The Way Things Were

Disclaimer: You know the drill: I don't own Escaflowne.

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The Way Things Were

Chapter 3

She twisted and turned. Those dreams were returning, coming back to haunt her. It hadn't taken her long to fall asleep, but her subconscious mind had not rested. Now she saw everything. Her mind spoke of things, unimaginable and horrid things, while she was sleeping. She saw again the fighting, everything covered in blood. Shadows whispered to her, cries of pure dement and torture. She saw the victims of the war, all of them, and witnessed their demise. A flash of light and it was gone, to be replaced by that moaning and wailing, and those eyes. Those eyes, begging, pleading her to help. Digging deep within her soul, they saw her. Saw her, without her title and fake alias. Eyes of a beautiful stranger: the eyes of life and death. Eyes that held so much, yet concealed themselves so well. She wanted to reach out and touch them, provide condolence but knew that it was impossible. Then that voice would accompany those eyes; that soft, imploring voice would talk to her.

Please… please… help me…

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Varie bolted from underneath her sheets and sat up straight. Her body was drenched in sweat, and she was breathing hard. She absentmindedly ran a hand through her long raven hair, then warily rubbed her eyes. It had been years since she last had that dream. Years. And now it came back at full blast, just like it had the first time she ever dreamt of those eyes. She couldn't understand its message the first time, but didn't bother to try to figure it out since the dream went away not long afterwards. And now it was back, trying to send her a message she didn't understand. She stretched backwards, and her neck cracked loudly. She was very tense, and she could feel it.

Deciding she needed to get her thoughts straight, she threw back the covers and got up. She walked over to her balcony, and opened the door. Invigoratingly, the cool night's air brushed against her face, and instantly Varie felt better. She decided to go out for a while, to get her thoughts straight. She walked back in, and quickly got dressed in her trousers and a long-sleeved shirt, both too big for her. She took no notice, and after she had firmly strapped her dagger onto her knee, she walked once again onto her balcony. Checking that no one was around, Varie concentrated her thoughts, and felt the tightness in her back rise. She concentrated harder, and out of her back burst out a pair of wings as white as snow. A few downy feathers fell, and floated slowly to land on her balcony. One drifted in front of her, and she opened her palm for it to land on. She pocketed it; it would be a gift to a very close friend of hers.

She was about to jump and be off when she realized she'd forgotten something, the most important and only thing she had to contact her friend with. Turning back, she opened a long, thin, wooden case. With hardly any light in the room, Varie felt through the velvet lining for the familiar feel of cold metal against her skin. When she'd found it, she held it firmly in her grasp, and walked out toward the balcony once more. In the moonlight, the silver metal glimmered beautifully in the night. She smiled contentedly, then headed off.

The moons provided her just enough light to see, and made everything seem so eerily majestic. The landscape below her, and the looming trees of the ever-nearing forest could never be seen in the perspective she was seeing them any time in daylight. The darkness seemed to bring with it hidden beauty, only seen by one who appreciates the dark, or one who does not fear it.

Her eyes searched through the dense cover of trees until they spotted the tiny clearing that they had seen so often a time. This was the place she came for condolence; her friend was here, and she was always willing to listen and always understood. On the days she wasn't, just the company and silent friendship from the surrounding trees was enough. That was all she needed to make her happy.

She slowed her pace, gliding down and flapping her wings in reverse to steady her descent. She felt her bare feet make contact with the smooth sea of grass, and quickly retracted her wings. Her back muscles were cramped, and she didn't need her wings to crowd what little space she had to loosen and relax them.

She walked over to her familiar sitting place, on top of a large boulder with a smooth surface she could sit on. Once she was comfortably settled, she took the instrument she still possessed in her hand, held it to her lips, and played. The flute sounded lofty, as much as the trees looked. She played the tune she knew since she was born, a tune they called the tune of the Dragons, a tune with a sad and happy melody all at the same time; she played the song of Fanelia.

She continued to play, waiting for her friend to arrive. Actually, she was more like a guardian, watching her and keeping her safe from behind the shadows. Soon, she felt the familiar thumping on the ground, and knew that at any moment her friend's large form would appear. As foretold, the scaly hide of the atypical dragon emerged, a yellowish-green eye watching her as she played. It stopped walking, and came to stand right before her, staring at her expectantly. She kept on playing, taking no notice of the dragon, waiting for it to speak to her.

