The most information can be gained in unusual places and by the smallest of friends, as Van is about to learn

The most information can be gained in unusual places and by the smallest of friends, as Van is about to learn. Merle has an encounter with a cat and danger exists in the land, which they all travel. Will Van have the courage to confide in his friends, or will he continue to deny even to himself what must be.

Chapter 20 Knowledge of a Little Dragon

The Levi ship is underway at last. Hitomi's cards have indicated they should travel north thru Bosram. The country has been isolated to outsiders since the war. Its ultimate weapon of mass destruction slaughtered thousands of soldiers fighting on both sides. Gaddes is at the helm Pye is at the watch.

Gaddes: "Keep a sharp eye out Pye, I'm not sure how they'll greet us if they find us here."

Pye: "Yes sir."

Van and Hitomi are in the guymelf bay; they are sitting on Escaflowne talking. Hitomi is relaxing on the giant's knee with her back leaning against the giants chest. Goldie is sleeping soundly on her shoulder. Van looks over at the little dragonet, He's happy for the creature's presence, since he seems to sooth Hitomi, but he wants to be alone with her at this moment.

Hitomi: "Van I've been thinking a lot about the dragon you killed on Earth the first time I saw you."

Van: "Uh."

Van looks at Hitomi, why is she bringing that up.

Hitomi: "Van don't look at me like that, I know you had to kill that dragon, but its just that I had never seen a dragon before, they don't exist on earth, and it made me feel sick when it arrived. And well it's just that Goldie has been talking to me about dragons, not that he speaks to me, he senses my confusion and I get impressions that are almost a language. I understand it somehow. He believes that you are a white dragon, he saw you fly, saw your wings, and he feels your life combined with the dragons within the energist in Escaflowne."

Hitomi moves over and leans against Van. She sighs softly as he wraps his arms around her and rests his head on the back of hers. Her folded wings are pressing into his chest, but he doesn't care.

Hitomi: "Maybe we are blessed, Goldie believes we are. Dragons have the gift of knowing when their death approaches. To them death is part of their lives, it doesn't frighten them."

Van: "What are you saying Hitomi?"

Hitomi: "I didn't say I understand, but after the war, I thought about death a lot, I saw Folken die over and over again in my dreams. I'm not afraid to die now,"

She can feel Van tensing as he sits behind her, she knows that it had to be said even if he doesn't want to hear it, and now that she has she feels better.

Hitomi: "Goldie's sorry about going after you in the bay, He was confused and he could smell my scent on you. He says he didn't realize I had taken a mate. He's glad though cuz he was worried since he feels I'm too large a dragon to be his shadow."

Van: "His shadow?"

Hitomi: "Yeah, when dragons mate the male is the dragon and the female is his shadow. To him you are the dragon and I am your shadow."

Hitomi has turned to look at Van. He forces a smile and then reaches up to brush a strand of hair from her face. She has no idea that what she has just told him has profound meaning in the Prophecy. All Hitomi sees is his smile, and that's all the invitation she needs, Van can see the love showing in her eyes as she leans the last few inches to kiss him. Goldie rouses and seeing the closeness of the two flies off, he may be only a small dragon, but he knows when to leave.

In the back of Van's mind he hears the words from the Prophecy echoing ominously as the meaning settles in. 'When comes the triple eclipse the dragon must extinguish it's shadow'

Merle has gone to the cargo hold to be alone. The ship is crowded and like everyone she doesn't like being in Bozram. Usually she'd go to be with Van, but Hitomi is with him now. She makes herself comfortable, a short skirt tied at the side and a halter keeping her cool in the heat in the hold. Like all cats her markings make her truly individual, and she is proud to show them off. Van had a fit the first time she dressed this way and had demanded she change. It took some convincing to get him to realize she was no longer a child. In the village she had enjoyed the sight of seeing the male cats. But it has brought other feelings to the surface, she longs for a mate of her own. She makes herself comfortable stretching out on some bales used when the Crusade transports horses.

Merle: "Maybe just a little cat nap."

She hears a slight noise, her ears twitch and she sniffs the air. There is a faint scent of something, no someone there. She slowly rises, starting to hunt for the source. Suddenly she's hit from the side and finds herself flat on her back, she is pinned on the floor looking up into the face of another cat. She can't believe it just when her thoughts were going in that direction.

The cargo bay is quiet; the only sound the heavy breathing of the two cats staring at each other. He is quite a handsome cat, this man straddling her, holding her arms over her head. Merle smiles.

Merle: "So this is where you've been hiding. Your Nathen aren't you?"

Nathen is surprised by Merle's spirit, she's a cat among men, but obviously she's no slave. A slave would never glare at him with such defiance, and then to have her smile.

She acts as if his presence aboard the ship is common knowledge.

Nathen: "What?"

Merle: "You think some one disappears from your village and there aren't any questions. You should be ashamed."

