Book Two: Return

Interlude: Autumn Moments part II

An Escaflowne Continuation by Louise Tjandrasjahan

 "So, how does winter in Fanelia look like?" Ardine fluttered her eyelashes sideways as she responded to Gaudi's description of the hottest days of Fanelia. A discreet smile appeared on her beautiful face as she plucked a golden leaf from its branch and twirled it between her thumb and her forefinger. It was mid-autumn and most of the ground of the Fanelian Castle turned into red and gold magnificence. The wind was strong, but it was not yet overly cold. The sun was shining, lending its warmth to the gradually dropping temperature. It was truly a delightful experience for someone who had never seen autumn in her life.

Walking leisurely beside the princess, Gaudi kept his pace deliberately slower than usual. His expression was serious as he came up with an answer, "Let me see." He paused as he noticed Ardine's attention, laughing inwardly, "The whole Fanelia will be covered by the glittering snow: the invisible whiteness moulds houses; the grey sky would blend perfectly with the endless horizon, creating the illusion of space never-ending and clouds ever swirling."

Glancing at his surrounding as he walked down the familiar path leading to a row of closely planted trees, his arms clasped behind his back, his steps confident. He gestured with his chin towards the set of flame leaf trees as he elaborated more, "Those trees will be bald by the end of autumn, but that does not mean their beauty will diminish. You have to see their branches against the grey backdrop of the sky and the pure whiteness of the snow to know what I mean. 'Tis simply magical!"

"Really?" Ardine flashed her pearly teeth as she stepped in front of the tall warrior and stared into the intense blue orb of his. She swore she saw childlike excitement in it, and something else – surprise? In a lot of ways, Gaudi Jenaro de Fanel had transformed out his usual stoic disposition into the picture of tranquillity. His usually rigid back was slightly hunched in his attempt to level his eyes with hers, the muscles soft and relaxed.  The smile that he bestowed on her lacked its usual cynicism, and she had to say he was charming her as they spent the afternoon together. To her surprise, she actually enjoyed their close proximity. For once she didn't have to think of the right words to say to the Fanelian general. It was a welcoming change.

She could almost wistfully think that the man before her really cared for her not because of her status, but because of her own person, and that he would forgive her anything, even the existence of her treacherous twin who brought destruction to Fanelia not so long ago.

"You just simply have to welcome winter into your mind and overlook the frostiness. And if the coldness becomes too unbearable for you, there would always be fire roaring in the hearth and somebody's embrace to return the warmth into your vein."

As a princess who was confined within the rigid boundaries of a royalty, Ardine had never blushed in the presence of others before, but her mind was unable to escape the romantic implication that Gaudi's words had brought upon her imagination. It triggered something she never knew exist in her. The blush started from two small warm spots on her bronze cheeks, and it tingled as it spread over. And surprised, she had been, for she had never thought that blushing could bring pleasure and embarrassment at the same time.

"And you had it in you to be poetic, Your Grace." She had replied demurely, lowering her eyelashes to shield her eyes from Gaudi' searching gaze.

Gaudi merely let out a small smile as he continued his stroll beside the young lady. Only the glint in his good eye revealed the wonder he felt at his own words. What possessed him to flirt openly with the Ispanian princess?

They didn't speak to each other anymore for lack of subjects. Nevertheless, the two companions took comfort in the silence, each of them revelling in the other's presence. Only the rustling sound of the leaves under their feet and the soft breeze caressing their smooth hair filled in the atmosphere around them.

Both of them cleared their throat at the same time, and…

"Princess,"

"General,"

Both of them whirled their heads to face the other, surprised that they called each other's names almost at the same time. They continued gazing into each other's eyes for a few moments longer amidst the rain of red and gold before Ardine finally decided to break the magic. Her aquamarine orbs never left Gaudi's face as she whispered the words that she had been compelled to say since Gaudi had decided to free her from the confinement of her chamber for once.

"Thank you."

