Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne and characters!
Chapter 9: Recovery and Surprise
The first time Cevena awoke, she felt like she was in hell.
She had fallen into some kind of furnace. Her skin was cracking from the heat. Her eyeballs were shrivelling up and falling out of her face.
She opened her mouth to scream but her tongue had turned into a huge slug. Her throat was the most painful part though. Molten magma burned a bloody path straight into her stomach. She choked and gagged.
A cool hand smoothed her forehead like a cool rain touching burning earth. She swore she could see steam rising from her face to curl before her eyes. The gentle hand propped her head up and forced a bowl to her lips.
The taste was horrible; some kind of herbal concoction, but Cevena was too weak to move. All she managed as the revolting drink was poured down her throat was a strangled mewling. But all at once, the fires seemed to recede. She felt calm and relaxed and she was floating away, retreating back into a crest of comforting darkness.
Cevena woke a second time. Her eyes slowly focused on a light green tiled ceiling. Her hearing came back like a slowly advancing ocean tide.
The sounds were quiet. Clicking shoes here and there. Rustling paper, ruffling sheets. Quiet voices murmuring. She found as she turned her head, with no surprise, that she was as weak as a newborn kitten. Moving her head had taken considerable effort. A dark shape of a man was outlined next to her bed.
"Dad?" She croaked hopefully. The man stirred and spoke. "Cevena. Thank the Goddess, you're finally awake. How are you feeling?"
Cevena blinked at the almost unfamiliar deep flowing voice. Her head still felt a bit fuzzy, but then it all came back to her in a flash.
"Uncle Folken!" She gasped. "Yes, Cevena. You are still here in Gaiea-" Cevena cut him off. "What happened? Where am I?" Her head spun.
Folken touched her on the forehead gently. "Please try to relax. The mission was a success despite the malfunctioning stealth cloak and unfortunate skirmish with the Asturian mercenaries. I have my best technicians investigating the stealth function right now to try and find the cause of its failure. Right now, you are in the Vione infirmary where you've been asleep for two days since the Slayers carried you in here burning with fever. From what the Dragon Slayers have told me." He trailed off, a frown creasing his forehead. "During a short but brutal battle with the hired Asturian mercenaries, the commander fell overboard and you leapt overboard also and saved his life. Catching a high fever in the process. Is that accurate?"
Cevena could feel herself start to blush. "It was all the dragon slayers! We went out in a lifeboat. All I had to do was get a hold on the commander. They pulled us out."
Folken stared down at her. Cevena was suddenly painfully aware of the similar eye colour that her solemn uncle and Dilandau had.
"Cevena Jade Fanel, what in Gaiea POSSESSED you to do something so dangerous and foolhardy?" Even though his voice was quiet as usual, it felt like he was screaming at her.
Cevena could no longer meet his eyes, she just mumbled quietly, "None of them could swim, and I couldn't just let him drown." Then she drew her self together and looked up at Folken. "I'm sorry." She stated softly. She meant it too; she wished with all her heart that she hadn't saved that stupid jerk.
Folken sighed exasperatedly, then unexpectedly hugged her. "Your father would kill me if anything happened to you. But he wouldn't have to because I'd be one step ahead of him. I'd already have killed myself! Never do anything so rash and brave again. Promise me!"
Those stupid embarrassing tears threatened to spill over. "I promise!" It was a heartfelt response. She never wanted to go through anything like that ever again.
The Strategos released her. "I must attend to some urgent matters now, go back to sleep and rest, Cevena."
Cevena needed no encouraging, her eyelids were already heavy.
She awoke for the third time, feeling much more like herself and refreshed. She politely asked a nurse what the time was. "Late afternoon, milady." The white clad lady murmured softly and then, "Would you like me to get you anything?"
Cevena was a bit taken back by the "milady", but she snapped back to herself. "Umm. Yes, could I get out of this silly gown?"
The nurse smiled as if at a young child and after a brief "of course", stepped back out of the room, and reappeared a few moments later carrying a plain sleeveless white dress. She looked a Cevena apologetically. "This is the best that we have, milady."
Cevena carefully stopped the grimace that usually took over her face when facing the need to wear dresses. They really weren't her thing. Nonetheless, this poor nurse had done her best and she would have to make do. Anything was better than the infirmary gown anyways.
