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

Forgotten by Destiny

By Ryoko Porter

Part Twelve

When Van first saw Merle with his daughter Loretta in her arms, he felt an overwhelming fear. She could so easily take revenge for herself and her own daughter. But in his second look, he realized how gentle she was being. Merle would not hurt his Loretta; she wouldn't do anything that would hurt him. If he wasn't so worried about his baby's health, his heart might've broken at the devotion.

The nursemaid brought a bowl of nearly hot water, with a cloth soaking in it. Merle slowly took off the little shirt Loretta wore, careful of not causing her more pain. Then turning the baby so she lay on her stomach in her lap, Merle started to wipe the warm water onto her back. For long, agonizing minutes she continued, alternating between the cloth and her hand. Finally the young princess stopped her wailing and seemed to relax, relieving everyone in the room. Hitomi moved forward to take her child, but was stopped by a hand that Merle put up to signal her.

'It is not done yet,' Merle said with strong resolution.

'But she's stopped crying,' Hitomi protested.

'I have only calmed her, now I must solve the problem. Or do you want Van's baby to suffer?' Merle asked scathingly, showing a bit of her anger. Hitomi immediately moved back behind Van, not wanting to anger the woman holding her child any further.

'Please mommy, help sister?' Namir softly chirped, hiding behind one of the helpers. Van could see the change in Merle's eyes then, the gloom darkening even further. But outwardly, Merle smiled at her daughter.

Turning her attention to the child in her lap, Merle continued to rub the small back. She discarded the cloth, using her hand solely now. She passed her palm and fingers up and down repeatedly, letting the tips of her pointer and middle claws ever so slightly touch.

'I am sorry little one,' Merle whispered to the babe. Then before anyone could ask what she meant, the two claws were pushed deeply into the child's back near to her shoulders. Loretta screamed out as the piercing claws were dragged down her back, creating deep gashes.

Van regretted trusting Merle for the slightest of moments, seeing the pain she'd caused Loretta. But as soon as Merle pulled out her claws, a pair of small, down covered wings burst from the gashes. The little blood soaked wings twitched in their newness, Loretta still crying, but not as bad as she'd been before.

Van watched as Merle took the cloth again and started to clean off her back. The entire room was amazed by the ordeal. Hitomi again pushed forward, but this time was not stopped. The queen was in tears, and flushed with her frustration. Coming close to the other woman, Hitomi growled. Then suddenly, she pulled back her hand and slapped Merle across the cheek. She collapsed after that, falling to the floor in a faint.

Merle simply stood, and gave the calm baby to her father, not at all looking at him. She again apologized to the princess, then called her own to her side. The two cats left the room, side by side. Namir bounding happily, thanking her mother for helping her 'sister'. And Merle striding along, blood still was staining her claws.

Van was suddenly struck with the memory that Merle had said that she'd done the same for her own daughter. So Namir had enough Draconian blood also? That might complicate things.

End Part 12.