The anger of untouched water
Chapter 5: Silence may lead you to somewhere unexpected, yet the road of life can be twisted.
As Van was thinking what this unknown woman was capable of an small knock intruded the silence that overthrew the room.
" Who is it" Van said in a deep voice.
" I have a message for lady Alita" The boy said awaiting for the order to enter.
" Come in" Van said and took a look at the boy that was carrying the letter. He was a young boy no older than 8 and had a small hat that just hid his left eye. The boy handed the Mysterious woman the letter and walked out of the room.
" who is it from?" Van asked wondering why she was getting a letter since she has only been there for three days.
" The Zibach empire" Alita said wondering if Folken had agreed to her request. So Alita opened the letter with anticipation and it stated:
Dear Alita
I hear you wanted to see me for reasons unknown, and
I have considered your solicit (desire) to see me. I have
agreed to see you if and only if you are alone and not
accompanied by anyone but yourself. I will meet you
at the edge of the forest at midevening after dinner tomorrow
night .
Till tomorrow
Folken
Alita was a little taken back with this agreement, she also didn't know if she wanted Van to know about this little endeavor. Alita felt a small power running through her hands and it made them tingle as if Jack frost has been breathing on them (frost bite) she ran her index finger along the letters and they suddenly disappeared. Alita could believe her eyes, she had to blink and clear her thoughts just to see if she was hallucinating it all. But when she looked again the words were still missing.
" What does it say?" Van asked walking up to Alita.
" Nothing, nothing at all" Alita said showing him the letter, absent of words.
" Ok but it's late so you should get some rest" Van suggested to the girl that looked puzzled over the letter.
" Ok sorry to keep you up" Alita apologized
" It wasn't you, and get some sleep" Van said before he walked out and shut the door behind him.
Alita laid the letter on the bed and sat down beside it. She just sat there staring at it for a while and then she started to wonder how she made the words slip off the page. The disappearing words disturbed her and she found sleep was long to come so she decided to take a walk. Alita noticed that Van didn't lock the door when he exited, this was one difference that made Alita feel more comfortable here than in the Zibach floating fortress. So Alita cautiously opened the door and searched the hall for a source of life, when she didn't find any she slipped out of the room and she started to make her way down the long cold corridors. She finally made it to her destination that she was looking for. She walked out onto the Balcony that had a hammock, she laid down on the hammock and just stared up at the stars that she loved so much. She laid there staring into the deep black ocean for a long time and she started to sing a tune that she had stuck in her head.
The dark night sky separates us
to lay bare our hearts as they call out to each other.
Cast off your useless trappings. Some things can only be seen
when you've lost everything.
Oh wind, I will stand and face you!
I will go to the sea of anguish,
though bonds cut my chest,
and the crushing waves are endless.
What does everyone seek by fighting?
Does spilled blood cause flowers to bloom?
Until the precious tomorrow is in my hands...
Until the day we meet...
Oh wind, I will stand and face you!
I will go and head for the brilliance.
Embracing prayer to my heart,
I wander the seemingly dark future.
Oh wind, I am not afraid!
Love is the miracle I have found!
It's my joy to believe in you.
The storm blows so that we might realize [our] love. ( Song from Record of Lodoss war)
While Alita was singing her favorite song she didn't realize she was being watched. As her song cut through the silence of the upcoming darkness, a unknown person stayed hidden using the shadows as a shield from focusing eyes. The person was watching Alita from the top of a old tree using its leaves as a veil so no one recognized him. Slightly after her solo Alita drifted into the warm comforting waves of sleep.
~* Van*~
" I still can't figure out that girl" Van said to Allen
" well do you like her, cause love can cloud your judgment" Allen said with a grin
" No I still love...." Van cut his sentence short
" I know Van" Allen said softly.
When Allen left Van sat in his room alone and stared into the darkness. Then a thought suddenly came to his mind, merle was supposed to come back today. Van walked to the throne room and noticed merle was asleep on a big chair beside the 'throne'. Van sighed and picked Merle up and carried her up to her room. The next day Van asked merle about her trip.
" So merle how was the trip to Asturia?" Van asked
" It was all right, except for the meetings you wanted me to attend in your place, now I know why you dislike those meetings." Merle said giggling slightly.
Van and merle talked for what felt like hours, but had only lasted at least 35 minutes. Merle had requested that Van get some rest as well as herself. Van left merle to slip into her dream land, and Van walked to his room. But as he walked along the corridor he heard foot steps quickening towards him. A small girl whirled around the corner and then spotted Van.
" Your majesty," She said trying to catch her breath " Lady Alita is gone and we can't find her anywhere, my mother told me to come get you at once" The young girl told the young king still gasping for air.
" Thank you, and where is your mother?" Van asked the young girl.
" She's waiting for you in pretty ladies room" The girl said taking hold of Vans hand and guiding him to her mother. The little girl was getting a little tired from the short but quick journey so Van picked her up and carried her the rest of the way. Van Walked into Alita's room carrying the young tired out girl, with her head resting on his shoulder.
" Your majesty, what happened is Sheris all right" The worried woman asked while pointing to the small child in Vans arms.
" Oh no she's fine She's just a little tired out you should take her to get some rest, she did a lot of running" Van said handing the small weight that was once was in his arms over to the short pudgy woman. " Oh and what is this about Alita being missing?" Van asked while regaining the reason he had come here in the first place.
" well I'm usually the person that brought the lady what she needed, and when I came here this morning she wasn't anywhere to be found. So I sent my daughter to find you because I knew you would be interested in her whereabouts just encase some thing may have happened." The woman said before exiting the large room with the King standing alone. Van started to worry when no one could find Alita anywhere in the castle. So Van had to resort to measures that he hasn't used, just to keep the memory's away. Van closed his eyes and cleared his thoughts, just as the woman he cherished so deeply had taught him. His mind had looked all over the castle and then he searched the outer perimeter, and that's when he found where she had been hiding. He seen her sleeping figure on a familiar balcony on the west side of the castle. He walked quick but not enough to drain his energy, and he made his way to the west wing of the palace. Van opened the door of the balcony quickly but silent enough not to disturb the dreams of the maiden sleeping before him. He watched her for awhile and a thought crossed his mind. " I know when people sleep the should look peaceful,and happy, but when I look at Alita when she sleeps she looks scared and distressed" Van quietly thought to himself. So Van finally picked Alita up and carried her to her own room wondering how she got out there and why.
