Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne.
A/N: I am under so much stress from all the school work I have to do for the summer and I just haven't been feeling the urge to type up the story lately. But I'm going to type right now. I know you all have been waiting for it and I know you all are about to sieze up the pitchforks and bang down my door. So I'll make this good. AND HAPPY TOO!!! Isn't that a first? Also, I am going to have a one-shot of Merle soon. It'll be depressing but I think it will suit her well. Well, here is the next chapter. Keep reviewing, especially you hime-chan! Enjoy!
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Chapter XVIII: Hello My Love
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It was storming as she rode to the castle. The gates weren't that far from where she was and she felt a fluttering sense in her heart. The chocolate brown mare galloped under her as fast as it could, panting heavily. She pat its head in encouragement.
"Just a little further." she whispered into its velvety ear. Thunder clashed above them in a mighty roar. She looks up to the sky, one hand shielding her eyes from invading rain drops and her long brown hair. Her eyes widened and she gasped. A flock of large bright red birds flew towards the capital. In the middle of the flock was two orange flaming birds supporting a large carriage like canopy.
A flash of lightning shattered above the traveling herd. As it touched the tips of the fiery feathers, it absorbed itself into the bird, giving it a short spark of a glow. The cloaked riders steered between the shocks magnificently, catching each one.
"Wow! It's beautiful!" she exclaimed with eyes glittering. The royal manor rose from the horizon and she quickly approached the gates. They were closed due to the storm and two guards stood on the overpass.
"Let me in! It's me, Hitomi Kanzaki, Seeress of the Mystic Moon!" she yelled and pulled back her hood. The guards yelled out orders and the gates were slowly and painfully creaked open. Tapping the reins, she galloped on. It was late at night, so everyone was in their beds. Finally pulling to a halt at the manor, she ran up to the guard.
"Halt miss or I will slay you!" he yelled as he held his sword menacingly. Hitomi stopped and bowed happily in front of him. Please Raeden, may I please have an audience with Van?" she asked sweetly.
"Lady Hitomi? I can't believe it! You're back! His majesty is seeing the Lady Inhestia off in Sanctuary. Real creepy place you know. I'll assist you if you desire it." he said in happy relief. She ran back to the horse and jumped onto it's back with ease.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine! So long!" she said and spiraled her horse around and galloped off towards the back. The trees were a mystical emerald now and she smiled, inhaling deeply. This was home. The closest thing to home for her for a long time. The woods cleared abruptly and a large field opened around her. It was the lake, that oh so familiar one that she drowned her sorrows in.
On the bank was the procession of pyres. The riders were packing up stuff from Sanctuary and loading it onto the mighty birds. Most of the stuff was just cloth and relics, a settee and some supplies. There must have been over thirty birds there because it was a glowing flock that echoed fire all around.
Hopping off of her horse, she walked towards the convoy. Everything was in a silent hustle and bustle, loading and unloading things everywhere. Two priests were fussing with a rather untamed white pyre that they tied with ropes. Its magnificence was like that of a star, white hot and beautiful, twinkling on its own. She looked around in awe and noticed something that caught her eye. It was on a fair orange bird that hand kept to itself on the side. Being only fairly decorated, she assumed it was just a common riding pyre for one of the regular priests. But the pack that was on it's saddle, however, was a wonderful silk of pure white and reds.
'There will be a horde of pyres flying in this fortnight. One will bear a saddle made of the finest silk you could imagine.'
"Oh, That's it!" she said as she remembered what Eriol told her. Making her way over to it, it noticed her advancing and chirped happily to her. Petting its head, she turned her attention back to the saddle pack. Unbuckling it, she marveled in awe at the beauty of the box that lay inside. It was about a hand's length and half a hand thick.
'Inside of that, there is a ruby and gold box that has silver letters engraved in it. Inside of that will be two pouches, a blue satin one and a green cotton one. Take the green cotton one and don't open it until the morning.'
"Green cotton pouch." she said to herself. Pulling it out of the box, she safely tucked it into her pocket and re-closed the box and fastened the saddlebag. Sighing in relief of her work being done she looked around to find Van. Everything was too bright and busy to be able to spot anyone at once. Walking through the herd, she scanned each of the faces. They all were the same, blood red eyes and silver hair that was long and either braided back of worn long.
"Kassa yaro! Im sarin hal minktruuk! Sarinyel nor Keeper! Im katore Van!" yelled one of the orange robed priests. Hitomi recognized the names and ran towards him. He was barking out orders in Cellonian to the minor priests and waved his hands around. She noticed a royally dressed unruly haired man standing next to a regally garbed woman.
