A/N While working on this in science, which is fifth period, I realized something very interesting: almost all of my original characters, including Analiese, are named after people in my fifth period class. It kinda makes sense too, since we're all pretty crazy in that class, and all my OC's are kinda crazy. The fact that the beginning of this was written in fifth period also explains the OOC weirdness of the chapter...
Once more, big hugs and kisses to all reviewers!!! I'm working nonstop on this because of all of you!
Chapter Six:
Two Heads Aren't Better Than One
There was an inexplicable change in Van Helsing, Carl decided immediately. He was smiling, laughing and joking as Carl had never seen him do before. He was even on the verge of starting a food fight with Dracula! And when Vlad would not participate, he turned to Carl and seized a strip of ham.
"En guarde, Carl! Put up your bacon and fight me or risk forfeiting your toast! And maybe your sausage too, those were good!" He cried, holding his slice of ham like a sword.
"And you insist that he is just a friend, Gabriel, when you would so wantonly speak of sausages before him!" David cackled, bent double over his breakfast with laughter.
"Do you challenge me, good sir David?" Van Helsing cried, leaping to stand beside David. "Put up your bacon and face the consequences of my wrathful ham!"
"I dare not challenge you, Gabriel." David said, aghast.
"But I shall!" Crowed Dracula from behind. He seized a piece of bacon from his plate and 'stabbed' Van Helsing. The slayer gave a mock shout of agony and fell to his knees.
"You treacherous knave... to attack from behind..." He gasped, his hand over his heart.
"Hush with all your foolery! Analiese comes!" James chided gently.
"Send her to my side..." Van Helsing sighed, flopping melodramatically onto his back. True to James's statement, Analiese then entered.
"Quickly my lady! Gabriel lies dying from the mortal stab which Vlad has dealt him!" cried William. "You must go to his side!" Wearing a bemused grin, Analiese circled behind the table and knelt at Gabriel's side.
"What destruction has my cousin wreaked upon my friend?" she asked in playful horror.
"My lady... Analiese..." He feigned a struggle to breathe, when really he was fighting the urge to call her Anna. "I tried to stand against those who would threaten our breakfast... in your honor, and for mine... but my ham was no match for Vlad's bacon. I bid you, take this slice of ham and my seat at the table... in remembrance of my noble attempt.... Farewell..." With that, Van Helsing lay still.
A mood of utter solemnity stole over the gathering as Analiese, Van Helsing's ill-fated slice of ham in hand, stood and took the deceased man's place at the table. They all joined in a moment of silence. After this, as was appropriate, followed utter hysteria.
"Quick, Friar Carl! Perhaps you can save the valiant Gabriel!" Michael howled in laughter.
"What are you implying by that?" Carl asked, appalled. He quickly knelt at Van Helsing's side. "You aren't really hurt, are you?" He asked nervously.
"Of course not Carl! It was merely a playful poke!" Van Helsing said cheerily, leaping to his feat and clapping his hand heartily on Dracula's shoulder. "Vlad meant me no harm."
"How do you know I meant none?" asked Dracula lightly, a faint smile on his lips as he teased his food with a knife.
"How could you ever mean me harm?" asked Van Helsing innocently, his eyes glowing with an unspoken challenge and a reckless smile.
"Of course. I could never mean you harm. I love you too dearly." Dracula said with something that may have been true fondness.
"And I you." Van Helsing said silkily.
"I'll move if you wish to sit." Analiese said, half standing.
"No, I'd rather you sit there. I'm through with this wild affair masquerading as breakfast." Van Helsing grinned.
"Thank you Gabriel." Analiese smiled with genuine warmth. "I shall enjoy the breakfast you so bravely defended."
"Of course, any of us would do the same for you Analiese. You are always welcome here." Dracula's voice was sultry as he took his cousin's hand.
"Thank you too, Vlad." As she withdrew her hand from his to eat the remnants of Van Helsing's breakfast, her voice was perhaps a degree less warm. As small as the difference was, Dracula noticed it with a pang of pain and jealously.
The rest of breakfast was still a jovial affair, but no longer as insane as it had been. When everyone had eaten their fill, they dispersed to their rooms again to gather what they would need for the day. Dracula and Van Helsing were the first down, followed by Analiese and Carl. They talked amiably amongst themselves as the rest trickled in, and when everyone was present, they headed out to the stables.
