Hey people

Hey people! I'm back. I went on vacation to Dallas! It was lots of fun. I need a lab top so I can type in the car, but oh well. This chapter will probably be the longest so far. So on with the show or story or whatever. Remember to review it when you are done. Thanx.

Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne, just like before.

Two as One

Chapter 3 A Reunion and a Warning

By. Lady Emerald

Hitomi woke up to the sound of running water nearby.

"I must have hit my head and passed out," she thought. "Where am I?"

She looked up into the night sky and saw two moons. She smiled to herself.

"I'm back!" she said excitedly when she realized that the Earth or Mystic Moon, as they called it on Geae, was in the sky above her. She tried to sit up, but her head was pounding and would not let her sit up.

"Oh, ouch! That really hurts," She muttered.

After a while she got up, very slowly because her head still hurt a little. She looked around and saw a beautiful landscape all around her. She also saw a little stream and decided to wash up a bit. Later, she decided, she would try and find Fanelia. First, though, she would rest. She sat on a large rock and gave a big sigh as she looked around again. The little stream was outlined by rocks of every shape and size, trees bordered the little clearing, and covered the hills that rose above the valley.

"It is simply beautiful, just beautiful." She said.

"Where is she?" Van said getting really frustrated. He gave a heavy sigh and urged his horse on. He and his horse were getting tired, thirsty, and hungry. He heard the sound of running water nearby and headed towards the sound. As he entered the little clearing, he dismounted, and started to lead his horse towards the tiny stream.

Then he saw a female figure sitting on one of the larger rocks. She looked like a beautiful water nymph watching the twin moons rise, from what he could see from the side of her. She had long sandy brown hair that was in a long braid, down her back, with a pink ribbon at the end. She had on a long white skirt with thin pink strips of cloth hung from the waist. A simple white sleeveless top finished the outfit off. She was gorgeous.

"Excuse me, Miss, are you lost?" He asked her.

She instantly jumped up off the rock and turned towards him. Two clear emerald eyes were staring at him with surprise.

"Htiomi!" was all he could get out.

"When?! When can we bring her here?"

"The savior can only be brought here at the right time, Lord."

"Yes, that is what I have been hearing! I want to know when! I want to see her in person, not on your little screen that we have been watching for the past year!"

"The time is right, Lord, when her "Earth" and the smallest moon hang above the western mountains that surround Fanelia."

"Where are they position now?"

"In the eastern sky, Lord."

" In the east! That means that it will take at least four more days!"

"Patience, Lord, patience."

"Master, one of the servants has fled to Geae to reveal our plans."

"It does not matter. He will not live long enough to tell them much. Even if he does there is no way they can protect her or stop us." He said with an evil smile and an even eviler laugh.

Hitomi hadn't heard him till he said something. He had scared her so much that she jumped off the rock nearly slipping on the slimly moss that was on the ground. She turned to face him and she knew who he was.

"Van?!" she cried.

She eyed him. He looked older, of course, wiser, and a lot more muscular. He still had on the same red shirt with his tan pants. Oh yes, he much more handsome then the last time she had seen him and, yet, he still had those loving and knowing brown eyes.

She ran into his arm and he held her tight never wanting to let her go. She was sobbing into his shirt.

"Shh, it is alright. Everything is ok." He cooed her, slowly rocking her back and forth. "Lets get you back to the castle."

"Ok. Van," she said after a few seconds when he got his horse, which had eaten and drank from the stream, " I have missed you so much."

"And I you. Welcome back." He said as he placed her on the horse. He wanted to just hold her and kiss her and tell her that he loved her, but at the same time couldn't.

They rode through the forest just listening to the other breathe. Hitomi gave a little shiver as a gentle breeze went by.

"Are you cold?" Van asked worried that she might catch a cold.

"No, it was nothing," she saw him give he a "I don't believe that" look. "Really, I am fine." She reassured him.

Just then something fell from one of the nearby trees spooking the horse. It reared up as Van tried to get control. Hitomi slid off the horse to see of what ever had fallen from the tree was ok. Van finally got control of the horse, slid off, and tied it to a tree. Hitomi approached the man that had landed on the ground. When he saw her he grabbed her by the wrist and she gave a little scream. Van saw this and ran to her side.

"What is wrong with this guy? What does he want?" was what both Hitomi and Van were thinking.

"Run away, please, stay away from him. Heed my warning. He does you no good, Lady." The man croaked.

"Who are you? What do mean get away? I just got here." Hitomi said now a little frightened.

"Yes, yes. Tell us man what do you mean?" Van's voice came out strong and demanding because this man still had Hitomi by the wrist.

"I came here to warn you that there is someone," he was having a very hard time talking, "out… to get… you… Princess Hitomi."

Then he let go of her wrist and fell over, dead. Hitomi gave a little scream and buried her head in Van's chest. He was in shock at what the man had just said. Someone was after Hitomi? How can that be? We are at peace? What was going on? Every question he had just led to another question. He picked Hitomi up and put her back on the horse. Then he went over and moved the man to the side of the road. All of a sudden the man's body started to smoke.

"Just like when Van killed that dragon when I first met him," Hitomi thought.

Then the dust that was left over from the "burnt" body, blew away in the breeze. Hitomi shuttered as Van got back onto the horse and started on their way again.

"Are you ok?" Van asked still concerned that something else might happen.

"Yes, I am fine as long as know that you are here beside me." She blushed after she relized what she had just said.

"I will always be here and I will protect you." Then it was his turn to blush.

"I know," was all she said as she snuggled closer to him.

He smiled to himself, he was so happy that she was back WITH him and safe.

END OF CHAPTER

Ok maybe it was a little weird, but o well. I will try and the next 1 or 2 chapters up by the end of next week. So until then, ta ta.