Wow, it's so nice to know that you like the story so far. Thanks for everyone's reviews, and for The Reader is Now Blind, they have matching black eyes from their tussle. ^^;; they punched each other so now they have black eyes.
Thanks for reading, I can't believe we passed the 200 reviews mark, this is the most reviews I have ever gotten for a story. Amazing. I can't believe what a response you have given to me. It's really nice to read your reviews and know you have an opinion on this story.
And I know my grammar is weak! That's what will end up making me fail my exam in a few weeks ;_; oh well! Thanks for reading anyway!
About the ending, as you may know if you visited [plug] my Live Journal [/plug] that I'm planning on writing two endings and posting both of them. Then if you want a happy ending, you press 'happy ending' or whatever and if you don't want the bubble hearts and flowers ending you can click 'sad ending' or whatever. More on that later on. Now, back to work. I don't mean bubbles and hearts in a bad way...
Well, sorry it took so long to get this chapter out, I've had an exam and my birthday and I'm having to learn a monologue and my French speaking presentation. Too much! Anyway, only three DVD's to go before I complete my collection of Escaflowne ^^ yay!
Just a note, when I saw football I mean the football with the black and white ball which I think is...soccer for some of you? I don't know. But it's the football which the UK is crazy about (well...not me!).
Disclaimer - I don't own Escaflowne
* * *
Hitomi managed to get up for dinner and she rubbed the cooling salve into her burns, amazed at how much better it made them feel. She had no idea where Mamoru and Van had disappeared though, but she had clean clothes laid out for her and at the moment that was enough.
Unfortunately her bump looked like she had a large belly. It wasn't as big as it was going to be but it was still large enough to notice and not pass off as a beer belly. She eyed herself in the mirror and turned to the side and then to the other side, inspecting herself cautiously.
"You, my friend" she told her reflection, "are a magnet for trouble it seems"
"I agree completely"
Hitomi spun around to see Merle sitting on her window ledge having pried open the window itself. The cat girl pruned herself delicately and then jumped into the room, flinging the pager at Hitomi, who barely managed to catch it before it hit the floor.
Merle leaped into the room and said loudly "I stole it off your brother"
"I see" Hitomi replied, shoving the pager into her pocket "And you stole it because?"
"I just wanted to annoy him" Merle said stretching, "After all, he punched Lord Van"
"Ah" Hitomi smiled
"Anyway" merle continued, peering at Hitomi "You HAVE put on weight"
Hitomi turned briskly away and said "How rude"
Merle wasn't discouraged and instead ploughed on with "That was SO not there when you were in the bath. When I said you'd put on weight I was kidding, you know. You didn't need to eat so much at dinner to prove me right"
Hitomi blushed and said nothing.
"Well" Merle said slyly "If you don't work off that fat soon the rumours will start flying, Hitomi"
Hitomi snapped and spun around with a yell of "I'm pregnant you fool!"
"Ha!" Merle snapped her fingers and laughed, "I knew something was up! Your breasts seemed SO much bigger in the bathhouse" she giggled "And I remember you being flat chested four months ago. Well...practically" she ducked as a pillow flew past her head
Hitomi threw up her hands and sighed. Now someone else knew.
"And besides, my ears are so good I could hear Lord Van and your brother talking about it a mile away. They came back around ten minutes ago" Merle said proudly
Hitomi smacked her forehead; boys will be boys she reasoned. Still, they didn't have to talk about it that loudly.
"I can't believe this" Hitomi cried flopping down in a chair "Is there anybody you doesn't know?"
"Quite a lot of people" Merle shrugged "I'm just hurt you didn't tell me, Hitomi"
Hitomi smiled and said "We were trying to keep it quiet"
Merle grinned, "Oh come on Hitomi, we're a very closed off Kingdom, news spreads fast. How long are you expecting it to stay under wraps with that belly? People will talk you know"
Hitomi sighed again and said, "I can't do anything about it"
"How did it get so big in a day?" Merle asked
"I don't know, I woke up and it was like this"
"I heard about what happened in the castle yesterday too, are you alright?"
"As much as one can be in these situations" Hitomi replied "Come on let's go to dinner"
* * *
"Sing it again"
* * *
The dining courtyard at the centre of the castle was much fuller than when she had eaten her breakfast with Celena in there. The soldiers, servants, clerks, pages and pretty much everyone who didn't go home for dinner bustled around the benches or in queues for food and drink. At the head table to top officers, guests, honoured guests ate it seemed. As well as Van and Merle.
Merle told her that the reason Van and her ate there was to be with the people. Although the advisors to the King and the head servants protested that the King of Fanelia should eat separately from the normal people, Van had insisted that they needed to see he was human and that he ate and drank too. That he wasn't some untouchable person that they couldn't go to for help. He was there to help them and he was one of them.
Up the top as well as the apparent usual occupants that merle pointed out were Allen, Celena and Mamoru, who waved violently and pointed at two spare seats mouthing with a wide mouth "COME ON" before taking a huge bite out of his bread roll.
The food was good, soup, meat, vegetables that Hitomi couldn't identify as well as the optional drink of beer. Hitomi once again opted for the pitcher of water, surprised that Merle went for the green tea with her meal of fish and soup.
