Chapter 5: Reunited
Hitomi was standing on a grassy hillside. The moon and was bright in the sky and a cool breeze was stirring, and she could see the earth hanging low over the mountains. She could see three children playing in the distance and there was someone standing next to her, also watching. She felt safe and warm and did not want to move. She knew if she made a motion, something would be changed and the dream would come to an end. Hitomi frowned, trying to figure out how she had come to such a nice place and who the children were. As she began to try to concentrate on the puzzling question, the sky, as if in response to her query, turned dark and the children faded and disappeared. Fear swept through her and she turned to the man standing beside her for answers.
Folken looked into her eyes and smiled, as if to comfort her. "There are so many choices for you in the future," he said as he brushed her hair from her forehead. He turned and looked forwards again, where many paths had appeared, leading off into the distance. "No matter your choice, the world will be changed. You can't control that, so just live your life the way you think it should be and believe in your decisions. In the end, that is what will matter. In the end, that is what I tried to do." He smiled again, and began to walk down one path
Hitomi felt tears well in her eyes. Confused, she called out to his back "Which path should I take?"
Folken turned and smiled one last time. She heard him whistling as he faded away. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and took a step forward.
A hand brushed her forehead and then gently wiped the tears from her cheeks. Hitomi opened her eyes. She squinted against candlelight and tried to focus on something. She groaned as the pain in her shoulder sent aches through her whole body. She lay still a moment, trying to gather her thoughts as to where she was and why, when abruptly her memory returned and she bolted upward. She grabbed her shoulder as another sharp pain shot through it. A strong arm supported her back as she sat up and tried to gasp out a word of warning for Van.
"It's all right, there is no danger here," a warm and soothing voice said. Hitomi looked up into an old, wrinkled face with a pair of warm brown eyes behind glasses. She looked at the man, not recognizing him but relaxing under his kind eyes. She noticed that while his right arm was supporting her, his left was being held up as if to stop something or someone.
"It's Van," She whispered to the man, hoping he would help her, "He is in danger."
The man smiled and said, "Well, young lady, you took care of that. Look for yourself." He pointed to the opposite side of the bed. Gingerly turning around, Hitomi saw Van standing next to the edge of the bed, with his hands balled into fists, visibly restraining himself from reaching across to her. Tears of relief welled in Hitomi's eyes, and shaking them out, reached out to touch his hand. "I was so worried," she said. "I was afraid I wouldn't get here in time." Van smiled tensely as he crawled up on the bed next to her. She leaned back against him, breathing in the welcome smell of fields that she associated with him. His chest was strong beneath her cheek and she marveled at how grown up he looked.
He gently leaned against the headboard of the bed, supporting her, saying quietly, "You came back in time. You saved me again."
Hitomi relaxed against him and exhaustion began to gnaw at her. She fought the fatigue to look at Van. Sleepily she said, "I had a vision. I haven't had them since I left you. I don't want them back. I don't want to have an effect on the future.
Van smiled at her and brushed her hair back from her forehead. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine." He watched her eyes close, then sighed. He looked to the doctor, who was busily packing his bag and politely not watching them. The doctor, feeling Van's gaze, looked up and met his eyes. He said quietly, "She will be fine. The arrow did not pierce anything vital. She will be sore for several weeks, and, barring infection, no permanent damage will result." Van gave a small nod that he understood and of thanks, trying not to disturb Hitomi. As the doctor left the room Van slowly settled in a more comfortable position and glanced down at Hitomi again with a worried look on his face.
Merle peeked through the doorway as the doctor walked out. He stopped to look at her and said, "Let them rest. Keep an eye on them both."
Merle straightened importantly and responded, "I will. Lord Van always needs me." The doctor smiled and patted her on the shoulder as he walked away. Merle quietly shut the door and sat down on the floor with her back against the door, preparing to guard the room against any intruders.
Van watched Hitomi sleep and began to think about the situation they were now in. War and violence had seemed a part of the past and he was devastated the peaceful times had not lasted longer. First was Allen's news that there was disturbances along the borders of Austria, and now this. He had worked hard in the past years establishing treaties throughout Gaea and rebuilding Fanelia. He had thrown himself into the work, traveling extensively to promote peace and ensure that the former empire of Zaibach was not too severely punished for their role in the war. The work on both his country and on the peace treaties had taken all his concentration, which had been deliberate. He worked hard so that he would not feel the loneliness that Hitomi's absence brought.
Inside he was ecstatic Hitomi had returned, but aching over her pain and the circumstances that had brought her back. He had told her once before, and he had meant it then, that he did not want to have to depend on her powers and did not want them used for war.
Van studied her face. It was still the one that haunted his dreams, and the years had only served to make her more beautiful. Her hair was darker, he noted, and longer than when he had last seen her, with curling ends just reaching her shoulders.
