uncomfortable temperatures so that not even the insects care to venture out. A drought seems to loom ominously in the near future. The sun shines brilliantly and without remorse as its rays beat mercilessly upon the hundreds of individuals laboring over the ashen remains of a once prosperous and beautiful kingdom.
Fanelia. The name alone conjures up images of nature and tranquility. Although its buildings have been destroyed the people have not. The spirit of Fanelia still lives in the hearts and minds of the souls it once harbored within its man-built villages. Led by their young, newly appointed king, the people are beginning to rebuild their lives. True the king has chosen strange individuals to help him in his mission but if he believes it is for the best then who are they to argue? Although everyone remains engulfed in reconstruction at the moment some have found time to begin spreading rumors that Ziabach's former, and most brilliant strategist walks among them a free, unpunished man. The same man, it is believed, who is responsible for the destruction of Fanelia. Some even dare to say that the king himself has allowed the man to remain free. " But those are just rumors." States a young woman who carries a bucket of water at her side. She shifts the heavy load to her other hand, sighing as she shuffles under the shade of a nearby tent. Her sister looks at her and shrugs. " Well…that's what I've heard, but I've never met this ' Ziabach Strategist' personally." She explains. " I think the more hands we have to help us rebuild the better and who cares whose hands it is that stoop down beside us." " Yeah!" Her younger sister nods with enthusiasm before lifting the heavy bucket on top of a table beside four more buckets that are currently empty of any water. The sisters pull out a bench and take a seat, one fanning herself, the other pulling back her hair into a ponytail. " It's just too hot to do much of anything. If this weather keeps up I doubt the king and his laborers will be able to do much until we get some rain." The older sister states after a few moments. The steady sound of hammering and orders being called out create the back round noise everyone in the camp is now accustomed to. Men labor over lifting debris out from the dried earth and move them to piles they have created a few feet away. The sisters watch in silence for a few minutes before returning to their conversation. " Do you think the water in the well will last?" Asks the younger girl. " It's hard to say." Her older sister answers honestly. " So far we seem to be doing okay." " I guess." The younger sister sighs. " But I still miss not being able to shower ever day." At this her older sister laughs. " I feel your pain." As the two sisters continue conversing a cat-girl steps up to the table and takes two empty buckets with her as she leaves the tent's shade.
After filling her buckets to the brim at the well, Merle turns carefully, trying not to spill any of the precious water she is carrying in each hand, and begins her trip back to the tent. She grips the handles tighter as she nearly stumbles over rotting pieces of wood and the remains of an old fence. Merle frowns and kicks the offending objects away from her path before continuing on her way. Two wolf-women pass her by on their way to the well and nod to her in greeting. Many wolf-women and maidens from surrounding kingdoms are helping to supply the hard working men with water, food, and medical aid. Merle smiles at the success of Van's plan to rebuild. So far, every kingdom he's asked for support in rebuilding have complied with his wishes. Van's going to make a great king! I can just feel it! Merle tells herself excitedly. As she draws closer to her destination she passes by dozens of hard working men. I wonder if Van might be thirsty… She wonders to herself while puckering her little mouth in thought. Searching for Van and his bright red tunic Merle pauses to get her bearings straight. Everything looks so different now. Her tail quietly twitches in frustration. Where could he be? She wonders, squinting her eyes. She spots Folken giving orders for a few men to help him lift a newly constructed wall. Merle sighs and continues to search for Van when she is suddenly startled by his voice. " Merle…" She jumps and nearly spills the buckets in her haste to turn around. Van smiles apologetically and offers a hand with her heavy load. " Van! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" She scolds while carefully handing him one of the buckets. " I'm sorry Merle." He says sincerely. " It's okay Va…" Merle stops in mid-sentence when she spots a large bruise on his right arm. " Van!" She gasps. Van turns to her with wide eyes. " What is it?" Merle gently lifts his arm and looks at him with a pained expression. " How did this happen?" Van frowns and shakes his head. " I was a little too careless earlier this morning." Merle nods her head. " I can see that. Does it hurt?" Van shakes his head again. " Not really." "You better let Millerna have a look at that tonight." She warns. Van nods. " Don't worry. I will."
