DisClaimer: I do not own Escaflowne or any of the people in it. Please
don't sue. This is my first fanfic, this is also the first story i have
acutually written. Please be kind.
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Chapter 13: Teetering on the edge
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-Hope is the destination that we seek.
Love is the road that leads to hope.
Courage is the motor that drives us.
We travel out of darkness into faith.-

- Book of Counted Sorrows-
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That night ( Atrea )
-------------------
It is just past sunset, and the night is cold. A fire burns
brightly next to the hut. There is a man cooking some kind of meat.
Atrea is still barely awake.
" Don't believe everything you hear, miss " the man said cooking
over the fire. " Who are you " Atrea said barely a whisper. " Who i am
is not important. I heard what Ziola and Gabriel said to you. They were
lying, i hope that you didn't believe them for a second " he said.
" I don't know what i believe anymore, the last couple of years have
been a huge disappointment to me. I don't know what to do anymore. I
don't know how to feel anymore " Atrea said coldly. " Well maybe if
everyone listened to their hearts more, these situations would never
arise " the man said. Atrea said falling asleep " Maybe so..
Maybe not.. "
-------------------
Dilandau? Are you in there? Hello? I am going home, Dilandau. This
is pointless sitting here. " No " he replied barely audible. Why? What
is the point of staying here any longer? " Haven't you figured it out
yet ?" he said depressed. No, What are you talking about? " Do you
remember the cave we passed about an hour ago ?" he asked. Yes why?
" Take me there " he said. Ok fine whatever. With that said Celena
walked back to the cave hoping that soon this would all be over.
About an hour later Ok Dilandau we're here. " Is there a bag
still over in the corner "? he asked. Yes it is still there. " Let's
rest before you home " he said depressed. I can go home? " yes, after
we rest here for the night " he said sounding defeated.
There have never been words, that i am so glad to hear.
--------------------
In the cave a few hours into Celena's sleep
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Celena's Dreams Dilandau you haven't invaded my dreams for
awhile. What's going on? Silence Hello? Could you turn some lights
on? It is too dark. Hello, are you there?Silence Celena.Celena.Celena
where are you? A voice whispered. Are you mad Dilandau? I am here. Not
for long....... he replied. What are you talking about Dilandau? I am
strong enough to take my life back, and now it is time to end yours. He
said happily. " WHAT!!!???? " she yelled into the darkness.
Dilandau comes into the darkness and changes the landscape to the
last place he exsisted. They ae both standing in the wreckage of the
Red Alseides. He has a sword in his hand. " Why have you brought me
here?" Celena asked him. " Don't you get it? All this time i was
building my strength. I am taking back my body and mind this night "
he replied. " All this time, you were stalling me ?" she asked him.
" Very good, even for your pathetic brain to figure it out " he said.
Celena ran. " It's not like i can't find you " he called out.
" There you are. I am not killing you because i want to Celena. It
is necesary for my survival " he said. " She doesn't love you anymore,
she hates you and you can't win her back. Killing me will solve
nothing. You heard her, she believes in those lies " Celena said
pleading desperatly. " Maybe so... " he said and chopped her head off.
Thus ending the dream. Now Dilandau's body was changing back to his
original form as he slept regaining his waking strength.
It was almost sunrise and Dilandau was waking up very groggy. Did
it work? he thought. He looked around at his body which was in a dress.
He ripped it off and saw it was complete. He was back and she was gone
for good. He bathed in the waterfall seeing his reflection in the
water. The scar was gone and he was still beautiful. He felt giddy.
He changed into the clothes he bought in the market. Black shiny pants
and a gray oversized shirt. He had a sword stashed here also from the
fight with those 6 men. He was ready to come for Atrea.
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The Hut
-------------------
The man who was occuping space last night was dead. He was killed
in his sleep by none other than Ziola and Gabriel. They disposed of
the body a mile away. Atrea now blindfolded. Her hands were tied behind
her back and her legs tied together. She was still out cold.
" I say we kill her now " Ziola said hatefully. " We wait until she
is awake so she can answer your questions Ziola, she can't very well
answer them if she is dead now can she ?" Gabriel said to her ice cold
stare. " Yes, i do want answers. How can she say those hurtful things
to me? A princess of Ispano. " Well then we wait " Gabriel said. " i
wonder where she got this ring? Ziola held it up to closely examine
it. " There is no way my Dilandau would have given it to her " she said
hatefully. " It doesn't make sense. They had no girl Dragon Slayers on
the fortress " she went on to say. " Your right of course my dear " he
replied. " He had to love me and only me, Dornkirk told me as much "
she said feeling reassured. " So Dilandau never told you himself that
he loved you?" Gabriel said surprised. " Well no, but i knew it. I just
knew it. Who couldn't love a dark-haired Raven like me " She said
smiling. She sat down next to him at the fire.
Dilandau listened to this whole conversation. He was angry. I mean
he was seething. He came out of the woods to confront his prey. They
saw him coming. They were shocked.
