Chapter Four
Secrets and Rumors
Van swayed with ill-concealed weariness as he dutifully knelt before the large throne of Freid. He remembered his first visit here, with Millerna at his side and Hitomi watching from the sidelines. Prince Cid had mistaken him for Allen, the legendary swordsman that Cid's mother had told him tales about. Van's lips twisted into a small smile at the memory. To be mistaken for a gallant knight like Allen – at the time Van had been too proud to see the humor in it.
"Welcome Lord Van, King of Fanellia," the boy's voice slightly echoed from the dais. "It is a great pleasure to have you as a guest, once again, to my country."
"And it is an even greater pleasure to be honored in your country, Prince Cid," Van answered. It wasn't exactly the correct response according to formal protocol, but Van and Cid had known each other since Cid was six years old – formality was a distant idea for them.
"You look weary, dear friend." Cid, the same as when he was five years younger, talked with an eloquence that belied his real age. With big blue eyes and golden hair, he looked very much like his biological father, but Cid had his mother's lighter blonde and wavy hair. And he had his adopted father's fierce passion and respect from his people.
Van looked up from his place on the floor. "I am weary, Prince. The nights have not been kind to me."
"Nights are rarely kind to anyone." Cid held a hand out from where he stood next to the throne. "Please, come and rest yourself."
Nodding, Van rose from the floor, Gus following his King's lead. Together, the three disappeared from the Grand Hall behind the thick heavy curtains.
"I understand that Lady Selena is traveling with you," Cid started as he walked with Van through the hallways of his castle.
"Yes, she is. The Lady and her escort, Gaddes, are both traveling with us," Van affirmed.
"I hear that a marriage was proposed."
"And turned down," Van answered the unspoken question.
Cid laughed a little, shaking his head at his friend's stubbornness. "Millerna will not be happy to hear this," he mumbled, still chuckling to himself. "And if the proposal was refused, then why is the Lady still in your company? Or should I not ask?"
Van frowned as he thought of it. He'd asked that question himself many times over the course of the day. Ever since Selena had visited him last night and told of her vision, however, she refused to be sent home. It was her spirit that would quell the flames of hatred, she insisted, and she refused to explain what that meant to Van.
Gus spoke up when it seemed evident that Van was not about to answer. "Do you remember Hitomi, Highness?" he asked Cid.
"Of course! Hitomi was so wonderful. She helped solve the mystery of Plactu's death, and she helped me see that my dream of being a great ruler was not as far away as I had once imagined." Cid bestowed a brilliant smile on them. "I remember Hitomi well."
"Then you remember her visions?"
Cid's smile dulled at Gus's words. "Yes, I remember her telling of the fight, of the war."
"Lady Selena seems to have that power as well, Prince. And much like the Lady Hitomi, she chooses to stay with Van." Gus cast a worried glance at his King. Van remained silent during the conversation, seemingly lost in thought. Bringing up Hitomi, and the horrible vision that Selena had told Van last night, affected his King in a greater way than Van would ever admit. Gus silently chastised himself for speaking of it.
But damage had already been done, and the empty light in Van's eyes deepened.
"The Lady Selena is full of many natural talents, it seems. This could have been a reason for her abduction by Zaibach all those years ago," Cid offered. And once again, the eleven-year-old surprised them all with his wisdom.
"That is an idea I hadn't entertained in the slightest," Van admitted. "And it makes perfect sense."
"In that case, Van, I suggest that you keep Lady Selena under your protection."
Van nodded.
"What is this talk of my sister?" A new voice hailed them from down the hall.
"Allen!" Van identified the newcomer, his surprise and pleasure at seeing another old friend overriding his gloom.
"Lord Van, King of Fanellia," Allen replied, giving a bow that sent his long hair sweeping along the polished floors of the castle. "It is truly a pleasure to see you. I was unaware that Cid was receiving visitors."
"It seems as if Cid is very good at keeping his secrets. I was unaware of your presence here as well," Van answered. "And you remember my cousin, Augustus?"
"Yes, I do. Your most trusted friend and General." Allen gave a smaller bow. "A pleasure to see you again."
Gus replied with a bow of his own. Fancy words were not his forte. He much preferred action to the formality of royalty, and he knew Van was the same. But Van handled such formality with much more ease now.
"And what is your business here, Allen?" Van asked.
"Escorting Queen Millerna on a visit to see her dear nephew of course."
Van nearly choked. "Millerna's here as well?"
"Yes, and I hear that the Counsel's marriage choice was…unacceptable."
"I apologize. I do not mean any disrespect to your family…"
"And none is taken," Allen assured. "I, too, thought the proposal was ridiculous. Almost as ridiculous as the second-choice."
Van nodded. "Especially since Millerna is already married."
Allen laughed out loud, drawing the attention of some monks and passersby. "My thoughts exactly. Dryden would be most displeased to hear of his wife being married again!"
"Speaking of him, have you heard of Uncle Dryden lately?" Cid asked.
"Millerna received a letter from him just before our visit here. He is doing nicely and traveling outside of Zaibach now, establishing trade with the newly elected Emperor," Allen answered.
"When will he return?"
Allen shrugged. "When he feels he has become a better man, I suppose. Millerna waits for that day."
"And what of you, Allen?" Van asked. Despite the possibilities of scandal before Millerna's wedding to Dryden, Allen and Millerna had never established a romantic relationship after Dryden's disappearance. He dutifully serves as her escort and personal guard.
"I am content to remain a knight."
"No women?"
"And what of you, Van?" Allen asked, a tinge of challenge in his voice.
Van quieted immediately. Their loneliness was a sore spot for both of them, and both of them never ceased to remind the other of past mistakes.
"I think it is time you rest, Van," Gus interrupted. He'd seen this conversation elevate into a clash of swords, and the middle of Cid's castle halls was not an appropriate place for too-proud men to take out frustrations with a sparring match. To his relief, Van nodded.
"I will see you both before I leave, I'm sure. And thank you for the hospitality, Cid," Van said, excusing himself from their company. Cid assured him of his welcome and watched as the two cousins disappeared down a side hall and to Van's set of rooms.
Allen watched the empty hall for a while. "He seems tired."
"The nights have not been kind to him," Cid replied, repeating Van's words.
"Does he know of the rumors?"
Cid's face darkened, and a frown marred his angelic features. "I have yet to ask him."
"Do you think they could be true?" Allen asked, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared down the empty hall.
Cid made a snort of disgust. "Do YOU think that Van can kill his own people? Do you think that he is capable of waking Escaflowne and murdering an entire village?"
"No, I don't." Allen looked down at Cid. "But I also noticed that you didn't mention the other rumor."
"If that rumor is true…" With a shake of his head, Cid said in a clipped tone, "A pillar of light has been seen at our northern borders, Sir Allen. My scouts have gone to investigate. We should not jump to conclusions." Cid gave a sigh. "And we should not get King Van's hopes up, either, in case these rumors are false."
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Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Ah-Young – technically, this fic is based on the series, but there are some magical elements that kind of stem from the movie. It's more fantasy-based than the series ever was.
Kartos – thanks for being intrigued! I hope this chap serves to get you even more interested :)