She got dressed quickly as soon as the nurse shut the door behind her, noting that the pink pendant still hung around her neck. She didn't bother to ask for shoes, and was out of the light green infirmary in no time.
But swiftly, after running down the first grey and black hallway and making a right turn, and then another hallway and another few turns, she found herself hopelessly lost. Refusing to just stand around until a Brown girl came by and picked her up, she kept walking aimlessly down the dark halls.
The crystalline sound of metal on metal chimed, cutting through the almost suffocating silence. Cevena gave a mental gasp of relief at the thought of meeting up with Chesta and the others. But just as sudden as the relief had come, Cevena was struck with the too fresh memory of a certain red-eyed captain that she never wanted to meet again.
She looked down and saw her knees shaking. Immediately, anger coursed into her at her own patheticness. She'd dealt with countless idiot boys in her high school. Sure they didn't hate her parents with an insane passion and they couldn't cleave her in two with a steel sword, but still, they're all the same aren't they? Cevena would not be beaten down by a stupid jackass, captain or not.
And with those heroic thoughts in her brain, she burst right in the door with a jolly "Hey guys!"
Seven sets of eyes swivelled and locked onto her, but she could only feel the burning heat of one particular ruby pair.
She swallowed and mentally bashed herself in the head. She was not ready for this at all. The dragon slayers were in two straight lines, facing each other. All sweating and holding onto swords. The steel blades were now hanging loose and forgotten at their sides. They all wore the same black sweat pants and dark blue tank tops. They had been in mock combat when her sudden appearance had put a halt to everything.
And there was Dilandau Albatou, standing at the front of the two lines, his face quite unreadable. Somehow, that was just as terrifying as his death glare. Wearing a light purple tank top instead of blue, he was the only one with some variation to his clothing unmistakably identifying him as the leader.
Cevena's heart seemed to have stopped along with the practice and of course, her mouth was frozen too, all thoughts of dealing with boys had fled. Her mistake was obviously that Dilandau was definitely not the average high school boy.
All eight people seemed to stand frozen in time for hours, but it was finally gentle Chesta who rescued Cevena. "Cevena! Thank goodness you're all right. When we, carried you in, you were burning up, we didn't know if you would make it!"
The poor boy was blushing, but his effort was not in vain. Cevena relaxed a bit, and inwardly leapt for joy at being called "Cevena", and not "Ms. Fanel" or "Milady".
She cleared her throat, but before she could even open her mouth a huge slap echoed throughout the chamber. Chesta was reeling back, holding his cheek. His cornflower blue eyes were wide and surprised.
Dilandau's cold voice cut the air like ice. "I did not give permission to speak, Chesta." He said simply. He turned like a cat to face the rest of the five slayers. All five visibly flinched. "And for the rest of you, have you all forgotten that you're in a battle? On the real battlefield, just because some silly wench runs in, your opponent isn't going to stop the fight to gape and have small talk with her." He paused. Cevena's cheeks were on fire.
"In a REAL battle," his emphasis made all seven flinch again. "You would all be dead."
Silence settled on again, and this time, none of the slayers even looked at Cevena. They quickly picked up their sparring again.
He walked slowly towards her, like the grim reaper himself. His black boots clicked all the way across the floor. His cruel eyes bored into Cevena.
She desperately straightened up, determined not to be intimidated. Then slowly she found that she wasn't scared, but rather angry. She had saved his life, she deserved some respect and gratitude. She opened her mouth and spoke. "Ok, wait. Before you tell me off or whatever you plan to do to me, I'd like to remind you that I saved your ass, Mr. Albatou and you owe me a big, BIG favour."
He simply narrowed his eyes. Cevena wasn't finished yet though. "And you could start by not acting like a complete dipshit towards me! I know my parents pissed you off pretty bad, but I think it's time you moved on."
She was half expecting a slap and braced herself but nothing came. She looked up and into his eyes.
They were on fire; she could practically see the flames dancing around in those ruby depths. He looked formidably angry. "Good going Cevena, " she thought to herself. "Piss off the already badly pissed psychopath."
He practically spat at her. "The only reason you're not being burned and tortured inch by inch personally, by me, is because the Mr. F*ckin high and mighty Strategoes is putting you under his protection. And don't think I owe you shit because you "saved my ass." I despise heroics."
Cevena stared at him. "So, you'd rather have drowned??" He ignored her. "Sooner or later, girl, I WILL kill you. Folken can't protect you for the rest of your life." He smiled a cold smile as Cevena quailed.
