Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or the plot line of Escaflowne. I do own Jewel, Kat, Narisia and the new Dragon Slayers, so if you wish to use them please ask me first!
Chapter Thirteen: Where Do I Go From Here?
Dilandau wasn't at all happy when Elli came running up to him, shouting his name. Kat had finally fallen asleep in his arms moments before, but now she awoke with a start. "Lord Dilandau, Lady Jewel has returned with King Van!" Elli yelled.
Dilandau watched as Kat blinked and stood up. A look of confusion and wonderment appeared on her face and Dilandau stood and started towards Elli. He nodded briefly at Elli, and then headed in the direction from which he had run.
Stupid boy, he'll alert everyone to where we are, Dilandau thought. He arrived at the spot where Elli had come from and saw Jewel standing there, looking proud. And next to her feet lay Van...
Dilandau's eyes jerked towards the body. Was it breathing? Was Van alive? He better be... Dilandau thought. "Dilandau," Jewel said as she spotted him.
"You're late."
"Late? I thought I was on time."
"Barely."
"Well then. I guess the deal is still in affect."
"It could be."
"Where's Narisia?"
Footsteps behind Dilandau alerted them both to someone coming. Dilandau turned around, hand on the hilt of his sword. But he saw that it was only Kat, carrying the child in question in her arms. How she could have known about Narisia and gotten her so fast wasn't really a question in his mind at the moment. He turned back to Jewel. "Right here."
"Give her to me."
"I don't think so."
"What? We had a deal!"
"You have yet to show me that Van is alive."
Jewel scowled at him, but kicked Van onto his back. Van rolled onto his back and blinked a couple of times. A definite sign that he was alive and coming too. "Happy?"
Dilandau nodded. He looked over at Kat and jerked his head towards Jewel. "Give her to her."
Kat looked down at the sleeping child in her arms, who was holding onto her tight. The child was having troubled dreams, they way her face was forced into a troubled expression and she clutched to her. Then she looked at the woman Dilandau had been talking to. There was a resemblance in them, and she guessed that they must've been sisters.
But she doesn't look Gaean, and neither does the child, she thought. They must be from Earth... The child gave a small yelp of surprise, and buried her head in the crook of Kat's neck. Kat looked carefully down at the child again, and then back at the woman. She took a step towards them.
Suddenly Kat froze. Jewel and Dilandau watched as her eyes flashed and started to glow. A wind picked up and blew, hard. Jewel braced herself against its force, squinting her eyes, trying to keep an eye on Narisia.
The wind swirled around Kat, lifting her long hair upwards. Kat turned her head towards the sky, looking straight up. After a few seconds, she lowered her head and stared straight at Jewel with black glowing eyes. "The child needs to go back, she does not belong. Say your good-byes now, Jewel, for the child leaves tonight," Kat said, her voice distant and deeper.
"What? Narisia, no!" Jewel screamed, and tried to get towards Narisia. But the wind held her back, she couldn't move. "NARISIA!"
A blue light suddenly shot down from the sky, and hit Kat. Kat stood in the light, still holding Narisia. Somewhere Jewel heard Dilandau scream something, but she couldn't hear what he said. Suddenly Kat and Narisia were being lifted up in the light. "NARISIA, NO!" Jewel screamed.
She couldn't reach her sister. Tears formed in her eyes, where were they going. "NARISIA, I LOVE YOU!" Jewel screamed again. Just as she screamed that, Kat took the child and raised her above her head. Silver sparks fell from inside the light and wrapped themselves around Narisia's body. "NARISIA, I LOVE YOU! NARISIA!"
Kat whispered something, and in a shot the light disappeared, taking Narisia with it as it shot back into the sky. The wind, still blowing, wrapped around Kat again and slowly lowered her to the ground. Once her feet touched the ground, Kat's eyes stopped glowing and the wind died down instantly.
Everything stayed still. Kat stood in shock, but an understanding on her face. Dilandau stood somewhere, staying at Kat in disbelief. And Jewel was silently crying, wondering why the woman had give Narisia away.
Suddenly hate filled her heart. How could this lady do this? How could she give up Narisia, just as Jewel was getting her back? Without thinking Jewel rushed Kat. She reached her and locked her hands around Kat's muscular arms. And she shook her, shook her with all of her might.
"WHAT DID YOU DO?" She screamed at her, shaking even harder. "WHY?"
Kat, taken by surprise, didn't fight back. Suddenly a pair of strong arms pried Jewel's hand off of Kat and threw her to the ground. Kat, in response to being let go of, fell backwards and hit the ground. She remained still.
