Dragon Burn
By Amanda Wardropper
Epilogue.
Four months later ...
Hitomi stood on the grey box, in front of a tall mirror, watching Merle, Madam Hilcha, the head cook, and several other members of the palace staff dash around her, pinning up the beautiful, flowing wedding dress she now wore. The lump on her stomach was getting, ever so slightly, visible over the past month or so. She'd been so busy arranging and sending invites to her friends and family, asking them to come to a traditional Fanelian wedding, she hadn't noticed. Van had and, on the few occasions they got to spend the night together, he had pointed it out.
She ran her hands across it now as she watched herself in the mirror. That's what they were doing now, trying to hide it. Today was, to her, one of the most important in her life. Today was the wedding. Earlier on she used the method of the white light to bring her guests here. At the minute, her mother, grandmother, cousin Jessica and her best friend, Yukari were busy helping out with the dress. Her father was waiting outside, to escort her and her brother was fitting in with Van, Jason and Tirone. She'd given him the pendant, for now, so he could understand them.
Last month saw the wedding of Merle and Tirone. Like herself, the lump on Merle was also visible. But it didn't stop her from 'making sure everything was perfect for her Lord Van.'
"Hitomi!" Merle broke her out of her thoughts. "Stop fidgeting and move your hands out of the way!" She obeyed without hesitation. Her 'Earthling' friends were taking care of her hair, whereas the Gaeans were treating the dress.
Merle had agreed to be a bridesmaid along with Yukari and Jessica. They were all ready and raring to go. She smiled to herself, not long now ...
Van was standing beside Hitomi's younger brother, Andrew. They were outside where the wedding was going to take place.
"Where is she?" He asked under his breath, to no-one in particular. The 'butterflies' in his stomach were getting worse.
"Leave it to girls to be late." Andrew replied. He was younger and alot smaller than Jason and himself. But Van liked him. He was everything a younger brother should be, mischievous, cheeky and all. The only reason they could understand each other was via the pendant. It worked the same way for Hitomi, he thought.
He watched as the sea of guests chatted among themselves. He recognized Hitomi's grandmother, and guessed that Hitomi's mother was sitting next to her.
"I hope she hurries up! I hate wearing a crown!" He grumbled. He was dressed in his royal finery, which was, in fact, pretty simple. Black trousers, with shoes to match. A white shirt with ruffles on the cuff and down the cut of the buttons. A black blazer and a royal blue cape with gold trim. His sword draped at his hip and, of course, the Fanelian crown sat proudly on his head.
"Huh?" He snapped his head up from his view of the ground when he heard the crowd quieted and the band begin to play. This was it.
There, in the doorway, lit by the glowing sun high up in the sky, was his bride-to-be and her father.
The twelve knight Arkayls saw it fit to join the ceremony and give a twelve sword salute. Allen Schezar was there, no doubt he was the one who pulled it together, and his friend, Jason was proudly standing in among the row of knights, in full uniform, having just received his place the previous month.
One by one each sword was drawn and held high in salute as Hitomi and her father strode down the aisle. Her bridesmaids, Merle, Yukari and Jessica followed. They were all in pink dresses, Merle didn't look too impressed. Hitomi was in the traditional white. The dress and vale billowing out behind her and the arrangement of white flowers held in her hands.
*Wooohooo!* The white dragon called to him from above as he circled the grounds and bellowed his salutes. Van still wasn't used to communicating with a dragon telepathically.
Hitomi glanced at the dragon in the sky, no body else seemed to hear his speech. Who cared, she was getting married!
Her heart skipped when she reached the end of the walkway and was standing infront of the priest. Her father unlocked their arms and went to sit beside her mother in the front row. She glanced to Van, who stood next to her, he was grinning boyishly.
Merlle had went through it with her countless numbers of times, she knew exactly what to do.
As the priest began speaking they both knelt down. She, on both, and he on just one, with the matching arm of the hitched one across his abdomen. The other was a fist on the ground. Both their heads were bowed to the ground.
They exchanged the vows and rings then stood so Van could place the queens crown on her head.
"... You may kiss the bride."
Van lifted her vale from her face for the final sealing of the vows they promised to guard. He held her tightly as they kissed, not wanting to let go so soon.
