Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne.
Author's Note: Keep in mind when reading this chapter that news reaches Fanelia rather slowly.
Millerna floated in on a wave of flowery perfume that reminded her sister of the beautiful fields in Asturia. With her normal grace the princess curtsied to her sister and waited with a patient smile for a response. The empress smiled politely offering both hands to the pretty girl in front of her. Millerna folded the long fine-boned hands in her own taking a step closer and kissing both of her sister's cheeks. Standing back, looking quite pleased to see Eries, Millerna commented, "You look very well, Sister."
"As do you." Eries gave a nod dropping her sister's hands to gesture toward a chair. She took the seat behind her and watched as Millerna dropped into the cushioned chair across from her. She envied the vibrancy with which her younger sister moved, making ever gesture seem light as air, and unique in its own way. She glanced away slightly unnerved by her moment of unbalance.
The garden below lay silent, its lazy trees stirred only by an occasional breeze. The grass looked like patchwork with the wide leaves of the Maples dappling the green earth with shade. Warmed by the sun the deck was an ideal spot to while away the hours. Millerna sighed contentedly as she felt herself relax in the beauty of the day.
Smiling across at her sister she said, "You have such a lovely garden. I wish I had the skill you do with such things."
Eries smiled graciously, though she said rather dully, "It is nothing. A rather useless talent." Nonplussed Millerna raised her face to the sunlight, wishing every pore would soak it in. She dropped her gaze to the table where a servant was placing a tray of tea.
"Thank you." Millerna said to the girl who gave her a shy smile and scurried away to stand just inside the open glass doors. She watched as another servant served the tea expertly and set a cup and saucer in front of her. She thanked her as well and picked up the saucer in one hand while with the other she held her cup. She took a sip of the dark liquid and flinched lightly as she realized it was coffee instead of tea. As she carefully put both cup and saucer down she asked, "Have you had any word from your husband?"
There was a tightening in Eries face, but she replied evenly, "Messengers have come with a copy of the formal agreement to disband Ptolemy's army signed by the queen and Ptolemy himself. As for any other word, there's been none. Only rumors that there is unrest in Egypt," Eries held her saucer in her hand as she raised the cup to her lips, all the while staring out across the garden.
Intent on her own cup, Millerna stirred in the two cubes of sugar and cream nodding, "Yes. I've heard of the trouble too. It seems the populace doesn't care much for their queen. I guess she's very ambitious. She took on powers belonging solely to the king." Millerna smiled at this thinking of how very interesting it would be to have a woman control a kingdom. She wondered for a moment what it would've been like if Eries had not married and been put in place as her father's successor.
"Indeed. I hope Strategos will not have too much trouble with either. The Ptolemies are known for their internal feuds. And I doubt that we've heard the end of such trouble over there." Eries frowned her eyebrows winging inward as she concentrated on her words. Millerna blinked at her, surprised by the trace of enthusiasm in her sister's comment. She smiled slowly.
"Do you think Strategos will have to fight? And if he does, what royal do you suppose he'll side with?" Millerna asked casually. It wasn't often that she found something to converse about with her elder sister. She stood and wandered to the rail of the balcony. Turning back toward the table she carefully slid up onto the flat stone, curling her fingers around the edge. She arranged her dress carefully, waiting for the empress to reply. Sitting there like a carefree young girl her behavior hinted at that of a simple village maiden. But of course her grace could not be mistaken for mere youthfulness. Indeed she looked even more princess-like with the casual ease only royalty seemed to possess. Eries, so used to her sister's manner only gave a fleeting smile.
Again she settled into her mask of aloofness and spoke, "I would not be entirely surprised if Lord Strategos is caught between the two. A battle is likely to ensue at anytime. But I suppose it would be more appropriate for him to side with the young boy. Of course, Strategos has never been one to make decisions based on propriety." Eries spoke so calmly as though she were only discussing her gardens.
"But isn't Folken-ugh- his royal highness- outnumbered?" Millerna's eyes widened with intrigue. She greatly frowned on fighting as an alternative, but what struck her was not the knowledge of a possible battle. She watched Eries' face intently.
"Yes, by quite a number in fact. Chasing Pompey for so long has slowly depleted his forces. I imagine he's at a great disadvantage with so few ships as well. Alexandria's sailors are quite well known, though I doubt they compare to Strategos' fleet. Still it is a precarious situation the emperor's placed himself in." Eries replied coolly. Her lack of emotion about her husband's endangered life gave Millerna a spark of irritation. How could Eries be so cold?
