Dreams and Visions: Chapter 10
By mercy_angel_09
Rating PG-13
Disclaimers: I don't own Escaflowne and I'm certainly not making any money off of this venture, so it'd be sort of pointless to sue me. (Besides, I'm a poor college student; you'd lose more money than you'd gain.) The creative geniuses behind EscaFlowne are Hajime Yatate and Shoji Kawamori, Sunrise, Bandai, and I'm sure a few other companies that I'm forgetting or have no idea about.
~*~
Hitomi sat in the windowsill, staring at the Moon and the Earth, hanging over the mountains. She sighed as she placed her chin on her knees.
"You miss everyone, don't you?"
"What? Oh, yeah, I guess."
"You guess? Hitomi, that's where your family is, and I think that you should at least explain to them what's going on. I think you owe that to your parents."
"Van, since when have you been an expert on families?"
Van flushed a little. "Err, since my advisors thought that it would be wise for me to start a family of my own. It's kind of embarrassing really."
"Yeah, my father thought that I should marry someone before Hikari was born, but I told him that it was impossible."
"So he wasn't too keen on the idea of having a bastard child."
"I think that he couldn't have been more disappointed. He kept demanding for me to tell him exactly how it had happened, but my mother and I knew that he wouldn't understand. I was so happy when that pillar came and brought us here. Hikari always knew that the she had no say in her status at birth, but the old man was always so mean to her and she couldn't see why he couldn't understand that it wasn't her fault."
"Hitomi, perhaps there might be a time when I could go with you and explain things to him."
Hitomi snorted. "I doubt that he'd ever listen to you."
"And why not?"
"Even though he respected my grandmother, he thought that she was quite loony. He never believed her tale of Gaea, and my mother had always thought of it as a bedtime story. So, if you were to say that you're the King of Fanelia, of the planet Gaea, he'd think you were insane as well."
"But your grandmother really came here. She met Allen's father!"
"I know that, and you know that, but my father doesn't and even if we tell him, he won't believe us."
Van kissed the top of Hitomi's head. "Don't worry, we'll get it all figured out."
"I hope so, I hope so."
~*~
It was a bright and sunny morning, and the early morning rays of sunshine danced on Hikari's face. A cool summer breeze drifted through the room, carrying the scent of wildflowers with it. She sighed as she snuggled deep under her sheets.
"Lady Hikari! Lady Hikari, it's time to wake up you sleepy head!"
Hikari moaned. "Merle. It's still early!"
"It's seven thirty in the morning, and you have to ready for breakfast in half an hour," Merle said matter-of-factly. "And I don't appreciate the fact that I have to play nanny to you either."
"Nice to know that makes two of us," Hikari replied, turning over to face opposite of Merle.
"Now listen here your Highness! Lord Van asked me to wake you up and that's exactly what I'm gonna do!" Merle screamed.
"You'd do anything for him, wouldn't you?" Hikari asked.
Merle blinked. "What?"
"If my father asked you to walk barefoot over broken glass, you would do it."
"I'm willing to do almost anything for him," Merle replied. "But I'm not stupid."
"So you're smarter than you look. Whoop-de-doo."
"LADY HIKARI!!!!!"
"Listen Merle, I'll be dressed and ready in half an hour if you get out of here, okay?" Hikari said from under he covers.
"And if you're not?"
"Then tell them I died."
"Lady Hikari!"
"Okay, then come and get me in half an hour. I'll be ready."
Merle hated the idea of leaving Hikari to her own devices, but she had more important things to do than scream at the crown princess of Fanelia all morning. "Fine, I'll see you at breakfast."
~*~
Half an hour later, Merle knocked on Hikari's door. There was a long pause and Merle knew her worst nightmare had come true.
But with a low creak the door opened and Hikari came out wearing a flattering red gown. "I'm ready."
Merle growled. "Don't you ever do that to me again! I thought that you were still in bed, planning to sleep the day away!"
Hikari shrugged. "I thought about it, but then I remembered something."
"And what's that?"
"Mom and Dad get married today."
Merle's tail now resembled a bottlebrush. "Today?!"
"Yes today."
"And no one told me?"
"Uh oh."
"Why didn't they tell me? I'm the closest to Lord Van so I should know these things! Why wouldn't they tell me? Why?"
Merle was becoming hysterical.
