A/N: Hey, all you people out there in fanficland! Welcome to the 3rd
chapter of my fic!! Before I let you read this, I want to thank my
reviewers!
Cascata: I love excited reviewers! Thanks for the positive note!
Silver-chick: Thanks for the great review!
Sereneblaze: I appreciate the review! Thank you!
Fushizen-na: It was great reading your review! Thanks for taking the time! You're so sweet!
A/N (again): THIS IS NOT A V/H!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sorry, I'm at the point where I'm a little ticked at Hitomi…* grabs hitomi by the neck and throws her off a cliff *
There will be a love interest for Van though…..MWAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!
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Van strode into the Council room, Kendai, Allen, and Merle behind him. The councilors stood and bowed, though several of them were showing the effects of their hasty rousing.
Lord Niaki was still wearing a nightcap, Lord Vordon a dressing gown, and Van's closest friend on the council, Lord Karo, was wearing fuzzy slippers.
They all watched Van, though a few wandering eyes, including Lord Vordon's, scrutinized Kendai carefully.
Van sat at his place at the head of the table, with Allen on his right, and Kendai on his left. Merle sat patiently at his feet.
"Lords of the Council." Van directed all attention back to him. "I have just received news that Zaibach is on the move, with Fanelia in its sights."
There was an instant uproar, with Lord Vordon's voice booming over the top.
"Impossible! Zaibach was completely routed during the Great War! They could not have come back without anyone's knowledge! Fanelia's spies would have found some information before this!"
Lord Karo, who was the King's Spymaster, stood. "Actually, Lord Vordon, I have been receiving wild reports from all over Gaea. My operatives tell me of moving rocks, a lake that lives, a new, stronger leader of Zaibach, and a giant land whirlpool! Before, these reports seemed merely fantasy, or the result of too many drinks, but they now could become more serious. Let us hear what the circumstances are."
Grumbling, Lord Vordon sat down, and looked at Van expectantly. Van in turn, smiled thankfully at Karo, and stood.
"I received news a few hours ago that Zaibach has reappeared. Lord Kendai no Saira, Knight of the Caeli, came to me, risking his life, his title, and his honor. What he told me is counted as treason in his own country, but he thought of the people, and not of himself. His courage, and bravery is to be commended."
Van gestured to Kendai. "Lord Kendai told me that Zaibach has made a treaty with his family, and plans to attack Fanelia. He made haste to warn us, but was detected. He was attacked by several Zaibach Melefs near a temple. Fortunately, he was able to fight them off and escape to Fanelia, bringing with him another Ispano Guymelef. Fanelia owes him a great debt of gratitude. Now Kendai, I ask you to once more, repeat your story."
Van could see the pain in the young man's eyes, but Kendai raised his chin, and set his mouth defiantly.
%%%%%%%%%
When Kendai was finished, he sagged back into his chair. The councilors sat silently, absorbing the information. Allen moved silently to Kendai's side, and gripped his shoulder. Kendai tried to smile, and slowly pulled himself together. Merle was also near Kendai, purring, and holding his hand.
Finally, Lord Karo stood. "We must send out scouts an-"
Van interrupted him. "I took the liberty of doing that myself. Right after Lord Kendai gave me the information."
Lord Karo slowly nodded. "Then we must ready the troops in defense!"
The councilors nodded, and Van saw several of them look at Kendai with a new respect.
Suddenly, Bertram burst in, pale and sweating. "Your Majesty! Scouts have sent us both bad and good news from the border!"
Van nodded, face set. "Speak, Bertram."
Bertram nodded, trying to catch his breath. "The good news is, they have sighted the Crusade, coming in from the East. They will be here in several hours. The…bad news, is they have also sighted the Zaibach army headed from Asturia. They are farther off, and will not be here for several days!"
Van nodded grimly. "Well, milords, it seems we have a crisis…"
%%%%%%%%%%
That night, Van headed out for the roof of the palace. He needed some peace and quiet, and, maybe a little fencing.
