Yo, chapter 3 is up!! I can't believe it! *taps herself on the shoulder*
Good job, girl! ^_^
Well, I can't deny I like this chapter. :) Hope you'll like it too. So
don't waste time with reading my stupid statement and read my story!!
Thank you so much for the reviews!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! *hugs all her readers* Love you people!!!!
SabineballZ: Aaaahhhh!!! Und du bist auch aus Deutschland! *stimmt in den Indianertanz ein* Das ist voll lustig. Ich bin aus Sachsen-Anhalt und ich liebe Escaflowne auch! Das Ende war ja sowas von traurig! *hoil* Will eine Fortsetzung!! Hoffe du bleibst mir treu! :)
Aylee the Dragon (too lazy to log in) : Oh yeah, he did!! I don't want to tell too much but *grins* I love their wings too!!!!!!!!!! (I'm such a babbler!!) Btw, thanx for the cookie. It was delicious! Mmmmmmmmmmh
Ruby: Thanx for your suggestion. I'm going to work it in, I promise. ^_^
Aeka-himme: Hey, giggle-girl! Glad you like it and thanx for your mail. (Arrg!! Four hours of endless trying but it still doesn't work!! I could hardly keep myself from blowing up my computer!) Anyways, I hope you like this chapter.
Magicman: Oh, I hope they won't do this! They are the main caracters of my story. I can't allow it! ;) And the answer of your question- read!!
LOVE WITCH: Not bad. Finally, you reviewed after all. Hope you keep on. ^_^
Gina: Und noch jemand aus Deutschland!! Hallöli!! Tjaja, die Welt ist klein, nicht oder?! Freut mich, dass es dir gefällt. Und schön fleißig lesen und schreiben, klaro?! ;)
Cous-cous: Yeah, Hitomi will do but later. Something must happen first. *evil grin* I'll keep my fingers crossed concerning your driving test. You're gonna make it!!
Athar_Luna: *grins from ear to ear* Looks as if someone was very attentive. ;)
JadeGreenGoddess: There you are! ^_^
Kagome: Yes, I will!! And you keep up the review!! :)
TennyoAngel711: Hallo Tennyo!! Du sprichst deutsch? Das ist cool!! (Yeah, we use this word in Germany too. It's part of the basic vocabulary, I think. *g*) Right, tough Hitomi! But she needed someone who is able to defy her. ^_^ Oh and the fact that Van works well with horses- there is a special reason! *grins devilishly*
Okay, but now let's start! Oh no, one thing:
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Escaflowne! *sighs sadly*
Chapter 3 Bad omens
"Don't stare at me like this!", Hitomi groused when she noticed out of the corner of her eyes Van staring at her. He turned away.
"I didn't stare at you.", he said.
"You did!", Hitomi contradicted turning around to face him over Dust who was walking calmly between them. His wound was healing. Slowly, but it did. This Van guy did have an idea of healing she couldn't deny.
"No, I didn't. Why should I stare at someone like you?", Van asked and quickened his steps leaving her behind.
Hitomi stopped in the middle of her tracks, speechless. This was so typical of him! Starting to argue with her and then leaving her before she could shoot back! She hated it. She wondered why he was still alive. She should have killed him at the latest after the first night he stayed with her. He had woken her up by throwing her backpack at her. Terrified she had yelled out. Oh, she had been so angry and still was. She was angry about this stupid guy because of taking advantage of this situation and making her show weakness. And she was angry about herself because of falling asleep in his presence. He could have done who-knows-what with her. He was a stranger. She didn't trust him. How could she, anyway? Hitomi snarled angrily. Dust had followed Van innocently. This traitor! Dust had doted on this guy. It was unbelievable. But this time, Van won't win. Not again! She chased after him. When she reached him, she grabbed his arm and forced him to turn around.
"How dare you treating me like this!", she yelled at him. "I...", she started to continue yelling at him, but was interupted by a rustling noise coming from the tops of the trees above them. Both of them looked up. Suddenly something fluffy fell to the ground. They just stared at it. Then Hitomi decided to check out what it was. When she reached the thing she saw that it was a small black-blue bird with a yellow beak and intense red eyes. Her eyes widened in surprise. She kneeled down and gently picked the bird up. It wasn't dead like she thought at first. Quite the reverse! It's heart was beating so fast that she thought it'll burst within the next seconds and it was breathing hard.
"A Madhari!", she murmured. "But this can't be. These birds live only at the Easterly Continent. What does it mean?", she wondered deep in thoughts.
"It's completely exhausted.", she jerked lightly when she heard a voice close to her ear. It was Van looking over her shoulder. "It looks like it flew the whole way from the Easterly Continent here, nonstop.", he said thoughtful. Hitomi opened her mouth to bark at him but just at this moment it rustled again and four more Madharis fell from the sky.
"What the hell is going on?", Hitomi asked aloud still holding the bird in her hands. Van straightened up pricking up his ears.
"What...?", Hitomi attempted to ask again but Van interupted her.
"Ssshhh!", he hissed putting a finger on his lips to silence her. "Listen!"
Hitomi grumbled glaring at him. He had managed again to let her seem kinda dumb. She didn't know how she bore with him. But then she heard and saw what he meant through the foliage- a giant flock of birds. It must be millions of them. The whole sky was black. They covered the sun so that the light was getting dark. Hitomi gasped. What was going on?
"They are afraid.", Van said startling Hitomi. His voice was strange. Some kind of absent. "They fear for their lives.", he continued looking into the sky with closed eyes. "That's why they're leaving the Easterly Continent. They flee. They crossed the straits of Avaris and now they are here because they hope that they are safe here. Something is going on there. Something very bad.", he finished opening his eyes. 'This is your doing, isn't it?', he wondered in mind.
Hitomi stared at him. This guy was really strange. She couldn't get used to him. One time he was loud, uncouth and arrogant, just the typical man, and another time he was...he was just like now. Standing there, quietly. Looking at the sky and looking at nothing at the same time, millions of thoughts swirling through his mind. What was he thinking of? Everytime he seemed this absent he looked incredibly sad. His eyes were so sad, Hitomi thought it would start raining because Gaea was crying feeling his boundless sadness. What on this whole world could make someone as sad as him? She knew only one thing. Only one thing had ever made her cry. Her mother's death. The image of her dying mother suddenly flashed through her mind. Blood covering nearly her whole body. A sword's blade jutting out of her chest. The fire always shining in the depths of her sparkling green eyes, went out. Her, holding her mother's limp hand in her own trembling ones. She heard the cries of war filling the air around her. The cries of dying people. She could smell the scent of blood, the scent of scorched ground. It was the scent of death. Suddenly her mother's hand tensed. She wispered some words Hitomi couldn't understand and then her eyes broke. Her look was empty. Hitomi screamed but no sound escaped her mouth. Her mind was screaming. It was so loud that no noise being around her could enter her mind. She was stunned. She couldn't move. Then she was pulled away from her dead mother. Someone was dragging her away and it made her snap out of her trance. She cried and tried to wriggle out of the grip, tears filling her eyes. No! No, she didn't want to leave her mother! She wanted to stay at her side. She closed her eyes and screamed out for her mother with all her heart.
