Zongi stood, a curious smile on his face, ready to call the next and last witness. He walked in front of the judge and bowed, "I would now like to call my last witness, sir." he turned to the audience, "I'd like to call…"
But then, a voice rang out in the audience, "No! Wait." said the commanding voice, "I have something to say. I will be the next witness."
Dilandau turned to see King Van Fanel smoothing back his ever-unruly hair and standing, sliding in front the knees of King Dryden and Queen Millerna. Dryden had an amused smirk on his face. Van huffed lightly, and ran up into the aisle.
"Please." he said, his face serious, "I have something to say. Please wait on the last witness for just this long."
Zongi smiled, "As you wish, King Van." he said with a slight bow, "I will call Van Slanzar de Fanel to the stand, your honor."
The judge looked a bit annoyed at the anarchy in his courtroom, but he had known all along that this wasn't under his control. He nodded.
And over the walls I have wended;
I have climbed the hills of view
And looked at the world, and descended;
I have come by the highway home,
And lo, it is ended.
The leaves are all dead on the ground,
Save those that the oak is keeping
To ravel them one by one
And let them go scraping and creeping
Out over the crusted snow,
When others are sleeping.
And the dead leaves lie huddled and still,
No longer blown hither and thither;
The last lone aster is gone;
The flowers of witch hazel wither;
The heart is still aching to seek,
But the feet question "Whither?"
Ah, when to the heart of man
Was it ever less than a treason
To go with the drift of things,
To yield with a grace to reason,
And bow and accept the end
Of a love or a season?
Robert Frost - "Reluctance"
King Van Fanel was nearing 45, and the lines on his face were deepening year by year as he worked on making sure Fanelia was never left in the lurch when it came to progress. Being friends with the rulers of the other major world power, Asturia, never hurt, but Van didn't want to depend on Asturia's aid too much. So he had aged almost more than Allen or Dryden with the stress of ruling and rebuilding Fanelia. But his age had not dimmed his enthusiasm, only made him more careful. So he sat in the witness stand, determination etched in the position of his body, and in the snapping of his eyes.
Dilandau observed that his eyes had not changed so much from those of the young Van, the one that his old self had hated so much.
Zongi's lips curved in a moue of amusement. Perhaps it had interrupted his plans, but having Van Fanel on the stand would not hurt his case, that he was sure of. He was also sure that the fact that his dead brother was the prosecuting attorney was part of the reason that Van had been so quick to volunteer.
But he suppressed his amusement and turned to face Van, "You knew Dilandau Albatou?" he asked, partly because he wasn't quite sure.
"Yes." Van said, and then he plodded on, "He and I were rivals and bitter enemies."
"You were, then?" Zongi said, "Why?"
"Dilandau was…" Van paused, trying to be equable about the whole thing, "rather deranged." he sighed at his failure to be equable, "He was assigned to kill me, but he took it rather personally after I scarred his face."
Dilandau found that his hand was stroking his scar, a habit he had tried valiantly to break. He pressed his hands into his lap.
"Why would that be?" Zongi said.
Van shrugged, "I don't know. I mean, later, when I found out about the whole thing, I thought a lot about it, and I still couldn't figure it out. I think…" he paused, staring at the dragonslayers in their seats at the back of the courtroom, "I think what really put him over the edge was when I killed his soldiers." he said with a nervous remorse.
"Hm." Zongi said, "Is that so? What about what happened three years ago?" he changed the subject.
Van resigned himself to telling the whole story, "I was at my desk, writing, when I heard a noise outside. It was Dilandau, and he had this terrible light in his eyes. He looked awful, too. He scaled the walls of my castle, and he was terribly bloody."
"Were you surprised?" interjected Zongi.
"Not really too much." Van said, "He had moved away with his mother to lessen the likelihood of an episode like this, but Celena had told me and all of us that he was likely to regain his memories someday." Van paused and got back on with his recounting of the story, "He attacked me, he told me he was going to kill me." in spite of himself, Van shuddered at the memory. The impetuousness and rashness of youth had left him, but he still couldn't forget the hatred of the Dilandau he had known back then, "We fought. And he was obviously insane. He had the sword to my throat, he was threatening me with the death of everyone and everything I ever loved. And I couldn't take it anymore. I was going to…"
"Kill him?" Zongi said, his voice cold.
Van looked repulsed, "No!" he said, his voice forceful, "I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I had done that. I can't… even think about that." he trailed off, "It was a quick decision. I just wanted to do something that would distract him.. And I caused the scar, there." Van said, pointing at Dilandau's face.
Dilandau found his hand once again at his scar. It had not hurt for a long time, but he couldn't forget it. It was a constant reminder of what he could do if he lost control of himself. He shivered slightly, and once again pressed his hands into his lap.