~* At the Floating fortress*~
Dilandau was getting restless, and agitated. He had not felt the pleasure of taking a life in a long time, he was just sent to watch that stupid girl. He didn't know the reasons why he was ordered to watch her and know her whereabouts at all times, he just knew that Folken or Emperor Dornkerk was interested in the young woman for something.
Folken was pacing his courtiers while he was thinking what to do about this meeting that was only mere hours away. He thought and thought until he came up with a plan. He walked to Dilandau's private training room in search for Dilandau. With Folken's luck Dilandau was there.
" Dilandau!" Folken raised his voice.
" What is it now Folken!" Dilandau said still fighting an invisible enemy.
" I have a new mission for you" Folken said ready to put his plan into motion.
~* Back at the Fanelian Castle*~
After a few hours pasted Alita finally woke up, and she noticed that she was in her own bed.
" How did I get here the last thing I remember I was laying on the hammock" Alita said to herself. She scanned the room to see if there were any unwelcome guests, but there wasn't. Alita got up and got dressed, she still felt weird about the letter and the words disappearing, and also she was wondering what she was going to do at this meeting. She didn't know anything about this man but she assumed that he was a strong fighter and she wasn't to underestimate him. Alita had taken lessens in fighting and other defense techniques, and she often looked back on her teachers words and what they had said. She specifically took her martial arts teachers words seriously he would teach you about your opponent and what you should look for. She remembered one time he had been talking to her, he said
" Alita you are a very good fighter, your skills surpass anyone I know including myself, it is as if you were born to fight." The low voice of her teacher rang through the training area.
" I only fight to protect the ones I love" Alita stated.
" That is a good motivation tool, but it may be your greatest weakness also" He said turing his back to her. Alita only nodded to this. " Alita you should never let on your true abilities until you are sure you can trust the person, for they may use it to there advantage" His voice was soft yet commanding.
" Yes sir, I haven't been able to tell anyone since my parents were killed, so I don't think that will be a problem" Alita said letting her eyes wonder.
" also you should stay focused at all times, for you never know what is going to happen" Alita knew this was true. " Never underestimate your enemies for they may surprise you, just like you surprised me." The teacher turned and held out a sword.
" What is this" Alita wondered what this meant.
" there is more to you than what meets the eye and I know that because no one for about 2000 years has had the amount of strength, skill, and especially heart that you have, so I wanted you to have this." he handed the sword to her.
" But its so beautiful are you sure you want to give it to me, there are plenty of good fighters that you could give this to, a more worthy person." Alita said looking over the sword. It had a a black hilt with a red gem at the tip, but as you look down the sword it had a dragon carved into the steel.
" That is what I admire about you Alita, you do not think you are worthy of anything great yet you hold more power than anything I have seen. I also think you are the only person that could use it. It is a very advanced technology, the sword can become hidden from your enemies so they see you as harmless, and that's when your modesty can come in handy. You believe that you are not worthy and you seem unworthy until some one you love or care about is threatened." The explanation continued. " One last thing Alita, you should never show your enemy your pain no matter what" He said softly
" Thank you" Alita could only say these simple words for they were the only words that could escape her throat. Her teachers had become her family since the accident, they were the only one's that she was able to trust and care about. This was one conversation she wasn't going to forget, she would take his words and pass them on to her own children if she had any.
Alita was very hungry since she hasn't eaten for awhile, she would ask the pudgy woman if it was possible to eat in her room. The woman would always say yes and bring her some food. But Alita was worried a lot and would tend to miss the last few meals that were held. Alita was going to make her way to the kitchen but then reminded herself that she didn't have a clue were it was. So Alita decided to walk around and try and memorize her surroundings so that she could find her way around.
Alita had been walking for about an hour and a half and she was getting bored, she had already found where the throne room was, where the soldiers train, and where the weapons where kept. Soon Alita was to bored to walk any more inside the castle so she wanted to walk outside. She had seen that it was a beautiful day and the sky was blue. She walked for a while not knowing where she was going and soon she got frustrated with how big this place was. Alita finally spotted someone and hoped that they could help her. She ran up to them and she was pondering on what question she should ask, because she didn't know who she could trust.
" Excuse me, I'm a bit lost and wondered if you could help me?" Alita asked her voice sounding helpless.
" Where do you need to go Milady?" The woman asked in hopes that she could be of some help.
" I seen it was a beautiful day and would like to know where I go to get outside?" Alita asked looking out a near by window.
" You go straight through this corridor and then turn left, after you turn left you take your first right and then go through the doors at the end of the hall way" The woman said with a satisfied grin on her face.
" Thank you very much" Alita slightly bowed her head.
" Your very welcome" The woman was taken back by the girls politeness. With that the woman turned and walked in the opposite direction than the current destination Alita was heading. Alita followed the directions that the woman gave her and found the doors, when Alita opened them she instantly gasped. When she opened the doors she seen the most beautiful garden that she has ever laid eyes upon. She walked up to the garden wall that was a large bush in full bloom of dazzling white roses. She just stood there at the wall and admired the small flowers that laid upon it making it look fragile and it would break if you touched it. Then all of a sudden Alita heard a soft type of music humming in her ear. Alita quietly made her way towards the music and noticed it was an instrument, a single instrument but beautiful non the less. Alita peeked her head out from a bush and saw Van sitting on a near by rock playing a instrument that looked and sounded similar to the flute. Alita found the music to be soothing and it relaxed her let her tense muscles loosen and her whole body felt like it was lying in a soft bath. She didn't want to disturb Van so she quietly walked over under a cherry blossom tree and closed her eyes to let the soft notes clear her mind. After Van was finished the song Alita opened her eyes and applauded his song. Van didn't know Alita was there so he was startled when he heard the soft sound of clapping behind him. He whirled around to meet the deep blue eyes of Alita.
"Alita how long have you been here?" Van asked slightly turning red suspecting that she was there the whole time.
" Enough to hear your lovely song" Alita said with a sincere tone of voice.
" Oh" Van said turning yet another shade deeper.
" You play amazing" Alita gave a well deserved compliment
" thank you" Van said putting the instrument down. "So what are you doing here" Van asked striking up conversation.
" I seen the sky was so blue and I didn't want to walk around the castle all day so I decided to come outside." Alita said
" Oh ok well are you hungry they should be making lunch right now" Van said smiling
" Actually I'm really hungry" Alita blurted out then looking very embarrassed
" Ok well why don't you join me" Van asked
" Sure" Alita said smiling that she was finally getting something to eat.