"Ok! Who want's to see the happy couple have the first dance!?!" Jason shouted over the vast crowd. He stood between them, arms draped around their shoulders.
After the celebrations and the dancing, Van called Escaflowne from it's vantage point on the castles roof. When it landed the crowd scattered, avoiding the dust that the huge beast up lifted on it's down strokes. Van jumped on to the massive fore leg and on to the back. He helped his new queen up behind him and took hold of the flying straps he had made to fit the beast. "You ready?" He called back to her.
"Ready as I'll ever be."
The white dragon reared as it bellowed a challenge to the crowd. Before they could take off, Hitomi threw the bunch of flowers to the sea of faces. A young maid caught them and turned to embrace her lover, also a member of palace staff.
Hitomi held her arms tight around his waist and pressed her head against his warm back.
"Not far, I'm afraid. But it's better than nothing." He said as they approached the balcony to Van's chambers, their chambers.
"I don't care, as long as you're with me."
He landed on the balcony first and held a hand out to her as she slid down the neck ridges.
"Thanks, Escaflowne, you can go bask in, what's left, of the sun." The dragon obeyed his blood partner.
In true gentleman style, Van swept her off her feet and carried her in through the balcony door. He laid her down on the four post bed and lay on his side, next to her, one hand propping his head up so he could gaze in to her eyes.
"I can take this off now." He tugged the crown off and placed it on the table to his back. "I hate wearing crowns."
She did the same, "I know what you mean now."
"It's all over, I guess happy endings DO happen." He sighed, a little bewildered.
She ran a hand down his shirt as she curled up beside him, "I can't believe how lucky I was a year ago."
He clasped her hand before it could stray any further, "Hitomi, we can't ... not with you like this."
She smiled sweetly as she buried her face into his chest, "I know, can you blame a girl for trying?"
He smiled, lovingly, running a hand down her pronounced stomach, "You, I can." He lowered his head to kiss her, but stopped, something had just kicked his hand. He kissed the nape of her neck, but it didn't last long, the kick came again. "I guess it doesn't wnat me touching it's mother." He took his hand away.
"It just wants to share the experience." She held his hand back to her.
They stayed up all night, talking, until they reached that hazy place between conscious thought and dreams. They were brought back with a thud when they heard a voice outside their door.
"Lord Van! Hitomi! Where are you? The people are wanting a speech!" The muffled cry of Merle called.
They turned and stared at each other, "Merle!" they whispered in unison. They stumbled and fumbled to get up. Too late. Hitomi clutched Van's shirt to her bare chest and they both called out, reaching hands out in a feeble attempt to stop what, inevitably, was about to happen.
"Merle, no! Don't come in! We're not decen ..."
The door swung open.
"Shards!" Three voices from three very embarrassed people entered the morning air.
Three Months later.
"Van! Van!" A breathless Tirone scuttled up the drain pipe and onto the roof, where Van was basking in the morning sun.
He sat up with a start, "Tirone, what's wrong?" The catboy stood infront of him.
"It's ... It's Hitomi and Merle ... they've went into labor, together!"
Van stood up straight, "What!"
"They're in the infirmary with Millerna, Jason and I were sent to get you. Jason's outside your door."
Van slid as fast as he could down the roof, "What are you waiting for?" He called back. The catboy jumped and bounded, on all fours, to his side.
Van caught the guttering and swung, sharply, onto the balcony, Tirone dropping behind him.
They dashed out of the door and ran down the corridor, Jason leapt to a run beside him.
"Where is she?" Van asked.
"Infirmary, third door on your right." Jason answered.
Van grunted an acknowledgement and speeded up, gaining ground infront of them.
"Wait up!" Jason and Tirone called to him.
It took forever to get to the infirmary, by the time they entered, they could hear the screams and cries down the corridor.
"Hitomi!" Van cried out as he dashed down, following the cries. "I'm coming!"
When they reached the door, the screams were deafening. A maid stood before it and held a hand out in warning, "I'm sorry, Lord Van, but I can't let you through, yet."
"What do you mean ....!" He was about to rip her head off but she fixed him with a hard glare and he sunk back. She pointed to a set of chairs and told them to wait there. He sighed in resignation and motioned the other two to sit down aswell.
