Windflowers...


Chapter 8: Honey and Clover





*Fanelia, Gaea*


Hitomi picked up a small spoon from the glass bowl that sat on the table. The silver was warm under her fingers as she scooped up some honey and spread it on the thin slice of bread that rested on her plate. Light was streaming in from the window behind her, filtering through the dust particles that floated through the room and the cheerful melody from Tareel's harp. The spoon landed back into the bowl with a loud clink and Tareel stopped playing, her fingers frozen on the delicate strings.

She looked up just in time to notice Hitomi biting into the bread, chewing slowly. A drop of honey rested on her lower lip as she swallowed then quickly licked it away. She smiled and studied the remaining slice before turning towards the younger girl.

"Are you sure you don't want any?"

Tareel nodded and resumed playing, the tempo increasing as she caressed the stings expertly.

"I ate already this morning, Lady Hitomi. Besides, I don't like honey that much. It's too sweet."

"More for me then." Hitomi's smile widened as she bit into the other slice.

The wooden door creaked noisily as it was pushed open, the sound of light footsteps filling the room. Tareel stood up and bowed low, not noticing the confused look Ran shot her as she hugged her mother.

"Princess..."

Hitomi picked the little girl up and sat her on a chair beside hers. Then she looked at Tareel, whose eyes were still facing the woolen carpet.

"Tareel, there's no need to bow... really!"

"But she's my king's daughter..." Tareel's voice sounded both apologetic and stubborn, therefore Hitomi just sighed loudly.

Tareel sat down again and crossed her legs, resting the harp on her lap she looked straight at the young princess and smiled. Ran smiled back, then concentrated her attention on her mother's breakfast. Noticing Ran's hungry look, Hitomi reached for the pitcher and poured her daughter a glass of creamy milk.

"Ma-ma! You know I don't like milk!" Ran frowned, and as she noticed her mother reaching for the honey bowl, she added "and I don't like honey either!"

Hitomi ignored her and plopped a spoonful of golden honey into the cup. The honey swirled around the milk for a moment then it landed at the bottom of the glass. Hitomi stirred gently, and the white milk tinged an amber color. From her position on the floor, Tareel chuckled at Ran's obvious expression of disgust.

"There, taste this." Hitomi smiled... a pushy, motherly smile.

Ran drew back but extended her hands anyway. When the glass was firmly in her grasp she looked at the contents doubtfully, then sipped it. The sip turned into a gulp as she downed the glass. The warm, sweet liquid didn't taste like milk at all.

Both Tareel and Hitomi giggled when Ran placed the empty glass on the wooden surface of the table and smiled sheepishly.

"I still don't like honey and milk though..."

That turned the giggle into a cheerful laugh.

"What's so funny?"

Tareel and Hitomi turned to face the doorway as a thin cat girl appeared from the corridor. The short, yellow dress accentuating her curves as she leaned against the wall, strawberry hair framing her feline features as her baby blue eyes shined with mirth.

"Auntie Merle!"

Merle visibly flinched, but smiled as she sat down at the table and stretched her legs. Purring in contentment, she reached for a bowl of cream and added a spoonful of dark purple berries to it. Hitomi watched curiously as the cat girl tasted it and cringed slightly, reaching for a glass of milk.

"Sour?" Tareel asked with a smirk.

Merle nodded and added a huge spoonful of honey.

"The mori aren't ripe yet... don't ask me why they pick them already!" She licked the sweet cream from her fingers and smiled.

"Mori?" Hitomi asked, confused.

"Uhm, mori." Merle swallowed and scooped up another spoonful and plopped it in Hitomi's mouth.

Hitomi chewed slowly, then swallowed.

"Blackberries." Hitomi smiled and licked her lips.

Then Hitomi turned towards her daughter and smiled noticing she had dipped her fingers in the bowl of cream and was currently licking them clean. Tareel laughed and placed the harp on the ground, stood up and stretched noisily. Merle finished her breakfast with a sigh, the silver spoon tinkling loudly in the empty bowl.

"Well then brat, how about we go and pick some flowers for your papa's room? Tareel, you're coming too aren't you?"

Tareel frowned at the informal way with which the cat girl had addressed their young princess but nodded, smoothing her gown. Ran on the other hand glared at her father's friend and stuck her tongue out. Merle responded in kind.