Zongi turned, regarding Van with a burning gaze, "You wouldn't have killed him?" he asked.
"Never." Van replied.
"What about that time almost thirty years ago, the last time Dilandau Albatou was ever seen?"
Van frowned, "What about it? Dilandau and I… were fighting. The war was over, but he and I… For a moment we forgot about that, I guess."
"You had him." Zongi said, "Would you have killed him then, if Allen hadn't stepped in?"
Van looked ashamed, "I… I would have. If Hitomi hadn't… If it weren't for Hitomi, I think I would have killed the both of them."
Dilandau stared evenly at Van, noting the flush of his cheeks and his downward gaze.
"Why?" Zongi asked softly.
"I… I was young. He came after me whenever I turned my back. At the time, there was no reason to believe he'd stop."
"What did you think when you saw him for the first time again? When he was reborn?"
Van thought back to that time. Allen had warned him, of course. Van had wanted to meet Allen's nephew, Celena's son, but Allen had said that there was something he wouldn't like about the boy, something unsettling. And when he had seen him, he had understood. Platinum hair, pale skin, and wide blood-red eyes. Van knew as soon as he saw him. He hadn't ever pictured it before, but he knew if he would have thought of how Dilandau would look as a child, that baby would have been exactly alike.
"I knew…" Van said slowly, "that he had to be… Dilandau."
The baby, and he was almost two at the time, had wriggled out of his mother's lap as Van spoke uneasily with her, trying hard not to mention the boy, and toddled across the floor towards him. Apprehensively, Van had smiled at him, and at that moment, the boy had burst into an incredibly intense toothless grin and waddled over to him, pressing his warm baby hands into Van's lap. He was an extremely winsome child.
"But…" and Van smiled, "Did it really matter?" he asked, glowing at the memory. He had taken the boy into his arms, suffering the child's attention at the decorations on his outfit and the pendant he even now wore around his neck. Like the dragons of old, any hatred he had had for Dilandau evaporated in the absence of an intent to harm. Van closed his eyes, his voice deep and calm as he said, "Everyone deserves a second chance."
Dilandau thought he saw Folken jerk slightly out of his peripheral vision, but at that time, he didn't quite care. He was beaming, surprised and pleased that Van would take this chance to come and defend him, despite the fact that he had judiciously avoided the King in the three years since his 'accident'.
Zongi was beaming as well, "No further questions, your honor." he said.
Without even waiting for Zongi to be seated, Folken rose, slowly but with a definite eagerness. Dilandau leveled a gaze at him as he walked over to the witness box. Van was also watching avidly yet seeming a bit strained.
Folken deliberately made his way towards the box, and stopped several feet in front of it, staring at Van. Folken's eyes darkened with sadness, he blinked at Van silently for long moments. Van stared back into his brother's eyes with an equal sad longing. He smiled very slightly, and muttered so softly that few could hear, "You look so young, aniue*…
Folken's eyes wavered, and he opened his mouth as though to speak. But suddenly, he jerked his head as though he was hearing something far distant. He seemed to be listening and then he pursed his lips, turning away with a whirl of his dark cloak, he spoke, "You would have killed him, would you not have?" he said sharply.
Van closed his eyes, "I was young then." he repeated, but his tone said, 'forgive me'.
"Regardless. You made this decision out of what? Fear? Anger? Hatred?"
"I was foolish." his tone said, 'I'm sorry,' and seemed to be aimed at both Dilandau and Folken.
"But what made you think he deserved to die?" coldness permeated the words, but they seemed to waver slightly.
Van shook his head, eyes still closed, and lowered it.
Folken scoffed, but his heart wasn't in it, "I rescind the question. The old Dilandau would have killed you, do you believe that?"
Van opened his eyes, "Yes." he said. Dilandau agreed.
"What makes this one so different?" Folken asked, avoiding the gaze of his brother.
Van closed his eyes once more, seeming to be willing back tears, "I said it before. Everyone…" he paused, and his voice sounded strained, "Everyone deserves a second chance." his voice said as clear as a bell, ringing throughout the courtroom, 'I forgive you. I miss you. I love you.'
Folken looked up, swallowing, attempting to steel his gaze, "No.. No further questions." his voice cracked. He sat down, burying his face in his cloak.
Van rose silently from the stand, solemn and regal, but deeply sad. Dilandau saw it in the lines of his body, the lines of his face.
He could not blame the king for what he did. He realized that the man's motives were split between wanting to help Dilandau and wanting one last time to see his brother's face. Dilandau wasn't even surprised about that.
But what did surprise him was Folken's reaction. Throughout the long trial, he had been nothing if not cold and professional. But despite what Dilandau perceived as the Madoushi trying to get him back into control, he had almost lost all of his composure in having to face his young brother who had grown so old. Dilandau didn't quite know what this meant.