It had been hours and Van was seriously nearing insanity. He sat, head clasped in his hands, wincing at every scream that came from the room infront of the three men. Escaflowne was awake now and, to Van's utter astoundment, could feel every dash of pain either him or Hitomi felt. The screams outside and inside his head were driving him to the brink.
Jason and Tirone were worried, they couldn't feel the dragons pain like Van could, but they could hear it's bellows outside in the courtyard.
For an hour, or so, Van and Escaflowne's link was proving a problem. The blood pack allowed them to feel the others pain. So, Escaflowne felt Hitomi's pain and therefore, so did Van.
He couldn't feel where the pain was, exactly, it was just there. The maid at the door was now at his side, trying to do something, but to no avail.
Suddenly, a pang of pain gripped all three in the mind link. The human screams echoed down the corridor and the dragon's, in the courtyard and around it. Then all fell silent, except for Van's ragged breathing as he strained to keep from going insane.
The maid stood up and walked over to the door. She opened it a crack and looked in, conversing quietly with others inside. When her face turned to the small group, it was ashen.
Van looked up, "Wha ... what happened?" He asked in a weak, hoarse voice.
"I'm sorry ..." the young maid said softly.
"What? What's wrong?" His voice was a little louder as he lifted himself off the chair, "Please ... tell me!"
The maid swallowed hastily, "Wait here." She squeezed through the door and closed it after her. It opened slightly again and she added, "We'll do our best to save both."
"What do you mean?" The door slammed shut before he reached it. He stood there in a daze.
"Van, I'm ..." Jason offered sympathy.
"No!" Van whispered, "No. This ... can't happen." He beat his fists against the door and cried out on the verge of tears, "No, Hitomi!!!!" The cry dragged on for a long time before he fell to his knees. He started to whimper and cry. The king of Fanailia, a man who defeated an empire, brought to his knees and crying uncontrollably. How ironic. He thought sourly.
He was racked by a sudden wave of pain and he screamed louder than he had ever done. It threatened to suffocate him. But, then it stopped abruptly. He breathed hard, sucking in much needed air. He sat there, gasping for breath and sweat dripping into his eyes and off his nose. He beat his fists against the door again in a rage. Why? I can't lose her now!
About half an hour past, of which, most of it, he spent staring at the door. Occassionally he would beat his fists against it and cry out in frustration.
The door swung open, catching him off guard. He fell on his face. Jason leapt to help him and Tirone jumped over his back to get to Merle.
"Van! Van are you alright? I'm so sorry." Millerna squealed.
"Huh?" He grunted as he drew himself up on his hands and knees and looked up. "Hitomi! I have to see her." He picked himself up, with a little help from Jason and clumsily made his way to her. When he reached her he sat on the edge of the bed and held her to him. Both drawing strength from the other in a much needed embrace.
"You scream louder than I do, Van." She said, as she wrapped her arms around his neck, she was still exhausted from her exertions.
"No-one can make the king cry unabated except you, Hitomi. You're the only one who can bring me to tears." He added, "I'm gonna have one helluva black eye though."
"And fists, don't think I didn't hear you taking your pain out on the door." She held onto him tighter as they kissed. She released him and reached to a maid holding her charge. The maid handed over the tiny bundle and Hitomi held it lovingly in her arms, "Congratulations, Van, it's a boy. You're a father."
"A son!?!" He whispered.
"Hm mm, a healthy baby boy." She held the tiny package out to him, "Here, I think you should name him."
He took the charge, "Me, but I don't ..." He stared into her green eyes and sighed, "You already know what I would ..." She nodded, "Do you mind?"
"No. I think he should be named after him. He was a brave man, Van, and died protecting me on your behalf. He also brought us back together when all seemed lost."
His smile grew, "Thank you Hitomi." He held the tiny bundle up and stood, announcing to the world, the arrival of his son. "Welcome to my world, Folken-Liqur de Fanel."
Jason stood, leaning on the door frame. Arms folded, watching Merle and Tirone and their twins Naria and Aria. Over his friend, Van and his wife, Hitomi and their son Folken.
He smiled and thought, From ashes to dust, mother, father, from ashes to dust. Who said a Dragon slayer can't show compassion ...
My first Fan Fiction: Dedicated to Chip and Trigger (Triggy/ Triggs) my late Hamsters.
