****BTW: I now accept anonymous reviews.****
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne, etc, etc etc.
&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&
"...a guymelef tournament..."
Van stopped abruptly in his tracks. He had been tuning Merle in and out during their walk to the palace but his ears had perked upon hearing the words 'guymelef and tournament.'
Merle continued skipping towards the garden entrance of the palace, unaware that Van had stopped.
"Merle." The ebony haired king shouted after the cat girl.
She whirled around. "Yes Lord Van?"
Van caught up to her.
"Merle did you say there is going to be a guymelef tournament?"
"Uh, huh," she chirped.
"When?"
"Soon I think, wh-"
Van didn't let her finish. He was already running into the palace.
&%&%&
"Dilandau, it's time. Get Ready."
The fair skinned boy turned to face the hooded figure sitting on the edge of his bed.
"What do you think I'm doing Velannaf?" He hissed.
"Lord Velan-"
"Whatever."
Dilandau dismissed the shadowy figure with a wave of his hand. He didn't care how curt he was. This was his soul room, his sanctuary; his prison and he did not like having to share. This Lord Velannaf, as he called himself, was invading Dilandau's private space and he didn't even have the decency to show his face or tell him the real reason why he had come.
Earlier he had given a slight explanation but would not divulge many details. All Dilandau knew was that this shadowy form was offering him a chance to exact his revenge on everyone that had crossed him three years ago, all he had to do was follow his instructions and everything would go to plan.
Dilandau had decided to accept Velannaf's proposal despite it being one of those too-good-to-be-true deals. Deep down however, the former minion for the Zaibach Empire hoped that he wasn't getting himself into anything he couldn't get right back out of.
The cloaked form moved so quickly Dilandau did not see him coming. In one fluid motion Velannaf was up and bearing down on the silver haired boy.
Before he new what had happened, Dilandau was hunched over gasping for air. He had just enough time to raise his head before the next blow was struck. A hand connected with his soft flesh, packing enough force behind it to propel the former dragon slayer across the room.
Dilandau must have blacked out for a second because he did not hear the lord approach. He let out a startled cry when his head was wrenched up harshly by a fist in his silver tresses.
The shadow knelt beside Dilandau who stared back with pure rage in his scarlet eyes.
"Come now Dilandau. You know it kills me to hurt such...beauty."
He rubbed his thumb softly across Dilandau's tender cheek. The dragon slayer winced, letting blood from his split lip seep down his chin.
Velannaf grinned mischievously. "Look at what a mess we've made. Can't have you meeting old friends looking like that, can we?"
With that he captured Dilandau's mouth in his own. The wounded boy tried to pull away but the shadow forced himself upon him harder.
Dilandau cried out in pain as his aggressor bit his lip, unwillingly presenting the shadow with an opportunity to deepen the kiss. His cries were soon muffled as Velannaf thrust his tongue inside his prey's mouth, savoring every inch of the beautiful boy.
He finished by licking the remaining blood off Dilandau's chin; smiling nastily as he let the boy's head drop to the floor.
"Let this be a lesson to you Albatou. I will not tolerate your insolence, so do not cross me again. Now get going. It's time to wake up."
&%&%&
Van sped through brightly lit hallways, paying no attention to the puzzled looks he received from passing servants. He was in too much of a hurry to offer any sort of explanation for his hasty actions.
Turning down a richly carpeted corridor, the brown eyed king neared his destination. Not bothering to stop he burst through the first door to his left, unintentionally startling its occupant.
The man who's room Van had just barged into scooped himself up off the floor and repositioned the chair he had fallen out of. He turned to face his intruder, peering over rounded spectacles.
"Ah your Majesty." He smiled. "Ready for the tournament?"
"Who...authorized...it?" Van inquired, short of breath.
"Highness?"
"The tournament Alegus, who authorized it?"
"Why you did sire."
Van was taken aback. How could he have authorized the tournament if he had only just heard of its existence? Van wondered where the old man's response was coming from.
"I told you to set up the tournament?"
"Indeed you did my lord and if I may say so it was a wonderful idea. The entire kingdom is looking forward to it. It's sure to be quite exci-"
"It wasn't my idea Alegus." Van said flatly. "In fact, I was informed of the tournament only minutes ago."
Alegus' smile faded from his lips and his brow furrowed. The old man tugged at his beard thoughtfully and pushed his glasses farther up his nose to get a better look at the king.
"You...I...but I saw you."
"You saw me. Well that changes everything," Van said, unable to keep sarcasm from his voice. "When did you see me? And do not lie to me Alegus."
"L-la-la-la-"
Van grabbed the elderly man's collar, pulling his face up to his own.
"Spit it out!"
The young king was getting frustrated and thus was having difficulty keeping his voice at a reasonable level. Of all the advisors and aids he had, Van was annoyed that he had been forced to interrogate the one that stuttered under pressure.
"Last night," Alegus finally managed to get the words out of his mouth.
"Last night?"
"Y-yes L-lord Van."
"When?"
"Oh very late sire. The castle was sleeping. You came to see me in this very room and demanded that I hold a guymelef tournament in honor of your birthday. I thought it odd that you come see me at such an hour but I couldn't very well turn you away. You were most insistent that I start the preparations at once."
Van released the old man's collar and set him down on the floor. He turned away, musing over what he had been told. The other man just stood rooted to his spot, staring back bewildered.
Some time passed before Van returned his gaze to the man he was interrogating.
"Did you see my face?"
Alegus was startled by the question. "N-no my lord. The lights were all out and you would not let me light them until you had gone."
"I see...then how did you know it was me?"
"Why, you told me sire." The elderly man was perplexed by all the questions he was being asked by his king. "Lord Van?"
"Hmm?"
"May I ask why you are asking me all these questions?"
"Because Alegus." Van fastened his chocolate gaze on the old man as he rested his hands on his shoulders. "I did not authorize a guymelef tournament, nor did I visit you late last night. I was in training all evening and then I retired to my room. I never left it until this morning."
Alegus began to tremble. "B-but that c-can't b-be. I-I couldn't have d-dreamed it, I h-heard your v-voice." The old man's lip quivered as he spoke.
"Well it doesn't matter now if you dreamed it or not. If Fanelia is looking for a competition then I guess I can't cancel it."
&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&
This chapter was longer but I decided to cut the last scene out to put in the next chapter.