The two walk down the hill and past a crew of busy men. Merle looks at Van and his weary countenance. " Are you okay Van?" She asks. Van looks at her and smiles. " Sure Merle…just overheated like everyone else." He replies as he wipes the sweat off his brow with his forearm. Merle looks up at the cloudless sky. " How long will this dry spell continue?" Van follows her gaze and shakes his head. " I don't know, but I hope it ends soon. Many of our surrounding kingdoms are suffering from drought too and are hoping for rain." Merle frowns as she looks at their surroundings. " Do you think that Fanelia will ever be the same again?" Van pauses and turns to her. He smiles gently and gives her a warm hug with his free arm. " I have no doubt that Fanelia will once again be restored to its former glory." Merle quietly wonders what Van intends to do with Folken, but decides that now is not the time for such a sensitive conversation. They continue their trek to the tent in silence, but are stopped by thirsty men who suddenly notice what they are carrying and swarm over with their cups. Merle looks at Van and sighs as she sets her bucket down and begins pouring water into dozens of outstretched cups with a wooden scoop. Van sets his bucket down and follows suite. After the thirsty mob leaves, Van gives himself a cup of cool water before helping Merle bring the buckets back to the tent. " Don't over work yourself Van." Merle says to him in her sincerest tone of voice. Van nods, takes a cup of water and splashes it on his neck and forehead before heading towards a group of men working hard to rebuild the wall of the castle. He finds a spot to squeeze in and begins helping to lift the heavy stones up to men at higher levels of the wall that are currently being filled in.
A little ways down the dusty road, Folken wearily makes his way to a nearby tent to sit in the shade for a few moments and rest his tired feet. He reaches for a cloth laying on one of the benches under the tent and dips it in a bucket of cool water before wringing it out and damping his overheated neck and forehead. Its cool relief is absolutely heavenly. He sighs, closing his eyes and allowing the silence to sooth him. Suddenly a voice speaks to him from behind. " You are one of Gaou's sons." Folken turns around to see the kind face of an older man around his late sixties, with bright blue eyes and graying hair. The man makes himself comfortable and sits down beside Folken who is now staring at him curiously. " You are Folken are you not?" Folken simply nods. "I knew it!" The man says excitedly. " I wasn't sure for a moment." Folken raises his eyebrows. "You have Gaou's mannerisms." The man says with a bright smile. Folken blinks and puts down the cloth. " How do you know-" " Your father?" The man finishes for him. " I use to be in his council. I was one of his dearest friends…I had the privilege of witnessing your birth. Of course, that was years ago. I married and left Fanelia when you were about three. That was years before Gaou's untimely death." Folken remains silent, unsure as to what he should say or what this man wants. Since Folken remains silent the older man continues. " I decided to return, after the death of my wife, and offer my service to your family once again…Imagine my surprise when I returned to Fanelia only to find it in ruins and deserted! I was devastated." Folken shifts uncomfortably and turns his gaze to a group of men removing debris from the nearby road. " My name is Amos. Amos Ramon Ziptad." Folken returns his attention to the older man who is now offering his hand. Folken shakes it politely. " "Hello Amos, it is a pleasure to meet someone my father trusted so well. I only wish we could be meeting under happier circumstances." Amos smiles warmly. " You speak as if all this were your fault." Folken winces internally and resumes dabbing himself with the cool, damp cloth. Amos picks up another cloth from the table and follows suite. He looks out at the scorched and dry land. " This weather is bound to kill everyone if it continues." Folken and Amos turn around at the sound of a third individual entering the tent. Millerna enters the relief of the tent's cool shade with two buckets of water. " May I interest anyone with a cool drink of water?" She asks kindly. Folken and Amos greet her with warm smiles. She smiles back at them and walks up to a table. Folken rises and takes the buckets from her. " Allow me." He says gently. Millerna sighs as their heavy weight is lifted. " Thank you Folken." She says gratefully. No sooner does he set the buckets down then the tent is suddenly swarmed with thirsty men. " Hm…that tends to happen a lot around here." Amos murmurs as he steps up beside Millerna and helps her serve the many individuals with outstretched cups. Folken gets out of the way and exits the tent searching for another task to help with. Amos watches him leave from the corner of his eye and makes a mental note to speak with him again in the near future.
~ * * * * * ~
For the next month the days remain consistently hot and merciless. Water is becoming very short on supply for many nations and everyone is beginning to grow desperate. Some individuals even going so far as to rob and in some cases kill for water. The hard work of rebuilding does not help the situation as many people start suffering from heat stroke. As a result the rebuilding of Fanelia is slowed and many projects delayed because of the weather. Van begins to wonder if Fanelia will ever be completed at all. Time marches on and with each passing day hope wilts just a little-bit more.
