Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne.
A/N: Hey! I'm so freaking happy about this story! It's going along so well, and I know it's going in the direction you've ALL been begging for. Hehe! Well, I just hope you all review please. It'd make this story come out so much faster. Well read on!
--------------------------------------------------------
Chapter XVII: Epiphany of Love
--------------------------------------------------------
The day was clear and fresh. It was the morning after I came here and Allen requested a day's rest before my audience with him. Now I am sitting at the vanity, brushing my hair carefully. I want it to shine like gold but I don't want to walk in bald headed. After I am finished, I look at myself in the mirror. My hair is longer now, halfway down my back. When I got here, it was barely grazing my shoulders.
The dress that the servant picked out for me is laid out on the bed. It is nice and simple, a light blue bodice with a white long skirt. Pulling it on, it hugs at my chest for dear life. It has no other support so I have to hope my chest is strong enough, or big enough. Nice and snug black shoes laid at the foot of the bed. They feel good and I make a mental note to myself to thank the servant for her good choice in clothing.
As I'm about to leave the room, Allen slowly opens the door. "Good Morning Hitomi. Did you sleep well?" he asked with a smile. I return his smile and give a slight bow.
"Very well thank you. May we talk now? This business is fairly important." I reply. He nods and places my arm in the crook of his. This is so like him, polite, and knightly. But he looks older, calmer, even a bit worn. Noticing my inspection of him, he gives me another warm smile.
"So? Are you going to talk or what?" he said with a humorous air in his voice. Nodding, I look for the quickest place for seclusion. The gardens open up to me and I suggest we go there. "Good choice. I know exactly the spot." he says and gently guides me along.
The gardens are even lovelier than the entrance fields, if that could be possible. There were hummingbirds everywhere, and the sweet fragrance of romantic blue flowers fill my nostrils. I smile as I look around. The grass is a perfect emerald green, no blemishes could be found in the expanse that we walked. Even though I was a bit in a rush to ask him about the marriage proposal, I brush it off to the side and enjoy the beauty of nature.
He led me through a narrow stone corridor, the exotic ivy climbing all across the walls to give it an aged look, but the bright yellow blossoms giving it an image of it being new. There are bright golden buds, glistening with some kind of sugary looking liquid. He picks off two, one for me and one for him. Directing me, he puts it up to his lips and sucks the juice out of it. I follow suit and blink at the wonderful sweetness of the fruit. It was like a delicious ambrosia and I savored the taste as we carried on.
Suddenly, a hazy hint of magic tickled the back of my head. It was coming from ahead. Was it evil? No, it was obviously something pure but mysterious in the same. I look to him. He continues to the end as if he doesn't notice a thing. Well of course he wouldn't, I do have psychic powers and he doesn't.
The corridor ends and a beautiful fountain greets us here. It isn't really a fountain, it more resembles a birdbath but not to be used for that purpose. It was majestic, the images of robed women carved into it. A single woman in piercing white robes stood by the fountain. She looked up to me and smiled.
Allen stops and is frozen. I look around in confusion. Everything else seems to be fine and moving along on its business. I return my gaze to the figure in question. She smiles to me, her bright blue eyes kindly gazing to me. Her hair is long and silvery white.
"Who are you? What have you done to Allen?" I ask, feeling no worry.
"I am the moon maiden Geladine. Mother of Inhestia, the keeper of the Moons and Suns. Don't worry, I haven't come here to give you any harm, I only came to give you advice and information." she said, her voice soft and regal.
"What information do you have to give me? Is it about that traitor Nakami?" I spat. She shook her head displeased and continued.
"Yes, it is about Nakami. But she isn't as you think. She died a long time ago. When she fell asleep, she returned to the heavens with her family. Inhestia's soul then took her place. As it was to be. But don't feel sad for Nakami, she knew that she was to die for a long time. In turn, she accepted it and lived out her life the best she could. My daughter is also a prisoner of Fate." she said.
Nakami died? But, how come she never told me she would? Had I been feeling hatred for an already dead soul? Or was it for the new one, Inhestia? "What do you mean, a prisoner of Fate?" I ask, holding my anger in. I had been deceived and my best friend never told me. Even Eriol probably knew that she was gone. That's why he gave me such a piteous face.
