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.
Dedicaation: Again, this goes to all the reviewers who take the time to say anything. Thanks!
I reposted this chapter to correct atypo. At the end, I typed "Fanelia" instead of "Astoria". Sorry if that caused confusion for anyone.
Hitomi felt like she was floating on the top of a gently tossing sea. Her limbs were weighted with an odd lethargic feeling. Sounds washed over her, gently making themselves known, then drifting away. With a sigh she settled more deeply into the feeling of warmth that surrounded her.
However, one sound kept her from completely drifting off. It was particularly persistent, never seeming to end. It was always there, rising to gently bump her consciousness, then float away. Hitomi frowned, trying to figure out what it was. She knew it was something she'd heard before because some small part of her mind was telling her she didn't need to be afraid. This was nothing new to scare or hurt her. Rather it brought on a feeling of safety and trust that everything would be okay.
Concentrating as hard as she could, Hitomi forced herself to focus.
"When you get well, I'm sure they'll throw a ball for you. A lot of important people will want to come."
Important people coming to see her? What a laugh. Who would want to see a little no one who couldn't even take care of herself?
"You've practically become a legend here. The girl from the Mystic Moon who saved Gaea."
A sense of unease settled around Hitomi. There was something about that statement that was calling for her attention. Something she should realize. . .
Allen looked at Hitomi, starting when he saw the frown on her face. Maybe she could hear him, after all. Something seemed to have caught her attention. But all too soon, the frown faded, leaving her looking as pale and lifeless as before.
Allen pushed all bad thoughts from his head. He wouldn't think of Hitomi finding her way back to Gaea only to die before even realizing she was there. Before she could see Van and the rest of her old friends. He wouldn't let that happen.
Settling back into his chair, he began to talk, saying anything that popped into his mind.
* * * *
Allen awoke with a start, realizing he must have fallen asleep. The room was dark, with only the silvery light of the moons to chase away the shadows. He stood to stretch muscles cramped from sleeping in the chair.
His gaze fell to Hitomi. She looked the same as she had before he'd fallen asleep. Allen sighed. She wasn't better, but at least she didn't seem to be worse. Bending to straighten the quilts that covered her, he was startled when she moved. He watched as she shifted onto her side, burying her face in the thickness of the pillow.
This has to be a good sign, Allen thought, after she'd spent the last day so still. Maybe it means the fever's broken. Reaching out, he laid a hand lightly on her forehead. A moment later, he froze. Her forehead was cool, but that wasn't what held his attention.
Hitomi had opened her eyes.
Van sighed with relief as he left yet another endless peace meeting. His muscles felt tense from lack of movement and the beginnings of headache throbbed behind his eyes. All he wanted to do was get a good night's sleep before heading home to Fanelia.
Just when he thought he could make a clean escape to his room, someone called out his name in a tired-sounding voice. Shoulders slumping in resignation, Van turned to face a disheveled looking man. The man bowed deeply, then slipped a hand into his pocket.
"I bring an urgent message from Austoria, Your Majesty." The messenger bowed again as he passed the missive to Van.
Van felt a strong sense of unease uncurl inside him. Something was wrong. Very wrong. The pendant around his neck seemed heavier than usual, burning with a strange warmth. Breaking the seal, he recognized Allen's handwriting. Goosebumps broke out across his skin as he read his friend's hastily scrawled words.
Seconds later the people still gathered outside the Great Room were amazed at the sight of the young Fanelian king tearing through the room as though all of Zaibach were on his tail. He made it to the stable in record time and saddled his horse with lightning speed as the startled stableboys looked on.
Van rode fast and hard, retracing the route he'd taken at a more leisurely pace the day before. The scenery passed by in a blur of green and blues that barely registered in Van's distracted state. Allen's words echoed over and over in the confines of Van's mind. Hitomi's here . . . in the woods . . . seriously ill . . . hurry back . . .
After hours that seemed like days, during which all manner of distressing images haunted him, Van finally entered the boundries of Austoria.