"Van!" she yelled as she ran up to him. He seemed confused as to where the voice was coming from and looked around. The woman, probably Inhestia, pointed her to him. As soon as he saw her, his eyes lit up and he stood there in a shock with a happy grin on his face.
"Hitomi!" he yelled happily and he ran up to her. She giggled with glee and ran even harder, trying to reach his warm arms, his protecting embrace. Everything seemed to go very slowly and she delighted in the feeling that no one else mattered than Van, and it was true. Jumping up, she landed in his arms and he held her up. He spun her around and they both bubbled in laughter.
"Van! I love you!" she exclaimed in joy. He smiled and hugged her close. He seemed so happy to her, so full of life and joy. It was like he had come back from that long time of not responding to her after Nakami fell under.
"Never leave me again okay! I missed you so much!" he said and held her against him. Kissing her, he hugged her tightly as she did to him. "I love you Hitomi." he said and continued to spin her again, laughing happily.
And there it was. It was the start of the prophecy and the end of innocence. They were men and women and they had grown together, hurt together, and healed together. And as they twirled each other around under the stars and by the light of the pyres, she felt as if all of the time of sorrow was over and that a new time of opportunity was here. And they both embraced it with open arms.
-------End of Act I-------
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A/N: Hey, I know I haven't updated in months and you all probably thought that I was dead but I just had a lot of things happen. Sorry about that. But I'd like to truly thank Cev for their review. I loved it! I am so happy that someone out there feels sorry for Inhestia and cried for the characters. That's what tells me that a story is great. I hope I make more people cry too! I know it sounds odd and cruel but I like that truly wonderful feeling that I moved someone with my own origional writing. If I make anyone angry, I am truly sorry but this story isn't going to be the happiest in the world. But I decided to give all you crying people a break and put a period of happy times in here. I just hope it won't come out too happy and joyful. Cause then I will have to add some more bad parts in here. Well, I just wanted to thank you Cev. You were the one who got me back at my seat and writing a brand new chapter cause of your lengthy and beautiful review. I have it on my desktop, next to hime-chan's ones of course. Hee hee. Well, thank you all! And please write me more reviews! I love every single word that you send to me, good or bad! Bye!
~!~
A/N: I am under so much stress from all the school work I have to do for the summer and I just haven't been feeling the urge to type up the story lately. But I'm going to type right now. I know you all have been waiting for it and I know you all are about to sieze up the pitchforks and bang down my door. So I'll make this good. AND HAPPY TOO!!! Isn't that a first? Also, I am going to have a one-shot of Merle soon. It'll be depressing but I think it will suit her well. Well, here is the next chapter. Keep reviewing, especially you hime-chan! Enjoy!
-----------------------------------------------------
Chapter XVIII: Hello My Love
-----------------------------------------------------
It was storming as she rode to the castle. The gates weren't that far from where she was and she felt a fluttering sense in her heart. The chocolate brown mare galloped under her as fast as it could, panting heavily. She pat its head in encouragement.
"Just a little further." she whispered into its velvety ear. Thunder clashed above them in a mighty roar. She looks up to the sky, one hand shielding her eyes from invading rain drops and her long brown hair. Her eyes widened and she gasped. A flock of large bright red birds flew towards the capital. In the middle of the flock was two orange flaming birds supporting a large carriage like canopy.
A flash of lightning shattered above the traveling herd. As it touched the tips of the fiery feathers, it absorbed itself into the bird, giving it a short spark of a glow. The cloaked riders steered between the shocks magnificently, catching each one.
"Wow! It's beautiful!" she exclaimed with eyes glittering. The royal manor rose from the horizon and she quickly approached the gates. They were closed due to the storm and two guards stood on the overpass.
"Let me in! It's me, Hitomi Kanzaki, Seeress of the Mystic Moon!" she yelled and pulled back her hood. The guards yelled out orders and the gates were slowly and painfully creaked open. Tapping the reins, she galloped on. It was late at night, so everyone was in their beds. Finally pulling to a halt at the manor, she ran up to the guard.
"Halt miss or I will slay you!" he yelled as he held his sword menacingly. Hitomi stopped and bowed happily in front of him. Please Raeden, may I please have an audience with Van?" she asked sweetly.