Shaking his head slowly, Gaudi permitted himself a small smile as commented lightly, "'Tis my duty to ensure your well-being during your stay in Fanelia. After all, you are still our guest."

Ardine turned her back on the tall warrior, suddenly finding it too hard to look at him in the eye. "I am a burden. I should have died months ago in the hands of my twin. I know what my existence has brought to the stability of Fanelia's politics."

It was hard for Gaudi to find the right way to respond, for it appeared to him that no word would do to ease the weight behind her eyes. Yes, Ardine's existence was a burden for Fanelia. For Van.

"It would be a lie if I said that you're being here did no damage to the stability of Fanelia." He finally told her softly, "However, know this: neither I or the king and the queen wish for your death. Especially the queen."

The princess whirled her head around to face him, her crystal blue eyes widened in surprise, "Hitomi?"

Gaudi firmly nodded. He knew for certain how Hitomi felt about the subject. They seldom discussed the matter, but he sensed guilt in her whenever he mentioned Ardine's name. Hitomi clearly was still distressed over the awkward position that her and Van's marriage had brought upon the princess, even though she did not really show it.

"The only thing she regretted when she decided to accept His Majesty's marriage proposal was when she learnt that she has built her happiness upon yours, my princess."

Biting her lower lip in contemplation, Ardine furrowed her thick black eyebrows as she slowly remarked, "I have already been reconciled with the fact that 'tis not I who was married to King Van months ago. 'Tis true that I have waited for His Majesty's marriage proposal with much excitement and impatience, and I have to admit that I did feel exhilarated when one of the courier informed my king father and I that I have been formally invited to spend the summer in Fanelia, but I…"

Gaudi knew his move was a bold one, but he was unable to resist lifting Ardine's finely sculpted chin with the knuckle of his hand.

"I…"

Perhaps it was just a fraction of his imagination, but the wind seemed to swirl gentler, arranging the golden leaves to twirl soothingly around them, causing them to close their distance unconsciously. Reaching out to Ardine's raven hair, his fingers combed the loose strands methodically. He let out a satisfied smile as he sensed her lean into his palm as she purred in delight, her eyes slowly closing as she revelled in the comfort of his touch.

As the princess reopened her crystal orbs, Gaudi saw them sparkle with something he was unable to describe. Somehow it made her look kinder, fragile even. It took the hard edges off her features. She was pretty, very pretty. He was not talking about the kind of pretty in which everything looked pleasant and was in the right places. He was talking about pretty in the manner of the way one's essence shining through one's aura, one's features – in which one simple glance would send a pleasant shiver along his spine.

Perhaps for once, time would freeze and allow him to satisfy his deepest desire. Perhaps he could forget about duties and be himself.

He ceased his daydreaming as he sensed Ardine's hand sneaked up and squeezed his own. Raising his eyes in question, he waited for the princess to say her mind.

"What is it?"

Ardine inhaled and let out a trembling smile. "I'm scared."

Gaudi just listened. He knew what Ardine needed most at the moment – someone to listen to her. So he waited, waited until she was ready to disclose her feelings and pour out the content of her heart.

"Not of you, but of myself. I feel as if I am betraying myself. I have been trying to convince myself that I do want the union between me and King Van to happen, but I felt the contrary as I was being informed about the king's betrothal to Hitomi."

Swallowing painfully, she closed her eyes as she struggled to keep her tears behind her lids. Her voice was trembling when she finally found it, "Relief. I feel only relief despite the impending disgrace that I would bring upon my family."  

Gaudi did not intend to say anything. No word of consolation would change her situation and he never intended to elevate her burden with false hope. Still, he felt compelled to do something to ease the heaviness in her heart, even if it was only for temporary.

Ardine gasped involuntarily as Gaudi's lips brushed against hers, the soft cool flesh moulding hers perfectly. No man had ever dared to touch her in that way before, especially not without her permission. Nevertheless, what bothered her was actually not the kiss itself, but the tumultuous emotions that the kiss had brought upon her mind, in spite of the fact that it was an innocent one, a closed mouthed one. Gaudi's boldness was disconcerting, but it was hardly repelling. Her old self would consider the act offensive, but her current self was rediscovering her person yet again.