After Van and Alita had lunch they walked around the castle some more, Van showed her specifically where thing were so she wouldn't get lost again. Then at around 9 o'clock Van said that he had a long meeting with his advisors that would take well past midnight. She said goodnight to Van and she was glad that he had a meeting, because she wouldn't have to explain her going out at night.
At about 11:30 Alita made her way to the gardens so she could meet Folken. She Walked to the edge of the forest with 15 minutes to spare. Alita was dressed in All black clothing that was supplied by the pudgy woman that took care of her. Alita was standing there for about 10 minutes and still had no sign of Folken coming. Then out in the distance she heard a twig break under pressure. She spun around on one foot and came to face with a tall man with short blue spiky hair and a small tear drop tattoo underneath his left eye.
" I see your early Milady" Folken said with a cool tone.
" I'm not the only one" Alita retorted the comment.
" Well your the one that requested my presence, so why have you asked me here?" Folken asked the slightly hidden girl.
" I wanted to know more about your brother?" Alita stated
" And why would you want to know about him" Folken asked a little confused by her reply.
" I need to know how much I can trust him" Alita said glancing back at the castle.
" well my brother is a good person but he could never stand up to me" Folken said also looking at the huge kingdom." He may be king but I have the superior power, or I will" Folken stated while looking at Alita, then he waved his hand and someone jumped out from the surrounding trees and hit her in the head rendering her into a black world. When Alita woke up she had a splitting headache, and she could barely keep her eyes open for they were dry and sore for reasons unknown to Alita. Then after her eyes felt a slight bit better she tried to get up but the shearing pain that went through her back was unbearable. So she laid there and stared at the ceiling for hours on end until there was a small clicking sound of the door opening. Alita directed her gaze on the person that had walked through the door, but she didn't know who he was. He was tall and had brown hair and he had a serious yet compassionate look upon his face. Alita didn't speak to him for he had already started to speak, but he wasn't talking to her he was telling her.
" Lord Folken will be seeing you shortly" The boy said and then exited the room.
" What do they want with me, Im not worth anything" Alita said out loud to herself.
" Oh but you are" A voice that only sounded so familiar.
" Folken" Alita spat out the name as she was betrayed.
" So you remember me" Folken said in a sly tone.
" I don't see why I would because your not worth remembering" Alita said
" Well you have no choice, and now your mine to control" Folken said smoothly
" And why do you say that, No one has the right to control me" Alita said sending him a death glare.
" Oh but I know how you don't like to see weak people that can't defend themselves get hurt" Folken said
" Yeah what does my feelings have to do with it?" Alita asked
" well this," Folken waved at the door and a little girl was pushed in. Alita recognized her from Fanelia, she was the pudgy woman's daughter Sheris. " if you do as I say this girl will go free but if you don't no one will see her again." Folken said with a threatening voice.
" No don't hurt her, I'll do as you say" Alita said looking down at the floor in shame, she had not let anyone get the better of her in a long long time. " but why would you want me?" Alita asked glaring at them with bright red eyes.
" You are more than you seem" Folken said simply " I'll leave her here for a while so i don't have to worry about both of you." Folken walked out of the room and locked the door.
~* Back at the Fanelian kingdom*~
" guards we need to send a search out for lady Alita, she has been missing since late last night." Van raised his voice" Also keep a look out for young Sheris" van said.
Van had gone to check up on Alita and seen she wasn't in her room and then her deepened the search and still could find her. So when everything else failed he once again used Hitomi's power. She was still no where to be found, and Van was starting to get worried.
~* At the floating fortress*~
Alita looked around and noticed that this was the same room that she was put in when she was in the Zibach floating fortress. Alita walked up to the window and saw how far up from the ground they were. Alita was still wearing all her cloths so with some luck they didn't see her wings. Alita walked up to the frightened little girl and gave her a reassuring hug. " Did they hurt you at all Sheris" Alita asked looking into the deep brown eyes of the small girl.
" No, all they did was take me from home, Oh please don't let them take me from you, there so scary and I don't know if they will take me home" The little squeezed her small arms around Alita and started to weep.
" Don't worry I won't let anything happen to you," Alita said looking at the window thinking." Do you trust me?" Alita looked into the soft eyes that were pleading to her.
" yes" The little girl said between breaths
" Good, so hold on tight"Alita said taking off the cloak that she had been wearing. The little girl was confused but did what she was told. Alita walked over to the window and opened it, it led to the balcony. Alita spread her wings and lifted off, the girl in her arms tightened her grip and buried her face in Alita's shoulder. Alita thought that she had gotten away and let her guard down, as she was flying Alita felt a stinging in her wing and when she looked at it an arrow was sticking out from both sides. They started to fall and Sheris started to sob, Alita promised Sheris that she wouldn't let anything happen to her so she wrapped her body around Sheris to act as a shield from the hard ground that was charging at them at an alarming speed. They finally hit and Alita could barely move and heard an order to retrieve them, Alita loosened her grip and seen that Sheris was not injured,
"Are you all right Sheris?" Alita asked
" Yes Im fine" Sheris said
" OK well we can't talk there coming and I don't want them to get you so if you run in that direction it should lead you home, And run as fast as you can and don't turn back" Alita said, " Don't turn back no matter what, Also Sheris don't tell lord Van that Im here it will just cause even more problems, I will get back some how but on my own. Just tell him that I'm all right." Alita said giving the girl one more hug and let her go. As soon as Alita's grip loosened the small girl bolted up and ran.
Alita was on the verge of blacking out but she didn't want to leave until she knew Sheris was ok. A guard started to pass her to retrieve the small girl but was stopped by a commanding voice.
" Let the little on go, she is of no use to us" She knew the voice all to well it was Dilandau. Dilandau walked up to Alita until he was right above her. " So what where you trying to do escape?" Dilandau said with a hint of sarcasm.
" No I just didn't trust you guys with the job of returning her home" Alita said
" well now you've done that so you will be coming and serving Lord Folken" Dilandau said with a snicker. Just as Dilandau said this Alita blacked out.
A little while later Alita woke up and was graced with the first sign of life was Dilandau. " So sleeping beauty finally awakes." Dilandau said with a small smirk.
