A/N.: Hi folks!! dugs flying vegetable Yes, I'm sorry! I know it took me over a year to update! I can't believe it! But the last year had been really exiting and stressful and I had no time/ inspiration to update. I have to apologise, because I, as a dedicated reader, know how it is if a story won't be updated and you want to read the end. So sorry!
But I have a really long chapter for you, the longest ever! I hope you enjoy it! I would like to thank everyone who read this story and of cause everyone ever reviewed! This reviews were great and made me want to write more. Thank you, without you there wouldn't have been a story! But enough of this talking, only two more things, there are no review replies at the end, sorry, but the update would have taken even longer, and second I have a new story, it's V/H romance, action, adventure. I have the prologue posted, would be happy if you would check it out. It's called the Tempest.
Sooo, now the last, long awaited chapter, ENJOY:
In Disguise
Chapter ten
Cool sea wind whistled through the trees. The sun stood high in the sky, shining down into the royal Asturian gardens. Thousands of all different flowers were swaying in the wind and variations of sweet smells were carried through the air. It was a peaceful summer day.
On the wide grass space lay an open book, its pages moving in the breeze. Next to the open book was a young woman spread out on her stomach. Around her hundreds of white petals flew away with the wind.
"He loves me, He doesn't love me, he loves me." Another three petals were taken from the delicate flower. The woman's emerald green eyes sadly watched the last petal swaying lightly back and forth. She carefully took it between her fingertips and sighed.
"He doesn't love me."
With an angry blow she through the naked stem away, "Oh, this is so stupid! It doesn't work anyway!" Frowning she turned on her back and watched the fluffy clouds pass by, absently she grabbed another flower and was about to rip a petal out, when she was interrupted.
"Oh Tomi! Just stop it and let our garden in one piece!", a young woman with curly blond hair came out of the palace. Her hands were resting on her hips as she tapped her food on the soft grass. "Don't act so childishly, this game won't bring you an answer! Just visit him!"
Hitomi only turned on her side, "Just leave me alone Millerna."
The princess sighed, her purple eyes studied her friend's form, "No, I will not leave you alone. First, you are just mopping around for a week now and need to finally cheer up and second I still want to have a nice garden tomorrow morning!" Slowly she sat down at her friend's side.
Hitomi turned to the princess with a smile on her face, "Don't worry Milli, I'm not as bad as you are. I remember one time when you had the crush on Allen and almost took all the flowers from the huge hedge and your parents-"
"Hitomi, just shut up, it's not funny! I know that I was stupid." Millerna said blushing.
Giggling Hitomi sat up and hugged her friend. "I'm sorry Milli, but as you can see, you cheered me up! Wasn't that your goal?"
Milliner only grunted. But soon her expression changed to one of concern, "Hitomi, why don't you just go to Fanelia? It wasn't that bad what he had done. Maybe he has a good explanation for everything, I heard rumours about an assassin who tried to kill Van. Why don't you just listen to him? Even your family told you to go to him. Besides, I don't want some kind of unhappy, heartbroken spinster running around in my palace, telling everybody how terrible love can be."
A small smile formed on Hitomi's mouth, "Heartbroken spinster? I think sometimes your imagination goes crazy", sighing Hitomi fell on her back again, "Maybe I should go to Allen and apologize and accept his proposal."
Millerna's eyes opened in shock: "Are you crazy? You aren't that desperate, are you? I don't want to imagine the two of you together", Millerna's face grimaced into disgust, "I mean, he would probably go through your closet the whole time, trying on you dresses and ... Yuck... I don't want to think about it."
"I was just kidding", amused Hitomi sat up again, but her expression changed quickly, "Milli, tell me what can I do? I can't get Van out of my head and I think I... don't want to. But he lied to me, how can I be sure that he didn't lie to me about everything else? Moreover, he is a king and what am I? A poor farmers' daughter from a small village in Asturia. He can have princesses, rich and beautiful... What if he was just playing with me? Just a little affair with some girl to shorten the time at the farm until he can go back to his kingdom." She let her head hang low.
