Title: Angel Watching Over Me
Author: Ashley
Rating: PG, mostly for implied angst
Couple: V/H, of course
Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne or any of the character therein. But you knew that. I hope.
Van sat at ease in the saddle, allowing the swaying motion of the horse to lull him into a state of drowsiness. The long rides were one of the most trying parts of these good will visits. He would always find himself thinking of how much easier it would be to spread his wings and fly to his destination. But people were still wary of his heritage, even those that he called friends.
There was nothing to distract himself with, merely tress and bushes, then more trees and bushes. If they were all lucky, the occasional small forest creature would dash across the path for a moment's reprieve from the monotony.
"Van!"
Van whipped his head around, trying to find the source of the voice. Merle was seated in the carriage, head lolling, obviously asleep. There were no other women with them. He waited, but the sound didn't come again. For a moment there, he could have sworn it was Hitomi calling his name.
Shaking his head, he tried to put his mind back on track. He only thought it was Hitomi because he'd been thinking about her. Ever since making his wish, thoughts of her had filled his mind.
He was still thinking about it hours later, when the group finally stopped for the night. Van sat staring into the fire. Merle was beside him, saying something, but he couldn't make himself focus on her words. He just kept hearing that voice, sounding so tired and scared.
"Lord Van, are you listening?"
Van turned to face an annoyed looking Merle. During the past years, she had continued her habit of staying close by his side at all possible times. And surprisingly she had come to enjoy the endless meetings with his advisors. Merle had a good instinct about what things needed to be done to improve their country. The past few years had seen her become one of the few people whose opinions really mattered.
Which meant making her angry was not a good idea. Especially since she had more of an idea what was expected of him than he did.
Van rubbed a hand over the back of his neck as he answered. "Sorry Merle. Could you say that again?"
She repeated her earlier statements, though she didn't seem very happy about it. She finished up by reminding him of the meeting's importance. "If this goes well, it may bring more people into Fanelia. Which is exactly what we want, remember?" He nodded obediently, not adding that nothing else would make him endure so many pompous social rituals. "Good."
Later that night when everyone else had retired to their bedrolls, Van made his way deeper into the forest. He needed some space, some time to think. A large boulder jutting from the forest floor provided the perfect spot.
He quickly scaled its rough side, finding the top slanted with a faint depression just right for reclining comfortably. Crossing his arms behind his head, Van gazed through the interlocking branches at the larger of the two moons hanging above him.
Every time he saw it, all he thought about was Hitomi. If he were in the mood to be completely honest with himself he would admit that almost everything reminded him of her. Even Fanelia did.
When she chose to go home, he knew it was something she had to do, something he would have done had he been in her situation. And though he prided himself in being unselfish enough not to ask her to stay, he knew it was only because he thought she would be coming back. Even after he gave him her pendant and he knew it was the only way for her to return, he didn't falter in his belief that she would be waiting for him when they both finished what had to be done.
But rebuilding a country provided a lot of physical labor with plenty of time to think. What did he really have to offer her here? A destroyed country struggling to get back on its feet and an uncertain future bound to be plagued by problems. How could he ask her to leave her home and everything she knew just for him? Van knew he couldn't.
So he'd worked hard, maybe harder than he should have to rebuild what had once been. As the months turned to years, sometimes only thoughts of Hitomi had kept him from giving up. Dreams of the life they would have together kept him going when nothing seemed to go right.
Now Fanelia was almost finished. The population was growing, the people were content, and finances were stable. But he still couldn't work up the nerve to take the final step and offer his heart and soul to someone who, for all he knew, hadn't given him a second thought during the past seven years. She might even be married to someone else and less than welcoming of any interruption of her life.
Van dropped a hand to rub the burning ache over his heart. He couldn't bear to think of Hitomi, his strong, loyal, loving Hitomi being all that with someone else. Up until now, not knowing had seemed better than facing a rejection.
But now he knew the wait was killing him by degrees. One way or the other, he had to see this to the end.
And soon.
A/N: Another part down. I was trying to give you an idea of what their lives (Van and Hitomi) were like during the past seven years without making it too boring. Now we can get to the new stuff. And I've read a lot of stories where Merle is still just the lovable, protective sidekick she's always been. I think she would still have those traits, but she doesn't strick me as someone who would allow herself to be useless. And since she does spend all her time with Van, her becoming an advisor didn't seem too farfetched. Please R/R!!
