I'm gonna keep adding on to this story even if no one's reading it. But if
you are reading this PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!
Disclaimer: I don't own escaflowne or its characters (pouts because she doesn't own Folken)
............................................................................ ............................................................................ ....................................... Chapter 3 : Fateful Decision
The corridor was horribly dim, lit only by the small lantern he carried, and the air stale from years of the passage's disuse. Folken inhaled deeply to steady himself then lapsed into a coughing fit which he quickly muffled with his cloak. Although it was extremely unlikely that anyone could hear him, he wished to take no chances.
Dressed from head to toe in black, he quickly wound his way through the forgotten passages of the Vione. The corridors themselves were built as a back way to the melef hangars should the floating fortress ever come under siege However, no one had dared to challage the Ziabach Empire in such a manner since its rise to power; and so were basically unknown to most of the personnel working there. The commanding officers of the fortress didn't even bother to brief new soldiers on their existence anymore. Folken however knew them quite well. He knew every inch of the Vione as well as he had known the Fanelian Castle in his youth.....
............................................................................ ............................................................................ .......................................
"Wow, Folkie.... How'd ya do that?" Van's burnt-sienna eyes were wide with the wonder only small children can posess as the wall swung upon before him.
Folken smiled and tousled Van's unruly black locks. "Nothing to it really. There are all kind of secret passages hidden in the walls of the castle; you just gotta know where to look."
Van stared with awe into the narrow passage before him, scratching his head. "So...where's it go to? I mean, it does go some where, right?" He tilted his head back as far as it would go and looked questioningly at his much taller sibling.
"Of course, Van. I think this one goes to the kitchen.....," He paused and scratched his chin thoughtfully, "Or was it the one in the library that went to the Kitchen....Hmmm."
Van's eyes sparkled with delight as he balled his little fists up. "You mean I could sneak tastes of Meridal's pies without getting fussed at?" He stuck his chubby little arms out like he was flying and raced in the rough maw of a doorway, his laughter echoing off the low stone walls. "WHEEEEEE!!! HERE I GOOO!!!"
Folken reached out to grab the collar of his shirt, but to no avail. "NO, VAN! WAIT! YOU"LL GET LOST!!" He called after the boy, then sighed knowing it would do no good. "Father is not going to be happy with me." With that he ran into the corridor after his little brother, grabbing a candle forn a nearby table, and pleading with Van to come back as he too disappeared in the darkness.
............................................................................ ............................................................................ .......................................
A single tear dripped down Folken's face and he wiped it away bitterly. His brother's ghost seemed to be haunting him already, punishing him for his betrayal, cursing him for the atrocities he could very well have stopped, or at least delayed enough to save the lives of his people. His people.... , not for what seemed like an eternity had he thought of them as such.
Folken lightly ran his fingers over a section in the wall before him, touching the stones in a very careful and precise manner. Three of the stones gave way and a section of the wall swung open, grating on the floor as it did rumble far too loud for Folken's purposes. It was foolish to think that his latest action hadn't been noticed by someone; but with all the noise in the Hangars themselves it was slightly possible that his presence was still unknown or simply dismissed as a mechanic's blunder.
He peered cautiously through the newly opened doorway, saw that none was present and slipped into the hallway, closing the stone portal as quietly as he could behind him. He was just outside the Dragonslayer's hangar now, and with luck, it would be as vacant as the corridor in which he now stood. With a deep breath, and a touch of the hilt of his sword for good luck, Folken cracked open the door and slid his way in.
Man, this is really gonna be long if I don't lengthen the chapters quite a bit. I just wanted to get this posted in hopes that someone would see I had updated and read it. PLEEEASE REVIEW!! I'll be your best friend!! No seriously, I'd love to know how i'm doing. So far I haven't gotten any feed back at all. More up soon!
Disclaimer: I don't own escaflowne or its characters (pouts because she doesn't own Folken)
............................................................................ ............................................................................ ....................................... Chapter 3 : Fateful Decision
The corridor was horribly dim, lit only by the small lantern he carried, and the air stale from years of the passage's disuse. Folken inhaled deeply to steady himself then lapsed into a coughing fit which he quickly muffled with his cloak. Although it was extremely unlikely that anyone could hear him, he wished to take no chances.
Dressed from head to toe in black, he quickly wound his way through the forgotten passages of the Vione. The corridors themselves were built as a back way to the melef hangars should the floating fortress ever come under siege However, no one had dared to challage the Ziabach Empire in such a manner since its rise to power; and so were basically unknown to most of the personnel working there. The commanding officers of the fortress didn't even bother to brief new soldiers on their existence anymore. Folken however knew them quite well. He knew every inch of the Vione as well as he had known the Fanelian Castle in his youth.....
............................................................................ ............................................................................ .......................................
"Wow, Folkie.... How'd ya do that?" Van's burnt-sienna eyes were wide with the wonder only small children can posess as the wall swung upon before him.
Folken smiled and tousled Van's unruly black locks. "Nothing to it really. There are all kind of secret passages hidden in the walls of the castle; you just gotta know where to look."
Van stared with awe into the narrow passage before him, scratching his head. "So...where's it go to? I mean, it does go some where, right?" He tilted his head back as far as it would go and looked questioningly at his much taller sibling.
"Of course, Van. I think this one goes to the kitchen.....," He paused and scratched his chin thoughtfully, "Or was it the one in the library that went to the Kitchen....Hmmm."
Van's eyes sparkled with delight as he balled his little fists up. "You mean I could sneak tastes of Meridal's pies without getting fussed at?" He stuck his chubby little arms out like he was flying and raced in the rough maw of a doorway, his laughter echoing off the low stone walls. "WHEEEEEE!!! HERE I GOOO!!!"
Folken reached out to grab the collar of his shirt, but to no avail. "NO, VAN! WAIT! YOU"LL GET LOST!!" He called after the boy, then sighed knowing it would do no good. "Father is not going to be happy with me." With that he ran into the corridor after his little brother, grabbing a candle forn a nearby table, and pleading with Van to come back as he too disappeared in the darkness.
............................................................................ ............................................................................ .......................................
A single tear dripped down Folken's face and he wiped it away bitterly. His brother's ghost seemed to be haunting him already, punishing him for his betrayal, cursing him for the atrocities he could very well have stopped, or at least delayed enough to save the lives of his people. His people.... , not for what seemed like an eternity had he thought of them as such.
Folken lightly ran his fingers over a section in the wall before him, touching the stones in a very careful and precise manner. Three of the stones gave way and a section of the wall swung open, grating on the floor as it did rumble far too loud for Folken's purposes. It was foolish to think that his latest action hadn't been noticed by someone; but with all the noise in the Hangars themselves it was slightly possible that his presence was still unknown or simply dismissed as a mechanic's blunder.
He peered cautiously through the newly opened doorway, saw that none was present and slipped into the hallway, closing the stone portal as quietly as he could behind him. He was just outside the Dragonslayer's hangar now, and with luck, it would be as vacant as the corridor in which he now stood. With a deep breath, and a touch of the hilt of his sword for good luck, Folken cracked open the door and slid his way in.
Man, this is really gonna be long if I don't lengthen the chapters quite a bit. I just wanted to get this posted in hopes that someone would see I had updated and read it. PLEEEASE REVIEW!! I'll be your best friend!! No seriously, I'd love to know how i'm doing. So far I haven't gotten any feed back at all. More up soon!