" Dilandau " Ziola said in surprise. " I thought you were dead "
she went on to say. " So it seems i live afterall, I heard all your
lies Ziola " he said really pissed off. " What lies " she said. Holy
shit it was like his eyes changed color to blood red. " I hate you
Ziola, I have always hated you. I never gave you a second thought. In
fact you followed me around like a lost dog. And now your delusional
brain tells you i was in love with you? " he stated in manical
laughter. He went on to say " Your a sick twisted bitch. And now i am
going to kill you and i will enjoy this " he said through his teeth.
" Why would you want to kill me? And risk a war ?" she replied hurt.
" A war? Hahahahahahahahahaha. Zaiback has already fallen. Who would
be the wiser if i killed you both? HMMMMMMMMMM " he said in joyful
anger. " you can't kill me " she said pleading. " Oh, but i can and i
will. For putting those horrible thoughts into my love's head. For that
you will suffer " he stated advancing on her. " Now, give me that ring
and i will spare your life " he said mad as hell not even close to
meaning it. " Ok, here " she said and threw the ring to him.
" I lied, i will kill you anyway " he said laughing. Then he
chopped off Gabriel's head and advanced toward her. " No,please maybe
we can work this misunderstanding out " she said hopeful. " Oh don't
worry princess i will not kill you right away " he said with pleasure.
He then cut her in 3 places. Her stomach- a deep cut, her arm- right
above her wrist, and her leg- above the knee. " If you don't die, then
you may live suffering " he said.
Ziola went down for the count barely alive. Dilandau picked up a
still out cold Atrea and slipped her ring back on her finger, kissing
it tenderly. He took her back to the cave and set her down near the
entrance. He left her tied up because he had no strength left, he ate
some of the food that was in his pack and fell into deep sleep.
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That night at sunset
-------------------
Dilandau still asleep. Atrea wakes up to darkness from the blind
fold, and realizes that she is tied up. What the..... where the hell
am i and why am i tied up like this. These ropes are too tight. Damn.
I should have never trusted that guy at the campfire. Or was it him
that did this? Could Ziola have come back and did this? Or someone
else? She thought while sitting up. She heard breathing, echo. She
figured she was in a cave with one person because she could hear the
waterfall behind her. " I can hear you breathing asshole. And you
snore. Let me go or face my wrath " she said loud enough to wake
Dilandau. " Come on take off these ropes and blindfold and face me "
she called out. A low pitched muffled voice replied " No " and then
silence.
Dilandau woke up to Atrea's angry voice. He put a cloth to his
mouth so she would not recognize the voice. He wanted a chance to
explain before he untied her. " Why do you tie me up " she said. "If
your going to kill me than do it and get it over with, or better yet
keep your hands clean and allow me the honor of taking my own life "
she called out into the darkness. " No " was all the man replied.
" Fine, have it your way. we will both just sit here in silence then "
she said defeated.
The voice spoke " You must not believe the bitch, she lies.
Dilandau loves you and only you. He never wavered in that. " What do
you mean he loves me? You said that in the present tense. He IS dead,
you sick bastard " she yelled angry. " That i did " the voice said.
" Toying with me? she replied. " What if i told you Dilandau is not
dead and is very much alive " he said. " And what if i told you that
if you untied me, i would not kill you " she said proudly. " Do you
love him Atrea ?" he said in a faraway, scared, but muffled voice.
" How do you know my real name? What do you care if i love him or
not, it doesn't matter much now does it " she said. " DO YOU LOVE HIM
OR DO YOU BELIEVE THE LIES ?" he yelled at her. " I don't know what
to believe, i don't know how i feel. I don't know what i would do if
he was alive " she replied harshly. " Then you will sit here until you
decide " he said angry. " Fine, Jackass. You will be waiting awhile.
I don't feel like playing any games with you at this moment. Perhaps
if you untie me...... " she said to the man sweetly. " i won't fall
for that twice " he replied. " twice ?" she inquired. " yes, twice. Has
your hearing been impaired " he said. " My hearing is just fine. Do i
know you ?" she asked confused. " In a matter of speaking i suppose
you would " he replied. " That is not an answer! " she said annoyed.
" no i suppose it isn't " he replied happy with himself for winning.
" Two can play your intrigue, friend " she said sarcastically.
" Are you thristy or hungry " the man asked. " No " she said.
" Well if you die on me from starvation, you will never know who i am.
Aren't you a bit curious who your captur is ?" he said happy. " Yes, i
suppose i am a bit hungry, you will have to feed me though or untie
me " she said happy with her answer. " I can feed you. If you like i
can bathe you too " he said seductively. " I am fine, but i thank you
for the offer. The next time i am tied up, and if i need to be clean, i
will be sure to look you up. Uh what did you say your name was,
Friend ?" she said smiling sweetly. " i didn't " is all he replied.
" So you didn't, i was being presumptuous again. Please forgive me "
she said playfully. They sat in silence while he fed her.
-------------------
Fanelia
-------------------
" What do you mean Celena is gone Van? Allen asked impatiently.
" I mean, a few days ago Atrea went for a walk and never came back.
