Chapter 2 Inside the Illusion

By melody

Balgus picked up the small boy and placed him onto his stallion, where he could sleep. He then hopped onto his own horse, holding the reins of both animals.

It seemed like hours until they had reached the village, Balgus now scanned for a house were his prince could rest safely. Balgus stopped his horse, thinking that he had finally found a home that was sutible of his prince. He jumped off of his horse and guided both animals to the stream for a drink. Balgus stroked the horses fur, admiring the beautiful creature, he then gave it a soft pat, and walked to carry Van inside the house. Balgus tenderly picked the child up, and seemed to protectivly cradle him in his strong arms. Walking up to the door, Balgus knocked gently, then backed up a safe distance, one arm holding the small child, the other at the hilt of his sword, ready for anything.

"Who is it?" an old voice called.

Balgus sighed, he was growing tired himself and wished for a warm bed to lay his head.

"Balgus, general of the kingdom of fanelia, please open the door."

The door opened a crack, a wrickled face scanned with one eye.

"Oh forgive me! I didn't believe that it was you sir!" The man quickly opened the door, bowing before the generals feet.

"At ease man, there is no problem, I only wish for a place for this child to rest, his tired head." Balgus replied taking his hand off his sword and helping the old man to his feet.

The old man gasped seeing the face of his prince.

"Is that...Is that the...-"

"Yes," Balgus answered the man's unasked question. "He is the current prince of Fanelia, soon to be the new king."

The man looked at the child sympathy showing in his eyes.

"But he seemes so young, not yet ready for the responsibilities that lie at his feet."

"Aye, he is, but it is the mark of the crown on his head and he must step into the light and take his place as king and lead his people."

"Here please sir, come in and warm yourself by my fire."

"Thank you." Balgus nodded his thanks to the man.

"Bring the boy over here." the old man said walking into the hall.

Balgus looked around the home, true it wasn't a palace but it seemed like the perfect place to raise a family and live. Balgus followed the man.

"Come, you can sleep here, I'm sorry, I can't provide more for my prince." The man said lighting a candle. Balgus looked in the room, it was simply lovely, but seemed to be a girls room. Tiny dolls sat of the hope chest, old flower petals around the floor and the shelves.

"This roomed belonged to my dear daughter, she passed away thirteen years ago, her and my wife, died at child birth. I haven't looked in here for the longest time, lots of memories, you see, but I'm happy that someone will find use for it." unshed tears blurred the man's vision, he looked at the tired child and smiled, then left the room.

"Thank you kind sir" Balgus called to the man. He walked to the bed and pulled back the covers laying van onto the bed, then covering him with the blankets. He cocked his head to one side, and glanced at the sleeping boy. he seemed to be in a realm of dreams. He pulled a chair up and sat in it, watching the child sleep.

Van layed in a field of grass. next to him sat his brother folken. He was showing him all the different plants. Folken looked at Van and smilied, his blue hair blowing in the breeze. "Did you get all that Van?" he asked patiently. Van looked at his brother, seeing those familar reddish eyes. "Folken!" Van called throwing his tiny arms around his brothers waist. "Its really you!" he could feel the warm tears falling down his face. Folken ruffled his brothers, raven, black, hair.

"Of course its me squirt!" he said, a large grin on his face. "I'm here to stay this time Van, I won't leave you or mother again, ever, I promise."

Just then a terrible roar filled the air, it then opened its humongous mouth and scorched the air with fire. Folken then dissapeared from van's side and was suddenly facing the terrible dragon. He was wearing his armor and holding their father's sword. "Come and get me!" He yelled to the beast. Just then the dragon torched folken and he disenagrated. "Folken!" Van tryed to yell, nothing came out and all the hope in this strange world coulden't bring his brother back to him. Suddenly everything was on fire, Van's body felt like it was on fire...

"Folken!" van yelled out in sleep. "Folken! wait please don't go!" Van tossed and turned calling out to a person who wasn't there. "Folken!!" He yelled loudly.

The yell was enough to wake Balgus from his sleep, he awoke with a start.

"No..no....no please...no!" Van said fighting off an invisible enemy.

Balgus shook the boy, trying to wake him but eith no avail.

"Your highness, wake up! Wake up lord!" but his king would not wake, he kept tossing and turning, calling out for his mother, and brother. Balgus felt the princes head. Wataru walked into the room.

"Whats wrong Balgus?" he asked.

"Its the prince i can't seem to wake him."

"Feel his head, is it hot?"

Balgus nodded.

"He has a fever, at his age high fevers are very dangerous, help me tend to him, we have to work quickly to get the fever down."

Hahaha Cliffhanger! This is my story, mine! okay so maybe most of the characters are mine,

*Hears whispering from invisible manager*

what only one is mine?

*Whispering continues*

I Don't Own VAN????

*whispering continues*

OH, okay *Sob* i dont own escaflowne Or Van *sniff* thats all.. *cries*

There you have t, i do not Escaflowne robably never will.. UNLESS..never mind.. *sob*