When Hitomi opened her eyes she saw that she was no longer at the battlefield. Her view was blurred. She could only see vague silhouettes of the trees around her. Something wet slid down her cheek. She was still crying, silently. Quickly she wiped away her tears and glanced at Van. She didn't want him to see her cry. She didn't want to show more weakness than she had already done. But he hadn't seen her. He was still staring into the sky, lost in his own thoughts. Her gaze rested on him. The view presenting itself to her was...just beautiful. It was a moment for eternity. Several sunbeams hit the ground around Van. He stood there, his shoulders sagging at his sides, his head lifted and tilted a bit. He looked so sad. And by the look of him Hitomi felt a strange feeling rising in her. With her free right hand she touched her heart. What was this feeling?
Suddenly, as if feeling her gaze he turned around and faced her. When he saw her face, he frowned deeply. Hitomi's heartbeat fastened. What was he doing to her? She had never felt as unease in someone's presence as in his one. Why? He was just a man! Feeling the redness streaming into her cheeks, she turned away.
"What do you think?", he asked after a moment of silence. "I guess, we should rest here. It would be a great waste if we didn't make use of this situation. When will food ever fall from the sky again?"
Hitomi's eyes widened in disbelieve. Had she just heard right? He couldn't be serious! "What?", she barked her head shooting up.
"The birds.", Van explained calmly. "Don't tell me you would rather like to hunt your food. It's easier to eat these birds, isn't it?", he continued and attempted to walk towards her.
"No!", Hitomi shrieked jumping to her feet. "No, don't come any closer! I won't let you eat the birds.", she said angrily pressing the little bird protectively to her chest. Hitomi had forgotten about her sudden sadness and her pity on Van. It was all replaced by pure anger.
"Why not?", he asked innocently.
"Why not?", she repeated. "Why not? Because it's absolutely unsporting! These poor birds wouldn't have any chance! You're so cruel. You..you....aargh! Go to your beloved Dust!", she said outraged and pointed at Dust. The horse looked up hearing his name. But when he was sure he wasn't the main-subject of their conversation, he devoted himself to his grass again.
"But he is your horse.", Van contradicted.
"GO!", Hitomi screamed.
The young man shrugged and turned around. With his back to her, he walked over to the horse. Hitomi snarled furiously. Then she kneeled down and placed the bird gently on the ground. She stroked over it's fragile body.
Van glanced at her. She was completely immersed in stroking the Madhari so that she didn't notice the warm smile on his face. "She can only be happy when she can argue.", he murmured.
.....................**.....................
"You're not him.", Penthesilea emphasized inspecting the man in front of her. He was encircled by five Amazons pointing at him with drawn bows. She had expected someone else. She was a little bit disappointed, she couldn't deny.
"No, I'm not him.", the silver-haired man confirmed.
"Then, who are you and what do you want here?", the queen asked angrily. She hated it to ask for everything. It meant that he held the reins. And this went completely against the grain.
"It's not important who I am. I'm just one of his ambassadors. More important is the message I deliver.", he said.
Penthesilea looked at him in distrust. When he thought she would ask again, he would be disappointed.
"My Lord wants you to keep the contract. He said that the time has come.", the ambassador said cryptically after realizing she won't ask.
The queen looked to the ground. She had known that this would happen sometime.
"What does he want me to do?", she asked defeated.
The man smiled evily. "He said that you wouldn't oppose it."
Penthesilea pulled a face. Of course had he known that she wouldn't oppose. An Amazon never breaks her word. Never.
"What shall I do?", she asked reluctantly.
"My Lord will expect you and you're best army at the border of his country in three days. The airships are awaiting you 10 miles farther in the north. You know what will happen if you don't-"
"I know.", she interupted him regaining her dignity. "Now leave."
The man bowed. "As you wish, my queen.", he said with sparkling red eyes and then mounted his horse. "See you soon.", he promised and spurred his horse.
Penthesilea glared at him. What the hell was he planning?
.....................**.....................
Hitomi sneaked through the forest her stomach rumbling madly. She was so hungry she could polish a bear off. But at first she must find it. Her stomach was rumbling so loud that her potential prey must have heard it. It seemed that every animal had hidden itself and now was making fun of her. She would die of starvation if she didn't find something to eat quickly.
Her thinking was suddenly interupted by a noise to her right. She shouted with joy internally. Maybe her stomach hadn't chased every animal away. Hitomi stood still and looked concentrated in the direction the noise came from. She couldn't see anything. Had she just imagined the noise? No, she was sure it had been real. And then she saw it. A rabbit appeared out of the undergrowth. She smiled. It wasn't a bear but better than nothing. The Amazon took an arrow out of her quiver and drew her bow. She closed her left eye training her sights on the rabbit. Shooting the rabbit wouldn't be a problem. At least she wouldn't starve, this day.
When Hitomi reached their camp it was forsaken. She let her prey drop. Where was this Van guy just now? And why hadn't he made a fire, yet? She snorted. Men! She should have known. But before she could curse him even more she heard a loud splash. There was a brook? She decided to check it out.
After some meters of walking she saw the water sparkling between the trees. When she reached the bank, the young woman leaned against an old tree's trunk and watched the events happening right before her. A cloak, boots and a sword lay at the bank near the water. Their owner, Van, stood in the middle of the brook, his pants turned up the water reaching his bare knees. The reflections of the afternoon-sunlight danced over his strained body. He looked concentrated into the water, his arms raised a bit ready to strike. Hitomi noticed his raven-black hair hanging into his view. How could he see a thing through this mess of hair? She hasn't a clue.
Up to now, Van hadn't noticed her yet. Hitomi grinned evily. If she wanted to she could torture him a bit. She bent down and picked a stone from the ground. Just a bit. It would serve him right. But then she shook her head. No, she wasn't that cruel. Just at that moment and without any warning, Van's arms immersed like lightning into the cold water. With a howl of triumph he pulled his arms out of the water clasping a big fish. But the fish didn't intend to yield up to it's fate. It fought like a tiger. Van tried to hold it but the fish was simply too slippery. Finally, accompanied by Van's frustrated "Damnit, no!" the fish took a header which deserved the gold medal.
"I didn't want to eat you anyhow!", Van cursed.
He cursed so loud that Hitomi thought he would awake the deads. She was still leaning against the trunk and could do nothing but smile. It was all too funny. She shook her head and turned around leaving the still cursing Van behind. She could still hear him when she reached the camp. She made a fire and roasted the rabbit. Half an hour later Van joined her, absolutely not angry throwing a dead fish onto the ground beside the fire.
"I see, you catched a fish.", Hitomi said with faked awe.
"No thing.", Van hissed annoyed making Hitomi smile.
After some minutes of busy working, Van let himself drop to the ground, a meter beside Hitomi. His fish was roasted on the fire filling the air with a tempting smell. Suddenly an ominous growl could be heard. Embarassed, Van touched his stomach blushing extremely.
"Hungry?", Hitomi asked innocently.
"Well...not really.", Van answered and turned around facing her. "Where do you want to go?", he asked out of the blue.
"Eh?", Hitomi replied surprised.
"Where do you want to go? What is your destination? I cared for your horse, at least I should know where you want to go. Regard it as a reward.", he said.
Hitomi gave a laugh. "A reward?", she asked. "What for?"
"My unselfish help.", Van shrugged.
"I've never asked for that help!", she told him. "Besides, you haven't even told me where you want to go, without a horse and provisions. Then, why should I tell you where I want to go? You're just a stranger.", she asked grabbing her water-bottle.
Van raised an eyebrow. "If that's your only problem.", he said and shrugged again. "Well, I'm on my way to Alexandria because I...- ", he stopped. A light grin started to appear on his face.
By hearing his words Hitomi had spat out all the water she had just drunken, like a little fountain. Now, she was coughing madly.
