Chapter 1:

An Unexpected Reunion

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Escaflowne, and make no claim to them. Escaflowne belongs to its respective owners, but any new characters introduced are of my own creation and I ask that you do not copy them. The plot is also mine, and any similarity/ies with any other fanfiction is/are entirely coincidental.

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Varie stood on the balcony that overlooked Fanelia, staring longingly at the capital city of Strategos below. Varie had been told that this was the nickname of her uncle Folken, who had died near the end of the Great War. She watched the townspeople and merchants in the bazaar beyond the palace gates, seeing them go about their lives. A movement caught her eye, and her gaze shifted to two siblings playing together. They laughed and joked, messed up each other's hair, and played a friendly game of tag. How she envied them; so joyful and carefree. She had been like that once, until the responsibility of being the sovereign of a country had been handed to her. She wanted to be like that again. She wanted to enjoy life. But as fate would have it, nothing was going to go her way.

Fate. She smiled at the word. Fate was the thing that almost destroyed Gaea, but it was also the thing that had brought her parents together.

Fate, she thought again. How ironic.

Her attention then turned back to the busy marketplace, as she looked at her favourite bakery shop, famous for its custard creams. She had met the owner of the shop, and found her to be a very kind and generous person. She had told Varie about her children, and seemed so happy to live the life she had. A group of people exited the bakery, and she recognized a freckled-faced, redheaded young man immediately. Jared was new to Strategos; he used to live on the outskirts of Fanelia in the forest. He quickly became a sentry in her Father's army and was in charge of delivering notices to the citizens. She could guess the contents of the notice, most likely an invitation to the City Square to celebrate her 20th birthday. Almost everyone was happy, but Varie didn't know how she felt. She wasn't in the least bit happy, but to say that she was sad didn't describe her mood either. She heaved a sigh, thinking about the course of her future. She was the only successor to the throne, so naturally she would become Queen. She was expected to marry soon, the Advisors thinking it wise for Fanelia to have a King, not wanting her to rule alone. Marriage proposals came in by the dozen every day, coming mainly from princes and wealthy merchants who thought themselves to be quite the aristocrats. The letters were heaped on her desk, and she would have to start politely declining them soon.

Her attention shifted again, this time toward the mountains and the forest, as if looking hopelessly at the stretch of lush green would help to console her, and save her from herself. She often wished, at times, that she weren't born a princess, so she would be able to live life to its fullest, and not have to worry that her every action, every word she spoke, could somehow affect her country. Sighing again, she looked up to the endless blue sky, and the twin moons shining valiantly there. Her mother had told her countless stories about her home origin, about the people that lived there, about machines and technology. Technology would help Gaea, and Varie had asked her mother why she didn't introduce it to the people. Her mother had answered that technology pollutes the environment, and in the long run it does more damage than good. That made sense, but Varie would be delighted to be able to see a 'computer.'

Varie eyed a small sundial to her left, indicating that it was almost 2 o'clock. The hot afternoon sun was making her hazy, and she didn't notice a figure stepping out from the shadows behind her.

"Here again, I see," said the voice.

Varie, startled, almost fell over the railing. A firm hand grabbed her to prevent that from happening.

"Do you want to scare me to death, Mattie?" Varie asked her best friend. The cat-girl just stared back at her and smiled, brushing a strand of reddish-pink hair from her face.

"Of course not. I didn't even try to sneak up on you. You were just too deep in thought to notice me."

Turning to face her friend, Varie couldn't help but smile. Her friend stood, shoulders back, hands on hips, giving her a disapproving look that meant she knew only too well what Varie was thinking about. It was no wonder they were best friends; Mattie always cheered her up, just by being herself. Mattie's mother, Merle, was a childhood friend of her father's, so it was natural that they would be friends.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Varie tried to ask innocently. The you-know-what-I'm-talking-about glare she received back told her Mattie didn't buy her act.