"There is a prophecy. The keeper of the moons and suns shall be reborn from Gaea and bear two children for this planet, the child of the Dunes and the child of the Stars. If this isn't fulfilled in any way, Gaea shall be taken by the Dune Lords and your nightmare from the future shall come to be. You and the Dragon have been tested many times, including the Great Gaean War. Your love for each other must once again be strong enough to fulfill your part as well in this."
"Wait, I don't understand this. You're going in circles." I said.
"Inhestia, Arnin, Van Fanel, and you are the key players in this. If anyone of you falls, or if any of you forfeit you love for each other, than the Dunes will have won." she said. Slowly yet surely, she disappeared. Everything turned back to normal and Allen looked to me.
"Now, what did you want to talk about?" he asked, eyes inviting for anything I would say. This is my chance. My chance to go to the one who would make me happier than anything the world could give me. I seize the chance and smile.
"I need the fastest horse in your stables, I need to get to Fanellia."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------
An unconscious silver haired maiden was yet again carried off by a yellow robed priest. He carried her down the hall, safely hugging her nude body close to his chest. The Cathedral of Holy was large and vast. It stood proud on a floating platform, large as the city of Palas, if not bigger. Large pristine waterfalls fell down to the lake below it. Large rainbows skirted the cathedral.
He walked into a large room. It was decorated in black silks and beautiful gold pieces. There was a large and luxurious bed, in the middle of this room. He laid her on the black satin sheets. Sighing, he stretched and pulled back his hood. "I'll never get used to this." he said, his back cracking in agreement. He was young, about her age, if not a little bit older.
Under that troublesome hood was a handsome young face. Long and perfectly brushed silver hair was tied back into an elongated ponytail that disappeared into the far recesses of the robes. But there was something different about his eyes. They were cool slates of mysterious gray. It was the color that would pull any observer into their mystical depths. That was because they were a pure gray, no blemishes or lines in them, no inconsistencies at all.
He picked up the gold lamp and waved his hand tiredly over it. A small blue light flickered and it cooled off to a lazy yellow. Doing this to the rest of the lamps in the room, he smiled at his work. "That was the hard part." The black room now glowed in a warm bronze color, making the gold glow. He sat himself across the bed from her and crossed his legs in a meditative manner. Closing his eyes, he sighed.
Pulling at his hair, he examines it. A bright streak of blue stands out from the shimmering pale silver. "It's starting to grow." he said disappointedly. He knew that more and more would come but he still wished that he would wake up from it all and find himself still the same old Pyran he was a year ago. The horrible dream was still vivid in his mind after so long.
'Enough worrying about this. I must be just getting old or something. Yeah, that's it. Age.' he thought as he ran his hand through the streaked hair of 'old age.' The silver haired maiden in front of him sighed and moaned in her sleep. He smiled to her and leaned over her. Bright and glossy red eyes fluttered tiredly open. Giving him a warm smile, she caressed his cheek.
"How long was I out?" she asked. He placed her small hand in his fairly large one and kissed the palm.
"About five hours." he said with a comforting smile. She looked to her side with a sniff. "It's not getting too bad. You're seeming to get better. In fact, you usually get sick about now." he said.
A small tear formed in the corner of her eye. Pyran kissed her cheek and brushed away her tear away with his thumb. "I saw another vision as well." she said sadly. He smiled to her and gave her a quick kiss. "The seeress shall give you all the answers. But it'll be the end of you and the birth of a new person."
He cuddled up to her and stroked her cheek. "I shall not look for her. I promise you Faslien, I shall not leave your side."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
The moons twinkled and shined in the clear night sky. An ebony haired maiden stood in an emerald field, a warm feeling growing in her womb. Her hands were intertwined with a fairly taller man, an exact twin of her magnificence. He smiled to the sparkling stars, their bright white glory delicately placed into the night sky. He looked to her, a bright smile on his olive face.