Author: Ashley
Rating: PG, mostly for implied angst
Couple: V/H, of course
Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne or any of the character therein. But you knew that. I hope.
Van sat at ease in the saddle, allowing the swaying motion of the horse to lull him into a state of drowsiness. The long rides were one of the most trying parts of these good will visits. He would always find himself thinking of how much easier it would be to spread his wings and fly to his destination. But people were still wary of his heritage, even those that he called friends.
There was nothing to distract himself with, merely tress and bushes, then more trees and bushes. If they were all lucky, the occasional small forest creature would dash across the path for a moment's reprieve from the monotony.
"Van!"
Van whipped his head around, trying to find the source of the voice. Merle was seated in the carriage, head lolling, obviously asleep. There were no other women with them. He waited, but the sound didn't come again. For a moment there, he could have sworn it was Hitomi calling his name.
Shaking his head, he tried to put his mind back on track. He only thought it was Hitomi because he'd been thinking about her. Ever since making his wish, thoughts of her had filled his mind.
He was still thinking about it hours later, when the group finally stopped for the night. Van sat staring into the fire. Merle was beside him, saying something, but he couldn't make himself focus on her words. He just kept hearing that voice, sounding so tired and scared.
"Lord Van, are you listening?"
Van turned to face an annoyed looking Merle. During the past years, she had continued her habit of staying close by his side at all possible times. And surprisingly she had come to enjoy the endless meetings with his advisors. Merle had a good instinct about what things needed to be done to improve their country. The past few years had seen her become one of the few people whose opinions really mattered.
Which meant making her angry was not a good idea. Especially since she had more of an idea what was expected of him than he did.
Van rubbed a hand over the back of his neck as he answered. "Sorry Merle. Could you say that again?"
She repeated her earlier statements, though she didn't seem very happy about it. She finished up by reminding him of the meeting's importance. "If this goes well, it may bring more people into Fanelia. Which is exactly what we want, remember?" He nodded obediently, not adding that nothing else would make him endure so many pompous social rituals. "Good."
Later that night when everyone else had retired to their bedrolls, Van made his way deeper into the forest. He needed some space, some time to think. A large boulder jutting from the forest floor provided the perfect spot.
He quickly scaled its rough side, finding the top slanted with a faint depression just right for reclining comfortably. Crossing his arms behind his head, Van gazed through the interlocking branches at the larger of the two moons hanging above him.
Every time he saw it, all he thought about was Hitomi. If he were in the mood to be completely honest with himself he would admit that almost everything reminded him of her. Even Fanelia did.
When she chose to go home, he knew it was something she had to do, something he would have done had he been in her situation. And though he prided himself in being unselfish enough not to ask her to stay, he knew it was only because he thought she would be coming back. Even after he gave him her pendant and he knew it was the only way for her to return, he didn't falter in his belief that she would be waiting for him when they both finished what had to be done.
But rebuilding a country provided a lot of physical labor with plenty of time to think. What did he really have to offer her here? A destroyed country struggling to get back on its feet and an uncertain future bound to be plagued by problems. How could he ask her to leave her home and everything she knew just for him? Van knew he couldn't.
So he'd worked hard, maybe harder than he should have to rebuild what had once been. As the months turned to years, sometimes only thoughts of Hitomi had kept him from giving up. Dreams of the life they would have together kept him going when nothing seemed to go right.
Now Fanelia was almost finished. The population was growing, the people were content, and finances were stable. But he still couldn't work up the nerve to take the final step and offer his heart and soul to someone who, for all he knew, hadn't given him a second thought during the past seven years. She might even be married to someone else and less than welcoming of any interruption of her life.
Van dropped a hand to rub the burning ache over his heart. He couldn't bear to think of Hitomi, his strong, loyal, loving Hitomi being all that with someone else. Up until now, not knowing had seemed better than facing a rejection.
But now he knew the wait was killing him by degrees. One way or the other, he had to see this to the end.
And soon.
A/N: Another part down. I was trying to give you an idea of what their lives (Van and Hitomi) were like during the past seven years without making it too boring. Now we can get to the new stuff. And I've read a lot of stories where Merle is still just the lovable, protective sidekick she's always been. I think she would still have those traits, but she doesn't strick me as someone who would allow herself to be useless. And since she does spend all her time with Van, her becoming an advisor didn't seem too farfetched. Please R/R!!
