Disclaimer: Vision of Escaflowne and its characters and likeliness is copyrighted to its respective company(ies). But the characters I created and this story is copyrighted to me.
Rating: PG-13
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FATES' JUDGEMENT
By Cosmos (ml_eclipse@hotmail.com)
Chapter 9: Angerona
The dismal colours of infant twilight greeted his eyes once again as he sat alone beneath an old crooked tree at the edge of the campfire. His somber gaze laid unmoving on the dancing flames while his thoughts coursed through the many events that greatly affected his life, turning it literally upside down.
He was born a Prince. The heir to the throne of the greatest empire this universe had ever known. The Kingdom of Etheria was the sole guardian of all life that exists in this galaxy. And its awesome power ran thickly in his blood, the blood of a royal Etherian guardian. But it would all end soon, he thought in melancholy, if I cannot accomplish my task.
Turning his gaze upon the seven young men crowding around the fire, Van could not help but feel a slight resentment toward them. Here they sit and chat away as if all is well, while I suffer knowing that my kingdom and my people will be eradicated for them to succeed. How could the Fates choose these simpletons over us? They are nothing...they are...
But he stopped. What am I saying, Van thought dismally. It is not right to blame them. They have done nothing. Giving a silent sigh, he looked up toward the heavens where he knew hidden behind the flickering stars was his home. Why? Why must there be destruction before there is peace? Why must my kingdom die for another to rise? Van returned his attention to the fire once again and thought with greater determination, Infinity shall rise. I will make sure of it; then the judgement can be passed. It is our last hope...it is Etheria's last hope to live.
Rad watched Van closely from across the fire. He noticed the multitudes of emotions flickering through the young man's intent gaze as he struggled with his pains and his duties. All the while, his face remained solemn and impassive. Rad's eyes flickered to the sword Van held within the crook of his arm. A subtle frown appeared upon his face as he wondered, Who could this young stranger be? I have never met anyone like him before. There is no one here who has such swordsmanship, and his sword--from the looks and feels of it--is a very valuable piece of weapon and a very powerful one at that...just like its master. Returning his gaze back on the young soldier, Rad continued his train of thought. There is something unnatural about this boy. For one thing, his body heals relatively quickly from the looks of it. Just a few hours before he couldn't move his arms; now he is sitting up and walking about without noticeable physical pain. He either hides his suffering extremely well or he is not human.
Suddenly, the young man under scrutiny looked up to catch Rad's observant gaze. He glared darkly, almost challengingly from across the fire. Rad decided not to take up the contest and looked away. He also has a mighty temper to go with his fighting skills.
Rad looked across the sky toward the distant horizon where the last rays of the dying sun could still be seen. It was time. Angerona should be arriving here any minute now. Giving a quick glance at the young man again, Rad whispered to himself, "I hope she can handle this flame."
Van, too, noticed the coming of night. Giving his arms and legs a slight stretch, he estimated he had allowed his body enough time to heal. It was time for him to move on. He wished not to stay among these strangers any longer. Their presences have made him uneasy and their nervous or glowering glances did nothing to help ease his irritation. Grabbing a hold on the rough bark of the tree trunk, Van pulled himself up and began to walk away from the group of men. But he was not allowed any more than five steps before he heard a familiar voice call out his name.
"Van," Rad hollered roughly, "where'd you think your going?"
"Anywhere I please," he curtly replied.
"You would be foolish to head out on your own under your physical condition," Cade spoke up from beside Rad. "Whoever attacked you last night may just return to finish you off and, with your wounds still fresh, you will be easy prey to them."
Van did not reply.
"Join us for a little while longer, Van," Arius offered kindly. "We may not be much company to someone like you but I assure you, as long as you're with us, no harm will fall upon you…at least not on you alone."
Van turned around with a surprise expression. "You would extend such kindness to a complete stranger like me?" he asked incredulously.
"Ah," Rad drawled as he took his seat by the fire again, "you're no longer a stranger to us, young man." He gave Van a steady gaze as he said, "We know of your strength."
Van cocked an eyebrow in response to the last comment. Turning around, he continued to walk on as he said back, "Then you know best to stay out of my way."
"Is this how one responds to kindness?" a strong feminine voice suddenly invaded the late evening atmosphere.
Van stopped in his track. From behind, he heard Theo call out the newcomer's name.
"Angerona, you're finally here."
Van spun around to meet this doctor Rad told him about earlier. His distrustful gaze fell upon a fine-looking, middle-age woman with long midnight blue hair tied neatly behind her head in a loose bun. She wore a dark grey hospital's uniform, which indicated that she headed immediately here after her shift. She looked just like every other mortal, but there was one thing odd about her that stood out to Van. Her eyes.
Within those unnaturally dark pupils with its grey swirls, sparked a hidden power Van could faintly sense escaping. Her gaze upon him was intent and strong. It held such strength of wisdom that Van suddenly questioned the origins of this person. No mortal could hold such a fierce yet gentle expression within a simple gaze. There was more to this Angerona then meets the eye. And he wished to know what.
"Well?" Angerona said again in a light, friendly tone.
Van frowned. "Well what?"
"You did not answer me."
Van gave her an astonished expression. She had expected him to respond?
"Hmph," he huffed as he began to walk away. "I don't have to answer to anyone."
"Ah, but you will have to answer to your own fate."
He froze in his tracks. "What?!" he barely whispered in shock as he spun around to face her.
"If you go off in that condition," Angerona spoke calmly, almost sternly, "you will surely seal your fate."
He listened with disbelief. She couldn't possibly...
Angerona turned toward Theo as she continued; "Leaving an open wound unattended to is simply inviting a serious infection. And once infection sets in, it is extremely difficult to treat even with proper medication and facilities."