Hikari was quickly reaching the end of her rope, but her father arrived just in time. "What's going on here?"
"Why didn't you tell me that today was the big day?" Merle cried.
Van took the cat-girl into a hug. "Because we thought that something could happen if you knew."
"I'm not gonna sabotage the wedding!" Merle sobbed. "All I want is for you to be happy! And if you're happy marrying Hitomi, I won't stop you!"
Van tightened his squeeze on Merle. "Merle, you really are one of a kind." But he knew perfectly well that it was hurting her to tell him that. "So, you won't have a problem with it?"
Merle nodded. "Yes Lord Van."
"Okay. Hikari, you can go help Celena and Millerna with your mother's dress, Merle, make sure that the workers are doing everything they can, and I have some things I need to attend to," Van replied.
Hikari nodded, Merle saluted, and Van hurried off.
"So I guess that means I should hurry to the dressing room. You're headed for the gazebo out back. Gaddes will tell you what you need to do," Hikari instructed.
"Excuse me? You're telling me what to do?"
"No, Gaddes is. I'm just telling you where my father wants you to go," Hikari replied with a smile.
Merle's tail twitched in anger. "Fine. I'm going."
Hikari made sure that Merle was actually going to the courtyard out back before she made a beeline for the dressing room. When she walked in, she found her mother groaning as Millerna laced up a corset.
"Are you sure this is absolutely necessary?" Hitomi groaned as Millerna did her best to get the corset as tight as it would go.
"Yes, now stop whining!" Millerna grunted. "There!"
"I can't breathe!" Hitomi gasped.
"Perhaps you should loosen it a little. I did measurements and she only needed about an inch off the waist line," Celena said. "You took about four."
Millerna examined Hitomi's waist, furrowing her brow at the size. "Fine. Hitomi, are you okay with this?"
"The best news," gasp, "I've heard all day!"
Millerna relaxed the strings and Hitomi sighed. "Oh, that feels great!"
Then the corset was tightened to the correct size and Hitomi looked as if she was going to cry again.
"I'm so glad that I don't have to wear one," Hikari commented as she sat down at the makeup table.
"Sure, sure, rub it in you little brat," Hitomi muttered through gritted teeth. "Millerna, are you sure that this is necessary?"
"Sorry Hitomi, there's no other way. Now turn around."
Hitomi turned and Millerna began to lace up the back of the gown. It was white and floor length, with sleeves that were tight around the upper arm and then gently loosened until it formed a bell at the wrist. The bodice was tight all the way up to the neck and there it formed a pair of wings.
"Wow mom, you look amazing," Hikari noted.
"You look wonderful Lady Hitomi," Celena cooed. "Van will surely be impressed."
"Van has always been impressed," Hitomi chuckled. "Millerna, are you done yet?"
"No, and I'll have a heck of a time until you stop moving!"
"Sorry. I guess I've got the pre-wedding jitters."
Millerna sighed. "I remember when Dryden and I got married. Such a happy event and yet tragedy struck."
"What?" Hikari asked.
"Something I didn't tell you," Hitomi said. "You see, right after the ceremony for Dryden and Millerna's wedding, Naria and Eriya attacked, nearly destroying all of Pallas. It was a disaster, and all because they were looking for me."
"Because of your ability to see the unseen?" Hikari asked.
"Yes, because of my ability. But then everything was okay."
"You told me about when you were captured."
"I thought so."
"Anyway, my father nearly died that day," Millerna continued. "Eries and I were very nervous after that. But he made a recovery, all though he hasn't been the same."
Hitomi started. "Er, what do you mean, 'hasn't been the same?'"
Millerna shrugged. "He's been prone to injury and illness since the accident. It won't be long before he passes on."
"You know, this is a wedding, not a funeral. I want to see happy faces!" Hikari barked as she watched a few tears slide down Millerna's cheek. It was fairly obvious that her father's end was drawing near and it was wearing Millerna down.
Millerna wiped her cheeks of the telltale tears and smiled. "Hikari's right. We should be happy. After a long wait, she and Van are finally tying the nuptial knot."
Just then a startled scream came from Celena, who had been pulling the cape and veil from the closet.
"Celena, what's wrong?" Hitomi asked.
Celena caught her breath and then blushed. "I just startled some moths and they came flying out."
