DISCLAIMER: I do not own Escaflowne in any way at all. If I did, Van and Hitomi would have stayed together at the end of the series and movie. Since they didn't, that is a clear statement that I had no say whatsoever in the making of Escaflowne. Have a nice day.
Title: Blessed
Author: Tevrah
Summary: (A/U) Van and Hitomi were married through an arranged marriage. Three years later, they have a son. Will the trials of life and jealousies of others bring them together or tear them apart?
Main Couple: Van/Hitomi
Email: writergirl852@yahoo.com
A/N: Hey people! Here's a new fic! I so know I shouldn't be starting another fic, but I just can't help myself! Anyways, I don't expect it to be too long! And this isn't going to have much action in it, but it will have some. You always need Van to save Hitomi from something for this to be a good romance story. Anyway, I hope that you enjoy the story you are about to read! Don't forget to review at the end!
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Chapter OneOn a country side with fields and meadows as far as the eye could see stood a beautiful old two-story house. The house was painted a light blue-white color with a porch that wrapped all the way around it. A swing, a child's tea table, a pair of old fashioned rocking chairs, and toys littered the porch. A beautifully carved door with a silver handle was in the middle of it all, beckoning peace to come through it.
Once someone stepped inside the door they were greeted by a set of wooden stairs. On the right was a family room filled with books, magazines, and a small table with a basket on it that contained keys. A purse and wallet sat beside it. To the left of the stairs there was a tidy kitchen that had three glasses of water that were half full on one of the counter tops. A squeal was heard from up the stairs followed by a man's deep laugh.
In the tidy kitchen, at the wooden bar, a woman sat staring intently at her laptop computer screen. The sounds coming from upstairs made her cherry-colored lips smile contently. Then she read the screen once more and closed her eyes. She could feel a headache coming on.
Directions: Write a story containing your childhood fantasies. This will be a way to express all of your thoughts and dreams. Worth fifty percent of your overall grade.
Being a writing major could be harsh sometimes. She could barely remember what her childhood fantasies involved. Let's see…
Wait a minute! Something was coming to her. She bit her lip in concentration. She remembered her grandmother telling her a story about dragons, angels, princesses, knights, kings, and—
Her line of thought broke off as a story began to fill her mind. Her lips curved up and she cleared the computer screen. Stretching her fingers expertly, she positioned her hands over the keyboard and began to type…
The carriage traveled smoothly over the well-worn road. An escort rode beside the carriage, with the knights sitting proudly upon their steeds. Each knight carried a sword at his hip that had the emblem of a dragon carved on the hilt.
City gates loomed up ahead and the knights straightened their backs even more. They were almost home. It had taken a full week to bring the precious treasure from the far away kingdom, but it had been worth the trouble and distance traveled. Fanelia would now be whole.
There were no cheers as the carriage rode through the capital city of Adom, only curious looks as the people went about their lives. Who was in the carriage, many wondered. The carriage came to a stop at the castle steps. The knight riding in front of the escort dismounted from his horse and proudly strode to the carriage. He opened the door and offered his hand, bowing low.
A gloved hand reached out and took the knight's offered hand. A lithe body stepped out of the carriage and extracted her hand from the knight beside her. She kept her face to the ground, a veil covering her face and hair.
"Right this way," the knight said and walked up the palace steps with the woman following behind him.
The inside of the castle was huge. The walls were extraordinarily carved with beautiful pictures and symbols, but the woman took no heed of that, keeping her face down. The knight led her to two massive wooden doors and ordered the two guarding soldiers to open them.
Van Fanel, King of Fanelia, raised his head when the doors to the throne room opened. His sword was resting against his hip as always and he clasped his hands behind his back as he waited for his expected company. His trusted knight, Jon walked in, leading a woman behind him. The veil and dress showed nothing of the woman's face or skin. She was covered from head to foot with layers of clothing.
Jon walked to stand in front of Van and bowed low at the waist. He then stepped aside and said, "May I present the Princess Hitomi Iris av Kanzaki of Kanzakia, the future Queen of Fanelia."
The woman curtsied. Van bowed in kind. "Welcome to Fanelia, your new home," he greeted regally. He wished that he could ask her to take her veil off so that he could see her face, but he knew he couldn't.
It was a known custom in Kanzakia that a girl was not to show her face to any man until her wedding night, for the first man to see her face should be her husband. Woman spent a great deal of their lives in solitude in Kanzakia.
Van motioned to a maid hovering close by. "See to the princess's needs," he ordered. The maid bowed.
He turned back to his future bride. "The servants will see to your comfort. If you need anything, let them know."
The woman stood as still and silent as a statue. Yet another Kanzakia custom. No man could hear the girl's voice until she was married. Van withheld a sigh and watched as the princess Hitomi left with the maid.
He turned to Jon. "Was the journey difficult?"
Jon shook his head. "Nay, my lord, it was not. To be honest with you, it was as though we were merely escorting a statue in the carriage. And to tell you the whole truth, the men and I were wondering just what she really looked like. I suppose we shall have to wait until the ball tomorrow night to find out."
Van nodded. "Kanzakia customs are strange to be sure, but this alliance is needed. Kanzakia is a land of bronze and copper. Our weapons and walls could use all of the support offered."
