Hi! Thanks for checking in on my next chapter! It's a long one, so brace yourself!
Ok, LavinaAnnJ@netscape.com? I keep trying to e-mail you, to thank you and for a another chapter alert, but it's not getting through, sorry!
Disclaimer; All right, as you all well know, I don't own Escaflowne T_T But, if you did think that I own Escaflowne, *chibi-Bozena gives you a baka-grin and hands you a truck load of heart-shaped cookies* Thank you so much!
Sooooooo……. People are getting tired of me just saying "please read and review" Sooooooo…
Here is my poem to you
Please, read and review
If you do, I love you
I'll send you a cookie
All pink and blue
If you do
I promise you
I will write you ……
another CHAPTER!!!!
"His name is Keman!" Merle stated proudly.
Hitomi gave her a brilliant smile and leaned over the gorgeously carved crib. Sunlight struck crystal chimes that hung over the toddler and chimed in a soft heavenly chorus. The baby giggled and stretched to touch the dancing rainbows.
"He looks exactly like a cat," Hitomi murmured affectionately, and one of Keman's ears in question flicked back to catch the sound of her voice.
Then she turned and stuck her tongue out teasingly at Merle, "Just like you!" Van grinned to himself from the doorway where he lounged against the wall with his eyes closed.
"How old is he?" Hitomi asked curiously.
"He only 10 months old, but he already is beginning to talk!" Merle puffed her chest out higher.
"What?" asked Hitomi. "Isn't he a little young?"
"No," Merle said indignantly. "He warned me that you were coming!" Hitomi gasped. Van's eyes shot open, a look of disbelief on his face.
"What are you talking about, Merle?" Hitomi exclaimed breathlessly.
"Three hours before you came from the Mystic Moon, Keman woke up and told me---hmm---it was something like, 'Soon. She's coming soon. Tell him.'"
"Merle, that's not…" Van began.
"Why won't you believe me, Lord Van?" Merle cried, sniffing. "Remember? You were at the site of the new port! I told you I had to tell you something, but Aronic sent me away! I tried to tell you what Keman said!"
Hitomi watched the scene play over in Van's head, paying close attention to Merle's role.
It's my fault. How could I have been so foolish?
It wasn't your fault! How could you have known? Van nodded and briefly touched Hitomi's consciousness with his own, in a gentle, grateful caress.
"I wanted to show you something else too," Merle continued, dashing the back of her hand across her face. "Look," Merle caught Keman's arm and turned it so the light struck the resplendent scales.
"What---what is he?" Hitomi asked drawing back. Van…Van couldn't speak. Hitomi turned in concern and put a worried hand on his shoulder. His opaque gaze snapped up to meet hers.
What is it? She sent the delicate thought probing his thoughts in confused concern.
She could feel Van struggle for a moment. And for the briefest second she was shut out of his head. Excluded from his thoughts and feelings. It was a terrible unpleasant jolt to her senses. And then Van was back, and she saw a memory through his eyes.
"But Balgus, how did the second son know to fight the dragon?"
"Young prince, he was told by a dragon-seer," The scarred face tipped up in a smile.
"What's a dragon-seer?" Van's innocent child-like face looked up anxiously in unabashed curiosity.
"It's a human child of a dragon. There has only been two in recorded history, and they were both found as abandoned orphans. These small draclings are soothsayers. They see into the future."
"What happened to the dragon-seer of the great king?" A small hand tugged on Balgus' long chain mail.
"When he reached his 5th year cycle, they say he sprouted great dragon wings and scales and flew to live with the legendary demons, the Draconians,." Hitomi's mind was snatched out of the memory.
"You think…he's…. A dragon-seer?" She whispered, her eyes never leaving Van's face. He shrugged and looked away.
"What? What's wrong, Hitomi?" Merle exclaimed, fretting.
"Nothing is wrong, Merle," Hitomi reassured her calmly. "He's a very special baby. Look after him very carefully."
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"What do you mean?" The archduke of Asturia demanded.
"I'm telling the council that aggressive action might be a very wise choice. Just enough to put Fanalia back in its place. The new King is still rebuilding his kingdom, is he not? A small fire here and there, a little loss of life now would stop a greater loss of life later. Then the war that Fanalia is instigating would be avoided, with little cost," The newcomer said reasonably. In the council of the Nations, for the very first time, every single member was struck speechless.
What the new diplomat spoke sounded like the voice of reason, but when you actually considered what she was saying--- She seemed so young and innocent. Much to innocent to be the diplomat supposedly sent by Ziabach.