Millerna watched her friend, "I don't know what to tell you, I don't know if he was playing with you. And yes, he could have any princess on Gaea, but maybe he doesn't want to. Maybe he was waiting for true love and he found it with you. What do you think, before you knew about his heritage, did you believe that he loved you? I can't tell you what to do, you just need to follow your heart."
Hitomi looked at her friend and then up into the blue sky, 'Follow my heart? Easier said than done.' She slowly closed her eyes, letting the wind play with her open hair and her thoughts drifted to one person again. The person she tried to forget.
"Van..."
Thick, grey clouds spread over the sky, letting no sunshine through their heavy wall. Thunder roared in the air, quickly followed by bright lightning. Suddenly, as if waiting for a sign, the rain started to pour down in cans and a strong wind picked up.
People were fleeing from the streets into their warm homes, or cosy taverns. In only a matter of seconds the streets were deserted.
Merle's deep blue eyes watched the rain fall into puddles. Her feelings were mirrored by the weather, she felt so sad. A sigh escaped her feline mouth. Merle's eyes didn't even leave the window as she addressed Larian. "How is he doing? Has he left his room yet?"
Larian's head hung low, "No, not yet. He didn't even look at me, I think he never heard a word I said. He is just sitting in his room with a lost stare on his face", Larian shook his head, "I don't know how this is supposed to go on."
A deep growl rolled over Merle's lips as she angrily turned to face Larian, "I know how! I'm going to search for that woman and knock some sense in her head!!!", tears were forming in her azure blue eyes, "How can she hurt lord Van like that? He doesn't deserve such pain! I will drag that girl here and make her apologise to Van!" Tears were now falling freely down her cheeks.
Larian rushed to her side and hugged her close, "Merle don't cry. I'll find a way to bring the old Van back," Larian looked at Merle lovingly, "And I will find a way to make you happy again, I would do anything for you Merle."
Merle raised her gaze and met Larian's, the feelings she saw in his eyes startled her.
'I-It couldn't be, could it?'
Did she really see love in his eyes? Love for her?
A small smile formed on her lips, weren't the eyes the windows to the soul?
So he really was in love with her! Merle's heart skipped a beat and she slowly raised her head so their lips were almost touching.
With a last shaky breath she closed the distance between them ... and they met in lovers' first kiss.
With lost eyes Van stared at the rain pouring down the windows. The storm was raging right above Fanelia. He wondered how the weather was in other countries like Zaibach ... or Asturia. Probably sunshine.
With a sigh the young king turned around and sat down in a soft chair in front of the fireplace.
Comfortable warmth spread in his body as the minutes kept running. His mind was lost in memories of Hitomi and their time together. He just couldn't get her out of his head. He tried to bury himself in work, but the harder he tried to forget her, the more he thought about her.
Her beautiful smile, her soft hair, her laughter, her full lips...
He was abruptly disturbed in his thoughts as Merle entered the room.
"Van, how are you?" She carefully closed the door and went over to Van. He still looked so lost and sad like the day he came back from the raid in Asturia. Rage rose in her again, how could that woman inflict so much pain in Van!
"I'm fine ,Merle."
"No, you are not!", rage was taking over her, "Why can't you just forget about her! There are so many women lying at your feet, why do you want her? She is hurting you!"
Van looked at Merle's angry form, "I can't forget her, I love her. I never had this feeling in my life before and I never will about anybody else. I don't want other women, I want her. But I think that... that will never happen." He buried his head deep in his hands and fell silent.
Merle watched her brother for a long time with an expressionless face until new anger built up in her stomach, "If you love her then why don't you do anything to get her back?!? You just sit around and pity yourself, you don't act like the Van I know! He would have fought for everything he wants and would have never given up so easily."
"But-"
"No buts, Van Fanel! You need to do something to get her back, or she will be gone! So get off your butt and think!"
Frustrated Van got up from his chair, "Don't you think I was trying to think of something? But I'm sure she wouldn't listen to me, I don't even know where she is right now."
Merle sighed, "Alright, then let me repair your love life. It will go better anyway if I take everything in my own hands. Just stay in your room and pity yourself a bit more." That said Merle was out of the door, leaving a stunned Van behind.
Almost the whole night Larian and Merle had been trying to find a way to bring Hitomi and Van back together again. But as many ideas as they had, in the end they dismissed them all.