Hitomi held the tray over her bump, and it proved useful to hide the material that stuck out, even so, she was conscious of the soldier's eyes following her when she walked past them with Merle. The news of the girl from the Mystic Moon's return had spread through the city like wildfire. And all of the soldiers and servants knew she slept in the Kings room, speculations arose even with the knowledge they all had that van slept in the library. It was still next-door after all, and with an interconnecting door. Hitomi felt a blush glow in her cheeks as they watched her seat at the wooden bench.
Hitomi prepared herself for a meal while being stared at, however, surprisingly, as soon as she sat down at the table next to her brother the eyes moved away from her and she could relax. The interest they'd had had died, Merle explained that in Fanelia, it was hammered in from childbirth that it was rude to keep people from their food, be it physically preventing or by making them too uncomfortable to eat.
"Smart people" Mamoru grunted, chewing a hunk of bread feverishly
Allen, a little way down the table leaned out from his seat and called down the bench "Are you feeling well Hitomi?"
"Yes" she called back smiling and tucked into the meal
It was an enjoyable meal all in all. Hitomi felt a hole in her stomach filled with each mouthful and she felt her spirits being raised. Eating for two wasn't so bad after all.
The dining courtyard never seemed to die down either, different sentry watches were constantly coming in and out, getting drinks, alerting the next scheduled men of their duties if they forgot. People who weren't even eating were sat at the tables, clerks and scribes with spread out papers and ink, people reading and groups of servants on their own breaks chattering. It was the social area of the castle it seemed.
"Do the castle workers go home at any time?" Hitomi asked Merle
"Well" Merle replied, swallowing her mouthful "They all have houses in the city and family, so they can go home but in the old castle that was destroyed all the servants and people had quarters here as well. The soldiers have rebuilt their barracks away from the castle over there" she pointed in a direction for emphasis "But at the moment only the royal family and advisors have spaces to live in the castle"
"So where do you sleep?" Mamoru asked
"Fool" Merle snorted "In the castle, I'm regarded as a member of the Royal family now"
Mamoru raised his hands.
"So Allen and Celena...?" Hitomi asked
"Sleep in the soldier barracks with their troops doubling up with ours" Merle replied, "You're brother is also in there I believe"
"Yeah" Mamoru grinned "It's great"
"I'm glad you like it" Hitomi said "I was feeling a little guilty at sleeping in the castle"
"Don't worry about it" Mamoru shrugged "The castle seems to be mostly full of women anyway. I'm with the men of the place"
"Anyway" Merle continued "Most of the servants go down early evening, in about ten minutes actually. A few come up for nightshifts actually, but not many. And the builders of the castle of course only work in the daytime"
The sky overhead was beginning to glow a deep red with ribbons of orange through it as they finished up dinner. The courtyard emptied of the servants and clerks as they headed back down to the city. Soldiers finished up too and went back to either the barracks or on duty, the seemingly endless activity was slowing at last. Hitomi waved as she saw Gaddes and some people she was sure were from the crusade stick their heads out into the courtyard, grin, and leave again.
Allen stood up as they disappeared and stretched, then holding Celena's arm as she go up as well.
"Well, we had better go supervise our men" Allen said to the occupants of the top bench "They'll be wanting something to do. Restless bunch, I must say. I'll send them off on a city tour or something or they'll bicker. Let's go sort them out Celena"
They were waved away from the table and disappeared into the halls of the castle on the other side of the courtyard.
Van moved down the two empty seats and placed himself next to Hitomi, flashing her a smile before taking a gulp of his drink. Hitomi felt her stomach go giddy for no reason and she looked at the hands in her lap. She was a teenager after all, weren't their emotions supposed to go all hyper like this when a boy smiled at her?
She grinned at her hands and Mamoru asked, "What are you so happy about?"
Hitomi smiled at her brother in a way she knew would annoy him and said "You'll understand when you're older"
Predictably Mamoru's face darkened and he kicked her under the table.
Hitomi yelped and jerked up, causing a mad panic of the occupants of the table, more in particular Merle and Van who both jumped up with her and grabbed her arms to steady her. Van goggling at the fact merle had gotten up with him, shaking off his astoundment he looked at Hitomi and asked quietly "Are you alright?"
"Yeah" Hitomi replied shooting daggers at Mamoru, who yawned and looked away "I just had a shock, that's all"
They sat back down again and Van whispered "Merle, do you...er...know?"
Merle nodded and grinned widely "You guys were talking so loudly I could have heard you a mile away"
Van put his head in his hands and said in a muffled voice "Is there anyone who doesn't know in this place?"
"As I said before," Merle said holding up a finger "Many people, but you really need to learn to keep your voice down. You've had this problem ever since I can remember Lord Van"
"Why do you call him by his title?" Mamoru asked, looking at Merle
Merle thought for a moment and then shrugged "It's manners, and I've always been told to call him that as I'm below him"
Van shook his head and said warmly "Merle you've never been beneath me, not at all"
Merle smiled, blinking, and looked away "Anyway, it's manners"
"Sure it is" Hitomi said and shot to Mamoru "You ought to learn them sometimes"
Mamoru stuck out his tongue again and said "I don't need manners, I'm practically perfect in every way"
Hitomi rolled her eyes and then said quietly "So we all know, Allen knows, is that it?"
The others leaned in and Van said, "No one else, I think some of the female servants might guess soon" he looked at Hitomi and then his eyes caught her stomach "What's...?"