He sighed, and ran a hand through his hair, as he climbed the many steps up to the highest tower, his sword thunking comfortingly at his side.
He reached the roof, just as the sun was setting. /Ah. A perfect backdrop./
As he stepped out onto the roof, his mouth dropped open. /Whoah./
A figure was practicing kendo already, facing away form him.
What shocked Van, was the fact that the figure was actually on the battlements, perilously close to death. One misstep, and they would be hurled to their death on the streets, far, far, below.
As Van peered closer at the shadowed figure, his mouth dropped open.
It was Kendai. His blonde hair whipped around his face, as he moved smoothly through the movements of a pattern-dance. He increased the speed, until his sword was a silver blur, and his movements flowed like a swift river.
It was then that Van noticed that Kendai had never opened his eyes. He had been doing it all blind.
Before Van could move, the pattern-dance reached its climax. Kendai whipped his sword in a butterfly cut, and vaulted into a no-handed cartwheel. For an instant, he was suspended in motion, hanging several feet above the ground. Then the world moved back into motion, and he landed in a lunge, sword extended towards the horizon.
He was breathing heavily, facing away from Van. Still unaware of the King's presence, he wiped sweaty hair from his eyes and resheathed his sword.
He froze when he heard Van's applause from behind him. He turned slowly, and his eyes widened.
Van smiled, still clapping. Kendai bowed awkwardly, and looked uncomfortably at the ground.
"Well fought, Lord Kendai. Well fought!" Van smiled, and nodded at the young man.
"Th-thank you, Your Majesty."
Van grinned. "Please. Call me Van. Most people do. I'm only, 'Your Majesty' when I have to be. I can only take so much pompousness and fluff in a day!"
Kendai tried to hide a smile. "Then you in turn must call me Kendai. I want to leave 'Lord Kendai no Saira, Knight of the Caeli' in the past." His eyes grew anguished as he named his formal title.
Van, seeing his pain, sighed, and walked towards the battlements, where Kendai had been practicing before. "Walk with me, Kendai. I would like to talk with you."
Kendai nodded, and joined Van. They walked in silence for a few minutes, until Van spoke. "You know, I'm seventeen, and I've been King of Fanelia for two years, but it took me until tonight to realize how lucky we are."
Kendai looked quizzically at Van. "How so?"
Van sighed, and walked over to the other side of the roof. He leaned over slightly, and pointed to a small courtyard.
The courtyard was very beautiful. It had a sparkling fountain, with a Weeping Willow behind it. But there was no grass on the ground. The earth was rust red, and it looked harsh and mutilated. No plants grew on it.
Kendai shuddered when he looked at the courtyard. /It looks like dried blood./
Van looked at Kendai. "At the beginning of the Great War, Zaibach's Melefs attacked Fanelia during my coronation ceremony. The entire city was burnt to the ground, and many thousand people were killed."
Van drew a deep breath. "This is our memorial to them. This is also a memorial to my brother, Folken. He was killed at the end of the Great War."
Van let one tear drip down his cheek, before rubbing it away. "I had this courtyard made, so I can never forget the pain and suffering I caused."
Kendai gripped Van by the shoulders. "You did not cause this! No one but Zaibach is to be blamed for this!"
Van looked away from Kendai's searching eyes. "If it were not for me, Zaibach would not have attacked our city, and Folken would not be dead!"
Kendai shook Van slightly. "Listen to me! Even if you were not King, Zaibach would have attacked. They might not have attacked Fanelia, but instead, Fried, Asturia, or some other country! You are not to be blamed for that! And from what I hear, without you, all of Gaea would have fallen to Zaibach, if you had not intervened. You did not just save Fanelia, you saved Gaea!"
Tears trickled out of Van's eyes, but he nodded slowly.
Kendai looked into his eyes. "Now, you must prepare for Zaibach's second attack! Sleep well, Your Majestey!" So saying, Kendai disappeared back into the castle.
