Chapter 10: Marred Dreams

Giggling and laughing, Hitomi escaped her husband's reaching hands as she hurried to their freshly prepared royal bedchamber, halting her steps occasionally to tease Van with her beckoning and seductive look. Van, on the other hand, was playing along; walking at the leisurely pace his queen had set for them, grinning lazily as he reached out for her and again, deliberately missed catching her wrist. He was enjoying the game more than the wedding feast itself, where they couldn't share their private moments. Of course, it had been held in honour of himself and his bride, and he was well aware of his duty as a king to entertain the guests of honour from the neighbouring kingdoms, but all he need at the moment was being alone with Hitomi without being interrupted by words of congratulations, lining males who wanted to dance with his wife and… party drunkards. To hell with the feast and the guests of honour. They would have to understand the king's and the queen's absence. At least he hoped King Dryden's and King Chid's parties would understand.

Hitomi shrieked and laughed jovially as Van finally laid his hand on her wrist, pressing her entire back against the door of their bedchamber, a slow smile spread across his face, his eyes gazing intensely into her cool green ones. Her eyelids were half closed as she returned the gaze dreamily, purring as she traced a line along his jaw line, "I wonder if the silence and the lack of guards around the corridor are your doings or if it is merely a coincidence."

Grinning at her mischievously, he pinned her wrist above her head while caressing her smooth face with the back of his free hand as he talked to her in a husky voice, "Oh, the lack of men at arms? I have no idea. May be they're partying at the moment to celebrate our union?"

Giving him a much too innocent smile, Hitomi tugged her hand free from Van's loosening grip and reached for the doorknob, turned it abruptly, then escaped inside their vast quarters as she giggled heartily at the scowl Van wore upon the fact that his wife had escaped from him again.

"Perhaps," Hitomi responded to his earlier remark, her dress billowing behind her as she whirled around only to be overwhelmed by the immensity of the chamber; her pink lips were forming a nice little O much to Van's amusement. "But I would be more convinced that Gaudi had planned all of this, since he was the thoughtful man we have all come to know."

"Could be so." Van grinned rakishly as he casually stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Hitomi caught the smile in a flash and made a mental note that her husband and Gaudi looked really alike when he smiled like that. Nevertheless, she preferred her husband above anything else, of course.

Her smile grew solemn as he walked toward her steadily. She looked at him squarely in the eye when he sighed aloud and reached for her hands, then kissed her finger by finger tenderly. Then, almost solemnly, but not without humour, she told him quietly, "You have a good taste, Van. It's the first time I was here, but already I love the way you arrange your room."

Blushing at the compliment, Van broke the eye contact and mumbled his thanks, "Not at all. Sometimes it wasn't me; I only tell them what I want to add here and there." He was wondering himself why he was blushing. He had received many praises, even from women whose beauty was even more exquisite than one of his wife, but it took only a little simple flattering remark from Hitomi and he blushed. How strange.

"Honestly," Hitomi smiled and looked around her once again, "You could be an interior designer back in Phantom Moon. I…"

"I'm glad you like it. However, I am ready to change it if I see the signs of dislike in your face." Van cut her in, placing both his palms on her cheeks and drawing her face near to his that the distance was only inches away. "And we'll see how you like the taste of me."

His lips curved in a smug smile as he felt Hitomi's warm breath caressing his skin when he lightly brushed his lips with hers, taking their time to build the fiery passion already begun between them. Clutching the sides of Van's royal fur cape tightly, Hitomi wrapped it around herself, drowning herself in the soft and warm fur, while caressing Van's lips with tiny and soft kisses tentatively, teasing the full lips of his. Van, in response, nibbled her lips tenderly; his pace was steady and calm as he savoured the very sweet taste of her, his eyes darkened with desire as he whispered her name over and over. A sigh of pleasure escaped Hitomi's lips as she felt Van's lips touched hers daintily, sending sparkling electricity along her spine as the pulse of her blood dancing to the rhythm of their kiss.

