The Dark of Dawn: Arteissa's Story

The Dark of Dawn

An Escaflowne Fan-Fiction

We know I didn't create Escaflowne. Which is why I thank the companies who did, and assure them I am not making profit off this. I just have a lot of spare time and an overactive imagination.

Chapter Two: Arteissa's Story

Ever since I was adopted, I can remember hearing amazing stories from my mother about the Great War. The other village children would always listen to a village elder as they sat around the fire, but I would stay home and listen to Mother. She seemed to know an awful lot about it, more than Father, strangely; he was a tutor, after all. I never questioned it, though, but would listen wide-eyed in anticipation to the tales of Allen Schezar, Hitomi and Lord Van.

As I got older-namely fifteen years old, I realized that the villagers did not seem to be happy with us living there. They called Mother "that cat-thing, Merle" and I was just "someone off the streets". Maybe this was because we never had much gidaru [Gaean money]. Father would travel with a student, so he was not there to hear anything.

I constantly wondered why I had to go to the village school. Father could have taught me better than those ingrates, who would delight in 'disciplining' me whenever possible. This was not often, for I soon grew wise and would keep as silent as possible. It would have been nice to be able to travel, and possibly make a friend.

Actually, Mother was close enough to my age to be a friend, but we had started off as a mother-daughter relationship, so this wouldn't have worked. The villagers, of course, highly disapproved of this, as Mother herself was just 19.

One night, as I gazed into my looking glass and wondered why I had pink eyes, straight black hair with one wavy strand, and a slightly turned-up nose, I heard someone squeal and yell, "Lord Van!". Hey, that was the one from Mother's story-or was it? I decided to investigate.

I saw a tall young man with jet-black hair, ruby eyes, and a laughing face. Mother was hanging on to him, and he swung her around. I noticed a woman standing behind him while he twirled, with her face lighted up. She had a beautiful tan, with sandy blonde hair and green eyes. If the man was Van, she must be Hitomi, his girlfriend from the Mystic Moon.

Hitomi noticed me looking at her, so she hurriedly stopped Mother and Van, and we all sat down for introductions. I had been right in my guesses, and I wondered if I should ask them for an explanation of their unexpected visit. However, Van had started talking, and realizing that he was explaining himself, I pulled myself together and listened.

Almost all my wildest imaginings have been fulfilled! Mother is actually Lady Merle (take that, mangy villagers), and she was part of the Great War, as King Van's companion. Actually, I had never imagined that the Lord Van of her story was our much-gossiped-about boy king of Fanelia. Of course by the time news reaches this little town, it is so full of embellishments that only the most cynical person could figure it out.

That was usually me, when I did hear the news, which wasn't often.

Now, to have my wildest imaginings completed, all I have to do is fly, become a princess and be able to beat a knight in battle. Not so hard... right?

Van and Hitomi are staying the night, then we shall all go to the palace and meet up with Father, who is there with his pupil Serena. I wonder how we shall all fit in this house for a full night.

This morning, after a ride, Van and Hitomi came back with three people sulkily tagging behind them. I wonder why? Van said he had something to say to them, and I should come to help guard the exits.

The three evildoers streamed in, then Van started intimidating them into joining the army. One man acted really strange, saying, "Your Majesty, this is great and all, but why is your sister here?" We burst out laughing, but didn't say anything, adding to the fellow's confusion. Heaven help the army to have such a fool within it.

Hitomi came, gasping, into the room. "There...are....people...outside...wanting to...see Van," she wheezed. He left the room, and I followed, being inquisitive at heart. Yes, there were a bunch of those wonderful citizens of the village that I have mentioned. I leaned lazily against the door frame, and His Majesty did the same. The crowd gasped suddenly, and one boy yelled out, "Will you marry me, Arteissa dear?" No, I most certainly would not! The greedy leech probably thought I was the King's sister, and wanted easy money.

The crowd started clamoring and calling things out. Van raised his hand, then they once again quieted. "I will hold audience in the town's Great Hall before lunchtime for a while." The visitors started streaming out of our yard, and we breathed a silent sigh of relief.

That morning, we had a royal procession to the Great Hall. I loved it all, as it was completely the first time I had gotten positive attention from the town. I wandered aimlessly around while the crowd presented their grievances, then returned later on.

We traveled to the castle that day, but another odd event happened when we reached the palace that evening. An advisor was distraught seeing Van kowtow on the ground, letting Hitomi step on his back to the ground while dismounting; sweet! However, a simple gesture from Van silenced him.

When the advisor saw me, though, he got this look on his face, and said abruptly, "Come with me." King Van followed, not questioning his advisor. I was dragged into an empty room, where Van acted annoyed and asked the reason for his advisor's action.

"You may not have heard this, but when your mother left to search for Folken, she was rumored to be pregnant." He paused, the continued, "Although this theory has been ridiculed for a long time, this girl resembles the late queen, and your Highness also. We will have to perform hypnosis on her to find the truth."

"Arteissa, would you mind if they hypnotized you. then? You might very well be Princess Arteissa de Fanel," Van considerately asked.

"I don't believe I would mind at all."