Hello again! This is the second chapter of my story (as if you didn't know). There is a bit of harsh language in this chapter, so if that offends you, don't read. Sorry it took me so long to get this chapter up. I've been laid up with the stupid flu. And we have exams in a week. Ahh! ^_^
Disclaimer: Do I have to do this for every chapter? Anyway, I don't own Escaflowne, don't sue me.
Chapter 2: Refusal of the King
"Queen Hitomi, must you let them argue like this? Everyone looks most uncomfortable." The Royal Family's advisor, Fannar, said as he glanced around the royal court. Everyone was either looking at their feet or shifting nervously around. Some were doing both.
"Why don't you ask them yourself?" Hitomi asked, looking weary.
"Uh, I, well, maybe it's best if we didn't interrupt them." Fannar replied. He stood his ground again and paid attention to the argument. Celixa and Van were arguing about sword fighting; Celixa wanted to learn, Van thought she shouldn't.
"But Father, why not?" Celixa asked.
"A young lady, especially one who is to be queen of Fanelia, should learn ladylike things!" Van replied.
"You knew how to handle a sword when you were my age, when you were younger than me. You slayed a dragon to become king." Celixa retorted.
"It was my duty! And you know very well that women do not have to slay dragons!" Van argued.
Fannar looked at them both. They should not be fighting like this. Suppose some of His Majesty's subjects saw him. What would they think of their king? The advisor could only imagine.
Fannar did not look much like a scholar. He had bright red hair, which he was forever trying to get into place. His brother used to say that he looked like a squirrel's tail. He also had dull hazel eyes, magnified by thick glasses. Like most redheads, he also had a sprinkling of freckles across his nose. He was also shorter than average people, so sometimes he looked a little bit older than Celixa's age rather than a little older than Van's. But, what he lacked in size, he made up for in intelligence. He was one of the smartest people in Fanelia, which is why he became an advisor so young.
The argument was coming to an end. Van looked tired.
"Why don't you go learn something useful? Why do you need to learn how to use a sword." Van said.
"There are a lot of whys, Father. Why don't I feed myself to a dragon? Why don't I jump off the valley cliffs? Why should I stick around here? Why the hell am I still talking?" Celixa yelled. Celixa and King Van always did have strange arguments.
"Why are you so intent on doing this?" Van asked.
"Why do you care? Oh, I like that why. Why do you care, Father? My bet would be that you don't. I will do this. You can't stop me." With that, she turned and stalked from the room.
"Van, maybe you shouldn't have been so hard on her." Hitomi said.
"She has to learn! She needs to learn how to behave like a lady." Van slouched in his throne.
"I think she'll learn in time. She doesn't need you pushing her." Hitomi said quietly. Good gods, not another argument.
Van sighed heavily. "Fannar, what do you think?"
"Well sire, in my humble opinion, Celixa doesn't need to learn to be a lady, she needs to learn how to be a ruler." I hope he doesn't get mad at me for saying that.
"Hmm, maybe you're right. I'll think about it. Thank you. I'm hungry. Why haven't we eaten yet?"
Merle sat on the edge of a fountain in the castle gardens. She picked a leaf off the ground and threw it in the water.
Merle had grown and matured too. She was now taller, and much less annoying. Her hair was still a light shade of pink and she still wore it short. Her stripes had thinned out and her fur had gotten lighter. Her voice was much less ear piercing.
Suddenly she heard a voice cut through the flowery air in the garden.
"Fuck damn whore hell Jesus bitch shit bastard skank." Celixa marched up to the fountain and sat down. Her cheeks were bright red with anger. She was dressed in a dark purple Juliet-type dress. Her hair was pulled up behind her head.
"Did I miss any?" she asked.
"Not that I can think of." Merle replied. "What happened?"
"Father won't let me take sword lessons."
"Don't you take them already?" Merle asked. As far as Celixa had told her, she had begun to sneak out every night and take sword lessons.
Celixa gave her a look. "That's not the point. Those are only short lessons. I can't become really good with short lessons like that. I love taking them, but they're short. And they're at night."
"Your parents don't know, do they?" Merle asked.
"No, of course not. I came close last night though. Mother poked her head in my room just as I got into bed. I came this close." She held both her fingers close together.
"Did you and Lord Van have a big fight?" "Well, you know Father." Celixa swirled a finger in the fountain water.
"Well, I guess I'd better go." Celixa stood up suddenly and started to walk away quickly. "Good-bye." I wonder where she's going. I need to find Hitomi. I wonder if she knows about Celixa's sword fighting. Celixa walked briskly into the castle, heading for her room. I need to find those books. When she was a little girl, she found some books on Draconians buried in the garden. They had once belonged to her Uncle Folken. They gave a lot of information on Draconians and Atlantis. Once she reached her room Celixa checked to make sure that no one was around. She entered her room and shut the door. There was a secret spot where she kept the books. When the castle had been rebuilt, someone had left a hallow space in the wall. If you removed a stone, there was a space just big enough to fit the books that she found, along with her sword and dagger. "What book was it? I need the one about Draconian powers. Ah, here it is." She pulled the book out and replaced the stone. She flipped through the book until she found the right page. "Hmm. 'A Draconian has the power to sense other people's thoughts. If the person is a half-breed, they still have the power, just not as strongly.' I'm a half-breed. I know I can do that. If I'm right, then Merle is going tell Father something. She thinking about it anyway, she's just not sure. If she does I swear I am going to show her my skills on a sword." Celixa shut the book and replaced it. I'm going to go find Merle and see if I'm right or not. Too bad Merle can't sense thoughts. If she could, she'd be pretty damn worried right about now. Well, that's it for this chapter. Sorry if it's starting off kind of slow. My thinking has been kind of stiff lately. Most of the story ideas are on my computer. I just need to put it all together. ^_^ Anyway, the next chapter should be up in a few days. Please review and e-mail me with your opinions.