It was Hitomi's second day on Gaea. She got up, and opened the door to let in the fresh scent of the morning. She stood on the balcony, for just a second, recalling the events of the previous night. Van, he loved her. Hitomi squealed in delight! She still couldn't believe it was real. Then she proceeded on to the bathroom, where she took a short bath. The day was young, and Hitomi was restless, she decided that she should go running around the castle. She couldn't wait to exercise her muscles in the fresh air of Gaea. It was nothing like the polluted city of back home.
Hitomi had been running for about half and hour, when she decided to sit down and rest. That's when it hit her.
Gaea was once again at war. There was a terrible threat coming from Zaibach forces. Hitomi could feel the darkness wrap around her. Van, Allen and Gaddes were desperately trying to fight off the darkness. Escaflowne was still, and there was nothing Hitomi could do. She was locked in a high tower of the castle. "Let me out!" she heard herself yell. But there was no use. Then it shifted to a war room. All the countries had come together, trying to find some way to prevent the terrible destruction. It was useless. She was locked in that tower, and they were helpless without her. They were like blind mice walking straight into the cat's paws.
The vision ended leaving her with a horrible thought. All was lost because Van didn't want to take her on that battlefield. All because he was too afraid to let anything happen to her. Hitomi inhaled deeply. She wasn't going to let that happen. She needed to be on that battlefield, but first she needed to learn sword fight. That was the reason in the vision why Van didn't want to take her with him. He was afraid for her safety. Hitomi got up and headed back up the path to the castle. The horrible vision kept playing in her mind over and over. She wasn't going to let it come true.
"Lady Hitomi, Lord Van is looking for you," Gaddes said coming down the small path behind the gardens to greet her.
"Oh, well I was out exercising. Is it something important?" she asked.
"I have no idea. He said he wanted to talk to you, and sent me to look for you." he explained.
"Well, I'll have to go ask. Did he think that I left?" Hitomi smiled.
"Lady Hitomi, pardon my rudeness, but I feel I must know. Are you going to be our queen?" Gaddes asked not being able to hold off his mouth any longer.
"It's no rudeness Gaddes, and yes, I am going to be your new queen." Hitomi's smile broadened.
"Well, then let me be the first to pledge my loyalty to you, milady." Gaddes said and bowed.
"Come on Gaddes, up, I'm not your queen yet, and you can drop that "milady" thing. Call me Hitomi if you must. I don't need a pledge of loyalty from you. Any friend of Van's is my friend too."
"As you wish," Gaddes said most surprised.
Hitomi kept on going towards the castle.
"Where have you been?" she suddenly heard a soft voice behind her.
"Van," she said turning around, "I've just went for a run." she told him.
"Well, tell me next time you leave ok?" he said kissing her lightly.
"Van, I'm not a three year old. I can take care of myself, I don't need to tell you where I am going." she said a little coldly.
"Well, I was worried." he confessed.
"No one was going to whisk me away. I'm here to stay." she told him smiling and returned his kiss.
"I found her milord," Gaddes came up behind them.
"Yes, I can see that," Van said and wrapped his arm around Hitomi's waist.
"Van," she told him pausing for a moment "I had another vision. There's going to be a war on Gaea again. Zaibach is the centre of trouble. They have some new weapon. It's horrible Van, we must prevent it." Hitomi told him seriously.
"Well don't worry, we will."
"Van, could you teach me how to sword fight?" Hitomi reluctantly asked.
"What for?" he asked surprised at Hitomi's request.
"Well, I want to come with you to war, and I think that I would be more useful if I know how to defend myself." Hitomi stated.
"Milady, do not be afraid, we'll protect you," Gaddes jumped in.
"Hitomi, don't you have enough faith in me protecting you?" Van asked.
"I do, but when you go to war, you needn't worry about me, that's why, if I could protect myself, it would be better." she argued.
"Milady, no one would want to train you, because they would be afraid of scarring you," Gaddes told her.
"Yeah, and even if you find someone who is willing to train you, no one would fight you. You're a woman." Van told her seriously. If there was one thing about him that changed, was the fact that he spoke more bluntly than before. Hitomi looked at him, and saw worry in his eyes. He didn't want her to get hurt, yet he couldn't possibly understand what she had seen. "Oh Van, you love me so much yet you understand so little." Hitomi thought.