"Y'know. After all this, I'd be pretty gutted to find out that they were only Hibernating." Amanda Wardropper.
Authors note: Thank you for reading my very first fan fiction. Thank you for following Van and Hitomi's trails and revelations. I sincerly hope you enjoyed reading Dragon Burn and I hope you will read it's sequel Dragon Blood.
I thought I should explain what possessed me to write a story which has no clear vilan and concerntrates on only three characters. Well there is a vilan, but he is not revealed until Dragon Blood, when he is truely needed. Dragon Burn was sort of a bridge across from the series to my fantasy worlds. Don't get me wrong, I love Escaflowne to bits, that's why I wrote mostly of what happens to Van and Hitomi, after all they are the ones that were prophecied. Incidently I don't own Escaflowne but all events in this book are of my own imagination and are purely coincidental.
Anyway thats all, for now, I hope you'll read the sequel to it, I've learned alot about writing stories while writing this fan fic. It's been a real pleasure, I enjoyed every minute of it, so here's a taster of Dragon Blood :
What if the balance of the world was corrupt? What would happen to the millions of people who dwell there?
As our hero's Van and Hitomi learn of an ancient secret, following the death of Hitomi's grandmother, past down from generation to generation of the Atlantian High-breds, the Draconians. They descover a prophecy that could mean the end of Gaea and Earth. A prophecy that is connected directly to Van's best friend, Jason Dende, and Hitomi's beloved cousin, Jessica Longhold. When the two meet for the first time their worlds are suddenly thrown into turmoil as the landscape begins to shift and change beneath their feet. This is a world where the Dark Assasins, a group of rebels held under control by an evil master and his lady, roam free across the worlds, a place where the spirits of the dead run wild in people's homes, a place where the Gods judge who is worthy of the title Dragons Chosen One. A place where evil lurks around every corner ...
Three powers, for three who do not know,
Wind, for those who fly freely among the skies,
Earth, for those who steal the right of flight,
Lightning, for the one who will set the fire raging.
Of all there were, but a single one born of the shape,
For a chance at life's bond, this one in white must banish her own people to the world of the living dead.
By Amanda Wardropper
Epilogue.
Four months later ...
Hitomi stood on the grey box, in front of a tall mirror, watching Merle, Madam Hilcha, the head cook, and several other members of the palace staff dash around her, pinning up the beautiful, flowing wedding dress she now wore. The lump on her stomach was getting, ever so slightly, visible over the past month or so. She'd been so busy arranging and sending invites to her friends and family, asking them to come to a traditional Fanelian wedding, she hadn't noticed. Van had and, on the few occasions they got to spend the night together, he had pointed it out.
She ran her hands across it now as she watched herself in the mirror. That's what they were doing now, trying to hide it. Today was, to her, one of the most important in her life. Today was the wedding. Earlier on she used the method of the white light to bring her guests here. At the minute, her mother, grandmother, cousin Jessica and her best friend, Yukari were busy helping out with the dress. Her father was waiting outside, to escort her and her brother was fitting in with Van, Jason and Tirone. She'd given him the pendant, for now, so he could understand them.
Last month saw the wedding of Merle and Tirone. Like herself, the lump on Merle was also visible. But it didn't stop her from 'making sure everything was perfect for her Lord Van.'
"Hitomi!" Merle broke her out of her thoughts. "Stop fidgeting and move your hands out of the way!" She obeyed without hesitation. Her 'Earthling' friends were taking care of her hair, whereas the Gaeans were treating the dress.
Merle had agreed to be a bridesmaid along with Yukari and Jessica. They were all ready and raring to go. She smiled to herself, not long now ...
Van was standing beside Hitomi's younger brother, Andrew. They were outside where the wedding was going to take place.
"Where is she?" He asked under his breath, to no-one in particular. The 'butterflies' in his stomach were getting worse.
"Leave it to girls to be late." Andrew replied. He was younger and alot smaller than Jason and himself. But Van liked him. He was everything a younger brother should be, mischievous, cheeky and all. The only reason they could understand each other was via the pendant. It worked the same way for Hitomi, he thought.
He watched as the sea of guests chatted among themselves. He recognized Hitomi's grandmother, and guessed that Hitomi's mother was sitting next to her.