Van was breathing low and heavy as he broke the kiss leisurely; his eyes were drooping and his face was glowing as he spied her from behind the thick layer of his eyelashes. Then, smiling the lopsided smile Hitomi had come to appreciate and love, he took Hitomi's wrist in his hand and led her to the main bedchamber positioned further within his quarters lovingly, only knowing he would do anything to please his bride that night, and that he was obliged. He had seldom done anything pleasurable for Hitomi since the first time of their acquaintance, and he was determined to accomplish it on their wedding night.

"Van, what are you doing?" Hitomi asked him as he made her sit down in front of his mother's dresser and smiled enigmatically as he redirected Hitomi so she was facing the mirror and stared deeply at her through it. "Hmm…" Van released Hitomi's shoulders and looked at her reflection, one arm across his chest while the other hand touched his chin and pinched it in mock contemplation, "You're wearing paint on your face; I like it, and you're definitely picturesque, but I love it better when you wear none."

"Hmm? Really?" Hitomi raised her head to look back at him and gave him a little pout of mock indignation, "You could at least appreciate my effort to stay as simple as possible. I almost snapped at my attendant when she was trying to colour me like some sort of a clown."

Chuckling lightly, Van lowered his upper body and circled his arms around his bride's shoulders, and stared innocently -again- at her face. "I could fix it," he told her, his face beaming as he slowly traced a thumb around her face from behind, making her giggle in the process.

"Van, stop it! It tickles!"

"Mm-mm…" Van shook his head in determination, "I don't care," Then, reaching out for a handkerchief that he happened to have with him, he wiped away all traces of her face-paint. Hitomi, deciding to play along, laughed gleefully as she closed her eyes, waiting for Van to finish his task.

"Already?"

She could feel Van's warm breath tickle her ear and a whisper, "Not yet," Then, much to her surprise, he placed a tender kiss on her cheek, a joyful smile spreading across his face as he gave her another kiss on her lips. Her eyes flew open, she tried instinctively to draw back and glanced at him, but Van's lips were once again covering hers as he mesmerised her into the realm of dreams. Halting in the middle of intense pleasure, Van undid his fur cape tantalisingly and threw it across the room, fumbling with his additional accessories and the front of his silk shirt, his hands slowly unbuttoning it as he gazed affectionately into his bride's greenish eyes.

Hitomi merely observed as she gathered her hair in her hands and arranged it over her neck, her head cocked to one side, her eyes softened. After a while, she silently knelt in front of her husband and pried his arms off the shirt, placing them on his sides, smiling gently into his reddish eyes as she did so. Deep love shone through them, blinding Van and reminding him once again that the woman who knelt in front of him was not the girl he had known years before. He knew Hitomi had changed a lot, but it had not seemed so drastic beforehand.

It was no teenage, young girl love he witnessed there.

It was a pure and white love.

No lust, no desire, only love.

A woman's love.

Hitomi wound her arms around Van's waist and rested her head on the rippling muscles of his stomach; a tear threatened to roll down her cheek, but she blinked it away and willed herself not to cry. It supposed to be a joyful night, and it wasn't her place to cry.

"I love you, Van…" she exhaled as she mouthed her feelings softly, "Promise me you never leave me?"

Touched deeply by her confession, Van reached down to caress a strand of sandy brown hair out of Hitomi's face, his voice trembling as he swore an oath for her. "I, Van Slanzar de Fanel, King of Fanelia and Husband of Hitomi de Fanel, swear that I will protect you from…"

"Ssssh!" Hitomi put her fingers on Van's mouth and shushed him, although tears were starting to well up her eyes, "Don't swear! It would be a disaster if you couldn't meet the oath. I believe you, you'll always be by my side."

The couple only stared at each other for a few moments before Van eventually opened his mouth and replied weakly, "Yes, yes. I promise you…Wife." And how he felt joy when he witnessed Hitomi's face beam at his words and how the shadow that lurked behind her calm exterior was gone.

There was a moment of silence as they only looked at each other tenderly, communicating without words, before Van gently helped his queen up and led her toward their soft bed. Blowing out the candle softly, Van crawled beside Hitomi as he whispered very, very softly in her ear, a hint of mischief sounded in his deep baritone voice.

" Contemplate nothing, Wife. Tonight… I will take you to the heights of pleasure."