What was she supposed to say to that? This guy was totally bent on revenge, and nothing she could say or do was going to get him to stop his intense hatred of her and her parents. But she could still try.
"Look, what happened, happened a long time ago. Can't you just forgive and forget?? You even have all of your dragon slayers back!" Before she could take another breath, or even blink. Dilandau had grabbed her by the throat and was leaning in towards her face.
Near her ear, he whispered. "Don't EVER say that those- those androids are my dragon slayers. Those are nothing but machines. No matter how much they look or act like the dragon slayers, they can never be the real thing. Now get the f*ck out of here." He released her roughly and half pushed her away.
Cevena turned and stumbled out. Gasping and near tears, she realized she didn't want to cry because she had just been scared shitless.
She wanted to cry because when he had been whispering in her ear, she could hear the pain and grief buried in his voice. So much pain. Of course he wouldn't be fooled in the least by the artificial replacements.
Her father had truly done a terrible thing and she really couldn't really blame him for wanting to kill her any more. She would want to kill herself too if she were in his shoes. Her heart was so full of pity for the commander she could barely breathe.
"Miss Fanel, are you alright?" The soft monotone voice came from a slight girl, robed in brown.
Cevena forced the tears back down and faced the Brown girl. "Yes, I'm fine."
The Brown girl bowed, "The Strategoes requests your presence, if you would please follow me?"
Cevena nodded numbly, her head was hurting slightly again. She followed the Brown girl docilely through all the twists and turns. She jerked with surprised when she found herself in front of the huge dark wooden door. The carvings that she hadn't noticed before seemed to jump out at her. They were angels, flying around a huge golden sun on the left door and a huge fantastic palace on the right door.
Remembering her mistake of pushing too hard last time, she opened them gently and stepped into the room.
The fireplace was burning warmly, and she could see her uncle, dark and serene as ever sitting on the large red leather chair. But then she noticed that there were two strangers sitting with their backs to her on the couch that she had sat on when she had first arrived. One of them was a man with dark unruly raven black hair and the other was a woman with short brown hair and glasses.
She could recognize them anywhere. "Mom. Dad." She gasped.
Chapter 9: Recovery and Surprise
The first time Cevena awoke, she felt like she was in hell.
She had fallen into some kind of furnace. Her skin was cracking from the heat. Her eyeballs were shrivelling up and falling out of her face.
She opened her mouth to scream but her tongue had turned into a huge slug. Her throat was the most painful part though. Molten magma burned a bloody path straight into her stomach. She choked and gagged.
A cool hand smoothed her forehead like a cool rain touching burning earth. She swore she could see steam rising from her face to curl before her eyes. The gentle hand propped her head up and forced a bowl to her lips.
The taste was horrible; some kind of herbal concoction, but Cevena was too weak to move. All she managed as the revolting drink was poured down her throat was a strangled mewling. But all at once, the fires seemed to recede. She felt calm and relaxed and she was floating away, retreating back into a crest of comforting darkness.
Cevena woke a second time. Her eyes slowly focused on a light green tiled ceiling. Her hearing came back like a slowly advancing ocean tide.
The sounds were quiet. Clicking shoes here and there. Rustling paper, ruffling sheets. Quiet voices murmuring. She found as she turned her head, with no surprise, that she was as weak as a newborn kitten. Moving her head had taken considerable effort. A dark shape of a man was outlined next to her bed.
"Dad?" She croaked hopefully. The man stirred and spoke. "Cevena. Thank the Goddess, you're finally awake. How are you feeling?"
Cevena blinked at the almost unfamiliar deep flowing voice. Her head still felt a bit fuzzy, but then it all came back to her in a flash.
"Uncle Folken!" She gasped. "Yes, Cevena. You are still here in Gaiea-" Cevena cut him off. "What happened? Where am I?" Her head spun.
Folken touched her on the forehead gently. "Please try to relax. The mission was a success despite the malfunctioning stealth cloak and unfortunate skirmish with the Asturian mercenaries. I have my best technicians investigating the stealth function right now to try and find the cause of its failure. Right now, you are in the Vione infirmary where you've been asleep for two days since the Slayers carried you in here burning with fever. From what the Dragon Slayers have told me." He trailed off, a frown creasing his forehead. "During a short but brutal battle with the hired Asturian mercenaries, the commander fell overboard and you leapt overboard also and saved his life. Catching a high fever in the process. Is that accurate?"
