He used to tell her stories of Fanelia, of the many legends and myths that surrounded the ancient city. He was a storyteller, Folken, and Eries, through the course of time, recognized how he would rather talk of the stories of war rather than actually partaking in its art, how more often than not she would find him hiding in the library than attending to his swordsmanship lessons.

There was one time when she overheard Balgus giving Folken a lecture in his disinterest in swordsmanship. "As our future king," Balgus said, "you have responsibilities to your kingdom, and the people who love you. You should recognize this more than ever, now that you have taken your choice for a queen." She felt guilty somehow, that she had contributed to this burgeoning responsibility of royalty that gods knew, she was also well-acquainted with.

More often than not, she would wonder what Folken ever saw in her, why he chose her to be his future bride. She was no fool—the engagement had never been the king's decision, that she knew all too well. She felt too embarrassed to ever bring it up in conversation, though. While she considered Folken a close friend, she sensed that there was a part of him that was closed off from her. While the two were equals in matters of the mind and in debates, she always privately wondered if he ever saw anything more appealing to her than her mind.

"Such concerns for so young an age." Encia once wrote to her. "It would do you no good to dwell upon these things, and merely accept them for what they are. There are some answers that will reveal themselves in time."

Truly, Eries could look back at that time of her life and say that she loved Folken, and deeply admired and respected him. Indeed the official announcement of their engagement only seemed to make him even more affectionate towards her. During the ceremony that celebrated their engagement, he hardly let go of her hand throughout the evening. And even if Folken was known to be warm and affectionate to the people who knew him well, even those within close circles noted how the first prince of Fanelia seemed to be very fond of the princess of Asturia. Eries, of course, was not privy to these observations, and thought nothing out of the ordinary of Folken's attentions

Months flew quickly by. As part of her duty and the engagement process, Eries had to acquaint herself with the history and culture of the country that she was marrying into, and she had done extremely well to meet this requirement, even by her own standards. She mingled often with the people, rivaled Folken's knowledge of the kingdom's books and scrolls, and had very good relations with the important members of the court. Indeed by Asturian standards, she was eligible to marriage to Folken less than a year staying in Fanelia.

One afternoon, Folken made an unexpected visit when she was in her favorite spot in the library, which was in fact just across Folken's favorite spot. She did not notice, but Folken had been watching her for several minutes before making his presence actually known.

"Reading something funny?" he asked, making Eries nearly jump out of her seat.

"Oh! Folken, it's you." She threw him a reprimanding look for scaring her, and nodded. "Actually, I am. I was just reading a letter from my friend, Allen."

"Ah, Allen. One of your more regular letter-writers and admirers, I see." Folken joked, but something in his expression darkened slightly.

"Don't be silly." Eries shook her head. "He is my dearest childhood friend. He is my mentor, Encia's son, you know." She put the letter down and fixed him with a puzzled look. "But don't you have archery lessons right now?"

"Dismissed early due to my remarkable skills. Master Kaleb said he had nothing else to teach me." He joked, flashing a smile.

"What conceit!" she couldn't help laughing, though. "I bet your teacher was sick of teaching you anything you don't want to learn, anyway. So does that mean we have an adventure for today?"

By an adventure they both knew that it meant a ride out to the woods. Folken nodded, smiling. "I've already got the horses ready. If you are up to it, we will be riding out a little farther than usual to it."

"Of course I'm up to it!" she jumped up. "In truth, I've been reading the whole day and I do think I need a bit of sunshine."

"I'm glad you recognize your tendency to become attached to books very much the way certain fungi do." He teased. Eries tried to look shocked, then displeased, then finding that she could not do either, burst out laughing instead.

"I will go get dressed, then." Eries said, before running off in a flurry of white skirts. Folken watched her go, and noticed that she had left Allen's letter behind. He opened his mouth to call her just then, but no sound came out. He looked at the letter for a moment, and strode forward, leaving it where it was.


"I don't think I ever told you much about my parents." Folken began after nearly half an hour's worth of riding, helping Eries dismount her horse.