Soft breeze blew Gaudi's golden hair leisurely as he strolled along to the secret spot of Fanelia Castle's Royal Garden, his features grim. He understood he should be celebrating his cousin's happiness, but he was just unable to do it.  There was an alien feeling in his heart telling him something dreadful was bound to happen soon, really soon. No, he was not worried about the King of Ispano; his apprehension was much broader. Something bigger, something nastier seemed to take its toll on Fanelia's fate already, and he didn't know what. He could only wait and see what were coming, and the sense of helplessness really killing him inwardly.

The grasses were rustling softly as he spun briskly and entered the entrance to the secret graves of his dear parents, his face full of contemplation. His expression softened at the sight of two white marble graves, glowing amiably under the moonlight, as if greeting his presence.

"Father, Mother." Gaudi started with a curt nod and a brief but respectful bow, "I, Gaudi Jenaro de Fanel, am here, to pay you a visit." He drew a deep breath before continuing, the icy night air frosted his breath, "I've told you that my cousin is marrying a lady from the Phantom Moon before, being in love and all, but I don't understand this, Father, Mother. Why should he forsake his own country for the sake of love? These matters really confuse me, Father."

He stopped for awhile to clear his throat, his forehead creased in deep contemplation, "I don't understand everything. I don't know, but what I do know is that you two believed in love and that was what sent you to your graves. I…" He paused, his lips thinned in a determined line, his jaws set and his eyes darkened. Then, with a swift turn, he drew his dangling sword out of its sheath and pointed it at a collection of bushes, his voice was suddenly harsh and cruel, "Who's there?!"

"It's me," a tiny but brave voice answered him as the figure emerged from behind the shadow of the bush. Ardine, still in her festive attire, stood proudly in front of him while on the other hand didn't really make any attempt to defend herself. She squared her shoulders and stiffened her back in a vulnerable, proud and arrogant kind of way.

Twitching his lips in mild amusement and annoyance, Gaudi slipped his sword back expertly into its sheath with a clunk and gazed deeply into Ardine's pools of blue eyes, searching for an intention beneath her hard exterior. She didn't appear to be afraid at all, and it even seemed as if she was saying 'Go on, hurt me and you'll be damned for the thought alone.'

A genuine smile spread across his face as they continued the silent battle of will; his eyes crinkled as his smile widened into a totally amused grin. The girl certainly didn't comprehend her boundaries enough to avoid her way to her would-be-so-called graveyard.

Amazing.

Impressive.

And she certainly didn't have any fear at all. An attitude only a full-blooded Ispano displayed, despite the egocentric streak and pure arrogance seeming to inhibit her mind. He could have killed her on spot, she must have realised it, and yet, she wasn't trembling in fear. What a remarkably strong spirit for a young woman like her, Gaudi mused silently as his lips thinned into an ironic smile.

'Tis a shame she should endure those traditional punishments for a fault that wasn't entirely her own.

He took a deep breath as he regained her composure before finally breaking the silence, "That's the second time you've ever sneaked up on me, Princess. The way you did it made your poor soul in the gravest of dangers. One slash, and woosh!" Slashing his hand through the air as he mocked her, he continued, "You'll be nothing but history with gushing blood soaking your pretty neck."

"You won't do it, I know." She retorted almost feverishly, half defending herself. "Yes, you were acting by instinct, that I understand, but you'll be very careful about using the instinct yourself."

A few seconds passing by as they stared into each other's eyes for a few moments, each had a contemplation of their own.

"What are you doing here? Spying on me?" Gaudi questioned her in a hiss, mild anger sound in his voice.

"I was only curious about this side of the park, that's all. No other intention," Ardine retorted defensively, her features were pale hollow under the moonlight, "Besides, I am here to thank you for your help earlier in the celebration. And since you're one of a few whom I could really converse with, I intend to stay awhile and talk."

Silence was the only thing greeted her comments.

Ardine, uncomfortable with the deafening silence, cleared her throat and started conversationally, her tone a bit strained, "Are these your parents' graves?"

Gaudi nodded solemnly as he knelt down in front of his father's grave, reading the words precisely, "Thornade Jenaro de Fanel, second son of Kirkon de Fanel, Brother to Goau de Fanel, Father to an infant son, Gaudi Jenaro de Fanel." Turning back so he could face Ardine, his eyes sharp as he half snapped at her, "Satisfied?"

