Pillar of Light
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne. :-*( So plz don't sue.. I'm kinda broke at the moment..
A/N: Kinda late.. I know. But it wasn't my fault. Had to do a little background research. A part of the original script, from Episode 24 : Fateful Decision, has been incorporated into this little story. Hehe.
I loved all the reviews! Let's me know I'm doing SOMETHING right.
*Esca chick: Hehe. Shh! Don't give away the ending! *sparkle*
*Dilly-sammas luver : Aww. Just don't become bulimic. (
*Ifk214: Thank you! I'll hold you up on that offer. I probably
should've asked ya for help on this one!
*Ashes: Yup. All with the help of my computer's Spell Checker. Never
leave home w/o it. @_@
*Aradow & RaY AlleN 34: ::curtsy:: Thank you.
And now for the story...
~*~
Merle was perched on the stone railing of the main balcony, calmly grooming herself. (MEOW!) She was waiting anxiously for Lord Van's return. ::I hope he's okay.:: Merle thought worriedly. ::I told him not to go, but did he listen to me? Noooooo.::
Soft footsteps alerted Merle to an approaching figure behind her.
::Trying to sneak up on me, eh?:: Merle thought craftily. ::Well I'll show you!::
Whirling abruptly around, she pounced on the mystery person and knocked him to the ground.
"Gotcha!" Merle cried in triumph, sitting on him.
"Umph! Gerr off me Mirrl" exclaimed a rather squashed voice.
Hm.... that voice sounded familiar. Merle turned the man around and found herself face to face with Gaddy! (A/N: Gaddess will now be referred to Gaddy. ^_~).
::Hm... If Gaddess is here, then that means Lord Van's back too!:: Merle thought happily. But then another thought struck her. ::But if he's back, then why didn't he come see me?::
"Are you alright? I'm sooo sorry." Merle apologized, helping him up. "You shouldn't sneak up on people like that."
"I feel so violated." Gaddy grumbled, rubbing his head ruefully.
"Did I mention I was sorry?" Merle said sheepishly.
"Well since you apologized so nicely, I guess I have to tell you the Big News now." Gaddy teased.
"Big news?" Merle's ears perked up. "Spill it!"
"Hitomi's getting married."
"Hitomi's getting married?!" Merle echoed completely astonished (Mouth hanging open astonished). "To who?"
"Allen."
~*~
"Looorrrddd Vaaaaaan!" Merle called out, running through the castle hallways. She had been searching up and down the castle for Van-sama, but he was no where to be found. Tired from all that running, Merle stopped to catch her breath. ::Where is that bad boy anyway?:: Suddenly, she caught sight of some movement in the courtyard. "Lord Van!"
She rushed over to the courtyard where Van was practicing his swordsmanship.
"There you are Lord Van." Merle said panting slightly. She plopped ungracefully on the grass and watched Van practice. "I've been looking everywhere for you. You didn't tell me you were back. Oh and by the way, did you hear that Hitomi's getting married?"
Van froze in the middle of his drill. Sheathing his sword, Van said in a wooden voice, "Yes. I know." He sat down beside Merle and started brooding.
Merle looked closely at her beloved Lord Van. There was something wrong with him. Something missing. It was as if his spark of life was gone. Snuffed out.
"Lord Van, what's wrong with you? You look depressed." Merle said concerned.
"It's nothing." Van said shortly. Why couldn't Merle just leave him to his misery? He had been fine sinking into a spiraling hole of depression just fine, thank you very much.
"You care about Hitomi, right?"
Van flinched. This was hitting too close to home. "No, I don't." he said in a hollow voice. "Hitomi means nothing to me. Not anymore."
Merle scowled. "You're lying! I've been with you forever. I know you too well. You care for Hitomi. You love her, don't you?"
Van turned away from Merle, opting instead to look at the setting sun.
Merle changed tactics and continued more softly, "Lord Van, you haven't noticed your own feelings. I've known you for a long time. Remember, Hitomi always said... 'People return your feelings' Your feelings will surely reach her... ...reach Hitomi. She'll come to her senses. You watch!"
::Even if I have to hit her over the head and drag her into his bed....::
~*~
"Here's to the Commander!" Gaddy said raising his glass, slopping a bit of wine on the table. "May he find true happiness as a married man!"
Hitomi appeared flushed (or that may have been from all that wine she drank. you know she can't hold her liquor). Allen just grinned and raised his own glass.
