Hi Everyone. Sorry this took a while to get out. I've been working on my exams. Study Study Study. ^_^ Anyway, thanks for reading and reviewing.
Disclaimer: No, I don't own Escaflowne.
Chapter 3: Into the Night
Celixa crept through the garden, careful not to make any noise. She had seen her mother and Merle come out here.
"If she tells Mother I swear I am going to kill her." She breathed. She can't tell Mother. I trusted her.
"Now Merle, what was it that you wanted to talk about?" Hitomi's voice floated over the flowery air.
"She wouldn't." Celixa murmured to herself. Don't jump to conclusions. She might just want to talk to Mother.
"It's about Celixa." Merle replied.
That bitch! Celixa crept closer to where her Hitomi and Merle sat. Merle had her back to her, and Celixa resisted the urge to go up and beat the living hell out of her.
"You deserve what's coming to you." Celixa whispered quietly. Only the flowers heard her.
"What about Celixa?" Hitomi asked patiently. Merle sat facing her, wringing her paws. I wonder should I really tell her? Maybe this isn't the right thing to do.
"Well, um, you know how Lord Van doesn't want Celixa fighting?" Merle replied, her voice hesitant.
"Yes, they had quite an argument about it today actually. But what does that have to do with anything?" Hitomi's wide emerald eyes looked quizzically at Merle. I'm just going to come right out and say it. Come on Merle! Don't be a wimp! Just say it.
"Well, Celixa has been taking sword lessons behind Lord Van's back. She takes them every night. She told me not to tell but I thought that I should because I though you should know and now you do." Merle took a deep breath and held it, waiting for Hitomi's reaction. There. I said it.
"Really? How long have you known this?" Hitomi asked her.
"Um, for a few weeks. I thought Lord Van should know." Merle replied.
"Then why didn't you tell Van?"
"Um, well. I wanted you to tell him."
"Why?" Hitomi asked, her expression confused.
"Well, I didn't want Celixa to know that I told." Merle replied. Suddenly she heard a branch crack behind her. She turned slowly, afraid of what she might see.
"Well, it's a bit too late for that now, isn't it?" Angry red eyes fixed on her face. "Go ahead, tell Father. It's not like I care anyway. I should have known not to trust a beast like you."
"Celixa!" Hitomi cried. "What an awful thing to say."
Celixa didn't reply; she only stormed off toward the town.
"Maybe I should go tell Lord Van now." Merle said.
"You might as well." Hitomi replied. "Let's go. I'm really sorry about what Celixa said."
"It's okay." I know she's mad, but did she have to say that. She deserves to get in trouble.
A while later, a palace guard, Wulet, was out searching for Celixa. King Van had asked him to go get her immediately. The guard scanned the street. I wonder where she is. I wonder why King Van was so angry. I'd better find her, quick.
Finally the guard spotted her talking to one of the peasants. There she is. Relief flooded through him. I won't be getting in trouble now. He marched up to where she was standing.
"Princess Celixa, you must come back to the castle with me." "Why?" the princess sounded annoyed. "King Van requests your presence." Please don't give me any trouble. "I'll be there in a minute." She replied, "I'm sure it's not that important." With that she turned away from him, apparently dismissing him. Lord Van said to bring her back immediately. I hate dealing with the princess when she's upset. "I'm afraid King Van said you must come back to the castle immediately. He said it was very important." "Oh good gods. I suppose Father's too lazy to get up off his throne and get me himself right?" she gave an annoyed sigh. "I'll talk to you later, okay?" she said, addressing the peasant. "You shouldn't talk about your Father like that, princess." Wulet said hesitantly. "Okay, listen Wulet, I'm really kind of mad right now, so it might be better if you didn't talk to me, okay? I mean this in the nicest way possible: stuff it." Celixa stalked off ahead of him. Well that wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Wulet ran to catch up with the princess. An hour later, Hitomi grimaced as she listened to another argument. Van was screaming at Celixa, while Celixa just looked angry, glaring at Merle occasionally. "How could you disobey me? I specifically told you not to take sword lessons!" Van took a deep breath. "But Father, I have become quite good. Why don't I show you my skill? I can test it out on Merle." She turned and glared at Merle again. Oh dear. Everyone's mad. What are we going to do about this? I don't think I've ever seen Van quite this angry. "Don't talk to Merle that way." Van said angrily. "Oh yes, I forgot. Merle is your 'lifelong best friend.'" Celixa practically spat the words out. "I'm just your flesh and blood. Who cares about me?" she went on, sarcasm evident in her words. "Don't talk to me like that." Van said. "Okay then. I won't talk to anybody." Celixa turned on heel and stomped out. "Celixa! Get back here! Celixa!" for a minute Hitomi thought that he was going to get up and chase after her, but he didn't. "I'm sorry Lord Van." Merle whimpered. I know Merle must feel guilty. Celixa is being unreasonable, but I suppose she has her reasons. How much longer will this go on? "What am I going to do with her? Someone go get her." Van said. "Wait Van. Maybe it's better if she gets left alone. I know she's mad, but she wouldn't do anything rash." Later that night, Celixa was stuffing everything valuable she had in a black bag. Someone had came and knocked on her door, but after she yelled at them, they had retreated. Most people would say I'm silly for running away from a palace, but I hate being treated unfairly. Merle kept it from father for a while, but he didn't yell at her. Even Mother said that father yelled at me a lot. I'm getting tired of palace life anyway. After she had everything packed, she looked for something to change into. All black would look really suspicious. Hmm, this is good. She pulled out a dark green dress. She changed into that and pulled on a hooded black cloak. There, perfect. She opened her window and got ready to climb out. "Celixa? Are you all right? Please open the door." Celixa heard her mother through the locked door. Damn. "I'm fine mother. I'm just going to bed." Celixa called back. "Merle is downstairs; she wants to talk to you." "Well I don't want to talk to that traitor. Or anyone else, for that matter." Hint hint Mother. Go away. I don't want to talk to you, or Merle, or Father, or anyone that comes knocking. "Celixa, I'm sure that Merle had her reasons. Your father too." Hitomi pleaded with her. "Oh stop kidding yourself Mother." Celixa replied scornfully. "Father gets on my case about everything and you know it. And you told me that you didn't like Merle when you came to Gaea. What changed your mind? Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to bed. Good-bye." She heard her Mother shuffle away. Finally. Although, I do feel bad about leaving like this. No! Stop thinking like that. She threw open the window, and before she could give it a second thought, climbed out into the night. Well, that's it for this chapter. I hope you liked it. Please e-mail me or review and tell me what you thought of it. I accept any suggestions that anyone might have. Thanks for reading!