Never flinching, Ardine stepped to the clearings and knelt beside Gaudi, her hand smoothed the surface of another grave. On its surface, it read 'Marlion Castrata'. The stone was of plain decorative, but it stood sturdily among wild flowers, proud and regal.

"Marlion?" she whispered softly, as gently as the breeze brushed her fine midnight black hair, "Your mother?" she asked him half demandingly, but modestly tried to sound even.

A nod from Gaudi confirmed her suspicion.

Then, smiling thinly, she continued conversationally, "She must be a high-born noble woman to be granted an honour to marry a Fanelian Prince. She might even be a princess."

"She was never a high-born lady." Gaudi answered with such honesty and airiness that surprised Ardine to the deep core of her heart, "She was a peasant. A pure, high spirited and carefree peasant woman at that."

"Peasant?!" Ardine snapped her head up at his very remark. She would be dead if she had a peasant for a mother and if other people knew about the fact. Bloodline was everything to her. She was very proud of her line, and she wouldn't want any streak or stain in it. Gaudi didn't seem to care enough about his own bloodline, though. He was bloody well giving out the most important detail of the disgrace in his family line as if it was of no importance to him at all.

Gaudi's lips twitched in ironic comprehension as he spotted the reactions emitted immediately on her face. Nearly everyone reacted the same way, every time he unlocked the secret to his less-than-desirable parentage. However, he was also not used to covering the truth even from public eyes. He learnt to accept who he was and was not ashamed of the fact one of his parents wasn't a noble. Of course he wasn't also used to bemoaning his so-called-pitiful past to public, and he was very reluctant to do it, but he couldn't help spilling his little dark secret to the spoiled princess. And it was amusing to see her reaction for instance. It was similar to some of the others for certain, but he just loved to see her rapidly changing expression. She might not be aware of it, but she voiced her state of mind very plainly through her facial expressions. And it amused him to see that. Not out of the need to confess, not out of the need of comfort, just because he wanted to see her hundreds of faces.

"Yes, peasant," he repeated casually and a bit sardonically, "You know… village women, low rank workers, non aristocrat…"

Ardine was staring at the ground before her as she regained her composure, having been shocked by Gaudi's sudden declaration. Her mind was chaotic as she tried to think of a better explanation why things were not like what it supposed to be, or why things were going to different way from what she perceived. In the end, she could only stared back into Gaudi's pale blue eyes, confusion written clearly in her own eyes when she spotted a hint of amusement in them.

"Why?"

She knew the question sound idiotic, but she couldn't help asking it.

"Why what?"

"Why was she a peasant?"

"That is not a question to be directed at me. I am not one to answer it," Gaudi answered at his own leisurely pace, never taking his eyes off Ardine's. "You would have to ask themselves, but unfortunately, they've been long gone to another world."

Then a possibility of answer dawned upon her. Could it be? Was that the reason? How could they?

"Is it…" Ardine inquired hesitantly, an attitude that was very unlikely of her at all, "Is it because of love?"

Gaudi winced at the comment. He had thought Ardine would just leave him alone after she had clearer idea of his origin, like most other people, and never bothered to speak to him anymore, but the idea of Ardine discussing it with him rendered him speechless. He had long since stopped being so conceited about bringing confusion to Ardine's way, as the events didn't really go along his plan at all. Instead of leaving him alone with his thoughts, she stayed and even attempted a discussion with him. What a strange princess. However, instead of answering the young woman's question, he turned his face away from her, avoiding the subject altogether. This was way beyond his expectation.

"It's none of your business, Princess." His voice was clipped as he tried to steer her out of the conversation by showing how he despised the subject. However, Ardine was, by nature, never one to give up merely by friction or harsh comments. She had had her ways, and she would always have her way as usual.

"Then what's the point of telling me?" her eyes were saying as if he was a coward who never had the strength to face his problems. "Now, I ask you once again. Is it love?"