Until Merle found a solution.
"So, I'm going to write the letter and you Larian are going to take care of the rest if everything works. But it should, Van mentioned that they were friends, right?"
Larian gave a quick nod, "I will prepare the rest, everything will work out fine. Don't worry Merle." He gently laid an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to his body. Merle ,in return, snuggled deep into his chest.
"I hope you are right. I just can't see Van this unhappy! Besides, I can't help him, before when he had problems I was always able to help him and make him smile again,... but not this time."
Larian tightened his embrace around her small form, "You are helping him! This is going to work, and if not we will find another way. And maybe Van will stop this childish behaviour!"
Merle only nodded with a huge yawn, she was getting quite sleepy.
With a sigh Larian scooped Merle into his arms and carried her to her room.
It had been a long day for both of them.
"Ahh", lazily the young princess of Asturia stretched out on a soft sofa. Slowly she kicked off her shoes and closed her eyes. Night had fallen over Asturia and thousands of stars twinkled in the sky.
'Finally some time to relax, it had been such a long day'. Millerna cuddled deeper into the softness as she remembered her stressful past hours.
First she had to get up at six in the morning for an annoying dress fitting, then she had to attend two very boring meetings with her father and his council. She couldn't even remember what it was about. After that she had been looking forward to a full lunch, but unfortunately she had missed it because of another dress fitting and her father's never ending lecture about choosing a husband. When all of that was over she had gone down to the kitchen to get a bite to eat, but a servant informed her about an emergency meeting. So she ran to the meeting with a grumbling stomach.
She had to admit, it was important. The Asturian soldiers had finally caught the raiders and they were going to hold trial in a couple of days.
As the meeting was finished she had made her way down to the kitchen again, but again she was stopped as her father pulled her into a carriage to attend a dinner with some stuck up ministers. It had been so boring that she was just about to fall asleep between the meals. At least she had got something to eat!
But one of the most uncomfortable things to do today had been finally telling her father that she was in love with Dryden the merchant. She just couldn't bear her father's unnerving matchmaking tips. King Aston had been furious beyond belief, but she didn't care she knew how to handle her father. He hadn't been talking with her for the rest of the day and probably wouldn't for the rest of the week, but soon everything would be alright and he would be happy that she had chosen such a rich man.
Sighing Millerna rolled on her side, her eyes still closed. And moreover there was her undecided friend contemplating what she should do.
It had been two days since their talk in the garden and Hitomi still didn't know what she should do. One second she said she would go to Fanelia to talk to Van, then faith was leaving her and she wanted to just stay here or follow her family.
Her family had left a day before, they wanted to find themselves a new farm and start all over again. Hitomi wasn't sure if she should leave with them so they told her to stay until she had sorted out her feelings.
So Hitomi stayed and she just couldn't get over her stubbornness! She just couldn't go to Fanelia and listen to Van and maybe apologise. The girl was stubborn like a mule!!
Millerna was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard a soft knock on the door and the call of a servant.
"Come in."
Immediately the door opened and an old man entered the room, he carried a silver tray in his hands with tea steaming hot.
With a swift bow he poured the tea into a fragile porcelain cup, "Your tea your highness, and here, "he pulled out a white envelope and gave it to the princess, "this letter came today from Fanelia, a bird brought it."
Curious Millerna opened the letter. 'What were they writing?'
Her violet eyes quickly read the fine written letter and soon a huge smile spread on her lips. Of course she would help!! Why wasn't she the one who had an idea like that? If these stubborn kids can't pull themselves together, their friends will help.
She looked up at the servant, who still stood patiently next to the sofa, "Bring me paper and ink ,quick, and then send my letter with the bird back to Fanelia." The servant bowed and went out of the room to fulfil the princess's request.
This was going to be great! Millerna giggled and fell back into her seat. And she would get Hitomi to come with her somehow, even if she had to put ropes on her and carry her the whole way!!!
She would help her friend to find happiness!
Hitomi leaned out of the wide open window in her room, the cool wind blew around her body. Her gaze was lost in the star covered sky. It was so beautiful, all the stars lightening up the night and the twin moons glowing with them.