Jewel pushed herself off the ground and glared at Dilandau. "What did you do? Where's Narisia?" She demanded.
"You don't get it do you?" Dilandau roared.
"What should I get? Narisia's gone, because of this bitch!"
"Kat sent the girl back because she didn't belong here! Kat had no choice over the decision! Kat had no choice, she was acting as a host to Gaea's spirit!" Dilandau roared with rage.
Jewel blinked. What was going on?
"Kat was given magical abilities to defend Gaea from formed attacks on her. Kat had defended Gaea for years, and she's almost killed herself on several occasions in protecting Gaea! Kat had no choice in sending the girl back, Gaea took over Kat's body and sent the girl back because Gaea didn't want her here!"
Jewel stood, glaring at Dilandau. "This is stupid! It's not true!" She screamed, and ran back towards the camp.
"I'll deal with you later!" Dilandau screamed after her. Once she was gone, he bent down over Kat's body. Her breathing was coming in short gasps, and her eyes were half closed. "Major... Energy drain," she muttered wearily. Dilandau gave her a small smile and picked up her limp body. He turned and walked back to camp, slowly.
****
Jewel sat in stunned silence. How could she have... She shook her head. She looked at Dilandau with a shocked sort of silence. He had just told her the whole story, from when Kat, Alex, and Nicole came to Gaea to when they married to when they were taken away three years ago.
"I'm sorry..." she whispered. She had never imagined anything this deep. Nothing this complex, nothing this amazing. "I didn't know."
"How could you? You had never met Kat before-"
"But I have. When I was five. She used to baby sit me. She said that I was just like a hawk, and that she would never tell anyone about the things we did together. She was thirteen then. Then when she was sixteen she disappeared. I thought she had run away because she didn't like me, just like everyone else. But then she reappeared barely seven months later.
"I hated her for disappearing, and for a while she stayed away from me. But then one night she came to me and forced me to see things, she simply told me that she was kidnapped and taken to Europe, they thought she was someone else. The whole story was outta whack, but somehow it made sense.
"After that I started to hang with Kat. I didn't like her friends, but I loved Kat. She would listen to me, and she would understand even if I couldn't find the words. She cared about me. And then something happened. She had to go, because she had to take care of her jerk father.
"At first I hated her for having to skip the country, but then I got over that. I understood; I hated her father also and I knew that if she didn't take matters into her own hands they would never be solved. But just before she did the deed, she gave me something. She said I would always be in her heart, and that she would always care."
Jewel looked away, blinking back tears. How could she have done that to Kat, her only friend? She didn't even recognize her. How could she have done that? It was in panic, trauma, a voice told her. But she's my friend and I didn't even recognize her! She thought back. It was so stupid of her...
"So you do know her," Dilandau said quietly. He stood up and started to leave the tent. Just before he left, he turned and looked at her. "We leave early in the morning, be ready," he said, and then left. Jewel nodded to the empty tent. What would she do now?
****
Jewel was up before sunrise. She had wandered away from the camp, wondering what she should do now. Zaibach had lied to her; she had no life with them, not ever. They had just wanted her as a soldier, but why she couldn't figure out. She sighed and sat down under a nice, big tree.
"You want answers, don't you?" A voice asked from above her.
Jewel looked up and saw Kat sitting in a branch above her. "Yeah, how'd you know?"
"I always know. I know you better then anyone else does."
"True. But I don't know why you would want to know me after last night."
"Just because of some stupid incident? Don't worry about it."
"But I could've killed you!"
"And you didn't. Besides, I don't die just because someone was shaking the heck outta me. I'm harder then that. And I should be the one apologizing to you. I never told you the real reasons why I was away."
"I understand why you didn't want to tell. You would've seen stupid or crazy in the eyes of others."
"Yeah, but that gives me no right to lie to you. You would've understood."
"Maybe."
"Now, about those questions..."
"What?"
"I can find the answers for you, Jewel. If you'll let me."
"In exchange for what?"
"For nothing. Heck, I'll even give you a lift back home if you want it. But I just want you to find your answers."
"My answers-"
"Aren't on Earth, I can tell you that much. Stay with Zaibach and we'll get your answer, Jewel. I promise."
Jewel nodded, blinking back tears. Kat jumped nimbly down from the tree and landed next to Jewel. She put a hand on Jewel's shoulder. "We will get your answers, and we'll work through things together. You can always count on me," she whispered.
Jewel smiled thankfully at Kat and hugged her. Kat hugged Jewel back. Jewel knew that she could count on Kat to help her with this. After all, Kat understood her and Jewel could trust her. They would get through this, one way or another.