" Dilandau be quiet" Folken ordered and Dilandau glared at Folken for making him look bad. " Alita Since you said you were going to do as I say I'm putting you as a rank in the Dragonslayers" Folken said waiting for the reactions that he was sure to get.
" What, what do you mean a dragonslayer, she couldn't be worthy enough to be a dragonslayer" Dilandau yelled
" What is a dragonslayer" Alita had wondered what the dragonslayers were since she had come to this planet.
" There an elite force that serves Zibach" Dilandau spat out.
" well I'm surely not the person your looking for because I can't fight" Alita said worried that they had detected her abilities.
" Then why did I find this in you bag when you got here the first time" Folken said while showing the sword that her martial arts teacher had given her. Alita gasped and lunged for the sword hoping to get it, but he pulled it back.
" It was my teacher's sword" Alita said while her eyes where on the ground so they wouldn't be able to detect her anger. Folken walked up to her and lifted her head up so he could see her eyes.
" You have remarkable eyes" Folken said staring into the sea of blood that was contained in her eyes. Dilandau seen her eyes and noticed that they where a different color than what they were when they met.
"How is it possible for your eyes to change?" Dilandau asked wondering
" That's mine to know and your to find out" Alita said wanting to confuse him with a riddle.
" Fine " Dilandau said simply and then left.
" I will be back with your uniform, but you will train with Dilandau until he feels you are ready to train with the dragonslayers" Folken said while he was exiting. He came back with a bundle in his hand and a ribbon. " here's the uniform and the ribbon is for your hair, you can use your own sword, and I will retrieve you when training starts" Folken then left Alita to change and to collect her thoughts.
~* Back at the Fanelian Palace*~
Van was pacing the throne room as a loud knock came at the large oak doors.
" Come in" Van ordered and saw a guard walk in with a small bundle in his arms, Van ran up to the guard and seen it was the young Sheris wrapped in a blanket.
" Take her to the medical wing to see if she's injured." Van ordered. But then a small whisper hit his ear
" What did you say?" Van said looking at the guard then looking at the small girl.
" Lady Alita will be all right, she'll find her way back." Sheris said before her eyes closed.
Van was confused with this, did he hear her right did she say that Alita would be all right, and she would come back. Van needed some time to think so he pushed his way past the guard and walked out of the room.
~* The floating fortress*~
Folken had Come and retrieved Alita and was taken back on how beautiful Alita looked in the uniform. It was the Same as the rest of the dragonslayers but it was all black and it matched her sword. Also with the black uniform her red eyes stood out like a black dot on a white piece of paper. Folken guided her to the training room where he was going to introduce her to the rest of the slayers.
Folken walked up to a door and all Alita could hear was yelling and recognized it as a charging warning.
" Stay here and I will wave you in when I want you to enter." Folken said and took the small nod that Alita gave was a yes. Folken entered the room and Alita heard him say.
" Slayers there will be a new soldier that will be joining your ranks and I would like you to treat them as you would treat anyone in this room, understand" Folken glared at them
" Yes sir" All of their voices echoed down the hall way.
Folken waved at Alita and she walked in with her head held high. She heard some of the whispers coming from the soldiers and she wasn't the least surprised cause she didn't see not one other girl, now she knew why Dilandau was so mad.
" A woman Folken is letting a woman join"
" I'm just wondering why Lord Dilandau would allow it"
" She probably can't fight"
" Yeah"
Alita looked around at the soldiers as she caught there gaze with her red eyes.
" Look she has the same color of eyes as Dilandau" there voices echoed.
"QUIET" Dilandau yelled
The slayers voices died the instant they heard his voice.
" Why aren't you training instead of just standing there like a bunch of drones" Dilandau said keeping his gaze on Alita." And you come with me" Dilandau pointed at Alita and leaded her into his private training area.
Without warning Dilandau threw a hard punch into her stomach knocking the wind out of her. " That's for your stupid riddle" Dilandau said. Alita caught her breath and got up and locked gazes with Dilandau. He punched her against her jaw bone and sent her flying across the room." That's for distracting my slayers" Dilandau said standing waiting for the plea of mercy, but it never came she just stood up. Also to Dilandau surprise she licked the blood away from her broken lip and then smiled, confusing Dilandau even more. Dilandau then got furious and punched her across the face with such force that the Dragonslayers could hear the flesh against flesh contact. "That's for making me look bad in front of Folken" Dilandau said simply. Alita laid bleeding on the floor got up and faced the anger of Dilandau. The Dilandau sent one final blow to the side of her head sending her flying and hitting the opposite wall, hearing the sickening crack of the back of her head colliding with the wall. " And That's for staring at me" Dilandau said exiting the room.
Dilandau walked into the slayers training room and signaled to Migel to come to him. " Migel I want you to go to my training room and take our new soldier to medical bay. Migel bowed slightly and exited the room. He walked up to the door and the heard the silent curses coming from inside. Migel walked in and seen the girl walking across the room to retrieve her sword, when she picked it up she turned and seen Migel. Not knowing he was there she jumped a little.
" Sorry I didn't mean to startle you , I was just coming to take you to the medical bay" Migel said softly after he seen her wounds. He knew what it felt like to get hit by Dilandau but non of them were treated like this on the first day. " Are you all right?" Migel asked still not exactly trusting her.
" Do I look all right to you" Alita recognized him as one of the boys that were whispering about her.
" No but I just thought I'd ask" Migel rolled his eyes on her rudeness. " Well I should take you and get you fixed up" Migel said signaling for her to follow.
" Its not like I have a choice" Alita walked up to him and let him lead the way.
They made there way the medical bay and Alita was cleaned up and was told that she may become dizzy at times but its nothing to worry about. Migel was waiting for Alita to finish in the medical room so he could take her back to the training room. Alita walked out of the small room and had to squint her eyes because of the brightness of the light. Then she caught sight of Migel and rolled her eyes.
" So I guess your here to take me back" Alita said
" yeah' Migel said
They both stayed silent during the walk back but before they made it all the way back they ran into Folken.
" What happened?" Folken asked after seeing Alita's bandages
" A little strength test" Alita smirked.
" well come with me I have to talk to you about some thing." Folken motioned for her to follow, and as they turned the corner Migel was left standing there alone and confused. Migel finally came to his senses and walked back to the training area.
Authors note:
here's another chapter. I know my story has bad timing and that comes from me I have horrible timing. Well Please review and let me know what you think, and if you have any suggestions just tell me.