She wished she could enjoy this view with Van. She wanted to be with him, but on the other hand she felt betrayed and uncertain about his feelings for her. Besides, she was too stubborn to go to Fanelia and listen to him, if he cared for her, why didn't he come to Asturia!?! Or ... should she go to him... he probably didn't even know where she was staying, but on the other hand...
Her inner battle was stopped as the door swung open with full force and Millerna stood in the door with a indescribable big smile on her face.
"Hitomi, we are going to a mask ball!"
Hitomi looked at her friend with confusion, had she got totally crazy?
"Millerna, what is going on? Did something hit you on your head? You startled me coming in my room like this so late at night! And what is that about a mask ball?"
The princess shrugged her shoulders," You are awake, aren't you and you didn't do anything important so I'm not bothering you in any way. Just calm down." Hitomi's expression changed to one of anger, but Millerna only kept smiling. "And about the Ball, we are invited to go to a mask ball in one week. So look for a dress and mask, it is going to be so much fun!" ,Millerna giggled.
"I'm not going." Hitomi had turned her back to her friend and watched the stars again.
This simple statement made Millerna's smile vanish and turn to annoyance, This was going to be harder than she thought. She stepped up to her friend and leaned against the window – sill. "But you have to go!"
"Why?"
Millerna sighed, "Because it's going to be fun... and you need to get out of here, need to have some change. Besides I would be devastated if you didn't go with me!"
The other girl eyed the princess suspiciously, Millerna was planning something. "Then tell me, where is that ball?"
For only a second Millerna lost her composure, but immediately a smile was painted on her lips, "It's not far from here ... it will be at the border to ... Fanelia."
Hitomi's heart skipped a beat at the name of the country, "Fanelia, no, I bet he will be there. I'm not going."
"No, No, No, No!!! He won't be there, it's just some friends of mine, I don't think he will be there." Panicked Millerna tried to calm her friend, "Besides, I want you to accompany me, please, please, please!" She put on a puppy face.
The sandy blond couldn't keep from laughing, "Alright, I will come. If he isn't there."
"He-He won't be there."
"Alright then! I'm coming with you!"
"Great, so then good night." Millerna quickly left the room. She felt bad because she had lied to her friend, but Hitomi would forgive her when she was together with Van again. At least she hoped she would.
Shouting and giggling Merle ran through the hallways of the still sleeping castle, in her hands she held a paper. "Larian, Larian!" She brushed the door to his room open and pounced on his bed.
Larian woke up with a start, panting he held on to his heart, "Merle, what in the world-"But he couldn't even finish his sentence, Merle had flung herself into his arms. "It's here, it's here! They are coming!"
The confused man tried to calm a hysterical Merle down, "Merle, what is here, and who is coming?"
Rolling her eyes Merle shoved the piece of paper into Larian's face. " Princess Millerna and Hitomi are coming! They will come and we are going to plan a mask ball!"
Larian quickly read the letter. "That is wonderful! I need to get the preparations started." Larian jumped out of his bed excitedly, but before he reached the doorknob he was held back.
"First, you go and put some suiting clothes one, then you start the preparations."
Chuckling, Larian went into the bathroom, "I almost forgot!"
"What a man", shaking her head Merle left the room.
Quickly Van left the council room and went down into the huge ball room. What he saw made him stop dead in his tracks.
Larian was standing in the middle of the big hall shouting orders, almost every servant in his castle was running around with garlands, papers or flowers in their arms and Merle was standing on a ladder to put decoration onto the walls.
Still stunned Van walked down the stairs, nobody seemed to notice him until he reached Larian.
"Ahh, Van, good morning how was the meeting?" The young man turned away from his friend as a servant came to him with some pieces of fabric, "Oh, I think we are going to take the green and silver one. "He turned to the king, "What do you think Van?" But before he could answer Larian had turned away again, "Yes, the King thinks it's a good choice too. We'll take it."
Before Larian was able to turn to another servant, Van grabbed his shoulder and turned him around, "What is going on here?"