Carl lagged behind, feeling thoroughly despondent. He had always considered himself Van Helsing's closest friend, and the taciturn man did seem to open up around him more than around others, but now he seemed almost forgotten. And for who? His mortal enemy, Count Vladislaus Dracula. Not only that, he was now constantly being teased about his friendship with the man! He hadn't even been subjected to these feelings for an entire day yet, and he was already sick of them. It was, he realized, probably because he was not supposed to be there. This wasn't his time; linearly, he was completely out of place. That was probably why he felt ruffled, confused and lost. Although he didn't remember any of these times, Van Helsing had lived them before, and so they felt natural. But Carl felt like a saltwater fish suddenly thrown into freshwater.
As they prepared to leave the stables, the sulking Friar noticed that James was lagging behind the others too. He was a quiet man, and a gentle one. He seemed to often play the moderator between the rowdy groups of men. It wouldn't be bad to fall in with him, Carl decided, and learn a few things. So, he rode up beside James and began to talk.
"So, have you known all of them long?" He asked. James started slightly, then smiled shyly.
"Just around a year now." He replied quietly. "Have you known Gabriel long?"
"I've known him for a few years now, and yet I feel so... on the outside while I'm watching him here." Carl sighed.
"I felt the same when I first joined. I was only my way to a monastery to become a monk when I was held up in a tavern by some drunk ruffians. Gabriel came to my rescue, and began to talk to me. He was so kind, so I told him much about myself, how I was going to a monastery because I was suited to nothing else and I had no friends since I'm so shy. Then he convinced me to come back with him to meet all his friends." James smiled a little weakly. "I felt so small and pious, almost like a schoolgirl compared to them when we first met. They poked fun at me, even as they poke fun of you. But gradually, they accepted me as one of their own, albeit the black sheep."
"They appear to be an interesting bunch." Carl commented dryly, watching them up ahead, yelling to one another as they weaved their horses delicately around each other. Analiese was a short distance ahead of them in breeches and an elegantly embroidered top, laughing.
"Aye, that they are." James laughed softly.
"They all seem to have their own place and know it well." Carl remarked nonchalantly. Group dynamics could be important to Van Helsing's success or failure; he needed to know who his allies and who his enemies were.
"That they know too. They all live here as carefree bachelors, but they have a very sensible hierarchy. Gabriel and Vlad have known each other since childhood, and lead their antics. The others have joined up with them along the way, and some have been there longer than others." James's face took on a thoughtful cast. "It's funny how evenly they are split; they even sit at the table according to their 'status,' if you will."
"I didn't take especial note of where they sit. How does it affect them?" Carl inquired, his eyes flickering to James to make sure that he didn't notice he was almost being interrogated. The other man gave no sign of such knowledge.
"It takes no special knowledge of them, it's fairly simple. John, William and I, sit on Gabriel's side. Gabriel is the one we first befriended, and the one we are most loyal to. William is Gabriel's cousin, and he has known John for around six years. Vlad and his friends have always poked fun at me for being so shy, since they are the most rambunctious, so I tend to stay with Gabriel.
"Michael, Daniel, and David sit on Vlad's side. They have known Vlad the longest, especially Daniel. Vlad has known Daniel almost as long as he has known Gabriel." James voice lowered slightly. "I'm not sure if it's because he's jealous or not, but Gabriel has never liked Daniel that much. Daniel is almost cruel, sometimes. He gets into the worst drunken rages. I don't know the exact reasons for it, but I can't exactly blame Gabriel for his feelings."
"Where does Analiese fit in?" Carl asked suddenly. James shuddered and sighed.
"This is not where I imagined myself to be, ever. But... I'm happy here. It's a sort of utopia: cut off from all the world, almost no rules, many friends, days and nights full of glorious fun... Analiese, I fear, is the one thing that could destroy our happy existence." James looked away, up at the curly-haired woman up ahead.
"Why do you say that?" Carl asked quickly, his heart doing a queer flip. James took a breath and was about to say something when John pulled up suddenly behind them.
"What are you two conspirators doing back here? Come and join us, we're almost to the clearing where we shall hold our games!" He called, sending his horse into a trot again. Carl cursed inwardly, watching James ride off and struggling to catch up. Now he had an even worse feeling; he was fearing for Van Helsing too.