Jon nodded. "Yes, my liege."
"Rest, Jon," Van ordered. "We must all be prepared for the wedding tomorrow."
Jon bowed and did as he was told to do. Van sighed and looked up to the massive thrones. A king and queen would once again sit in them as his mother and father had. Turning his mind from memories of the past, Van placed an impassive expression on his face and returned to his duties. He had no time for such thoughts.
Memories only held pain.
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The sun was setting from a bright day and the sky was painted with beautiful colors. No one could have asked for a more perfect day on which a royal wedding to be preformed. The church was decorated with the traditional banners, candles, and incense.
Van stood proudly at the priest's side as he waited on his bride. They stood on the steps and could see the white horse coming up the path. It was traditional in Fanelia that a bride-queen arrive at her wedding on a white horse, stating that she was pure of mind, body, and heart, for those were the things that were expected of a queen.
The horse, being led by a knight in front, and flanked by several more knights in back, stopped in front of Van and waited. Van walked down the steps and stopped beside the horse. He reached up and lifted his bride from the horse's back and gently placed her on the ground. Her face was covered by a white veil and her body covered by her wedding dress.
He reached out his hand and she generally placed her hand on top of his. He led her to the alter on the inside of the church where the priest had gone the moment the horse had been sighted.
The priest stood erect as the King and future queen took their places kneeling down before him. They didn't touch, but faced one another. The priest began:
"This is a holy day taking place in the house of God. Our King, Lord Van Slanzar de Fanel, will take a bride-queen. She will honor Fanelia in all she does, and honor her husband and king. She will be kind and understanding, doing only what is right in the eyes of God and the eyes of her husband-king. She is to produce heirs for Fanelia's throne and grace Fanelia with everything she does.
Our King, Lord Van Slanzar de Fanel will honor her and protect her as is right in the eyes of God."
He made the sign of the cross.
"This marriage is binding, and cannot be broken unless a reason provided is approved by the church of God. May this marriage be blessed by God in everything it accomplishes. In the name of the Father and the Son. Amen."
"Amen," everyone in attendance echoed.
Van rose, bringing his new wife with him. He turned and announced, "Your new Queen."
One by one, all of his trusted knights kneeled down and gave a pledge of loyalty. Their new queen said nothing and stood as still as a statue. When their pledges were finished, they stood back and watched as their king and queen exited the church.
Van mounted the white horse and lifted his wife to sit in front of him. He turned the horse and rode back to the castle.
His life was now set.
Arriving at the front entrance, Van dismounted and brought his wife with him. They walked to the throne room with soldiers bowing when they saw their king and his new queen. Van led his new queen to the balcony and looked down. Everyone in the city of Adom was squished together in attendance. The minute they saw their king and queen, they cheered.
Van raised his hand for silence. He said, "On this day I have taken a bride-queen. I present Hitomi Iris av Fanel, Queen of Fanelia."
The cheer was deafening. Van waited until the noise died down and began to repeat basically what the priest had said about a queen's duty to her people, and so on. It sounded boring even to him.
Stars blanketed the sky and the ever-present Mystic Moon and its child by the time the village people left and returned to their homes and Van and Hitomi were allowed to rest.
Van ordered a maid to show Hitomi to her new room while he finished up a few pieces of paperwork that would bind his and Hitomi's marriage and the alliance to Kanzakia. He tried to take as much time as he possibly could, trying to help his new wife prepare for what was to come, and truth be told, himself as well.
When he had waited as long as he could, he finally went to his room. He opened the door and froze.
There was an angel in his room.
Her back was to him and he could see long honey-colored hair that flowed softly down her back and a clingy white, almost transparent, gown graced her beautiful body. Her skin was porcelain white and there wasn't one blemish on her anywhere that he could see.
He walked to her and stood behind her, not touching her. She slowly turned her front to him, but kept her face down. Gently, he used the crook of his finger and raised her face. She had the most beautiful green eyes he had ever seen. And they were filled with fear.
He brushed his fingers down her cheek. She was trembling, and he didn't know what to do to help her. He sighed. "Don't be afraid," he whispered.
She dropped her eyes. "I can't help it," she whispered back. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do."
Her voice was like the rest of her. Beautiful. She had a small tremor in her voice and it nearly broke his heart. He wanted to help her so badly.
"We'll go slow," he said soothingly.
Her lips were trembling, but she nodded anyway. She raised her hands to her shoulder straps and was going to pull them down, but Van placed his large hands over her small ones, stopping her. She raised her eyes to his. He stepped back and turned away, allowing her privacy. He pulled his tunic over his head and pulled off his boots. When he was only in his pants, he turned back around.
Hitomi was in bed with the sheet covering her body. Her eyes were closed. Van slipped his pants off and got into bed. He leaned down by her ear. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
And gently, he pulled away the sheet.
Okay, this is just the first chapter to Blessed. I don't know how long it will take me to update or anything, so please bear with me! I'm wanting to work on All For Love, Coming Home, and Life right now! But I'm also thinking about other stories, too! So, like I said, please bear with me! Thanks!
So what do you think? Let me know by putting a review in the review box! Thanks! Tevrah ^_^