Separation (Part 9)

I'm soooooo soorrrryy!!!! I know it's been ages since I've updated this story and I hope that everybody will forgive me. I just couldn't seem to write anything on this story, I actually had to erase 4 or 5 paragraphs and rewrite them because they just didn't work. Anyway I clear up some things in this chapter, so if anybody out there is still reading this fic I hope you enjoy it and don't forget to review!!

Oh and I want to thank sorrow for sending in that last review and reminding me that I had this fic to finish. And thanks so very much to all you other reviewers I'll try my hardest to get the next chapter out soon and the more reviews I get, the more motivated I'll feel to get busy and finish it.

Enjoy the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne, and I'm not worth suing unless you want a total of $0.68. 

Separation (Part 9)

             The group moved quickly and silently down the halls, however than ran into no resistance. It was almost as though with Cryton's death all his men had disappeared.

            "Sure is quiet," Van whispered. Syton nodded sharply, his sword held up in defensive position as they rounded another corner. Tsani walked at his side, holding a pouch of sleeping dust. Van had his own sword out and was staying protectively close to Hitomi.

            Rounding another corner Syton raised an arm to tell them to stop. Up ahead a large entrance loomed before them. Bright light was shining through and Hitomi figured that night had passed by unnoticed by the group.

            Syton raised the arm without the sword to block the light; his eyes unused to the sunlight after so much time spent in the dark dungeons. He turned his head and pitched his voice so that Hitomi and Van could hear.

            "This doorway leads out into the courtyard. I'm not sure what to expect when we get out there but we need to move fast. Once we get out the door we head left towards the barracks, if I know Cryton that's where he'll have put all the soldiers he was unsure of." His voice dropped an octave. "It may be dangerous," his eyes turned to meet Tsani's, "I want you to stay back with Hitomi."

            Tsani's only reply was a nod, with a few steps back she was beside Hitomi and Van moved forward to stand at Syton's side, his sword raised defensively.

            "Nothing going to get by us," he said forcefully and Syton nodded grimly in reply.

            Quickly the group moved towards the door, within seconds they had burst outside but nothing prepared them for the sight before them.

            A small group of soldiers were standing together conversing just in front of the doorway, one man was pointing towards the castle and the rest looked as thought they were preparing to move out but that wasn't what had stopped the team.

            It was the large group of men tied in the middle of the courtyard that really caught everybody's attention. Hitomi recognized Garad tied up with a distinctively unhappy expression on his face, and Van spotted Frenc guarding the restrained men, Van took a moment to note that Frenc didn't seem at all inebriated like the last time they'd met and he seemed to have found a new suit of amour and a sword. He was looking pretty proud of something.

            A movement from the group of men in front drew everybody's attention back. A blond man, the one that had been pointing towards the castle was walking towards them. He walked with the bearing of one used to being in charge but once he was only a stone's throw away he dropped to one knee.

            "Your majesty, we are so pleased to see that you are alive," he waved an arm back at the men standing behind him, "we had hoped that the news of your escape was not false. We've regained control of the castle, my lord." This statement was accompanied by a large triumphant grin.

            Out of the corner of his eye, Van could see Syton smiling in response. Knowing what the situation was now he ran an appraising eye over the courtyard. By now all the men had turn to face the group and large grins were appearing on everybody's faces. A few men even prodded the bound prisoners in celebration. All the loyal soldiers must have just been waiting for a chance to stage a rebellion.

            "Your majesty…" there was a pause as though the blond soldier was searching for the right words. "We have been unable to find your brother. But we're sure that he is some where in the pala.." the words trailed off as he noticed the grim looks in the faces of his king and these strangers.

            With a small shake of his head Syton replied, "My brother is no longer with us. He would not renounce his ways and I had no other choice."

            Silence rang across the courtyard; some of the soldiers seemed happy at the news while others understood the tone of regret in Syton's voice, both groups understood that now was not the time to celebrate. The prisoners had a very dejected look as they realized their last hope was gone.

            "Mathew, rise. Haven't I told you before you need not bow before me?" Syton voice held undertones of humor as if this was a long running joke between the two. 

            The blond man, Mathew, rose gracefully to his feet. With this movement the group that he had been directing moved forward to stand behind him in an artful way that demonstrated their ability to move as a unit. Now that it seemed most of the important issues had been dealt with he turned his attention to the people gathered behind his king.