Hitomi placed her hands over her stomach and loosened the buttons of her jacket to make it baggier and then replied "What?"
Van frowned and then shook his head, "Nothing"
Hitomi rubbed her arms against a breeze that had suddenly struck up and the other three piped up together with "Hitomi, you ought to go inside"
Hitomi sighed. Here they went, treating her differently again. Following their persistent arguments, she was escorted up to the library where Van called for the fire to be lit and extra candles for they would be sitting there for the evening.
* * *
Later, the fire was roaring and the sticks of candles shone out to the corners of the room and Hitomi, Van, Merle and Mamoru were all crowded around the fire. In different circumstances they might have been considered normal teenage friends enjoying each other's company. But that wasn't how it was, in a strange twist of events they'd all been thrown together in one way or another.
If you thought about it hard enough it was strange how the world worked. Or worlds...Make a choice and one thing will happen but at that point something completely different would have occurred if you had taken another choice. Many things would change or maybe a minor detail would be different.
As it was, they all presently sat around the fire warming themselves against the darkness that was creeping through the city as the sun shone its final rays across the horizon.
A lone dragon roar was heard echoing across the valley from the far away forest.
Hitomi hugged a blanket across her shoulders tightly. She stolen it from Van's pallet on the other side of the room and Merle, next to her, had stolen his pillow to sit on even though they were on a thick rug anyway.
Mamoru was trying to explain the rules of football to Van in a way that was logical. Unfortunately Mamoru and logic didn't quite go in hand when it came to explaining the game to someone who had never even see a football. Mamoru knew what he was saying but it was obviously lost on Van as the flow of rules swept over his head.
Merle and Hitomi just sat quietly.
Hitomi closed her eyes and felt the warmth of the fire on her face and suddenly felt like she didn't want this to end. This night with these people, as she'd done many times before she wished that she could sketch ever detail of this scene into her head and never forget it.
For the first time in the last few days she felt COMPLETELY at ease in her surroundings. Even Merle didn't annoy her.
Hitomi sighed and looked into the fire.
* * *
"Please...please...wake up"
* * *
Hitomi lay in her bed later that night and started into the darkness of the room. Suddenly completely on edge. Asleep one minute and the next her eyes and flown open and she'd been searching the room for something, but what? She didn't even know.
Sighing at her edginess Hitomi rolled over and tried to get back to sleep.
A pain.
Hitomi froze and prayed that it wasn't what she thought it was. The pain didn't stop, but worsened and suddenly she felt the baby tug heavily at it's confinement and the pain shot through to her spine. They were here, she knew they were. That's why she was awake.
But where were they? Obviously not too close because the pain wasn't so bad. Yet. Hitomi pulled the covers off her as the pain grew in a steadily worse fashion. She stumbled across the room and felt her way towards the door to the library. Falling to the floor half way in pain and crawling the rest of the way.
"Help me...please" she whispered, even though no one could hear her
She pulled open the door and felt water run down her face. She was crying. Too bad, she thought, she was going to have to deal. She pulled the door shut as quietly as she could and felt her way across the floor.
Through the darkness Hitomi could hear Van's soft breathing and his presence like a beacon. The pain was astounding, they were so close now. Hitomi breathed and found her hand brushing the wood of the pallet that Van had been sleeping on.
She blinked away tears and climbed up the short height onto the pallet. He didn't stir.
Agony shot through her again and Hitomi felt they were so close that if they came closer it would be murder for the baby. Feeling her way up the pallet she lay down next to the warm body of Van. Deep in sleep, Hitomi felt guilty for having to trouble him like this, was she too much trouble?
He lay on his side away from her. Hitomi felt nausea sweep towards her as the pain deepened and in a moment where it subsided slightly she knew that there was someone other than the two of them in the room.
She wrapped her arms around the sleeping form of Van and wept silently, partly from fear and partly from pain. She didn't know what to do. A floorboard creaked.
Pressing her face into his neck she whispered desperately "Please...please wake up" she sobbed, "Help me. Please...wake up"
And in a moment she knew he was awake and alert. His breathing had sped up rapidly and she felt his body tense up. She squeezed his waist and let him roll over to face her, bringing his sword, which had appeared to rest in between them where he could reach it. She couldn't see his eyes through the dark but his hand snaked up to grip hers and the other gripped the sword hilt.
"There's someone here"
He said it matter of factly. And not even in a whisper. It was said quite loudly and clearly and then he said nothing. Silence fell across the room.
Nothing moved.
Hitomi felt Van begin to ease up off the blankets, pulling his hand away. He knelt up and drew his sword from its scabbard, waiting patiently.
Something shuffled and in a split second Van leapt up from the bed with a yell and shoot off into the darkness. Hitomi sat bolt upright as she heard his footsteps charge away and then an awful scream pierced the black. Hitomi covered her ears as the noise hurt them.
And then nothing. The pain stopped and even though the ringing in her ears was still there she knew there was no one else in the room apart from her and Van.
She lay down and wiped her eyes on the quilt. Van padded back over to her and she felt his hand on her shoulder as he said "Having nightmares?"
Hitomi smiled into the blanket and replied "Not anymore"
"How long was it here?"