Thanz
Chapter 5: Silence may lead you to somewhere unexpected, yet the road of life can be twisted.
As Van was thinking what this unknown woman was capable of an small knock intruded the silence that overthrew the room.
" Who is it" Van said in a deep voice.
" I have a message for lady Alita" The boy said awaiting for the order to enter.
" Come in" Van said and took a look at the boy that was carrying the letter. He was a young boy no older than 8 and had a small hat that just hid his left eye. The boy handed the Mysterious woman the letter and walked out of the room.
" who is it from?" Van asked wondering why she was getting a letter since she has only been there for three days.
" The Zibach empire" Alita said wondering if Folken had agreed to her request. So Alita opened the letter with anticipation and it stated:
Dear Alita
I hear you wanted to see me for reasons unknown, and
I have considered your solicit (desire) to see me. I have
agreed to see you if and only if you are alone and not
accompanied by anyone but yourself. I will meet you
at the edge of the forest at midevening after dinner tomorrow
night .
Till tomorrow
Folken
Alita was a little taken back with this agreement, she also didn't know if she wanted Van to know about this little endeavor. Alita felt a small power running through her hands and it made them tingle as if Jack frost has been breathing on them (frost bite) she ran her index finger along the letters and they suddenly disappeared. Alita could believe her eyes, she had to blink and clear her thoughts just to see if she was hallucinating it all. But when she looked again the words were still missing.
" What does it say?" Van asked walking up to Alita.
" Nothing, nothing at all" Alita said showing him the letter, absent of words.
" Ok but it's late so you should get some rest" Van suggested to the girl that looked puzzled over the letter.
" Ok sorry to keep you up" Alita apologized
" It wasn't you, and get some sleep" Van said before he walked out and shut the door behind him.
Alita laid the letter on the bed and sat down beside it. She just sat there staring at it for a while and then she started to wonder how she made the words slip off the page. The disappearing words disturbed her and she found sleep was long to come so she decided to take a walk. Alita noticed that Van didn't lock the door when he exited, this was one difference that made Alita feel more comfortable here than in the Zibach floating fortress. So Alita cautiously opened the door and searched the hall for a source of life, when she didn't find any she slipped out of the room and she started to make her way down the long cold corridors. She finally made it to her destination that she was looking for. She walked out onto the Balcony that had a hammock, she laid down on the hammock and just stared up at the stars that she loved so much. She laid there staring into the deep black ocean for a long time and she started to sing a tune that she had stuck in her head.
The dark night sky separates us
to lay bare our hearts as they call out to each other.
Cast off your useless trappings. Some things can only be seen
when you've lost everything.
Oh wind, I will stand and face you!
I will go to the sea of anguish,
though bonds cut my chest,
and the crushing waves are endless.
What does everyone seek by fighting?
Does spilled blood cause flowers to bloom?
Until the precious tomorrow is in my hands...
Until the day we meet...
Oh wind, I will stand and face you!
I will go and head for the brilliance.
Embracing prayer to my heart,
I wander the seemingly dark future.
Oh wind, I am not afraid!
Love is the miracle I have found!
It's my joy to believe in you.
The storm blows so that we might realize [our] love. ( Song from Record of Lodoss war)
While Alita was singing her favorite song she didn't realize she was being watched. As her song cut through the silence of the upcoming darkness, a unknown person stayed hidden using the shadows as a shield from focusing eyes. The person was watching Alita from the top of a old tree using its leaves as a veil so no one recognized him. Slightly after her solo Alita drifted into the warm comforting waves of sleep.
~* Van*~
" I still can't figure out that girl" Van said to Allen
" well do you like her, cause love can cloud your judgment" Allen said with a grin
" No I still love...." Van cut his sentence short
" I know Van" Allen said softly.
When Allen left Van sat in his room alone and stared into the darkness. Then a thought suddenly came to his mind, merle was supposed to come back today. Van walked to the throne room and noticed merle was asleep on a big chair beside the 'throne'. Van sighed and picked Merle up and carried her up to her room. The next day Van asked merle about her trip.
" So merle how was the trip to Asturia?" Van asked
" It was all right, except for the meetings you wanted me to attend in your place, now I know why you dislike those meetings." Merle said giggling slightly.
Van and merle talked for what felt like hours, but had only lasted at least 35 minutes. Merle had requested that Van get some rest as well as herself. Van left merle to slip into her dream land, and Van walked to his room. But as he walked along the corridor he heard foot steps quickening towards him. A small girl whirled around the corner and then spotted Van.
" Your majesty," She said trying to catch her breath " Lady Alita is gone and we can't find her anywhere, my mother told me to come get you at once" The young girl told the young king still gasping for air.
" Thank you, and where is your mother?" Van asked the young girl.
" She's waiting for you in pretty ladies room" The girl said taking hold of Vans hand and guiding him to her mother. The little girl was getting a little tired from the short but quick journey so Van picked her up and carried her the rest of the way. Van Walked into Alita's room carrying the young tired out girl, with her head resting on his shoulder.
" Your majesty, what happened is Sheris all right" The worried woman asked while pointing to the small child in Vans arms.
" Oh no she's fine She's just a little tired out you should take her to get some rest, she did a lot of running" Van said handing the small weight that was once was in his arms over to the short pudgy woman. " Oh and what is this about Alita being missing?" Van asked while regaining the reason he had come here in the first place.
" well I'm usually the person that brought the lady what she needed, and when I came here this morning she wasn't anywhere to be found. So I sent my daughter to find you because I knew you would be interested in her whereabouts just encase some thing may have happened." The woman said before exiting the large room with the King standing alone. Van started to worry when no one could find Alita anywhere in the castle. So Van had to resort to measures that he hasn't used, just to keep the memory's away. Van closed his eyes and cleared his thoughts, just as the woman he cherished so deeply had taught him. His mind had looked all over the castle and then he searched the outer perimeter, and that's when he found where she had been hiding. He seen her sleeping figure on a familiar balcony on the west side of the castle. He walked quick but not enough to drain his energy, and he made his way to the west wing of the palace. Van opened the door of the balcony quickly but silent enough not to disturb the dreams of the maiden sleeping before him. He watched her for awhile and a thought crossed his mind. " I know when people sleep the should look peaceful,and happy, but when I look at Alita when she sleeps she looks scared and distressed" Van quietly thought to himself. So Van finally picked Alita up and carried her to her own room wondering how she got out there and why.
