Disclaimer: I don't own Esca!!! But all of the characters I've added or
will add are mine!!!
The Scepter of the Dragons
Chapter 11: The Alliance of Enemies
By Coolchick1500
Hitomi stood on the roof for several minutes before moving. She watched the sun set behind the mountains. Van had been up there almost since the beginning, and he heard the whole story. "Are you all right?" Van asked.
"No, not really" Hitomi said.
"What did they say to you?" Van asked.
"I have a feeling that my mom, dad, and grandmother didn't tell me the whole truth about Fiona and Tyler" Hitomi said.
"Why do you say that?" Van asked.
His concern grew with every minute that passed. "Hitomi come back in" Van pleaded.
"I don't want to" Hitomi said.
Van came up behind Hitomi. "I think if best to come in and tell me what they told you" Van said.
Hitomi turned around and looked into Van's fiery red eyes. "Hitomi, please" Van said.
Hitomi shook her head yes, and followed Van inside. "Lady Hitomi, are you all right? Did they hurt you?" Larson asked.
"No, they didn't hurt me, and I'm fine" Hitomi said.
"M' lord, what happened?" Aklen asked.
"It is nothing you need to concern yourself with" Van said.
"But m' lord, the attack on the castle…" Another advisor started to say.
"It has been taken care of. If that is all Zaku, you're dismissed" Van said.
"M' lord I do suggest that you call an emergency council meeting" A third advisor said.
"A council meeting at this time is not needed. It will just be a waste of time. You are dismissed Guyho" Van said.
An old man with white hair and a beard came up to Van. "Sire, I implore you, an emergency council meeting is in the best interest of the people" he said.
"Peki I do not think it is important," Van said. "But if you will leave me alone afterward, I'll do so"
Hitomi followed Van and his advisors to the Council Room. "Sire, is it necessary for this woman to be present?" Aklen asked.
"This so-called woman will soon be your queen. I expect you treat her with respect" Van demanded.
"Yes sire" Aklen said.
He glanced at Hitomi, and gave her a nasty look. Hitomi sat down in the corner of the room, watched and listened to the meeting. "Sire, everyone is concerned about the three men that intruded earlier this evening. No one knows who they were, where they came from, or what they wanted," Peki said.
"The three men aren't of your concern. They're gone, and they won't return for awhile" Van said.
"But what do we do when they do return?" Guyho asked.
"You will do nothing. It is me they want. When they come back, I'll do what I need to do" Hitomi said.
"Lady Hitomi you and I both know it's not just you they want. They want you and something else" Zaku said.
"What they want is me, and they also want the 'Scepter of the Dragons'" Hitomi said.
The council member stood where they were in shock. "M' Lady, the 'Scepter of the Dragons' has been missing for over a millennia. You can't expect to find it. They can come back at any moment," Peki said.
"I know that. I also know that I won't be responsible for thousands of people dying if I can prevent it by giving them the scepter" Hitomi said.
"If they get their hands on the scepter, you will be responsible for thousands of people dying" Zaku said.
"The scepter was once used to contain them. We can use the scepter to contain them a second time" Hitomi said.
"How do you know they won't escape?" Guyho asked.
"The escaped their first prison with help. Dornkirk heard about the scepter and wanted its power. He sent his own sorcerers and released the three men. Without outside help, they won't escape a second time" Hitomi said.
"This is if you can find this scepter," Aklen said.
"You don't believe that it exists do you?" Hitomi asked.
"I do believe. Many people ran out to find it, and all of those people died. What makes you think you can succeed where they have failed?" Aklen asked.
"Because failure is not an option. We must succeed, if not for ourselves then for the people of Gaea" Hitomi said. "Besides, they weren't related to the person who protects it and controls its power. I am" Hitomi said.
With that she turned around and started to leave the room. "And you think that gives you power over the scepter? No one can control it" Aklen said.
"That's because no one knows how to control it. Only one thing can control it," Hitomi said.
"And what would that be?" Aklen asked.
"True love" Van replied. "I was up there when the three men started explaining the whole story. They explained that the scepter's powers only react to true love"
"Do you even know where to start looking?" Aklen asked.
"Leave that to me" Hitomi said.
"Dousing?" Van asked.
Hitomi looked away. "I thought you gave that up after the Dynasty War?" Van asked.
"To find the scepter, it may be the only way" Hitomi said.