Cevena could feel herself start to blush. "It was all the dragon slayers! We went out in a lifeboat. All I had to do was get a hold on the commander. They pulled us out."
Folken stared down at her. Cevena was suddenly painfully aware of the similar eye colour that her solemn uncle and Dilandau had.
"Cevena Jade Fanel, what in Gaiea POSSESSED you to do something so dangerous and foolhardy?" Even though his voice was quiet as usual, it felt like he was screaming at her.
Cevena could no longer meet his eyes, she just mumbled quietly, "None of them could swim, and I couldn't just let him drown." Then she drew her self together and looked up at Folken. "I'm sorry." She stated softly. She meant it too; she wished with all her heart that she hadn't saved that stupid jerk.
Folken sighed exasperatedly, then unexpectedly hugged her. "Your father would kill me if anything happened to you. But he wouldn't have to because I'd be one step ahead of him. I'd already have killed myself! Never do anything so rash and brave again. Promise me!"
Those stupid embarrassing tears threatened to spill over. "I promise!" It was a heartfelt response. She never wanted to go through anything like that ever again.
The Strategos released her. "I must attend to some urgent matters now, go back to sleep and rest, Cevena."
Cevena needed no encouraging, her eyelids were already heavy.
She awoke for the third time, feeling much more like herself and refreshed. She politely asked a nurse what the time was. "Late afternoon, milady." The white clad lady murmured softly and then, "Would you like me to get you anything?"
Cevena was a bit taken back by the "milady", but she snapped back to herself. "Umm. Yes, could I get out of this silly gown?"
The nurse smiled as if at a young child and after a brief "of course", stepped back out of the room, and reappeared a few moments later carrying a plain sleeveless white dress. She looked a Cevena apologetically. "This is the best that we have, milady."
Cevena carefully stopped the grimace that usually took over her face when facing the need to wear dresses. They really weren't her thing. Nonetheless, this poor nurse had done her best and she would have to make do. Anything was better than the infirmary gown anyways.
She got dressed quickly as soon as the nurse shut the door behind her, noting that the pink pendant still hung around her neck. She didn't bother to ask for shoes, and was out of the light green infirmary in no time.
But swiftly, after running down the first grey and black hallway and making a right turn, and then another hallway and another few turns, she found herself hopelessly lost. Refusing to just stand around until a Brown girl came by and picked her up, she kept walking aimlessly down the dark halls.
The crystalline sound of metal on metal chimed, cutting through the almost suffocating silence. Cevena gave a mental gasp of relief at the thought of meeting up with Chesta and the others. But just as sudden as the relief had come, Cevena was struck with the too fresh memory of a certain red-eyed captain that she never wanted to meet again.
She looked down and saw her knees shaking. Immediately, anger coursed into her at her own patheticness. She'd dealt with countless idiot boys in her high school. Sure they didn't hate her parents with an insane passion and they couldn't cleave her in two with a steel sword, but still, they're all the same aren't they? Cevena would not be beaten down by a stupid jackass, captain or not.
And with those heroic thoughts in her brain, she burst right in the door with a jolly "Hey guys!"
Seven sets of eyes swivelled and locked onto her, but she could only feel the burning heat of one particular ruby pair.
She swallowed and mentally bashed herself in the head. She was not ready for this at all. The dragon slayers were in two straight lines, facing each other. All sweating and holding onto swords. The steel blades were now hanging loose and forgotten at their sides. They all wore the same black sweat pants and dark blue tank tops. They had been in mock combat when her sudden appearance had put a halt to everything.
And there was Dilandau Albatou, standing at the front of the two lines, his face quite unreadable. Somehow, that was just as terrifying as his death glare. Wearing a light purple tank top instead of blue, he was the only one with some variation to his clothing unmistakably identifying him as the leader.
Cevena's heart seemed to have stopped along with the practice and of course, her mouth was frozen too, all thoughts of dealing with boys had fled. Her mistake was obviously that Dilandau was definitely not the average high school boy.
All eight people seemed to stand frozen in time for hours, but it was finally gentle Chesta who rescued Cevena. "Cevena! Thank goodness you're all right. When we, carried you in, you were burning up, we didn't know if you would make it!"