"I'm not sure, not that long, not long enough to hurt really badly" Hitomi said
"It seems they can be anywhere at any time"
"Yes"
The pallet dipped slightly and Van recovered his former position of lying on his side as he got back into bed. Hitomi blushed in the darkness and began to get up. But Van's hand stopped her as he put it on her hand and pulled her back down. Wrapping his arms around her protectively.
"I'm sorry I didn't wake up sooner," he said quietly
"It's ok" Hitomi said, breathing in his warm scent
They lay like that for a while, just on the pallet with their arms around each other like they were truly one person. It was warm and calming after the incident with whatever it was, Hitomi was sure it was one of those beings though. She yawned and closed her eyes, she was sure she'd be able to sleep like this.
* * *
"I don't want you to go back there!"
* * *
Van was tired, he didn't want to admit it but he was. It seemed to be one of his downfalls that he needed 7 hours of sleep a night. And all too often he didn't achieve it and he ended up ratty in the mornings at his councils. But even so, right now, although he was tired, he didn't want to fall asleep. He was happy like this. The embrace was so close and loving that it almost felt like he was dreaming and was actually asleep this whole time.
He listened to her breathing and smiled, it wasn't a dream. Suddenly, he noticed that her stomach was pressing into him unusually. It hadn't done that the night she'd arrived and they'd held each other then. Narrowing his eyes in the darkness and cursing the fact that there was no light and he couldn't even see Hitomi right in front of him, he tried to figure out what was different.
And then it hit him.
The baby had grown. So THAT'S what she'd told Allen and hidden at dinner. It wasn't a normal pregnancy anymore, was it? Well, it hadn't been to start with but now it had grown larger in a matter of days. Not normal. And she hadn't told him. In a sudden wave of icy fear he wondered what could be wrong with it. Was it something to do with those things from the border.
Why would they want Draconians? Van thought to himself has he recalled Hitomi's words. Because of their link with Atlantis?
He sighed, and was about to say something about the stomach to Hitomi but then realised she'd fallen asleep. Smiling, he let her rest. He loosed his grip around her and she turned over in her dreams to snuggle into the pillow. Van pulled his hands away from her and moved them under his head to rest his neck on them, staring up into the darkness at what he thought would have been the ceiling in daylight.
Allen knew and hadn't told him. Why didn't Hitomi want him to know? He wanted to help her. He was the father after all.
Father.
He still couldn't get used to that word.
Van closed his eyes against his running thoughts and settled down to doze till morning. He wanted to be sure those things didn't come back after all.
* * *
Hitomi woke up at dawn, surprisingly, she opened her eyes to the library and found she had to shove her face into the pillow to stop the light from hurting them. Yawning widely and letting her eyes get used to the light, Hitomi stretched and rolled over, finding the pallet empty.
Sitting up she found Van at the window, staring out into the red-pink light of the sunrise. His body outlined with gold, he looked like a heavenly figure in this new morning. Sensing he was being watched her turned to look at her, leaning on the window ledge to warm his back with the new light.
"Morning" Hitomi smiled
"Yeah" Van nodded and strolled over to a chair to pull on the shirt that lay across it "Sleep well?"
"After all that excitement, I can't believe I did" Hitomi smiled and yawned again
"Feel free to stay in bed" Van said "Well...your room would be more appropriate before the servants come...as...well...we didn't...you know...but...well"
"Yeah, I know" Hitomi said, looking at the ceiling, feeling slightly hurt that he wanted her to leave now, she pulled herself up and stretched again
Van strapped on his sword belt and then attached his scabbard and weapon to it before pulling on his boots and trademark riding gloves. He looked at her then away. Hitomi frowned, was he mad at her?
"Hitomi" he said, coming to sit next to her on the pallet "I need to know what's going on"
"Going on?" Hitomi asked confused, "What do you mean?"
Van sighed "Don't think I'm stupid Hitomi"
"I don't" she protested "What are you~" she remembered, how could she have let him find out so easily? "Ah"
Van looked away and fiddled with his sword, waiting for her to figure it out. He needed to know.
"I didn't say anything..." Hitomi said quietly "Because when you hear things that you don't like or know someone you care for is in danger then you go charging off to do something and mostly get caught by somebody, hurt, or something terrible happens to you"
Van frowned "Is that all?"
Hitomi nodded.
Van shook his head and grinned widely "Name one time when I did that"
"When we were under attack at Allen's fort, just after we had met, Zaibach attacked and you went charging off"
"I was doing that to let you get away!" Van protested
"Still! And then there was the time when we were at that energist mine and you were beaten and the energists exploded...when I saw your, your...your wings"
"Ah. But that was your fault for getting caught, if you hadn't have been caught then we wouldn't have bee caught and I wouldn't have been beaten. So really, that was your fault"
"It so was not, if you hadn't have been acting all Mr. Hero then you wouldn't have gone there in the first place and none of it wouldn't have happened"
"But then you wouldn't have seen my wings and fallen in love with me"
Hitomi went bright red and turned away with a sharp comment of "That was NOT when I realised I liked you even if it did help"
Van turned red too and coughed uncomfortably and said quietly "Oh yeah? When was it then?"
"Well...er...I don't really remember" Hitomi stuttered
Van smiled and got up "I see. Well, I don't remember either"
"Oh"
"Good morning Hitomi"
"Good morning Van"
He left the room and Hitomi behind him to go out for a walk in his city.