Hitomi went to her room, and started looking through her bag for her Tarot Cards. She found them in a small book. She opened the book, and the middle was cut simply to the cards. The cards were tightly wrapped in a silk, dark purple piece of cloth. She pulled the cards out of the book, and sat down on the floor. She laid the cards out and did a reading of the future. The first card she flipped over was La Morte. "Death? Death of what or whom?" Hitomi asked.
The next card was L'Amore. "The Lovers Card? The Death of Lovers?" Hitomi asked again.
She didn't know what the cards meant. How did the Death and the Lovers Cards have to do with the scepter? There was a light knock at her door. "Hitomi, may I come in?" It was Van.
"Yes" Hitomi replied.
"Hitomi I wanted to catch you before you got into something, but I see that it's too late" Van said.
Hitomi picked up her card and placed them back in the book. "No, it's okay" Hitomi said.
"Something wrong?" Van asked.
"No, nothing's wrong" Hitomi said.
"What did the cards say?" Van asked.
"Nothing. They said nothing" Hitomi said.
Van knelt behind her. "The cards said something. Please tell me"
"I don't know what they said. It was confusing" Hitomi said.
"Anyway, I wanted to tell you that Yukari was looking for you" Van said.
"Thank you" Hitomi said.
She got up, and was greeted by Yukari at the door. "Hitomi, it isn't often I get angry, but you know very well that when you don't tell me things, I get angry!" Yukari was yelling by the end of her sentence.
"Yukari I was planning on telling you, but I never found the time" Hitomi said.
"I leave you two alone for awhile" Van said. The last thing he wanted to do was end up in the middle of a female squabble. He left Yukari and Hitomi alone.
"How could you not tell me you were engaged?" Yukari asked.
"Yukari you know you're my best friend, and I was planning on tell you Van asked me to marry him…"Hitomi started.
"When? When were you planning on telling me?" Yukari asked.
"The next time I talked to you" Hitomi said.
"That would have been when? You barely find time with me anymore" Yukari said.
"I'm sorry, but I really would have told you" Hitomi said.
They sat down on the bed and talked for hours. Close to midnight they were disrupted by Amano. "Van said I might find you two here" Amano said.
"Sorry, we've been busy talking and catching up on everything" Yukari said.
"That's okay. I don't mind. I know once you two get started talking, you'll be at it for hours to come" Amano said.
"Hey! That's mean" Yukari said.
Hitomi giggled. "But he's right" She said.
Yukari got up off of the bed, and followed Amano out of the room. "Good night Hitomi" Yukari said.
"Night" Hitomi replied.
Hitomi changed into her nightgown, and went out to the balcony. She sat down on the small stone bench in the corner of the balcony. She heard a sigh from above her. "Long night, Van?" Hitomi asked.
"How'd you know it was me?" Van asked.
"Only you would sit on the roof, above my room at midnight" Hitomi said.
Van smiled as he floated down on his angelic wings. "Go and get some sleep" Van said.
"Though I'd like to, I can't. I can't stop thinking about earlier" Hitomi replied.
Van saw the worried, frightened look on his beloved's face. Van came down to the balcony floor, and walked over to Hitomi. He sat down next to her, and put his arms around her. "It's scary, but you have to sleep. You can't allow them to win" Van said. "Come on, I'll stay with you until you fall asleep" He stood up, and went over to the edge of the balcony.
"Come on" Van said.
He took Hitomi's hand, and pulled her to her feet. He then picked her up in his arms, and flew her to his chambers. The balcony door was wide open. He flew in, and his wings disappeared. He laid her down on the bed, and wiped the hair out of her face. She closed her eyes. Hitomi slept and considering her night, slept well. She woke up in the wee hours of the morning. She decided to finish the reading she had started earlier. She got out of bed, and walked to her chamber. She took her cards and walked down to the Council Room. She sat down at the table and shuffled her deck. As she started her reading, she flipped over the first card. She stared in shock at what she saw. "This is impossible," Hitomi said.
She started blankly at the La Morte card. She continued to the second card. The next card was L'Amore. "How? I've never seen and two cards come up in the same order after I've shuffled my deck"
Hitomi was confounded. She continued the reading. She flipped over the third card. Il Guidizio. "The Judgement Card?"
Though the reading didn't make any sense, she had a feeling it was important she finish the reading. The forth card: Lamperatore. "The Emperor"
Next, La Imperatace. "The Empress"
The last card was Il Monde. "The World"
She placed the rest of her deck to the side, took those six cards in front of her on the table. "M' lady?"