"Oh! You men and your ideas about what a woman can and cannot do!" Hitomi exclaimed out loud.
"Hitomi, we'll protect you, and plus, you're not going to battle. I'm not risking loosing you," Van said firmly.
Hitomi was silent. She could see that there was no arguing with Van. She'll have to find another way. She could never allow that vision to become reality. She put up a content front and asked.
"So, why did you want to see me?"
"Oh yes, that," Van said. "In honour of our engagement, I'm hosting a party tonight. I just wanted to tell you to get ready."
"Oh, thanks for telling me. I do need to get ready." Hitomi told him.
They were at the castle by now. Hitomi looked at the tall structure. Fanelia's flags hanged from each and every tower. The castle was made of solid rock, and stood tall and imposing up on the hill. Hitomi still couldn't believe that that the structure could have been renovated in such detail in only eight years. Every little tower, every passage, every room was carved in such detail, that it was truly a work of art. Hitomi could see the hidden passages, and the hanging gardens, beautify the castle and give it that wild look. It fit in with the landscaper perfectly, almost like it was a stony extension of nature. All sorts of plants hugged the walls and their different flowers made the castle look like a tapestry of legends. She could almost hear the footsteps of the old ghosts warmly haunting the place. Yet it wasn't a scary thing out of a horror movie. The previous day Van had given her a tour of the building. Hitomi still couldn't get used to the idea that she would live there. It was all so out of a medieval movie. The walls were decorated with legends of dragons, and with praises of heroes, it would take her a life time to decipher them all. She smiled, looking lovingly across the landscape.
"What are you thinking of?" Van asked when he saw the way her eyes shined.
"Oh, nothing, just admiring the palace. However did you build it so majestically in only eight years is beyond me." She confessed.
"It was nothing really. The people of Fanelia worked hard to restore the country to its former beauty. I'm really proud of them." Van said.
"You should. Just look at the castle, the architects must have been very skilled people." Hitomi observed.
"They were, yet you'd be surprised if I'd told you whose ideas mostly went into rebuilding this place." Van said smiling and clasping her waist tighter.
"Surprise me." She said with a mischievous look.
"They were your ideas." Van said leaning in to kiss her.
"What? How could they be my ideas. It's true that I pictured a castle close to this, but how could they be mine?" Hitomi asked truly surprised.
"I told you you'd be surprised." Van laughed at her confused expression.
"No, explain yourself." She ordered.
"Well, there's not much to say, except that I've been dreaming of you for the past eight years. We'd talk every night, and you'd just give me ideas, and then we would improve upon them. I usually didn't change them. So you build this thing." Van told her softly.
"Oh Van, I can't believe it. You don't know how much I dreamt of you. Sometimes, to stop the dreams, I would run. Exhaustion brought no thoughts. I can't believe I lasted eight years without you." She looked at him, and there were tears glimmering in her eyes.
"No need to cry. You're here now, and that's all that matters. You don't know how happy I am." Van said, and kissed her.
Holding each other tightly, they entered the castle.
"I'm going to get some breakfast, and then I will go and try to find something to wear for the party." she said once they reached the great hall.
"Whatever you'll wear I'm sure you'll look beautiful," Van kissed her. "Well, I have to go meet with some ambassadors. They want to establish a trade deal with Fanelia."
Hitomi left Van and Gaddes in the hall, and headed to the kitchen. She was quite hungry. Scavenging for food, she came across some vegetables and a sandwich.
"Milady, you should eat in the great hall," a servant girl told her.
"That's ok, I'm in a hurry. Could you tell me where Master Balgus is?" Hitomi asked.
"Yes, he's in the Armoury Room." the girl told her.
"And where would that be?" Hitomi asked.
"Oh, it's just down the corridor, to the right. Second door."
"Thank you," Hitomi said and left.
She followed the girl's directions, and after a few minutes of navigating the twisted corridors of the castle, she entered a training room. No one seemed to be there, so she called out.
"Balgus, Balgus, are you there?" she shouted.
"Yes, yes I'm here, who shouts so hard?"