The council had been working tirelessly for the past three years to cover the fact that the Ziabach Empire had not exactly fallen after the Great War. One ruler had simply been replaced by another. As long as Ziabach didn't threaten to attack Asturia, the Archduke thought, they could exist in secret without any interference from him.
The newcomer stood in a small pool of light at the dais in the center of the meeting room.
She really was beautiful, the Duke reflected. Huge, fathomless, light blue eyes were partially covered by coy strands of sun-kissed gold hair. She had delicate, aristocratic features that seemed to glow from with-in.
The more he studied her the more entranced he became. She seemed like the goddess of youth and beauty. Lust and innocence, beauty and pleasure were all promised in her blinding smile.
He couldn't even hear what she was saying, because all sound was blocked by the rushing in his ears.
"I second it!" Rang through the hall. It took the Duke some time to realize that he was the one who had said it.
He hadn't even realized that he had stood up. The entire council stared at him and the epitome of love and glory flashed one of her heart-breaking smiles at him. It melted him and he believed any actions he had seconded were worth that brief second of recognition.
"Are you sure, Guimel?" The count of Palas and his best friend inquired in amazement.
"Of course I am! This plan not only has merit, it is the best I have heard from this council in months!" He stated proudly, without a clue what was going on.
"You've made a great enemy in Fanalia," His friend commented gravely.
"Very well," the angel on the platform agreed. "Does the council stand behind the actions of the high Duke?" There was a low murmuring for about 5 minuets.
An elder stood up, to speak for the rest, "We agree to some of the elements of the plan. We will not face Fanalia in an open attack, as of yet," He said. "Citizens are still unstable about the new laws of peace and any attacks from Asturia, so we might cause a revolt."
"We will, however, send two agents into Fanalia's court, as spies and disquieters. We just need them to loosen Fanalia's unity, and maybe intercede some false military information and advise," The Elder paused and looked significantly at the young woman on the dais.
"We first considered ordering this assignment on a knight Cealie, but we realized that the knight Allen is to close to Fanalia's king for the plan to succeed. So…we propose that Ziabach's diplomat, and one other go instead," The Elder finished with an ironic smile.
"Mission Accepted," the blond smiled, gave the Duke a nod that set his heart beating out of his chest, and left.
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"It worked perfectly, Brother!" Serena crowed with delight. "They've given both of us leave into Fanalia's court to 'spy and be disquiters.' The archduke looked like someone had speared him through the gut!" She laughed long and loud, tears of mirth forming and brimming over in her perfect blue eyes.
Riven smiled thinly, with narrowed hazel green eyes. "They say that the archduke is a handsome man, used to his pleasures. I imagine his thoughts about you were not clean, Sister," Serena flashed him a knowing grin and sauntered up to him.
"Surly not as handsome as you, Brother," Serena slipped her arms around Riven's trim waist.
"Surly not."
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"It's beautiful!" Hitomi exclaimed at the view of the city bizarre. "How was it built so fast?" Van was secretly pleased by Hitomi's praise. Gratitude and praise were something the job of a monarch was lacking a great deal. It seemed that many people were taking for granted that they had their beautiful kingdom rebuilt in peace.
Everyone expected everything to fall into place without realizing how much work he put into it to make it fall into place.
"The streets wind so that everything is connected to a central pattern, which will eventually be a port," Van explained, trying to keep the pride out of his voice and failing miserably.
"Everything is connected in levels. The outer level is medical care, education, and orphanages. The second is farming and supplies, the next small business, etc. Eventually connecting to an importing and exporting system."
"It's amazing!" Hitomi exclaimed, and Van tried not to flush.
She grinned, "Everyone works so hard. On the Mystic Moon it's easy to take a lot for granted," Van raised his brows, questioning silently. They had reached the busiest part of the market, and could hardly hear each other speak.
Hitomi felt---giddy. She had realized what else she was taking for granted. She was with Van! Not stuck in different worlds, not separated! A light rain started to drizzle down and only increased Hitomi's senseless joy. She could feel the damp heat of him beside her could look up and see him over her shoulder. He had grown while she was gone. She had gained maybe two inches, and he had tripled the height distance between them.
A terrible thought struck Hitomi. How long could this last? The reasons she had left Fanalia in the first place still stood. She roughly shoved the thought to the back of her mind and tried to speak to Van. It was just too loud in the square.
You know, the countries on the Mystic Moon guard their secrets very jealously,. Hitomi tried again, grinning in anticipation.
Really.
But sometimes ideas are traded in society… but only if the other side is caught.
Is that so? She didn't have to look at him to know his confidant, laughing grin mirrored her own. Hitomi's train of thought switched directions fast as lightning.
If you designed the street systems, you must know it pretty well, right? He nodded. Here goes…Hitomi thought.