"Lady Hitomi? I can't believe it! You're back! His majesty is seeing the Lady Inhestia off in Sanctuary. Real creepy place you know. I'll assist you if you desire it." he said in happy relief. She ran back to the horse and jumped onto it's back with ease.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine! So long!" she said and spiraled her horse around and galloped off towards the back. The trees were a mystical emerald now and she smiled, inhaling deeply. This was home. The closest thing to home for her for a long time. The woods cleared abruptly and a large field opened around her. It was the lake, that oh so familiar one that she drowned her sorrows in.
On the bank was the procession of pyres. The riders were packing up stuff from Sanctuary and loading it onto the mighty birds. Most of the stuff was just cloth and relics, a settee and some supplies. There must have been over thirty birds there because it was a glowing flock that echoed fire all around.
Hopping off of her horse, she walked towards the convoy. Everything was in a silent hustle and bustle, loading and unloading things everywhere. Two priests were fussing with a rather untamed white pyre that they tied with ropes. Its magnificence was like that of a star, white hot and beautiful, twinkling on its own. She looked around in awe and noticed something that caught her eye. It was on a fair orange bird that hand kept to itself on the side. Being only fairly decorated, she assumed it was just a common riding pyre for one of the regular priests. But the pack that was on it's saddle, however, was a wonderful silk of pure white and reds.
'There will be a horde of pyres flying in this fortnight. One will bear a saddle made of the finest silk you could imagine.'
"Oh, That's it!" she said as she remembered what Eriol told her. Making her way over to it, it noticed her advancing and chirped happily to her. Petting its head, she turned her attention back to the saddle pack. Unbuckling it, she marveled in awe at the beauty of the box that lay inside. It was about a hand's length and half a hand thick.
'Inside of that, there is a ruby and gold box that has silver letters engraved in it. Inside of that will be two pouches, a blue satin one and a green cotton one. Take the green cotton one and don't open it until the morning.'
"Green cotton pouch." she said to herself. Pulling it out of the box, she safely tucked it into her pocket and re-closed the box and fastened the saddlebag. Sighing in relief of her work being done she looked around to find Van. Everything was too bright and busy to be able to spot anyone at once. Walking through the herd, she scanned each of the faces. They all were the same, blood red eyes and silver hair that was long and either braided back of worn long.
"Kassa yaro! Im sarin hal minktruuk! Sarinyel nor Keeper! Im katore Van!" yelled one of the orange robed priests. Hitomi recognized the names and ran towards him. He was barking out orders in Cellonian to the minor priests and waved his hands around. She noticed a royally dressed unruly haired man standing next to a regally garbed woman.
"Van!" she yelled as she ran up to him. He seemed confused as to where the voice was coming from and looked around. The woman, probably Inhestia, pointed her to him. As soon as he saw her, his eyes lit up and he stood there in a shock with a happy grin on his face.
"Hitomi!" he yelled happily and he ran up to her. She giggled with glee and ran even harder, trying to reach his warm arms, his protecting embrace. Everything seemed to go very slowly and she delighted in the feeling that no one else mattered than Van, and it was true. Jumping up, she landed in his arms and he held her up. He spun her around and they both bubbled in laughter.
"Van! I love you!" she exclaimed in joy. He smiled and hugged her close. He seemed so happy to her, so full of life and joy. It was like he had come back from that long time of not responding to her after Nakami fell under.
"Never leave me again okay! I missed you so much!" he said and held her against him. Kissing her, he hugged her tightly as she did to him. "I love you Hitomi." he said and continued to spin her again, laughing happily.
And there it was. It was the start of the prophecy and the end of innocence. They were men and women and they had grown together, hurt together, and healed together. And as they twirled each other around under the stars and by the light of the pyres, she felt as if all of the time of sorrow was over and that a new time of opportunity was here. And they both embraced it with open arms.
-------End of Act I-------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
A/N: Hey, I know I haven't updated in months and you all probably thought that I was dead but I just had a lot of things happen. Sorry about that. But I'd like to truly thank Cev for their review. I loved it! I am so happy that someone out there feels sorry for Inhestia and cried for the characters. That's what tells me that a story is great. I hope I make more people cry too! I know it sounds odd and cruel but I like that truly wonderful feeling that I moved someone with my own origional writing. If I make anyone angry, I am truly sorry but this story isn't going to be the happiest in the world. But I decided to give all you crying people a break and put a period of happy times in here. I just hope it won't come out too happy and joyful. Cause then I will have to add some more bad parts in here. Well, I just wanted to thank you Cev. You were the one who got me back at my seat and writing a brand new chapter cause of your lengthy and beautiful review. I have it on my desktop, next to hime-chan's ones of course. Hee hee. Well, thank you all! And please write me more reviews! I love every single word that you send to me, good or bad! Bye!
~!~