She felt a smile spoken on her lips, and as she instinctively snuggled closer into the warmth of Gaudi's embrace, she interlaced their fingers together. Rising on her toes, she nibbled on Gaudi's lower lip gingerly in response to his unspoken invitation. She was familiar with the basic procedure of kissing, but even then she was uncertain if she had been the right move of not.

Of course, she had been kissed before, although she would not count it as a real kiss. However, the feeling had been similar.

It happened years before, when the treacherous Zaibach had come to Ispano to form a false alliance. She had been a little girl then, barely passing her fifth summer. She still remembered the day a group of Zaibachan special guymelef unit landed on the Ispanian castle ground, demanding refreshment and some mechanical service for their guymelefs as if it just happened yesterday. She had been hearing a lot of stories about how lean and handsome guymelef-riders in black, and she had been eager to finally make their acquaintance. As the group approached nearer, she had watched them with crystal blue eyes widened in anticipation, her rosebud mouth forming a nice ring shape.

Then she saw him. He was the littlest among the group, and most probably the youngest. Unlike the other riders, he was dressed in red flying suit that appeared to be menacing with several spikes jutted out of its shoulder pads. His soft silvery hair was held back with the broad golden circlet that had covered most of his forehead, and walking resolutely in the centre, he almost looked like the prince from the fairytales her governess had read her each night before her sleep as he.

He must have realised her staring at him, for he had suddenly stopped in his track and walked to her direction instead. He hadn't said anything, but staring back into her own eyes, as if he had been trying to strip her soul naked. The boy could not have been older than twelve years, and yet he possessed the eyes of a fully grown man. As he halted before her, the others had also stopped walking, and watched his antics in curiosity instead. She didn't know why those grown ups paid a lot of interests in the young boy, but even in her young age she had been able to sense that the boy had been truly special.

And then the strangest thing happened.

He bent on his waist and brushed his lips lightly against hers. As he righted his posture, he had cocked his head sideways, his intense gaze measuring her despite his impassive countenance. She had been alarmed and indignant then, hiding herself even more into the folds of her governess' tunic. A young child like her had no idea how to behave in such situation.

She would have growled in suspicion, but her education forbade her the luxury of such violent gesture. The young boy, however, had merely given her a crooked smile when he had suddenly announced casually to the amusement of their spectators, "She is pretty."

Her eyes had widened in surprise. Naturally, she had been born beautiful, and the people around her had eagerly attempted to win her favour, the little princess, and sometimes gone overboard by showering her with meaningless compliments. But the boy had been different. His words had made her feel truly pretty, and she sensed she was able to be genuine around him.

Since then, she had been eager to spend her time during his stay together, admiring his wayward antics and becoming one of his most loyal followers. It had been during that period that she had gained the reputation as a mischief-maker, which her governess had resented very much so.

But it had been fun.

A giggle escaped her lips before she could stop it, and she had to answer to Gaudi's inquiring eye, "I was reminded of my first kiss."

"Indeed?" Gaudi lifted his golden eyebrows, his mouth twitching in amusement.

"It was good. Very good. It made me feel good."

Ardine waited for a few second and grinned in satisfaction when she finally got the reaction she had expected, an indignant grunt.

She ignored him purposely and announced instead, "It was with the infamous Dilandau Albatou."

Gaudi bared his fangs, his eyebrows furrowed deeply as he repeated after her, "Dilandau Albatou?"

Nodding in confirmation, she added too casually, "We spent our childhood together. I was five, he was twelve."

There was silence between them, before Gaudi filled it with decidedly uncertain chuckles. "A five-year-old? Kissing? Your Highness, you must be quite precocious as a child."