~ * * * * * ~
Van silently lays on his straw mat and stares up at the sparkling night sky. No clouds in the sky tonight either. He thinks solemnly. Van turns his gaze to the Phantom Moon and wonders about Hitomi. " I hope things are better for you there than they are for me here." He whispers softly. It is a beautiful night and he wishes she could be with him right now to admire it. Van sighs longingly and turns on his side. Sleep silently claims him and he soon slips into the world of dreams. The camp is silent and still. Not even a wind blows tonight. The camp sits on the hills that overlook the valley of lilies below. Although at this point in time there are no lilies. Van wants to finish construction of the Fanelian forts. It was so decided that the fastest and most effective way to accomplish this was to have most of the men camp closer to the sight and then return to base camp when the forts are completed. The women would remain at base camp to receive supplies and a few men who decided to stay, would have the responsibility of protecting them.
Several miles down the hills in base camp everyone sleeps soundly, except for one individual. Millerna quietly sneaks out of her tent to stretch and get a drink of water. Being in the tents in this kind of weather is horrific, but it keeps the annoying mosquitoes away. " I don't know what's worse? The mosquitoes or this confounded heat." She grumbles to herself as she walks over to the well and wearily lowers a bucket to scoop up a little water. Reeling it back up she is completely unaware of someone standing behind her. Millerna unhooks the bucket and sets it on the side of the well in order to pick up the wooden scoop. She reaches for it and is suddenly grabbed around the waist by a strong arm and her mouth is covered by a rough hand. She instinctively tries to scream and starts struggling with her attacker, but it is no use. The individual is much stronger. She is hit on the head by something heavy and hoisted across a firm shoulder where her body drapes and sways under the momentum of her attacker's steps. Millerna tries to free herself, but soon realizes that no one will help her when she sees the bodies of the guard men lying on the ground, dead. She screams as loud as she can in an attempt to warn the other young ladies of the danger they are in. Millerna is roughly set down and slapped across the face. Stars dance before her eyes. " Please! Don't!" She whimpers. Her attacker ignores her pleading and ties her hands together before carrying her towards a secluded little shelter of bushes nearby. Millerna struggles even harder when she sees where he wants to take her.
Meanwhile, Merle awakens with a start when she hears one of the maid servants squeal. She sits up in alarm when somebody enters her tent. It is not some one she knows and so she promptly kicks him in the face before bolting out of the tent. Merle is immediately met with another stranger and screams when someone grabs her by the tail and forces her to the ground. She struggles in vain as her hands and feet are roughly tied. From the corner of her eye she can make out dozens of men entering all the women's tents and pillaging all the supplies. She is able to make out the form of Amos and a few men who are sneaking, unseen, into the cover of the dried forest trees. She smiles realizing they will bring back help. To the far left she can make out the bodies of more men who tried to stop the bandits, but were unsuccessful and now lay in a puddle of their own blood. " Help!! Someone help me!!" She shrieks as one of her attackers begins to drag her across the ground. Dust and dried dirt blows into her mouth and nostrils as it is disturbed. She coughs and tears sting the corners of her eyes. " Ahh! VAN!!" Her movement across the ground stops suddenly. A large shadow crosses over her face and Merle yelps as a large bucket is broken on her head causing her to lose consciousness.
Van wakes with a start and sits up. Zire is getting a drink of water a few feet away and hears Van gasp. He turns around to see Van sitting up, wide awake. He stares at him for a moment before speaking. " Are you okay?" He asks quietly. Van shakes his head. " Something is wrong." Zire furrows his eyebrows. " What do you mean?" He asks as he silently walks up to him. Van gets to his feet. " I…I feel like something terrible is happening." He says in a strained voice. At that moment Folken emerges from his tent, his face an exact mirror of Van's. Zire looks at one and then the other with concern. They both feel it? He thinks in surprise and confusion. He opens his mouth, about to speak when they suddenly hear shouts from the forest and turn around in surprise. Van runs into the woods closely followed by Folken and Zire. They run right into the men from base camp. " Your majesty…" Says one of them breathlessly. " The base camp is under attack by bandits who seek to take your supplies and water!" Van looks at him in shock. " Who are they?!" He shouts, but the man is interrupted when Amos comes running up to them. " Amos?" Says Folken as he reaches out a hand to support him. " You must come quickly! The women are being harmed and our supplies are being taken!" He says in one breath. Folken grabs Van who is about to run to the camp and pulls him back. " Wait! Van, we must tell the others or we will be unable to help anyone!" " Yes! There is no telling who is attacking the camp, and if they are armed." Agrees Zire. The group rushes back to wake everyone up and get their weapons ready.