The poor boy was blushing, but his effort was not in vain. Cevena relaxed a bit, and inwardly leapt for joy at being called "Cevena", and not "Ms. Fanel" or "Milady".
She cleared her throat, but before she could even open her mouth a huge slap echoed throughout the chamber. Chesta was reeling back, holding his cheek. His cornflower blue eyes were wide and surprised.
Dilandau's cold voice cut the air like ice. "I did not give permission to speak, Chesta." He said simply. He turned like a cat to face the rest of the five slayers. All five visibly flinched. "And for the rest of you, have you all forgotten that you're in a battle? On the real battlefield, just because some silly wench runs in, your opponent isn't going to stop the fight to gape and have small talk with her." He paused. Cevena's cheeks were on fire.
"In a REAL battle," his emphasis made all seven flinch again. "You would all be dead."
Silence settled on again, and this time, none of the slayers even looked at Cevena. They quickly picked up their sparring again.
He walked slowly towards her, like the grim reaper himself. His black boots clicked all the way across the floor. His cruel eyes bored into Cevena.
She desperately straightened up, determined not to be intimidated. Then slowly she found that she wasn't scared, but rather angry. She had saved his life, she deserved some respect and gratitude. She opened her mouth and spoke. "Ok, wait. Before you tell me off or whatever you plan to do to me, I'd like to remind you that I saved your ass, Mr. Albatou and you owe me a big, BIG favour."
He simply narrowed his eyes. Cevena wasn't finished yet though. "And you could start by not acting like a complete dipshit towards me! I know my parents pissed you off pretty bad, but I think it's time you moved on."
She was half expecting a slap and braced herself but nothing came. She looked up and into his eyes.
They were on fire; she could practically see the flames dancing around in those ruby depths. He looked formidably angry. "Good going Cevena, " she thought to herself. "Piss off the already badly pissed psychopath."
He practically spat at her. "The only reason you're not being burned and tortured inch by inch personally, by me, is because the Mr. F*ckin high and mighty Strategoes is putting you under his protection. And don't think I owe you shit because you "saved my ass." I despise heroics."
Cevena stared at him. "So, you'd rather have drowned??" He ignored her. "Sooner or later, girl, I WILL kill you. Folken can't protect you for the rest of your life." He smiled a cold smile as Cevena quailed.
What was she supposed to say to that? This guy was totally bent on revenge, and nothing she could say or do was going to get him to stop his intense hatred of her and her parents. But she could still try.
"Look, what happened, happened a long time ago. Can't you just forgive and forget?? You even have all of your dragon slayers back!" Before she could take another breath, or even blink. Dilandau had grabbed her by the throat and was leaning in towards her face.
Near her ear, he whispered. "Don't EVER say that those- those androids are my dragon slayers. Those are nothing but machines. No matter how much they look or act like the dragon slayers, they can never be the real thing. Now get the f*ck out of here." He released her roughly and half pushed her away.
Cevena turned and stumbled out. Gasping and near tears, she realized she didn't want to cry because she had just been scared shitless.
She wanted to cry because when he had been whispering in her ear, she could hear the pain and grief buried in his voice. So much pain. Of course he wouldn't be fooled in the least by the artificial replacements.
Her father had truly done a terrible thing and she really couldn't really blame him for wanting to kill her any more. She would want to kill herself too if she were in his shoes. Her heart was so full of pity for the commander she could barely breathe.
"Miss Fanel, are you alright?" The soft monotone voice came from a slight girl, robed in brown.
Cevena forced the tears back down and faced the Brown girl. "Yes, I'm fine."
The Brown girl bowed, "The Strategoes requests your presence, if you would please follow me?"
Cevena nodded numbly, her head was hurting slightly again. She followed the Brown girl docilely through all the twists and turns. She jerked with surprised when she found herself in front of the huge dark wooden door. The carvings that she hadn't noticed before seemed to jump out at her. They were angels, flying around a huge golden sun on the left door and a huge fantastic palace on the right door.
Remembering her mistake of pushing too hard last time, she opened them gently and stepped into the room.
The fireplace was burning warmly, and she could see her uncle, dark and serene as ever sitting on the large red leather chair. But then she noticed that there were two strangers sitting with their backs to her on the couch that she had sat on when she had first arrived. One of them was a man with dark unruly raven black hair and the other was a woman with short brown hair and glasses.
She could recognize them anywhere. "Mom. Dad." She gasped.