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.
Dedicaation: Again, this goes to all the reviewers who take the time to say anything. Thanks!
I reposted this chapter to correct atypo. At the end, I typed "Fanelia" instead of "Astoria". Sorry if that caused confusion for anyone.
Hitomi felt like she was floating on the top of a gently tossing sea. Her limbs were weighted with an odd lethargic feeling. Sounds washed over her, gently making themselves known, then drifting away. With a sigh she settled more deeply into the feeling of warmth that surrounded her.
However, one sound kept her from completely drifting off. It was particularly persistent, never seeming to end. It was always there, rising to gently bump her consciousness, then float away. Hitomi frowned, trying to figure out what it was. She knew it was something she'd heard before because some small part of her mind was telling her she didn't need to be afraid. This was nothing new to scare or hurt her. Rather it brought on a feeling of safety and trust that everything would be okay.
Concentrating as hard as she could, Hitomi forced herself to focus.
"When you get well, I'm sure they'll throw a ball for you. A lot of important people will want to come."
Important people coming to see her? What a laugh. Who would want to see a little no one who couldn't even take care of herself?
"You've practically become a legend here. The girl from the Mystic Moon who saved Gaea."
A sense of unease settled around Hitomi. There was something about that statement that was calling for her attention. Something she should realize. . .
Allen looked at Hitomi, starting when he saw the frown on her face. Maybe she could hear him, after all. Something seemed to have caught her attention. But all too soon, the frown faded, leaving her looking as pale and lifeless as before.
Allen pushed all bad thoughts from his head. He wouldn't think of Hitomi finding her way back to Gaea only to die before even realizing she was there. Before she could see Van and the rest of her old friends. He wouldn't let that happen.
Settling back into his chair, he began to talk, saying anything that popped into his mind.
* * * *
Allen awoke with a start, realizing he must have fallen asleep. The room was dark, with only the silvery light of the moons to chase away the shadows. He stood to stretch muscles cramped from sleeping in the chair.
His gaze fell to Hitomi. She looked the same as she had before he'd fallen asleep. Allen sighed. She wasn't better, but at least she didn't seem to be worse. Bending to straighten the quilts that covered her, he was startled when she moved. He watched as she shifted onto her side, burying her face in the thickness of the pillow.
This has to be a good sign, Allen thought, after she'd spent the last day so still. Maybe it means the fever's broken. Reaching out, he laid a hand lightly on her forehead. A moment later, he froze. Her forehead was cool, but that wasn't what held his attention.
Hitomi had opened her eyes.
Van sighed with relief as he left yet another endless peace meeting. His muscles felt tense from lack of movement and the beginnings of headache throbbed behind his eyes. All he wanted to do was get a good night's sleep before heading home to Fanelia.
Just when he thought he could make a clean escape to his room, someone called out his name in a tired-sounding voice. Shoulders slumping in resignation, Van turned to face a disheveled looking man. The man bowed deeply, then slipped a hand into his pocket.
"I bring an urgent message from Austoria, Your Majesty." The messenger bowed again as he passed the missive to Van.
Van felt a strong sense of unease uncurl inside him. Something was wrong. Very wrong. The pendant around his neck seemed heavier than usual, burning with a strange warmth. Breaking the seal, he recognized Allen's handwriting. Goosebumps broke out across his skin as he read his friend's hastily scrawled words.
Seconds later the people still gathered outside the Great Room were amazed at the sight of the young Fanelian king tearing through the room as though all of Zaibach were on his tail. He made it to the stable in record time and saddled his horse with lightning speed as the startled stableboys looked on.
Van rode fast and hard, retracing the route he'd taken at a more leisurely pace the day before. The scenery passed by in a blur of green and blues that barely registered in Van's distracted state. Allen's words echoed over and over in the confines of Van's mind. Hitomi's here . . . in the woods . . . seriously ill . . . hurry back . . .
After hours that seemed like days, during which all manner of distressing images haunted him, Van finally entered the boundries of Austoria.
