Yeah, FF.net has finally behaved itself long enough for me to post this! Before I get to the chapter I would just like to thank all who have taken the time to review this fic. I'm doin this for you guys.
Also I hafta say that I probably wouldn't be updating quite this often if it weren't for my shadow...The Dark Spirit. You're a bloody pain in the ass, but arigato just the same.
Well here's the next chappie
Enjoy
For all his talk, he wasn't much of a threat. Allen sneered at the unconscious body at his feet. Van was splayed face first across the dirt, his sword still gripped loosely in his hand from the attack he never made. "He collapsed even before either of us could attack," Allen sighed, "Disappointing...I almost looked forward to making him pay for his imprudence."
The blond knight sheathed his sword and sank to one knee beside the fallen boy. He peeled off a glove and placed his fingers under Van's jaw, checking for a pulse, "still alive at least...but ice cold." A strong gust blew through Allen's hair and he gave an involuntary shiver as he pulled his glove back on. This weather, I wonder how long he's been out here.
Allen continued his quick examination, his eyes trailing up and down until they narrowed on the young boy's lower back. The wind had blown Van's shirt up, exposing a number of scratches that had stopped bleeding and were beginning to crust over. "Hm," Allen mused, "I didn't give him those." He lifted Van's shirt further and noticed his black and blue ribs, "or that." How did he come by these; though I wouldn't be surprised if he acquired them because his hotheadedness had gotten the better of him? "Still," Allen turned his attention back to the abrasions, "these look newer than that bruise." He ran his finger lightly along one of the cuts. Dusting dirt and tiny debris aside, he paused upon feeling something partially embedded in the swollen skin. His gloved fingers removed the foreign object and tilted it in front of his eyes, catching it in the moon's radiance. "A bud," Allen looked searchingly around him, "but this looks like...." His eyes caught sight of a recently crushed plant growing between the roots of a tree; the one Van had been propped up against, "poison."
~~~Dream Sequence~~~
Impenetrable darkness welled up all around the young prince. The boy remained motionless in the room besieged by shadow, his feet set firmly on the ground he couldn't see. He did not dare venture further into the void as his crimson eyes were unable to make out anything before him. Van was beginning to feel more and more like a blind man. Everywhere he turned, all he could see was black. Yet the boy was not fully in darkness. Van's whole body seemed to be emanating a faint light, thusly making him stand out in the abyss.
What the hell is going on? He stared at his glowing body, turning his hands over in front of his face. And where am I? Van returned his focus to the nothingness around him. What is this place? He cautiously reached out an arm to the gloom. His hand passed through the air, making contact with nothing as it dropped back to his side.
The sun has set
Van whirled around, looking for the source of the melodic voice he had just heard. "Who's there?"
The land; a blanket of shadow...
The prince's eyes rested on the silhouette of a being a few feet from him; somewhere lost in the obscurity. Van was not able to decipher any details of the individual's face, nor could he recognize her pleasant-sounding voice. "Who are you?" His eyes strained on her figure, "Come closer."
A shadow that will overcome
Just as the words drifted to Van's ears, the woman's silhouette disappeared in an envelope of darkness. "Wait! Come back, please!" Van ran forward; for a moment completely forgetting his original fear of what lay within the shadows. He stopped suddenly when the ground began trembling beneath his feet. The steady rumble grew more violent, knocking Van off balance. He stumbled backwards just in time to witness two giant stone walls rise up in front and behind him.
The quake they caused knocked Van to the ground. He got to his feet, growling under his breath. What the fu-, his crimson eyes widened in shock. The massive walls looming before him rose high into the shadows, so much so that their tops were not visible. He ran his fingers along the smooth surface. What are these things?
The path...
The voice had returned. It was closer than before and Van could almost feel the mysterious woman's breath on his neck. Spinning around, he saw no one, not even a shadowy silhouette of someone. Only darkness and the enormous walls were anywhere near. "Where are you? I know I heard you," anger was seeping into Van's tone, "Show yourself."