* * *
I'm sorry nothing really happened in this chapter...I guess more character development isn't it? I wish more would happen for you but I always feel like I'm rushing. Oh well. Read, review and be happy!
Thanks for reading, I can't believe we passed the 200 reviews mark, this is the most reviews I have ever gotten for a story. Amazing. I can't believe what a response you have given to me. It's really nice to read your reviews and know you have an opinion on this story.
And I know my grammar is weak! That's what will end up making me fail my exam in a few weeks ;_; oh well! Thanks for reading anyway!
About the ending, as you may know if you visited [plug] my Live Journal [/plug] that I'm planning on writing two endings and posting both of them. Then if you want a happy ending, you press 'happy ending' or whatever and if you don't want the bubble hearts and flowers ending you can click 'sad ending' or whatever. More on that later on. Now, back to work. I don't mean bubbles and hearts in a bad way...
Well, sorry it took so long to get this chapter out, I've had an exam and my birthday and I'm having to learn a monologue and my French speaking presentation. Too much! Anyway, only three DVD's to go before I complete my collection of Escaflowne ^^ yay!
Just a note, when I saw football I mean the football with the black and white ball which I think is...soccer for some of you? I don't know. But it's the football which the UK is crazy about (well...not me!).
Disclaimer - I don't own Escaflowne
* * *
Hitomi managed to get up for dinner and she rubbed the cooling salve into her burns, amazed at how much better it made them feel. She had no idea where Mamoru and Van had disappeared though, but she had clean clothes laid out for her and at the moment that was enough.
Unfortunately her bump looked like she had a large belly. It wasn't as big as it was going to be but it was still large enough to notice and not pass off as a beer belly. She eyed herself in the mirror and turned to the side and then to the other side, inspecting herself cautiously.
"You, my friend" she told her reflection, "are a magnet for trouble it seems"
"I agree completely"
Hitomi spun around to see Merle sitting on her window ledge having pried open the window itself. The cat girl pruned herself delicately and then jumped into the room, flinging the pager at Hitomi, who barely managed to catch it before it hit the floor.
Merle leaped into the room and said loudly "I stole it off your brother"
"I see" Hitomi replied, shoving the pager into her pocket "And you stole it because?"
"I just wanted to annoy him" Merle said stretching, "After all, he punched Lord Van"
"Ah" Hitomi smiled
"Anyway" merle continued, peering at Hitomi "You HAVE put on weight"
Hitomi turned briskly away and said "How rude"
Merle wasn't discouraged and instead ploughed on with "That was SO not there when you were in the bath. When I said you'd put on weight I was kidding, you know. You didn't need to eat so much at dinner to prove me right"
Hitomi blushed and said nothing.
"Well" Merle said slyly "If you don't work off that fat soon the rumours will start flying, Hitomi"
Hitomi snapped and spun around with a yell of "I'm pregnant you fool!"
"Ha!" Merle snapped her fingers and laughed, "I knew something was up! Your breasts seemed SO much bigger in the bathhouse" she giggled "And I remember you being flat chested four months ago. Well...practically" she ducked as a pillow flew past her head
Hitomi threw up her hands and sighed. Now someone else knew.
"And besides, my ears are so good I could hear Lord Van and your brother talking about it a mile away. They came back around ten minutes ago" Merle said proudly
Hitomi smacked her forehead; boys will be boys she reasoned. Still, they didn't have to talk about it that loudly.
"I can't believe this" Hitomi cried flopping down in a chair "Is there anybody you doesn't know?"
"Quite a lot of people" Merle shrugged "I'm just hurt you didn't tell me, Hitomi"
Hitomi smiled and said "We were trying to keep it quiet"
Merle grinned, "Oh come on Hitomi, we're a very closed off Kingdom, news spreads fast. How long are you expecting it to stay under wraps with that belly? People will talk you know"
Hitomi sighed again and said, "I can't do anything about it"
"How did it get so big in a day?" Merle asked
"I don't know, I woke up and it was like this"
"I heard about what happened in the castle yesterday too, are you alright?"
"As much as one can be in these situations" Hitomi replied "Come on let's go to dinner"
* * *
"Sing it again"
* * *
The dining courtyard at the centre of the castle was much fuller than when she had eaten her breakfast with Celena in there. The soldiers, servants, clerks, pages and pretty much everyone who didn't go home for dinner bustled around the benches or in queues for food and drink. At the head table to top officers, guests, honoured guests ate it seemed. As well as Van and Merle.
Merle told her that the reason Van and her ate there was to be with the people. Although the advisors to the King and the head servants protested that the King of Fanelia should eat separately from the normal people, Van had insisted that they needed to see he was human and that he ate and drank too. That he wasn't some untouchable person that they couldn't go to for help. He was there to help them and he was one of them.
Up the top as well as the apparent usual occupants that merle pointed out were Allen, Celena and Mamoru, who waved violently and pointed at two spare seats mouthing with a wide mouth "COME ON" before taking a huge bite out of his bread roll.
The food was good, soup, meat, vegetables that Hitomi couldn't identify as well as the optional drink of beer. Hitomi once again opted for the pitcher of water, surprised that Merle went for the green tea with her meal of fish and soup.