Van began to calm down as he thought, She must have been referring to my condition.
"But how did you know about my wounds?"
"Rad told me," she replied simply. "You must have been in some fight to be that injured."
"What did you do?" she asked him in a humorous tone, "Kidnapped someone's girlfriend?"
Van smirked. "Far from it. My prize holds much greater value."
Angerona stopped her physical inspection of Theo and turned to look at Van. Her gaze gripped his heart with anxiety. The words that soon rang in his mind further enhanced his uneasiness around this strange woman.
"You don't know how valuable," the unspoken comment sounded in his head.
He suddenly felt his hands shake with inexplicable fear. His face became pale as beads of perspiration appeared on his forehead.
Rad watched the exchange between these two individuals with wonder. Strangers only moments before, yet Angerona's words seemed to have such a strong effect on this young man. He was a headstrong and audacious individual from what Rad could conclude within the short period of time he observed this man but these simple, common words from Angerona appeared to have impacted Van's character quite strongly. Was there some underlying meaning to this whole conversation?
"It is best," Angerona spoke in a soft mysterious tone, "that you let me tend to your wounds before the night is over." Then she added, "It will be of your interest to agree with me, Van Slanzar de Fanel."
He was flabbergasted. She called him by his full Etherian name, but how could she have known?! Despite his shocked state of mind, Van made no reply. Instead, he simply nodded in acquiescence.
Regardless of her acknowledgement that his wounds were very serious, Van was the last patient Angerona attended to that night. Watching her give physical examinations of the other men, Van wondered whether she purposefully placed him last on her list of patients. But why?
Sythe was the very last person Angerona tended to before Van. Once he was cared for and the correct prescription written out, she finally turned her full attention to the silent young man sitting at the edge of the hill watching her with suspicion. As she walked over to him with her stethoscope held loosely in her left hand, she heard Rad call out to her.
"Angie," he said in a friendly tone, "it is getting a bit late, so the boys and I will head out for a little while. Do you think you can handle him alone?"
Smiling kindly, Angerona turned around and responded, "I've survived Arik; I think can handle Van quite well."
"Hey!" Arik cried out indignantly. "I resent that implication."
Rad acquiesced. "All right. We will be back within three hours." Just as he was about to turn, Rad added, "Oh Van…"
The young man looked up.
"…if you want to find us later, just go to the large lake by the west edge of Cummerson Forest."
"Why are you guys going to a lake at this hour of the night?" Van asked in bewilderment.
With a sly wink, Rad said, "Fishin'."
As the group of men strolled away, Arius came up to Rad and asked in a low voice, "Do you think he'll come?"
Rad shrugged. "I wouldn't hold my breath for it, kid"
As the young men disappeared into the dark city, Angerona returned her attention to the lone individual sitting atop the small hill close to the edge of the pond. His back was to her, but she could sense his apprehensive and wary mood. Just as she reached him, she heard him speak.
"Everything went according to plan, didn't it?"
She raised an eyebrow at his question. He is a most astute young man...but I should not have expected otherwise.
"Yes, I believe it is."
"Is?" Van questioned. But she did not respond.
Van was not one to beat-around-the-bush. He went straight to the point. "How did you know my real name?"
Angerona sat down beside him with a thoughtful expression on her kind face. "I know more about you then you do yourself."
Van stood up in shock and anger. He looked down at her with narrowed eyes as he said, "Who are you?! You are no common mortal. I demand to know who you are?"
Angerona paid no heed to his outburst. Her serene gaze remained on the star-speckled horizon as she replied, "I believe you are intelligent enough to answer that yourself, Van." Then she turned her gaze upward to the heavens as she continued, "Such a beautiful night isn't it?"
Van remained silent as he towered above her.
"It is such a pity that anyone would want to break the beautiful silence of this night. I wish it could be so quiet and peaceful like this for always but sometimes Van," her voice softened to the point that it sounded almost mournful, "there are things we desire, things we love, that we can never have. Such as this night."
"What are you implying?" Van asked suspiciously as he took his seat once again.
She did not reply immediately. Instead, Angerona quietly picked up a nearby pebble and threw it into the lake. The calm surface was suddenly disturbed by an outbreak of small ripples across the clear face. "You must understand Van," Angerona spoke, ignoring his question, "that we are all connected to one another. There are no fates but only one fate. Just like the face of this pond; a single ripple in the thread of fate will create many more down the line until all are affected. What we decide not only affects our own lives but others connected to us as well. There will come a time in everyone's lives where we must sacrifice our own heart for the sake of existence itself; so that we may prevent the first wave from occurring thereby saving all others the chaos it will eventually create."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because that time will come…and soon." She turned to face him. Her face was solemn and sympathetic. "When that day comes, Van, remember my words."
She quietly stood up and began to walk away.
"Wait," Van called out to her. She stopped but did not turn around. "What about…what about my wounds?"
A smile appeared on her face. "Your wounds have healed, Etherian." Then she left.
He watched incredulously as her retreating figure seemed to fade into the dark fabric of the night. She had left him in a state of complete chaos. He soon found himself alone with his storm of thoughts and millions of unanswered questions. How could this brief encounter, with an almost complete stranger, cause such uproar in him? His meeting her forced him to rethink his decisions and his actions. It would later compel him to understand his past, analyse his present, and predict his future.
He returned his gaze to the place where she sat only moments before. Frowning, he unconsciously spoke aloud, "Lady Fate…?"
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This was a rather short chapter, but the next chapter will more than make up for it.
Next: Chapter 10: "Unexpected Company"
Cosmos 2004