"...because I have some businesses to settle.", he finished grinning. "I think you don't need to answer my question, anymore. It seems that we will spend some more time together, won't we?", Van asked while Hitomi was still coughing. She braced herself and took a deep breath.
"You've done that on purpose!", she said angrily her head red because of strain.
"Me?", Van said pretending indignation, "Never!". It was when he spotted her pendant. It had slipped out of her shirt when she had coughed for her life. He stared at it with wide eyes. Hitomi realized his gaze and grabbed her pendant.
"What's the matter?", she asked confused.
"Where did you get that?", he asked ignoring her question.
"I...That's none of your business!", she stuttered, uncertain because of his gaze.
"Do you know what this is, anyway?", Van asked pointing at her clenched fist. Hitomi just stared at him. What did he want to hear?
"It's a pink stone.", she answered his question hoping he would stop staring at her.
"No!", Van said shaking his head. "This isn't just a simple stone. If I didn't become totally crazy during the days with you, I would say it's much more than that. It's a carfuncle."
"A what?", she asked ignoring his hint.
"A carfuncle.", he repeated. "You can find them in dragons."
"In dragons? You mean energists.", Hitomi said.
"No.", Van contradicted. "An energist contains a dragon's strength, but a carfuncle contains his soul."
Hitomi looked at him in distrust. She had never heard about this.
"Usually carfuncles are round-shaped. After a dragon died, it appears in his head. But just a handful of people were ever able to use their power. It requires a lot of will-power and strength to summon the power sealed in the carfuncle. But this tear-shaped one...", he paused. Hitomi looked at Van, curious, waiting for him to continue.
"I've heard only one time about a tear-shaped carfuncle. My mo-", he stopped biting his lip. "Someone told me about an old legend. A very old legend.", he sighed. "At a time nobody can remember well, there was a great war. It should be the worst, Gaea would ever see. The whole world was lost in war. Everyone fought against each other. Finally, there was no difference between friend and foe. Allies fought against allies. Brothers fought against brothers. And so did the dragons. They killed each other like they weren't of the same kind. The oldest and wisest of them couldn't stand it anymore. He felt Gaea's pain, suffer and sadness. Her own creatures were killing theirselves and it made her sick. It made her cry. It made him cry. Alone, hidden deeply in his cave in the depths of the earth he cried. And you know what is said when a dragon cries?", Van asked facing her.
Hitomi nodded stunned. "Everyone hears it.", she answered in a whisper.
"Yeah.", Van replied quietly. "They heard it. They heard his crying and his begs. His begs to stop this useless war, to stop Gaea's suffer and sadness. He cried so hard that his soul left his body. It left his body in form of a tear-shaped carfuncle. A giant sphere of pink light engulfed his body. The sphere grew larger and larger. It engulfed his cave, the mountains, the plains and finally, the battlefields. And within this sphere, they felt the pain. They felt what they had done to Gaea. They let their weapons drop to the ground, overwhelmed by this endless pain. The war ended. And alone in the cave stood the dragon crying out his pain, turned into stone. A memorial that should survive eternity. And to his stony feet lay the carfuncle, sealing the power to change the world.", Van ended looking at her in expectation.
Hitomi tighened the grip around her pendant. "The power to change the world.", she murmured. And suddenly, she remembered something.
~flashback~
"Hey mommy!", a little girl said sitting in her mother's lap. She gave her mother's long and silky hair a pull. "Mommy!", she said again.
"What's the matter, 'Tomi-darling?", she asked looking down at her little daughter. The little girl smiled widely, her deep-green eyes sparkling.
"Mommy.", she said and nuzzled up against her mother. The woman smiled and stroked her daughter's hair. She sighed closing her eyes. The warm sunlight caressed her face. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful moment. She pressed Hitomi closer to her body enjoying the feeling to hold her little darling. In a strange way she knew that it wouldn't last long and that she wouldn't be able to share more of these moments with her daughter.
"Mommy, what is this?", little Hitomi suddenly asked pointing at the pendant around her mother's neck.
The young Amazon snapped out of her sad thoughts. "This?", she asked the girl letting it dangle before her eyes. Hitomi nodded and grasped the pendant with her small hands.
"It's a gift from my mother.", she answered.
"Granny?", Hitomi asked surprised.
Her mother nodded and watched her daughter amused inspecting the pendant closely.
"Why did she gave it to you and not to aunt Lea?", she asked her mother.
"Well, Lea got the throne and I got the pendant. It's just fair, isn't it?", her mother asked back.
"Mmh. And were did she get it? It's beautiful.", Hitomi asked with the typical curious-little-girl-voice.
"I don't know. She never told me. Everytime I asked her she just smiled. The only thing she said about it was...", she lowered her voice to a cryptical whisper, "...that it contains the power to change the world."
Hitomi looked up with wide eyes. "Really?", she asked. But her mother just smiled.
~end flashback~
Hitomi blinked. This couldn't be. She looked up to face Van. She wanted to ask him if this story of him is really true but when she saw his gaze, she paused. He gazed at her but he didn't look at her, he was looking through her. She saw that he had grasped the hilt of his sword. His knuckles striking white. She opened her mouth but then gasped when she saw her pendant swinging from side to side before her eyes. She saw the trees around the two of them. Seemed as usual. But then, ominous shadows appeared between the trunks, encircling their camp. So this was what Van had seen. She wanted to turn around to look behind her but when she had half turned around something shot past her. She jerked. Hitomi followed it's path and stopped gasping. An arrow! It had been an arrow and it had hit it's target- Van's chest. He looked at the arrow sticking in his body and then at her in disbelieve and fell backwards.
Then, the vision ended. Hitomi blinked her head aching a bit. Van still sat in front of her like before her vision had started attempting to open his mouth to warn her. And it was when she heard the noise. This unmistakable noise she knew all too well- the high singing of an arrow. It was the arrow which would hit Van in his chest. The arrow which would kill him. The arrow she saw in her vision. And she had the chance to avert it. The chance to save Van's life. And with that thought she screamed: "Duck!", and threw herself against Van sitting opposite her. She heard him gasp in surprise and felt the impact. Luckily, her strength was sufficient and Van was too surprised to fight. Both of them landed on the soft ground. Hitomi on top of him, her eyes wide in disbelieve.
Why the hell had she done that? Why had she risked her life for him? A stranger? A nobody? Someone who wasn't even worth it to risk his life for? She could have died if Van hadn't been too surprised! But there was this feeling. She had felt it when she had seen the arrow sticking in his chest. It was as if someone had stabbed a dagger in her heart turning it around. It was strange.
She felt Van breathing hard underneath her. Her own body rose up and down with every breath he took. Her head lay on his chest, her arms encircled his waist and her heart was beating so hard that she thought it would break Van's ribs within a few seconds. She took a deep breath to calm down noticing a familiar scent. 'This scent! Where did I smell it before?', she wondered. Meanwhile, there was a feeling rising in her stomach that made her feel very unease. She-she must get away from him! Away from this man! Now! But Van was faster than her. With a sudden "Uh, shit!", he grabbed her waist and threw her off his body.
