The Stolen AngelChapter Three ~ The Risk of LoveFanelia was burning again. He could hear the fire crackle as it made its way towards his room. He called for Lyla. No one answered but the fire. He ran through the halls, calling for Merle. He couldnÕt find any of them. Princess Milerna, Allen, and Celena, all missing. Van was alone.He moved out to the balconey and saw the fire spread out into his kingdom. He fell to his knees as he saw everyone screaming and dying. ÒVan...Ó HitomiÕs voice called him. He looked down at the glass of blood-red wine that sat on the ledge. As red as blood, as red as the fire. On the shiny crystal surface of the glass, he saw HitomiÕs reflection. ÒVan! Beware...ÓHer warning was cut short by a silver arrow that flew like gossamer through the glass, sending the pieces flying. He saw her reflection once again on the piece of broken glass that lay on the floor. She was laying, dead, with an arrow in her heart. An arrow that was suppose to be for him.ÒHitomi...Ó he cried.Van sat up in bed, sweat trickling down his forehead. The pendant glowed on his bare chest. He barely noticed it, though, as he got out of bed and mostioned his parched throat with a glass of cool water. As he crawled back in bed, he noticed that the sheets were soaked with his sweat. As he lay in bed, trying to regain sleep, the pendant kept glowing. It glowed warm against his skin and luminated the room around him. ÒHitomi! SheÕs here!Ó he breathed as he jumped out of bed and tied his sword around his waist, not even bothering with a shirt.He ran out into the halls, and noticed that no one was posted outside his door. No gaurds, no soilders proped up against the wall, trying to sneak in a bit of shut-eye. Lyla wasnÕt even nearby. Something was definetly wrong.The halls were cast under a mysterious and mystic glow in the night. Van made his way silently to MerleÕs room, making sure she was safe in the soft comfort of sleep. He put his ear up to MillernaÕs door, and heard her breathing rhythmically in her sleep. Then he heard a strange noise coming from Allen and CelenaÕs room. Allen had insisted on sharing a room with two beds with his sister. Although Celena had frowned from under her brotherÕs protective wing, she endured it non the less. ÒCelena? WhatÕs wrong? Nightmares again?ÓÒNo. I just canÕt sleep.ÓÒCelena knows somethingÕs wrong as well,Ó Van thought, departing as silently as possible.The wind was cold for a summerÕs night. Not even a breeze was daring to venture this night. The hairs prickled on VanÕs neck. He knew where he had to go; where she was. The balconey was connected to the throne room. ItÕs view extended to all four corners of Fanelia. Fanelia was so beautiful this night. But itÕs mystic lights was not what caught VanÕs attention. It was the glass of blood red wine that sat on the ledge. He reached for it, and went to take a drink. As the wine was almost upon his lips, a yell ran through the silent night. Van dropped the glass when he saw the arrow coming towards him. It shattered on the floor a moment before he felt the strong weight of a body pushing him away from the target. He opened his eyes and found himself looking at the reflextion on a piece of sharded glass. It was the hooded figure! He turned and saw them laying on the floor next to him, a silver arrow in their shoulder.Van turned to them and moved them onto their back, careful to watch the shoulder. Green eyes stared up at him and he stared back at Hitomi.ÒHitomi!Ó he cried, hugging her.ÒVan! Why didnÕt take my warning? I told you to stay away from here, and you came looking...ÓÒI came looking for you.ÓÒYou put yourself in danger! And now youÕve caught me...Ó She turned away and started crying heavily.Van picked her up and ran to find Millerna. She, Allen, Merle, and Cerena were already running for the throne room. ÒWe heard a scream from here!Ó Allen exclaimed as they entered the throne room. ÒHitomi!Ó he exclaimed again as he saw her in VanÕs arms. ÒMillerna! SheÕs wounded!Ó Van cried. Millerna ran to their side and had Van set her down on the carpet and started examining her wound.ÒItÕs not deep, and it didnÕt puncture any organs...ÓÒSo sheÕs okay?Ó Van asked.ÒShe should be once we get this arrow out and dress the wound.ÓMillerna started to take out the arrow. Van held HitomiÕs hand and couldnÕt keep his eyes off her. She HAD come back to him. And he was never going to let her go. Millerna sighed after she was done clotting the wound. ÒBest put her to bed quickly. She sould stay there for a few days so that she doesnÕt risk anything. Oh, no. SheÕs getting a fever. Make sure sheÕs kept warm or else she could burn up.Ó Van lifted her in his arms and carried her to a guest room. But he found that the beds had been stripped for cleaning. There was nothing to keep her warm in. Millerna offered her cloak, but the room was still freezing.ÒSomeone try to start a fire,Ó Van commanded, not willing to leave HitomiÕs side. Allen made his way to the wood beside the fireplace. But as he lifted up the meager pieces of wood, he found that they were wet and cold.ÒVan! SomeoneÕs soaked the wood in water! ItÕll never light!Ó Allen exclaimed. Merle had rushed to the room across the hall, but came back with her face skrewed up in worry.ÒAll the wood in every guest room in soaked. And all the beds are stripped...ÓVan looked down at Hitomi, who was shaking violently with the cold.ÒVan,Ó Millerna said quietly in a sort of urgent hush, ÒThat woundÕs not fatal, but she could die from that fever she coming on with. My cloak is nothing to what she needs...