Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne, nothing more to say.
Forgotten by Destiny
By Ryoko Porter
Part Three
The first night Van and Merle spent together, everything was as it would be for the years to come. Nothing would change through out their later nights with each other. Merle was only fourteen, and Van sixteen. It was fast, hard, and passionate. Van never stopped to admire her beauty; Merle wasn't even sure that it was her that he saw. When he came upon her, he was unmerciful to her pains, holding her hands so she could not scratch him. And at climax his beautiful white wings released delicate feathers all about her room.
Every other night it was the same. Van would show up at her room, always around midnight, and she would welcome him. They would tumble into bed without a word, and begin their almost violent affair. When it ended, Van would either leave or stay, only to leave in the early morning. He would rise secretly out of bed and from her room, not willing to face her so early.
The nights that he did not stay or come at all, Merle would make her way to the place where the Escaflowne slept. There she would curl into a ball upon its shoulder, and sleep away her loneliness. The scent of Van still was strong enough for her to be comforted, and the sleeping warrior never turned her away. On those nights she would dream of the slow and loving lovemaking that she craved from her prince. Soft touches, gentle glances, and sweet words filled her mind.
It was the day after one of these lonely nights that everything changed. The early morning birds awoke Merle from her slumber upon the left shoulder. Gracefully she made her way down the armor's body, after stretching only slightly. She was older, wiser, and more elegant. She was a pretty eighteen, but had not the beauty that Eriya and Naria had. Her hair was long, reaching past her shoulders. She was taller and had a surprisingly curvy frame. But she still did not have the affection of the man she loved.
Secretly she went through the window of her room, careful to let no one know that she'd been gone. It was only six in the morning, and it would be another hour until her maid came to help her dress.
Merle was surprised though, by the sudden opening of her door. There stood Van at the threshold of her door, waiting – which he never did – to be invited in. Surprised by his behavior, she quickly ushered him in. As he stepped inside, he locked the door behind him. It occurred to her that they would be discovered if he stayed long enough, and wondered if he realized it also.
'Let them find out,' Van said quietly, bringing her out of her deliberation. Walking up to her so that they were very close, he looked at her in the way she'd always dreamed he would. There was consideration, acceptance, and a quiet love deep in his eyes.
Then with no more words said except the periodical whisper of each other's names, they made slow and gentle love. He looked at her with appreciation, and caressed her heart as well as her body. The only thing that didn't change was the explosion of feathers from his wings, but now it was romantic. And as they climaxed, he bit down upon the juncture between her neck and shoulder, marking her as forever his.
End Part 3.