Van and Hitomi together forever, but how long is forever if the Prophecy is fulfilled? If Hitomi now dies, not only the line of Dragon mere will cease forever, but Van will never love again, ending the line of the Draconions also. Others are about to fall into the same trap set for Van and Hitomi, and Allen learns the real reason for his sudden and intense love for Hitomi three years ago.
Chapter 24: Innocent Victims
The crusade is heading off toward Freid, but two more passengers are missing. Two cats travel the wood back in the direction they came from.
Merle: "We agreed Van and Hitomi might need our help. After destroying that mine Bosram will have troops out and if Hitomi can't travel they won't be safe."
Nathen: "I know this forest well there is still good hunting here if you can avoid the patrols, and I can. But what will they say when they find us gone. That Knight, Allen seemed very upset about his sister. Especially after that dispatch arrived."
Merle: "Don't worry about Allen, besides I left him a note, to have the dispatch remain just the other side of the boarder near Chelty. After we meet up with Lord Van we can head there. Allen should have the note by now, besides, he should have expected this, he knows my feelings for Van, he'll understand."
Nathen: "Just how is it you feel about him Merle?"
Merle: "I love him."
Nathen turns his head, he understands, she has been with him a very long time, so now he knows the reason. But why does hearing her say it, make him hurt inside? Merle reaches out to turn him back to her.
Merle: "Listen, I love him, I always have, he is my best friend. I grew up with him Nathen. He is my family."
Merle is still looking into his eyes, yes she has known Van all of her life, but what about him, he has only just met Hitomi, and yet.
Merle: "I could ask you the same about Hitomi, you know she loves Van, not even the Sorcerers of Ziabach could keep them apart for long."
Nathen: "It is simple I pledged her my life, once spoken one of honor never backs down."
He pauses.
Nathen: "Merle, why did Van let her leave? You said she went back home, where is her home, I have never heard of any homeland of dragon people except in legends."
Merle rolls her eyes, is he that dense, or maybe he really doesn't know.
Merle: "Hitomi wasn't a dragon, she was a human, just like Van. That's one of the mysteries surrounding her reappearance. Some how she returned here changed as she is now."
Nathen: "Your still not telling me from where!"
Merle takes a deep breath; it's time to be honest. Nathen is persistent and he'll just keep at her till he has the whole truth.
Merle: "Nathen, Hitomi isn't from Gaea, Her people live on the Mystic Moon."
Nathen: "Come on Merle stop kidding around."
Merle: "I'm not kidding she does. Something special inside her brought her here three years ago. She has within her the ability to see the unseen, to tell the future and the past, and to use the power of the people of Atlantics. Visions followed her, some so terrible, so… She was used, as a tool, in the War, but in the end she saved Gaea with her love for Van. Afterward Van sent her back to the Mystic Moon, to her family, he loves her and felt that she need time to heal. Van was waiting for the right time to bring her back. And then he would have asked her to stay."
Nathen: "There is more isn't there, well we have a long trek ahead of us and lots of time to talk. Merle, I want to know everything."
On the Crusade Allen is furious, he doesn't have the time to go back for Merle. He has sent the dispatch to the area Merle mentioned in her note.
Allen: "Gaddis, we can't afford the time to go back for them, keep to the straightest course possible. We must be in Freid by sun up."
Gaddis: "Energist at full power sir."
Allen leaves the control room heading for Dryden's study. That man still gets to him. He acts as if the world revolves around him most of the time. But if anyone can unravel the prophecy it could be him. Arriving at the study Allen finds others are also there. Millerna, Yukari and Amano. Yukari is quiet most of the time, Allen, along with most the others know of her desire to go back to the Mystic Moon. She has never spoken a word, but its there reflected in her eyes. But she is a strong woman, her determination to stay and help her friend show in her every movement. He smiles at her, as he sits in one of the unoccupied chairs.
Allen: "Please I hope you have some good news. I'm tired of chasing dragons, that are already in our grasp."
Dryden: "Sorry Allen, I just can't find the answer to the last part of the Prophecy. All these books, but they contain no information that will help us. Allen there is something I should have spoken to you of before though. Millerna wanted me to, but I wanted to be sure first. Hitomi's vision and the dispatch you received concerning Celena confirmed my earlier fears."
Allen: "I'm listening."
Dryden: "Without the Light of Balance, the fate alterations performed by Ziabach have been taking back over. That is the reason for Dilandau's return. I didn't think they would since there were no changes in either you or Hitomi, so I foolishly thought that I was wrong."
Allen: "Me and Hitomi?"
Millerna: "Allen, I never told you, it didn't seem to matter once Dornkirk was defeated, but a fate alteration was performed on you and Hitomi, the gravity of your hearts were altered toward each other to keep her from Van. Folken told me about it after the attack on Palas, I blamed myself, for pushing Hitomi into that reading she did before my wedding."
Dryden: "So when you and Hitomi weren't affected I though I was wrong, but I forgot that the two that Ziabach used to perform that alteration, Folken and Niaria are both dead now."
Allen: "Then we must get to Celena before anything happens to her. I won't believe it's too late."
Dryden: "The vision Hitomi had, you must realize that if Dilandau surfaces, he knows how Aries feels about you. Celena knows and Aries is with her now."
Allen remembers at Palace, three years earlier, in his mind he can see Aries as if she is standing right in front of him. 'It is always the woman who always gets hurt.' She wasn't referring to Millerna as he had though, but to herself. How could he have been so foolish?
Allen: "What else is there Dryden, or do we wait till it is too late before you tell us."
Millerna: "Allen that's not called for."
Allen: "Your right Princess, please forgive me."
A flock of birds takes flight from the trees, startled by the passing of Merle and Nathen. The sun is getting lower in the sky casting long shadows on the forest floor.
Nathen: "This is a good spot to make camp. Lets stop."
They remove the packs they brought with. Nathen starts to gather wood as Merle unpacks the provisions for a meal. Soon there is a small fire going on the sheltered side of a small outcrop of rocks. After spreading out bedrolls, Merle sits by Nathen and the fire, handing him some bread and cheese. They sit eating in silence watching the fire crackle in the approaching darkness. Merle pulls a container out of the pack, and opening it drinks, passing it over to Nathen.
Nathen: "What's this?"
Merle: "Some of the broth Van took with him. The crewman who made it was just going to throw it away, so I brought it to have with the cheese."
Nathen: "It tastes kind of bitter, but I'm too hungry to complain."
Merle: "When do you think we will find Lord Van and Hitomi?"
Nathen: "Were very close to the area we left him, maybe half a day if we start early. Here have some more broth."
They finish up the food, and then retire to the bedrolls by the fire. Nathen moves his over next to Merle.
Nathen: "It will be safer if we sleep together. If a patrol does happen on us, we don't want to be separated by the fire."
They lay for a while, the fire crackling in the darkness. Merle turns to Nathen, her eyes glazed.
Merle: "Can you see them, Nathen? There are dragons dancing in the flame."
Merle and Nathen have become innocent victims of Lord Lawrence's evil trap for Van and Hitomi. Allen discovers he has had true love waiting for him all this time. Be prepared for the Legend of the Dragon Prince and the Stone.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review and let me know.
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