A scowl ruined her perfectly smooth feature as she punched Gaudi lightly on his arm. Gaudi merely laughed openly in return, and Ardine, despite her annoyance, smirked knowingly. Of course, because of his impertinence, she would not tell him the real reason why she had been telling him about Dilandau. They had actually shared a little secret that could be of Gaudi's interest. She was aware of Dilandau's sudden disappearance just after the war had ended ten years ago, but she dared to hope 'it' was still there.

However, one thing was clear. Gaudi certainly made her feel pretty – and wanted. She never meant to compare the golden haired general with her silver haired childhood playmate – for both were certainly as different as the moon and the sun, but they did have similar attitude to life. They were genuine to themselves, and moreover, to others. They would have never lied – they would have been honest with their feelings, their emotions.

And she, Ardine, was privileged to be one of the people who were able to see that quality in them.

Hitomi had to suppress her giggles as she accidentally spied on the embracing couple as she and Van headed to the stables from the direction of the kitchen. It was impossible to make out what they had actually been doing, but she was fairly convinced that Ardine and Gaudi had finally decided to put away their stubbornness and admit the new aspect to their relationship. Squeezing her husband's hand lightly, she glanced meaningfully at him and gestured to the direction of the rows of golden-leaf trees with her chin, smiling slightly as she noticed him balk at the sight of the unexpected intimacy.

Unexpected from Van's point of view, but not hers. She had been sensing Gaudi's growing interest in the princess since the day he rescued her from being decapitated by the evil twin brother of hers.

Laughter rumbling at the back of her throat, she ignored Van's questioning look as she darted pass her husband, increasing her speed purposely to give the diminishing couple the privacy that they much needed. They would not be thrilled to know that she had discovered their most recent activity for sure.

Besides, she had other things to occupy the rest of her day.

For once Van had been able to slip away from his kingly duties to spend his time with her and her only – as a family. He had promised the entire day for her, and he had been excited as he relayed his plan for the day – a picnic, an excursion to Fanelia's countryside – something that Hitomi had been dying to do since her first day of arrival back in the kingdom. 

Normally Hitomi would be compelled to return to their chamber to change into her riding habit, but today she decided to care less about the stifling protocol and enjoyed the day without feeling overdressed and uncomfortable. So there she was, still in her dress covered by flour, and dainty slippers on her feet, hastily done as they retreated out of the kitchen earlier. Van himself was dressed only in his leather jacket and deerskin boots, devoid of his formal regalia – just like the old times.

Two stable boys greeted the young couple enthusiastically as they approached the stable. Van grinned proudly and left Hitomi's side to pat the necks of his two horses – a mare of chocolate brown fur with white knee-length socks and a jet black stallion with the silkiest fur. His stable was his most prized part of his castle, for it was where the best breeds of Fanelian horses originated from. Horse-riding had always been his greatest passion, and he had been eager to share it with Hitomi since her return to Fanelia. Today was the perfect day. For this purpose he selected the mare, for her sweet disposition was more suitable for the jolly ride he had planned. Her more lithe form and flexibility would also made leaps and bounds more exhilarating, unlike the black stallion whose physique was more inclined to power.

He whispered orders to one of the boys and was rewarded with an obliging grin. As he waited for the boy to return, he turned to Hitomi, his eyes twinkling as he asked her, "Do you ride?"

Shrugging her shoulders ever so slightly, Hitomi pronounced the first answer appearing in her head.

"No,"

No, she had never ridden a horse before. In fact, she was a little bit intimidated by the prospect of having to ride one. She had hoped inwardly that she didn't have to ride by herself.

Van appeared to be ignorant of Hitomi's growing apprehension, but the Hitomi kept her distance from them and the way she shifted from foot to foot never escaped his sharp eyes. He appraised his queen from head to toe and released a subtle sigh. His fearless wife, afraid!

Hitomi appeared much younger when she looked nervous. She hunched her shoulders in an unconscious attempt to shrink herself. A warm emotion surged in his heart. She was sweet, very sweet – she almost looked like her past fourteen-year-old self that he almost wished that time would rewind, back to the day of their first encounter.