He had no time to speak to Gabriel, however, as he and the others were promptly at their games. Just as all were going about the quiet pretense of setting up a sort of camp and stretching out their muscles for games of skill as well as donning leather armor, Vlad drew his sword and shouted wildly, playfully attacking the nearest person. After that, all Hell broke loose and the Friar found himself in the thick of it.
He immediately decided that this 'game' was as close to actual melee combat as he would ever care to get. It was chaotic, and every participant had a 'anything-goes' mindset. Since Carl had had no intention of actually joining in (a decision which he found rather sad himself, since even Analiese intended to participate) he had brought no weapons. When his first attacker, David, was upon him. All he could do was draw back his fist and hammer it at the man's face as hard and fast as he could, praying he hit.
He also immediately decided that God did in fact exist, since his prayers were answered and the larger man was sent flying to the ground. Carl struggled valiantly to wrest the sword from the man's hands, and from the distance, it looked oddly like two children fighting over a prize toy. Just when Carl was about to lose his grip on the sword (which had a dulled blade) there was a white flash in front of his eyes. His first thoughts were of death, but he quickly saw that it had been Analiese, whose tunic was white. She had leapt in front of him and kicked the blade, sending it flying. She then ran to retrieve it, bringing it back to Carl.
"Quickly, let you and I became allies. Between a woman and a holy man, they'll never suspect us to win!" She shouted above the disorder. Carl nodded eagerly, and they set off in separate directions, on an unspoken mission to disarm Dracula.
Analiese got there first, and instead of fighting her, Dracula shouted to her.
"Join my side, Analiese! Let us go up against Gabriel!" He called.
"Very well!" She replied. They began to advance on Van Helsing, who was grappling with John. When he cast this opponent aside and saw them, he smiled grimly and raised his sword (also dulled, as were all the blades.) Just as Dracula was closing in and preparing to lunge, he fell forward onto his face as the flat of a blade struck him in the back. Stunned, he rolled over to look into Analiese's eyes.
"But... you were on my side." He called to her in disbelief.
"And you stabbed Gabriel in the back with a piece of bacon this morning without warning." She grinned fiendishly, twirling her sword with surprising grace in her fingers. "Someone had to avenge him." Van Helsing crowed in triumph and he and Analiese rushed off to find Carl, leaving a thoroughly miffed Vlad behind.
The mock combat lasted for at least half an hour, at which time all the contestants flopped onto the ground, panting from the exertion. Carl had held his own fairly well. Granted, his clothes still on loan from James were more dirty than anyone else's because he had been knocked down more, but he had managed to sneakily take down a few of his opponents too. He found that what James had said was true; David, Daniel, and Michael rallied more to Dracula, while William, James and John always defended Van Helsing. He also began to see the problem with Analiese. Dracula fawned on her, it was obvious, and Van Helsing showed great affection as well, but she leaned more towards Van Helsing, and he could see it tearing at Dracula. It would be an easy way for conflict to erupt among the factions.
But it would be hard to stop Gabriel from falling for Analiese. If the theory now forming in the Friar's mind was correct, not only had he fallen in love with her before, he was now carrying the weight of Anna's memory. In every way but name, Analiese was Anna. This multiplied her attractiveness for Van Helsing; he could feel like he was getting back something he thought he had lost forever. Carl shuddered as he sat down. This could get messy, but only he could see the potential disaster, because only he was so far removed from it. He began to pray that, if he got a chance to tell him of it, Van Helsing would listen.
The games lasted all day: there were foot races, horseback races, archery contests, and a fruitful hunt as had been promised. Carl either stayed quiet the whole while, or hovered around James or Analiese. Van Helsing seemed to be, by negligence, ignoring him.
When the sun was near its time for setting, they cleaned up their mess and began the journey home for dinner. Dinner was much the same as breakfast: a happy event, with songs and tales and conversation. Extra chairs had been added; Carl now sat next to Van Helsing and Analiese in-between Vlad and Gabriel. Carl had winced at the arrangement. It was begging for disaster as both men vied for her attention. At last, as the evening was winding down, Analiese stood.
"Well, I think I shall be going to sleep now." She said.
"I'll escort you-" Dracula and Van Helsing said in unison, standing simultaneously. They froze midsentence.