Hitomi spun around, startled by the voice. "Larson? What are you doing up?" Hitomi asked.
"I saw a light out here, and I heard a voice. I came down to investigate" Larson said.
"I'm sorry I bothered you. I just couldn't get back to sleep" Hitomi said.
"It's okay. What are you doing?" Larson asked.
"I'm doing a reading, using Tarot Cards" Hitomi said.
Suddenly a young man ran through the door. "Commander, our spies have just reported that the countries of Zaibach and Basram have signed an Alliance Treaty," the man said.
"Are the spies positive?" Larson asked.
"Yes sir. We received a letter saying that kings from both countries will be here tomorrow, in the early afternoon," The man said.
"Please give me the note and leave Jenkins" Larson said.
"Yes sir" Jenkins said. The soldier handed Larson a piece of paper and closed the door behind him.
"I guess I should wake Van and explain the situation" Larson said.
"No, I'll go. If you go, and Van hears this news, he'll probable hit you" Hitomi said.
"Good luck" Larson said, handing the young woman the piece of paper.
Hitomi left the table and walked up the cold dark corridor. She opened the door to Van's chamber. She sat down on Van's bed, and tried to wake up Van. "Van, Van wake up!" Hitomi hissed.
"What? Hitomi? What's going on?" Van asked.
"I was down in the Council Room, talking to Larson when some man came in and told Larson that Zaibach and Basram signed an Alliance Treaty" Hitomi explained.
Van shot up in his bed. "What!" Van shouted.
"For some odd reason, Zaibach and Basram have signed an Alliance Treaty" Hitomi said.
Van noticed the piece of paper in Hitomi's hand. "What's that" Van asked.
"It's a letter saying that kings from both countries will be here tomorrow in the early afternoon" Hitomi said.
"Why?" Van asked.
"I don't know" Hitomi said.
~Chapter 11 is now out!!! How'd you people like it? I hope you liked it. I only got one review on my last chapter. Thanks DragonSun!!! Was it that bad? I hope not; otherwise, I'd have to quit posting my chapters. I don't know when Chapter 12 is going to be out. Should, repeat SHOULD be out by next Sunday. Please *gets down on knees and begs* please review. Even flames are accepted. Thanks for reading. CYA!~
The Scepter of the Dragons
Chapter 11: The Alliance of Enemies
By Coolchick1500
Hitomi stood on the roof for several minutes before moving. She watched the sun set behind the mountains. Van had been up there almost since the beginning, and he heard the whole story. "Are you all right?" Van asked.
"No, not really" Hitomi said.
"What did they say to you?" Van asked.
"I have a feeling that my mom, dad, and grandmother didn't tell me the whole truth about Fiona and Tyler" Hitomi said.
"Why do you say that?" Van asked.
His concern grew with every minute that passed. "Hitomi come back in" Van pleaded.
"I don't want to" Hitomi said.
Van came up behind Hitomi. "I think if best to come in and tell me what they told you" Van said.
Hitomi turned around and looked into Van's fiery red eyes. "Hitomi, please" Van said.
Hitomi shook her head yes, and followed Van inside. "Lady Hitomi, are you all right? Did they hurt you?" Larson asked.
"No, they didn't hurt me, and I'm fine" Hitomi said.
"M' lord, what happened?" Aklen asked.
"It is nothing you need to concern yourself with" Van said.
"But m' lord, the attack on the castle…" Another advisor started to say.
"It has been taken care of. If that is all Zaku, you're dismissed" Van said.
"M' lord I do suggest that you call an emergency council meeting" A third advisor said.
"A council meeting at this time is not needed. It will just be a waste of time. You are dismissed Guyho" Van said.
An old man with white hair and a beard came up to Van. "Sire, I implore you, an emergency council meeting is in the best interest of the people" he said.
"Peki I do not think it is important," Van said. "But if you will leave me alone afterward, I'll do so"
Hitomi followed Van and his advisors to the Council Room. "Sire, is it necessary for this woman to be present?" Aklen asked.
"This so-called woman will soon be your queen. I expect you treat her with respect" Van demanded.
"Yes sire" Aklen said.
He glanced at Hitomi, and gave her a nasty look. Hitomi sat down in the corner of the room, watched and listened to the meeting. "Sire, everyone is concerned about the three men that intruded earlier this evening. No one knows who they were, where they came from, or what they wanted," Peki said.