"I really didn't see that as a pressing matter to be discussed." Eries replied, feeling slightly puzzled by Folken bringing up such an odd topic so suddenly.

"I don't think it's talked about much, especially outside our country." Folken said, taking her hand and leading to her clearing. He looked back at her, smiling faintly. "It's almost good enough to be a legend of its own, you see."

Even though Eries pretended she didn't know what he was hinting at, she knew. The rumor that the current queen of Fanelia came from and ancient race of people. A cursed race. People hardly dared utter that race's name anymore.

They arrived at the clearing, where a tranquil, sparkling lake met their eyes. Trees by the lakeside bent over, as if watching their own reflection. Finally, Folken spoke. "Be honest, Eries. You have heard of their unusual story."

Slightly taken aback, Eries was suddenly defensive. "If I have, sir, then it is something that I have not indulged in. There were too many other things to do in court other than idly wondering about gossip."

He was immediately apologetic, and said so, and Eries was as quick to forgive him. "It's not easy to share this with anyone. But I owe you this truth, if you are to be by my side always." He took a deep breath and faced her squarely. To her surprise, though, he smiled. "I'm glad that you are very learned in books and mythology. It makes explaining much easier."

"Folken…what is this all about?"

"It is about my ancestry." And in speaking, he bent slightly over, his face pained but concentrated. And then suddenly, a flash of white, and a pair of wings came unfurling from his back. They outstretched themselves, suspended, before settling down again. Eries gazed in awe, a million things going through her head at that very moment.

Everything was deadly quiet, and she almost didn't hear Folken say, "Now you know and understand everything. I hope you will forgive me from keeping this from you."

Eries looked at him with wonder before having the courage to come closer to him. "There is no need to ask for forgiveness, Folken."

"But would you still accept me, Eries?" he finally blurted out, unable to help himself.

Her gaze softened as she reached out to touch one of wings. They were as white as sunlight on snow, and soft to the touch. "How could I turn away from something so beautiful?" she whispered. She finally stepped back, and her next words broke the spell that she had inadvertently cast upon him. "Thank you for being honest with me…my friend."

He held her face between his hands, as if she were a fragile vase of flowers. Only a friend, Eries Aston? He found himself asking her silently.


It seemed so long ago, a lifetime ago, when she first put these earcuffs on. It was almost a habit now, the first thing she puts on in the morning, the last thing she took off in the evening.

Her father had been overjoyed at the official announcement of her engagement, and threw a party in her honor on her return, the first time he had ever done such a gesture. Her first political success—no, she corrected herself. Her first acknowledged political success. Everyone was happy for her, seeing that the one-year stay at Fanelia proved to be a success. Even Marlene was convinced that Eries had made a good match, with a person that she could potentially love more as a friend when she grew older.

"The carriage is ready, Princess Eries." Her maidservant informed her.

"Thank you." She stood up and tucked under her arm a book that Folken sent to her recently. The two continued writing letters to each other after she left Fanelia. Unfortunately, despite her plans on visiting the country again, the state of affairs of the kingdom held her back, as well as other personal problems which needed and demanded her attention. She was glad that Folken understood, and he wrote to her often about his own frustrations and dealing with the preparation of kingship. He told her often that her letters to him were his source of strength and inspiration.

In the carriage, she watched as the countryside roll past by. Her destination was not very far. It stopped outside a modest stone house right outside the city.

A tall young man with corn-yellow hair came out to meet her. They embraced tightly and when she drew back, the first thing she asked was, "How is she?"

Allen Schezar's voice was hoarse and there were dark rings under his eyes as if he had stayed up all night. "In her room. She's worse than before, and won't talk."

"Oh, Allen." She embraced him tightly again before allowing him to lead her into the room. Encia Schezar lay motionless in bed, breathing shallowly. Her once-pinkish skin had turned into the color of chalk, her face sunken, her eyes closed.

"She's so pale." Eries said. She stood up and proceeded to opening up the windows. She also proceeded to put fresh flowers on the table near the invalid. She turned to Allen. "She's been changed? Has she taken her medicine?" He nodded dumbly to all her questions.