            Syton took his queue and the next half an hour was filled with introductions and information. Syton retold Hitomi's story then Van told his part of it gaining laughs as he recounted his run in with Frenc, who turned a bright red but laughed along with every body else. The soldiers nodded appreciatively as the two kings shook hands as total equals. They fell silent as Syton spoke of his own escape and battle against his brother. By now many of the soldiers were casting glances behind Syton at Tsani as she stood a little behind the group, her face expressionless. Syton turned to her, his eyes lighting up. He reached out a hand and Tsani slowly placed her own in his. He pulled her forward, a few soldiers muttered, knowing that she had worked closely with Cryton but if what Syton had told was true there was much more to her then the soldiers suspected. A few of the older soldiers cast look at each other, remembering her as a young girl and the closeness she had had to Syton.

            "Without Tsani none of this would have been possible. She was forced into slavery to Cryton out of fear for me, her bravery go beyond any I thought possible. She willing took any pain my brother forced on her all in the hopes that in those moments I would be free of any such pain. She is the only woman I would ever wish to rule at my side; the second half of my soul." Shocked gasped rang throughout the courtyard as the king dropped down to one knee at looked up at the stunned face of his beloved.

            "Will you marry me and be at my side for as long as this world exists?"  

            Tsani green eyes opened wide in astonishment, but they were no longer as cold as the glaciers instead they glittered like emeralds with unshed tears. She looked deep into the his gold flecked eyes and felt all the coldness that had allowed her to survived these last few months melt away. Her mouth moved as she searched for the words before throwing up her hands and lunging in to give Syton the most soul searing kiss either of them had every felt.

            Minutes passed before the couple separated, Syton smiled, "Is that a yes?"

            Tsani threw her head back and laughed, "Of course it is! I love you more than my very life and I'll love you until the very end." With that the two leaned into for other kiss. The soldiers broke out into cheering, with scattered wolf whistles and plenty of stamping. The noise resound throughout the courtyard, clearing away the last few lingering echoes of despair. Even the prisoners found themselves thinking that the new couple looked well together.

            Hitomi smiled at Van, entwining her fingers with his. Van turned and was met with her radiant smile, he pulled her close and the two looked into each other's eyes. The love that glowed in each filled them with unbelievable joy as the two met in a gentle kiss that conveyed the emotions that they could never vocalize for lack of words.

            The cheering died down slowly as the king turned to face his subjects, a radiant smile on his face and his hand tightly clasped in Tsani. "I think this calls for a little celebration!" Cheers swelled up again, and Syton turned to Van and Hitomi, Hitomi was still cradled within Van arms. "You will stay for the night at least."

            Hitomi and Van glanced at each other before nodding together. "Perfect! Tsani darling do you think you could lead them to their rooms?" Tsani nodded and smiled at Syton. "The ones in the east wing should be perfect," Syton said with a grin, he almost looked giddy and every few seconds he would glance at Tsani.  

            Almost regretfully the two released each others hands, they shared once last kiss before Syton left to join his soldiers and Tsani gestured towards the door on the east side of the courtyard and lead Hitomi and Van over and into the palace. Congratulations were yelled out to Tsani and she flushed at the delight everybody was showing at the news of Syton's proposal. Eventually the group reached a hallway relatively empty of people and silence descended on the group.  

            Hitomi watched Tsani as she walked in front, her shoulder brushed against Van as the two walked closely together. Hitomi's mind buzzed with questions and with no one around she figured that now would be the perfect time to get some answers.

            "Tsani, how did all this happen?" Hitomi asked bluntly then blushed, however Van looked interested as Tsani stopped and turned to look at the two. She wasn't surprised that Hitomi had asked, she had actually expected her to ask much early, and in her opinion they more than deserved the whole story.

            She smiled at Hitomi to let her now that it question was okay than sighed as she tried to figure out where to start. "I guess it started when the old king died…" she paused, "No that's not right, the rivalry between Syton and Cryton had begun long before that it just all came to a head when King Gyton died. On his deathbed he decreed that his oldest son would not take his place and that he wished Syton to rule. Cryton was so angry he would not even speak to his father but when King Gyton died Cryton seemed to accept that Syton would rule. At first Syton was cautious, but as the weeks went by he began to believe that Cryton had really accepted what had happened and was overjoyed. Syton had always hated the rivalry between his brother and him. So when Cryton invited Syton to join him on a hunt Syton accepted and when he went out with only a small-armed guard he was captured, at the same time Cryton gathered the soldiers loyal to him and they attacked and took the palace. Cryton shunted all the soldiers loyal to Syton into the barracks and left some men to make sure they stayed put."

            "But why did you kidnap me?" Hitomi asked and Van clenched his fists.