"It's alright if you go, Vlad." Van Helsing said sheepishly.
"No, you may." Dracula's reply was cold.
"Really, Vlad-" Van Helsing began.
"No, I insist. She's related to me. She needs no additional burden of my presence than that of the common blood we share." Dracula's voice was pure ice as he sat back down. For a moment, it seemed that Van Helsing might say something to his friend, but in the end, he simply offered his arm cordially to Analiese and led her out of the room.
They walked with their arms entwined down the halls, sharing a comfortable silence. Now Van Helsing was beginning to remember the halls of the castle, and the room that Analiese had enjoyed staying in. It was spacious and overlooked the pastures where the horses were kept. She liked to watch them run. She was a gypsy, and loved the feeling of being free.
As they arrived at the door to the said room, Analiese turned to Gabriel.
"I hope I have caused no trouble between you and Vlad." She said earnestly, in her thick and sensuous accent.
"It is nothing that will not go away with time." Van Helsing said reassuringly.
"For... as long as I can remember, you two have fought over me. Since we were little children in the same nursery." Analiese said quietly. "You are both good men, and I like you both well. But Vlad is... too passionate, too open for me. He makes his suit too well known, and doesn't give me the joy of the chase. Besides, he is my cousin. I have heard tales of people marrying closer relations than that, even brother and sister having a child, but the idea of marrying one of my kin..." She shifted uncomfortably. "I do not like it. I love Vlad well as a cousin, but feel no more for him.
"And what do you think of me, Analiese?" Van Helsing asked breathlessly. She paused at the door. She had changed into a crimson gown and swept the top half of her lustrous hair into a gold clip; how elegant she looked now, the long angel sleeves falling down to her calves, the folds of the dress swirling all around her, the torchlight casting guttering shadows over her face. She was Transylvanian mystique itself. And so akin to Anna...
"Ask me that tomorrow." She said with a coy smile, opening the door to her room and, never taking her eyes off of him, walking inside.
A swell of warmth built in Gabriel as he turned away and began to walk back towards the hall where the others were to bid them good night and go to bed. He was overly eager to do the last part; for the first time in as long as he could remember, good dreams were awaiting him there.
A/n Well, there's my longest and most romantic chapter to date! fights off phobia hope yall liked it, and review to make me write more!
Once more, big hugs and kisses to all reviewers!!! I'm working nonstop on this because of all of you!
Chapter Six:
Two Heads Aren't Better Than One
There was an inexplicable change in Van Helsing, Carl decided immediately. He was smiling, laughing and joking as Carl had never seen him do before. He was even on the verge of starting a food fight with Dracula! And when Vlad would not participate, he turned to Carl and seized a strip of ham.
"En guarde, Carl! Put up your bacon and fight me or risk forfeiting your toast! And maybe your sausage too, those were good!" He cried, holding his slice of ham like a sword.
"And you insist that he is just a friend, Gabriel, when you would so wantonly speak of sausages before him!" David cackled, bent double over his breakfast with laughter.
"Do you challenge me, good sir David?" Van Helsing cried, leaping to stand beside David. "Put up your bacon and face the consequences of my wrathful ham!"
"I dare not challenge you, Gabriel." David said, aghast.
"But I shall!" Crowed Dracula from behind. He seized a piece of bacon from his plate and 'stabbed' Van Helsing. The slayer gave a mock shout of agony and fell to his knees.
"You treacherous knave... to attack from behind..." He gasped, his hand over his heart.
"Hush with all your foolery! Analiese comes!" James chided gently.
"Send her to my side..." Van Helsing sighed, flopping melodramatically onto his back. True to James's statement, Analiese then entered.
"Quickly my lady! Gabriel lies dying from the mortal stab which Vlad has dealt him!" cried William. "You must go to his side!" Wearing a bemused grin, Analiese circled behind the table and knelt at Gabriel's side.
"What destruction has my cousin wreaked upon my friend?" she asked in playful horror.
"My lady... Analiese..." He feigned a struggle to breathe, when really he was fighting the urge to call her Anna. "I tried to stand against those who would threaten our breakfast... in your honor, and for mine... but my ham was no match for Vlad's bacon. I bid you, take this slice of ham and my seat at the table... in remembrance of my noble attempt.... Farewell..." With that, Van Helsing lay still.