Hitomi landed on the ground beside him, painfully, really painfully. 'What? What was this guy think he is? She saved his life and he...?', she thought turning angrily around to face him. A brief moment, she saw his eyes widened in shock then something sparkling and really really sharp splittet the ground between herself and Van, only centimeters away from her nose . She shrieked and jerked back looking in her reflection. An ax! It was a giant Troll-ax. Terrified Hitomi crawled backwards. A Troll! She had never seen a single one but had read more than enough about them. She stared at it. Well, the rumours didn't say the truth. It was uglier than she had imagined. This Troll was the ugliest being Hitomi had ever seen. Tall and hairy and covered with scars and...er...ugly! It's face was round and dirty- green. Small and black piggy eyes stared at her. It's nose was crushed in it's face like it's ears and it's lower jaw jut out spittle dripping from it. The Troll leaned on it's long arms. They were as long as it's legs. It seemed so cumbersome. And then, Hitomi noticed it's smell. By the gods! If this being won't kill you with his ax then at least you will die because of it's smell. There was no apting word to describe this smell. But it matched his look, she must admit.
Suddenly the Troll growled loudly and grabbed the hilt of it's ax pulling it out of the ground. Van did a backward roll and jumped to his feet. He unsheated his sword preparing himself for it's attack. Just at that moment, the ax smashed down on him. He stopped it, holding the flat side of his sword. Van was forced to his knees gasping in strain. This damn Troll was simply too strong. Van gritted his teeth, his outstreched arms trembling in exhaustion. He would't take it any longer. He must do something or he would be cut in two pieces. Looking straight ahead, he saw the Troll's legs and was hit by realization. He grinned and looked up. With all his strength he leaned against the ax of this Troll and with a sudden movement, the Troll didn't expect, Van let go and moved to the side. Surprised, the Troll lost his balance and fell forward. Van didn't hesitate and made use of the careless Troll. The young man raised his sword and thrusted it into the Troll's not-protected hollows of the knee. A scream of pain and rage escaped it's throat making the ground tremble. Van took some steps away from the Troll. Angrily, the injured being swirled around searching the one who did this to him. It spotted Van, bubbling in rage. Van swallowed. It had been a big mistake. Only one thing was worse a Troll- a Troll in rage!
Hitomi stood aside watching the scene. She saw Van jumping from side to side not wanting to be splitted. Just the sudden neigh of a horse ended her paralysis. Dust! Hitomi had totally forgotten about him. She turned to the direction the noise came from. Her eyes widened. There was Dust retreating from a small, thin being. Some kind of Goblin. It held a sword in it's right hand. It was clear that the Goblin didn't intend to stroke Dust. Hitomi took an arrow and drew her bow. She wouldn't let this thing get closer towards Dust. She aimed at the Goblin's heart but then hesitated. It would be the first notch in her bow. No wind. Perfect. And then, she let go. With a light grin she saw the Goblin breaking down. She hadn't expected something else.
Dust looked at her in distrust when she reached him.
"Hey Dust, stop it! How long will you keep playing this stupid game?", she asked him annoyed.
"Girl.", a raspy voice suddenly said from behind, startling her.
Hitomi spun around retreating from the Goblin approaching towards her. She stopped at Dust's flank tapping the horse. The Goblin held a sword in his hands and glared at her.
"Don't interfere!", he said threatening. "Nothing will happen to you if you don't interfere. Everything we want, is the boy."
Hitomi was confused. They wanted Van? Why? He was just Van! But then she paused. She had sensed that there was more about him. He was keeping a secret. Hitomi glanced at Van. Things didn't look too good. He lay on the ground, the Troll leaning over him, pressing the ax down on him. The ax was positioned over Van's head. He was holding the blade of the ax with his hands trying to prevent that it will crush down him. His sword stuck in a trunk beside the two of them. Hitomi sighed. You couldn't leave this guy to his own devices!
She could hear a raspy laughter. "Don't worry, it will be over in a few seconds.", the Goblin said.
Hitomi glared at him. She couldn't leave Van to his fate. She couldn't deny that she wouldn't have manage it without his help. She owed him something. She would settle her guilt right now. But how? This Goblin had a sword, she only a bow and a dagger. She could kick herself in the ass! Why hadn't she taken her sword with her? She had been very careless. 'Stupid Hitomi!', she thought still tapping Dust. But then, she stopped. What was this? She had felt something very cold at the horse' saddle. She looked to the side and gasped. Her sword! There, aside Dust's saddle hung her sword! But she was sure she hadn't taken it with her. 'How could this be?', she wondered but then smiled. Of course, who else? Good old Thetis. Hitomi would hug the goddess when she saw her again. Without hesitating she unsheated her sword. She had never fought against someone else than her Amazon-sisters. Actually, she had never killed someone with her sword. But there was everytime a first time, wasn't it? She grinned.
"I would give it another thought, if I were you.", the Goblin said.
"I did yet!", Hitomi said raising her sword. And with a strike like lightning she cut the Goblin's head off. He didn't have a single chance. But Hitomi didn't care. Immediately, she let her sword drop and drew her bow. She aimed at the Troll still leaning above Van. The arrow hit the Troll in it's chest. Not deadly but distracting. While the Troll was drawing angrily the arrow out of it's chest, took Van the opportunity of crawling away from it. He jumped to his feet searching his sword. Hitomi saw it and stooped to pick her sword up intending to throw it over to Van.
"Van! Catch!", she screamed throwing the sword.
He cought it in flight firmly. Running towards the still distracted Troll he raised it and with a single strike he cut it's throat. The Troll growled falling to it's knees. It grabbed it's throat blood streaming out between it's fingers. Finally, the Troll thundered to the ground, dead. Van let the sword sink breathing hard. He turned around to face her, a huge grin on his face and started walking over to her.
"That w...", he started to say but was interupted by something falling out of the trees above him, landing on top of him.
"Damnit!", Van snarled kicking the Goblin off his body. The Goblin struggled back to his feet but before he could do something, Van struck after him. The Goblin could only block. Van was outraged.
"You killed Riad!", he screamed striking after him again and again. The Goblin retreated trying his best to block Van's attacks.
"He stood in our way. We had to kill him!", the Goblin defended himself.
Van snorted angrily. Instead of replying he knocked the sword out of the Goblin's hand. Surprised he stumbled over a root and fell to the ground being at Van's mercy. But there was no mercy. Van raised his sword intending to spear the murderer.
"Van, no!", Hitomi suddenly screamed realizing what he was going to do.
"Why not?", he asked cold-blooded aiming with the point of the sword at the Goblin's heart.
"You're not wanting to know why they tried to kill you?", she asked him back, approaching.
Van remained silent. Hitomi was confused. He would rather kill the Goblin instead of asking him why? Why should he do that? She would like to know why someone was trying to kill her! Unless...
"He knows why.", the Goblin finished her thought laughing madly. "But you won't manage it in time.", he told Van. "My Lord will find other ways to stop you. You will never beat him. He is the one and only."
"He will never win!", Van hissed through clenched teeth. "Never."
The Goblin just laughed. "I'm sorry my Lord, but I failed.", he said and grabbed the sword Van was holding in his hand. The Goblin looked him straight into the eyes and then thrusted the blade into his own heart. Van let go of the sword and the Goblin fell backwards. He was dead before he hit the ground. Van stared at him without any emotion. Hitomi looked at Van, stunned. And just by seeing the look in his eyes, she knew he won't answer her questions.
.....................**.....................
Puh, that was hard work. *little drifts of smoke rise from her keyboard* Whoa!! A little bit too much I would say. Okay people, while I'm trying to extinguish the little fire here you review. Pleeease!!! I need reviews! They are the source of my lifepower!! *keyboard goes up in flames* O_O Oh shit!!! *grabs receiver* Hello? Is this the fire department? I---- connection cut off-----
No, just kidding. ;) I wanted to update before the new year comes. And well, I managed it! Yuppieeeeee! I WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND I HOPE I SEE YA NEXT YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BYEEEEEE *whispers* Review, review, review!!!
