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

Forgotten by Destiny

By Ryoko Porter

Part Six

The morning was early, and Van could hear the birds in the garden begin their day. The sun peeked brightly into their window, missing his eyes by only inches. And the soft breathing of his sleeping wife soothed his soul.

Looking over to where she lay beside him, stretched out and peaceful in her rest. Her beauty seemed more than it had been the day before. Her soft hair spilled over the pillow, and the subtle smile upon her rose lips. She made him happy beyond his dreams, sharing with him everything that she was. He lavished her with gifts of all sorts, and an unending love. And she gave him love, support, and the thing he treasured most.

Looking past his wife, he looked at the small crib that stood beside their bed. There lay his precious baby girl, of only a year old. She was his inspiration, and he loved her with everything he had. She was small and beautiful, though she hadn't enough of his Draconian blood to have wings. Her soft skin was tan and short hair strawberry blonde, a constant reminder of a lost friend.

Van couldn't help but remember that day six years ago, when his life had taken a full three-sixty. In the start of the day he had been devoted to the memory of Hitomi, then he had accepted and loved Merle, only to return to Hitomi when he'd found her in Merle's bed. Merle had startled him when his horse had stopped, suddenly appearing from within the trees. She had been obviously sliding down the steep hill, causing a small avalanche of dirt and rock. The dust had barely cleared when Van saw the figure that had landed in a crouch. She slowly stood upright, looking right at him. It took him a moment to recognize her, the clothes and short hair throwing him off.

There, not twenty feet away stood the woman he loved. She was completely changed from the few hours before when he'd saw her last. Then she'd been happy and soft, but now she seemed broken and harsh. And as they watched each other, the wind caressed the two lovers with pity. Blowing the rest of the dust away, and filling the silence with the rustle of leaves. Able to see her with more clarity he saw that she was crying, and he almost silently called out to her.

She shifted her weight in apprehension then, it was then that he noticed a glint of something around her neck. The wind again brushed past her, making the necklace dance on her chest. It was Hitomi's magical little rose jewel. He stared at it in amazement, shocked over the implications of Merle having it.

'Goodbye Van-sama,' Merle's soft voice broke him from his revelry. It had been barely a whisper, so filled with regret. Those were the last words she'd ever said to him. After that, she disappeared as sudden as she had appeared, running off into the forest on the other side of the road.

Van had immediately gone back to the palace, to find out whatever there was to know. Storming into Merle's room, he found Hitomi still unconscious in bed. Stumbling in shock over to her, he fell to his knees beside the bed and stared. The silence was deafening, and his world focused on the girl in the bed.

'My lord,' a quiet voice interrupted him. Turning he saw Merle's maid, she had come close with something in her hand. 'My lady Merle asked me to give this to you,' she handed him some tied strands of strawberry blonde hair. 'It was all she had to give so that you wouldn't forget her.'

Part of Van had died that day.

End Part 6.