The boy returned with the saddle, awakening Van from his daydreaming. Bouncing a little too eagerly, his clear innocent eyes were wide with adoration as he presented the object to his king. Van merely chuckled as he took the saddle from the boy's hands, ruffling his hair before proceeding to work on the saddle on the back of the horse without the help of the attendants.

Jumping effortlessly onto the horse's back, Van's rakish grin taunted Hitomi as he offered one leather-gloved hand to her. As he peered into her turquoise orbs, whatever anxiety that he had seen there earlier had dissipated, replaced by complete trust and…mischief?

Hitomi hitched her skirt a little too high – enough for the stable attendants to have a peek of her smooth calves as she caught his hand and hauled herself up to sit astride in front of him. The result had been almost instantaneous. A peal of laughter escaped her rosebud mouth as Van growled menacingly at the back of his throat and spurred his mount immediately, leaving behind the two gaping boys who would perhaps report back to their friends about the queen's loose attitude.

They had taken off in full speed at first, revelling in the autumn air as it stirred their hair and caressed their reddened cheeks. Van inhaled deeply, savouring his wife's sweet fragrance as he tightened his hold on her waist. She had always smelt like a green meadow on the first day of spring, but she smelled differently today. She smelled like fresh baked bread, which somehow reminded him of the scent of his childhood. He smiled subconsciously when she rested her back against him, clearly enjoying the ride as much as he did.

Before long they reached the outskirt of Fanelia's capital city, where the scenery was rich with the tableau of the high blue mountain with its icy peak and the green pasture with yellow and purple flowers spread over it. Here and there they encountered many denizens, mostly farmers who were garnering their autumn harvest. They stopped and chatted, and then went their merry way.

Hitomi was amazed by what she saw. For all his aloof appearance, Van seemed to interact with his people well enough. He was truly well-liked and the people seemed to accept him as one of their own. She herself had opted to stand out of their little circle and become an observer instead. She had been the public relation officer of a famous company at one point of her life, but surprisingly she had found it difficult to blend into the happy crowd. She, the one who had dealt with journalists and mass media in her short but successful career, was afraid of not being able to relate to these people!

Hitomi was so intent in her observation that she almost missed two of the village women approaching her. She gave them an uncertain smile and rearranged her position, suddenly feeling exposed and uncomfortable. It was actually the first time she had ever spoken to Van's subjects outside the castle. As much as she had waited the opportunity in anticipation, she was unable to deny the growing trepidation that sourced from her anxiety of being at least a good consort to Van. She knew the fact that even on her present-day Earth, a man's success depended on the support of his woman. She had to be at least on good term with the people of Fanelia if she wanted Van to have a long and successful career as a reputable king.

The two village women bowed cordially and Hitomi nodded back in hesitation. What should she say in a situation like this? It would be much easier if she was still on Earth, where everybody was an equal. Here in Gaea she was a royalty, and people must have approached relationship with a royalty differently. Should she speak first? Should she wait?

What if she said the wrong word?

One of the women smiled at her not-so-obvious predicament, her expression softened as she studied the face of her queen. The queen was very young, even younger than when Queen Varie had first come to Fanelia. Like Queen Varie, she was a stranger in a strange land, too.

"I have come especially to the capitol when I first heard about his majesty's victory against Zaibach. I was there, as the people gathered on the sides of the main road to greet his majesty's homecoming together with his phantom moon lady. Everything was in a roar. Men shouted, girls screamed, and despite the still-present evidence of the destruction of our country, everyone was in high spirit. Everyone's attention had been on his majesty, although there were countless of other heroes who graced the procession with their presence.

But I had come to see you. And saw you I did. You walked behind his majesty's back, much, much younger than you are now. You had a hesitant smile as you waved to us, pretty much uncomfortable with all the attention."

She paused for a second to give Hitomi a motherly smile before she continued, "It is really quite funny because I see that you really are still your old self."

Hitomi was dumbfounded, her eyes bulging as she pointed at herself, "Me?"