Hitomi held the tray over her bump, and it proved useful to hide the material that stuck out, even so, she was conscious of the soldier's eyes following her when she walked past them with Merle. The news of the girl from the Mystic Moon's return had spread through the city like wildfire. And all of the soldiers and servants knew she slept in the Kings room, speculations arose even with the knowledge they all had that van slept in the library. It was still next-door after all, and with an interconnecting door. Hitomi felt a blush glow in her cheeks as they watched her seat at the wooden bench.
Hitomi prepared herself for a meal while being stared at, however, surprisingly, as soon as she sat down at the table next to her brother the eyes moved away from her and she could relax. The interest they'd had had died, Merle explained that in Fanelia, it was hammered in from childbirth that it was rude to keep people from their food, be it physically preventing or by making them too uncomfortable to eat.
"Smart people" Mamoru grunted, chewing a hunk of bread feverishly
Allen, a little way down the table leaned out from his seat and called down the bench "Are you feeling well Hitomi?"
"Yes" she called back smiling and tucked into the meal
It was an enjoyable meal all in all. Hitomi felt a hole in her stomach filled with each mouthful and she felt her spirits being raised. Eating for two wasn't so bad after all.
The dining courtyard never seemed to die down either, different sentry watches were constantly coming in and out, getting drinks, alerting the next scheduled men of their duties if they forgot. People who weren't even eating were sat at the tables, clerks and scribes with spread out papers and ink, people reading and groups of servants on their own breaks chattering. It was the social area of the castle it seemed.
"Do the castle workers go home at any time?" Hitomi asked Merle
"Well" Merle replied, swallowing her mouthful "They all have houses in the city and family, so they can go home but in the old castle that was destroyed all the servants and people had quarters here as well. The soldiers have rebuilt their barracks away from the castle over there" she pointed in a direction for emphasis "But at the moment only the royal family and advisors have spaces to live in the castle"
"So where do you sleep?" Mamoru asked
"Fool" Merle snorted "In the castle, I'm regarded as a member of the Royal family now"
Mamoru raised his hands.
"So Allen and Celena...?" Hitomi asked
"Sleep in the soldier barracks with their troops doubling up with ours" Merle replied, "You're brother is also in there I believe"
"Yeah" Mamoru grinned "It's great"
"I'm glad you like it" Hitomi said "I was feeling a little guilty at sleeping in the castle"
"Don't worry about it" Mamoru shrugged "The castle seems to be mostly full of women anyway. I'm with the men of the place"
"Anyway" Merle continued "Most of the servants go down early evening, in about ten minutes actually. A few come up for nightshifts actually, but not many. And the builders of the castle of course only work in the daytime"
The sky overhead was beginning to glow a deep red with ribbons of orange through it as they finished up dinner. The courtyard emptied of the servants and clerks as they headed back down to the city. Soldiers finished up too and went back to either the barracks or on duty, the seemingly endless activity was slowing at last. Hitomi waved as she saw Gaddes and some people she was sure were from the crusade stick their heads out into the courtyard, grin, and leave again.
Allen stood up as they disappeared and stretched, then holding Celena's arm as she go up as well.
"Well, we had better go supervise our men" Allen said to the occupants of the top bench "They'll be wanting something to do. Restless bunch, I must say. I'll send them off on a city tour or something or they'll bicker. Let's go sort them out Celena"
They were waved away from the table and disappeared into the halls of the castle on the other side of the courtyard.
Van moved down the two empty seats and placed himself next to Hitomi, flashing her a smile before taking a gulp of his drink. Hitomi felt her stomach go giddy for no reason and she looked at the hands in her lap. She was a teenager after all, weren't their emotions supposed to go all hyper like this when a boy smiled at her?
She grinned at her hands and Mamoru asked, "What are you so happy about?"
Hitomi smiled at her brother in a way she knew would annoy him and said "You'll understand when you're older"
Predictably Mamoru's face darkened and he kicked her under the table.
Hitomi yelped and jerked up, causing a mad panic of the occupants of the table, more in particular Merle and Van who both jumped up with her and grabbed her arms to steady her. Van goggling at the fact merle had gotten up with him, shaking off his astoundment he looked at Hitomi and asked quietly "Are you alright?"
"Yeah" Hitomi replied shooting daggers at Mamoru, who yawned and looked away "I just had a shock, that's all"
They sat back down again and Van whispered "Merle, do you...er...know?"
Merle nodded and grinned widely "You guys were talking so loudly I could have heard you a mile away"
Van put his head in his hands and said in a muffled voice "Is there anyone who doesn't know in this place?"
"As I said before," Merle said holding up a finger "Many people, but you really need to learn to keep your voice down. You've had this problem ever since I can remember Lord Van"
"Why do you call him by his title?" Mamoru asked, looking at Merle
Merle thought for a moment and then shrugged "It's manners, and I've always been told to call him that as I'm below him"
Van shook his head and said warmly "Merle you've never been beneath me, not at all"
Merle smiled, blinking, and looked away "Anyway, it's manners"
"Sure it is" Hitomi said and shot to Mamoru "You ought to learn them sometimes"
Mamoru stuck out his tongue again and said "I don't need manners, I'm practically perfect in every way"
Hitomi rolled her eyes and then said quietly "So we all know, Allen knows, is that it?"
The others leaned in and Van said, "No one else, I think some of the female servants might guess soon" he looked at Hitomi and then his eyes caught her stomach "What's...?"
Hitomi placed her hands over her stomach and loosened the buttons of her jacket to make it baggier and then replied "What?"