Larian looked at his friend for a couple of seconds until realisation came to him, "Oh, I forgot, you don't know", a smile played on Larian's lips, "We are planning a mask ball to get you and your Hitomi together. Merle's plan worked"
Van looked even more confused, "Hitomi? Ball? Plan? What?"
The smile on his face got bigger, "Maybe I should start from the beginning. Merle wanted to find a way to bring you two together again, but we didn't know where Hitomi was right now. So we wrote to the princess of Asturia for help, because you said they were good friends. Fortunately Hitomi was staying at the Asturian castle and we received princess Millerna's answer right this morning. She told us she would be happy to help us and bring Hitomi here. She was the one who had the idea to prepare a ball, because it would be easier to persuade Hitomi to come to some kind of celebration."
Overwhelmed Van looked at his friend, the words he just heard needed to sink in. So Hitomi was coming to Fanelia in a couple of days to a mask ball, which was princess Millerna's idea. But then it hit him and a beaming smile was slowly creeping up his lips. Hitomi was coming to Fanelia! She was coming.
With a loud laugh he pulled Larian into a hug, "Thank you my friend! Thank you so much!"
"Don't thank me, it was Merle's work and of course Princess Millerna's. I'm only taking orders."
Another laugh escaped Van, "I will, but tell me, what did the princess mean with 'persuade Hitomi to come to some kind of celebration'? Hitomi knows that she is coming here to Fanelia, right?", doubt shone in his eyes.
Larian stepped back a little and shrugged his shoulders, "That I don't know. The only thing I know is that she will come in five days."
He saw the uncertainty coming up in Van and tried to reassure him. With a confident smile he put his hand on Van's shoulder, "But don't worry, everything is going to be fine. But you better practice an apology."
"You bet I will", with all doubt washed away he went up to his study, hope building up inside of him.
Merle had watched them the whole time with a caring smile.
Oh how she hoped everything was going to be fine.
A carriage rolled quickly over the road, the beats of the horse hoofs were muffled by the dirt. The hot sun seemed to be aflame as he sank into the earth and the dark night sky couldn't wait to lie down on Gaea.
The people in the carriage were silently watching the sunset. A man with brown hair pulled up in a pony tail straightened his glasses which had glided down his nose. Then he put his arm around the woman sitting next to him, pulling her nervous form to him. Without thinking she laid her head on his shoulder and closed her lavender eyes.
The man watched the woman in his arms with tender eyes. His princess... in trouble again. But he loved her for her troublemaking and lively character. She just couldn't see Hitomi sad and now she was sitting in the carriage wringing her sweaty hands and looking around nervously. But he could understand her, she still had to tell Hitomi that they were driving to the Fanelian castle to meet her king and not to some dukes' mansion.
His poor Millerna wasn't able to tell Hitomi before, she had been scared Hitomi wouldn't come with her and be mad. Now she still had to tell her here, and he would try to help her the best he could.
He sifted a little in his position, how he hated to wear formal clothes! Although he tried to keep it as comfortable as possible, these weren't the clothes he was used to! He wore dark black pants with matching boots and a belt with his family crest embalmed in gold. For more comfort he wore a simple white shirt, but now, to get uncomfortable, he had to put a navy blue jacket with fine gold threads over his shirt. He had to admit, it looked exquisite with the Asturian crest stitched in fine gold onto the jacket's front, but it was buttoned up to his neck and clung very tight to his body to give him a better, straight posture. He felt as if he couldn't breathe. But, he was matching his princess perfectly.
She looked beautiful in her navy blue dress. It had a low neck line with white frills at the end, which showed her soft skin. The sleeves of the dress were short, but she wore long white gloves, so only a small part of her skin could be seen. The bodice of the dress was, like his jacket, stitched with fine gold thread. It was a very simple dress, compared to what royalty usually wears, but to him she looked mesmerising. The more royal suiting were her accessories, around her slender neck she wore a thin gold necklace with a shining sapphire. Her arm was decorated with a golden bracelet and her earrings were suiting to her necklace in gold with three sapphires on each side.
He remembered when he gave her all this jewellery, she had looked at him with wide eyes and then hugged him so tight, he thought he would suffocate every minute. A smile played on his lips, but it looked wonderful on her.