If you can catch me, I'll tell you about Earth's technology! And with that she was gone. She ran so fast that almost 50 people stood in between him, before Van had recovered his senses. Van laughed out loud, and gave chase. He cut to the left, and down the nearest alleyway.
Even if a thousand people, and a thousand miles stood between them, Van could still feel each breath Hitomi took, and each step. He felt like a little boy again. All of his worries, responsibilities, everything had vanished. This was fun!
He pictured the pendent in his mind and felt it swing to the right. They were running almost adjacent now. It he hadn't taken the shortcut, he didn't know if he could keep up with her. She could out-distance anyone!
HEY! You can't use the pendent! That's cheating! Hitomi shouted into his head with indignation. The pendent dropped out of his thoughts.
I don't need the pendent to find you. I…see/know/feel where you are…always. On the outer layer his thought were amused, but inside was a veiled promise.
…………………………………………………………
People stared after Hitomi as she constantly dodged the obstacles of the busy street. Her footsteps thudded faster and faster against the cobblestones.
That was cheating! He wasn't allowed to use the pendent! He already had the advantage of knowing were he was going, she thought in mock-indignation. Then she would have giggled if she had the spare breath.
Medieval buildings and streets flew past, and she was enjoying the thrill of a chase and the chance to really stretch her muscles out. He was very close now. He was right, she didn't need the pendent to find him. She just knew.
The thought pleased her beyond what it should. She sighed mentally. She truly, deeply loved him, with heart, mind and soul. If only she could express it in words to him… SLAM!
"Ahhhk!" For the second time Hitomi felt herself knocked flat, just because she wasn't looking where she was going. She sat up from where she was tumbled on the ground. Hitomi blinked and shaded her eyes.
"Are you all right, miss?" Hitomi's first impression was one of startling hazel green eyes. It was a young man, she realized, and he was offering a hand to help her up. She stared stupidly at him. He was very handsome, she realized. He had hair the same shade as Van's, but tidy and tied back, where as Van's was unruly and wild. He had fine chiseled features and a slim figure.
He must be a real knockout, Hitomi thought vaguely.
"Hitomi!" Van came up behind her and dropped to help her to her feet. He slid his hands carefully around her tiny waist, and firmly helped her up. He glanced up and growled at the intruder on his territory.
"I apologize,----" the guy began.
"Hitomi," she said with a tentative smile. "It's okay, I should have been watching where I was going," A blush started to rise on her cheeks.
He bowed, charmingly, "My name is Riven. Allow me to make reparations?" Van glared and took and threatening step forwards, with a soft snarl.
"No, that's okay. I'm so sorry for running into you, maybe another time," Hitomi ended graciously, firmly taking Van's arm and leading him away. He glared back over his shoulder.
"It's okay, Van!" Hitomi exclaimed.
"He's trouble," Van snapped.
"C'mon, we have to head back. Aronic is going to be really mad if she misses us," Hitomi changed the subject. Van nodded curtly, and remained silent. Hitomi tentitivly "knocked" on the door that connected their minds.
Van threw open the 'door' in his head and forced Hitomi to take a second look at what he saw of that womanizing, son of a---(A/N; you get the picture. I want my fic to still be rated PG)
'Riven' was …not how he had first appeared. He had the same felling of..of, how did you describe it? Wrongness, that she had felt when she saw Folken's black wings… The same silent warning bells that she had missed and Van had caught rang through her head so she could catch them the second time.
I'm so sorry, she whispered in the back of his mind
Don't scare me like that again, he said tightly as he slammed the 'door' shut. Hitomi realized with a jerk that he had been ready to fight for her life.
She opened her mind to his closed one with a flow of apology, contriteness and understanding.
She felt him sigh and slowly untense. Slowly he opened back up to her. She brought his hand up to her cheek and her eyes fluttered closed. He softly brushed her cheek with his palm, then brought it down between them to lead her back to the castle.
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Thank you for reading! Now, if you please go to the little button at the bottom of your screen, and tell me what you thought of it! If you leave a signed review, I will e-mail you back, just to thank you and send you a hockey rink full of heart shaped cookies!
All right…*sweatdrop* Here goes…..Disclaimer; I DON'T OWN ESCAFLOWNE!!!! Sorry guys, it's just a trial to write. (truth hurts)
The next chapter is coming up sooner than you think! So, PLEASE!!!! Keep checking up and reading my fic!
"Caution; Spoiler! Don't think we've left Earth behind yet! Maybe you'll find out more about Hitomi's family, Amano, Yukari, Aoki, Aronic, and the reason Hitomi can't stay on Gaea, in the next chapter!