Van frowned and then shook his head, "Nothing"
Hitomi rubbed her arms against a breeze that had suddenly struck up and the other three piped up together with "Hitomi, you ought to go inside"
Hitomi sighed. Here they went, treating her differently again. Following their persistent arguments, she was escorted up to the library where Van called for the fire to be lit and extra candles for they would be sitting there for the evening.
* * *
Later, the fire was roaring and the sticks of candles shone out to the corners of the room and Hitomi, Van, Merle and Mamoru were all crowded around the fire. In different circumstances they might have been considered normal teenage friends enjoying each other's company. But that wasn't how it was, in a strange twist of events they'd all been thrown together in one way or another.
If you thought about it hard enough it was strange how the world worked. Or worlds...Make a choice and one thing will happen but at that point something completely different would have occurred if you had taken another choice. Many things would change or maybe a minor detail would be different.
As it was, they all presently sat around the fire warming themselves against the darkness that was creeping through the city as the sun shone its final rays across the horizon.
A lone dragon roar was heard echoing across the valley from the far away forest.
Hitomi hugged a blanket across her shoulders tightly. She stolen it from Van's pallet on the other side of the room and Merle, next to her, had stolen his pillow to sit on even though they were on a thick rug anyway.
Mamoru was trying to explain the rules of football to Van in a way that was logical. Unfortunately Mamoru and logic didn't quite go in hand when it came to explaining the game to someone who had never even see a football. Mamoru knew what he was saying but it was obviously lost on Van as the flow of rules swept over his head.
Merle and Hitomi just sat quietly.
Hitomi closed her eyes and felt the warmth of the fire on her face and suddenly felt like she didn't want this to end. This night with these people, as she'd done many times before she wished that she could sketch ever detail of this scene into her head and never forget it.
For the first time in the last few days she felt COMPLETELY at ease in her surroundings. Even Merle didn't annoy her.
Hitomi sighed and looked into the fire.
* * *
"Please...please...wake up"
* * *
Hitomi lay in her bed later that night and started into the darkness of the room. Suddenly completely on edge. Asleep one minute and the next her eyes and flown open and she'd been searching the room for something, but what? She didn't even know.
Sighing at her edginess Hitomi rolled over and tried to get back to sleep.
A pain.
Hitomi froze and prayed that it wasn't what she thought it was. The pain didn't stop, but worsened and suddenly she felt the baby tug heavily at it's confinement and the pain shot through to her spine. They were here, she knew they were. That's why she was awake.
But where were they? Obviously not too close because the pain wasn't so bad. Yet. Hitomi pulled the covers off her as the pain grew in a steadily worse fashion. She stumbled across the room and felt her way towards the door to the library. Falling to the floor half way in pain and crawling the rest of the way.
"Help me...please" she whispered, even though no one could hear her
She pulled open the door and felt water run down her face. She was crying. Too bad, she thought, she was going to have to deal. She pulled the door shut as quietly as she could and felt her way across the floor.
Through the darkness Hitomi could hear Van's soft breathing and his presence like a beacon. The pain was astounding, they were so close now. Hitomi breathed and found her hand brushing the wood of the pallet that Van had been sleeping on.
She blinked away tears and climbed up the short height onto the pallet. He didn't stir.
Agony shot through her again and Hitomi felt they were so close that if they came closer it would be murder for the baby. Feeling her way up the pallet she lay down next to the warm body of Van. Deep in sleep, Hitomi felt guilty for having to trouble him like this, was she too much trouble?
He lay on his side away from her. Hitomi felt nausea sweep towards her as the pain deepened and in a moment where it subsided slightly she knew that there was someone other than the two of them in the room.
She wrapped her arms around the sleeping form of Van and wept silently, partly from fear and partly from pain. She didn't know what to do. A floorboard creaked.
Pressing her face into his neck she whispered desperately "Please...please wake up" she sobbed, "Help me. Please...wake up"
And in a moment she knew he was awake and alert. His breathing had sped up rapidly and she felt his body tense up. She squeezed his waist and let him roll over to face her, bringing his sword, which had appeared to rest in between them where he could reach it. She couldn't see his eyes through the dark but his hand snaked up to grip hers and the other gripped the sword hilt.
"There's someone here"
He said it matter of factly. And not even in a whisper. It was said quite loudly and clearly and then he said nothing. Silence fell across the room.
Nothing moved.
Hitomi felt Van begin to ease up off the blankets, pulling his hand away. He knelt up and drew his sword from its scabbard, waiting patiently.
Something shuffled and in a split second Van leapt up from the bed with a yell and shoot off into the darkness. Hitomi sat bolt upright as she heard his footsteps charge away and then an awful scream pierced the black. Hitomi covered her ears as the noise hurt them.
And then nothing. The pain stopped and even though the ringing in her ears was still there she knew there was no one else in the room apart from her and Van.
She lay down and wiped her eyes on the quilt. Van padded back over to her and she felt his hand on her shoulder as he said "Having nightmares?"
Hitomi smiled into the blanket and replied "Not anymore"
"How long was it here?"
"I'm not sure, not that long, not long enough to hurt really badly" Hitomi said
"It seems they can be anywhere at any time"
"Yes"
The pallet dipped slightly and Van recovered his former position of lying on his side as he got back into bed. Hitomi blushed in the darkness and began to get up. But Van's hand stopped her as he put it on her hand and pulled her back down. Wrapping his arms around her protectively.