" Listen everybody!" Van yells once everyone has been awakened, " Our base camp is under attack by bastards who are seeking to take what is not theirs! Stay alert and be careful! We do not know who our enemy is!" He shouts before running into the woods with an army of angry men behind him. The night provides little light within the wild mesh of gnarled old tree branches that scratch whenever skin brushes against them. The twisted branches make passage through the woods uncomfortable and aggravating. Many begin to hack at them with their swords while others try to duck or avoid their twisted forms all together. As the men near base camp their ears are met by the many screams of women. Van feels his heart jump to his throat as his mind begins telling him that they might already be too late. They enter the camp to find it in complete chaos.
Dozens of men, dressed in ragged attire, are chasing terrified women around camp and taking all the
supplies, be it food or building materials, and loading it into wagons. Some of the tents are on fire and the
bodies of men who tried to defend the camp lie scattered about the ground in their own blood. Van sneaks
up behind one of the thieves and runs him through with his sword. The man doesn't even have time to
scream. Van pauses to look around, his eyes squinting in an effort to see clearly in the dim light the moons
offer high above. Suddenly, someone grabs Van from behind around the waist. A man with long brown hair and two missing front teeth steps into his view. " That's right!" He snarls. " Hold him down while I finish him off." The man makes a grab for Van's sword while the individual holding Van's waist fights to bring him to the ground. Van struggles, kicking up dust and squirming as he is overpowered and finally forced to the ground, facedown. Van tries to wiggle out of the firm arms still holding him around the waist while his second attacker stomps on his hand. Van yelps and instinctively releases his hold on the sword. " Thank you." The man states gruffly as he snatches the weapon out of Van's grip. Van twists his body and lowers his mouth to his captor's hand, biting down hard enough to draw blood. " Agh!" The man shrieks and butts Van in the back of the head with his elbow causing Van to hit is jaw against the ground. The blow is hard enough to send him into momentary unconsciousness. " Do it now! Kill him!" Comes the urgent plea from one of the attackers. The man raises Van's sword, the moonlight shimmers off its smooth, shiny surface. Van's eyes flutter open and glances up just in time to see the cold flash of metal. He blinks and hears the rhythmic thumping of a horse's feet. The man pinning him down gasps sharply and something warm splatters all over the back of his neck. The Fanelian sword falls back to the ground with a heavy thud, a small dust cloud settling around it. The weight of the man holding him down is suddenly lifted and Van immediately snatches his sword, rising to his knees in a ready position. " It appears that I arrived just in time." Comes a familiar voice. Van reaches to wipe the back of his neck as something warm begins to trickle down his back. Bringing his hand back into view he starts when his eyes reveal the liquid to be blood. Van glances about him in confusion for a moment. Two men lie on the ground, one in two parts, cut in half across his torso. The second man, the one who held him down, lies on his back with a hole through his heart. Van raises his gaze to find the four legs of a horse and above them the familiar smile of Austuria's most gallant knight. " Allen!" Van blurts with relief and surprise. " I didn't think you would be able to come." Allen nods in understanding and hops off his horse. " My men and I just arrived. We were delayed by the king." Van nods and the two friends jump in surprise as a tent directly behind them explodes. " What was that?!" Allen gasps. Van frowns as he watches two men run to another tent. " Those were are supplies for fire and minerals we had found a few days before." Van explains helplessly as the tent burns to the ground.