Dariel
Thank you so much for the reviews!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! *hugs all her readers* Love you people!!!!
SabineballZ: Aaaahhhh!!! Und du bist auch aus Deutschland! *stimmt in den Indianertanz ein* Das ist voll lustig. Ich bin aus Sachsen-Anhalt und ich liebe Escaflowne auch! Das Ende war ja sowas von traurig! *hoil* Will eine Fortsetzung!! Hoffe du bleibst mir treu! :)
Aylee the Dragon (too lazy to log in) : Oh yeah, he did!! I don't want to tell too much but *grins* I love their wings too!!!!!!!!!! (I'm such a babbler!!) Btw, thanx for the cookie. It was delicious! Mmmmmmmmmmh
Ruby: Thanx for your suggestion. I'm going to work it in, I promise. ^_^
Aeka-himme: Hey, giggle-girl! Glad you like it and thanx for your mail. (Arrg!! Four hours of endless trying but it still doesn't work!! I could hardly keep myself from blowing up my computer!) Anyways, I hope you like this chapter.
Magicman: Oh, I hope they won't do this! They are the main caracters of my story. I can't allow it! ;) And the answer of your question- read!!
LOVE WITCH: Not bad. Finally, you reviewed after all. Hope you keep on. ^_^
Gina: Und noch jemand aus Deutschland!! Hallöli!! Tjaja, die Welt ist klein, nicht oder?! Freut mich, dass es dir gefällt. Und schön fleißig lesen und schreiben, klaro?! ;)
Cous-cous: Yeah, Hitomi will do but later. Something must happen first. *evil grin* I'll keep my fingers crossed concerning your driving test. You're gonna make it!!
Athar_Luna: *grins from ear to ear* Looks as if someone was very attentive. ;)
JadeGreenGoddess: There you are! ^_^
Kagome: Yes, I will!! And you keep up the review!! :)
TennyoAngel711: Hallo Tennyo!! Du sprichst deutsch? Das ist cool!! (Yeah, we use this word in Germany too. It's part of the basic vocabulary, I think. *g*) Right, tough Hitomi! But she needed someone who is able to defy her. ^_^ Oh and the fact that Van works well with horses- there is a special reason! *grins devilishly*
Okay, but now let's start! Oh no, one thing:
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Escaflowne! *sighs sadly*
Chapter 3 Bad omens
"Don't stare at me like this!", Hitomi groused when she noticed out of the corner of her eyes Van staring at her. He turned away.
"I didn't stare at you.", he said.
"You did!", Hitomi contradicted turning around to face him over Dust who was walking calmly between them. His wound was healing. Slowly, but it did. This Van guy did have an idea of healing she couldn't deny.
"No, I didn't. Why should I stare at someone like you?", Van asked and quickened his steps leaving her behind.
Hitomi stopped in the middle of her tracks, speechless. This was so typical of him! Starting to argue with her and then leaving her before she could shoot back! She hated it. She wondered why he was still alive. She should have killed him at the latest after the first night he stayed with her. He had woken her up by throwing her backpack at her. Terrified she had yelled out. Oh, she had been so angry and still was. She was angry about this stupid guy because of taking advantage of this situation and making her show weakness. And she was angry about herself because of falling asleep in his presence. He could have done who-knows-what with her. He was a stranger. She didn't trust him. How could she, anyway? Hitomi snarled angrily. Dust had followed Van innocently. This traitor! Dust had doted on this guy. It was unbelievable. But this time, Van won't win. Not again! She chased after him. When she reached him, she grabbed his arm and forced him to turn around.
"How dare you treating me like this!", she yelled at him. "I...", she started to continue yelling at him, but was interupted by a rustling noise coming from the tops of the trees above them. Both of them looked up. Suddenly something fluffy fell to the ground. They just stared at it. Then Hitomi decided to check out what it was. When she reached the thing she saw that it was a small black-blue bird with a yellow beak and intense red eyes. Her eyes widened in surprise. She kneeled down and gently picked the bird up. It wasn't dead like she thought at first. Quite the reverse! It's heart was beating so fast that she thought it'll burst within the next seconds and it was breathing hard.
"A Madhari!", she murmured. "But this can't be. These birds live only at the Easterly Continent. What does it mean?", she wondered deep in thoughts.
"It's completely exhausted.", she jerked lightly when she heard a voice close to her ear. It was Van looking over her shoulder. "It looks like it flew the whole way from the Easterly Continent here, nonstop.", he said thoughtful. Hitomi opened her mouth to bark at him but just at this moment it rustled again and four more Madharis fell from the sky.
"What the hell is going on?", Hitomi asked aloud still holding the bird in her hands. Van straightened up pricking up his ears.
"What...?", Hitomi attempted to ask again but Van interupted her.
"Ssshhh!", he hissed putting a finger on his lips to silence her. "Listen!"
Hitomi grumbled glaring at him. He had managed again to let her seem kinda dumb. She didn't know how she bore with him. But then she heard and saw what he meant through the foliage- a giant flock of birds. It must be millions of them. The whole sky was black. They covered the sun so that the light was getting dark. Hitomi gasped. What was going on?
"They are afraid.", Van said startling Hitomi. His voice was strange. Some kind of absent. "They fear for their lives.", he continued looking into the sky with closed eyes. "That's why they're leaving the Easterly Continent. They flee. They crossed the straits of Avaris and now they are here because they hope that they are safe here. Something is going on there. Something very bad.", he finished opening his eyes. 'This is your doing, isn't it?', he wondered in mind.
Hitomi stared at him. This guy was really strange. She couldn't get used to him. One time he was loud, uncouth and arrogant, just the typical man, and another time he was...he was just like now. Standing there, quietly. Looking at the sky and looking at nothing at the same time, millions of thoughts swirling through his mind. What was he thinking of? Everytime he seemed this absent he looked incredibly sad. His eyes were so sad, Hitomi thought it would start raining because Gaea was crying feeling his boundless sadness. What on this whole world could make someone as sad as him? She knew only one thing. Only one thing had ever made her cry. Her mother's death. The image of her dying mother suddenly flashed through her mind. Blood covering nearly her whole body. A sword's blade jutting out of her chest. The fire always shining in the depths of her sparkling green eyes, went out. Her, holding her mother's limp hand in her own trembling ones. She heard the cries of war filling the air around her. The cries of dying people. She could smell the scent of blood, the scent of scorched ground. It was the scent of death. Suddenly her mother's hand tensed. She wispered some words Hitomi couldn't understand and then her eyes broke. Her look was empty. Hitomi screamed but no sound escaped her mouth. Her mind was screaming. It was so loud that no noise being around her could enter her mind. She was stunned. She couldn't move. Then she was pulled away from her dead mother. Someone was dragging her away and it made her snap out of her trance. She cried and tried to wriggle out of the grip, tears filling her eyes. No! No, she didn't want to leave her mother! She wanted to stay at her side. She closed her eyes and screamed out for her mother with all her heart.
When Hitomi opened her eyes she saw that she was no longer at the battlefield. Her view was blurred. She could only see vague silhouettes of the trees around her. Something wet slid down her cheek. She was still crying, silently. Quickly she wiped away her tears and glanced at Van. She didn't want him to see her cry. She didn't want to show more weakness than she had already done. But he hadn't seen her. He was still staring into the sky, lost in his own thoughts. Her gaze rested on him. The view presenting itself to her was...just beautiful. It was a moment for eternity. Several sunbeams hit the ground around Van. He stood there, his shoulders sagging at his sides, his head lifted and tilted a bit. He looked so sad. And by the look of him Hitomi felt a strange feeling rising in her. With her free right hand she touched her heart. What was this feeling?