"The three men aren't of your concern. They're gone, and they won't return for awhile" Van said.
"But what do we do when they do return?" Guyho asked.
"You will do nothing. It is me they want. When they come back, I'll do what I need to do" Hitomi said.
"Lady Hitomi you and I both know it's not just you they want. They want you and something else" Zaku said.
"What they want is me, and they also want the 'Scepter of the Dragons'" Hitomi said.
The council member stood where they were in shock. "M' Lady, the 'Scepter of the Dragons' has been missing for over a millennia. You can't expect to find it. They can come back at any moment," Peki said.
"I know that. I also know that I won't be responsible for thousands of people dying if I can prevent it by giving them the scepter" Hitomi said.
"If they get their hands on the scepter, you will be responsible for thousands of people dying" Zaku said.
"The scepter was once used to contain them. We can use the scepter to contain them a second time" Hitomi said.
"How do you know they won't escape?" Guyho asked.
"The escaped their first prison with help. Dornkirk heard about the scepter and wanted its power. He sent his own sorcerers and released the three men. Without outside help, they won't escape a second time" Hitomi said.
"This is if you can find this scepter," Aklen said.
"You don't believe that it exists do you?" Hitomi asked.
"I do believe. Many people ran out to find it, and all of those people died. What makes you think you can succeed where they have failed?" Aklen asked.
"Because failure is not an option. We must succeed, if not for ourselves then for the people of Gaea" Hitomi said. "Besides, they weren't related to the person who protects it and controls its power. I am" Hitomi said.
With that she turned around and started to leave the room. "And you think that gives you power over the scepter? No one can control it" Aklen said.
"That's because no one knows how to control it. Only one thing can control it," Hitomi said.
"And what would that be?" Aklen asked.
"True love" Van replied. "I was up there when the three men started explaining the whole story. They explained that the scepter's powers only react to true love"
"Do you even know where to start looking?" Aklen asked.
"Leave that to me" Hitomi said.
"Dousing?" Van asked.
Hitomi looked away. "I thought you gave that up after the Dynasty War?" Van asked.
"To find the scepter, it may be the only way" Hitomi said.
Hitomi went to her room, and started looking through her bag for her Tarot Cards. She found them in a small book. She opened the book, and the middle was cut simply to the cards. The cards were tightly wrapped in a silk, dark purple piece of cloth. She pulled the cards out of the book, and sat down on the floor. She laid the cards out and did a reading of the future. The first card she flipped over was La Morte. "Death? Death of what or whom?" Hitomi asked.
The next card was L'Amore. "The Lovers Card? The Death of Lovers?" Hitomi asked again.
She didn't know what the cards meant. How did the Death and the Lovers Cards have to do with the scepter? There was a light knock at her door. "Hitomi, may I come in?" It was Van.
"Yes" Hitomi replied.
"Hitomi I wanted to catch you before you got into something, but I see that it's too late" Van said.
Hitomi picked up her card and placed them back in the book. "No, it's okay" Hitomi said.
"Something wrong?" Van asked.
"No, nothing's wrong" Hitomi said.
"What did the cards say?" Van asked.
"Nothing. They said nothing" Hitomi said.
Van knelt behind her. "The cards said something. Please tell me"
"I don't know what they said. It was confusing" Hitomi said.
"Anyway, I wanted to tell you that Yukari was looking for you" Van said.
"Thank you" Hitomi said.
She got up, and was greeted by Yukari at the door. "Hitomi, it isn't often I get angry, but you know very well that when you don't tell me things, I get angry!" Yukari was yelling by the end of her sentence.
"Yukari I was planning on telling you, but I never found the time" Hitomi said.
"I leave you two alone for awhile" Van said. The last thing he wanted to do was end up in the middle of a female squabble. He left Yukari and Hitomi alone.
"How could you not tell me you were engaged?" Yukari asked.
"Yukari you know you're my best friend, and I was planning on tell you Van asked me to marry him…"Hitomi started.
"When? When were you planning on telling me?" Yukari asked.
"The next time I talked to you" Hitomi said.
"That would have been when? You barely find time with me anymore" Yukari said.
"I'm sorry, but I really would have told you" Hitomi said.
They sat down on the bed and talked for hours. Close to midnight they were disrupted by Amano. "Van said I might find you two here" Amano said.
"Sorry, we've been busy talking and catching up on everything" Yukari said.
"That's okay. I don't mind. I know once you two get started talking, you'll be at it for hours to come" Amano said.