The two women laughed politely, and Hitomi began to relax. Perhaps nobody really expected anything from her at all – perhaps it was just a fraction of her imagined fear. Breathing a sigh of relief invisibly, Hitomi joined the laughter, her insecurity lessened greatly. Then she looked up, just at the same time when Van trained his eyes on her as well. There was concern in his eyes, although it didn't show in his countenance.

Hitomi was transfixed. She sensed warmth spreading as Van's reddish orbs held hers securely even though he was chatting with his subjects, laughter dancing in their depths. Sighing, she broke their eye contacts, shaking her head as she chuckled to herself as an inexplicable headiness assaulted her mind. She was so transfixed by the newfound confidence that she didn't notice the shadowy expressions on the village women's faces.

What happened next came in a blur, and even Hitomi's sensitive senses were unable to detect.

A rock in the size of a grown-up's fist made contact with Van's forehead, so accurate it was that he was thrown back to the ground. Multiple gasps rose in the air, and a shriek jumped out of Hitomi's throat as she rushed to her husband's side, her eyes wide with worry. Like hornets upon their enemy, the witnesses soon enclosed themselves upon the suspect, a little boy around the age of Earth's twelve years old.

The boy struggled against the holds of his captors, but his wild eyes refused to let go of the vision of the king before him. His speech was disjointed, intelligible even, and from what Hitomi was able to gather, the boy seeked to revenge the death of his parents, who died at the time when…

When…

From there on Hitomi didn't dare to look into the boy's haunted eyes. His parents must have been part of the last assault's casualty. She wanted to stop the boy's protesting emotions from flowing into her mind's realm, but she couldn't. She had always been empathic to other's suffering, even as a child. Six sense or not, she had been born with the curse.

Glancing worriedly at the open wound on Van's forehead, she applied more pressure using the kerchief that one of the villagers' had kindly supplied as she surveyed the situation around her. What had actually happened? One minute they were having a good time and another minute Van fell down, his face covered with blood.

The buzz of people around her forgotten, she stared at Van's blood in her hand, her mind replaying the vision she had received not too long ago. A vision of Van, his head reclined below a blunt axe, awaiting for his own execution. A vision of her, she had been standing just a few feet behind him, watching the death of her husband. Her turn soon would come.

A hand shook her shoulder gently, and she was drawn back into reality. She looked startlingly into the eyes of her husband, askance. Van, determination etched in his very countenance, gave her a silent request as he put his arm around Hitomi's lithe shoulder. She merely nodded as helped him staggering into his full height.

"Why are you still alive?!" Hitomi winced as the accusation rang true in her ears. She felt the hold on her shoulder tightened painfully, and she glanced briefly to gauge Van's reaction. A stone mask had descended upon Van's features. Hitomi was unable to tell whether he was sad or angry. She hoped it wasn't the latter, for the innocent boy's sake.

Hitomi couldn't see the boy's expression, but she knew from his shaking voice that he was crying. He had been trying to appear brave and strong in front of the man that he believed was his enemy, but his earlier struggle had drained his energy and his foreseen doom at being caught curbed the little courage he had been left with.

"Why did you let the Ispanian whore to stay, to live, while my parents had to be buried under the castle's rubble?"

Nobody dared to contradict the truth that the boy had weakly spelt, and they all fell in silence and contemplation as they stared pitifully at the boy's reclined frame. Only the tell-tale sobs of the boy filled the air around them, making it crackle with tension.

Van surprised the legion of people by stepping nearer to the boy and kneeling before him, his eyes held a pain so unbearable that Hitomi could feel it slash her own heart. Gently he stroked the boy's hair, his voice was steady as he spoke for the people to hear, "I should have been dead in the stead of your parents, and yet I am here, alive. I would gladly replace them, but at the moment I am still needed as a leader. This is a futile effort from my part, but I apolo…"

A collective gasps filled the air as the boy so daringly spit on Van's face. In their shock, the boy's captors loosened their holds, giving him the chance to disengage himself. The boy quickly seized the moment, not forgetting to strike one fist in Van's direction before scrambling away from the group.

