Disclaimer: You guessed it. I don't own Visions of Escaflowne.



Ollen70: This chapter will be brief, but hopefully still good.


Chapter Eight - - What Dost Thou Garner...



The two leopard girls, whom he later learned were called Naria and Eriya, respectively, showed him not even the slightest hint of trust at the first. Not that he blamed them in any way. Dressed as he was in black leather, wings still fully unfurled from his shoulders, it was no doubt they stared up at him with eyes that were muted and unreadable. It took two days for him to assure them that of all the nations in the highlands, Zaibach would be kindest to them. All of this persuading was done en route to Zaibach on foot, though he didn't deign to tell them the destination of the road he chose just yet. Folken couldn't carry them both, especially when they weren't willing to be borne, and besides, with the villagers still combing the countryside for them, they both knew well the wisest course of action was to stay close by their new benefactor.

But what are you, exactly? The golden one asked him during part of his speech, wrinkling her nose. Why do you have wings? I didn't think humans could fly. This led to a long, complicated explanation he was sure she didn't understand, when all the while he fought down the urge to tell her that he didn't know what he was either.

Nothing Folken said sounded right in his own ears. He felt awkward and almost ashamed, knowing well he was leading two innocent girls into the same trap he himself had been led. And yet at the same time, he was honestly saving them. Gold and Silver twins were unheard of - if this pair didn't become a part of the empire, surely they would be cornered again and enslaved or sold to the highest bidder, and he was not willing to see that take place.

There was absolutely no fairness in the hand they had been dealt. Folken could think of few others who more deserved the opportunity to build their own fate, after what had befallen them, and he would make it his duty to see that they received it. For the first time since he'd been introduced to Dornkirk's ideals, he began to believe the man might not be so very in the wrong after all. Perhaps he truly did feel as strongly for the downtrodden as Folken did.



The morning of his return to Zaibach was not a pleasant one for any of the people concerned. Dornkirk was beside himself with fury at Folken's prolonged absence, his outrage lifting only when he beheld the two young leopards. He immediately made Folken responsible for their every action, threatening dire consequences upon him if they found mischief to create in the palace. For all his orations, Folken noticed with some surprise the moisture gathering in the corners of the old man's eyes when he entered Dornkirk's chamber. He was assigned no new tasks and given a fair amount of space in the concurrent week, both signs that the Emperor bore no ill will.

Delleva was another matter entirely. The bitterness between Folken and herself was now very nearly a fume. He'd seen her once or twice, but she made no attempt to approach him and he certainly wasn't eager to remind himself of what she'd told him emphatically on their last encounter. They'd never been as intimate as the rumors in the fortress told. She had held him often, manipulating his emotions into what she'd wanted them to be, but that was the extent of it.

Nearly two weeks after his return, it became clear that the presence of the twin dissuaded her entirely now. She might hiss at them when they ventured a bit too near, but never struck or gibed them openly. Despite her odd change in mannerisms, there were others in the fortress he trusted even less. Folken was absolutely determined not to allow them out of his sight for any longer than necessary, nor to permit any of the other Sorcerers within spitting distance of his two charges. When he couldn't watch them himself, he implored Zongi to stay close by.



Not barely a week after they'd arrived, before Dornkirk had willed Naria and Eriya under his care, he returned to his chambers after laboring with Zongi to find most of his belongings scattered about and the curtains near the windows shaking and weeping. Highly disconcerted, he drew the indigo brocade back very slowly only to be surprised by a shock of silver hair and bright eyes, now full of tears. The young girl only stared up at him, obviously too terrified to do anything else. He opened his mouth to question her, but all the words lodged in his throat.

Y..you won't....you won't tell on me...will you...? She asked finally, her voice very timid and small. I...I don't want to go back to them...

He wasn't quite certain who she'd meant by them.' At first he assumed she might be referring to the soldiers or one of the generals, at least until he saw the black cloaks of the Sorcerers flashing past the doorway.

She must have gone this way! One called to the others, dashing down the corridor recklessly. The way she tensed so incredibly at the sound of that voice left him with little doubt.

She clung to him now. Without knowing quite why, he hugged her close to him.

Don't worry. His tone was identical to the one he'd often use with Van when his younger brother woke in the throws of panic following a nightmare. Everything's going to be... Here he stopped abruptly. He knew as well as she did that for her, nothing was going to be alright. Lying even for the sake of a moment's comfort did no one any good. She stiffened again, not so distressed to overlook Folken's telling omission. In compensation, he cradled her head with one arm and hummed a soothing melody that was known only to the royalty of Fanelia. It took quite awhile for her to grow calm enough at his touch to drop in to sleep. When she did, he lifted her slight frame easily and bore her back down the corridor, back to the horror that undeniably waited for her there.

After passing her back over to the waiting hands in the science labs, he returned to his chamber sick at heart, more laden with guilt than he could ever remember. His private vow to let no bad thing befall the young leopard girls was still all too fresh in his memory. Not able to console himself with thought or word, he rushed desperately to the lavatory and retched.



Ollen70: Hmm. Maybe not a very pleasant place to leave off, but I'll write on the train this week and have a new chapter up by Sunday or before. Also, I've been having real trouble coming up with chapter titles. If you have any suggestions, they are, as always, very welcome.