Chapter Thirteen: Where Do I Go From Here?
Dilandau wasn't at all happy when Elli came running up to him, shouting his name. Kat had finally fallen asleep in his arms moments before, but now she awoke with a start. "Lord Dilandau, Lady Jewel has returned with King Van!" Elli yelled.
Dilandau watched as Kat blinked and stood up. A look of confusion and wonderment appeared on her face and Dilandau stood and started towards Elli. He nodded briefly at Elli, and then headed in the direction from which he had run.
Stupid boy, he'll alert everyone to where we are, Dilandau thought. He arrived at the spot where Elli had come from and saw Jewel standing there, looking proud. And next to her feet lay Van...
Dilandau's eyes jerked towards the body. Was it breathing? Was Van alive? He better be... Dilandau thought. "Dilandau," Jewel said as she spotted him.
"You're late."
"Late? I thought I was on time."
"Barely."
"Well then. I guess the deal is still in affect."
"It could be."
"Where's Narisia?"
Footsteps behind Dilandau alerted them both to someone coming. Dilandau turned around, hand on the hilt of his sword. But he saw that it was only Kat, carrying the child in question in her arms. How she could have known about Narisia and gotten her so fast wasn't really a question in his mind at the moment. He turned back to Jewel. "Right here."
"Give her to me."
"I don't think so."
"What? We had a deal!"
"You have yet to show me that Van is alive."
Jewel scowled at him, but kicked Van onto his back. Van rolled onto his back and blinked a couple of times. A definite sign that he was alive and coming too. "Happy?"
Dilandau nodded. He looked over at Kat and jerked his head towards Jewel. "Give her to her."
Kat looked down at the sleeping child in her arms, who was holding onto her tight. The child was having troubled dreams, they way her face was forced into a troubled expression and she clutched to her. Then she looked at the woman Dilandau had been talking to. There was a resemblance in them, and she guessed that they must've been sisters.
But she doesn't look Gaean, and neither does the child, she thought. They must be from Earth... The child gave a small yelp of surprise, and buried her head in the crook of Kat's neck. Kat looked carefully down at the child again, and then back at the woman. She took a step towards them.
Suddenly Kat froze. Jewel and Dilandau watched as her eyes flashed and started to glow. A wind picked up and blew, hard. Jewel braced herself against its force, squinting her eyes, trying to keep an eye on Narisia.
The wind swirled around Kat, lifting her long hair upwards. Kat turned her head towards the sky, looking straight up. After a few seconds, she lowered her head and stared straight at Jewel with black glowing eyes. "The child needs to go back, she does not belong. Say your good-byes now, Jewel, for the child leaves tonight," Kat said, her voice distant and deeper.
"What? Narisia, no!" Jewel screamed, and tried to get towards Narisia. But the wind held her back, she couldn't move. "NARISIA!"
A blue light suddenly shot down from the sky, and hit Kat. Kat stood in the light, still holding Narisia. Somewhere Jewel heard Dilandau scream something, but she couldn't hear what he said. Suddenly Kat and Narisia were being lifted up in the light. "NARISIA, NO!" Jewel screamed.
She couldn't reach her sister. Tears formed in her eyes, where were they going. "NARISIA, I LOVE YOU!" Jewel screamed again. Just as she screamed that, Kat took the child and raised her above her head. Silver sparks fell from inside the light and wrapped themselves around Narisia's body. "NARISIA, I LOVE YOU! NARISIA!"
Kat whispered something, and in a shot the light disappeared, taking Narisia with it as it shot back into the sky. The wind, still blowing, wrapped around Kat again and slowly lowered her to the ground. Once her feet touched the ground, Kat's eyes stopped glowing and the wind died down instantly.
Everything stayed still. Kat stood in shock, but an understanding on her face. Dilandau stood somewhere, staying at Kat in disbelief. And Jewel was silently crying, wondering why the woman had give Narisia away.
Suddenly hate filled her heart. How could this lady do this? How could she give up Narisia, just as Jewel was getting her back? Without thinking Jewel rushed Kat. She reached her and locked her hands around Kat's muscular arms. And she shook her, shook her with all of her might.
"WHAT DID YOU DO?" She screamed at her, shaking even harder. "WHY?"
Kat, taken by surprise, didn't fight back. Suddenly a pair of strong arms pried Jewel's hand off of Kat and threw her to the ground. Kat, in response to being let go of, fell backwards and hit the ground. She remained still.