"It's Hitomi. Remember we met eight years ago?" she said and followed the voice. It led her to a supply room.
"Ah, our future queen, what brings you here?" Balgus asked bowing.
"I have a favour to ask you. Can you help me?"
"I shall try, milady," he said.
"Please call me Hitomi. Balgus, I want you to train me in the art of sword fighting."
"For what mi... Hitomi? Our soldiers are skilled enough to protect you."
"Listen, there's an evil on Gaea. The only way I can be safe is if I stay with Van. If he goes to the battlefield, I must go too. It's the only way to keep Gaea from destruction." Hitomi told him.
"The battlefield is no place for a queen. You will be injured. You might even be a distraction." Balgus stated.
"Precisely. Now if I can defend myself, there will be no need for Van to worry about me, and he can concentrate on the fight."
"Milady, why come to me? You should have asked Van."
"I did, and he was completely against the idea."
"I agree."
"No, you cannot have possibly seen what I saw. This is the only way. Will you help me?" she pleaded.
Balgus was silent. He had never trained a woman before, nevertheless a future queen. If he injured her, Van would have his head. As if reading his mind, Hitomi performed a karate combo on a dummy next to her.
When she finished, the dummy's head fell off.
"I took a form of martial arts called Karate on the Phantom Moon," she explained. "As you can see, I am not completely defenceless. I need you help. Please!" she begged.
"Very well, I shall teach you," Balgus said.
Balgus knew that he would regret this later on, but for the moment, he just went with the flow. It wasn't everyday a queen came up to him for help. She was pretty tough, and that form of fighting would prove to be useful later on. He could see she wasn't very comfortable with it, but he knew from the tone of her voice that she was dead serious.
"Thank you Balgus!" Hitomi jumped up and hugged him. Now she was positive that her awful vision won't come true.
Balgus was very surprised. No queen, or future queen that he knew ever did this. Maybe there was something excitingly different about this girl.
"Balgus, one more thing. Please don't tell Van. He wouldn't approve." she said.
"But," Balgus argued.
"No 'buts', I'll take full responsibility for this." she told him.
"Very well, then we should meet in the forest every night and proceed to train you."
"Sure. Anything."
"Let's start." he said.
"Now?" Hitomi asked surprised.
"Yes, now."
A few hours later, Hitomi went up to her room tired. Her first session was very demanding. She sunk into another bubbly bath. Her muscles were sore, and it was almost time for the banquet. "How did time go by so fast?" she wondered.
Hitomi stepped out of the bath, and took a look in her closet. She would wear a green dress, and just leave her hair out. Suddenly, there was a knock on her door.
"Hitomi, are you there?" she head Merle say.
"Yeah, come in."
"I brought you some makeup. Here, put it on." She threw her a bag full with makeup.
"Thanks, how did you know I was getting ready for the banquet?" Hitomi asked surprised.
"I guess I'm just psychic. Well, I have to go get ready also, see you downstairs." Merle said and left.
In the banquet hall, Van was sitting on the throne searching the crowd for Hitomi. She wasn't there yet. "What could be keeping her?" Van knew he was being unreasonable, but he felt like he needed to see her every minute of every day to be sure she wouldn't leave him. What could be keeping her so long? Everyone was there. Allen, Millerna, Dryden, and some of the ambassadors of their neighbouring countries.
Hitomi hurried downstairs. She could hear the music playing in the great hall. She was more than nervous. These were all strangers to her. She hoped Van would come and rescue her fast. Hitomi stopped outside the hall. She took a deep breath and stepped in.
The room was greatly illuminated, and you could feel the festive atmosphere. Hitomi looked around nervously for Van.
"Hitomi, it's so good to see you again," she heard a soft voice behind her.
"Allen," she said turning around.
"The one and only, it's been a long time Hitomi," Allen said.
"Yeah, it's good to see you too. Still a knight?" she asked.
"I don't know how to do anything else. Wow, Hitomi, you look wonderful." he commented.
"Thank you Allen," Hitomi said somewhat coolly. "Have you seen Van?" she asked.
"Yeah, he was talking to some of his neighbours," Allen told her. "Anyway, would you like to dance Hitomi?"