A mood of utter solemnity stole over the gathering as Analiese, Van Helsing's ill-fated slice of ham in hand, stood and took the deceased man's place at the table. They all joined in a moment of silence. After this, as was appropriate, followed utter hysteria.
"Quick, Friar Carl! Perhaps you can save the valiant Gabriel!" Michael howled in laughter.
"What are you implying by that?" Carl asked, appalled. He quickly knelt at Van Helsing's side. "You aren't really hurt, are you?" He asked nervously.
"Of course not Carl! It was merely a playful poke!" Van Helsing said cheerily, leaping to his feat and clapping his hand heartily on Dracula's shoulder. "Vlad meant me no harm."
"How do you know I meant none?" asked Dracula lightly, a faint smile on his lips as he teased his food with a knife.
"How could you ever mean me harm?" asked Van Helsing innocently, his eyes glowing with an unspoken challenge and a reckless smile.
"Of course. I could never mean you harm. I love you too dearly." Dracula said with something that may have been true fondness.
"And I you." Van Helsing said silkily.
"I'll move if you wish to sit." Analiese said, half standing.
"No, I'd rather you sit there. I'm through with this wild affair masquerading as breakfast." Van Helsing grinned.
"Thank you Gabriel." Analiese smiled with genuine warmth. "I shall enjoy the breakfast you so bravely defended."
"Of course, any of us would do the same for you Analiese. You are always welcome here." Dracula's voice was sultry as he took his cousin's hand.
"Thank you too, Vlad." As she withdrew her hand from his to eat the remnants of Van Helsing's breakfast, her voice was perhaps a degree less warm. As small as the difference was, Dracula noticed it with a pang of pain and jealously.
The rest of breakfast was still a jovial affair, but no longer as insane as it had been. When everyone had eaten their fill, they dispersed to their rooms again to gather what they would need for the day. Dracula and Van Helsing were the first down, followed by Analiese and Carl. They talked amiably amongst themselves as the rest trickled in, and when everyone was present, they headed out to the stables.
Carl lagged behind, feeling thoroughly despondent. He had always considered himself Van Helsing's closest friend, and the taciturn man did seem to open up around him more than around others, but now he seemed almost forgotten. And for who? His mortal enemy, Count Vladislaus Dracula. Not only that, he was now constantly being teased about his friendship with the man! He hadn't even been subjected to these feelings for an entire day yet, and he was already sick of them. It was, he realized, probably because he was not supposed to be there. This wasn't his time; linearly, he was completely out of place. That was probably why he felt ruffled, confused and lost. Although he didn't remember any of these times, Van Helsing had lived them before, and so they felt natural. But Carl felt like a saltwater fish suddenly thrown into freshwater.
As they prepared to leave the stables, the sulking Friar noticed that James was lagging behind the others too. He was a quiet man, and a gentle one. He seemed to often play the moderator between the rowdy groups of men. It wouldn't be bad to fall in with him, Carl decided, and learn a few things. So, he rode up beside James and began to talk.
"So, have you known all of them long?" He asked. James started slightly, then smiled shyly.
"Just around a year now." He replied quietly. "Have you known Gabriel long?"
"I've known him for a few years now, and yet I feel so... on the outside while I'm watching him here." Carl sighed.
"I felt the same when I first joined. I was only my way to a monastery to become a monk when I was held up in a tavern by some drunk ruffians. Gabriel came to my rescue, and began to talk to me. He was so kind, so I told him much about myself, how I was going to a monastery because I was suited to nothing else and I had no friends since I'm so shy. Then he convinced me to come back with him to meet all his friends." James smiled a little weakly. "I felt so small and pious, almost like a schoolgirl compared to them when we first met. They poked fun at me, even as they poke fun of you. But gradually, they accepted me as one of their own, albeit the black sheep."
"They appear to be an interesting bunch." Carl commented dryly, watching them up ahead, yelling to one another as they weaved their horses delicately around each other. Analiese was a short distance ahead of them in breeches and an elegantly embroidered top, laughing.
"Aye, that they are." James laughed softly.
"They all seem to have their own place and know it well." Carl remarked nonchalantly. Group dynamics could be important to Van Helsing's success or failure; he needed to know who his allies and who his enemies were.