Gaudi stared hard into the glittering figure in front of him, and suddenly he felt like looking at a curious little girl in her mother's sparkling jewellery and festive attire. She looked like a child, an innocent child at that, unlike the arrogant princess he encountered from day to day. No matter how terribly he wanted to steal the innocence away from her, he couldn't bring himself to poison her mind with such an appalling story about his parents' background. She was still a child at heart, and he wouldn't rob her innocence forcefully, as the public had done to him several years ago. Stripped off his own innocence and pride, even as little a child he was.

He hated to see the innocence gone. As he had vowed to himself several years ago, he wouldn't let innocence taken from little children. It was also one of the reasons why he had been so infuriated when Van had decided to marry Hitomi. A lot of innocence was at stake, and he wouldn't accept that.

However, he could still protect one soul.

Her soul.

Even if she didn't realise it.

Gaudi smiled as he caressed Ardine's flowing black hair gently, saying, "You wouldn't want to know, princess." Then solemnly, he paid some respects to his parents' graves and rose to his feet, walking to leave the place. However, he halted in the middle of his steps, his ears straightening as he caught Ardine's soft-spoken words.

"Gaudi, do you believe in love?"

Turning around, he gave her a warm smile for the first time since they met each other a few weeks ago and said, "Apparently not. 'Tis a shame, isn't it?"

Shaking her head slowly, Ardine lowered her gaze on the ground as she whispered her answer, "No, you're wrong. Love is, like you say, ridiculous." Then with a much clearer voice she continued as she lifted her tiny face at him.

"Gaudi, I don't believe in love either."


Scream.

Howls.

The pillars.

They were falling before her… one by one, drawing cries of excruciating pain as they hit the people around her one by one. Van was always beside her, securing one arm around her waist, guarding her near. However, the feelings of fear and helplessness were too much to bear as she witnessed wounded or dead bodies falling around her, calling out for help.

She pressed her body against her husband, afraid to see all of the evidence of war in front of her. Enemies had broken through their defences, and they had no choice but to surrender. Unfortunately, Van just wouldn't listen. He chose to stand his ground, chose to die and lie flat with his country on the warm soil of Fanelia.

And then she saw someone. A face. A handsome man, she was sure, but she couldn't distinguish the features. A cruel smile, he wore. She knew she had to get away from the place quickly, but her feet were planted deeply on the ground. She couldn't run. She couldn't hide.

She couldn't scream.

And then, from afar, she could see the man aiming his arrow at…

"VAN!!!"

Hitomi jerked off the bed, her body covered with sweat. Her breathing was uneven, her face pale with fright, lips trembling. She was dreaming again. This time, however, it was clearer from the first one. And dreadful. The man… he wanted to kill Van. She had never dreamed like that, in the past few years, but it seemed her return to Gaea had triggered her hidden premonition abilities. Could it be a premonition like what she experienced years ago, when she was first in Gaea? If so, Fanelia was bound to be destroyed in the future. How very awful and distressing.

Clutching the blanket firmly around her bare skin, she looked at her side only to find that Van was still sleeping peacefully, one of his arms draped over her midriff. Hitomi smiled at the picture in front of her. Smoothing the midnight black hair out of the way, she bent down and placed a morning kiss on her husband's lips, drawing a murmur of pleasure and a sleepy smile from him. He never opened his eyes, though, and continued to sleep. Hitomi only held her chuckles seeing this and started to skim around the room with her wide eyes, looking for a cover. 

She was just spotting her wedding gown on the bed's feet when her eyes caught a faint glowing of a red light from the dresser. Never taking her eyes off the glowing object, she reached down for the gown and wrapped it around her body before padding across the soft-carpeted floor to the dresser.

It was her talisman. The very one she received from her grandmother the day before her decease, the one she had given Van for a memorial. The one with a red teardrop stone attached on the pendant.

Her necklace.

She lifted it off the dressing table and held it before her face, smiling fondly as she noticed it dangling from her long fingers gracefully, exactly like the last time she ever saw it. It was even more sparkling, even more beautiful, now.

But it wasn't hers anymore.

It was Van's necklace.

It was meant for protection against danger.

She was all ready to place it back to its initial spot when a deep baritone voice spoke, "Take it, Hitomi. It's been yours even from the first time you gave it to me. I was only borrowing it until the rightful owner returned to collect it."