"I hope she hurries up! I hate wearing a crown!" He grumbled. He was dressed in his royal finery, which was, in fact, pretty simple. Black trousers, with shoes to match. A white shirt with ruffles on the cuff and down the cut of the buttons. A black blazer and a royal blue cape with gold trim. His sword draped at his hip and, of course, the Fanelian crown sat proudly on his head.
"Huh?" He snapped his head up from his view of the ground when he heard the crowd quieted and the band begin to play. This was it.
There, in the doorway, lit by the glowing sun high up in the sky, was his bride-to-be and her father.
The twelve knight Arkayls saw it fit to join the ceremony and give a twelve sword salute. Allen Schezar was there, no doubt he was the one who pulled it together, and his friend, Jason was proudly standing in among the row of knights, in full uniform, having just received his place the previous month.
One by one each sword was drawn and held high in salute as Hitomi and her father strode down the aisle. Her bridesmaids, Merle, Yukari and Jessica followed. They were all in pink dresses, Merle didn't look too impressed. Hitomi was in the traditional white. The dress and vale billowing out behind her and the arrangement of white flowers held in her hands.
*Wooohooo!* The white dragon called to him from above as he circled the grounds and bellowed his salutes. Van still wasn't used to communicating with a dragon telepathically.
Hitomi glanced at the dragon in the sky, no body else seemed to hear his speech. Who cared, she was getting married!
Her heart skipped when she reached the end of the walkway and was standing infront of the priest. Her father unlocked their arms and went to sit beside her mother in the front row. She glanced to Van, who stood next to her, he was grinning boyishly.
Merlle had went through it with her countless numbers of times, she knew exactly what to do.
As the priest began speaking they both knelt down. She, on both, and he on just one, with the matching arm of the hitched one across his abdomen. The other was a fist on the ground. Both their heads were bowed to the ground.
They exchanged the vows and rings then stood so Van could place the queens crown on her head.
"... You may kiss the bride."
Van lifted her vale from her face for the final sealing of the vows they promised to guard. He held her tightly as they kissed, not wanting to let go so soon.
"Ok! Who want's to see the happy couple have the first dance!?!" Jason shouted over the vast crowd. He stood between them, arms draped around their shoulders.
After the celebrations and the dancing, Van called Escaflowne from it's vantage point on the castles roof. When it landed the crowd scattered, avoiding the dust that the huge beast up lifted on it's down strokes. Van jumped on to the massive fore leg and on to the back. He helped his new queen up behind him and took hold of the flying straps he had made to fit the beast. "You ready?" He called back to her.
"Ready as I'll ever be."
The white dragon reared as it bellowed a challenge to the crowd. Before they could take off, Hitomi threw the bunch of flowers to the sea of faces. A young maid caught them and turned to embrace her lover, also a member of palace staff.
Hitomi held her arms tight around his waist and pressed her head against his warm back.
"Not far, I'm afraid. But it's better than nothing." He said as they approached the balcony to Van's chambers, their chambers.
"I don't care, as long as you're with me."
He landed on the balcony first and held a hand out to her as she slid down the neck ridges.
"Thanks, Escaflowne, you can go bask in, what's left, of the sun." The dragon obeyed his blood partner.
In true gentleman style, Van swept her off her feet and carried her in through the balcony door. He laid her down on the four post bed and lay on his side, next to her, one hand propping his head up so he could gaze in to her eyes.
"I can take this off now." He tugged the crown off and placed it on the table to his back. "I hate wearing crowns."
She did the same, "I know what you mean now."
"It's all over, I guess happy endings DO happen." He sighed, a little bewildered.
She ran a hand down his shirt as she curled up beside him, "I can't believe how lucky I was a year ago."
He clasped her hand before it could stray any further, "Hitomi, we can't ... not with you like this."
She smiled sweetly as she buried her face into his chest, "I know, can you blame a girl for trying?"
He smiled, lovingly, running a hand down her pronounced stomach, "You, I can." He lowered his head to kiss her, but stopped, something had just kicked his hand. He kissed the nape of her neck, but it didn't last long, the kick came again. "I guess it doesn't wnat me touching it's mother." He took his hand away.
"It just wants to share the experience." She held his hand back to her.