ÓVan was already lifting Hitomi again. He squeezed her tight to him and ran to his room. It had a warm fire already going right beside his bed when he had left it not but half an hour ago. But when he threw open the doors to his private chambers, that absolutely no one was to enter without his permission, he found the beds stripped and the logs on the fire soaked. He gently placed Hitomi on his bed. Then he took his sword out of is scabbard and started hacking away at his nightstand. By then Allen and the others had caught up to him and were standing in the doorway, panting. Van took the pieces and threw them in the fireplace. He took the candle and held it up to his neckalace so that the light would go through it like a magnifying glass and created a piercing beam of light that started the wood on fire. ÒVan, itÕll be a good hour before that fire gets hot enough,Ó Allen stated. ÒWhat are we going to do. All the blankets have all disappeared. Someone doesnÕt want her to get well...ÒÒOh Van... What are we going to do?Ó Merle whimpered. Van sighed, knowing what he had to do. He got onto the bed and sat up, pulling Hitomi into his arms. He wrapped her in his arms and sproated his wings. He wrapped his warm, soft feathers around her and then layed down with her, praying silently that he would keep her warm through the night. The early beams of sunlight awoke Van. He had been having such a good dream for a change. He dreamed that he had fallen asleep with Hitomi in his arms. He opened his eyes, regretfully, but then smiled when he found that it wasnÕt a dream. The memory of last night flooded through his mind. The attack, HitomiÕs rescue, the mysterious missing bedsheets and soaked logs, his decision. And for proof his eyes beheld the phantom of his dreams, breathing lightly beside him. His wings were still drawn around her, and she nuzzled them in her sleep. Her arms were cuddled up to her bossum, the only thing separating their bodies. He finally took a look at Hitomi. Five years had changed her in many ways. Her hair was longer and now hung like threads around her face. She had... um... developed more, he decided. She was taller and her features had matured greatly. But it was still Hitomi. It was still her, and she was alive.He kissed her lightly on the forehead, and then felt it, checking for a temperature. It was still a little hot, but it was going down. He checked her bandage and noticed that Millerna had changed it. Somehow...Suddenly two green orbs shot open and peered at Van sorrowfully. ÒVan...Ó she breathed, two tears rolling swiftly down her face. She put her arms around him and hugged him tenderly. ÒI missed you... Why did you try and find me?ÓÒWhy did you keep away from us? Why did you hide?ÓÒYou werenÕt safe. It wasnÕt safe for either of us. I would have been putting you in more danger. I was here to warn you. I kept telling you in the dreams to beware, but instead you just keep looking for danger.ÓÒYou were giving me those nightmares?ÓÒYes. Through the pendant. I still have a link with it. I used it to give you those dreams. Those were the visions I had been having. Even from Earth I was able to send them to you as warnings. ÒI knew you werenÕt heading my warning when my visions continued. They got so worse I couldnÕt bear sending them to you. I kept sending you the same one. But as they continued worsening I knew I had to come here. From here I would able to help protect you physically and warn you mentally. Why didnÕt you do anything to protect yourself? I almost lost you when you threw the pendant away. But when you risked your life to get it back, it gave me strength enough to come. But why did you throw it in the first place?ÓVan looked down, not wanting to meet eye contact. ÒI thought you were haunting me. I didnÕt understand the dreams. Lyla said...ÓÒLyla?ÓÒMy bodyguard. She convinced me that you...Ó He couldnÕt finish his sentance. He looked at Hitomi, tears unfolding at his foolishness. ÒPlease forgive me.ÓHitomi looked away, and noticed where they were. ÒVan...?ÓHe smiled through his tears. ÒWere you surprised at waking up in my arms?ÓÒA bit.ÓÒSomehow everthing of warmth had been mysteriously removed last night. This was the only way to keep you warm.ÓÒThank you.ÓÒIÕd do it again,Ó he sighed, resting his forehead upon hers as he gazed into her eyes.He leaned forward, expecting her kiss, but instead receiving a straight face with stern eyes.ÒIÕm warm now, Van. You donÕt have to stay here anymore, if you donÕt want to.ÓÒWhat if I do want to stay?ÓÒThen IÕd say that people would start talking if they saw their King like this,Ó Hitomi smiled, knowingly. Van knew she was right, but he still wanted to stay beside her. He heard a cough from behind him, and turned to see Millerna standing in the doorway holding a few blankets.ÒIts okay Van. I can take it from here,Ó she said with a smile. Van got up emediately, returning his wings to their rightful place. Millerna continued to stand there, waiting for him to leave. As much as Van wanted to stay and be with Hitomi, he couldnÕt help but somehow feel imposing. But upon what?With one last sorrowful glance back to Hitomi, Van left the chamber, knowing somehow that something had changed.To be continued...Okay, I admit it! This sucks! Escpecially the part of no blankets anywhere or HitomiÕs ÒconditionÓ I know! I know! DonÕt flame me for it though! I wrote it in to fit the story, so donÕt hurt me! AHH! I hope you enjoyed in anyways, though.