Meanwhile, Folken gives chase to another thief who is hounding a young wolf-woman. The man
jumps and tackles her to the ground. She screams and falls with a hard thump. Folken runs up to the man, who is now trying to turn her over, and yanks him off. Taking out his sword Folken plunges it deep into the man's chest. Meegan blinks in surprise and stares at Folken with a tearful face. Her attacker collapses in a heap, his blood seeping into the thirsty ground. Folken pulls out his sword and turns to Meegan, offering her his hand and helping her rise. Folken's attention is diverted as another thief comes charging at them on horseback. " Stay close to me." Folken states to Meegan while directing her to stand behind him. Folken readies his sword and the thief lowers his. Meegan bites her bottom lip in worry. She glances around and spots a long, wooden beam that had once been used to hold up the corner of a tent. She quickly pulls it out of the rubble. A loud clang shatters the static sound of fire and distant battling. Meegan whirls around just in time to see Folken get whacked hard on his metal arm. The force is so strong that it knocks him to the ground. The thief smiles menacingly as he comes charging up to Meegan. Her ears flatten and she stiffens in fright. As the man draws closer Meegan tightens her grip on the wooden pole and just as he raises his sword to lop of her head she ducks and spears the horse's neck causing it to buck back violently. The man yells in surprise as he is thrown off his horse's back. Folken leaps to his feet and stabs the man in the stomach. Meegan rushes up to his side. Folken turns to her. " Are you alright?" He asks her gently. Meegan nods. " Are you?" Folken glances around and suddenly spots a familiar man with long blond hair. Allen Schezar? Then those men beside him must be… " Do you see the men over there?" Folken suddenly asks while pointing to several of Allen's crew members who are protecting a tent. " Yes." Meegan answers with a shaky voice. " Go to them. They will keep you safe." Folken says gently. Meegan nods her head and runs. He waits until she is safely in the tent's shelter before chasing after another man who is about to light fire to a tent with supplies. " Hey!" Folken shouts. The man jumps, startled. Folken raises his sword and brings it down on the man's shoulder, hacking his arm clean off. The man falls to the ground howling in agony before Folken puts him out of misery.
Meanwhile, Allen and Gadeth chase down several bandits who try to escape camp on horseback. " Not today!" Yells Allen as he takes a rope from a fallen tent and trips the horses. The riders are thrown off and land a few feet away. Allen and Gadeth easily run them through. " It's a good thing we decided to show up when we did huh boss?" Gadeth smiles. Allen doesn't answer as he searches the area for more thieves. Suddenly, they hear a woman scream and see several tents full of supplies burst into flames. " Go help put the flames out! I'll meet up with you!" Allen yells before running in the direction of the scream while Gadeth runs in the opposite direction. " Sure thing Allen. Go save the lady in distress." Gadeth murmurs under his breath.
Millerna struggles to keep the husky man's hands off of her. He slaps her across the face and covers her mouth with one hand while his other begins lifting up her skirts. She bites his hand, causing him to yelp in surprise and pain. That only serves to make him angry and Millerna gasps as he takes out a dagger. " Now we can do this the easy way…" He presses the dagger's blade against the soft flesh of her neck. " Or we can do this the hard way." Millerna blinks hard to keep her tears inside as he continues to lift up her slip. His hands are cold against the soft, sensitive skin of her abdomen and it skitters away from his touch. She fights an urge to vomit as he lowers his mouth to hers. She squeezes her eyes shut and balls her hands into fists. The dagger remains pressed against her throat as he begins to slide his other hand down to her thigh. Suddenly the man jerks and she gasps as he is suddenly yanked off of her and thrown to the ground with a loud thump. She opens her eyes to see Allen's worried face looking down at her. He gently lowers her skirts and helps her up. " Allen!" She yells as the thief, already recovered from his fall, suddenly lunges at him. Allen whirls around, sword drawn, and easily sidesteps the lunge. Millerna backs into the shadows as the two men circle each other like two tigers in a cage. The thief swipes at Allen's torso, but he misses as the knight ducks and slashes his opponent's calf in one fluid motion. The thief yelps in surprise and throws himself at Allen. Allen grabs the thief's arm and twists it, while stepping behind him and hitting the man right between the shoulder blades with the butt of his sword. The thief howls in pain, falls to the ground, and scurries to a safer distance. He wearily rises to his feet and spits at Allen who glares at the sorry-excuse-for-a-man and waits for his chance. Millerna quietly turns and heads for shelter. The thief suddenly smirks and instead of attacking Allen, turns and runs for Millerna. Allen's eyes widen with surprise when he realizes what the man intends to do. " Millerna!" Allen yells as he gives chace. Millerna turns around and watches the thief with horror. She wants to run but her feet remain rooted to the ground as if glued in place. Suddenly, she feels someone grab her from behind and force her to the ground. From somewhere above her head and to the right, she hears the thief cry out in pain and fall to the ground again. She turns her eyes to the man who now lies in a puddle of blood. Looking over to her left, she is greeted by a warm smile from Zire who dusts himself off and after standing up, helps her rise. Allen rushes up to them and nods his thanks to Zire who nods in return before running off to help someone else. Millerna feels her legs grow weak and collapses into Allen's arms. He picks her up and carries her to a tent surrounded by members of his crew. Allen sets her down on a bench and kneels before her. " Your majesty, are you wounded?" Millerna shakes her head, her eyes shining with tears. Allen takes out his dagger and carefully cuts the rope that binds her hands together before looking back up at her. He gently brushes aside a stray lock of blond hair from her forehead and gives her a cup of water. She takes it with shaky hands and looks at him gratefully. " Allen…" She whimpers. Tears finally fall and slide down her cheeks. Allen sits down beside her and hugs her to him tenderly. " It's okay." He coos softly as she buries her face in his chest.