"Van! Are you alright?" Hitomi rushed to Van's side once again and started to fuss over her husband. Van had managed to avoid the fist, but the jarring movement had caused his injured head to spin. Hitomi quickly extended her hands to support him, but he gently refused. Quietly he bowed to the audience and went to his horse. The crowd parted wordlessly for him, their eyes spoke volumes of their sympathy and understanding.

Hitomi was torn between asking questions to the villagers and following her husband home and tending his wound. At the present, it seemed as if it was a mere boy raging over his parents' death, but her instinct told her Fanelia's situation could be far more serious. The current Fanelia may rankle with restless energy, something to do with a certain Ispanian princess.

In the end, she ignored the nagging voice in her head and followed Van instead. He appeared to be very shaken by what had just transpired. He would need her more than anything, even though she understood he would resist her concerns.

What she didn't know was a group of strangers spying on them at a distance.

No amount of words could describe the relief that Chid felt surging in his mind as the gilded carriage that carried him and the important members of his staff halted in front of Asturia's royal palace. As usual, he could never make himself used to the strain of travel. Still, he realised with great annoyance that as a sovereign, he must under all circumstances act as what his station dictated, even in the presence of his aunt's family.

"Your Grace, we are here." The droning voice of his secretary carried the unnecessary announcement, and he had to fight the urge to snap at the inquisitive elderly man. Voris may not be present to restrain him, but he had stationed someone in his stead. And judging from the way they interacted during their journey south, he was even worse than Voris. Fou was a very, very stern man and tried his best to hinder Chid's tendency to be 'out of control'. Still shouldn't a holiday be just that? An occasion to indulge in oneself?  

Straightening his simple turban and bejewelled short sword, Chid did his best to chase sleepiness out of his mind before he gave permission to one of his assistants to open the door of his carriage. Meanwhile, he contented himself by sweeping his eyes over the faces of the people he loved through the small window, delighting in the smiles of anticipation on their faces.

He was home.

No matter how respectable people held him in his own land, he had always thought Asturia as his true home – the place where family and friends were always be. He had thought his sole purpose of going back to Asturia was to see Lady Celena alone, but he had been wrong. No matter how indifferent he had been trying to make himself to be, he couldn't prevent the overwhelming surge of happiness once his eyes settled on the lovely features of his Aunt Millerna, the warmth chocolate eyes of Lord Dryden and both of their delightful golden children. He had never realised how much he longed to be released from his everyday duties to return to the warmth of this family.

His family.

The door was opened, and he leaped impatiently to envelope Aunt Millerna in bear hug and laughed indulgently as she showered his faces with pink-stained kisses. Propriety be damned. He would always be a little boy to Millerna, and he couldn't think of himself differently as well.

Cupping his face in her hands, Millerna did her best to clean pink daubs from her nephew's face, a tell-tale shimmer in her eyes. "Just look at you! It wasn't even half a year since we last parted, and yet you have gained several inches more! Look how dwarfed I look beside you!"

A youthful laughter escaped Chid's mouth as he took her hands in him and looked into the pair of clear blue eyes so similar to his own, "In that case you, my lady, could be my pretty little aunt."

A flush that could only result from excitement crept on Millerna's cheeks as she giggled softly and remarked with a twinkle in her eyes, "Oh my! Look how courteous you have become among ladies! What kind of education have you received in Freid? Certainly this material will not come from Voris,"

"As it may, after all, coming from the conversations that we had during your last summer visit, my lord," A deep warm voice interrupted their little bantering, and Chid disentangled himself from Millerna to perform a formal bow for Dryden. "Your Majesty,"

The king merely laughed in the endearing boisterous way of his and slapped him heartily on the back. "Welcome back, Chid. I believe this is holiday and no work? I hope you will learn more of those dealings with women while you are here. I believe I have a couple of pointers for you."

Chid couldn't help a smirk. "Indeed, Your Majesty."