Suddenly, as if feeling her gaze he turned around and faced her. When he saw her face, he frowned deeply. Hitomi's heartbeat fastened. What was he doing to her? She had never felt as unease in someone's presence as in his one. Why? He was just a man! Feeling the redness streaming into her cheeks, she turned away.
"What do you think?", he asked after a moment of silence. "I guess, we should rest here. It would be a great waste if we didn't make use of this situation. When will food ever fall from the sky again?"
Hitomi's eyes widened in disbelieve. Had she just heard right? He couldn't be serious! "What?", she barked her head shooting up.
"The birds.", Van explained calmly. "Don't tell me you would rather like to hunt your food. It's easier to eat these birds, isn't it?", he continued and attempted to walk towards her.
"No!", Hitomi shrieked jumping to her feet. "No, don't come any closer! I won't let you eat the birds.", she said angrily pressing the little bird protectively to her chest. Hitomi had forgotten about her sudden sadness and her pity on Van. It was all replaced by pure anger.
"Why not?", he asked innocently.
"Why not?", she repeated. "Why not? Because it's absolutely unsporting! These poor birds wouldn't have any chance! You're so cruel. You..you....aargh! Go to your beloved Dust!", she said outraged and pointed at Dust. The horse looked up hearing his name. But when he was sure he wasn't the main-subject of their conversation, he devoted himself to his grass again.
"But he is your horse.", Van contradicted.
"GO!", Hitomi screamed.
The young man shrugged and turned around. With his back to her, he walked over to the horse. Hitomi snarled furiously. Then she kneeled down and placed the bird gently on the ground. She stroked over it's fragile body.
Van glanced at her. She was completely immersed in stroking the Madhari so that she didn't notice the warm smile on his face. "She can only be happy when she can argue.", he murmured.
.....................**.....................
"You're not him.", Penthesilea emphasized inspecting the man in front of her. He was encircled by five Amazons pointing at him with drawn bows. She had expected someone else. She was a little bit disappointed, she couldn't deny.
"No, I'm not him.", the silver-haired man confirmed.
"Then, who are you and what do you want here?", the queen asked angrily. She hated it to ask for everything. It meant that he held the reins. And this went completely against the grain.
"It's not important who I am. I'm just one of his ambassadors. More important is the message I deliver.", he said.
Penthesilea looked at him in distrust. When he thought she would ask again, he would be disappointed.
"My Lord wants you to keep the contract. He said that the time has come.", the ambassador said cryptically after realizing she won't ask.
The queen looked to the ground. She had known that this would happen sometime.
"What does he want me to do?", she asked defeated.
The man smiled evily. "He said that you wouldn't oppose it."
Penthesilea pulled a face. Of course had he known that she wouldn't oppose. An Amazon never breaks her word. Never.
"What shall I do?", she asked reluctantly.
"My Lord will expect you and you're best army at the border of his country in three days. The airships are awaiting you 10 miles farther in the north. You know what will happen if you don't-"
"I know.", she interupted him regaining her dignity. "Now leave."
The man bowed. "As you wish, my queen.", he said with sparkling red eyes and then mounted his horse. "See you soon.", he promised and spurred his horse.
Penthesilea glared at him. What the hell was he planning?
.....................**.....................
Hitomi sneaked through the forest her stomach rumbling madly. She was so hungry she could polish a bear off. But at first she must find it. Her stomach was rumbling so loud that her potential prey must have heard it. It seemed that every animal had hidden itself and now was making fun of her. She would die of starvation if she didn't find something to eat quickly.
Her thinking was suddenly interupted by a noise to her right. She shouted with joy internally. Maybe her stomach hadn't chased every animal away. Hitomi stood still and looked concentrated in the direction the noise came from. She couldn't see anything. Had she just imagined the noise? No, she was sure it had been real. And then she saw it. A rabbit appeared out of the undergrowth. She smiled. It wasn't a bear but better than nothing. The Amazon took an arrow out of her quiver and drew her bow. She closed her left eye training her sights on the rabbit. Shooting the rabbit wouldn't be a problem. At least she wouldn't starve, this day.
When Hitomi reached their camp it was forsaken. She let her prey drop. Where was this Van guy just now? And why hadn't he made a fire, yet? She snorted. Men! She should have known. But before she could curse him even more she heard a loud splash. There was a brook? She decided to check it out.
After some meters of walking she saw the water sparkling between the trees. When she reached the bank, the young woman leaned against an old tree's trunk and watched the events happening right before her. A cloak, boots and a sword lay at the bank near the water. Their owner, Van, stood in the middle of the brook, his pants turned up the water reaching his bare knees. The reflections of the afternoon-sunlight danced over his strained body. He looked concentrated into the water, his arms raised a bit ready to strike. Hitomi noticed his raven-black hair hanging into his view. How could he see a thing through this mess of hair? She hasn't a clue.
Up to now, Van hadn't noticed her yet. Hitomi grinned evily. If she wanted to she could torture him a bit. She bent down and picked a stone from the ground. Just a bit. It would serve him right. But then she shook her head. No, she wasn't that cruel. Just at that moment and without any warning, Van's arms immersed like lightning into the cold water. With a howl of triumph he pulled his arms out of the water clasping a big fish. But the fish didn't intend to yield up to it's fate. It fought like a tiger. Van tried to hold it but the fish was simply too slippery. Finally, accompanied by Van's frustrated "Damnit, no!" the fish took a header which deserved the gold medal.
"I didn't want to eat you anyhow!", Van cursed.
He cursed so loud that Hitomi thought he would awake the deads. She was still leaning against the trunk and could do nothing but smile. It was all too funny. She shook her head and turned around leaving the still cursing Van behind. She could still hear him when she reached the camp. She made a fire and roasted the rabbit. Half an hour later Van joined her, absolutely not angry throwing a dead fish onto the ground beside the fire.
"I see, you catched a fish.", Hitomi said with faked awe.
"No thing.", Van hissed annoyed making Hitomi smile.
After some minutes of busy working, Van let himself drop to the ground, a meter beside Hitomi. His fish was roasted on the fire filling the air with a tempting smell. Suddenly an ominous growl could be heard. Embarassed, Van touched his stomach blushing extremely.
"Hungry?", Hitomi asked innocently.
"Well...not really.", Van answered and turned around facing her. "Where do you want to go?", he asked out of the blue.
"Eh?", Hitomi replied surprised.
"Where do you want to go? What is your destination? I cared for your horse, at least I should know where you want to go. Regard it as a reward.", he said.
Hitomi gave a laugh. "A reward?", she asked. "What for?"
"My unselfish help.", Van shrugged.
"I've never asked for that help!", she told him. "Besides, you haven't even told me where you want to go, without a horse and provisions. Then, why should I tell you where I want to go? You're just a stranger.", she asked grabbing her water-bottle.
Van raised an eyebrow. "If that's your only problem.", he said and shrugged again. "Well, I'm on my way to Alexandria because I...- ", he stopped. A light grin started to appear on his face.
By hearing his words Hitomi had spat out all the water she had just drunken, like a little fountain. Now, she was coughing madly.
"...because I have some businesses to settle.", he finished grinning. "I think you don't need to answer my question, anymore. It seems that we will spend some more time together, won't we?", Van asked while Hitomi was still coughing. She braced herself and took a deep breath.