"It's you." he said happily, pointing to the star. It was a bright yellow, something uncommon in them. "You're a wonderful golden star. Something rare and exotic, like gold." he continued.
Her eyes were closed in peacefulness, the golden emblem of her godly heritage on her forehead glowed a mirror of the man's own. With a sigh, she leaned on him, her silky locks gliding over his back like a silk blanket. He looked to her and smiled with peacefulness.
They were twin souls, each knowing what the other was thinking, what they were feeling and seeing. There was nothing on her face that he couldn't read, the way her eyebrows arched, how her mouth creased and pursed, even how her cheeks flexed and her sighs echoed in her form. She was a godly creature, strong yet feminine, extravagant yet plain, but unique entirely. She was her own as her was, but they were twinned, their souls intertwined.
"Van?" she asked, her eyes slitted and mystical. He gave a small grunt in reply. "I'll miss you when I go." He smiled and nodded in reply. Reaching into his shirt, he pulled off a necklace on a golden chain. Hiding it in his fist, he pulled one of her hands to him and gently placed the treasure in her palm.
It glittered in the moonlight and its pink beauty glimmered in her eyes. "I had a feeling that I needed to give it to you. Like it was meant to be passed to you." he said. It was confusing to him. It was Hitomi's token of love to him and he cherished it more than any treasure in all the castle. But he willingly gave it to Inhestia. He didn't love her, and he knew she didn't feel that way for him either, but it seemed to move to her, like it belonged there, the way it belonged with him long ago. And oddly enough, it always felt heavier around his neck when he was with her.
"I'll take care of it. Thanks." she said giving him a hug.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
A/N: I know it's been forever but I swear it will be updated faster. And I just saw X-men 2. I recommend you to see it! It's way better than the first one! And it's cool. And I know Christina Aguilera has gotten kinda weird, but her newer song "Fighter" is awesome! And the music video it cool and she's not being whorey! Wooohoo! But back to Esca! Give me some reviews peeps! It's getting V/H again! I know this chapter is kinda lame but I promise I will write good ones again! Reviews keep it going. And lack of reviews makes it come out slower than normally would. Well, Bye!
A/N: Hey! I'm so freaking happy about this story! It's going along so well, and I know it's going in the direction you've ALL been begging for. Hehe! Well, I just hope you all review please. It'd make this story come out so much faster. Well read on!
--------------------------------------------------------
Chapter XVII: Epiphany of Love
--------------------------------------------------------
The day was clear and fresh. It was the morning after I came here and Allen requested a day's rest before my audience with him. Now I am sitting at the vanity, brushing my hair carefully. I want it to shine like gold but I don't want to walk in bald headed. After I am finished, I look at myself in the mirror. My hair is longer now, halfway down my back. When I got here, it was barely grazing my shoulders.
The dress that the servant picked out for me is laid out on the bed. It is nice and simple, a light blue bodice with a white long skirt. Pulling it on, it hugs at my chest for dear life. It has no other support so I have to hope my chest is strong enough, or big enough. Nice and snug black shoes laid at the foot of the bed. They feel good and I make a mental note to myself to thank the servant for her good choice in clothing.
As I'm about to leave the room, Allen slowly opens the door. "Good Morning Hitomi. Did you sleep well?" he asked with a smile. I return his smile and give a slight bow.
"Very well thank you. May we talk now? This business is fairly important." I reply. He nods and places my arm in the crook of his. This is so like him, polite, and knightly. But he looks older, calmer, even a bit worn. Noticing my inspection of him, he gives me another warm smile.
"So? Are you going to talk or what?" he said with a humorous air in his voice. Nodding, I look for the quickest place for seclusion. The gardens open up to me and I suggest we go there. "Good choice. I know exactly the spot." he says and gently guides me along.
The gardens are even lovelier than the entrance fields, if that could be possible. There were hummingbirds everywhere, and the sweet fragrance of romantic blue flowers fill my nostrils. I smile as I look around. The grass is a perfect emerald green, no blemishes could be found in the expanse that we walked. Even though I was a bit in a rush to ask him about the marriage proposal, I brush it off to the side and enjoy the beauty of nature.