"Of course, I'll be coming with you and the princess, Lady Merle. If Lady Hitomi doesn't request my company..."

Merle rolled her eyes; too much formality sounded stupid. Hitomi noticed this and chuckled.

"You can go, Tareel. Be a good girl Ran. Don't make _auntie_ Merle mad... she scratches sometimes." Hitomi smirked as the younger girl huffed and placed a giggling Ran on her shoulders, her long tail swishing from side to side in mock annoyance.

"Where's papa, Ran?" Merle bent down to allow small Hitomi to kiss her daughter on the cheek.

"In his old room down the corridor, mama"

Both Tareel and Merle darkened although Hitomi didn't notice for she was too busy running out of the room. Merle sighed loudly.

"Newlyweds..."

"They aren't married yet, Lady Merle."

"It doesn't matter. Well, little princess, are you ready?"

"Yes Auntie Merle!"

"Don't call me Auntie, brat!"

Both Ran and Tareel laughed as Merle's cat-like ears twitched in annoyance. Outside the tall windows of the castle the sun was shining invitingly, the previous night's storm forgotten in the bright morning light.


***

The hard floor was uncomfortable as Van moaned softly, the wooden planks feeling cold and rough against his skin. He shifted to a more comfortable sitting position and groaned as his sore limbs winced in protest. He blinked, slowly noticing the bright light that was now streaming in through the dusty windowpanes. His eyelids felt heavy, forcing him to close his eyes again, not bothering to dry his tears from his cheeks.

Crying was good sometimes.

That was not what he had been taught but it felt good to have an excuse. Even if it was as feeble as that.

Yes, crying was good, but the painful headache that was throbbing in his temples told him otherwise... He winced again; careful to keep his eyes shut this time and fell back onto the small bed he had slept in as a child. Folken used to sleep beside him sometimes...

Enough of that. No more memories for that day.

The soft creaking of the door gave away somebody's entrance in the room. The door groaned again as it was shut, then soft footsteps echoed across the room. Van could almost see the clouds of dust lifting with each impact and dancing through the morning air. He heard someone coughing and turned round to face the direction of the sound...

"Van?"

Van pushed himself up against the wall and opened his eyes slightly... There she was, standing in the middle of the messy room, a silky sleeve covering her mouth and nose from the dust, her eyes turning into two liquid pools full of concern...

"Hitomi..."

She was by his side in an instant, his face cradled at her breast, he sighed loudly and closed his eyes again. Van then wrapped his arms round her waist seeking security only she could provide, her fingers tenderly caressing his cheeks...

"You were crying weren't you?" her voice was soft, gentle...

Van snuggled closer, finding no reason to deny it...

"Why?"

Van sighed and looked at her... then he grabbed her waist and sat her in his lap.

"I never really grieved my brother's death, he was gone from my life for ten years, ten incredibly long years, then he suddenly came back... I guess I was crying for the fifteen year old brother that abandoned me 15 years ago..."

Hitomi gently kissed the drying tears from his cheeks, licking away the salt and the pain...

"He hadn't changed, you know that?" Hitomi punctuated her statement with a peck on his lips. "He was still the same Folken that left you when you were just a child. His personality was just hidden in his heart... He loved you just as much as you loved him."

It was his mouth that searched for hers now, warm and hungry, as he tasted her lips tenderly. His hands gently cupped the nape of her neck, tilting her face upward to meet his. Slowly, he ran his tongue against hers, gently suckling on her lower lip until she pulled back, smiling seductively.

"You had honey for breakfast didn't you?" He smiled the lopsided grin she adored...

Hitomi punctually whacked him. "I like you better than honey, you're sweeter..."

Van pulled her back onto his lap and captured her lips in another kiss, a hard kiss that left both of them breathless.

"Ehem... Lord Van?"

Van opened his eyes and stared at the doorway, a man in his late fifties was standing there looking extremely uncomfortable. He was fiddling with the ties in his jacket with his sweaty fingers. The king reluctantly broke the kiss but kept a firm hold on Hitomi's waist.

"What is it Leval?"

Hitomi blushed under the man's stare...

