"Amor che a nullo amato amar
perdona…
Amor condusse
noi a dura morte"
Love conquers
all,
Love led us to
cruel death…
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne; I think that's been declared in the past 2 chapters.
AN:
By the way…thanks to all those who reviewed. And those of you who didn't, it
doesn't take long; just a one-worded response is nice too. I want to thank
silver sea star for pointing out that Amano is a coachman. And "Hey!!!" for
pointing out that Hitomi's hair is light brown. And Van's is black. See? I take
comments rather well.
"Van!"
All
the people in the ballroom looked at the King as he yelled after his own son.
What the hell is that boy thinking?
Van looked at the angry King, then looked at the disappearing shadow of his love. Then he decided. He shot his father a glance of apology, then continued to chase after the disappearing beauty.
The King obviously did not see that look of apology, because he was about to storm down that throne and drag his son back if he has to. His wife, saw his anger seething within him, and pulled him down. "Slanzar, please, calm yourself. You should be happy that your son has found his true love. Let him be. Let him explore the fields of love."
The
king's anger slowed a bit. He considered what his dear wife had said. "But, he
is the next King of Fanelia. He needs to marry Princess Milerna!"
His
wife shook her head. She looked at him with a bemused look, "Did you forget how
we came together? I was no Princess before our marriage. Weren't you
supposed to marry Princess…?"
"Hélène. Princess Hélène. But that was different…" The
king's voice drifted. He realized that his wife was right. "You know, I still
love you."
His
wife smiled and gave a musical laugh, "Me too my dear. Me
too."
"Hitomi! Hitomi please wait!" God that girl can run!
(AN: don't forget, she was on the track team)
Hitomi stopped at the sound of Van's calling. She turned
around seething with anger, "Well, Prince Van, why don't you give me a
reason why I should stop?" I can't believe he lied to me! How could
he?
Van
was at a lost. So I didn't tell her that I was a prince, I didn't exactly
betray her. I do love her. "Hitomi. Tell me if I'm wrong here, but what's
wrong with not telling who I was?"
"Ever heard of Giselle?" Hitomi
asked. She was relaxed a bit.
"Giselle… the ballet?" Van was a bit confused, since when
did a ballet have anything to with her thinking that he had deceived her.
"Well, Van-sama In Giselle, the girl Giselle died
because her lover didn't tell her of his true identity and turned out to have a
fiancé. Sounds familiar?" Hitomi may be a commoner; she was very well educated
because of her late mother. And in fact, Giselle is one of her favorite Ballet
and story.
Van
was speechless for a moment, considering what was said. Wow, she's beautiful
and she's intelligent. I can't let her escape I can't. "Hitomi," he advanced
towards Hitomi, "Hitomi, I love you. You're the only person I love. And, yes
true. I was supposed to be engaged with Princess Milerna, but it hasn't been
announced yet, and I will fight my father if I have to stop it from happening,"
he took Hitomi's hand and he kissed. He sat down on one knee and proposed,
"Hitomi Kanzaki. Will you give me the honor of being your husband?" His eyes
flashed with seriousness that she has never seen before. Oh my God, he's
serious.
Hitomi looked at him. Van… "Prince Van Slanzar de
Fanel. It is not proper for a person of such high stature as you to marry a
lowly peasant like me." Van opened his mouth to protest, but was held back by
Hitomi when she placed a finger upon his lips, signaling him to stop. "However,
I don't care. And I hope you won't care. And yes. Yes I will marry you. I will
marry you, Van. I will." She smiled at him. He only gaped at her until he
finally realized oh my God! She said yes! She agreed to marry me!
Van
lifted her into the air with one smooth motion and kicked her forehead. Then,
his lips moved down her face and found her lips. There his lips touched hers
with slight uncertainty. Then he gently pressed his lips against hers breathing
in her scent. Kissing her with all the passion in the world. Kissing her with
all his love. Kissing her to show how much he loves her. Longs for her. Needs
her.