Shortly after Celena disappeared. No one has seen either woman " Van
told him. " I leave her alone for a few days and she disapears "? Allen
muttered to himself. " Don't worry Allen we will find them both. I have
every available man looking for them " Van said to him worriedly. " i
hope they are safe " Allen said while looking out the window. " I am
sure they are fine " Van said trying to sound reassuring even though
he was worried too.
later that day " King Fanel, we have found this woman barely
alive near the fallen Zaibach. " a gaurd said. " Get the healers in
here they must keep her breathing, she might know something " yelled
Van.
The healers came in and pronounced her to be alive but the next
few hours would be critical. Her wounds were deep but she would
hopefully live. There was nothing else they could do for her. Van and
Allen stayed with the woman hoping she would wake up and know
something.
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The next morning Sunrise ( Fanelia )
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Ziola wakes up very weak. " She is awake Van " Allen said nudging
Van awake. " Where. Where am i ?" the woman asked them. " your safe
and your in Fanelia " Van replied still waking up. " How did i get
here? " Ziola asked. " My men found you and my healers tended to your
wounds " Van said standing up. " What is your name " Allen asked
softly. " Ziola princess of Ispano " she replied still very weak and
tired. " Who did this to you ?" Van said. " Dilandau " she said sadly.
" WHAT?! " Van and Allen said in unison. " you must be mistaken Allen
said sharply. " No, it was him. He said he wanted to make me suffer "
she said hurt and sad. " That. That. That can't be " Van said in shock.
" I asure you it was, i know him well " she said. " why would he want
to make you suffer, princess ?" Allen asked. She went through the whole
story about the girl she found named Eva and what Dilandau told her
about that girl being his love. She told them about the ring etc. Of
course she made herself out to be the victim.
Allen and Van in the study "It all makes sense now " Allen said
to Van. " What does? Fill me in " Van asked him. " When i first met
Atrea, she told me her name was Atrea Eva SanMartine. I thought the
middle name was odd. And now this Eva is Dilandau's love from before
the great war? She left gaps in her story for the time she was here.
Now i see why she did that, on purpose. Now the lies make sense. Before
the war, Dilandau came looking for her. And that serpent ring,
Atrea had on while she was here, i noticed it right before i left. And
now Celena had disappeared. Dilandau sightings. It could be only one
thing. Allen stated as though he was thinking aloud. " What thing?"
Van said perplexed. " That Dilandau took over Celena in hopes of going
after his love again. Celena could be lost forever to that psycopath "
Allen said now pissed. " So where do we look for them now " Van said.
" Good question, Dilandau must be stopped before he causes more pain "
Allen said. " Maybe we can still save Celena " Allen said hopeful.
" It is probaby too late to save her Allen " Van said sadly. " Never
say that! " Allen yelled. " Ok.Ok Allen i'm sorry " Van said hurt.
" No i am sorry, it is just hard " Allen said regretfully. " Don't
worry Allen, we will find them " Van said confident.
-------------------
The Cave
-------------------
" You feel better " the man asked me. " Yes, i do thanks. I am sure
i would feel much better with a shower though " I said playfully. " ok
say no more " the man said and got a clean cloth and began cleaning
her hair and face. " I was kidding " i replied sarcatically. " So, your
almost clean now he said. " besides you have nothing i have not seen
before " he went on to say. " I am sure if have seen lots of naked
girls " she said annoyed. " No, only one girl, one time " he said. " oh
uhhhhhh ok " she said stuttering. He then reached up the back of her
shirt and began cleaning her skin. When he was done he touched her
tatoo, mesmorized by it. He was tracing circles with his fingers on it.
" Are you about done " she said angrily. " uh umm ya " he said and got
up. " I am going to tell you something, then i am going to untie you "
he stated to her. " Ok well what is it " she said confused at his new
found forwardness. " I want you to promise to listen to everything i
have to say and not say anything " he stated in a faraway voice. " Ok
i promise " she said looking forward to the prospect of being untied.
" About 2 years ago i fell in love with a woman. I knew she was the
only one i wanted. She gave me hope, happiness, and purpose. Then one
day the gods took her away. I was devastated. I went crazy, well
psycotic is a better word. After the war i was hurt badly hurt, my
mind was tired. Then one day i heard that my love came back. So i
waited until i was strong enough to come for her. Many people told her
i was dead. They thought i was. But i would not give up i had to be
stronger. I followed her to Zaibach. Where she was told lies by a sick
woman. I was hoping she would never doubt my love for her. I was not
sure though. The woman and a man came back and tied her up and were
going to harm my love while she slept. I killed them both and brought
my love here to this cave in hopes that she would still love me. I am
asking if you still love me Atrea " he said hopefully. He took the
cloth from his mouth and said in his own voice " I love you Atrea, do
you still love me ".
A stunned Atrea went white and passed out, with Dilandau sitting
over her untieing her hands and feet. He removed the blindfold and
began stroking her hair. He layed down next to her listening to her
breathe. He hoped she would still love him. But he didn't know. She
lost her will to live.