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Cascata: I love excited reviewers! Thanks for the positive note!
Silver-chick: Thanks for the great review!
Sereneblaze: I appreciate the review! Thank you!
Fushizen-na: It was great reading your review! Thanks for taking the time! You're so sweet!
A/N (again): THIS IS NOT A V/H!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sorry, I'm at the point where I'm a little ticked at Hitomi…* grabs hitomi by the neck and throws her off a cliff *
There will be a love interest for Van though…..MWAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!
***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***
Van strode into the Council room, Kendai, Allen, and Merle behind him. The councilors stood and bowed, though several of them were showing the effects of their hasty rousing.
Lord Niaki was still wearing a nightcap, Lord Vordon a dressing gown, and Van's closest friend on the council, Lord Karo, was wearing fuzzy slippers.
They all watched Van, though a few wandering eyes, including Lord Vordon's, scrutinized Kendai carefully.
Van sat at his place at the head of the table, with Allen on his right, and Kendai on his left. Merle sat patiently at his feet.
"Lords of the Council." Van directed all attention back to him. "I have just received news that Zaibach is on the move, with Fanelia in its sights."
There was an instant uproar, with Lord Vordon's voice booming over the top.
"Impossible! Zaibach was completely routed during the Great War! They could not have come back without anyone's knowledge! Fanelia's spies would have found some information before this!"
Lord Karo, who was the King's Spymaster, stood. "Actually, Lord Vordon, I have been receiving wild reports from all over Gaea. My operatives tell me of moving rocks, a lake that lives, a new, stronger leader of Zaibach, and a giant land whirlpool! Before, these reports seemed merely fantasy, or the result of too many drinks, but they now could become more serious. Let us hear what the circumstances are."
Grumbling, Lord Vordon sat down, and looked at Van expectantly. Van in turn, smiled thankfully at Karo, and stood.
"I received news a few hours ago that Zaibach has reappeared. Lord Kendai no Saira, Knight of the Caeli, came to me, risking his life, his title, and his honor. What he told me is counted as treason in his own country, but he thought of the people, and not of himself. His courage, and bravery is to be commended."
Van gestured to Kendai. "Lord Kendai told me that Zaibach has made a treaty with his family, and plans to attack Fanelia. He made haste to warn us, but was detected. He was attacked by several Zaibach Melefs near a temple. Fortunately, he was able to fight them off and escape to Fanelia, bringing with him another Ispano Guymelef. Fanelia owes him a great debt of gratitude. Now Kendai, I ask you to once more, repeat your story."
Van could see the pain in the young man's eyes, but Kendai raised his chin, and set his mouth defiantly.
%%%%%%%%%
When Kendai was finished, he sagged back into his chair. The councilors sat silently, absorbing the information. Allen moved silently to Kendai's side, and gripped his shoulder. Kendai tried to smile, and slowly pulled himself together. Merle was also near Kendai, purring, and holding his hand.
Finally, Lord Karo stood. "We must send out scouts an-"
Van interrupted him. "I took the liberty of doing that myself. Right after Lord Kendai gave me the information."
Lord Karo slowly nodded. "Then we must ready the troops in defense!"
The councilors nodded, and Van saw several of them look at Kendai with a new respect.
Suddenly, Bertram burst in, pale and sweating. "Your Majesty! Scouts have sent us both bad and good news from the border!"
Van nodded, face set. "Speak, Bertram."
Bertram nodded, trying to catch his breath. "The good news is, they have sighted the Crusade, coming in from the East. They will be here in several hours. The…bad news, is they have also sighted the Zaibach army headed from Asturia. They are farther off, and will not be here for several days!"
Van nodded grimly. "Well, milords, it seems we have a crisis…"
%%%%%%%%%%
That night, Van headed out for the roof of the palace. He needed some peace and quiet, and, maybe a little fencing.