His train of thoughts stopped as his other companion turned away from the dying sun and addressed his fiancée, who jumped as if she had been stung by a bee.
"W-What did you say Hitomi?"
Hitomi watched her friend concerned, "Millerna are you feeling alright, you seem to be so nervous. It's only a small get together with friends, isn't it?"
Millerna palled a bit, "Y-Yes... of course", she laughed uncomfortable, "What do you think it is."
"What is going on here", Hitomi got suspicious, "I didn't say anything, but we crossed the border to Fanelia hours ago, shouldn't we have been there already? Millerna, Dryden where are we going?"
Nobody answered, she only saw Dryden nudge Millerna's side, who looked down at the floor. Hitomi wanted to say something, but her words got stuck in her throat as her gaze fell out the window.
The carriage was just leaving the long forest road they had been riding for quite some time and changed to a wide road. In the distance she could see huge walls surrounding a city in a mountain bed, the road was leading right to the impressive gate, which was wide open letting her view a part of a glorious city. But even before the gate were little houses clustered together to small communities.
She would have been more than impressed by the beautiful city and it's surroundings, if she hadn't been gaping at the uncountable carriages that were rolling down the street. Hitomi could see that they weren't ordinary coaches, these coaches were made for Kings and Queens or Dukes, for everyone who had money and a name. The carriages were slowly driving down the street through the gates, up to a brightly lit castle, thronging on a mountain cliff.
The sun light had died down now, the first stars were twinkling in the sky. She felt a sudden bump underneath her and the horseshoes started clicking on the stone road. They had passed the gate.
Hitomi's eyes fixed on her friends again, thick silence lay on the small room, until Hitomi started speaking in a low voice, "Millerna, where are we?" Although she knew it deep down inside her.
Millerna's voice was only a whisper, "We are in Fanelia, this is its capital. Up on that cliff is Van Salanza de Fanel's castle, it is his mask ball." She didn't even dare to confront her friend's gaze. She felt Dryden's arm tighten around her shoulder, which gave her more strength, she knew a storm was coming.
The silence that followed these few sentences seemed to be eternal, but as suddenly as a storm could start, Hitomi's raging voice filled the carriage, "You lied to me!! You lied to me Millerna! What were you thinking?! How could you just bring me here? I thought we are friends, and Dryden, you too."
Millerna's desperate voice tried to reach through Hitomi's rage, "Hitomi, I just wanted to help-"
"It is none of your business! Besides, how do you want to help me when you lie to me. I can't stand you anymore." Before Dryden could hold her back Hitomi jumped out of the slow carriage and started running, but she didn't get far. Dryden grasped her arm and hindered her to run anymore. Hitomi tried to struggle in vain against Dryden's firm grip, "Let me go! You are hurting me!"
"No, you will listen to us, or better to Millerna. She did all this because she is your friend and she is concerned about you. And so am I. Moreover, you are stubborn like no other and need a little help from time to time. Even if it is with a small lie. And now listen!"
Dryden released his tight grip on her and Hitomi stood still. Both Dryden and Millerna were very good friends of hers, Dryden even one of her oldest friends she had and she knew they only wanted the best for her. But still...
Millerna was now standing in front of her, the pain evident in her eyes. Hitomi couldn't even look at her, guilt was eating at her right away.
"Hitomi, I'm so sorry that I hurt you, but I thought it was for your own good. I couldn't see you in so much pain anymore. And I wanted to help you. Then I got the letter from Van's adoptive sister and his friend."
Hitomi looked up surprised, "You got a letter?"
Millerna nodded, "Yes, they told me that Van was behaving the same way you do. Sad the whole day, always in thought and nothing could cheer him up. They asked for my help, because they didn't know where you were staying. They wanted to find you and bring you back to Van."
Millerna grabbed Hitomi's hand and made her look up into her eyes, "I just wanted to help the two of you and I promised to bring you to Fanelia. I asked if they could have a celebration so I was able to tell you we are visiting a ball here and you could talk everything out with Van and don't have to be alone with him. I wanted to make your decision easier, so you would find the right way faster. You were always contemplating if you should go to Fanelia or not. But when I talked to you, you didn't want to go at all and- and I lied to you", the princess lowered her head, "I'm so sorry Hitomi, I am your friend and I hurt you, please forgive me. We can leave if you want to."