A loud clatter suddenly startles Allen and Millerna. They both look up just in time to see a wagon filled with supplies charge right past their tent. A moment later a familiar young man with dark unruly hair is seen giving chase. Van hears the air beside his hear split as something comes flying towards his head. He ducks and pauses only long enough to stab a thief that tried to stop him. Yanking his sword out of the bandit's belly Van hurries to catch up and jump into the wagon he had been chasing only a few moments earlier. Jumping in the back is no problem its making his way through all the supplies to the front that Van finds difficult. With considerable effort he finally makes his way to the front and pushes the horse driver off his seat. The driver is immediately dealt with by Zire, who scurried over to help. Van brings the horses to a stop and jumps off. " Van!" Yells Zire. " Look out!" Van whirls around, sword ready, and parries a lethal blow to the head. Zire runs up and helps Van out by lopping off the bandit's left leg while Van runs him through. " I found Merle." Says Zire. " Is she hurt?" Asks Van. "She was hit on the head, but should be okay. She's in the tent over there." Zire points to the tent surrounded by Allen's crew members. Van doesn't need to be told more and crosses the camp, past many fallen bodies, to the tent. Merle lies on her side holding a cloth to her head. " Merle, are you okay?" Van asks as she sits up when he enters. " Van!" She cries. Van kneels down and cradles her in his arms. " Oh Merle! I should never have left the camp so lightly protected." He says sadly. " How could you know?!" Merle cries out. " This isn't your fault!" Van simply holds her and says nothing. Merle snuggles close to him, content to see he is safe and unharmed.
The camp finally grows quiet as the last of the bandits are chased away or permanently dealt with. Here and there an occasional small fire can be seen dying out. Rubble is strewn everywhere. The camp is a mess. Folken sits down on a bench and pierces the ground with his sword, planting it firmly before him. "I think we got all of them." Says Gadeth as he joins Folken on the bench. " The last of the supplies are now safe." Says a third voice. The two look up to see Allen and Zire coming to join them. They shift on the bench to provide him with enough room to sit down. " Is princess Millerna and Meegan okay?" Asks Gadeth as he glances behind them to two mats on the ground where the ladies are resting. " Yes." Sighs Allen as he plunges his sword into the ground beside Folken's. " They have a few bruises from their attackers, but they should be alright." The four sit in silence and gaze about at the mess before them. " So…" Begins Gadeth. " I guess we should start cleaning up." Allen and Folken look at him with weary faces. They watch him pick up some supplies from the ground for a few moments before rising to their feet, sheathing their swords, and following suite. Amos and a few others remain under the tent and help those who are injured, providing water and medicine. After Merle falls asleep, Van lays her down on a mat beside Millerna and goes out to help the others. It will be a miracle if Fanelia ever gets rebuilt at this rate. Van tells himself sadly.
~ * * * * * ~
Clean up takes the remainder of the night as everyone helps to remove and dispose of bodies. It is not until dawn that they are able to get a few hours of rest before continuing with another day of rebuilding. After that incident, everyone takes shifts protecting the camp and rebuilding. In this manner the base camp is protected at all times. But even so, things are becoming more uncomfortable and Van begins to consider halting Fanelia's reconstruction until rain arrives.