Jewel pushed herself off the ground and glared at Dilandau. "What did you do? Where's Narisia?" She demanded.
"You don't get it do you?" Dilandau roared.
"What should I get? Narisia's gone, because of this bitch!"
"Kat sent the girl back because she didn't belong here! Kat had no choice over the decision! Kat had no choice, she was acting as a host to Gaea's spirit!" Dilandau roared with rage.
Jewel blinked. What was going on?
"Kat was given magical abilities to defend Gaea from formed attacks on her. Kat had defended Gaea for years, and she's almost killed herself on several occasions in protecting Gaea! Kat had no choice in sending the girl back, Gaea took over Kat's body and sent the girl back because Gaea didn't want her here!"
Jewel stood, glaring at Dilandau. "This is stupid! It's not true!" She screamed, and ran back towards the camp.
"I'll deal with you later!" Dilandau screamed after her. Once she was gone, he bent down over Kat's body. Her breathing was coming in short gasps, and her eyes were half closed. "Major... Energy drain," she muttered wearily. Dilandau gave her a small smile and picked up her limp body. He turned and walked back to camp, slowly.
****
Jewel sat in stunned silence. How could she have... She shook her head. She looked at Dilandau with a shocked sort of silence. He had just told her the whole story, from when Kat, Alex, and Nicole came to Gaea to when they married to when they were taken away three years ago.
"I'm sorry..." she whispered. She had never imagined anything this deep. Nothing this complex, nothing this amazing. "I didn't know."
"How could you? You had never met Kat before-"
"But I have. When I was five. She used to baby sit me. She said that I was just like a hawk, and that she would never tell anyone about the things we did together. She was thirteen then. Then when she was sixteen she disappeared. I thought she had run away because she didn't like me, just like everyone else. But then she reappeared barely seven months later.
"I hated her for disappearing, and for a while she stayed away from me. But then one night she came to me and forced me to see things, she simply told me that she was kidnapped and taken to Europe, they thought she was someone else. The whole story was outta whack, but somehow it made sense.
"After that I started to hang with Kat. I didn't like her friends, but I loved Kat. She would listen to me, and she would understand even if I couldn't find the words. She cared about me. And then something happened. She had to go, because she had to take care of her jerk father.
"At first I hated her for having to skip the country, but then I got over that. I understood; I hated her father also and I knew that if she didn't take matters into her own hands they would never be solved. But just before she did the deed, she gave me something. She said I would always be in her heart, and that she would always care."
Jewel looked away, blinking back tears. How could she have done that to Kat, her only friend? She didn't even recognize her. How could she have done that? It was in panic, trauma, a voice told her. But she's my friend and I didn't even recognize her! She thought back. It was so stupid of her...
"So you do know her," Dilandau said quietly. He stood up and started to leave the tent. Just before he left, he turned and looked at her. "We leave early in the morning, be ready," he said, and then left. Jewel nodded to the empty tent. What would she do now?
****
Jewel was up before sunrise. She had wandered away from the camp, wondering what she should do now. Zaibach had lied to her; she had no life with them, not ever. They had just wanted her as a soldier, but why she couldn't figure out. She sighed and sat down under a nice, big tree.
"You want answers, don't you?" A voice asked from above her.
Jewel looked up and saw Kat sitting in a branch above her. "Yeah, how'd you know?"
"I always know. I know you better then anyone else does."
"True. But I don't know why you would want to know me after last night."
"Just because of some stupid incident? Don't worry about it."
"But I could've killed you!"
"And you didn't. Besides, I don't die just because someone was shaking the heck outta me. I'm harder then that. And I should be the one apologizing to you. I never told you the real reasons why I was away."
"I understand why you didn't want to tell. You would've seen stupid or crazy in the eyes of others."
"Yeah, but that gives me no right to lie to you. You would've understood."
"Maybe."
"Now, about those questions..."
"What?"
"I can find the answers for you, Jewel. If you'll let me."
"In exchange for what?"
"For nothing. Heck, I'll even give you a lift back home if you want it. But I just want you to find your answers."
"My answers-"
"Aren't on Earth, I can tell you that much. Stay with Zaibach and we'll get your answer, Jewel. I promise."
Jewel nodded, blinking back tears. Kat jumped nimbly down from the tree and landed next to Jewel. She put a hand on Jewel's shoulder. "We will get your answers, and we'll work through things together. You can always count on me," she whispered.
Jewel smiled thankfully at Kat and hugged her. Kat hugged Jewel back. Jewel knew that she could count on Kat to help her with this. After all, Kat understood her and Jewel could trust her. They would get through this, one way or another.