With tears shining in her eyes Hitomi threw herself at Millerna and hugged her tightly, "Oh Millerna, I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have said all these things. I'm the one who has to apologise, not you." She pulled away and looked at her friend, "And you did help me and made my decision easier... I will go to Van and talk to him. Now that I'm here I want to see him and ...if I made such a mistake right now with you, maybe I did him wrong too. I didn't even let him talk to me, I just left." Her eyes shifted to the castle overlooking the city, "I want to see him, and listen to him. I've missed Van so much."
Millerna and Dryden smiled, "Then let's go my ladies, the celebration already started." Dryden lead them back to the patiently waiting carriage. Hitomi's gaze never left the castle, 'Just wait a little longer Van. Just a little longer and we will see again, my love...'
Music and laughter filled the air of the luxuriously decorated ball room of the Fanelian castle. People in bright dresses and colourful masks were dancing over the white marble floor and enjoying themselves, others were talking about the newest gossip or about old times. Nobody seemed to miss anything, everybody seemed happy and joyful... Except for one person, although countless women were admiring his tall and muscular figure and threw him seductive looks, he never gave them a look of interest or even a smile. He was searching for someone in crowd, his eyes darted around the room, but couldn't find the one he was looking for. His eyes rested on a happy couple dancing together and he smiled.
Larian had told him today that he wanted to ask for Merle's hand in marriage and if he, as her brother, would allow their bonding. He had to admit, he was very surprised as he heard that. He never thought Merle and Larian could be a couple, let alone a married couple. They had always been rude and had teased each other, but it had probably always been love.
So he had happily agreed for Larian to marry Merle. He was happy for the two of them, they had finally found each other. He tore his gaze away from them and made his way outside into the gardens. Still, he felt the women's eyes on his back. On one hand he was happy for the mask, so nobody recognised him as the king. He wore black pants, black boots and a white shirt, not the clothes of a King. His mask was red and black and symbolised a dragon, it was quite a piece of art. The only jewellery he wore was the pendant Hitomi had given him.
Fresh air hit him as he walked out of the ball room. He took a deep breath and let a cool breeze sweep over him. A sigh escaped his lips as he thought of how wonderful it would be with Hitomi now.
Suddenly he heard foot steps and turned around ... there she stood. He recognised her immediately, even with mask. His eyes widened, she was breath taking.
Her hair was put up into a bun with light green clips, only some bangs framed her delicate face. Her mask was made from feathers, which had been dyed a light green, the same colour as her dress. The dress was sleeveless and hung on her shoulders. The low neckline showed her creamy white skin and the bodice of her dress had a V-shaped part which was made of almost white tissue with only a hint of green. The dress went down to her feet with green frills at the end. But what caught most of his attention was her necklace. It was a thin silver chain with a long, pure white feather at the end. An almost invisible smile tugged at his lips, it was his feather. She wore his feather.
Hitomi looked at him, he had taken off his mask and was looking right at her. She was so nervous. She had seen him walk outside and followed him, and before she got the guts to talk to him he had turned around. Shocked she couldn't even move, she felt as if the air had gone from her lungs, only looking into his eyes made her feel as if she was falling. Helplessly falling.
Slowly she took her mask off and let it fall to the ground.
But even if she was falling, she knew he would save her, he would save her from everything. She quickly closed the distance between them and fell into his arms, holding onto him tightly. She felt so safe and at ease as he wrapped his strong arms around her. Oh how foolish she had been, she loved him, she loved him so much and she thought she could have lived without him for the rest of her life? Never.
He held her close to his body. It felt so right to finally hold her in his arms again, he wished this moment would never end. He carefully pulled away to look into her face, but never broke their embrace. A warm smile played on his features as he looked down at his love, his eyes taking in all her beauty.
"Van... I...we-", her hesitating voice broke the trance he was in.
Quickly he put a finger on her mouth, "Shh, not here." He motioned to the little crowed of ball guest that had gathered at the windows, interested in watching the reunited couple. "Follow me." He took her petite hand and lead her deeper into the garden.
