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 characters therein. But you knew that. I hope. But I do own this story and the course it takes.
I want to take a quick second to thank all the reviewers, especially the ones who review after every chapter. You guys keep me trying to get the next part out ASAP. It looks like this will be ten or eleven parts long, and I hope you'll keep reading till then. :)
The softer colors of dawn were just making their first appearance when the rider came into view. The Austorian guards, recognizing the horse and rider at first glance, hastened to open the gates. Without slowing, the visitor scraped through the barely large enough opening.
Moments later a hastily dressed servant made her way to the King and Queen's chambers. Fairly shaking with trepidation, she knocked softly on the door. When there was no response, she repeated the gesture with more force. A grumpy voice called out from inside the room.
"What is going on?"
The door opened to reveal a rumpled Dryden. The servant quickly delivered her message. Before she was even finished Dryden was striding back into the room to wake Millerna.
* * * * *
"How is she?" Allen asked as soon as Millerna stepped from Hitomi's room. He'd been pacing the hallway for more than an hour, imagining the worst.
When he'd found her, Hitomi had been burning with fever and shaking with chills. Her face was drawn, dark circles giving her eyes a sunken appearance. Lifting her into his arms, he'd been dismayed at how little she'd weighed. It seemed as though she must have been sick for a long time.
Millerna didn't speak until the door was closed behind her. She looked up, brushing her hair from her face in a weary gesture. "Not so good. She has a very high temperature, probably from being outside all night. She's also apparently been ill, which would explain the weight loss and apparent lack of sleep. That weakened her seriously, making the fever more dangerous than it would normally be."
Millerna started down the hallway, motioning for Allen to follow her. "Did she say anything when you found her? About how she got here?"
Allen shook his head. "She was unconscious most of the time. I don't think she even knew who I was. I was more concerned about getting her somewhere warm than questioning her."
"Well, right now I'm doing all I can. We'll just have to wait and see." She sighed. "When she wakes up, we'll have to get her to eat something. I'm going to try and find someone to sit with her now."
"I'll do it." Allen offered immediately. Millerna nodded and headed off, leaving Allen to make his way back to Hitomi's room. He pulled a chair up to her bedside, eyes locked on her still form.
"This seems awfully familiar," he told her, hoping that some part of her could hear him. "A lot had happened since you left. Millerna and Dryden got back together. I couldn't be happier for them. I've never seen the two of them more content then when they're together.
"Right after you left, something really great happened. I found my sister. Or rather, she found me. It's a long story, but I won't tell you about it until you get up and start to get better. How's that for incentive?
"I know there are a lot of people who are waiting to renew their acquaintance with you. And there'll be no shortage of people who will want to meet the girl who helped save Gaea. So you have to get well soon."
Allen sat back, knowing there was one other person who would want to know Hitomi was back. After a moment's hesitation, he got to his feet and summoned a servant. Within minutes, a messenger left the Austorian gates.
The knight settled himself back into his chair as he looked at Hitomi's still face. He hoped he'd done the right thing. Not knowing what else to do, Allen began to talk again.
"When you get well, I'm sure they'll throw a ball for you. A lot of important people will want to come. It will probably be one the biggest events this year, if Millerna has anything to say about it. You've practically become a legend here. The girl from the Mystic Moon who saved Gaea.
"You'd be pleased to see how much has been accomplished over the past seven years. Cities are almost completely rebuilt, and the people are happy. I guess this will be the first time you've really gotten to see us at peace. But you've got to wake up, okay?"
A/N: Okay, that was a pretty lame end of a chapter, but it's the best I could do. My mind is already on the next part. Hopefully nobody's getting mad that Van and Hitomi haven't met yet. I'm not so good at fluff, but I'm going to try my best, because they deserve it after all I've put them through.
Author: Ashley
Rating: PG, mostly for implied angst
Couple: V/H, of course
Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne or any of the characters therein. But you knew that. I hope. But I do own this story and the course it takes.
I want to take a quick second to thank all the reviewers, especially the ones who review after every chapter. You guys keep me trying to get the next part out ASAP. It looks like this will be ten or eleven parts long, and I hope you'll keep reading till then. :)
The softer colors of dawn were just making their first appearance when the rider came into view. The Austorian guards, recognizing the horse and rider at first glance, hastened to open the gates. Without slowing, the visitor scraped through the barely large enough opening.
Moments later a hastily dressed servant made her way to the King and Queen's chambers. Fairly shaking with trepidation, she knocked softly on the door. When there was no response, she repeated the gesture with more force. A grumpy voice called out from inside the room.
"What is going on?"
The door opened to reveal a rumpled Dryden. The servant quickly delivered her message. Before she was even finished Dryden was striding back into the room to wake Millerna.
* * * * *
"How is she?" Allen asked as soon as Millerna stepped from Hitomi's room. He'd been pacing the hallway for more than an hour, imagining the worst.
When he'd found her, Hitomi had been burning with fever and shaking with chills. Her face was drawn, dark circles giving her eyes a sunken appearance. Lifting her into his arms, he'd been dismayed at how little she'd weighed. It seemed as though she must have been sick for a long time.
Millerna didn't speak until the door was closed behind her. She looked up, brushing her hair from her face in a weary gesture. "Not so good. She has a very high temperature, probably from being outside all night. She's also apparently been ill, which would explain the weight loss and apparent lack of sleep. That weakened her seriously, making the fever more dangerous than it would normally be."
Millerna started down the hallway, motioning for Allen to follow her. "Did she say anything when you found her? About how she got here?"
Allen shook his head. "She was unconscious most of the time. I don't think she even knew who I was. I was more concerned about getting her somewhere warm than questioning her."
"Well, right now I'm doing all I can. We'll just have to wait and see." She sighed. "When she wakes up, we'll have to get her to eat something. I'm going to try and find someone to sit with her now."
"I'll do it." Allen offered immediately. Millerna nodded and headed off, leaving Allen to make his way back to Hitomi's room. He pulled a chair up to her bedside, eyes locked on her still form.
"This seems awfully familiar," he told her, hoping that some part of her could hear him. "A lot had happened since you left. Millerna and Dryden got back together. I couldn't be happier for them. I've never seen the two of them more content then when they're together.
"Right after you left, something really great happened. I found my sister. Or rather, she found me. It's a long story, but I won't tell you about it until you get up and start to get better. How's that for incentive?
"I know there are a lot of people who are waiting to renew their acquaintance with you. And there'll be no shortage of people who will want to meet the girl who helped save Gaea. So you have to get well soon."
Allen sat back, knowing there was one other person who would want to know Hitomi was back. After a moment's hesitation, he got to his feet and summoned a servant. Within minutes, a messenger left the Austorian gates.
The knight settled himself back into his chair as he looked at Hitomi's still face. He hoped he'd done the right thing. Not knowing what else to do, Allen began to talk again.
"When you get well, I'm sure they'll throw a ball for you. A lot of important people will want to come. It will probably be one the biggest events this year, if Millerna has anything to say about it. You've practically become a legend here. The girl from the Mystic Moon who saved Gaea.
"You'd be pleased to see how much has been accomplished over the past seven years. Cities are almost completely rebuilt, and the people are happy. I guess this will be the first time you've really gotten to see us at peace. But you've got to wake up, okay?"
A/N: Okay, that was a pretty lame end of a chapter, but it's the best I could do. My mind is already on the next part. Hopefully nobody's getting mad that Van and Hitomi haven't met yet. I'm not so good at fluff, but I'm going to try my best, because they deserve it after all I've put them through.
