Disclaimer: I don't own
Escaflowne. So leave me alone.
AN: Sorry if this took a bit
time to be up. I had some writer's block. I knew the plot… just didn't know
where to start. ::sigh:: I like v_voltaire's column, Homework. Go read it, after
you finish this of course. It'll help your writing… hopefully it improved mine
at least a little bit. Though not grammar-wise, plot-wise… maybe. By the way,
sorry that this chapter is a little slow, but I need to explain the little
twists I decided to throw in.
P.S. I will be forever
grateful if anyone can point out the grammar errors. And I'll try my best to not
make any in the future. Thank you.
Amor che a nullo amato amar
perdona…
Amor condusse noi a dura
morte
Love conquers
all,
Love will lead us to cruel
death…
~~Folken's Fortress~~
Folken took one last look at the sleeping girl and was
off. Unbeknownst to him in his eyes showed the least bit of sadness, but the
look was replaced with a malicious laugh that echoed down the
hall.
~~Fanelia~~
Amano was frantic, he had heard the noises that had came out of the Ballroom, and immediately he feared for Hitomi. He ran as fast as he could into the Ballroom, but arrived only a moment too late. All he saw was a dark cloud disappearing as the Prince broke down and picked up a familiar pendant. He concentrated on the pendant and realized that it was Hitomi's! He brushed aside the crowd and he slowed down as he came closer to the Prince. He looked at the tearful Prince and asked, "Why are you holding Hitomi's pendant? What happened to her?" he had asked franticly. He feared the worst for his friend. Hitomi was like a second sister to him. They've been so close ever since they were born. He can't lose her. He can't!
Van did not answer. This only made it harder for him as a big lump formed in his throat, blocking any speech. His eyes now look like a firm of glass had been put over them. The tears threaten to fall. Allen saw them and he released himself from the embrace of Princess Milerna. He had stepped forward towards the stranger with the air of nobility, yet the air was also tinted with fresh pain. "Hitomi, Hitomi has," he paused a bit, trying to find a correct word to describe it.
Princess Milerna stepped in, "Hitomi has been… abducted by a warlock I believe by the name of Folken. I'm sorry. Are you of any relations to her?"
Amano seemed shaken by this news, his eyes widened at terror at the thought of Hitomi abducted by… by a warlock! He realized that someone that and asked him a question, "Yes. I am her best friend, Yukari's brother. But we seem to be more like siblings. I was also her escort tonight."
Princess Milerna, being the gentle soul she is, raised her hand to comfort the poor gentlemen, on his recent lost of his little sister. "I-"
The King suddenly begins to speak, "I am greatly sorry for you loss, young man," he gestured toward Amano's direction. "But… the Prince is not well, and it has been a terribly stressful night for us all. I trust it best, for us to all rest for the remaining of the evening. Thank you all for coming. I apologize for the way the night has turned out." Everyone started to move. A soft glow of murmurs begins to rise in the Ballroom. However, despite how noisy and lively his surrounding has suddenly become, Van still remained in his position. Still mourning for his recently lost love… and fiancé.
Amano was still trying to get over the shock over the sudden lost of his "sister". Allen, who had felt much sympathy for the young man, tried to ease his pain perhaps even a little, "Come, man. If you will, I shall have the honor of driving you home."
Amano thanked him wholeheartedly. Allen, the most gallant swordsman in the Kingdom, is offering him to drive Amano, a simple little coachman, home? No, this is not right. "Thank you Sir Allen. I thank you. But, for I am but a coachman. I think it best for me to leave alone," and with that, Amano, with a deep heaving in his heart left the Ballroom without a word, and headed home to deliver the terrible news.
~~Folken's Fortress~~
Hitomi had finally awakened. She has perfect memory of what happened. And where she was, the warlock, Folken's Fortress. She was not scared. After all, a corpse cannot fear. That was what she was, a corpse. A body without a soul. She had died when she was separated from her only love. Her soul had wilted and flew. Hitomi had wished, as much as a soulless person can wish, that her soul wherever it may be, might rest peacefully with the hope that her prince might appear once more. And relive the lifeless soul. She was still in her gown. The beautiful gown that had once held so much meaning. But now… meaningless. She walked to the window. It was covered with dark velvet drapes that had prevented any sunlight to come into the room. She opened it, the smallest inch; the sunlight had flown into her eyes, melting her, blinding her. She closed it again. It was not for her. Not anymore. There's no sunlight in a dead person's room.
"Ah… Milady. I see you have already waked," Folken has arrived in the room.
"Hn… and you would care now wouldn't you?" Hitomi snorted. How very unladylike.
Folken's expression softened and walked over to sit beside Hitomi. Hitomi didn't move, she just turned her head upright to avoid making eye contacts.
"Did you know the beautiful dress that you are wearing is of your mother's?" Folken asked, knowing he'd catch her attention. And it did.
Hitomi looked a bit confused. She turned around to face Folken. "M-mother's?" she had rarely spoke of her mother because she had died in birth. She had known though from his father's stories that her mother was beautiful and elegant. "You're wrong. This is Yukari's mother's, not mine. Besides what would you know about my mom?" she narrowed her eyes.
Folken laughed at this, such foolishness coming out of Sora's daughter's mouth. What would I know about Sora? Only the world. "Child, there is much for you to learn. That gown was your mother's. But she had given it to Yukari's mother, Minami who was her best friend." He spoke of Sora with such fondness; it was obscene, for he was supposed to be a monster!
"You knew my mother?" it was said more like a statement
rather a question. Hitomi was now confused. How can such a horrid man know my
mother?
"Of course I knew your mother! Hasn't your bastard for a father told you anything?" he thundered. It was enough that the bastard had to take his beloved Sora, but didn't tell her daughter anything about him. He saw the horrid look in Hitomi's eyes. He silently cursed himself for getting so angry.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell. It's just… your mother." Folken softened again. He was abashed at what he had done. He had frightened the child. Sora's child. But you're a monster. You had frightened her from the beginning. "I, let me tell you a story," Folken decided on a way to tell Hitomi of her mother, the true story, "There once lived a beautiful girl, your mother, Sora. You look a lot like her, except whereas you have short light brown hair; she has long thick, rich light brown hair. And of course a woman with her beauty was bound to be noticed. And she was. The crowned Prince of Fanelia fell in love with her, and courted her. Sora, being the lovely and obedient daughter she was, she agreed, and was engaged to him. However, she didn't love him. She loved someone else, a commoner…me. I tried to keep her from marrying the Prince. But she couldn't because her father wouldn't let her, saying it's the best for her future if she married the Prince. I became jealous. And in order for me to take revenge, I took up to the Dark Arts, and I cursed the Prince that he would fall. And he did. That year, an invading army came and overthrew him. He's your father. He's but a commoner now." After Folken had finished his tale, he stood up and simply left Hitomi's room, leaving the young green-eyed girl behind in her own shock.
That same evening, while in slumber with the pendant still clutched tightly in his hand, the young heart- broken Prince dreamt of a Dark Fortress, where a damsel awaited him. He woke up finding himself drenched in sweat. He took dress and splashed cold water on his father and took off to find his missing love in the middle of the night.