"This must be Lady Hitomi..." he bowed "I ask to be forgiven for the ehem... interruption. Lord Van, there have been problems in the country side because of the recent rain." Leval didn't wait for any indication to continue and supplied the information...


"There has been a high risk of flooding in the southern regions, your majesty. The water levels are extremely high and there have been a few victims. The population needs reassurance Lord Van. It would be advisable to go and visit the cities to investigate on any further damage..." Leval stood up straight, careful not to make eye contact with the King or the future Queen...

"And the crops, Leval?"

"It seems that it has hailed in the northern regions next to the Floresta Mountains, nothing major but the weaker crops may be ruined."

Van sighed and stood up bringing Hitomi with him. She blushed and moved away slightly, but he refused to let go of her.

"Well then, I'll leave immediately. I'll be back later tonight Hitomi." He bent down and placed a chaste kiss on her lips before leaving for the stables.

Hitomi's gaze flew to the ground, staring at her child's footprints in the dust. She could feel her cheeks burning with embarrassment but the man didn't seem fazed.

"My Lady... The elders seem to think that the most appropriate time for your wedding would be during the Summer Solstice Festival. Do you think it is possible?"

How did everyone now everything in that castle? Oh right, because there were enough maids to serve the whole Japan...

"Sir... Leval wasn't it?" She looked up, strength present in her voice... "I would like to discuss it with Van, er... the King too, but I think that whatever suits the elders will be fine."

"That leaves us with less than a month to prepare the feast, Lady Hitomi. It won't be as grand as it should be... you will become Queen of Fanelia after all..." Sir Leval fidgeted.

"No matter..." Hitomi smiled. "We should be going, Sir Leval. Would you escort me to the gardens?"

Leval smiled and offered his arm which Hitomi gladly accepted.


***


Riding through the forest was beautiful when the weather was nice, but after the recent rain the bushes were damp and the muddy paths were even more muddy then usual. The horses' hooves sunk slightly into the wet soil as it galloped towards the southern territories. The ride wasn't going to last long for Fanelia wasn't a very big country, and Van found himself falling into the rhythm of his horse's strides and his thoughts wandering to his bride-to-be.

That was until the horse ran out of the forest and into the fields that surrounded Fanelia Castle. The soil had eagerly drunk the cold rain that had fallen the previous night, now the grasses were long and lush, swaying gently in the warm breeze. The horse slowed to a stop as his muzzle neared the ground. The fields of clover were dotted with white and red flowers, insects busily working around them, collecting the nectar for their beehives. Those endless meadows framed the mountains that reached up to the azure sky, the white clouds speckling the otherwise flawless canvas.

Just as his horse started nibbling on the sweet clover leaves, Van turned round to face the shining walls of the palace. The white marble blended with the fluffy clouds adding to the contrast with the sunny sky. In that castle were the most important things in his life and he would protect them no matter what. For a split second the sky darkened and the white stone turned crimson, as the clover meadows lay before his eyes, charred and hellish. And the shrill cry of a seagull broke the silence.

Van blinked.

The breeze picked up and his horse's mane tangled in the wind. The castle walls were as white as snow and the meadows as green as ever, and the sea was far far away.


***


Picking a bright red flower to add to her bunch, Merle cried out as a bee stung her. Cursing loudly she turned to face her friends only to find that nobody was around her.

A bunch of flowers lay scattered on the ground next to the tall apple tree, together with an old rag doll.

"Ran?"

Nothing answered.

Just the meadows, the sky and the spring breeze ruffling her hair and carrying the scent of the blossoms... and the feeble notes of a wistful melody.


To be continued...

Koneko throws herself on her knees begging forgiveness...

A full three weeks since the last time I posted... if you really want to know the reason... well, I've got my GCSE exams until the 22nd of June and my Japanese exams next week... ::cringes:: I've been studying like mad lately, I'm sorry really. Some people actually mailed me asking if I was dead or something and I rudely didn't even find the time to answer.

But my conscience had the better of me and I took some time out of my revision schedule to write this chapter. I know it's not the best but I tried...

Anyway... I'll try to fit the next chapter in; otherwise you'll have to wait until the end of June. GOMEN NE! _

love you all,
Koneko Kamiya ='.'=

::Van appears out of nowhere to drag her bag to her chemistry book...::

"No Van-honey…! Let me at least post it... wa------"