~* At the Floating fortress*~
Dilandau was getting restless, and agitated. He had not felt the pleasure of taking a life in a long time, he was just sent to watch that stupid girl. He didn't know the reasons why he was ordered to watch her and know her whereabouts at all times, he just knew that Folken or Emperor Dornkerk was interested in the young woman for something.
Folken was pacing his courtiers while he was thinking what to do about this meeting that was only mere hours away. He thought and thought until he came up with a plan. He walked to Dilandau's private training room in search for Dilandau. With Folken's luck Dilandau was there.
" Dilandau!" Folken raised his voice.
" What is it now Folken!" Dilandau said still fighting an invisible enemy.
" I have a new mission for you" Folken said ready to put his plan into motion.
~* Back at the Fanelian Castle*~
After a few hours pasted Alita finally woke up, and she noticed that she was in her own bed.
" How did I get here the last thing I remember I was laying on the hammock" Alita said to herself. She scanned the room to see if there were any unwelcome guests, but there wasn't. Alita got up and got dressed, she still felt weird about the letter and the words disappearing, and also she was wondering what she was going to do at this meeting. She didn't know anything about this man but she assumed that he was a strong fighter and she wasn't to underestimate him. Alita had taken lessens in fighting and other defense techniques, and she often looked back on her teachers words and what they had said. She specifically took her martial arts teachers words seriously he would teach you about your opponent and what you should look for. She remembered one time he had been talking to her, he said
" Alita you are a very good fighter, your skills surpass anyone I know including myself, it is as if you were born to fight." The low voice of her teacher rang through the training area.
" I only fight to protect the ones I love" Alita stated.
" That is a good motivation tool, but it may be your greatest weakness also" He said turing his back to her. Alita only nodded to this. " Alita you should never let on your true abilities until you are sure you can trust the person, for they may use it to there advantage" His voice was soft yet commanding.
" Yes sir, I haven't been able to tell anyone since my parents were killed, so I don't think that will be a problem" Alita said letting her eyes wonder.
" also you should stay focused at all times, for you never know what is going to happen" Alita knew this was true. " Never underestimate your enemies for they may surprise you, just like you surprised me." The teacher turned and held out a sword.
" What is this" Alita wondered what this meant.
" there is more to you than what meets the eye and I know that because no one for about 2000 years has had the amount of strength, skill, and especially heart that you have, so I wanted you to have this." he handed the sword to her.
" But its so beautiful are you sure you want to give it to me, there are plenty of good fighters that you could give this to, a more worthy person." Alita said looking over the sword. It had a a black hilt with a red gem at the tip, but as you look down the sword it had a dragon carved into the steel.
" That is what I admire about you Alita, you do not think you are worthy of anything great yet you hold more power than anything I have seen. I also think you are the only person that could use it. It is a very advanced technology, the sword can become hidden from your enemies so they see you as harmless, and that's when your modesty can come in handy. You believe that you are not worthy and you seem unworthy until some one you love or care about is threatened." The explanation continued. " One last thing Alita, you should never show your enemy your pain no matter what" He said softly
" Thank you" Alita could only say these simple words for they were the only words that could escape her throat. Her teachers had become her family since the accident, they were the only one's that she was able to trust and care about. This was one conversation she wasn't going to forget, she would take his words and pass them on to her own children if she had any.
Alita was very hungry since she hasn't eaten for awhile, she would ask the pudgy woman if it was possible to eat in her room. The woman would always say yes and bring her some food. But Alita was worried a lot and would tend to miss the last few meals that were held. Alita was going to make her way to the kitchen but then reminded herself that she didn't have a clue were it was. So Alita decided to walk around and try and memorize her surroundings so that she could find her way around.
Alita had been walking for about an hour and a half and she was getting bored, she had already found where the throne room was, where the soldiers train, and where the weapons where kept. Soon Alita was to bored to walk any more inside the castle so she wanted to walk outside. She had seen that it was a beautiful day and the sky was blue. She walked for a while not knowing where she was going and soon she got frustrated with how big this place was. Alita finally spotted someone and hoped that they could help her. She ran up to them and she was pondering on what question she should ask, because she didn't know who she could trust.
" Excuse me, I'm a bit lost and wondered if you could help me?" Alita asked her voice sounding helpless.
" Where do you need to go Milady?" The woman asked in hopes that she could be of some help.
" I seen it was a beautiful day and would like to know where I go to get outside?" Alita asked looking out a near by window.
" You go straight through this corridor and then turn left, after you turn left you take your first right and then go through the doors at the end of the hall way" The woman said with a satisfied grin on her face.
" Thank you very much" Alita slightly bowed her head.
" Your very welcome" The woman was taken back by the girls politeness. With that the woman turned and walked in the opposite direction than the current destination Alita was heading. Alita followed the directions that the woman gave her and found the doors, when Alita opened them she instantly gasped. When she opened the doors she seen the most beautiful garden that she has ever laid eyes upon. She walked up to the garden wall that was a large bush in full bloom of dazzling white roses. She just stood there at the wall and admired the small flowers that laid upon it making it look fragile and it would break if you touched it. Then all of a sudden Alita heard a soft type of music humming in her ear. Alita quietly made her way towards the music and noticed it was an instrument, a single instrument but beautiful non the less. Alita peeked her head out from a bush and saw Van sitting on a near by rock playing a instrument that looked and sounded similar to the flute. Alita found the music to be soothing and it relaxed her let her tense muscles loosen and her whole body felt like it was lying in a soft bath. She didn't want to disturb Van so she quietly walked over under a cherry blossom tree and closed her eyes to let the soft notes clear her mind. After Van was finished the song Alita opened her eyes and applauded his song. Van didn't know Alita was there so he was startled when he heard the soft sound of clapping behind him. He whirled around to meet the deep blue eyes of Alita.
"Alita how long have you been here?" Van asked slightly turning red suspecting that she was there the whole time.
" Enough to hear your lovely song" Alita said with a sincere tone of voice.
" Oh" Van said turning yet another shade deeper.
" You play amazing" Alita gave a well deserved compliment
" thank you" Van said putting the instrument down. "So what are you doing here" Van asked striking up conversation.
" I seen the sky was so blue and I didn't want to walk around the castle all day so I decided to come outside." Alita said
" Oh ok well are you hungry they should be making lunch right now" Van said smiling
" Actually I'm really hungry" Alita blurted out then looking very embarrassed
" Ok well why don't you join me" Van asked
" Sure" Alita said smiling that she was finally getting something to eat.