After the happy reunite of the two lovers, they both
reappeared again in the Ballroom. The crowd gasped at seeing the Prince with
someone else other than Princess Milerna in his arms. But they didn't make a bit
commotion out of it because the young couple looked so cute and loving. Plus,
they must agree, the young Prince has good taste. Hitomi was simply gorgeous.
When they
waltzed into the room, the orchestra broke into the infamous love theme, "Romeo
and Juliet" by Tchaicovsky to welcome the two lovers.
"Care to dance?" Van asked Hitomi with all seriousness.
"Thought you'd never ask." Hitomi curtsied slightly and
the two led off into the center of the Ballroom as everyone stopped dancing to
enjoy the glamorous of the couple dancing, waltzing in the light of love.
The
two moved as one waltzing to every beat of the music carrying out the true
meaning of the piece. 3 minutes as passed and yet the room is still silent as
the people circled the couple as they waltzed their way down the path of love.
Staring into each other's eyes, no need for speech, their eyes revealed all.
"Van, I -!" Hitomi was interrupted by a loud clash of
thunder that appeared right in the middle of the Ballroom!
Everyone in the room involuntarily stepped a couple of
steps back away from the thunder and lightning that had took form in the
Ballroom in front of the lovers. Everyone was left stunned, speechless. Then the
thunders took form. It was someone wearing a cape. A dark cape with silver/blue
hair. He was tall, whoever he was. There was a tattoo of a tear near the corner
of one of his eye. He had no right arm; just a mechanic one that replaced what
was there before.
"Wh-who are you?" Van asked his arms wrapped protectively
around Hitomi. Hitomi looked in horror, speechless. Is-is he the one I saw in
the vision? Has he come to get me?
Folken looked down at them, grinning with iniquity. "Child, I am the almighty Lord Folken of the Dark Realm. And I have come to take that precious jewel you have there in your arms."
Hitomi? He's here to take Hitomi? Upon hearing this, Van tensed considerably, he took
a step back holding on to Hitomi even tighter. "NO! No. You can't take away
Hitomi. You can't!" Van yelled out defiantly.
Folken only laughed maliciously at this. "Foolish boy.
Did you think that you, the poor defenseless boy could come up against I? I,
Lord Folken of the Dark Realm? You must be mistaking!" Folken laughed again at
this. When he can finally stopped, all seriousness came back to his malevolent
face. "Come! Give forth the girl!"
"No! Never!" Van returned. No! I'll give up my dear Hitomi.
"Stupid boy, you can't stop me." With that, Folken produced a large concentration of light from his palm and directed it at Van, throwing him back in the crowd.
"VAN!!!" Hitomi yelled at the top of his lungs. Folken
reached forward grabbed a hold of Hitomi's wrist. Hitomi extended her free arm
trying to reach Van. "Van!"
Van
extended his arm also trying to reach her hand. Their fingers touched, but were
too late. Folken had pulled Hitomi back to him. Hitomi continued to struggle
with Folken trying to get away from his grasp. But Folken's grasp was too
strong. With a flash as sudden as when it first came they disappeared.
"HITOMI!!!!" Van's lone scream echoed through the Ballroom. Then they were gone.
Nothing left except a pendant on the floor.
Van bend down and reached for it, he touched it. "It's Hitomi's… it's Hitomi's pendant," he whispered. He clutched it close to his heart and closed his eyes, "Hitomi…" a single tear rolled down the Prince's cheek.
AN: Well… how did you like that? Sorry to leave you at such a cliffhanger but…. I couldn't resist it. And besides there's no real way to end this without leaving it a cliffhanger unless I finish the entire thing. But I don't want to. It's already long enough… I hope. I was aiming for a 36-page thing, but I think I'll just have to settle at 18 pages, or less. Or well… sorry I know this is a bit sappy and a bit out of character… and sorry about the Giselle bit, but I am currently obsessed with it. You should read about it, it's really cool. Well, anyways I think I'm going to go back on my word. This turned out not to be the second to last. I think the next chapter may be close though.