"Allen, you shouldn't neglect yourself." There was only a trace of sharpness under her voice. In all her thirteen years that she'd known Allen, she had never seen him like this. "You get something to eat and have some rest. I'll take over for now."

"No, I'm alright… I can keep watch with you…" he protested, but Eries would not hear of it.

"You'd be more help to us if you didn't become sick yourself. Allen... please don't be difficult." At this last statement Allen allowed himself to be led out of the room into his own bed, where he immediately fell asleep. She stood there watching him for a few moments before going back to Encia's room. There were already two nurses tending to Encia, the finest, commissioned by Eries herself. One of them, sensing Eries' presence, turned and curtsied politely.

"My lady, all of her vital signs are stable. The doctor will be arriving two hours from now." She informed her.

"Thank you, nurse. Now can you please go to the other room and attend to Allen. I think he is also slightly feverish, and needs food." She said. The nurse nodded, bowed slightly and hurried off to the other room where Allen was. Eries sighed heavily, and looked around the room, once so happy and full of life, now only filled with silence and grayness, no matter how much effort she put in to make it more cheerful. She walked over to Encia's side, knelt down and pressed a kiss against her mentor's hand.

Oh, Encia. You are stronger than this. You can fight this, Eries found herself praying anxiously. It had been too much, too much for too short a period of time. Allen's father had just left for an expedition and never returned. Celena…her heart constricted at the thought of the beautiful girl lost forever. It was Celena's loss that caused Encia's heart to break so utterly.

She settled on the seat that was recently vacated by Allen, and gazed out of the windows, which opened to the fields outside. She found her mind settling on the other affairs of the day, mostly playing tour guide to some ambassadors who were coming to visit today. Her father, once upon a time, had been vehement against her daily visits to the family Schezar, but she had won that battle, by the merest sheer will.

Encia had been like a mother to her, her own mother dying when she was very young. She could easily say that she would not have been who she was right now without Encia. And to see her mentor, in such a state of despair, very easily broke her heart as well. As for Allen—gone was the boy, as the recent events forced him to grow up quickly, too quickly. Eries sometimes felt that Allen had also very easily taken the hatred and rage of a man, too much for his young heart to contain entirely.

But there was no time for hate or rage when so much was at stake.

Eries left the book Folken sent her almost untouched as she personally looked over Encia's condition for several hours—administering medicine, bringing her food and watching over her all the time, even when the doctor arrived, and after the doctor left. Encia had opened her eyes at brief periods of time, but as Allen said, she did not say anything, but merely smiled up to her before going back to sleep.

She was watching Encia sleep when she felt Allen walk into the room. "How is she?" he asked, voice raw.

"She's sleeping. The doctor says that she's doing a bit better than yesterday." She said softly, disentangling her hand from Encia's and standing up to meet him. His eyes were fixed on his mother's face, unreadable. "How about you? Did you get any rest yet?"

His expression softened when he looked at her, and she felt an unfamiliar jump in the pit of her stomach when he did that. She mentally shook herself: now was not the time to feel such unimportant things. He then wrapped his arms around her and hugged her. "I'm fine. Oh, Eries, what would we have done without you?"

"D-don't mention it." she found herself saying, hugging him back. They stepped back and she was glad that she was standing against the sun, so he wouldn't see the redness of her face. She quickly turned to look back at Encia, and mentally scolding herself again. "Encia's been a mother to me, too."

"I don't think she loves you any less than…" but his face darkened before he could finish his sentence. Eries, without another word, took his hand and tucked it under hers, and together they kept watch over Encia in the still watches of the silent room.


Escaflowne is being shown in ANIMAX! Wow, is that serendipity or what? XD The episode I saw today was when Zaibach attacked Allen's outpost. Notice how Folken seems loathe to attack Asturia, "their ally." I've always wondered how Folken could've known enough of Allen NOT to underestimate him, you know? Hee hee! This is so fun!

Let's fill in the gaps, shall we?