The group at the window started whispering,
"Wasn't that the King?"
"Who was that woman with him?"
"They seemed to be very close, do you know her?"
"Maybe we should go and look!"
"NO!" The loud order made the group jump. Angry Merle stood in front of them, "The garden won't be visited by anybody now. Give them some privacy, or else." She quickly showed her long claws.
The poor people hastily nodded and fled as far away from the mad cat as they could.
Merle didn't leave her spot and smiled down to the gardens, 'I hope you are happy lord Van'
They had walked through the garden hand in hand, enjoying each other's company. Van lead them through trees, along flowers and wells until they reached a small bank looking over a pond. Nobody would disrupt them here, the pond was surrounded by tall trees and it was hard to find if you didn't know where it was.
Hitomi stepped forward, closer to the pond. "Oh Van, everything is beautiful here! The gardens, the castle...You must be so happy." She looked at him with shining eyes.
Van nodded and took her hands again, "I'm happy now, now that you came."
Hitomi giggled, "I am too, but I needed a kick in the butt to realise that."
He would have liked to know how the princess got Hitomi here, to be honest he hadn't been as positive as Larian that Hitomi would come. But he was more than thankful that she had come. He looked at her again, his eyes lingering on her full lips. How he had missed her! He needed to feel her, to taste her. He wanted her soft lips caress his skin.
He slowly leaned down to capture her lips, they were only inches apart as she pulled away. Confused and hurt Van looked at her. "Hitomi what-"
"I'm sorry, but first ...I would like...like to know...why...why you.." She lowered her gaze to the ground.
Nodding Van started his story, "I came to your father's farm, because there had been an assassination attempt on me. Luckily I survived, but the assassin was able to flee."
Hitomi's hand covered her mouth, "Oh Van..."
"My advisors had been so concerned for my life that they sent me to the farm. I had to stay disguised to save my life. At first I hated the idea to leave my country and hide like a coward, but these days had been the happiest of my life", his eyes never left hers, "Especially as I met you. I should have told you everything earlier, but-but I was afraid. Afraid of how you would react. I didn't want to lose you, but before I was able to tell you the truth I had to leave. A servant came to bring me home, I wanted to stay, but I couldn't. As I arrived in the castle I wanted to contact you, but work was overwhelming , sometimes I couldn't even take a breath. And then the attack came. I am so sorry Hitomi, please forgive me."
She shook her head, "No Van, no! It is my fault. I should have listened to you, I shouldn't have left. I have to be sorry! Not you."
Taking her into his arms again, he sighed, "No Hitomi, I am the one that-"
"No! It is my fault. Don't blame yourself."
Chuckling he pulled her closer, "Alright then let's say we both take some of the blame."
"Alright." Smiling she, looked into his eyes, love shining in them, "I love you Van."
"I love you too. Very, very much."
She closed her eyes and brushed her lips over his over and over again, until he deepened the kiss. Warmth ran through both of their bodies as they clung to each other, they both put all their longing, passion and love into the kiss. Hitomi's hands ran through Van's thick hair as his ran up and down her waist and back. Now that they were together they felt whole again, like nothing could harm them or come between them.
They slowly broke the kiss, still holding on to each other.
"Van...", her soft voice made him open his eyes, "would you fly with me again?"
Smiling Van nodded, he loved flying with her. It was wonderful to share this feeling of gliding through the sky and feeling the wind caress his skin with Hitomi. She accepted him for what he was and that was one of the many reasons he loved her.
His pearly white wings shot from his back and Hitomi watched in awe. It was so amazing and beautiful. Hitomi's heartbeat quickened as Van swooped her up into his arms and jumped into the air. She gave him a soft kiss.
"Van I will never leave you again... I will stay with you forever... I love you."
Van kissed her again.
"I love you too ... forever."
The mystic moon and its child stood high in the sky watching over the earth as the two lovers flew along the starry sky, holding on to each other, with undying love.
The End
A/N.: tries to hold back tears My first story, finished! I hope you enjoyed it. It had been so much fun writing and getting all your responses! Thank you again!!! Hugs every reader THANK YOU!!
Have a great day and hope to read you soon ,
Little fairy