Before she had really had a moment to think she snapped, "Sister don't you care for him? Aren't you concerned for your husband's safety? He is your husband!" Her face flushed pink, she made an effort to swallow and take a breath. Why she felt so put off by her sister's attitude she couldn't quite say. At first Eries felt her temper flare, but glimpsing the look of slight regret that settled upon Millerna's features she kept her anger in check. Eries looked down at her teacup for a long while before she raised her head to rest her gaze on the young woman.
"He is the Emperor of Gaea, of course I fear for him. There are many who look to him for protection and happiness. I would not wish ill of him." She finally said with a little sigh. Still Millerna was unsatisfied with her answer and suddenly felt a rush of pity for her sister. There was sadness in Eries' wheat-colored eyes that she had not seen before. How offal it must be to be so frozen, with such little emotion. For the first time Millerna honestly felt that she had never really known Eries at all.
Softly she questioned, her eyes on her feet dangling just above the floor, "You do love him, don't you?" When after a long time of silence Eries did not answer, Millerna murmured, "You once said you'd be honored to be his wife. When I asked you before the wedding if you were sure you wanted to be married to him, you told me that you had never met a man that treated you as Folken did. I thought- you said- that- you loved him because he treated you as a human being and not as a display piece. He was the only man you said you had ever thought of marrying… I wonder sister, are you happy?" Her heart was aching for her only remaining sister, and you could see it on her face.
The sounds from the garden below became a welcome melody. Birds were twittering within the trees caressed by the breath of spring. The fountain was as natural sounding as a mountain stream, trickling through the rocks in its muddy bed. Beauty surrounded the two sisters, yet seemed in a universe all its own; outside the place where they sat silent.
Eries loved the serenity of the marble balcony off her private drawing room. She felt soothed by the sight of her little sanctuary of flowers, grass, maples, cherries, and willows. Surprisingly, she had no thought of being offended by Millerna's prying. She knew that her younger sister had finally realized there was more behind the ice sculpture that was an empress. It had taken so long for Millerna to see, but Eries could not be annoyed with that factor. On the contrary, a peace swept over her that she had longed for, for so many years within Asturia's palace walls. Maybe, after all this time, she would be granted some understanding.
"Millerna," The Empress breathed the name gently, then went on, "I do care if Folken goes into battle. Never have I been eager to watch him head away on his campaigns. But, it is a duty as his wife to keep faith in him… I am happy to be a part of his life, to be the organizer of his house and business affairs. He is a good man. He asks my opinion, and for that, I love him." She rose from her seat in her white gown, and glided towards Millerna. Gently she fingered her sister's golden curls, looking mildly into her eyes, "A woman is just a possession, just like a stunning horse, or a perfect portrait. Men graciously allow women to become their houses' caretaker, to bear their children, and spend their money, but with Folken I am not a woman. I am an equal. I have the freedom of any man… You see Fanelia has become my home. And all of its concerns have become mine. I rule when my husband is away, I take care of the things he sometimes neglects, and I am happy doing so. I am an Empress, Millerna." With that said, she gave her sister a kiss on the cheek and turned away. Eries walked toward the doors signaling her maids to follow her. She said nothing more, and disappeared into the drawing room.
Author's Note:
So, how was that? I knew I had to put Millerna and Eries into the mix, and it seemed like a good time to do so. I like both characters. I think that Millerna is the girl we love to hate because she's got everything going for her that Hitomi doesn't (beauty, title, training). No offense to Hitomi, I honestly think she's pretty, and has a lot to offer. But to me, Millerna is a cool character because she has spirit and is ready to stand (I really dig the speech she gives in Freid to the Duke). I admit, she annoys me when it comes to Allen, and her less than friendly attitude toward Hitomi sometimes, but…
And as for Eries, she's just a stellar character. It's too bad were not offered more of a look into her life, but then again, it's straight because fan fiction writers have a knack for expanding on her nature.
I hope none of you felt that I made Eries a subservient figure. I desperately did not want to portray that, but I thought I might have confused some of you. In all honesty I want to show Eries as a powerful woman, who does indeed have moments of pause when she feels lonely, but overall is pleased with her position in life. I think that had Eries met Folken earlier in the Esca. Series they would have felt a connection with each other. In my fan fiction I want it to be apparent that Eries is not just a depressed empress, who dotes on her husband's every move. Eries has power in many aspects of government, and is happy with the respect she is given. She does love Folken, but at the same time is not hopelessly romantic about their relationship. But I guess I'll reveal more about Eries in other chapters, so I hope you'll stay with me! Hasta, my dears!