As if obeying the prince's command, the figure appeared, but remained concealed in the darkness.
"You, who are you?"
A sliver through the gloom
"What?"
Van watched as a silhouetted hand motioned to the ground between his legs. He followed her movements and gasped as a thin white line slithered through the black void. As he looked up, the figure had once again disappeared; but there was no time to question where she had gone because at that moment a blinding light burst through the slender crack. Van heard sounds reminiscent of breaking glass before he felt himself falling, falling deeper into emptiness.
~~~End of Sequence~~~
"Idiot," the tall knight worded his thoughts out loud, "what was he doing in the woods at such an hour...and alone at that?" Allen glanced thoughtfully at the boy he was carrying in his arms. He had tended to Van's wounds as best he could and was now emerging from the forest onto the Arzas plains. Wasn't he afraid of running into one of the dragons that are known to roam this valley? Allen abruptly broke stride, a thought suddenly occurring to him. "Dragons...he must have been out hunting them." He frowned. "If that is the case, then he is more foolish than I had originally thought."
A screech joined the song of howling trees before the snowy owl, who has sounded the warning, swooped down to rest on Allen's shoulder. "Natal," the knight's concerned gaze fell to the bird, "What is it?" But he did not have to wait for any sort of reply. He too noticed the blazing blue eyes behind him. "I should warn you that I am a knight of Asturia," Allen faced his would-be aggressor, "And any attempt to rob or assault me would be quite fruitless."
The animal-like form did not move from the shadows, but instead began a low howl. Its calls were echoed in the darkness; the replies seeming to come from all around the tall knight. Allen turned his head and immediately a sinking feeling formed in the pit of his stomach. He was surrounded. Dozens of glowing eyes peeked through the shadows. They formed a confining circle around the knight. There was no room to escape. No, there are too many of them. Should they choose to attack, I might not be able to defend the boy...Though as a knight it is my duty to protect the helpless and I will fight to the death for this boy, should it come to that. Allen gritted his teeth. I hope it doesn't come to that.
"I mean you no harm," Allen spoke with conviction but the shadows did not back down. Only their howling ceased. "Step down. I do not wish to fight."
The defensive circle opened, but instead of allowing the blond man exit, another figure strode forward. In the moonlight Allen could see that it was a wolf man, a native of the nearby village of Arzas. The man joined him in the center of the ring.
"We cannot let you pass," said the wolf man.
"Oh and why is that?"
Allen shifted Van's weight in his arms. The boy's unconscious body was getting very heavy. The wolf man took notice of his actions and proceeded to speak. "You have our king."
"King," Allen's blue eyes widened, "This boy is royalty?"
The wolf man nodded. "That is Van Fanel, future king of Fanelia; you have in your arms." A slight pause, "What are you doing with him?"
Allen wasn't sure how to answer the wolf man's inquiry. He knew he couldn't lie, but he was concerned about telling the truth. He hadn't harmed Van in any way but he wasn't sure if the wolf people would believe that their future king had collapsed on his own.
After some deliberation, Allen decided to explain what had happened. He set Van on the ground, glowing eyes watching his every move. He took a deep breath and began his account. When he finished, his audience observed him with calculating eyes. Allen desperately hoped they believed his words.
The tall knight breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the wolf man closest to him nod his head. "That is fine," he placed a hand on Allen's shoulder, "Thank you Sir Allen. We will take it from here. I will bring Lord Van back to the castle personally."
Although knowing nothing of these people, Allen surrendered the boy to them. Something about the wolf man made him immediately trust him. He decided Van would be in good hands. He thanked them for their help as he turned, passing through the circle of men, before disappearing into the forest.
Well, I don't really have anything to say other than that took forever to write. It's only slightly longer than the previous chapters but still. Gah.
Tell me what you think.
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