Draconian Mistress, what brings you out here at this time of night?

The dragon didn't actually talk, but she rather sensed its feelings and emotions in her head. It was like telepathy, but with a dragon, and with colours and sensations instead of words.

Varie could only smile. She had been trying to no avail to get her friend to call her anything other than that. But it seemed that her friend was as stubborn, and if it were possible, even more stubborn than she was, and insisted on calling her by her 'proper' title, so she'd given up.

Varie had found that her friend was a very special dragon. Even though they were both part of the dragon race, she could only talk to dragons with the same special ability as her. When she spoke back however, she didn't use their mind-reading form of speech. Instead she spoke out loud.

"Himitsu," she smiled. She had learned that in her mother's native language used on the Mystic Moon, it meant secret. She decided to name her dragon friend that, because that was what their friendship was. A secret.

"I just couldn't sleep," she sighed warily. Then she decided to use her mind-speech language to talk to Himitsu instead.

That dream's back again. She relayed her thoughts. I keep seeing him, and he keeps begging me to save him. When he looks at me, it's like he sees my soul. She paused for a moment, and waited to see if she'd get any reaction from the silent dragon. When she got none, she decided to continue.

I don't understand. Why? It just doesn't make sense. Why me? I see a war before me, and then I witness the murders of innocents in a battle. Those souls wander around aimlessly in my dreams, but this one… she paused, trying to think of the right words to describe her dreams.

He's not dead. I can feel it. He's alive, somewhere out there. He's calling out to me, and I can't do anything to help him. I just… I just feel so… powerless.

She got a reaction from this, as she felt Himitsu 'laugh.'

Powerless? You're the last remaining descendant of the draconian race, and if your powers had been properly trained you would be the supreme power of this world.

But they aren't, are they? Varie retorted back.  I don't have any power.

You'll be the Queen of our homeland Fanelia soon. Even with no magical powers, your political status would be very great in the world.

Political status? Varie paused. How did you learn about the political system of Gaea?

She felt the dragon grin.

Oh, I have my ways, Mistress. I know a lot more than you think.

You have your ways? What else do you know that you're not telling me about? She asked suspiciously. Why do you find it so surprising that I know about politics, Mistress?

Because you're a dragon, for goodness's sakes! You're not supposed to be studying the living conditions of humans!

When she felt Himitsu speak next she knew she had hurt her feelings, for the colours and sensations she was receiving were dull and gloomy.

Why do you find it so hard for me to know about you, Mistress? To know about the way you live and the human part of this world?

I'm not human! She practically screamed in her head. I'm some cursed, in-between life form with no meaning to its existence, she spat out.

Is that what you think? Himitsu asked, only now understanding how her friend felt. You think your wings are a curse to you, that your gifts and being a direct descendant of the Atlantians are a curse to you?

You think it's a blessing? She asked sadistically.

I would love to have what you do, Mistress. Why not make the best of what you have?

And then the dragon had turned back, retreated into the thick cover of the trees, leaving her by herself with her more confused thoughts. She had come out here to make herself feel better, but now she felt a million times worse. Why was it that everything seemed to turn against her lately? Now her only secret friend was mad at her.

Sighing heavily, she presumed she'd better get back. If she were reported missing, then it would lead to tricky questions she would have to avoid in order not to expose Himitsu. Taking a deep breath, she picked up her silver flute, and sprouted her wings. Kicking off the ground hard, she took off into the dark night sky.

From behind a tree nearby, a pair of steel cold grey eyes watched, as Varie took off, very interested by the panorama between the Princess and the dragon he had just witnessed.

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Author's Notes: All of you are probably wondering whether this chapter had a point to it or not. To answer your question, I will only write stuff that is relevant to the story. I am a little saddened by the lack of reviews last chapter, but I decided to get this up early (I couldn't keep the ideas up in my head much longer, anyways.) So, I hope you enjoyed. Please tell me if there are any typos, spelling/grammar, and stuff. Meghanna Starsong, I tried to take your advice (about those paragraphs.) Tell me if I did any better.

Well, gotta go work on the next chapter of Shadow of the Revolution. Please review this chapter; I really need feedback!

~Seeress.