Glasses clinked around the dinner table as the guests murmured among themselves. Everyone seemed truly happy for Allen and Hitomi. Everyone that is, except for Van who sat at the end of the table brooding. (As always!)
"I'm so excited for you two." Millerna said bestowing a smile upon Hitomi and Allen, who were sitting right across her. "I'm sure you'll be very happy together."
"When is the wedding?" Dryden asked curious.
"Well. we haven't really talked about the details." Allen said embarrassed.
"Soon. I think." Millerna said knowingly. "We couldn't have you living together unmarried. God pardon sin!" (A/N: Hehe. It's my favorite line from Romeo & Juliet)
"Of course, you're absolutely right Millerna." Allen said calmly. "I think that perhaps."
As the conversation went on, Hitomi noticed Van getting up from his seat and walking out to the balcony. Excusing herself, she followed Van outside. This would be her chance to talk to Van alone. To explain her actions.
"Van?" Hitomi called out, once she reached the balcony. "Van, where are you?"
"He has retired to his room for the night." A voice murmured in the wind.
Hitomi turned around suddenly to find herself face to face with Folken. Van's older brother. "Folken! I didn't see you there."
"I'm sorry if I startled you." Folken said softly, drawing his cloak tighter. He looked as frighten beautiful as ever with his ice blue hair and voluminous cloak.
"No. It's alright." Hitomi said with a touch of exasperation. "I was just surprised that's all. I wanted to talk to Van, but it seems that he's been avoiding me."
"Well it must be a hard time for him." Folken said, looking distantly at the Mystic Moon. "Seeing the woman he loves marry another man."
"Van doesn't love me." Hitomi said bitterly, fighting back tears. "All he cares about is fighting."
"You know not the power you hold over him, Seer." Folken said mournfully. "His sorrow and longing have poisoned him. More than he or anyone else would care to realize." With that cryptic message, Folken walked away, disappearing into the darkness.
Hitomi stood there, staring at where Folken had stood. ::Does Van really love me? Would he stop all this fighting, just for me?::
A pillar of light suddenly appeared in the woods below the castle. As suddenly as it came, it disappeared.
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne. :-*( So plz don't sue.. I'm kinda broke at the moment..
A/N: Kinda late.. I know. But it wasn't my fault. Had to do a little background research. A part of the original script, from Episode 24 : Fateful Decision, has been incorporated into this little story. Hehe.
I loved all the reviews! Let's me know I'm doing SOMETHING right.
*Esca chick: Hehe. Shh! Don't give away the ending! *sparkle*
*Dilly-sammas luver : Aww. Just don't become bulimic. (
*Ifk214: Thank you! I'll hold you up on that offer. I probably
should've asked ya for help on this one!
*Ashes: Yup. All with the help of my computer's Spell Checker. Never
leave home w/o it. @_@
*Aradow & RaY AlleN 34: ::curtsy:: Thank you.
And now for the story...
~*~
Merle was perched on the stone railing of the main balcony, calmly grooming herself. (MEOW!) She was waiting anxiously for Lord Van's return. ::I hope he's okay.:: Merle thought worriedly. ::I told him not to go, but did he listen to me? Noooooo.::
Soft footsteps alerted Merle to an approaching figure behind her.
::Trying to sneak up on me, eh?:: Merle thought craftily. ::Well I'll show you!::
Whirling abruptly around, she pounced on the mystery person and knocked him to the ground.
"Gotcha!" Merle cried in triumph, sitting on him.
"Umph! Gerr off me Mirrl" exclaimed a rather squashed voice.
Hm.... that voice sounded familiar. Merle turned the man around and found herself face to face with Gaddy! (A/N: Gaddess will now be referred to Gaddy. ^_~).
::Hm... If Gaddess is here, then that means Lord Van's back too!:: Merle thought happily. But then another thought struck her. ::But if he's back, then why didn't he come see me?::
"Are you alright? I'm sooo sorry." Merle apologized, helping him up. "You shouldn't sneak up on people like that."
"I feel so violated." Gaddy grumbled, rubbing his head ruefully.
"Did I mention I was sorry?" Merle said sheepishly.
"Well since you apologized so nicely, I guess I have to tell you the Big News now." Gaddy teased.
"Big news?" Merle's ears perked up. "Spill it!"