He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Then began to plan what actions he should take next. First would be the inquisition of the prisoner, who so far had remained silent and disdainful of their attempts to make him talk. Judging by his costume and behaviors, he was from the north, but finding out his objectives and the person behind them would be difficult. Van gave his head a small shake to clear it and looked down at Hitomi again. He began to wonder what had happened to her in the years that they were apart. She looked older and more beautiful than he remembered, and fears began to grow in him over how she might have changed and whether she still cared for him. As these thoughts ran around in his mind, she stirred and smiled in her sleep, gripping his hand. He gave up the thoughts, knowing that he could not answer them, and let his tension ebb from his body. He would be strong for her and his kingdom. Van slid Hitomi further down on the bed and slipped out from under her. He stood next to the bed for a moment, watching her breath, desperately wanting to stay but knowing that his duties called. He turned and left to begin the work ahead of him.
He paused in the doorway to look back at her, and then at Merle, who stood quietly next to him.
"Watch over her," he said. Merle saluted him and slipped into the room to sit next to the bed. Van looked in once again, dreading leaving her but unable to avoid his duties. He turned and walked down the hall to where his advisors were waiting to hear from him.
The conference room had boards over the windows when he arrived. Candles were lit to counter the gloomy darkness. His advisors were huddled in groups, whispering to each other. Phiat immediately came to Van's side when he entered the room. "How is the Lady?" Phiat asked quietly. Van grimaced and said, "The doctor said she will be fine, given time. Have you been able to determine anything from the prisoner?"
Phiat shook his head. "He is proving to be stubborn. He will not speak to us except for some quite descriptive insults. Theenan, the wolf-man whom we have to thank for the capture, has left to return to his pack. He wished me to convey his apologizes to you for taking his leave so quickly, and hopes you will say his good-byes to Lady Hitomi for him." Phiat scowled and continued in a lower voice, "Lord Giata sent for Allen to return. He claims his safety is in jeopardy. He would have you think that the attack was meant for him! He is now safely ensconced in his rooms."
Van gave a humorless smile and turned toward the waiting advisors, who were watching him. He sat in his chair behind the desk, which had been moved away from the boarded windows. One of the older advisors approached him and, after inquiring as to the health of the Lady Hitomi, broached the subject of finding out who was behind the attack and why. Van took a deep breath, gave a brief wish that Allen would arrive soon, and steeled himself for a long night of discussions.
"She is here, my Lord." The man said to a figure seated on a throne in the shadows. "She saved the king, as you thought she would. She is now his guest in the castle. Our archer has been captured. The man shrugged. "A small sacrifice. He will not talk."
The cloaked figure smiled and leaned forward. The candlelight played across his scarred features, making them a grotesque parody of a man's face. "Good job Veris. Has the second step begun?
"It is already in motion." Veris responded.
Hitomi was standing on a grassy hillside. The moon and was bright in the sky and a cool breeze was stirring, and she could see the earth hanging low over the mountains. She could see three children playing in the distance and there was someone standing next to her, also watching. She felt safe and warm and did not want to move. She knew if she made a motion, something would be changed and the dream would come to an end. Hitomi frowned, trying to figure out how she had come to such a nice place and who the children were. As she began to try to concentrate on the puzzling question, the sky, as if in response to her query, turned dark and the children faded and disappeared. Fear swept through her and she turned to the man standing beside her for answers.
Folken looked into her eyes and smiled, as if to comfort her. "There are so many choices for you in the future," he said as he brushed her hair from her forehead. He turned and looked forwards again, where many paths had appeared, leading off into the distance. "No matter your choice, the world will be changed. You can't control that, so just live your life the way you think it should be and believe in your decisions. In the end, that is what will matter. In the end, that is what I tried to do." He smiled again, and began to walk down one path
Hitomi felt tears well in her eyes. Confused, she called out to his back "Which path should I take?"
Folken turned and smiled one last time. She heard him whistling as he faded away. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and took a step forward.
A hand brushed her forehead and then gently wiped the tears from her cheeks. Hitomi opened her eyes. She squinted against candlelight and tried to focus on something. She groaned as the pain in her shoulder sent aches through her whole body. She lay still a moment, trying to gather her thoughts as to where she was and why, when abruptly her memory returned and she bolted upward. She grabbed her shoulder as another sharp pain shot through it. A strong arm supported her back as she sat up and tried to gasp out a word of warning for Van.
"It's all right, there is no danger here," a warm and soothing voice said. Hitomi looked up into an old, wrinkled face with a pair of warm brown eyes behind glasses. She looked at the man, not recognizing him but relaxing under his kind eyes. She noticed that while his right arm was supporting her, his left was being held up as if to stop something or someone.
"It's Van," She whispered to the man, hoping he would help her, "He is in danger."
The man smiled and said, "Well, young lady, you took care of that. Look for yourself." He pointed to the opposite side of the bed. Gingerly turning around, Hitomi saw Van standing next to the edge of the bed, with his hands balled into fists, visibly restraining himself from reaching across to her. Tears of relief welled in Hitomi's eyes, and shaking them out, reached out to touch his hand. "I was so worried," she said. "I was afraid I wouldn't get here in time." Van smiled tensely as he crawled up on the bed next to her. She leaned back against him, breathing in the welcome smell of fields that she associated with him. His chest was strong beneath her cheek and she marveled at how grown up he looked.