"You've done that on purpose!", she said angrily her head red because of strain.
"Me?", Van said pretending indignation, "Never!". It was when he spotted her pendant. It had slipped out of her shirt when she had coughed for her life. He stared at it with wide eyes. Hitomi realized his gaze and grabbed her pendant.
"What's the matter?", she asked confused.
"Where did you get that?", he asked ignoring her question.
"I...That's none of your business!", she stuttered, uncertain because of his gaze.
"Do you know what this is, anyway?", Van asked pointing at her clenched fist. Hitomi just stared at him. What did he want to hear?
"It's a pink stone.", she answered his question hoping he would stop staring at her.
"No!", Van said shaking his head. "This isn't just a simple stone. If I didn't become totally crazy during the days with you, I would say it's much more than that. It's a carfuncle."
"A what?", she asked ignoring his hint.
"A carfuncle.", he repeated. "You can find them in dragons."
"In dragons? You mean energists.", Hitomi said.
"No.", Van contradicted. "An energist contains a dragon's strength, but a carfuncle contains his soul."
Hitomi looked at him in distrust. She had never heard about this.
"Usually carfuncles are round-shaped. After a dragon died, it appears in his head. But just a handful of people were ever able to use their power. It requires a lot of will-power and strength to summon the power sealed in the carfuncle. But this tear-shaped one...", he paused. Hitomi looked at Van, curious, waiting for him to continue.
"I've heard only one time about a tear-shaped carfuncle. My mo-", he stopped biting his lip. "Someone told me about an old legend. A very old legend.", he sighed. "At a time nobody can remember well, there was a great war. It should be the worst, Gaea would ever see. The whole world was lost in war. Everyone fought against each other. Finally, there was no difference between friend and foe. Allies fought against allies. Brothers fought against brothers. And so did the dragons. They killed each other like they weren't of the same kind. The oldest and wisest of them couldn't stand it anymore. He felt Gaea's pain, suffer and sadness. Her own creatures were killing theirselves and it made her sick. It made her cry. It made him cry. Alone, hidden deeply in his cave in the depths of the earth he cried. And you know what is said when a dragon cries?", Van asked facing her.
Hitomi nodded stunned. "Everyone hears it.", she answered in a whisper.
"Yeah.", Van replied quietly. "They heard it. They heard his crying and his begs. His begs to stop this useless war, to stop Gaea's suffer and sadness. He cried so hard that his soul left his body. It left his body in form of a tear-shaped carfuncle. A giant sphere of pink light engulfed his body. The sphere grew larger and larger. It engulfed his cave, the mountains, the plains and finally, the battlefields. And within this sphere, they felt the pain. They felt what they had done to Gaea. They let their weapons drop to the ground, overwhelmed by this endless pain. The war ended. And alone in the cave stood the dragon crying out his pain, turned into stone. A memorial that should survive eternity. And to his stony feet lay the carfuncle, sealing the power to change the world.", Van ended looking at her in expectation.
Hitomi tighened the grip around her pendant. "The power to change the world.", she murmured. And suddenly, she remembered something.
~flashback~
"Hey mommy!", a little girl said sitting in her mother's lap. She gave her mother's long and silky hair a pull. "Mommy!", she said again.
"What's the matter, 'Tomi-darling?", she asked looking down at her little daughter. The little girl smiled widely, her deep-green eyes sparkling.
"Mommy.", she said and nuzzled up against her mother. The woman smiled and stroked her daughter's hair. She sighed closing her eyes. The warm sunlight caressed her face. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful moment. She pressed Hitomi closer to her body enjoying the feeling to hold her little darling. In a strange way she knew that it wouldn't last long and that she wouldn't be able to share more of these moments with her daughter.
"Mommy, what is this?", little Hitomi suddenly asked pointing at the pendant around her mother's neck.
The young Amazon snapped out of her sad thoughts. "This?", she asked the girl letting it dangle before her eyes. Hitomi nodded and grasped the pendant with her small hands.
"It's a gift from my mother.", she answered.
"Granny?", Hitomi asked surprised.
Her mother nodded and watched her daughter amused inspecting the pendant closely.
"Why did she gave it to you and not to aunt Lea?", she asked her mother.
"Well, Lea got the throne and I got the pendant. It's just fair, isn't it?", her mother asked back.
"Mmh. And were did she get it? It's beautiful.", Hitomi asked with the typical curious-little-girl-voice.
"I don't know. She never told me. Everytime I asked her she just smiled. The only thing she said about it was...", she lowered her voice to a cryptical whisper, "...that it contains the power to change the world."
Hitomi looked up with wide eyes. "Really?", she asked. But her mother just smiled.
~end flashback~
Hitomi blinked. This couldn't be. She looked up to face Van. She wanted to ask him if this story of him is really true but when she saw his gaze, she paused. He gazed at her but he didn't look at her, he was looking through her. She saw that he had grasped the hilt of his sword. His knuckles striking white. She opened her mouth but then gasped when she saw her pendant swinging from side to side before her eyes. She saw the trees around the two of them. Seemed as usual. But then, ominous shadows appeared between the trunks, encircling their camp. So this was what Van had seen. She wanted to turn around to look behind her but when she had half turned around something shot past her. She jerked. Hitomi followed it's path and stopped gasping. An arrow! It had been an arrow and it had hit it's target- Van's chest. He looked at the arrow sticking in his body and then at her in disbelieve and fell backwards.
Then, the vision ended. Hitomi blinked her head aching a bit. Van still sat in front of her like before her vision had started attempting to open his mouth to warn her. And it was when she heard the noise. This unmistakable noise she knew all too well- the high singing of an arrow. It was the arrow which would hit Van in his chest. The arrow which would kill him. The arrow she saw in her vision. And she had the chance to avert it. The chance to save Van's life. And with that thought she screamed: "Duck!", and threw herself against Van sitting opposite her. She heard him gasp in surprise and felt the impact. Luckily, her strength was sufficient and Van was too surprised to fight. Both of them landed on the soft ground. Hitomi on top of him, her eyes wide in disbelieve.
Why the hell had she done that? Why had she risked her life for him? A stranger? A nobody? Someone who wasn't even worth it to risk his life for? She could have died if Van hadn't been too surprised! But there was this feeling. She had felt it when she had seen the arrow sticking in his chest. It was as if someone had stabbed a dagger in her heart turning it around. It was strange.
She felt Van breathing hard underneath her. Her own body rose up and down with every breath he took. Her head lay on his chest, her arms encircled his waist and her heart was beating so hard that she thought it would break Van's ribs within a few seconds. She took a deep breath to calm down noticing a familiar scent. 'This scent! Where did I smell it before?', she wondered. Meanwhile, there was a feeling rising in her stomach that made her feel very unease. She-she must get away from him! Away from this man! Now! But Van was faster than her. With a sudden "Uh, shit!", he grabbed her waist and threw her off his body.
Hitomi landed on the ground beside him, painfully, really painfully. 'What? What was this guy think he is? She saved his life and he...?', she thought turning angrily around to face him. A brief moment, she saw his eyes widened in shock then something sparkling and really really sharp splittet the ground between herself and Van, only centimeters away from her nose . She shrieked and jerked back looking in her reflection. An ax! It was a giant Troll-ax. Terrified Hitomi crawled backwards. A Troll! She had never seen a single one but had read more than enough about them. She stared at it. Well, the rumours didn't say the truth. It was uglier than she had imagined. This Troll was the ugliest being Hitomi had ever seen. Tall and hairy and covered with scars and...er...ugly! It's face was round and dirty- green. Small and black piggy eyes stared at her. It's nose was crushed in it's face like it's ears and it's lower jaw jut out spittle dripping from it. The Troll leaned on it's long arms. They were as long as it's legs. It seemed so cumbersome. And then, Hitomi noticed it's smell. By the gods! If this being won't kill you with his ax then at least you will die because of it's smell. There was no apting word to describe this smell. But it matched his look, she must admit.