"That they know too. They all live here as carefree bachelors, but they have a very sensible hierarchy. Gabriel and Vlad have known each other since childhood, and lead their antics. The others have joined up with them along the way, and some have been there longer than others." James's face took on a thoughtful cast. "It's funny how evenly they are split; they even sit at the table according to their 'status,' if you will."
"I didn't take especial note of where they sit. How does it affect them?" Carl inquired, his eyes flickering to James to make sure that he didn't notice he was almost being interrogated. The other man gave no sign of such knowledge.
"It takes no special knowledge of them, it's fairly simple. John, William and I, sit on Gabriel's side. Gabriel is the one we first befriended, and the one we are most loyal to. William is Gabriel's cousin, and he has known John for around six years. Vlad and his friends have always poked fun at me for being so shy, since they are the most rambunctious, so I tend to stay with Gabriel.
"Michael, Daniel, and David sit on Vlad's side. They have known Vlad the longest, especially Daniel. Vlad has known Daniel almost as long as he has known Gabriel." James voice lowered slightly. "I'm not sure if it's because he's jealous or not, but Gabriel has never liked Daniel that much. Daniel is almost cruel, sometimes. He gets into the worst drunken rages. I don't know the exact reasons for it, but I can't exactly blame Gabriel for his feelings."
"Where does Analiese fit in?" Carl asked suddenly. James shuddered and sighed.
"This is not where I imagined myself to be, ever. But... I'm happy here. It's a sort of utopia: cut off from all the world, almost no rules, many friends, days and nights full of glorious fun... Analiese, I fear, is the one thing that could destroy our happy existence." James looked away, up at the curly-haired woman up ahead.
"Why do you say that?" Carl asked quickly, his heart doing a queer flip. James took a breath and was about to say something when John pulled up suddenly behind them.
"What are you two conspirators doing back here? Come and join us, we're almost to the clearing where we shall hold our games!" He called, sending his horse into a trot again. Carl cursed inwardly, watching James ride off and struggling to catch up. Now he had an even worse feeling; he was fearing for Van Helsing too.
He had no time to speak to Gabriel, however, as he and the others were promptly at their games. Just as all were going about the quiet pretense of setting up a sort of camp and stretching out their muscles for games of skill as well as donning leather armor, Vlad drew his sword and shouted wildly, playfully attacking the nearest person. After that, all Hell broke loose and the Friar found himself in the thick of it.
He immediately decided that this 'game' was as close to actual melee combat as he would ever care to get. It was chaotic, and every participant had a 'anything-goes' mindset. Since Carl had had no intention of actually joining in (a decision which he found rather sad himself, since even Analiese intended to participate) he had brought no weapons. When his first attacker, David, was upon him. All he could do was draw back his fist and hammer it at the man's face as hard and fast as he could, praying he hit.
He also immediately decided that God did in fact exist, since his prayers were answered and the larger man was sent flying to the ground. Carl struggled valiantly to wrest the sword from the man's hands, and from the distance, it looked oddly like two children fighting over a prize toy. Just when Carl was about to lose his grip on the sword (which had a dulled blade) there was a white flash in front of his eyes. His first thoughts were of death, but he quickly saw that it had been Analiese, whose tunic was white. She had leapt in front of him and kicked the blade, sending it flying. She then ran to retrieve it, bringing it back to Carl.
"Quickly, let you and I became allies. Between a woman and a holy man, they'll never suspect us to win!" She shouted above the disorder. Carl nodded eagerly, and they set off in separate directions, on an unspoken mission to disarm Dracula.
Analiese got there first, and instead of fighting her, Dracula shouted to her.
"Join my side, Analiese! Let us go up against Gabriel!" He called.
"Very well!" She replied. They began to advance on Van Helsing, who was grappling with John. When he cast this opponent aside and saw them, he smiled grimly and raised his sword (also dulled, as were all the blades.) Just as Dracula was closing in and preparing to lunge, he fell forward onto his face as the flat of a blade struck him in the back. Stunned, he rolled over to look into Analiese's eyes.
"But... you were on my side." He called to her in disbelief.
"And you stabbed Gabriel in the back with a piece of bacon this morning without warning." She grinned fiendishly, twirling her sword with surprising grace in her fingers. "Someone had to avenge him." Van Helsing crowed in triumph and he and Analiese rushed off to find Carl, leaving a thoroughly miffed Vlad behind.