They stayed up all night, talking, until they reached that hazy place between conscious thought and dreams. They were brought back with a thud when they heard a voice outside their door.
"Lord Van! Hitomi! Where are you? The people are wanting a speech!" The muffled cry of Merle called.
They turned and stared at each other, "Merle!" they whispered in unison. They stumbled and fumbled to get up. Too late. Hitomi clutched Van's shirt to her bare chest and they both called out, reaching hands out in a feeble attempt to stop what, inevitably, was about to happen.
"Merle, no! Don't come in! We're not decen ..."
The door swung open.
"Shards!" Three voices from three very embarrassed people entered the morning air.
Three Months later.
"Van! Van!" A breathless Tirone scuttled up the drain pipe and onto the roof, where Van was basking in the morning sun.
He sat up with a start, "Tirone, what's wrong?" The catboy stood infront of him.
"It's ... It's Hitomi and Merle ... they've went into labor, together!"
Van stood up straight, "What!"
"They're in the infirmary with Millerna, Jason and I were sent to get you. Jason's outside your door."
Van slid as fast as he could down the roof, "What are you waiting for?" He called back. The catboy jumped and bounded, on all fours, to his side.
Van caught the guttering and swung, sharply, onto the balcony, Tirone dropping behind him.
They dashed out of the door and ran down the corridor, Jason leapt to a run beside him.
"Where is she?" Van asked.
"Infirmary, third door on your right." Jason answered.
Van grunted an acknowledgement and speeded up, gaining ground infront of them.
"Wait up!" Jason and Tirone called to him.
It took forever to get to the infirmary, by the time they entered, they could hear the screams and cries down the corridor.
"Hitomi!" Van cried out as he dashed down, following the cries. "I'm coming!"
When they reached the door, the screams were deafening. A maid stood before it and held a hand out in warning, "I'm sorry, Lord Van, but I can't let you through, yet."
"What do you mean ....!" He was about to rip her head off but she fixed him with a hard glare and he sunk back. She pointed to a set of chairs and told them to wait there. He sighed in resignation and motioned the other two to sit down aswell.
It had been hours and Van was seriously nearing insanity. He sat, head clasped in his hands, wincing at every scream that came from the room infront of the three men. Escaflowne was awake now and, to Van's utter astoundment, could feel every dash of pain either him or Hitomi felt. The screams outside and inside his head were driving him to the brink.
Jason and Tirone were worried, they couldn't feel the dragons pain like Van could, but they could hear it's bellows outside in the courtyard.
For an hour, or so, Van and Escaflowne's link was proving a problem. The blood pack allowed them to feel the others pain. So, Escaflowne felt Hitomi's pain and therefore, so did Van.
He couldn't feel where the pain was, exactly, it was just there. The maid at the door was now at his side, trying to do something, but to no avail.
Suddenly, a pang of pain gripped all three in the mind link. The human screams echoed down the corridor and the dragon's, in the courtyard and around it. Then all fell silent, except for Van's ragged breathing as he strained to keep from going insane.
The maid stood up and walked over to the door. She opened it a crack and looked in, conversing quietly with others inside. When her face turned to the small group, it was ashen.
Van looked up, "Wha ... what happened?" He asked in a weak, hoarse voice.
"I'm sorry ..." the young maid said softly.
"What? What's wrong?" His voice was a little louder as he lifted himself off the chair, "Please ... tell me!"
The maid swallowed hastily, "Wait here." She squeezed through the door and closed it after her. It opened slightly again and she added, "We'll do our best to save both."
"What do you mean?" The door slammed shut before he reached it. He stood there in a daze.
"Van, I'm ..." Jason offered sympathy.
"No!" Van whispered, "No. This ... can't happen." He beat his fists against the door and cried out on the verge of tears, "No, Hitomi!!!!" The cry dragged on for a long time before he fell to his knees. He started to whimper and cry. The king of Fanailia, a man who defeated an empire, brought to his knees and crying uncontrollably. How ironic. He thought sourly.
He was racked by a sudden wave of pain and he screamed louder than he had ever done. It threatened to suffocate him. But, then it stopped abruptly. He breathed hard, sucking in much needed air. He sat there, gasping for breath and sweat dripping into his eyes and off his nose. He beat his fists against the door again in a rage. Why? I can't lose her now!