Suddenly the Troll growled loudly and grabbed the hilt of it's ax pulling it out of the ground. Van did a backward roll and jumped to his feet. He unsheated his sword preparing himself for it's attack. Just at that moment, the ax smashed down on him. He stopped it, holding the flat side of his sword. Van was forced to his knees gasping in strain. This damn Troll was simply too strong. Van gritted his teeth, his outstreched arms trembling in exhaustion. He would't take it any longer. He must do something or he would be cut in two pieces. Looking straight ahead, he saw the Troll's legs and was hit by realization. He grinned and looked up. With all his strength he leaned against the ax of this Troll and with a sudden movement, the Troll didn't expect, Van let go and moved to the side. Surprised, the Troll lost his balance and fell forward. Van didn't hesitate and made use of the careless Troll. The young man raised his sword and thrusted it into the Troll's not-protected hollows of the knee. A scream of pain and rage escaped it's throat making the ground tremble. Van took some steps away from the Troll. Angrily, the injured being swirled around searching the one who did this to him. It spotted Van, bubbling in rage. Van swallowed. It had been a big mistake. Only one thing was worse a Troll- a Troll in rage!
Hitomi stood aside watching the scene. She saw Van jumping from side to side not wanting to be splitted. Just the sudden neigh of a horse ended her paralysis. Dust! Hitomi had totally forgotten about him. She turned to the direction the noise came from. Her eyes widened. There was Dust retreating from a small, thin being. Some kind of Goblin. It held a sword in it's right hand. It was clear that the Goblin didn't intend to stroke Dust. Hitomi took an arrow and drew her bow. She wouldn't let this thing get closer towards Dust. She aimed at the Goblin's heart but then hesitated. It would be the first notch in her bow. No wind. Perfect. And then, she let go. With a light grin she saw the Goblin breaking down. She hadn't expected something else.
Dust looked at her in distrust when she reached him.
"Hey Dust, stop it! How long will you keep playing this stupid game?", she asked him annoyed.
"Girl.", a raspy voice suddenly said from behind, startling her.
Hitomi spun around retreating from the Goblin approaching towards her. She stopped at Dust's flank tapping the horse. The Goblin held a sword in his hands and glared at her.
"Don't interfere!", he said threatening. "Nothing will happen to you if you don't interfere. Everything we want, is the boy."
Hitomi was confused. They wanted Van? Why? He was just Van! But then she paused. She had sensed that there was more about him. He was keeping a secret. Hitomi glanced at Van. Things didn't look too good. He lay on the ground, the Troll leaning over him, pressing the ax down on him. The ax was positioned over Van's head. He was holding the blade of the ax with his hands trying to prevent that it will crush down him. His sword stuck in a trunk beside the two of them. Hitomi sighed. You couldn't leave this guy to his own devices!
She could hear a raspy laughter. "Don't worry, it will be over in a few seconds.", the Goblin said.
Hitomi glared at him. She couldn't leave Van to his fate. She couldn't deny that she wouldn't have manage it without his help. She owed him something. She would settle her guilt right now. But how? This Goblin had a sword, she only a bow and a dagger. She could kick herself in the ass! Why hadn't she taken her sword with her? She had been very careless. 'Stupid Hitomi!', she thought still tapping Dust. But then, she stopped. What was this? She had felt something very cold at the horse' saddle. She looked to the side and gasped. Her sword! There, aside Dust's saddle hung her sword! But she was sure she hadn't taken it with her. 'How could this be?', she wondered but then smiled. Of course, who else? Good old Thetis. Hitomi would hug the goddess when she saw her again. Without hesitating she unsheated her sword. She had never fought against someone else than her Amazon-sisters. Actually, she had never killed someone with her sword. But there was everytime a first time, wasn't it? She grinned.
"I would give it another thought, if I were you.", the Goblin said.
"I did yet!", Hitomi said raising her sword. And with a strike like lightning she cut the Goblin's head off. He didn't have a single chance. But Hitomi didn't care. Immediately, she let her sword drop and drew her bow. She aimed at the Troll still leaning above Van. The arrow hit the Troll in it's chest. Not deadly but distracting. While the Troll was drawing angrily the arrow out of it's chest, took Van the opportunity of crawling away from it. He jumped to his feet searching his sword. Hitomi saw it and stooped to pick her sword up intending to throw it over to Van.
"Van! Catch!", she screamed throwing the sword.
He cought it in flight firmly. Running towards the still distracted Troll he raised it and with a single strike he cut it's throat. The Troll growled falling to it's knees. It grabbed it's throat blood streaming out between it's fingers. Finally, the Troll thundered to the ground, dead. Van let the sword sink breathing hard. He turned around to face her, a huge grin on his face and started walking over to her.
"That w...", he started to say but was interupted by something falling out of the trees above him, landing on top of him.
"Damnit!", Van snarled kicking the Goblin off his body. The Goblin struggled back to his feet but before he could do something, Van struck after him. The Goblin could only block. Van was outraged.
"You killed Riad!", he screamed striking after him again and again. The Goblin retreated trying his best to block Van's attacks.
"He stood in our way. We had to kill him!", the Goblin defended himself.
Van snorted angrily. Instead of replying he knocked the sword out of the Goblin's hand. Surprised he stumbled over a root and fell to the ground being at Van's mercy. But there was no mercy. Van raised his sword intending to spear the murderer.
"Van, no!", Hitomi suddenly screamed realizing what he was going to do.
"Why not?", he asked cold-blooded aiming with the point of the sword at the Goblin's heart.
"You're not wanting to know why they tried to kill you?", she asked him back, approaching.
Van remained silent. Hitomi was confused. He would rather kill the Goblin instead of asking him why? Why should he do that? She would like to know why someone was trying to kill her! Unless...
"He knows why.", the Goblin finished her thought laughing madly. "But you won't manage it in time.", he told Van. "My Lord will find other ways to stop you. You will never beat him. He is the one and only."
"He will never win!", Van hissed through clenched teeth. "Never."
The Goblin just laughed. "I'm sorry my Lord, but I failed.", he said and grabbed the sword Van was holding in his hand. The Goblin looked him straight into the eyes and then thrusted the blade into his own heart. Van let go of the sword and the Goblin fell backwards. He was dead before he hit the ground. Van stared at him without any emotion. Hitomi looked at Van, stunned. And just by seeing the look in his eyes, she knew he won't answer her questions.
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Puh, that was hard work. *little drifts of smoke rise from her keyboard* Whoa!! A little bit too much I would say. Okay people, while I'm trying to extinguish the little fire here you review. Pleeease!!! I need reviews! They are the source of my lifepower!! *keyboard goes up in flames* O_O Oh shit!!! *grabs receiver* Hello? Is this the fire department? I---- connection cut off-----
No, just kidding. ;) I wanted to update before the new year comes. And well, I managed it! Yuppieeeeee! I WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND I HOPE I SEE YA NEXT YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BYEEEEEE *whispers* Review, review, review!!!
Dariel