He led me through a narrow stone corridor, the exotic ivy climbing all across the walls to give it an aged look, but the bright yellow blossoms giving it an image of it being new. There are bright golden buds, glistening with some kind of sugary looking liquid. He picks off two, one for me and one for him. Directing me, he puts it up to his lips and sucks the juice out of it. I follow suit and blink at the wonderful sweetness of the fruit. It was like a delicious ambrosia and I savored the taste as we carried on.
Suddenly, a hazy hint of magic tickled the back of my head. It was coming from ahead. Was it evil? No, it was obviously something pure but mysterious in the same. I look to him. He continues to the end as if he doesn't notice a thing. Well of course he wouldn't, I do have psychic powers and he doesn't.
The corridor ends and a beautiful fountain greets us here. It isn't really a fountain, it more resembles a birdbath but not to be used for that purpose. It was majestic, the images of robed women carved into it. A single woman in piercing white robes stood by the fountain. She looked up to me and smiled.
Allen stops and is frozen. I look around in confusion. Everything else seems to be fine and moving along on its business. I return my gaze to the figure in question. She smiles to me, her bright blue eyes kindly gazing to me. Her hair is long and silvery white.
"Who are you? What have you done to Allen?" I ask, feeling no worry.
"I am the moon maiden Geladine. Mother of Inhestia, the keeper of the Moons and Suns. Don't worry, I haven't come here to give you any harm, I only came to give you advice and information." she said, her voice soft and regal.
"What information do you have to give me? Is it about that traitor Nakami?" I spat. She shook her head displeased and continued.
"Yes, it is about Nakami. But she isn't as you think. She died a long time ago. When she fell asleep, she returned to the heavens with her family. Inhestia's soul then took her place. As it was to be. But don't feel sad for Nakami, she knew that she was to die for a long time. In turn, she accepted it and lived out her life the best she could. My daughter is also a prisoner of Fate." she said.
Nakami died? But, how come she never told me she would? Had I been feeling hatred for an already dead soul? Or was it for the new one, Inhestia? "What do you mean, a prisoner of Fate?" I ask, holding my anger in. I had been deceived and my best friend never told me. Even Eriol probably knew that she was gone. That's why he gave me such a piteous face.
"There is a prophecy. The keeper of the moons and suns shall be reborn from Gaea and bear two children for this planet, the child of the Dunes and the child of the Stars. If this isn't fulfilled in any way, Gaea shall be taken by the Dune Lords and your nightmare from the future shall come to be. You and the Dragon have been tested many times, including the Great Gaean War. Your love for each other must once again be strong enough to fulfill your part as well in this."
"Wait, I don't understand this. You're going in circles." I said.
"Inhestia, Arnin, Van Fanel, and you are the key players in this. If anyone of you falls, or if any of you forfeit you love for each other, than the Dunes will have won." she said. Slowly yet surely, she disappeared. Everything turned back to normal and Allen looked to me.
"Now, what did you want to talk about?" he asked, eyes inviting for anything I would say. This is my chance. My chance to go to the one who would make me happier than anything the world could give me. I seize the chance and smile.
"I need the fastest horse in your stables, I need to get to Fanellia."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------
An unconscious silver haired maiden was yet again carried off by a yellow robed priest. He carried her down the hall, safely hugging her nude body close to his chest. The Cathedral of Holy was large and vast. It stood proud on a floating platform, large as the city of Palas, if not bigger. Large pristine waterfalls fell down to the lake below it. Large rainbows skirted the cathedral.
He walked into a large room. It was decorated in black silks and beautiful gold pieces. There was a large and luxurious bed, in the middle of this room. He laid her on the black satin sheets. Sighing, he stretched and pulled back his hood. "I'll never get used to this." he said, his back cracking in agreement. He was young, about her age, if not a little bit older.
Under that troublesome hood was a handsome young face. Long and perfectly brushed silver hair was tied back into an elongated ponytail that disappeared into the far recesses of the robes. But there was something different about his eyes. They were cool slates of mysterious gray. It was the color that would pull any observer into their mystical depths. That was because they were a pure gray, no blemishes or lines in them, no inconsistencies at all.