            "Yes, just who was responsible for taking Hitomi?" Van practically growled, as he grabbed Hitomi's hand as if to insure that she wasn't going anywhere.

            Guilt ran across Tsani's face, "That was me." Silence rang out in the hallway, and she glanced at their faces to see what they thought of that little revelation.

            Hitomi smiled gently, "Hey don't worry, we now that you didn't do it voluntarily. You just wanted to protect Syton." Van nodded in agreement, he wasn't one for an overdose of words and that one nod indicated his total forgiveness.

            Tsani smiled back, "Thank you," she said softly. "I guess you'll want to know how I brought you here, especially since I'm going to send you back the same way."

            Both Hitomi and Van nodded, and Tsani tilted her head to indicate they should keep walking and continued with her story.

            "As you know Cryton threatened me with Syton. I've always been a sorceress; although a lot of what people think is magic is just a type of science. I had a teacher since I was young who taught me all about the different substances that could be created and I learned how to worked my will on objects. It was Syton who actually gave me the power to transport you. The day he was captured, just before he left, he gave me a large purple gem he said had been found high up in the mountains, some how this gem was able to enhance my powers enough for me to focus them into a beam and move things from one place to another, with the proper calculations of course.

            "When Cryton took the throne he wanted to be sure that it stayed his, and when word came that the girl from the Mystic Moon, the one with the power to see the future, had retuned, he decided that he with your power he would never have to worry about somebody taking him by surprise."

            Hitomi looked dismayed and choked out, "But that isn't how it works at all." A memory came to her and she asked,  "Is that what he meant when he told you to go prepare the necessary equipment?"

            Tsani nodded, a grim look in her face. "He wanted your powers transferred to him. So he demanded that I bring you here and I had to obey. But somehow when I tried to bring you here, Van must have gotten caught up in the transport." She shook her head, "It was the strangest thing, by all rights he could have been tied to you and you still would have come alone. It was almost like even magic couldn't separate you. But the extra mass threw off the calculations and you guys both know what happened after that. And that's pretty much how things stood when you arrived."

            Tsani faced Hitomi, "Once I saw you, dressed in your wedding gown looking so alone yet not willing to back down I realized that Syton would be so angry at me for bowing down to his brother even if it was for done to keep him safe." She grasped Hitomi's hand, "Thank you for giving me the strength needed to do the right thing." She released Hitomi's hand and faced Van, "You are a very lucky man and you two deserve all the happiness in the world."

            Hitomi flushed, and Van nodded his thanks at the blessing, his eyes showing that he knew very well that he was lucky to have Hitomi.

            They had been so deep in conversation that they barely realized they had reached the east wing. Tsani stopped in front of a large oak door and smiled at the couple who were still holding hands. "Here's your room, I suppose I'll see you in the morning. Perhaps Syton and I will be able to persuade you to stay a little longer."

            Van shook his head, "No, we have friends at home that must be worried sick about us."

            "Yeah," agreed Hitomi, thinking of Merle and Allan.

            Tsani smiled a little sadly, "That's what I thought you'd say. Well then I guess until tomorrow. Good night." She turned and began walking way.

            "Hey!"

            Tsani turned around at Hitomi's yell.

            "Tell Syton we said good night," she said with a sly glint in her eye, Tsani blushed and turned, walking off quickly.

            Hitomi grinned up at Van, as she cuddled up against his side and he embraced her. "I'm so glad that everything worked out," she said softly.

            Van smiled lovingly down at Hitomi, "I agree."

            Hitomi looked up with a grin, and moved out of his embrace, pulling Van towards the room, "Come on husband. Time for bed." A grin accompanied the last word and Van laughed. And without another word the happily married couple entered the room and just before the door closed Hitomi's voice asked with humor, "Hey Van, how many couples do you know whose honeymoon involves evil brothers and sword fights?"

            Their joined laughter rang out as the door closed shut and the two headed off to bed to celebrate their honeymoon.

******

CHAPTER 9 IS FINISHED!!!!! Party time!! Only one more chapter to go, I was considering writing a lemon chapter of what happened once Hitomi and Van got into the room but that's not going to happen unless every person who reads this fic asks me for it. But only ONE more chapter to go. Then maybe I might write a sequel but it will deal with Van and Hitomi's kids and you won't really have to read Separation unless you want to know how Hitomi got back to Gaea in order to marry Van and have kids. I'll put more info about the sequel at the end of the last chapter then you guys can tall me what you think.

Bye for now and don't forget to review and tell me what you think!!!