Author's note: sorry it took a while, been a bit busy. Family was visiting. Anyway, I'll let you read it, enjoy ^.~
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne or Dilly (wish I did though ^.^)
Alone in Blood part 3
Folken walked through the garden admiring all the different flowers. The summer sunlight streamed down through the treetops. The big white walls kept out the noises of the city's activities. Folken walked down one path after another. Time seemed to have slowed to a crawl and everything around him was peaceful.
He heard laughter and turned slowly, as if the air were made of honey. There was a boy. The boy smiled and laughed, his short black hair fell into his eyes. He was saying something that Folken couldn't quiet make out. The ground between them split leaving a deep ravine there. Folken looked down then at the boy. The boy had not seen it; he kept running towards Folken. The man tried to open his mouth, tried to shout a warning, he found that he could not move at all. He was frozen in place.
The boy came closer and as he leap off the edge of the ravine Folken heard his words clearly, "Brother! Don't forget me! Brother!" As he left the solid ground white wings burst from his back. A heavenly light seemed to shine on him. The little boy flew towards Folken. Folken found himself reaching out to he child, as he did the light faded. He looked around himself, the garden was gone. Everything was gone. There was fire in the sky. The ravine was directly in front of him. It burned with a cold fire.
"Don't forget me!" Folken looked up at the boy. The boy's faced changed from one of happiness to one contorted by fear and pain. The wings turned black as if touched by fire. They disappeared into the nothingness. The boy changed too. Folken reached out a hand but found that once again he could not move. The boy was Dilandau. He screamed as the wings disappeared and he fell. He reached up as if trying to will himself the have those wings. Folken could do nothing.
Dilandau fell and disappeared into the cold blue flames in the pit of the ravine.
"Brother No!"
****
Folken's eyes snapped open. He flung off his covers and leapt out of bed. He felt hot and cold all over. Taking a deep breath he stood still, looking out the window. Rain fell softly on the glass, streaming down the panes. Folken walked over to the table, he lit the candle there and sat down.
"Dilandau…" sighing he stared into the flame. "Why did you do it Dilandau? Why didn't you ask for help?" Folken turned his gaze at his mechanical arm. He moved each finger slowly. I could have stopped this. I should have talked to him. There was nothing he could do for him now. Dilandau was dead. It's all my fault…
****
"Migel?" the voice was quiet and concerned. "Migel are you still in there?"
"Go Away Chesta!" Migel growled from inside his room. He hadn't left it since Dilandau had perished in the crash. He heard whispering then someone else stepped up to the door.
"Sulking in your room won't do anything Migel!" this voice was angry and female. It was Refina the only girl in the Dragon slayers.
"I'm not sulking, go away Refina. Dilandau is Dead!" the impact of those words made the people on the other side of the door go silent for a moment. Migel felt rage building up inside of him. He got up off the bed and opened the door. "He's dead! Dead!! What about that don't you understand!! He didn't even get to die in battle, like a warrior! We'll all be split up, sent to work for any worthless fucking bastard they find! No one can compare to Dilandau!!! No one…" the last works came out in sobs. Migel collapsed to the ground tears of rage and repressed anger streamed down his face.
"We all loved Dilandau, Migel." Chesta crouched down beside the bigger boy. Migel looked up at him. His blue eyes shone with tears held back. Gatti knelt down beside them resting a hand reassuringly on Migel's shoulder. He didn't say anything, and he didn't have to they knew how all the dragon slayers felt about their leader. It didn't matter how he treated them. They all knew that behind their backs Dilandau had bragged about them to the generals and anyone else who would listen. Dilandau had always had faith in them, even when he got angry at them he was never truly angry, only just warning them.
Refina turned and ran, disappearing down the hall. She stopped when she turned the corner. She sniffed and blinked, her vision was blurred. I'm crying… she thought astonished. How can I? Dilandau trained us to be strong. I can't cry! I have to be strong like he was. She fought away the tears that threatened to fill her eyes. Refina resumed walking down the hall. The pain subsided and she kept walking. I'll practice my sword fighting. Yes, that's it.
****
A shadow cast it's self upon him. What it death? Was the darkness finally here? He couldn't feel the pain anymore. His body was numb. The mystic moon was visible in the sky. Stars dotted the empty darkness of the night. The shadow moved. It's alive, are they going to help me? Can they? Do they even know I'm still alive? The shadow seemed to disappear. No! Don't leave me here! I have to do something! Something surged up from within him. What was the strange feeling? Dilandau tried to move some part of him. But he could feel nothing. How would he know if he were moving or not? But he couldn't die here like this, not when there was a chance, a small sliver of a chance that he could still live. Some form of energy was still within him. He felt his hand move, the fingers stiffly clawing the earth.
Dilandau couldn't see the shadow anymore. He had to make them come back! He tried his voice again. He produced something resembling a wet cough, the back of his throat was filled with blood. The coppery taste was so familiar to him by now. He was aware that there was pain in his throat. That too was familiar. He tried again, a weak gurgling sound escaped his lips. The Feeling in the pit of his stomach was dwindling. A single tear fell from his defeated eyes. It was gone.
Suddenly the shadow flickered over him again. It saw him! He was sure of it! The feeling burst inside him! Strange, the feeling made him smile to himself. That new feeling in him, was hope.
****
Folken Paused, he heard something. Quietly he walked over to the room nearest to him. The door was open. One of the dragon slayers occupied the big room. It was a practice room. Mirrors covered the walls, the floor was smooth hardwood. It was the girl dragon slayer. She sliced at the air fiercely. Her pale blonde ponytail trailing behind her. Her breath was ragged. Folken guessed that she was over working herself.
Dilandau is dead. The dragon slayers must have taken it hard. He had yet to tell them that they were going to be transferred to different commanders. Folken had asked that they be kept together or even given more than a week to get over Dilandau's sudden death. But he had been over ruled.
He stood in the doorway and watched her fight. She hadn't bothered to light a candle so the room was dark. The girl sliced vertically and let go of her sword. The blade crashed into on of the mirror's shattering it. She dropped to the ground, panting. Folken was contemplating walking forwards when she spoke.
"Seven years bad luck… maybe I'll die sooner." She paused. "Oh Dilandau… why did you leave? I loved you so much. My life was truly yours." She sighed and broke into tears. Folken stepped back and disappeared silently back to his rooms. Dilandau… you have caused pain and suffering to so many people, and even after your death you still leave suffering and pain in your wake.