"Why are you spending so much time pondering over this? You knew it would happen sooner or later. Instead of coming here every chance you got, try something that'll make you feel better!" Mattie scolded. "But it's so frustrating! I don't want to get married to some pig-headed, snobby prince who has fluff for brains and relies on his advisors!" At the last remark, Mattie laughed. Her laughter seemed to take away Varie's problems, so that she too started to laugh, and they continued to laugh for a long time after. Finally able to catch her breath and talk properly, Varie smiled gently.

"Thanks, Mattie. I needed that. Oh, I feel great now!"

"See? You should learn to take my advice once in a while, even if you're going to be a queen."

Varie nudged her friend playfully in the stomach.

"Well the last time I took your advice, Father almost had my head!" Varie teased, remembering only too well the incident when they were younger, which sent both girls into another fit of giggles. After they stopped laughing, Mattie produced from no where a small rectangular box, wrapped in silver paper with golden stars, and tied with curly gold ribbon.

"I almost forgot to give this to you. Happy Birthday, ahead of time since I probably won't get to see you on your birthday," Mattie said with a grin.

"Oh, Mattie, you shouldn't have gone to all the trouble," Varie said apologetically.

"Trouble?" Mattie's eyes spelled laughter. "It was no trouble. I had it made especially for you. Go on and open it already. See what it is!" Mattie said excitedly.

Carefully pulling back the wrapping paper so as not to rip it, Varie revealed a small wooden box with the letter "F" engraved on the lid. She opened it, and inside velvety blue lining was a figurine made of glass. Light danced on the figure, making it sparkle and shine. Varie gasped at its magnificence, as she lifted up her fragile present in her slender fingers. It was the figure of a man, a tall broadening man with a set face and fathomless eyes, with what looked like a tattoo of a tear underneath the right eye. His hair, which ran a little below his shoulders, was slightly spiked at the top. An arrogant chin finished his features, which gave him the impression of a sovereign who was unafraid of anything. The man was wearing a long cloak, although his arms were open as though welcoming her to his invisible kingdom, beckoning her to enter his world. His right arm, she noticed, didn't appear natural. It looked fake somehow, more mechanical than human. She could guess who this man was, even if she weren't told anything about him. She could sense that she somehow knew him, that they were blood related, both part of the Draconian race. Mattie, standing behind her friend and looking over her shoulder, broke the silence that seemed to surround the two when Varie had opened her present.

"Well, do you like it?" she asked uncertainly.

"Like it? Oh, Mattie, I love it. Thank you so much," replied a very grateful Varie.

As she moved to put the figurine back in its box, Varie noticed something she hadn't noticed in there before: a small handwritten note. A small grin formed on her face as she carefully opened and read the note; To the best future queen there could ever be. Varie couldn't help but smile.

"Well, it's true," Mattie beamed. "You'll be a great queen! You're good at everything. Politics, sparring, and you really understand—"

Varie's eyes went wide with shock.

"What did you just say?"

"Well, I was going to say that you really understand the people before you cut me off—"

"No, before that. Did you say sparring?"

"Yes, why?" Mattie asked, having no clue whatsoever as to why her friend was so distressed.

Pushing Mattie out of the way so that she would be able to see the sundial, Varie gasped when she saw the time.

"Oh, no," she groaned. "It's half past three already. My sparring session was supposed to start half an hour ago. I'll never be able to explain this."

And with that, she ran off, grabbing her birthday present and leaving a half-confused Mattie behind her. Mattie only shook her head, bemused by her friend, before she bound up onto the railing, and jumped away with feline grace.

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Varie had walked out of the training room a few hours later covered in sweat, tired, and very bruised. Her swordmaster Remus was teaching her new and much more complicated sparring techniques and movements, and all the exercise was visibly taking its toll on her. She was even surprised that her father let her spar in the first place; she highly suspected her mother and Remus had something to do with it. Her skill was improving very quickly, and she could defeat all of the guards and samurai of the castle, all of them, except Remus. Varie continued absentmindedly walking past the guards posted in the halls as they bowed to her, heading toward her room. Was it just her imagination, or were the castle halls longer and emptier than usual? Maybe it was her shirt, annoyingly clinging to her making her feel uncomfortable. Maybe she was just really tired, and needed to get some rest. But somehow that didn't seem to be the case.