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Van makes his way to the well and sits down on the ridge of its mouth. He hooks the bucket and lowers it, wiping his forehead that is once again beading with sweat. " Van?" Says Amos. Van looks up. " Um…yes." He says after a moment and smiles warmly. Amos helps reel up the bucket before speaking again. " I met your brother, Folken, the other day." " Uh huh." Van says as he takes the wooden scoop and spills the cool water down his back before turning to look at Amos who hands him a cup of water. " I want to offer my service to you, for I have learned that you are Fanelia's new king." Van eagerly gulps down the water in his cup before replying. " Um…what service would that be?" Amos smiles warmly. " I would like to be one of your advisors." He says after taking a drink of water form his own cup. Van sets his cup down. " Have you served in a king's court before?" Amos grins and takes Van's hands in his. " Young man, I have served the most wisest and honorable king to have ever walked on Gaea…your father." Van's eyes widen with surprise. " You served my father?" He asks excitedly. Amos nods his head emphatically. " …and now I wish to aid you in rebuilding this kingdom to what it should be. I can help you choose a council, advisors, priests,…whatever and whomever you wish to have in your court." Van smiles gratefully and squeezes Amos's hands. " Thank you Amos. I greatly need all the advise I can get." Amos smiles knowingly. " Please, come eat lunch with me." Van says as he motions to a large tent to his left. They turn and enter its shade. Inside everyone is sitting at benches and tables eating and enjoying each other's company. Van and Amos find a place to sit down at one of the table ends. "Your majesty?" Asks Amos once they're settled. Van raises an eyebrow in question. " Yes Amos?" " You look very concerned about something." Van turns his attention to a young maid who sets a large bowl of fruit and two plates of sandwiches before them. Van thanks her and takes an apple before returning his attention to Amos again. " You are very observant Amos." He says right before biting into the apple. " Your eyes tell me so, Your majesty." Amos says gently. " Would you care to share with me what is troubling you?" Van stares at him for a few moments before setting his apple down. He sighs and nervously shakes his leg under the table. " I'm really not very good at describing things that trouble me." He admits quietly. " I tend to keep my concerns and worries inside." Amos nods his head and waits patiently. " I wonder…" Van turns his gaze to the apple sitting on the plate. " If I should just give up with the rebuilding, because everyone is getting so weary…including myself." Amos nods in understanding. Van continues. " I've been having doubts lately about whether or not I'm doing the right thing." He admits after a few moments of silence. Van glances up at Amos's face." Tell me the truth Amos," Van says in great sincerity, " Do you think that we should stop the rebuilding and wait for better weather conditions?" Amos sucks in a deep breath and ponders what would be wise to say. Outside, the sky grows gray but no one notices the soft patter of little moister drops hitting the tent roof because of all the chattering. No one notices until a young lady steps out from under the tent to get more water from the well.
Van looks at Amos and waits for his reply while he takes the last few bites of his apple. Suddenly they hear someone shout. " It's raining!" Van's eyes grow wide as he suddenly sees the unmistakable haze of heavy rain pouring onto the thirsty ground. As one, everyone jumps from their seats and begins to step out from under the tent to see and feel for themselves. " It's true!" Someone else yells from the giddy crowd. Before long Van, Amos, and everyone else is standing under the cool shower. Van closes his eyes and lifts his face to the sky allowing the rain to wash away all his worries and fears. " Well your majesty.." Begins Amos, " I think this is your answer. Don't you?" Beaming, Van turns to Amos and gives him a great big hug. Amos laughs as Van smacks him warmly on the back before turning to hug another unsuspecting man who is standing nearby. " Ha! Fanelia will be rebuilt!" He hears Van yell as he watches him disappear in the happy and now very cool crowd. Van laughs as the men begin to cheer when they see him walk into the crowd. " Hail the king of Fanelia!" A young man yells from somewhere in the crowd. " Hail the king of Fanelia!" Others begin to join in. A couple of sturdy men rush up to Van and lift him on their shoulders. They carry him around as if he were a trophy and the women begin to cheer , clap, and dance in the rain. Meegan laughs and claps her hands in glee. She spots Mizook in the crowd and runs up to him. " Look!" He yells to her once she makes her presence known, " I was so hot that I'm actually steaming!" Meegan just laughs at his ridiculous statement and joins him as he dances like a fool in the rain. Folken silently watches everyone's joy and smiles softly at the sight of his little brother being paraded around on the shoulders of his people, sharing in their joy. He doesn't notice Merle and Millerna who are now standing beside him, until Merle speaks. " He can be really wired sometimes." She says very matter-of-factly before walking closer to the crowd, trying to get closer to Van. Folken looks at her and cracks a grin when he sees her soggy fur and soaking-wet hair. Then he looks at Millerna. Millerna smiles at him and tries to keep her skirt hem from getting muddied. She gives up as a group of young men run by and splash mud all over the front of her dress. Folken tries to stifle an even bigger grin when he sees her drenched, royal persona. Millerna notices this and smiles at him. " What are you grinning at?" She says pretending to be annoyed. Merle smiles at the muddied princess's appearance and then turns her attention back to the jovial crowd. Her tail twitches back and forth excitedly as she searches for Van. " You look just as ridiculous I hope you know." Millerna continues, crossing her arms and pointing to Folken's own soggy head of hair with a quick nod of her chin. Suddenly, the crowd cheers and Folken looks over to see Van chasing Mizook with something in his hands. Folken smiles as he realizes what Van is trying to do and only raises his hands helplessly when Mizook shoots him a look that says, " Help me!" Van passes by in front of Millerna and Folken with a bucket full of rain and chases Mizook, who is carrying an empty bucket. Apparently he had decided that Van needed some cooling off. Merle squeals with delight and runs after them. Millerna smiles and starts to enjoy herself until more mud is splattered on her dress. At that point she frowns and decides to get out of the way. " This mud will never come out…" She mumbles to herself. Her steps falter when she suddenly spots Allen. He is talking with Gadeth a few feet away. Forgetting her muddied dress she walks over to him and is greeted with his warm smile. Folken simply shakes his head and walks back under the tent to find a towel and dry off his mechanical arm before it rusts. From the edge of the crowd Amos spots him entering the tent's shelter and decides to follow.