He sighed, and ran a hand through his hair, as he climbed the many steps up to the highest tower, his sword thunking comfortingly at his side.
He reached the roof, just as the sun was setting. /Ah. A perfect backdrop./
As he stepped out onto the roof, his mouth dropped open. /Whoah./
A figure was practicing kendo already, facing away form him.
What shocked Van, was the fact that the figure was actually on the battlements, perilously close to death. One misstep, and they would be hurled to their death on the streets, far, far, below.
As Van peered closer at the shadowed figure, his mouth dropped open.
It was Kendai. His blonde hair whipped around his face, as he moved smoothly through the movements of a pattern-dance. He increased the speed, until his sword was a silver blur, and his movements flowed like a swift river.
It was then that Van noticed that Kendai had never opened his eyes. He had been doing it all blind.
Before Van could move, the pattern-dance reached its climax. Kendai whipped his sword in a butterfly cut, and vaulted into a no-handed cartwheel. For an instant, he was suspended in motion, hanging several feet above the ground. Then the world moved back into motion, and he landed in a lunge, sword extended towards the horizon.
He was breathing heavily, facing away from Van. Still unaware of the King's presence, he wiped sweaty hair from his eyes and resheathed his sword.
He froze when he heard Van's applause from behind him. He turned slowly, and his eyes widened.
Van smiled, still clapping. Kendai bowed awkwardly, and looked uncomfortably at the ground.
"Well fought, Lord Kendai. Well fought!" Van smiled, and nodded at the young man.
"Th-thank you, Your Majesty."
Van grinned. "Please. Call me Van. Most people do. I'm only, 'Your Majesty' when I have to be. I can only take so much pompousness and fluff in a day!"
Kendai tried to hide a smile. "Then you in turn must call me Kendai. I want to leave 'Lord Kendai no Saira, Knight of the Caeli' in the past." His eyes grew anguished as he named his formal title.
Van, seeing his pain, sighed, and walked towards the battlements, where Kendai had been practicing before. "Walk with me, Kendai. I would like to talk with you."
Kendai nodded, and joined Van. They walked in silence for a few minutes, until Van spoke. "You know, I'm seventeen, and I've been King of Fanelia for two years, but it took me until tonight to realize how lucky we are."
Kendai looked quizzically at Van. "How so?"
Van sighed, and walked over to the other side of the roof. He leaned over slightly, and pointed to a small courtyard.
The courtyard was very beautiful. It had a sparkling fountain, with a Weeping Willow behind it. But there was no grass on the ground. The earth was rust red, and it looked harsh and mutilated. No plants grew on it.
Kendai shuddered when he looked at the courtyard. /It looks like dried blood./
Van looked at Kendai. "At the beginning of the Great War, Zaibach's Melefs attacked Fanelia during my coronation ceremony. The entire city was burnt to the ground, and many thousand people were killed."
Van drew a deep breath. "This is our memorial to them. This is also a memorial to my brother, Folken. He was killed at the end of the Great War."
Van let one tear drip down his cheek, before rubbing it away. "I had this courtyard made, so I can never forget the pain and suffering I caused."
Kendai gripped Van by the shoulders. "You did not cause this! No one but Zaibach is to be blamed for this!"
Van looked away from Kendai's searching eyes. "If it were not for me, Zaibach would not have attacked our city, and Folken would not be dead!"
Kendai shook Van slightly. "Listen to me! Even if you were not King, Zaibach would have attacked. They might not have attacked Fanelia, but instead, Fried, Asturia, or some other country! You are not to be blamed for that! And from what I hear, without you, all of Gaea would have fallen to Zaibach, if you had not intervened. You did not just save Fanelia, you saved Gaea!"
Tears trickled out of Van's eyes, but he nodded slowly.
Kendai looked into his eyes. "Now, you must prepare for Zaibach's second attack! Sleep well, Your Majestey!" So saying, Kendai disappeared back into the castle.
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