"I'm sorry I didn't wake up sooner," he said quietly
"It's ok" Hitomi said, breathing in his warm scent
They lay like that for a while, just on the pallet with their arms around each other like they were truly one person. It was warm and calming after the incident with whatever it was, Hitomi was sure it was one of those beings though. She yawned and closed her eyes, she was sure she'd be able to sleep like this.
* * *
"I don't want you to go back there!"
* * *
Van was tired, he didn't want to admit it but he was. It seemed to be one of his downfalls that he needed 7 hours of sleep a night. And all too often he didn't achieve it and he ended up ratty in the mornings at his councils. But even so, right now, although he was tired, he didn't want to fall asleep. He was happy like this. The embrace was so close and loving that it almost felt like he was dreaming and was actually asleep this whole time.
He listened to her breathing and smiled, it wasn't a dream. Suddenly, he noticed that her stomach was pressing into him unusually. It hadn't done that the night she'd arrived and they'd held each other then. Narrowing his eyes in the darkness and cursing the fact that there was no light and he couldn't even see Hitomi right in front of him, he tried to figure out what was different.
And then it hit him.
The baby had grown. So THAT'S what she'd told Allen and hidden at dinner. It wasn't a normal pregnancy anymore, was it? Well, it hadn't been to start with but now it had grown larger in a matter of days. Not normal. And she hadn't told him. In a sudden wave of icy fear he wondered what could be wrong with it. Was it something to do with those things from the border.
Why would they want Draconians? Van thought to himself has he recalled Hitomi's words. Because of their link with Atlantis?
He sighed, and was about to say something about the stomach to Hitomi but then realised she'd fallen asleep. Smiling, he let her rest. He loosed his grip around her and she turned over in her dreams to snuggle into the pillow. Van pulled his hands away from her and moved them under his head to rest his neck on them, staring up into the darkness at what he thought would have been the ceiling in daylight.
Allen knew and hadn't told him. Why didn't Hitomi want him to know? He wanted to help her. He was the father after all.
Father.
He still couldn't get used to that word.
Van closed his eyes against his running thoughts and settled down to doze till morning. He wanted to be sure those things didn't come back after all.
* * *
Hitomi woke up at dawn, surprisingly, she opened her eyes to the library and found she had to shove her face into the pillow to stop the light from hurting them. Yawning widely and letting her eyes get used to the light, Hitomi stretched and rolled over, finding the pallet empty.
Sitting up she found Van at the window, staring out into the red-pink light of the sunrise. His body outlined with gold, he looked like a heavenly figure in this new morning. Sensing he was being watched her turned to look at her, leaning on the window ledge to warm his back with the new light.
"Morning" Hitomi smiled
"Yeah" Van nodded and strolled over to a chair to pull on the shirt that lay across it "Sleep well?"
"After all that excitement, I can't believe I did" Hitomi smiled and yawned again
"Feel free to stay in bed" Van said "Well...your room would be more appropriate before the servants come...as...well...we didn't...you know...but...well"
"Yeah, I know" Hitomi said, looking at the ceiling, feeling slightly hurt that he wanted her to leave now, she pulled herself up and stretched again
Van strapped on his sword belt and then attached his scabbard and weapon to it before pulling on his boots and trademark riding gloves. He looked at her then away. Hitomi frowned, was he mad at her?
"Hitomi" he said, coming to sit next to her on the pallet "I need to know what's going on"
"Going on?" Hitomi asked confused, "What do you mean?"
Van sighed "Don't think I'm stupid Hitomi"
"I don't" she protested "What are you~" she remembered, how could she have let him find out so easily? "Ah"
Van looked away and fiddled with his sword, waiting for her to figure it out. He needed to know.
"I didn't say anything..." Hitomi said quietly "Because when you hear things that you don't like or know someone you care for is in danger then you go charging off to do something and mostly get caught by somebody, hurt, or something terrible happens to you"
Van frowned "Is that all?"
Hitomi nodded.
Van shook his head and grinned widely "Name one time when I did that"
"When we were under attack at Allen's fort, just after we had met, Zaibach attacked and you went charging off"
"I was doing that to let you get away!" Van protested
"Still! And then there was the time when we were at that energist mine and you were beaten and the energists exploded...when I saw your, your...your wings"
"Ah. But that was your fault for getting caught, if you hadn't have been caught then we wouldn't have bee caught and I wouldn't have been beaten. So really, that was your fault"
"It so was not, if you hadn't have been acting all Mr. Hero then you wouldn't have gone there in the first place and none of it wouldn't have happened"
"But then you wouldn't have seen my wings and fallen in love with me"
Hitomi went bright red and turned away with a sharp comment of "That was NOT when I realised I liked you even if it did help"
Van turned red too and coughed uncomfortably and said quietly "Oh yeah? When was it then?"
"Well...er...I don't really remember" Hitomi stuttered
Van smiled and got up "I see. Well, I don't remember either"
"Oh"
"Good morning Hitomi"
"Good morning Van"
He left the room and Hitomi behind him to go out for a walk in his city.
* * *
I'm sorry nothing really happened in this chapter...I guess more character development isn't it? I wish more would happen for you but I always feel like I'm rushing. Oh well. Read, review and be happy!