"Hey! That's mean" Yukari said.
Hitomi giggled. "But he's right" She said.
Yukari got up off of the bed, and followed Amano out of the room. "Good night Hitomi" Yukari said.
"Night" Hitomi replied.
Hitomi changed into her nightgown, and went out to the balcony. She sat down on the small stone bench in the corner of the balcony. She heard a sigh from above her. "Long night, Van?" Hitomi asked.
"How'd you know it was me?" Van asked.
"Only you would sit on the roof, above my room at midnight" Hitomi said.
Van smiled as he floated down on his angelic wings. "Go and get some sleep" Van said.
"Though I'd like to, I can't. I can't stop thinking about earlier" Hitomi replied.
Van saw the worried, frightened look on his beloved's face. Van came down to the balcony floor, and walked over to Hitomi. He sat down next to her, and put his arms around her. "It's scary, but you have to sleep. You can't allow them to win" Van said. "Come on, I'll stay with you until you fall asleep" He stood up, and went over to the edge of the balcony.
"Come on" Van said.
He took Hitomi's hand, and pulled her to her feet. He then picked her up in his arms, and flew her to his chambers. The balcony door was wide open. He flew in, and his wings disappeared. He laid her down on the bed, and wiped the hair out of her face. She closed her eyes. Hitomi slept and considering her night, slept well. She woke up in the wee hours of the morning. She decided to finish the reading she had started earlier. She got out of bed, and walked to her chamber. She took her cards and walked down to the Council Room. She sat down at the table and shuffled her deck. As she started her reading, she flipped over the first card. She stared in shock at what she saw. "This is impossible," Hitomi said.
She started blankly at the La Morte card. She continued to the second card. The next card was L'Amore. "How? I've never seen and two cards come up in the same order after I've shuffled my deck"
Hitomi was confounded. She continued the reading. She flipped over the third card. Il Guidizio. "The Judgement Card?"
Though the reading didn't make any sense, she had a feeling it was important she finish the reading. The forth card: Lamperatore. "The Emperor"
Next, La Imperatace. "The Empress"
The last card was Il Monde. "The World"
She placed the rest of her deck to the side, took those six cards in front of her on the table. "M' lady?"
Hitomi spun around, startled by the voice. "Larson? What are you doing up?" Hitomi asked.
"I saw a light out here, and I heard a voice. I came down to investigate" Larson said.
"I'm sorry I bothered you. I just couldn't get back to sleep" Hitomi said.
"It's okay. What are you doing?" Larson asked.
"I'm doing a reading, using Tarot Cards" Hitomi said.
Suddenly a young man ran through the door. "Commander, our spies have just reported that the countries of Zaibach and Basram have signed an Alliance Treaty," the man said.
"Are the spies positive?" Larson asked.
"Yes sir. We received a letter saying that kings from both countries will be here tomorrow, in the early afternoon," The man said.
"Please give me the note and leave Jenkins" Larson said.
"Yes sir" Jenkins said. The soldier handed Larson a piece of paper and closed the door behind him.
"I guess I should wake Van and explain the situation" Larson said.
"No, I'll go. If you go, and Van hears this news, he'll probable hit you" Hitomi said.
"Good luck" Larson said, handing the young woman the piece of paper.
Hitomi left the table and walked up the cold dark corridor. She opened the door to Van's chamber. She sat down on Van's bed, and tried to wake up Van. "Van, Van wake up!" Hitomi hissed.
"What? Hitomi? What's going on?" Van asked.
"I was down in the Council Room, talking to Larson when some man came in and told Larson that Zaibach and Basram signed an Alliance Treaty" Hitomi explained.
Van shot up in his bed. "What!" Van shouted.
"For some odd reason, Zaibach and Basram have signed an Alliance Treaty" Hitomi said.
Van noticed the piece of paper in Hitomi's hand. "What's that" Van asked.
"It's a letter saying that kings from both countries will be here tomorrow in the early afternoon" Hitomi said.
"Why?" Van asked.
"I don't know" Hitomi said.
~Chapter 11 is now out!!! How'd you people like it? I hope you liked it. I only got one review on my last chapter. Thanks DragonSun!!! Was it that bad? I hope not; otherwise, I'd have to quit posting my chapters. I don't know when Chapter 12 is going to be out. Should, repeat SHOULD be out by next Sunday. Please *gets down on knees and begs* please review. Even flames are accepted. Thanks for reading. CYA!~