He gently leaned against the headboard of the bed, supporting her, saying quietly, "You came back in time. You saved me again."
Hitomi relaxed against him and exhaustion began to gnaw at her. She fought the fatigue to look at Van. Sleepily she said, "I had a vision. I haven't had them since I left you. I don't want them back. I don't want to have an effect on the future.
Van smiled at her and brushed her hair back from her forehead. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine." He watched her eyes close, then sighed. He looked to the doctor, who was busily packing his bag and politely not watching them. The doctor, feeling Van's gaze, looked up and met his eyes. He said quietly, "She will be fine. The arrow did not pierce anything vital. She will be sore for several weeks, and, barring infection, no permanent damage will result." Van gave a small nod that he understood and of thanks, trying not to disturb Hitomi. As the doctor left the room Van slowly settled in a more comfortable position and glanced down at Hitomi again with a worried look on his face.
Merle peeked through the doorway as the doctor walked out. He stopped to look at her and said, "Let them rest. Keep an eye on them both."
Merle straightened importantly and responded, "I will. Lord Van always needs me." The doctor smiled and patted her on the shoulder as he walked away. Merle quietly shut the door and sat down on the floor with her back against the door, preparing to guard the room against any intruders.
Van watched Hitomi sleep and began to think about the situation they were now in. War and violence had seemed a part of the past and he was devastated the peaceful times had not lasted longer. First was Allen's news that there was disturbances along the borders of Austria, and now this. He had worked hard in the past years establishing treaties throughout Gaea and rebuilding Fanelia. He had thrown himself into the work, traveling extensively to promote peace and ensure that the former empire of Zaibach was not too severely punished for their role in the war. The work on both his country and on the peace treaties had taken all his concentration, which had been deliberate. He worked hard so that he would not feel the loneliness that Hitomi's absence brought.
Inside he was ecstatic Hitomi had returned, but aching over her pain and the circumstances that had brought her back. He had told her once before, and he had meant it then, that he did not want to have to depend on her powers and did not want them used for war.
Van studied her face. It was still the one that haunted his dreams, and the years had only served to make her more beautiful. Her hair was darker, he noted, and longer than when he had last seen her, with curling ends just reaching her shoulders.
He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Then began to plan what actions he should take next. First would be the inquisition of the prisoner, who so far had remained silent and disdainful of their attempts to make him talk. Judging by his costume and behaviors, he was from the north, but finding out his objectives and the person behind them would be difficult. Van gave his head a small shake to clear it and looked down at Hitomi again. He began to wonder what had happened to her in the years that they were apart. She looked older and more beautiful than he remembered, and fears began to grow in him over how she might have changed and whether she still cared for him. As these thoughts ran around in his mind, she stirred and smiled in her sleep, gripping his hand. He gave up the thoughts, knowing that he could not answer them, and let his tension ebb from his body. He would be strong for her and his kingdom. Van slid Hitomi further down on the bed and slipped out from under her. He stood next to the bed for a moment, watching her breath, desperately wanting to stay but knowing that his duties called. He turned and left to begin the work ahead of him.
He paused in the doorway to look back at her, and then at Merle, who stood quietly next to him.
"Watch over her," he said. Merle saluted him and slipped into the room to sit next to the bed. Van looked in once again, dreading leaving her but unable to avoid his duties. He turned and walked down the hall to where his advisors were waiting to hear from him.
The conference room had boards over the windows when he arrived. Candles were lit to counter the gloomy darkness. His advisors were huddled in groups, whispering to each other. Phiat immediately came to Van's side when he entered the room. "How is the Lady?" Phiat asked quietly. Van grimaced and said, "The doctor said she will be fine, given time. Have you been able to determine anything from the prisoner?"
Phiat shook his head. "He is proving to be stubborn. He will not speak to us except for some quite descriptive insults. Theenan, the wolf-man whom we have to thank for the capture, has left to return to his pack. He wished me to convey his apologizes to you for taking his leave so quickly, and hopes you will say his good-byes to Lady Hitomi for him." Phiat scowled and continued in a lower voice, "Lord Giata sent for Allen to return. He claims his safety is in jeopardy. He would have you think that the attack was meant for him! He is now safely ensconced in his rooms."
Van gave a humorless smile and turned toward the waiting advisors, who were watching him. He sat in his chair behind the desk, which had been moved away from the boarded windows. One of the older advisors approached him and, after inquiring as to the health of the Lady Hitomi, broached the subject of finding out who was behind the attack and why. Van took a deep breath, gave a brief wish that Allen would arrive soon, and steeled himself for a long night of discussions.
"She is here, my Lord." The man said to a figure seated on a throne in the shadows. "She saved the king, as you thought she would. She is now his guest in the castle. Our archer has been captured. The man shrugged. "A small sacrifice. He will not talk."
The cloaked figure smiled and leaned forward. The candlelight played across his scarred features, making them a grotesque parody of a man's face. "Good job Veris. Has the second step begun?
"It is already in motion." Veris responded.