"Moths?" Millerna asked. "I hope they weren't feasting on the rest of the dress."
Celena shook her head. "No, no. Everything is still in one piece. They just gave me a start, that's all. Now let's add the cape and the veil and see how Hitomi looks."
The cape made up for the train that the dress lacked, and the veil had an elegant white-pearl tiara that held it on Hitomi's head. "Well, how do I look?" Hitomi asked as she turned this way and that in order to give everyone a good look.
"I think she looks very regal," Celena breathed.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you were born royal," Millerna said, smiling approvingly. All of the fuss with the corset had been worth the trouble.
"Wow Mom. You don't look a day over thirty-six."
"If that was your idea of a compliment, I'd quit while you're ahead."
~*~
"I think I'm going to be sick," Van moaned.
"Buck up," Dryden said. "There's nothing to worry about!"
"Easy for you to say! You're married!" Van retorted.
"I don't see why you're so nervous. It's not like you have to memorize the vows. Just repeat them," Allen said, leaning casually against the wall.
"Allen, if I had wanted your advice, I would have asked for it," Van growled. "And right now I don't need any of your advice."
"It wasn't advice. It was a comment on the situation."
"Now, now gentlemen, this isn't the place nor is it the time."
"Hey Dad . . ."
"What is it Kaiden?"
"Erm, well, you see, I was wondering . . ."
"What?"
"Do I really have to escort Hikari down the aisle?"
"Yes, Kaiden. You do."
"But I don't want to! She'll make fun of me the whole way!"
"Kaiden, get over yourself already," Dryden said, narrowing his eyes at his son. "I'm walking with your mother, Allen is walking with Celena, and you're left to walk with Hikari."
"What about Chid? He likes her," Kaiden retorted.
"He was called back to Fried on important business so you're the next in line."
"Who's gonna walk with Eliana?" Kaiden asked.
"Gaddes has volunteered for the job," Allen replied. "Kaiden, just take the plate that you were handed."
"Yeah," Dryden agreed. "You make it sound like you don't want to be near Hikari. What happened last night anyway?"
"She insulted me. Something about how it takes a real wise man to admit that he's wrong and a genius to admit that to a woman," Kaiden replied.
The other men chuckled.
"Oh sure, you think it's funny because she didn't say it to you," Kaiden growled.
"At one time or another, we've been told the same thing," Dryden said, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "Believe me, she's right."
"What? You're siding with her?" Kaiden asked in complete disbelief.
"Now, now Kaiden," Allen said. "There's no need for you to get bent out of shape. In time you might realize that maybe Hikari likes you more than she lets on."
"You mean, like me enough to possibly . . ."
"No arranged marriages," Van said firmly. "I want my child to have the same opportunity that I had."
"And where's the fun in that?" Dryden asked. "Millerna and I are doing just fine and we had an arranged marriage."
"As I recall, your father and King Aston were wondering if you'd show up for your own wedding," Van replied coolly.
"Touché," Dryden chuckled. "Wait, when did they say that?"
"The same night Millerna told me," Allen replied. "Van and Hitomi just happened to be with us at the time. Eries was quite intent on telling me."
"Eries is quite fond of you Allen," Dryden said. "She was hoping that Millerna would remember that she was engaged to me and forget about you."
"I'm pretty sure Hitomi felt the same way about me," Allen shrugged.
"What? That's crazy," said Van.
"No it's not. Hitomi always liked me, she just realized that she liked you more," Allen said, giving Van a wry grin. "She thought that you were a stuck up, pompous prince when she first met you. She told me that she had to slap you."
"I admit that I wasn't exactly nice to her, but it was because-"
"Your machoness got in the way," Dryden finished. "We've all head by now. She saved your life for God's sake! You could have shown her a little more gratitude!"
"Hitomi saved your life?" Kaiden asked.
"Yes. She's the reason why I'm standing here today," Van said. He sighed and then hung his head. "What on Gaea did I do to deserve her?"
"I don't know, but I would say that it's worth it," Allen replied.
~*~
*Looks nervously at the chapter title* Ten?! Man, this is certainly not what I expected. If you're still reading this, you are amazing! Amazingly tolerant that is. I didn't know the story was that interesting. ^^ Well, if you're one of those people who are still reading, you're totally awesome!
Mercy_angel_09