After Van and Alita had lunch they walked around the castle some more, Van showed her specifically where thing were so she wouldn't get lost again. Then at around 9 o'clock Van said that he had a long meeting with his advisors that would take well past midnight. She said goodnight to Van and she was glad that he had a meeting, because she wouldn't have to explain her going out at night.
At about 11:30 Alita made her way to the gardens so she could meet Folken. She Walked to the edge of the forest with 15 minutes to spare. Alita was dressed in All black clothing that was supplied by the pudgy woman that took care of her. Alita was standing there for about 10 minutes and still had no sign of Folken coming. Then out in the distance she heard a twig break under pressure. She spun around on one foot and came to face with a tall man with short blue spiky hair and a small tear drop tattoo underneath his left eye.
" I see your early Milady" Folken said with a cool tone.
" I'm not the only one" Alita retorted the comment.
" Well your the one that requested my presence, so why have you asked me here?" Folken asked the slightly hidden girl.
" I wanted to know more about your brother?" Alita stated
" And why would you want to know about him" Folken asked a little confused by her reply.
" I need to know how much I can trust him" Alita said glancing back at the castle.
" well my brother is a good person but he could never stand up to me" Folken said also looking at the huge kingdom." He may be king but I have the superior power, or I will" Folken stated while looking at Alita, then he waved his hand and someone jumped out from the surrounding trees and hit her in the head rendering her into a black world. When Alita woke up she had a splitting headache, and she could barely keep her eyes open for they were dry and sore for reasons unknown to Alita. Then after her eyes felt a slight bit better she tried to get up but the shearing pain that went through her back was unbearable. So she laid there and stared at the ceiling for hours on end until there was a small clicking sound of the door opening. Alita directed her gaze on the person that had walked through the door, but she didn't know who he was. He was tall and had brown hair and he had a serious yet compassionate look upon his face. Alita didn't speak to him for he had already started to speak, but he wasn't talking to her he was telling her.
" Lord Folken will be seeing you shortly" The boy said and then exited the room.
" What do they want with me, Im not worth anything" Alita said out loud to herself.
" Oh but you are" A voice that only sounded so familiar.
" Folken" Alita spat out the name as she was betrayed.
" So you remember me" Folken said in a sly tone.
" I don't see why I would because your not worth remembering" Alita said
" Well you have no choice, and now your mine to control" Folken said smoothly
" And why do you say that, No one has the right to control me" Alita said sending him a death glare.
" Oh but I know how you don't like to see weak people that can't defend themselves get hurt" Folken said
" Yeah what does my feelings have to do with it?" Alita asked
" well this," Folken waved at the door and a little girl was pushed in. Alita recognized her from Fanelia, she was the pudgy woman's daughter Sheris. " if you do as I say this girl will go free but if you don't no one will see her again." Folken said with a threatening voice.
" No don't hurt her, I'll do as you say" Alita said looking down at the floor in shame, she had not let anyone get the better of her in a long long time. " but why would you want me?" Alita asked glaring at them with bright red eyes.
" You are more than you seem" Folken said simply " I'll leave her here for a while so i don't have to worry about both of you." Folken walked out of the room and locked the door.
~* Back at the Fanelian kingdom*~
" guards we need to send a search out for lady Alita, she has been missing since late last night." Van raised his voice" Also keep a look out for young Sheris" van said.
Van had gone to check up on Alita and seen she wasn't in her room and then her deepened the search and still could find her. So when everything else failed he once again used Hitomi's power. She was still no where to be found, and Van was starting to get worried.
~* At the floating fortress*~
Alita looked around and noticed that this was the same room that she was put in when she was in the Zibach floating fortress. Alita walked up to the window and saw how far up from the ground they were. Alita was still wearing all her cloths so with some luck they didn't see her wings. Alita walked up to the frightened little girl and gave her a reassuring hug. " Did they hurt you at all Sheris" Alita asked looking into the deep brown eyes of the small girl.
" No, all they did was take me from home, Oh please don't let them take me from you, there so scary and I don't know if they will take me home" The little squeezed her small arms around Alita and started to weep.
" Don't worry I won't let anything happen to you," Alita said looking at the window thinking." Do you trust me?" Alita looked into the soft eyes that were pleading to her.
" yes" The little girl said between breaths
" Good, so hold on tight"Alita said taking off the cloak that she had been wearing. The little girl was confused but did what she was told. Alita walked over to the window and opened it, it led to the balcony. Alita spread her wings and lifted off, the girl in her arms tightened her grip and buried her face in Alita's shoulder. Alita thought that she had gotten away and let her guard down, as she was flying Alita felt a stinging in her wing and when she looked at it an arrow was sticking out from both sides. They started to fall and Sheris started to sob, Alita promised Sheris that she wouldn't let anything happen to her so she wrapped her body around Sheris to act as a shield from the hard ground that was charging at them at an alarming speed. They finally hit and Alita could barely move and heard an order to retrieve them, Alita loosened her grip and seen that Sheris was not injured,
"Are you all right Sheris?" Alita asked
" Yes Im fine" Sheris said
" OK well we can't talk there coming and I don't want them to get you so if you run in that direction it should lead you home, And run as fast as you can and don't turn back" Alita said, " Don't turn back no matter what, Also Sheris don't tell lord Van that Im here it will just cause even more problems, I will get back some how but on my own. Just tell him that I'm all right." Alita said giving the girl one more hug and let her go. As soon as Alita's grip loosened the small girl bolted up and ran.
Alita was on the verge of blacking out but she didn't want to leave until she knew Sheris was ok. A guard started to pass her to retrieve the small girl but was stopped by a commanding voice.
" Let the little on go, she is of no use to us" She knew the voice all to well it was Dilandau. Dilandau walked up to Alita until he was right above her. " So what where you trying to do escape?" Dilandau said with a hint of sarcasm.
" No I just didn't trust you guys with the job of returning her home" Alita said
" well now you've done that so you will be coming and serving Lord Folken" Dilandau said with a snicker. Just as Dilandau said this Alita blacked out.
A little while later Alita woke up and was graced with the first sign of life was Dilandau. " So sleeping beauty finally awakes." Dilandau said with a small smirk.