He turned a slightly questioning gaze on Zongi. The Doppelganger was looking pensively sad, and when he noticed Dilandau, he smiled faintly and whispered, "It's not easy… being dead." with a rueful laugh.
Dilandau thought he tended to agree, looking at the mournful look on Folken's face. He recognized it as one that Folken often wore in life. This time, despite himself, Dilandau's heart went out to him. His enemy, Dilandau thought and mentally scoffed.
Outside, the madoushi stood alone in a palpable atmosphere of tension.
"That wasn't good." True said, steely.
"We're losing control over him." Gaze said.
"It was inevitable." Shy said flippantly, "We never included Van in our agreement."
"Not Folken." Gaze said, "We're losing control of Him."
There was a pause,"Also inevitable." Last growled, finally, "What matters is what happens in the end."
"We could still succeed." Care said.
"We WILL succeed." Gaze said, "The last witness will clinch it for us, that much I'm confident in."
"Maybe you're right… This last witness will be the one to finally turn the tables." True asserted.
"We don't dare have hope." said Last tightly, "It could turn the wrong way." Agreement suffused the room, and the dark figures became twice as concentrated on their task.
*I couldn't stop myself from writing this, even though I dislike fangirl Japanese.. This is a formal way of saying brother, or older brother I believe. Van still uses it in Escaflowne, even though at many points in the series he could have gotten away with much less formal usages. This, I think, is very emblematic of their relationship, and it's very poignant, so I couldn't help myself...
Author's note: Oooo.. The madoushi continue to think they're winning. What do they have planned for the final witness? And who is it!? MUAHAHAH! I won't tell you. NYAH! Ok, so I'm evil. I almost got stuck on this chapter… (Around the part where Van was talking about giving Dilandau his scar) but as is fitting, I sussed it all out when I was in court! Teehee. It was me contesting my traffic ticket I got after my accident on my birthday. I ended up getting almost 40$ knocked off and a chance to keep it off my record for good! Go me! And I got this chapter finished while I waited! Go me!!
Also, who loves Folken!! (MEEE!!!) That's part of the reason that I wrote this chapter, I leapt at the chance to have Folken and Van talk to each other. They're almost like Celena and Dilandau in that they seem to know what the other's thinking…
The other part of the reason is Etowato, who sent me two guesses for the last witness, one of which was Van. The other one was the right answer, so I told her that one of them was right, and she asserted that it was definitely Van. The more I thought about Van as a witness, the more I wanted to do it! So blame all your ire at the last witness being delayed on her. (shakes fist) (grin) I do so like this chapter, though…
REVUES!!! (high kicking dance)
Etowato: I BLAME YOU! (Grin) OK… I'm done. I'm glad you think Celena's love is 'genuine'. I tried to write it that way, but give her a character at the same time.. I dunno if I got the second part, but I KNOW the first part's good! Perhaps Folken feels that Dilandau doesn't have the right to forgive himself b/c Folken himself never forgave himself, even after death? My answer to that question: When did I ever say that Folken feels Dilandau doesn't have the right to forgive himself? Dilandau thinks he doesn't have the right to forgive himself. (twiddles fingers) (innocent look) (whistles)
Feye Morgan: (Got no message with guess) ;_; Oh well, now you know. Are you planning something? I've been planning something since the beginning, silly! Celena was the best witness yet, but the best witness altogether is yet to come. Read my story before you leave for skool!! (misses you) ;_;
Eboni: I did like writing that story. I wanted it to be poignant and sweet… And I suppose he wasn't a bad guy yet, then, because he ah.. Wasn't a guy at all quite yet. Merely one of the wandering bodiless spirits of the world or something. Personalityless. Zongi might not want to put Dilandau on the stand, but really this whole thing is out of his hands. Perhaps in his secret heart, Dilandau wants to get up there and tell the world how he feels. After all, this whole thing is about his unconscious psyche and everyone else gets to talk about it, how fair is that? Miguel, yes… well, I thought he might not look ashamed, and then he didn't. So, whatta ya gonna do?
BlueAloe: I didn't get your review in an email! (sad) But oh well, I checked FF.net and found it! YAY SURPRISES!! I specifically decided not to write what the madoushi think of Celena, I want you to decide for yourself. Maybe they feel bad about what they did to her, maybe they don't like her and wish they had killed her outright, maybe they don't have an opinion on her altogether! You decide! Whee!! I loved the poem, too. I had to read it a couple of times to realize how perfect it was. This chapter's poem was just randomly strung together, tell me what you think. At least for the next chapter, I've had that poem picked out for a looong time.
See you next time! It'll be soon!!