A/N: Heylo ! Big thanks to Rina and Lady Laran, your encouragement means a lot! ^_^
In later chapters the rating will go up ...(Just for you Rina! ^_~) Comments, critiques and suggestions are always welcome!
Chapter Three: (Judgment and Justice)
'Justice is in the eye of the beholder.'
***
The hour was late.
Too late, King Aston decided as he gazed out the window of his private state room.
A soft mist covered the turrets. A hazy fog thickened as black clouds swallowed the moon, shutting out its fragile light. His great Kingdom disappeared before his eyes, fading into the darkness.
A rumble of thunder echoed in the distance.
Somewhere behind the cradle of the Chantal Mountains lay an army the likes of which had never been seen on Gaea. In the midst of tossing and turning in his bed, King Aston had realized that as long as Zaibach was poised to strike, he would not get any sleep.
Instead, he had been calculating and weighing countless possibilities for the past three hours. All proposals ultimately led to the same conclusion.
Something had to be done with Strategos of Zaibach.
Aston left the window and began to pace again, his red velvet robes billowing out behind him.
He was trapped.
His mind threw accusations at him. Why hadn't he seen it coming? Perhaps then he might have been prepared.
He should have seen this coming.
But he had been so involved in negotiations with Basram that he'd barely noticed the tensions mounting in his own Kingdom.
When Aston had agreed to grant Zaibach's military strategist sanctuary, he'd looked on it as an investment.
An advantage.
And he desperately needed an advantage.
Zaibach's black shadow had swallowed up more territory than anyone would have thought possible in such a short amount of time. And now that black shadow was looming behind the Chantal Mountains, the only barrier left between Asturia and total chaos.
The thought was grim.
His armies were no match for Zaibach's highly advanced technology. Asturia was a merchant's paradise, not a sleek military machine.
Aston stopped pacing.
He needed Strategos.
But his people wanted answers. He knew once he confirmed that indeed, Strategos was in
Asturia and yes, he was protected by the King himself things would push past the boiling point.
The people of Asturia wanted justice. The few allied countries who's influence in turning the tide could be considerable wanted justice.
And he just wanted to win the war.
Aston turned towards the window to find rivers of rain streaking down the panes.
Yes, something had to be done and quickly.
He heaved a sigh as he stared at his own fatigued reflection in the glass.
There was only one solution. It had lain dormant in his mind ever since Strategos had been presented to him at court.
He would do the unthinkable, something that would debase the very contract of sanctuary.
Strategos of Zaibach would be sent to Palas prison.
Despite the fact he'd already reached an accord with Strategos, he had never specified how long he would be welcome.
Strategos had promised to assist the Asturian army; surely he could do it from a prison cell.
And if Strategos disagreed, he could always be turned over to Basram as an act of friendship from Asturia itself. There were many countries who would relish the chance to get their claws on Strategos of Zaibach.
He scanned his mind and made a mental list of everyone who had been present in court that day.
Eight people in total, ranging from his own advisors and Knights to the Fanelian boy. They would have to be spoken with.
It must be understood that no sanctuary had been granted on that day. That Strategos had been unwilling to assist Austria and therefore was taken to Palas prison as a prisoner of war.
Aston felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Things were seeming a little less chaotic now.
He would address the people tomorrow, at the Bazaar.
Aston turned from the window, from the gloomy weather.
It would be the perfect climax, and would win back the support and favor of his people.
Justice would be dealt, and that black shadow circling just outside the back door would dissipate a little.
Aston began to formulate his own speech inwardly as he swept from the state room and back to his bed chambers.
Strategos of Zaibach shall remain a prisoner in this great city, as a constant reminder that we, the united people of Gaea will not yield !
A/N: To be continued!! I'm sorry if I'm completely shredding apart the original story line, but it's very complicated ^^;;; I think Escaflowne is a brilliant mix of fantasy and war, and you really have to know your stuff before you get the full impact of the ' war ' subplot. Apart from several history courses I took in high school, I'm not really at a point in my life right now where I can take some time and truly research the different aspects. I think this kinda of awkwardness came across in this chapter. ^^;; Still I hope you will enjoy this and forgive any discrepancies. Please feel free to leave any tips on how I can improve! ^_^
(And chapter four will have much Hitomi + Folken, I promise! Where is Folken's precious book, and just what does it contain? ^_~)
