Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne, nothing more to say.

Forgotten by Destiny

By Ryoko Porter

Part Five

For the first time in years, Van felt happy with life. A gentle twinkle decorated his eyes, and his lips were pulled up in a small smile. He was tired, having been awake all night. But it was well worth his discomfort, if it meant that he would feel this sort of happiness for the rest of his life.

The night before, Van had felt odd and so did not visit Merle. There was a bug at the back of his mind, and he couldn't decide what it was about. So he spent the night pacing his room, trying desperately to figure out what was bothering him. It was early morning that he realized that it was his shift of affection that was bothering him. He finally had gotten over Hitomi, and Merle seemed to be an acceptable lover. He still loved the memory of Hitomi, but he was finally ready to show real affection to the woman that was with him currently.

He knew that since he hadn't visited Merle over the night, that she would be off away to sleep. So he waited until six to go to her room, where he would wait until she returned. He was surprised to see that she'd already come home, and he treated her with the gentility that he could finally give her. Locking the door behind him, he knew that they wouldn't be bothered from their affair. When he finally took the time to look at her, he was surprised to realize that his vision of her seemed to have changed. Before, he had seen a woman. Now he saw Merle. She was beautiful and delicate, and deserving of a sort of worship.

He made love to her then. Gentle and slow, he took his time to discover what she was. Mapping out what made her herself. He lavished affection upon her, and spoke sweet words to make her happy. His climax was the best he'd ever had, pouring his love into her.

Sadly he couldn't stay, he had work to do. However before he left, he whispered his love into her ear and asked her to be his queen. She of course accepted, wrapping her arms around him in a desperately loving embrace. He kissed her final worries away, and then took his leave.

He went to dress in his royal garments, the clothes fitting him much like the clothes that Allen was still in the habit of wearing, except not as frilly. He then left with a few of his generals, out to inspect the huge new wall being erected. But as he was riding away, his instincts told him to look back. Seeing Merle in her window and waving to him, he couldn't help but smile. Then he was ready to leave.

It was late morning when he was inspecting the west wall that his future changed. He was on horseback still, and riding at the base of the steep hill supporting the wall. There were trees leaning sideways, making it hard for him to see the base of the wall. His horse started to act anxious, stopping to look around him. It was the only warning he got.

End Part 5.