He picked up the gold lamp and waved his hand tiredly over it. A small blue light flickered and it cooled off to a lazy yellow. Doing this to the rest of the lamps in the room, he smiled at his work. "That was the hard part." The black room now glowed in a warm bronze color, making the gold glow. He sat himself across the bed from her and crossed his legs in a meditative manner. Closing his eyes, he sighed.
Pulling at his hair, he examines it. A bright streak of blue stands out from the shimmering pale silver. "It's starting to grow." he said disappointedly. He knew that more and more would come but he still wished that he would wake up from it all and find himself still the same old Pyran he was a year ago. The horrible dream was still vivid in his mind after so long.
'Enough worrying about this. I must be just getting old or something. Yeah, that's it. Age.' he thought as he ran his hand through the streaked hair of 'old age.' The silver haired maiden in front of him sighed and moaned in her sleep. He smiled to her and leaned over her. Bright and glossy red eyes fluttered tiredly open. Giving him a warm smile, she caressed his cheek.
"How long was I out?" she asked. He placed her small hand in his fairly large one and kissed the palm.
"About five hours." he said with a comforting smile. She looked to her side with a sniff. "It's not getting too bad. You're seeming to get better. In fact, you usually get sick about now." he said.
A small tear formed in the corner of her eye. Pyran kissed her cheek and brushed away her tear away with his thumb. "I saw another vision as well." she said sadly. He smiled to her and gave her a quick kiss. "The seeress shall give you all the answers. But it'll be the end of you and the birth of a new person."
He cuddled up to her and stroked her cheek. "I shall not look for her. I promise you Faslien, I shall not leave your side."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
The moons twinkled and shined in the clear night sky. An ebony haired maiden stood in an emerald field, a warm feeling growing in her womb. Her hands were intertwined with a fairly taller man, an exact twin of her magnificence. He smiled to the sparkling stars, their bright white glory delicately placed into the night sky. He looked to her, a bright smile on his olive face.
"It's you." he said happily, pointing to the star. It was a bright yellow, something uncommon in them. "You're a wonderful golden star. Something rare and exotic, like gold." he continued.
Her eyes were closed in peacefulness, the golden emblem of her godly heritage on her forehead glowed a mirror of the man's own. With a sigh, she leaned on him, her silky locks gliding over his back like a silk blanket. He looked to her and smiled with peacefulness.
They were twin souls, each knowing what the other was thinking, what they were feeling and seeing. There was nothing on her face that he couldn't read, the way her eyebrows arched, how her mouth creased and pursed, even how her cheeks flexed and her sighs echoed in her form. She was a godly creature, strong yet feminine, extravagant yet plain, but unique entirely. She was her own as her was, but they were twinned, their souls intertwined.
"Van?" she asked, her eyes slitted and mystical. He gave a small grunt in reply. "I'll miss you when I go." He smiled and nodded in reply. Reaching into his shirt, he pulled off a necklace on a golden chain. Hiding it in his fist, he pulled one of her hands to him and gently placed the treasure in her palm.
It glittered in the moonlight and its pink beauty glimmered in her eyes. "I had a feeling that I needed to give it to you. Like it was meant to be passed to you." he said. It was confusing to him. It was Hitomi's token of love to him and he cherished it more than any treasure in all the castle. But he willingly gave it to Inhestia. He didn't love her, and he knew she didn't feel that way for him either, but it seemed to move to her, like it belonged there, the way it belonged with him long ago. And oddly enough, it always felt heavier around his neck when he was with her.
"I'll take care of it. Thanks." she said giving him a hug.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
A/N: I know it's been forever but I swear it will be updated faster. And I just saw X-men 2. I recommend you to see it! It's way better than the first one! And it's cool. And I know Christina Aguilera has gotten kinda weird, but her newer song "Fighter" is awesome! And the music video it cool and she's not being whorey! Wooohoo! But back to Esca! Give me some reviews peeps! It's getting V/H again! I know this chapter is kinda lame but I promise I will write good ones again! Reviews keep it going. And lack of reviews makes it come out slower than normally would. Well, Bye!