Chapter 5
Title: Promise Me Anyway
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Escaflowne is not my property,
Summary: Future fic, multi-part WIP. Hitomi is a student of international politics, determined to bring peace to Earth too, and already making a difference. Van is king of a happy, prosperous, peaceful rebuilt Gaea. They're still in love and still in touch. So what's the problem?
Dedication: To Sarah, who is at times more into this story than I am. Also and with equal importance, to Kyle, who years ago cried while watching the parts about the tragic Fanel family.
A/N: Finally, an exposition chapter! My beta and I didn't find anything wrong with this, but I want to make sure everything that's happening is clear so far; if you find any errors, please point them out to me. I hope you will enjoy it. Either way, please review J
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Chapter Five
…Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds.
William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616), Sonnet cxvi
Hitomi stood and looked at the two of them, unsure of what to say.
Allen's blue eyes showed surprise when he saw her. "Hitomi…" he murmured.
The young woman faltered at the sound of his familiar voice, and could only stare. The knight crossed the floor quickly and pulled her into him, at once offering Hitomi that same knowledge of safety and trust she'd always felt with Allen. Her eyes brimmed with tears and she buried her face in Allen's shoulder. He held her tighter for just a moment, then released her. Meeting her eyes, he told her without words that he'd missed her- but now was not the time for long reunions.
"We will help Van," he assured her with determination.
"Hitomi," Princess Millerna said, "I thought you might be here." Stepping forward, she placed a sisterly hand on Hitomi's shoulder. "Together, I know we can save him."
Hitomi nodded once, swallowing her tears. She had to be brave, now.
Togen knew enough to remove all unnecessary people from the room. The man that Merle referred to in private as the only one among her friend's advisors who knew how to do his job informed the visitors and staff that these four were all that belonged at Van's side right now. Only Togen and Kayl remained at the door, silently standing guard.
As Millerna looked over Van's body, Hitomi related her vision to them both. Merle sat huddled next to her lifelong friend, listening silently to all that was said.
After a time, the princess had finished her examination. She stood. "There's nothing I can do for him," she said. "No wounds… no fever. Nothing is physically wrong with Van," she sounded bewildered.
"Van-sama…" Merle murmured sadly. The young catgirl's eyes swimming with fatigue, she lowered herself down to place her head on his chest and shook with quiet grief. A heavy silence came over them as they watched the scene unfold. Hitomi knelt and softly touched Merle's shoulder.
"He'll be okay, because he's Van," Hitomi whispered as she had once long ago. "We have to believe that."
Merle raised her head, bleary-eyed, and nodded slowly. "He'll be okay," she repeated with shaky faith, "because he's my Van-sama."
"Hitomi." Allen interrupted after a pause.
She glanced back at him and stood. "Yes?"
"You had a vision about this man in a red cloak hurting Van. We don't know who he is, where he came from. Could you… do a reading?"
A remorseful frown peaked Hitomi's eyebrows. "I don't have my cards anymore," she told them, wishing fervently for the first time in five years that she did.
Allen's eyebrows knit together in a thoughtful gesture. "Do you really need them?" he asked.
Hitomi hesitated, a new possibility having been introduced. She turned and looked at Merle. "Merle… the necklace?"
"He kept it with him, always," Merle intoned, removing it from where she'd unconsciously twisted it around her wrist. "He never took it off." She handed it to Hitomi.
So the necklace had sent Merle to Hitomi, without any need for Draconian blood or the ability to have visions. Hitomi doubted she would ever understand its power; perhaps she had been wishing in her heart to go to Gaea. Either way, Merle's words instilled in her a sense of immense loss as she remembered the events of the previous night. Van had loved her every minute for all of this time. He had never forgotten her once. She'd always known this, but somehow was being reminded of now.
"I'm sorry, Van, I'll give it back… if you still want it," she promised, placing a hand on his forearm. Its weight in her hand felt strange after so long an absence, and for a moment in response to her touch, the pink gem glimmered. She let it fall like a pendulum from her hand, mesmerized by its delicate strength. It was old, and seemed liable to break at any moment, yet it had endured for so long…
Hitomi shook her head. This wasn't the time to think about those things. "I can try…" she began, haltingly, "I can try to find, on the map like before, where the man came from. But I can't be sure it will work."
"Try, Hitomi," Merle urged.
One glance at the still, beautiful form of Van was enough to steel Hitomi's courage. "I will."
…
Barnabus Razel stood at the great window overlooking the valley, hands clasped behind his back. It was not without a sense of some remorse that he had attacked the young king; but justice without regret was inhuman, and he recognized that this was a necessary thing.
The remorse, he supposed, came from the knowledge that Van Fanel had been the driving force behind his former leader's quest. Ironic though it was, the same had also been responsible for his death. Strange to think how similar these two brothers had been, and yet how starkly disparate. He sensed this Van Fanel was primarily good, even capable of being the man his teacher, Folken of the Strategos, had been. He furrowed his brow, stricken with the memory of Folken's tragic end. So much wisdom for one so young… even Barnabus, advanced in years, had learned much from Dornkirk's favored disciple. And Folken had loved his baby brother, who must now die young as well. It was indeed unfortunate, a regrettable mischance that such a fate had come to pass.
But such was the nature of justice; it must be served impartially, and without susceptibility to circumstance. Barnabus was determined to see it through to the end; he didn't have much time left, of that he was certain. He had foreseen his death in a vision clearer and more certain than any he'd ever had. Already he feared losing his psychic control of the Fanelian king, his concentration now taking away so much energy that he knew his life was even further shortened. They must hurry and complete this task, his final tribute to Zaibach. If he were to lose his grip on Van Fanel now, the king would come to Hitomi's rescue. Their plan would fail, and that would be inexcusable.
"Lord Razel," a young man called out from the doorway, bowing low.
"Yes, come in."
The subordinate straightened and walked briskly in. "Reports have come in of the light beam appearing as predicted over Fanelia. The auxiliary awaits your orders."
Barnabus turned and looked out the window for a long moment before responding. "The girl has returned as foreseen by the council. Now the task is to wait for Fanelia to make a move. She will lead them to us, and matters will unfold from there."
"Yes, sir," the informant nodded once. "I will deliver the message."
"Crayton."
"Yes, sir?"
"Do you understand the difference between justice and revenge?"
The young follower's brow furrowed in thought. "Clarity, sir?"
"No," Barnabus shook his head, then sighed wearily. "Clarity may be found in the most ruthless of villains. The difference between justice and revenge, is control."
Crayton swallowed. "I see, sir."
Turning back to his underling, Barnabus examined the young one's countenance briefly. "It is my sincere hope that you do," he said, and waved his hand in dismissal. Crayton bowed once more and made his exit, leaving Lord Razel alone to contemplate his duty. He would not fail; no, he would die an honorable man, with his integrity intact.
"We, the Strategos, once again hold the shuttle that weaves the tapestry of the dragon's fate," he whispered to the empty room. "Lord Folken's sacrifice will not go unfulfilled." Barnabus Razel would not rest until justice had been sated.
…
Three residents of Gaea, Hitomi's friends, huddled around her. She stared across the aged map, filled with déjà vu. "If it doesn't work…" she trailed off, clasping the necklace tightly.
Millerna grabbed her wrist urgently. "It will work," she said determinedly, "I have faith in you, Hitomi."
"We all have faith in you," Allen pledged.
Hitomi nodded once. She closed her eyes and imagined the man in the red cloak. The gem swept back and forth across the map.
Somewhere - and yet nowhere - Van drifted, lost in a gulf of oblivion.