Nathen: "I saw my chance and I took it."

Merle: "You had your family worried, especially your sister."

Merle sees a glimpse of guilt in his golden eyes, and then it is gone. She is right he realizes there should have been another way, but there was no time.

Nathen: "I had to come. After that dragon killer put a spell on the dragon, He brought her here to imprison her to most likely kill her. I had no choice on the night she saved my life, I pledged Hitomi mine."

Merle: "Dragon killer, spell, I think you are crazy, what are you talking about?"

Nathen: "I saw him the King of Fanelia, he was chasing her at the village. Then when she changed into the green dragon and took flight he came after her in his metal dragon. He almost killed her trying to capture her, I don't know what kind of spell he used but she fell from the sky. If he weren't a draconian he would have caused her death."

Merle understands, Hitomi can sure mess with men's emotions; she's not even aware what an effect she has on them. Then she realizes all that Nathen has said, the dragon. Hitomi can't be the dragon that appeared in Fanilia, the one from the Prophecy, poor Lord Van.

Merle: "Oh spirits, Hitomi is the dragon. No Nathen It's you who doesn't understand, Lord Van loves Hitomi, he has for a very long time. He would never hurt her. We are here to help her."

The lie comes out easy, for if she is the dragon they seek, then she is the one to die.

Nathen: "Now you lie, she has only been here since the Firestar. She is the green dragon, not a human. She is a goddess who changes form to protect us.

All that she has just learned shocks Merle, but she is also starting to feel strange emotions inside of her. She is very aware of the man straddling her and she is actually starting to enjoy being held down by him.

Merle: "You want to get off of me now."

Nathen hesitates then with a sigh he releases her. Merle sits up rubbing her wrists they tingle from his touch.

Merle: "We let your family know you were traveling with us, as protector to the goddess. Fate has its reasons and it obviously wanted you here.

Van enters the study; Dryden has called a meeting to discuss the information gained at the village. He has been going over texts and legends since they left the village. He has few answers and even more questions.

Dryden: "First we are no closer to finding out where Cred is, only that it is the place a dragon goes to die. Not all dragons die in the same place, there for Cred is many different places."

Van: "What!"

The conversation with Hitomi in the guymelf bay flashes thru his mind. It took all this time to find out what a small dragonet knew all along.

Amano: "If we can ever locate the green dragon again it should lead us to the right place by the eclipse, it would be drawn there. We can't capture it, that won't help us anymore. If it's true destiny is to die it will go there.

Allen sits silently, 'When is Van going to tell them the truth.'

Van: "Hitomi can communicate with that little dragon of hers."

Amano: "Could it help us find the dragon?"

Van: "No it can't."

Dryden: "I just don't get it Van, what has any of this got to do with the Prophecy?"

Allen turns to face Van, the truth needs to come out, this is after all the future of all of Gaea, not just a few people.

Allen: "Enough! Van tell them or I will."

Allen and Van are glaring at each other confusing everyone in the room. Van knows Allen is right he takes a deep breath and sits down.

Van: "We have been searching for answers in books and legends, when the most important information is right here with us. Goldie, Hitomi's dragonet is a very wise creature, just like everything else that has happened, I don't think his presence is an accident"

This is not what Allen expected Van to say, but he isn't going to interrupt unless he has to. For now he lets Van continue.

Van: "Hitomi spoke to me of death, the war did a lot of damage to her soul. Seeing my brother killed by Dornkirk was more than she could bear. Goldie told her of the dragons gift, that death was just another part of life and that, that,"

He pauses, this is hard for him to say out loud, unspoken he could shut it out, but the time to face things is here.

Van: "That she and I would both know when our time comes."

Allen: "Go on Van, I know it's hard, but you must."

Van: "Yes there is more, the reason we will know is because he sees us as mates. The male is the dragon, and his mate is the dragon's shadow. We don't have to look for the green dragon, Hitomi is the green dragon, and I have known since the night I brought her here. She is trying to control the dragon, but each time she changes into it the balance of Gaea gets worse. She is the dragon's shadow and I am the dragon, not Escaflowne."

Not a word is spoken; all in the room understand the meaning of what Van has just told them. More important they understand what he couldn't say.

Van: "Work on the last part of the Prophecy, there has to be a way to save both Gaea and Hitomi. I can't let her die. I have to talk to Hitomi now, she needs to know before she can feel our emotions, or she will know something is very wrong."

Merle has found Nathen's hiding place on the ship (much to her enjoyment and confusion). And Van has learned that he and not Escaflowne is the Dragon of the Prophecy, destined to kill the Dragons shadow to save Gaea. Fate is a cruel master. But the Prophecy is forked and they must find the way to save Hitomi before it is too late.

There will be more action very soon, and also some romance, with a twist. So as I say each time – Please read and review.

Fanilia