About half an hour past, of which, most of it, he spent staring at the door. Occassionally he would beat his fists against it and cry out in frustration.
The door swung open, catching him off guard. He fell on his face. Jason leapt to help him and Tirone jumped over his back to get to Merle.
"Van! Van are you alright? I'm so sorry." Millerna squealed.
"Huh?" He grunted as he drew himself up on his hands and knees and looked up. "Hitomi! I have to see her." He picked himself up, with a little help from Jason and clumsily made his way to her. When he reached her he sat on the edge of the bed and held her to him. Both drawing strength from the other in a much needed embrace.
"You scream louder than I do, Van." She said, as she wrapped her arms around his neck, she was still exhausted from her exertions.
"No-one can make the king cry unabated except you, Hitomi. You're the only one who can bring me to tears." He added, "I'm gonna have one helluva black eye though."
"And fists, don't think I didn't hear you taking your pain out on the door." She held onto him tighter as they kissed. She released him and reached to a maid holding her charge. The maid handed over the tiny bundle and Hitomi held it lovingly in her arms, "Congratulations, Van, it's a boy. You're a father."
"A son!?!" He whispered.
"Hm mm, a healthy baby boy." She held the tiny package out to him, "Here, I think you should name him."
He took the charge, "Me, but I don't ..." He stared into her green eyes and sighed, "You already know what I would ..." She nodded, "Do you mind?"
"No. I think he should be named after him. He was a brave man, Van, and died protecting me on your behalf. He also brought us back together when all seemed lost."
His smile grew, "Thank you Hitomi." He held the tiny bundle up and stood, announcing to the world, the arrival of his son. "Welcome to my world, Folken-Liqur de Fanel."
Jason stood, leaning on the door frame. Arms folded, watching Merle and Tirone and their twins Naria and Aria. Over his friend, Van and his wife, Hitomi and their son Folken.
He smiled and thought, From ashes to dust, mother, father, from ashes to dust. Who said a Dragon slayer can't show compassion ...
My first Fan Fiction: Dedicated to Chip and Trigger (Triggy/ Triggs) my late Hamsters.
"Y'know. After all this, I'd be pretty gutted to find out that they were only Hibernating." Amanda Wardropper.
Authors note: Thank you for reading my very first fan fiction. Thank you for following Van and Hitomi's trails and revelations. I sincerly hope you enjoyed reading Dragon Burn and I hope you will read it's sequel Dragon Blood.
I thought I should explain what possessed me to write a story which has no clear vilan and concerntrates on only three characters. Well there is a vilan, but he is not revealed until Dragon Blood, when he is truely needed. Dragon Burn was sort of a bridge across from the series to my fantasy worlds. Don't get me wrong, I love Escaflowne to bits, that's why I wrote mostly of what happens to Van and Hitomi, after all they are the ones that were prophecied. Incidently I don't own Escaflowne but all events in this book are of my own imagination and are purely coincidental.
Anyway thats all, for now, I hope you'll read the sequel to it, I've learned alot about writing stories while writing this fan fic. It's been a real pleasure, I enjoyed every minute of it, so here's a taster of Dragon Blood :
What if the balance of the world was corrupt? What would happen to the millions of people who dwell there?
As our hero's Van and Hitomi learn of an ancient secret, following the death of Hitomi's grandmother, past down from generation to generation of the Atlantian High-breds, the Draconians. They descover a prophecy that could mean the end of Gaea and Earth. A prophecy that is connected directly to Van's best friend, Jason Dende, and Hitomi's beloved cousin, Jessica Longhold. When the two meet for the first time their worlds are suddenly thrown into turmoil as the landscape begins to shift and change beneath their feet. This is a world where the Dark Assasins, a group of rebels held under control by an evil master and his lady, roam free across the worlds, a place where the spirits of the dead run wild in people's homes, a place where the Gods judge who is worthy of the title Dragons Chosen One. A place where evil lurks around every corner ...
Three powers, for three who do not know,
Wind, for those who fly freely among the skies,
Earth, for those who steal the right of flight,
Lightning, for the one who will set the fire raging.
Of all there were, but a single one born of the shape,
For a chance at life's bond, this one in white must banish her own people to the world of the living dead.