Folken finds a towel and begins drying himself off. Amos watches in silence for a few moments. When Folken feels he is as dry as can be expected under the circumstances, he sits down and watches everyone else run about in the rain. Amos decides to make his move. He had been keeping an eye on Folken and noticed the silent pain in the young man's eyes when he first introduced himself. Rejection perhaps? He thinks as he nears. Folken suddenly reaches back with his good hand to his right shoulder blade and tries to rub it. He shifts uncomfortably on the bench as if the action were painful. Amos is suddenly hit with realization and he reaches out, gently stopping Folken's hand. Folken turns his head in surprise, trying to see who is standing behind him. " Let me help you." Says a familiar voice. Folken lowers his hand to his lap as Amos begins to give him a wonderful back massage. Folken sighs as his tense muscles begin to relax. " Phantom pain?" Asks Amos gently. Folken nods wearily. Amos watches the people out in the rain for a few moments before returning his gaze to Folken and his mechanical arm. It was made with a technology he had never seen before. The arm is connected to his right shoulder blade by things similar to prongs, and are nailed right into his bone. Folken remains silent and stares out at the individuals frolicking about in the rain. " Do you get it often?" Amos asks after a few moments pass by with no conversation. " What?" Asks Folken. " The pain." Folken looks down at his folded hands resting on his lap. " At night and when the humidity is very high." He replies. Amos finishes his massage and sits down beside him. " Feel better now?" He asks. Folken nods. " Yes…thank you." Amos nods with a pleased smile on his face. Folken squeezes his mechanical hand into a tight fist and releases it. Amos gazes at him for a long time with sadness. Feeling his gaze Folken finally turns his head and meets Amos's eyes. " Why do you stare at me so?" He asks self-consciously. " You torture your own spirit Folken." Amos begins. Folken blinks and raises an eyebrow. He was expecting Amos to say something about his arm. " You feel rejected." Amos continues and rests a hand on his shoulder. " You must give your brother time. He loves you he just…does not know how to express his heart yet." Folken simply stares at Amos who pauses before continuing. " Your father would have been proud to see how much you are helping your brother." Folken chuckles softly. " The relationship between my brother and I is…complicated." He says matter-of-factly. " Now it is Amos's turn to chuckle. " Folken, tell me what relationship is not!" Folken's eyes widen a moment before a rare and beautiful smile stretches his lips. A few moments pass by and Amos turns his gaze out to the falling rain. Folken silently studies Amos's countenance, trying to discern what the older man is thinking. " It was a day just like this when you were born." Amos says reminiscently. He turns his gaze back to Folken and picks up his real hand. " I would be greatly honored if you would allow me to be a friend." He looks directly into Folken's eyes. Folken stares at him with tenderness. He is silently moved by Amos's sincerity. " No, Amos." Folken finally says, " I would be honored if you allowed me to be your friend." Amos smiles warmly and squeezes Folken's shoulder. The two continue to chat while everyone else enjoys the shower of cool, spring rain.
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The rebuilding has begun. Folken and Van will be meeting new challenges. Obstacles never seen before will make their goals difficult to attain. Chapter 17 is on its way.