Holding his index finger in warning, Dryden cut off almost immediately, "Ah ah ah! No more of that Your Majesty! Dryden would suffice, thank you very much!"

Millerna, true to her mischievous nature, gave a nudge into Dryden's ribs while wickedly saying her piece under her breath, "That would be Uncle Dryden, Chid."

Dryden merely gave his wife a long suffering look and mock-glared at his surrounding as he noticed that his eldest son had also caught the 'uncle' bits and was now giggling at him. Everyone in his family knew very well how much he wanted to preserve his youthful spirit. Of course, being a king with so many unwanted responsibilities, he needed every ounce of youthfulness he possessed.

Giving Dylon an affectionate pat on his head, Chid proceeded to assess his surrounding. Most of Asturian major peers of the realm had been present to welcome him as what the protocol dictated, and he exchanged few pleasantries as he acknowledged each of them. He, however, paused his step as he finally noticed the Schezar clan among the welcomers and strode purposely to their direction.

The lady of the clan, after all, was the reason why he took up Voris' holiday offer. He could not afford creating an ill impression before the notoriously exquisite Lady Celena Schezar.

As for Allen Schezar, it was a totally different matter.

"My lord, how delighted I am to be finally in your company again," he had told the golden general as the latter bowed customarily, and bowed back slightly to acknowledge his show of respect. He had always been in awe with the general, having met for the first time when he had only been a lad of five.

Their eyes met as both of them drew back to full height, and Chid shuddered as Allen bored his deep blue eyes into his own, its intensity crumbling his wall of resolve. Now he understood why many men had refrained from being too close to Lady Celena. Her brother, apparently, had been a most tough barrier to break. Especially by a mere young boy like him.

Chasing the intimidating thoughts out of his mind, he turned to Lady Celena and gave his most perfect bow to her. With his back arching gracefully, he extended his hand to receive hers in the impersonation the fashionable greetings between Asturian nobles. And true to the fashion, he kept the kiss hovering above her dainty little fingers and without passion despite the hammering of his heart.

And with that, everything was finished. Soon he was whisked inside by his eager relatives, and soon he had to divert his mind from the pretty Lady Celena to pay attention to what his aunt had to say. What did she say? Aunt Eries would join them for dinner? But who else would join their royal celebration tonight?

And yet, as he worked very hard to play the doting nephew for his own, he could feel Celena's eyes on his back. Hard and penetrating. So intense he had to steel his resolve not to look back.

Author's Note:

A day gone wrong: what could be more awful than that? Hitomi and Van set out the safety of their castle to have some good time that they obviously deserved after what had happened to them, and yet they were confronted by the grim reality of what was actually happening in Fanelia. It seemed that the trick of their shadowy enemy had finally worked. Somebody wanted to terminate Van and take over the throne, but who? Not Gaudy, for sure?

Still, I think Hitomi has matured even more in this chapter: she realised confronting Van directly would not serve both of them well in the end, so at the present she resolved to quiet admission that her husband would never accept direct assistance from her. She would be ready, however, should things go wrong in the future. In this chapter she realised that retreat did not always mean defeat.

As for Gaudi and Ardine, I think their relationship is inevitable. Still, how will this new aspect of relationship serve them? Will that deliver happiness or even make them suffer even more? That will have to wait a few more chapters.

Also, I know I'm dallying with incest here. It's bound to be a lot of troubles for Chid in the future. Celena, of course, in her ignorance and curiosity, failed to see that her outright manner sometimes could bring misled speculation to a man, especially one that was as young as Chid.  

For readers, I'm sorry I couldn't reply to your emails lately because…I'm opening my own BOOKSHOP!!! It's like a dream comes true! It's a specialist bookshop for romance and I call it 'Temptation the Romance Bookstore'. I know this has nothing to do with my fanfic but I'm so happy I just have to say it.

Ok, I'll see you soon in the future,

Louise Tjandrasjahan
29th February 2004, 5:20 pm
Perth, Western Australia