" Dilandau be quiet" Folken ordered and Dilandau glared at Folken for making him look bad. " Alita Since you said you were going to do as I say I'm putting you as a rank in the Dragonslayers" Folken said waiting for the reactions that he was sure to get.
" What, what do you mean a dragonslayer, she couldn't be worthy enough to be a dragonslayer" Dilandau yelled
" What is a dragonslayer" Alita had wondered what the dragonslayers were since she had come to this planet.
" There an elite force that serves Zibach" Dilandau spat out.
" well I'm surely not the person your looking for because I can't fight" Alita said worried that they had detected her abilities.
" Then why did I find this in you bag when you got here the first time" Folken said while showing the sword that her martial arts teacher had given her. Alita gasped and lunged for the sword hoping to get it, but he pulled it back.
" It was my teacher's sword" Alita said while her eyes where on the ground so they wouldn't be able to detect her anger. Folken walked up to her and lifted her head up so he could see her eyes.
" You have remarkable eyes" Folken said staring into the sea of blood that was contained in her eyes. Dilandau seen her eyes and noticed that they where a different color than what they were when they met.
"How is it possible for your eyes to change?" Dilandau asked wondering
" That's mine to know and your to find out" Alita said wanting to confuse him with a riddle.
" Fine " Dilandau said simply and then left.
" I will be back with your uniform, but you will train with Dilandau until he feels you are ready to train with the dragonslayers" Folken said while he was exiting. He came back with a bundle in his hand and a ribbon. " here's the uniform and the ribbon is for your hair, you can use your own sword, and I will retrieve you when training starts" Folken then left Alita to change and to collect her thoughts.
~* Back at the Fanelian Palace*~
Van was pacing the throne room as a loud knock came at the large oak doors.
" Come in" Van ordered and saw a guard walk in with a small bundle in his arms, Van ran up to the guard and seen it was the young Sheris wrapped in a blanket.
" Take her to the medical wing to see if she's injured." Van ordered. But then a small whisper hit his ear
" What did you say?" Van said looking at the guard then looking at the small girl.
" Lady Alita will be all right, she'll find her way back." Sheris said before her eyes closed.
Van was confused with this, did he hear her right did she say that Alita would be all right, and she would come back. Van needed some time to think so he pushed his way past the guard and walked out of the room.
~* The floating fortress*~
Folken had Come and retrieved Alita and was taken back on how beautiful Alita looked in the uniform. It was the Same as the rest of the dragonslayers but it was all black and it matched her sword. Also with the black uniform her red eyes stood out like a black dot on a white piece of paper. Folken guided her to the training room where he was going to introduce her to the rest of the slayers.
Folken walked up to a door and all Alita could hear was yelling and recognized it as a charging warning.
" Stay here and I will wave you in when I want you to enter." Folken said and took the small nod that Alita gave was a yes. Folken entered the room and Alita heard him say.
" Slayers there will be a new soldier that will be joining your ranks and I would like you to treat them as you would treat anyone in this room, understand" Folken glared at them
" Yes sir" All of their voices echoed down the hall way.
Folken waved at Alita and she walked in with her head held high. She heard some of the whispers coming from the soldiers and she wasn't the least surprised cause she didn't see not one other girl, now she knew why Dilandau was so mad.
" A woman Folken is letting a woman join"
" I'm just wondering why Lord Dilandau would allow it"
" She probably can't fight"
" Yeah"
Alita looked around at the soldiers as she caught there gaze with her red eyes.
" Look she has the same color of eyes as Dilandau" there voices echoed.
"QUIET" Dilandau yelled
The slayers voices died the instant they heard his voice.
" Why aren't you training instead of just standing there like a bunch of drones" Dilandau said keeping his gaze on Alita." And you come with me" Dilandau pointed at Alita and leaded her into his private training area.
Without warning Dilandau threw a hard punch into her stomach knocking the wind out of her. " That's for your stupid riddle" Dilandau said. Alita caught her breath and got up and locked gazes with Dilandau. He punched her against her jaw bone and sent her flying across the room." That's for distracting my slayers" Dilandau said standing waiting for the plea of mercy, but it never came she just stood up. Also to Dilandau surprise she licked the blood away from her broken lip and then smiled, confusing Dilandau even more. Dilandau then got furious and punched her across the face with such force that the Dragonslayers could hear the flesh against flesh contact. "That's for making me look bad in front of Folken" Dilandau said simply. Alita laid bleeding on the floor got up and faced the anger of Dilandau. The Dilandau sent one final blow to the side of her head sending her flying and hitting the opposite wall, hearing the sickening crack of the back of her head colliding with the wall. " And That's for staring at me" Dilandau said exiting the room.
Dilandau walked into the slayers training room and signaled to Migel to come to him. " Migel I want you to go to my training room and take our new soldier to medical bay. Migel bowed slightly and exited the room. He walked up to the door and the heard the silent curses coming from inside. Migel walked in and seen the girl walking across the room to retrieve her sword, when she picked it up she turned and seen Migel. Not knowing he was there she jumped a little.
" Sorry I didn't mean to startle you , I was just coming to take you to the medical bay" Migel said softly after he seen her wounds. He knew what it felt like to get hit by Dilandau but non of them were treated like this on the first day. " Are you all right?" Migel asked still not exactly trusting her.
" Do I look all right to you" Alita recognized him as one of the boys that were whispering about her.
" No but I just thought I'd ask" Migel rolled his eyes on her rudeness. " Well I should take you and get you fixed up" Migel said signaling for her to follow.
" Its not like I have a choice" Alita walked up to him and let him lead the way.
They made there way the medical bay and Alita was cleaned up and was told that she may become dizzy at times but its nothing to worry about. Migel was waiting for Alita to finish in the medical room so he could take her back to the training room. Alita walked out of the small room and had to squint her eyes because of the brightness of the light. Then she caught sight of Migel and rolled her eyes.
" So I guess your here to take me back" Alita said
" yeah' Migel said
They both stayed silent during the walk back but before they made it all the way back they ran into Folken.
" What happened?" Folken asked after seeing Alita's bandages
" A little strength test" Alita smirked.
" well come with me I have to talk to you about some thing." Folken motioned for her to follow, and as they turned the corner Migel was left standing there alone and confused. Migel finally came to his senses and walked back to the training area.
Authors note:
here's another chapter. I know my story has bad timing and that comes from me I have horrible timing. Well Please review and let me know what you think, and if you have any suggestions just tell me.
Thanz