"Hitomi's getting married."
"Hitomi's getting married?!" Merle echoed completely astonished (Mouth hanging open astonished). "To who?"
"Allen."
~*~
"Looorrrddd Vaaaaaan!" Merle called out, running through the castle hallways. She had been searching up and down the castle for Van-sama, but he was no where to be found. Tired from all that running, Merle stopped to catch her breath. ::Where is that bad boy anyway?:: Suddenly, she caught sight of some movement in the courtyard. "Lord Van!"
She rushed over to the courtyard where Van was practicing his swordsmanship.
"There you are Lord Van." Merle said panting slightly. She plopped ungracefully on the grass and watched Van practice. "I've been looking everywhere for you. You didn't tell me you were back. Oh and by the way, did you hear that Hitomi's getting married?"
Van froze in the middle of his drill. Sheathing his sword, Van said in a wooden voice, "Yes. I know." He sat down beside Merle and started brooding.
Merle looked closely at her beloved Lord Van. There was something wrong with him. Something missing. It was as if his spark of life was gone. Snuffed out.
"Lord Van, what's wrong with you? You look depressed." Merle said concerned.
"It's nothing." Van said shortly. Why couldn't Merle just leave him to his misery? He had been fine sinking into a spiraling hole of depression just fine, thank you very much.
"You care about Hitomi, right?"
Van flinched. This was hitting too close to home. "No, I don't." he said in a hollow voice. "Hitomi means nothing to me. Not anymore."
Merle scowled. "You're lying! I've been with you forever. I know you too well. You care for Hitomi. You love her, don't you?"
Van turned away from Merle, opting instead to look at the setting sun.
Merle changed tactics and continued more softly, "Lord Van, you haven't noticed your own feelings. I've known you for a long time. Remember, Hitomi always said... 'People return your feelings' Your feelings will surely reach her... ...reach Hitomi. She'll come to her senses. You watch!"
::Even if I have to hit her over the head and drag her into his bed....::
~*~
"Here's to the Commander!" Gaddy said raising his glass, slopping a bit of wine on the table. "May he find true happiness as a married man!"
Hitomi appeared flushed (or that may have been from all that wine she drank. you know she can't hold her liquor). Allen just grinned and raised his own glass.
Glasses clinked around the dinner table as the guests murmured among themselves. Everyone seemed truly happy for Allen and Hitomi. Everyone that is, except for Van who sat at the end of the table brooding. (As always!)
"I'm so excited for you two." Millerna said bestowing a smile upon Hitomi and Allen, who were sitting right across her. "I'm sure you'll be very happy together."
"When is the wedding?" Dryden asked curious.
"Well. we haven't really talked about the details." Allen said embarrassed.
"Soon. I think." Millerna said knowingly. "We couldn't have you living together unmarried. God pardon sin!" (A/N: Hehe. It's my favorite line from Romeo & Juliet)
"Of course, you're absolutely right Millerna." Allen said calmly. "I think that perhaps."
As the conversation went on, Hitomi noticed Van getting up from his seat and walking out to the balcony. Excusing herself, she followed Van outside. This would be her chance to talk to Van alone. To explain her actions.
"Van?" Hitomi called out, once she reached the balcony. "Van, where are you?"
"He has retired to his room for the night." A voice murmured in the wind.
Hitomi turned around suddenly to find herself face to face with Folken. Van's older brother. "Folken! I didn't see you there."
"I'm sorry if I startled you." Folken said softly, drawing his cloak tighter. He looked as frighten beautiful as ever with his ice blue hair and voluminous cloak.
"No. It's alright." Hitomi said with a touch of exasperation. "I was just surprised that's all. I wanted to talk to Van, but it seems that he's been avoiding me."
"Well it must be a hard time for him." Folken said, looking distantly at the Mystic Moon. "Seeing the woman he loves marry another man."
"Van doesn't love me." Hitomi said bitterly, fighting back tears. "All he cares about is fighting."
"You know not the power you hold over him, Seer." Folken said mournfully. "His sorrow and longing have poisoned him. More than he or anyone else would care to realize." With that cryptic message, Folken walked away, disappearing into the darkness.
Hitomi stood there, staring at where Folken had stood. ::Does Van really love me? Would he stop all this fighting, just for me?::
A pillar of light suddenly appeared in the woods below the castle. As suddenly as it came, it disappeared.