Ollen70: Well, now comes the moment you've all been waiting for. We can all see if it pays for me to write on episodes i haven't seen for almost three years. If any of this seems incredibly sketchy, let me know and I'll do what I can to fix it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne. Go ahead, just rub it in.


Chapter Eleven - - Until the Cities Lie Ruined


Folken never once left the control room of the Vionne that day. His eyes locked onto the screen before him, every part of his being begged him to turn away and no longer watch what was coming to pass, but he stood rigidly, ascetic to the desires of his mind. It wasn't own of any sort of pride that he kept his lonely vigil. He'd sent Naria, Eriya, and Zongi away, certain that this was something no one else should witness. He stood alone because he knew that if he was to be the cause of so much carnage, he owed the sleepless nights, the terror that would exist forever when he closed his eyes, to these people below him that were dying. The nobility of Dornkirk's cause would never make this horror acceptable.

It was three hours ago that the assault on Fanelia had begun. In that time, Folken watched much that was familiar to him burn when Dilandau and his soldiers, cowering behind their stealth cloaks, began their ruthless slaughter of Fanelia's defenders. While the citizens fled screaming, the Samurai of the royal house stood their ground. Balgous himself joined the fray eventually, encumbered by a massive claymore that helped him fell more than one of Dilandau's vanguard. But even the greatest swordsman ever known could do little against the raw efficiency of Folken's Chlima claw and the cloaks. Balgous, like so many others Folken knew and cared for, would die this day in a rain of burning debris or on the piercing metal weapons
he had spent so much time perfecting.

The longer he looked on, the more he was able to distance himself from the happenings below him. Dilandau's dragon slayers had burned so much of his former home that he could no longer distinguish the places he had once known. Fanelia became a nameless boneyard that he owed nothing. At least, until he saw him.

Alone behind the burning guymelefs of the Samurai, a gray suit of armor rose suddenly, it's sword outstretched. The screen closed onto the pilot's face when Dilandau adjusted his weapons sights and Folken immediately remembered that he was seeing everything from the Captain's point of view.

Folken cried into the receiver of the console, causing Dilandau's sight to waver from what must have been surprise. We're to bring the Dragon to Dornkirk intact!

The orders said he was to be Came Dilandau's snide reply, but he held his fire, to Folken's infinite relief. To me, that means dead or alive.

Remember your place, Albatou! Folken snapped, before switching off the
receiver angrily. Van,' He thought silently. You aren't supposed to be here. You're supposed to be away from all of this, not pretending to be a king.' And he knew at the same time that no matter how young or inexperienced Van might be, he was ten times the king Folken ever could have been.

I don't know what happened! Dilandau raged half-drunkenly at the small table in the dark common room back on board the fortress. We were so close! We actually had him surrounded, and then he was just gone!

Folken didn't need to hear all of this. He'd seen it, and it was difficult to chase a small, guilty smile off his lips when he heard Dilandau's screams of rage. Folken didn't think he could ever forget the column of blue light that blossomed around the Escaflowne or around that peculiar girl that perched on its shoulder. What was even stranger were the readings he garnered from the Destiny Prognostication equipment after the beam had dissipated. All of the information hinted to some kind of reaction of fortune, but that couldn't have been the case. The Escaflowne was a risk because of the eventual role it could play, according to Dornkirk, not because of any special power or manipulation of fate that it could invoke. Whatever must have happened...

Are you listening to me? Dilandau slurred, eyebrows lowering suspiciously.

Folken replied quickly, rising from his steel chair and leaving Dilandau alone in the room to deal with his failure and eventual hangover. He had other matters to attend to.


Their efforts the second time were not in vain. By keeping the girl, who Dilandau had now seen in person and still failed to recognize the potential of, from Van and safely out of the way on the Asturian levy-ship, they could easily assure that there would be no more strange reactions from any of the machinery or the guymelef that they now had in their possession.

Again Folken felt physically ill, having watched Dilandau obliterate another fort and the lives of many good men for the second time in one week. But their mission was close to completion now that the Escaflowne was safely lashed into the holding bay. Van himself had been taken to well-furnished quarters on the lower levels on Folken's orders by Zongi. He didn't trust Dilandau to be anywhere near him, even though the captain didn't know of the filial nature of the relationship between Folken and Van.