Something feels so strange today, she thought to herself as she continued walking. I just can't quite put my finger on it.

She arrived in front of her room, only to find there were no guards posted there.

Now I know something's wrong. Father's so protective of me; he'd never leave my room unguarded.

She was definitely going to find out what was going on, but first she needed a bath and some newer clothes. She picked out a lavender sleeveless dress, with a darker purple bodice. After she finished her bath, she put on the dress, dried and did her hair, put on some shoes, and strapped her trusty dagger a little above her knee. She didn't go anywhere without this dagger, not that she was paranoid about someone hurting her; she was just used to the feeling of the knife where it was, and it was sort of like a lucky charm for her. Just as she turned to leave, she noticed a note sitting on her bedside table. She picked it up, and quickly read through it.

Dear Varie,

Our council meeting is cancelled for today. That must be blissful news for you.

At this, Varie smiled. Her father knew her too well.

Do as you wish for the late afternoon. You shouldn't have too much time to spend before dinner. I have some… urgent business to take care of. I would have liked you to come, but I would be late if I had waited for you. I'll be back by dinnertime. You'll be in for a surprise when I get back. And please, do behave yourself. That goes for Mattie as well.

Loving you always,

Your Father

xoxoxoxoxo

Urgent business? Varie thought to herself. What could be so urgent that Father had to cancel a council meeting?

She wanted to ponder in her thoughts some more, so she decided to go outside for the little time she had before the loud, resounding bell would ring, announcing dinnertime. The soft, cool breeze brushing against her face was an indicator that evening was fast approaching. She decided to head to the gardens, the fresh air and scent of the flowers always cheered her up. She didn't even arrive at the entrance of the garden yet when the loud tolling of a bell shocked her out of her reverie.

"Already?" she whispered quietly under her breath. "It's already dinnertime?"

She figured she must have gotten the wrong time from her sundial; after all, she only took a quick glance. She didn't put much thought into the matter though, and just headed back on the path she came, walking in the direction of the castle. She entered through the main doors, opened for her by a guard stationed there. Her footsteps resounded off the cold, stone walls, now that she was wearing her regular high-heeled shoes instead of her training boots. The hall was unusually quiet, and Varie figured that everyone had already entered the dining room, and she wondered if her father was back. She was a little eager to find out exactly what this 'surprise' was. She fantasized, drawn into her dreamworld of the perfect gift, that she didn't notice where she was going and bumped into something solid. She staggered backwards and fell, immediately drawn out of her haze. At first she thought she had walked into a wall, with all the attention she was paying to where she was going that was highly likely. But when she saw a pair of shoes in front of her, she realized she had bumped into a person.

"I'm so sorry," she said quickly, trying to get up.

"It's alright, princess," answered a very calm voice with an edge of humour in it. The person offered her a hand, and gladly took it, finally looking up to clearly see the person for the first time. The man in before her was well-built, tall, lean, and muscular. He had broad shoulders, and gleaming golden hair that reflected even the dim light of the castle. He had a handsome face, intelligent-looking and kind. And his eyes… Varie found herself staring into the most ever-familiar, crystal-blue eyes.

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Author's Notes: If anyone is even reading this, what do you think of the story so far? I know it's mainly all-talk, no action so far, but I promise something will happen in the next chapter… maybe the chapter after that. Thank you to Destiny Babee for reviewing my prologue, otherwise this chapter wouldn't of even been written. I would really appreciate reviews, but I suppose I'll keep writing even if I don't get them.

Anyways, I might take a while with my chapters, there are two other stories I'm currently working on besides this one… but I'll try to update, and please, REVIEW!!!

~Seeress~