Hitomi turned around only to see her husband staring back at her in appreciation, one forearm propped up to support his head, his hair tousled, smiling that rakish smile of his. He was completely wonderful with the early morning sunlight basking on the crown of his head, glowing faintly like a halo. Given the fact he possessed a pair of hidden, beautiful snow-white wings, he could pass as an angel. A real life angel, with his soft expression and slight smile, whom she knew would love her for the rest of their lives.

Clutching the pendant to her chest, she sauntered across the bedchamber and plopped down the bed beside Van, causing the soft feather mattress to sink in the process. Smiling in content, Hitomi curled her body against Van's and drowned herself beneath the thick blanket as he gathered her in his arms, cuddling her protectively against his chest, his chin rested on the crown of Hitomi's head.

"I'm glad you're still keeping this pendant," Hitomi's voice was muffled, "Really, really glad."

"It's a treasure," Van simply conceded as he held her a little bit tighter, "A treasure…"

For awhile, Hitomi was simply content being in Van's arms, but something dark in her mind stole the happy expression away from her.

The pendant.

It was calling for her.

The glow… the red light… it demanded her to take it back into her possession and use it again for whatever the reason at the moment. And she was afraid of using it again. She had not been bothered by visions or premonitions for the last few years and she was very reluctant to have it happen all over again. She merely wished to be a normal woman, with a family and children of her own. Why couldn't her wish come true?

There is nothing to be afraid of, she told herself, burying her body even deeper in the blanket, as if to hide herself from the world.

"Hitomi?"  Van enquired, his brows creased, his eyes suddenly stormy and worried.

Hitomi never returned his worried gaze. Instead, she merely shook her head slowly and answered in a whisper, "I'm fine, Van. I will be fine."


"Miss Merle?"

A maid tiptoed into Merle's chamber, as if afraid to awaken her deep slumber. It was past noon already, and seeing her mistress had not even summoned her, she saw it as being a reason to check on her in the inner chamber. Merle was a good mistress, so she wouldn't be angry at her for worrying. She even told her for thousands of times she didn't need a maid and freed her of her duties. That was why, although everybody else hated her with a vengeance because of her origin, she would always defend her mistress.

"Miss?"

Her brows creased in raw confusion as she investigated the interior of Merle's inner bedchamber. She strolled to the side of the bed and smoothed the mattress, chewing her lower lip in thought. There was no crease on the mattress; meaning Merle didn't spend her night in her bed.

Realising this, the maid quickly searched the room frantically for Merle, or any sign saying Merle didn't actually running away, but her suspicion proved right when she encountered a note on her writing table and an envelope. She quickly lifted the note up to her nose, impatiently concentrating her mind on the symbols, trying to discern the meaning of them. She was lucky Miss Merle had taught her to read and write.

Julia, my dear friend…

When you read this letter, you know that I've been miles away from this castle, away from the life of my Lord Van and the happiness surrounding him. Don't fret because I'm gone; that's the way it is. I couldn't live my life seeing their happiness in front of my eyes. I might sound selfish and ungrateful here, but I will really appreciate it if you can understand. You're the only one in this entire castle whom I can really talk to.

In the end, Julia, I beg you to pass this envelope to Their Majesties King and Queen. Inside, I enclose my deepest feelings and gratitude for them. I wish they would understand my decision.

I'm really grateful if you want to do this for me, this unworthy Merle.

Merle

PS. Julia, I would never forget you, wherever I might be.


So, Minna-sama. Here's the chapter 10. Hope you like it. I return Hitomi's pendant to her, because I just know that it is where it belongs. To Hitomi's possession. She's the only one who could use it properly, in my opinion. Besides, with her abilities returning, it wouldn't be complete without the pendant (and the tarot, of course, I just have to think how she would obtain the card back. Going back to earth? Impossible. I know it should be plausible, but…*sheepish smile* I'll think of it later). What do you think of the relationship between Ardine and Gaudi? There could be two or three possibilities here…*secret smile* I believe the secret of Gaudi's past starting to reveal here, but not entirely. Julia is a minor character at the moment, and I'm not going to feature her a lot, but I'm thinking of giving her an important role between that.

E-mail me?