The mock combat lasted for at least half an hour, at which time all the contestants flopped onto the ground, panting from the exertion. Carl had held his own fairly well. Granted, his clothes still on loan from James were more dirty than anyone else's because he had been knocked down more, but he had managed to sneakily take down a few of his opponents too. He found that what James had said was true; David, Daniel, and Michael rallied more to Dracula, while William, James and John always defended Van Helsing. He also began to see the problem with Analiese. Dracula fawned on her, it was obvious, and Van Helsing showed great affection as well, but she leaned more towards Van Helsing, and he could see it tearing at Dracula. It would be an easy way for conflict to erupt among the factions.
But it would be hard to stop Gabriel from falling for Analiese. If the theory now forming in the Friar's mind was correct, not only had he fallen in love with her before, he was now carrying the weight of Anna's memory. In every way but name, Analiese was Anna. This multiplied her attractiveness for Van Helsing; he could feel like he was getting back something he thought he had lost forever. Carl shuddered as he sat down. This could get messy, but only he could see the potential disaster, because only he was so far removed from it. He began to pray that, if he got a chance to tell him of it, Van Helsing would listen.
The games lasted all day: there were foot races, horseback races, archery contests, and a fruitful hunt as had been promised. Carl either stayed quiet the whole while, or hovered around James or Analiese. Van Helsing seemed to be, by negligence, ignoring him.
When the sun was near its time for setting, they cleaned up their mess and began the journey home for dinner. Dinner was much the same as breakfast: a happy event, with songs and tales and conversation. Extra chairs had been added; Carl now sat next to Van Helsing and Analiese in-between Vlad and Gabriel. Carl had winced at the arrangement. It was begging for disaster as both men vied for her attention. At last, as the evening was winding down, Analiese stood.
"Well, I think I shall be going to sleep now." She said.
"I'll escort you-" Dracula and Van Helsing said in unison, standing simultaneously. They froze midsentence.
"It's alright if you go, Vlad." Van Helsing said sheepishly.
"No, you may." Dracula's reply was cold.
"Really, Vlad-" Van Helsing began.
"No, I insist. She's related to me. She needs no additional burden of my presence than that of the common blood we share." Dracula's voice was pure ice as he sat back down. For a moment, it seemed that Van Helsing might say something to his friend, but in the end, he simply offered his arm cordially to Analiese and led her out of the room.
They walked with their arms entwined down the halls, sharing a comfortable silence. Now Van Helsing was beginning to remember the halls of the castle, and the room that Analiese had enjoyed staying in. It was spacious and overlooked the pastures where the horses were kept. She liked to watch them run. She was a gypsy, and loved the feeling of being free.
As they arrived at the door to the said room, Analiese turned to Gabriel.
"I hope I have caused no trouble between you and Vlad." She said earnestly, in her thick and sensuous accent.
"It is nothing that will not go away with time." Van Helsing said reassuringly.
"For... as long as I can remember, you two have fought over me. Since we were little children in the same nursery." Analiese said quietly. "You are both good men, and I like you both well. But Vlad is... too passionate, too open for me. He makes his suit too well known, and doesn't give me the joy of the chase. Besides, he is my cousin. I have heard tales of people marrying closer relations than that, even brother and sister having a child, but the idea of marrying one of my kin..." She shifted uncomfortably. "I do not like it. I love Vlad well as a cousin, but feel no more for him.
"And what do you think of me, Analiese?" Van Helsing asked breathlessly. She paused at the door. She had changed into a crimson gown and swept the top half of her lustrous hair into a gold clip; how elegant she looked now, the long angel sleeves falling down to her calves, the folds of the dress swirling all around her, the torchlight casting guttering shadows over her face. She was Transylvanian mystique itself. And so akin to Anna...
"Ask me that tomorrow." She said with a coy smile, opening the door to her room and, never taking her eyes off of him, walking inside.
A swell of warmth built in Gabriel as he turned away and began to walk back towards the hall where the others were to bid them good night and go to bed. He was overly eager to do the last part; for the first time in as long as he could remember, good dreams were awaiting him there.
A/n Well, there's my longest and most romantic chapter to date! fights off phobia hope yall liked it, and review to make me write more!