"No, I don't feel like dancing right now, maybe later." She smiled at him. However, it was a polite smile.
Hitomi felt a familiar arm wrap around her waist. Van was there with her.
"Hey you're finally here, I see you've met Allen," he said placing a light kiss on her cheek.
"Yeah, he was just telling me what he has been doing for the last eight years," Hitomi smiled back at Van. She was so grateful he was there. She didn't feel comfortable around Allen all alone. He might take her actions the wrong way. Hitomi didn't want to hurt Van in any way. She had already done it once, and didn't care to do it again.
Allen could sense how her mood had immediately changed when Van came. He could sense the sparks fly between the two of them, and he could also see the love they felt for each other. It looked like Hitomi had made her choice. He knew when he was beat. This was the first woman to ever refuse his advancements. Then again, she wasn't Gaean "Hmm.... maybe my charm works on women only from this planet." He thought.
"Well, I'm going to go talk to Dryden," he said sensing they wanted to be alone.
After Allen left, Hitomi asked.
"Van, were you spying on me?"
"No, I just couldn't let you face Allen alone. I know his way around women." he laughed.
"I didn't need your help. I was doing fine. Are you doubting my love and devotion?" she asked grinning.
"Never. I saw your attitude. I just felt better when I was beside you on this encounter," he said kissing her.
"Do you want to dance?" Van asked.
"I'd love to, with YOU." Hitomi answered.
It was almost the end of the party, and most of the guests had gone home. Hitomi felt that she needed some air, so she stepped into the balcony garden. The air was so fresh, and the moon was shining brightly. The Phantom Moon could also be seen. Hitomi noticed it had rained. It was all so still and beautiful, she paused her movement, just so she could keep the eerie mood a little longer.
All of a sudden, Hitomi got an idea. It was something she hadn't done since she had been ten, but tonight, she felt the need to do it again. Hitomi lifted her skirt, and jumped into a puddle of fresh rain water. This was he favourite game since she was little. She laughed and tried another.
"What are you laughing about?" she heard Van say behind her.
"Oh nothing, just this silly game I used to play back on Earth," she told him.
"Oh yeah? Teach me." he ordered playfully.
"Very well, the point is to jump into a puddle of water without getting splashed yourself. Like this." Hitomi jumped to show him. She broke into a carefree laughter when Van tried it himself, and got all wet.
"It's not that funny," he said pretending to be sour.
"Yes it is, you're all wet." she said jumping into another puddle of water.
The game proceeded and the laughter was joyous. Van wasn't getting it at all, and Hitomi had quite a hard time explaining it to him. When there was no more water left, Van grabbed Hitomi and kissed her.
"I can't believe this. I'm a king, and I spend my time playing childish games, god, I love you," he said.
"Come on, admit it, you had fun. It was something silly that got your mind off your responsibilities. It's just being spontaneous." she told him.
"Yeah, but I can't believe I had to wait eight years to find out how good it feels." Van said amazed.
"Oh well, we should enjoy this peaceful time. There won't be any soon," Hitomi sighed.
"Let's not think about that tonight. When do you want to get married?" he asked her.
"Whenever you can is good with me. I'm not going anywhere."
"Good, then let's do it a week from now. That should be time enough for you to get adjusted to Gaea, for me to put my affairs in order, and for the preparations to be finished."
"Sounds good to me," Hitomi said yawning.
One week sounded good to her. It would give her time to complete her training, and get ready for what was going to follow. The waters seemed calm now, but she knew that in a matter of days they would turn violent and cloudy.
Hitomi gave Van another kiss and proceeded to her room. She was so tired. This had been a very long, long day. Hitomi fell asleep with one thought on her mind. She was so content to be there, with the people she loved most.
A/N: I know Balgus is dead, but I couldn't think of ne one else to play the part. Let's just say that he had been brought up to life by some magic trick ok? Don't flame me for that, it was an honest mistake! I forgot he dies in episode 2 ok??? So sorry, ne how, he'll be appearing only in Chapter 6 again, and then it's bye bye Balgus. So sorry again, didn't mean to make that little slip, and I don't want to change it, if it's all right with you. So yeah, sorry once again!!!