The old horror had shone through Dilandau's eyes when he returned with
the Escaflowne in tow, boasting loudly of the dead soldiers and the still-burning ruins of the fort. Folken reigned in his rage with great difficulty - Asturia was an ally of Zaibach at the moment, and the knight presiding over the fort had been Allen Schezar, well known as a knight of Caelli. If he managed to tell the King of Asturia what had taken place, the second stage of their plans would ultimately fail. Zaibach could not afford to be opposed by anyone when the time came to overthrow the final nations in their way. Though they possessed a remarkable army, the strong front Asturia would present would do much to complicate matters that would otherwise be relatively simple.

Guymelefs were searching for the Crusade, Allen's personal vessel, at this very moment. Once found, it would be dealt with, as simple as that. Nothing could stop Zaibach now, Folken thought with a sudden twinge of regret that upset him. Why should he feel regret now when he had striven for this all along?

To Folken, the only comfort was that in a matter of days, this bloodshed would be over. His brother, the very last shred of his family or of Fanelia to live through his descent, would be safe in the Vionne until the end of all of this. And then...

There was nothing else he could follow that thought with. After all of this was over, what would be left? Fanelia was gone, their parents both dead, and he the Strategos in the very empire that had already cost Gaea so much. He already knew Van wouldn't accept him. Already Van had attempted to take his own life when Folken explained to him that he wouldn't be allowed near the Escaflowne. After that, Folken removed his cloak and tunic and let his wings free on a whim, determined to lie no more if it could be avoided.

Of course, Van's reaction was exactly what should have been expected. At first he swore and then raged again Folken, demanding to know why Folken would abandon his nation or kill so many who were absolutely innocent. All of the answers Folken had rehearsed left him, along with his resolve. There were many responses he could have chosen. Even the truth might have brought some sort of chilling comfort to Van, but Folken said nothing. Pity in Van's eyes could be no less painful than the raw contempt they had held, which intensified when Folken had asked him to come see Emperor Dornkirk and then decide where he stood.

Smiling sadly, Folken had pricked the back of Van's neck with one of the extensions that had been built into his mechanical arm. Like many other amenities, the fingers allowed him to subdue any opponent he might face who was physically more powerful than he. Most of the others held various poisons, save for the cylinder hidden in his index finger. That contained enough [1] enflurane to keep Van out for quite some time. Or at least until Folken could decide what to do next.


Retiring to his chamber, Folken remembered everything about Van. The way his eyes went wide when Folken spread his wings, both in horror and fascination - the moan when Folken showed him his arm - the strangled cry when Folken whistled the old tune of Fanelia...

It came as no surprise to him when the Crusade arrived and attacked. With only a token force on deck, the Zaibach soldiers were driven back very quickly. All except Dilandau, who had refused Folken's order and interfered, gaining a scar in the process. It was no better than he deserved, Folken decided at length. It was very evident to him that the Crusade was on its way, and he deemed it better to lose the dragon this time than to risk everything if that odd girl managed to invoke some other strange reaction from the royal guymelef if she ventured too close and was threatened.

Dornkirk had predictably been furious, but was easily placated when Folken explained the reasons behind his decision. He very carefully omitted anything regarding his thoughts on Van and to his surprise Dornkirk kept his word and made no comment. It also didn't throw him off balance when Dornkirk ordered the Vionne into Asturia at all haste, hopefully to fabricate a convincing tale for the king about what happened at the fort before Allen Schezar's arrival.

Folken didn't complain, nor did he bother to hide a small smirk at Dilandau, whose face was swathed in an embellished white bandage. The captain didn't notice, but Folken resolved to keep a very close eye on him. There was little that could protect his brother if he didn't. Van was safe, for now, and that was one of the few things that mattered.



[1] Enflurane is a powerful general anesthetic, for those of you who were curious. I don't know for sure if it's an injection medication or a gas, but hey, I've cheated with science in earlier chapters. Why stop now?


Ollen70: So, here it is. I'm actually very unhappy with this chapter, but I think I'll be able to clean things up in the next one, especially regarding Folken's state of mind. And once more in case you haven't heard it often enough, I really appreciate reviews. I don't know what I'd do without Myst Lady and Atari, who have so far reviewed almost every chapter that I've posted. The two of you are the best people in the world, as far as I'm concerned. =)