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

Forgotten by Destiny

By Ryoko Porter

Part Thirteen

It was another week before Van had the chance to visit his 'other family' since Merle had helped Loretta. Though an obscure part of him wondered if Merle really was his 'other family', considering that she did come first. But another part of him reasoned that he was simply trying to justify his visits morally. Polygamy wasn't practiced in his country, though it wasn't completely outlawed. But he wasn't married to Merle, so was he committing polygamy?

He hoped that he wasn't having an affair; he didn't think that he was. Van hadn't slept with Merle since her appearance, nor told her of any of his affections to her. He'd only kept her close, along with his child. Was that wrong?

Arriving at the little two room shed, he saw that they were making a good home. Sheets were blowing in the wind in front of the 'house', a tub still full of bubbles at the base of the large tree the line was tied to. Van chuckled as he noticed the small barely lit campfire, with one of the garden pond fish roasting over it. Namir suddenly burst out from the home, smiling as she went to check the fire. Van walked up to her, crouching to her level before making her aware of his presence.

'That looks good, did you catch it?' he asked. Namir didn't seem surprised at all by his sudden appearance. Nor did she seem worried that she'd killed such a rare fish, not that Van really cared.

'Yep, mommy showed me how to fish along time ago.' The father and daughter chatted together for a few minutes, as the girl poked at the fish. For being so young, the girl was extremely bright. And Van wondered if it meant that she'd mostly taken care of herself. How much was Merle able to do?

'Where is your mother?' Van asked finally. Namir pointed at the home, though she kept watching her mostly raw fish. Van patted the girl on the head – his regular show of affection to her – and stood to go inside.

The front door was open, letting the cooling breeze inside. Van entered with little thought, assuming that Merle would be sitting in her rocking chair. The view he got though was nothing he was prepared for. Merle stood completely naked with her back to him. She was standing in a big wooden tub full of water, which she apparently was stepping out of. The water clumping her fur slightly and highlighting her curves would have been very erotic to Van, had she not had the scars. Up and down her back was the evidence of brutal whippings, the scars too big and deep for fur to cover. And there where her tail had been, was a bit of a stump. With the dresses she wore, Van hadn't realized it was missing until now.

'Who would've been heartless enough to do this to her? Why couldn't he have been there to stop it? Was his happiness worth this sacrifice?' His mind reeled. He forgot that he was staring until the robe she put over herself obstructed his view.

Van finally found a bit of his voice and asked the first question that had come to mind, 'who?'

'It doesn't matter, he is already dead,' Merle answered matter-of-factly. She turned to him, her face blank of any emotion. 'You've come to ask about our daughter.' She stated observantly.

'Yes,' Van answered. The two went to sit at the table that was covered with flowers and herbs ready to be dried. 'How did you know what to do when she went through what Loretta did?'

'Your mother came to me in a dream the night before, and told me what to do.' This of course stunned Van, but he continued his questions.

'Can Namir fly?'

'That isn't her name,' Merle corrected, again showing a bit of her bitterness. 'You haven't given her one.'

Van didn't know how to respond, so he continued as if it hadn't been brought up. 'Can she fly?'

'Yes.'

End Part 13.