AN: Well here's the third part. It's now 2:45am and I'm quite tired. I hope you like this. The plot will thicken in the next chapter hopefully. I'm already thinking of ideas! I'm sure I'll get more when I'm in bed. That's where they like to come. Don't ask me why cuz I haven't figured it out yet. They strike at the oddest times.
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"What were you thinking about earlier anyway?" Van asked. Hitomi looked from Faith, who was skipping ahead of them, to him.
"When?" She asked.
"When I came to see if you were ready. You were daydreaming about something. What was it?" He asked. She smiled and squeezed his hand.
"Memories. I was thinking of the first time I had to wear a dress as big as this. Do you remember that day?" She asked.
"Most of it. What I remember most of that day is how beautiful you looked and how happy I was." He replied.
"And that day was?" She asked.
"Our wedding day. I couldn't forget that day even if I tried. You underestimate me Hitomi." He said.
"So I have. Forgive me?" She asked.
"Always." He replied as the stopped in front of the set of oak doors that led outside. Both took a hold of one of Faith's hands and led the child out to the courtyard where they were to meet everyone.
This day was to start the events for the next couple of days. It was a celebration for the anniversary of the Alliance that had been made a few years after the Great War. Countries had taken the time to restore their land to full glory and came together to from and alliance to ensure peace. The major countries being Freid, Asturia and Fanelia, of course.
Hitomi smiled as they entered the courtyard. Van had told her after she had arrived that the alliance was just getting on it's feet. Now it was doing great and smaller countries had come to be apart of it. Some that Hitomi herself had helped join.
She was glad that the annual gathering was taking place in Fanelia this year. Before it had been held in Asturia but, Millerna had decided that they needed a change of pace and she voted that they hold it in Fanelia. Everyone had agreed without hesitation.
Once in the garden, Hitomi spotted a carriage with the Asturian crest on the door. She smiled and looked at Van.
"I can walk Dryden, I'm fine for the hundredth time. Hitomi!" Millerna yelled as she half walked, half ran across the courtyard.
"Millerna! It's good to see you again. You're pregnant again?" Hitomi asked, excitedly.
"So you see. That I am. Dryden keeps fussing over me like I've never done this before. It's quite unbearable sometimes but, he does it out of love." Millerna said.
"Don't remind me. They think that just because we're carrying a child that we might break if they touch us the wrong way. Well in my case anyway. I was beginning to wonder if Van would ever come near me again." Hitomi said showing a sly grin.
"Let's...change the subject. Please?" Van cut in before he could be humiliated anymore.
"Sorry Van, I didn't mean to embarrass you." Hitomi said with a smile.
"I bet." Van muttered.
"Get used to it Van. You're not that old and you've still got a long way to go." Dryden said. Van turned a nice shade of red at the comment.
"Mommy I want to go play!"
Millerna looked down to see her daughter pulling at her dress. Her blonde hair blowing slightly from the wind.
"We can't play right now Marion dear. We still have to greet the others. Once we're done you can go play with Faith. Be polite now." Millerna said. The child sighed and looked up to see Van and Hitomi. A blush crept on her face and she curtsied.
"Hello King Van, Queen Hitomi. Hi Faith." Marion said with a smile.
"Hi Marion!" Faith squealed.
After a few hours of boring adult speech and fondling of the children. Hitomi decided that it was time to let Faith go play with the other children. She could tell that she was getting cranky and bored standing there. She was about to tell Faith that she was allowed to go play when a man came up to them.
"Queen Hitomi I presume? It's a pleasure to meet you. This must be Princess Faith. Charmed." He said as he reached out to touch Faith's cheek. Faith stared at him for a moment the recoiled to hide behind her mother.
"You'll have to excuse her. She's quite tired at the moment." Hitomi said.
"Don't blame her really. Have a nice day." The man said as he left.
"Faith honey, you can go play now. Make sure you find Merle first ok?" Hitomi asked.
"Uh-huh." Faith said as she walked to the gardens where she had spied Marion and Merle earlier.
"Hey Faith, what's wrong?" Marion asked.
"The voices came back but, I don't want to tell Mommy. She's scared and I don't want her and Daddy to worry. Promise you won't tell?" Faith asked.
"K, I promise. Let's play!" Marion said.
Hitomi watched as Faith and Marion ran around the garden. A bad feeling had begun to rise in the pit of her stomach and she felt like she needed to watch over her daughter carefully.
"What's wrong Hitomi?"
She turned to see Millerna looking at her with concerned eyes.
"I have this feeling that I have to protect her from something." Hitomi replied.
"You are her mother. We all get a little protective sometimes." Millerna said.
"That's not it. I had a dream that makes me feel as if something bad is going to happen." Hitomi replied.
"Was it a vision or something?" Millerna asked.
"I don't know but, whatever it was, the feeling's coming back worse then before. I can't help but feel scared for her. I...I..." She looked up to see Van and Dryden approaching them.
"Don't tell Van. He's already worried about me enough as it is. I don't want to worry him more." She said.
"Alright but, if you see anything else you should tell him Hitomi. He does deserve to know." Millerna replied.
"I know that and I will. Don't worry." Hitomi said as they parted to see the two.
~~Somewhere in the forests of Fanelia~~
A figure dressed in black robes walked around a table littered with bottles and tubes of different sizes. His laughter filled the dark room as he paced the cabin
"They're fools! Complete and total fools! They're so busy worrying about the others feelings to even realize what's going to happen!" He laughed as he raked a hand through the mass of grey hair that covered his black eyes.
"I wonder when they'll see it coming. I can't wait! It's like celebrating a birthday! Revenge will be mine at last!" He yelled as his evil laughter filled the air.
~~Back at the castle~~
Hitomi looked at the sky in wonderment as a weird sound filled her ears. Something was coming and she sensed it. Van looked over to see her staring off in the direction of the forest and wondered what she was looking at.
"What is it Hitomi?" He asked. She jumped and turned to face him.
"Nothing. I thought I heard something just now but, I think it was just my imagination. I'm fine now. Let's go." She said, looking back at Faith. Something was definitely coming.
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TBC...
AN: Well that's it for now. Hope you all like it. Again, R&R and tell me what you think. Til next time minna!
