Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne.

Pallium Fatum

By Ryoko Porter

Chapter Two Una Unus

'What love does is to arm. It arms the worth of life in spite of life…'

Ibid

Varie was gone; her disappearance was sudden, but not unexpected. In only just over a year the queen had lost both her husband and eldest son, and obviously it had been too much for her heart to take. But in leaving she'd abandoned her country and more importantly, the new future king.

Being only a small boy, no one expected the young prince to be ready for kingship. Besides Van had been left behind by all of his family, making him certainly due a long mourning period. A time that would be spent with his ever loving companion Merle.

For a year Van was in official mourning, doing little of anything but spend long quiet days with his kitten friend. With his family gone, Merle was the closest thing he had to having a family anymore. Not that he was bitter at having her, quite the opposite in fact. Emotionally if not physically, he'd become clutching and possessive of her. She was all that he had, and he would never let her go. And she in turn returned his fervent obsession.

Generally because of protection that the adults bestowed on their "last hope" they became isolated to others, keeping the two dependent on the one another. They became each other's entire world, their reason for living. And when it was finally time for Van to start his learning, Merle would be there too.

♦♦♦♦♦

It was a cold and rainy day, one that kept most of the citizens of Fanalia inside. But from within the castle walls, there were sounds of a busy pair or warriors. Swords clanged together, the sound of a practiced routine to train strength. Despite Van's lack of size compared to his warrior teacher, he did appear to be keeping his own. Fighting the weight of his mentor with all of his twelve-year-old strength.

Balgus watched his charge's moves with his trained eye, keeping in mind the kitten that lingered not far away. He didn't normally allow Merle to be so near when they trained, but with the rain, he was lenient. In her ten-year-old arms were two towels for them to dry themselves with, to keep away the sickness. The poor beast-girl looked so worried. She knew that he would not hurt her princely charge, but she still worried over his safety with the blades that they practiced with.

Over the years, Balgus recognized that Lord Van had mostly abandoned his childhood in favor of being what others needed him to be. Yet his playmate had kept her childish nature, if only to remind Van that he was still indeed a child himself. It was admirable, what they both did. Their behavior showed that both were strong, though in completely different ways. Both committing their lives to others, just as a good royal family would. The old warrior had to admit that part of him wanted to see them grew-up to be with one another. They were so perfect for each other and the country. Van would make a fine king. And Merle would be a strong and supportive queen.

The two children did have their faults though, as anyone was liable to have. While Van had lost most of his possessive nature over Merle that he'd had when his mother had first left four years before, he was still violently protective of her. Balgus had even witnessed the young prince threaten a visiting knight with his own sword, after the man had called the little girl "garbage". But in return, the small girl had adopted a possessive nature over him, which only seemed to get worse as potential female suitors were starting to be brought for Van to consider. But Balgus wisely understood that it stemmed from both her instincts, and their consequently close relationship.

Being so lost in his thoughts of the two children he'd helped to rear, Balgus was caught unaware by his pupil. At some point in the course of training, the boy had cornered him, and had a sword pointed at his throat. A bit perturbed by his own mistake, Balgus couldn't help but admit his pride for his student. The boy had done what he'd taught him to do, and well. Van had taken advantage of his rival's weakness.

'Well done Van!' Balgus praised as the prince lowered his weapon. From under the palace awning, the two warriors could hear Merle cheer for Van's achievement. She looked anxious to run out to them, but was holding herself back for respectful reasons, not to mention the rain. Van also seemed to be restless to go over to Merle, though he hid it much better than she. It was only when Balgus consented, that he began to understand why the boy was reacting so.

Balgus watched as the almost teen abandoned his sword into the mud and ran over so that he could embrace the girl. He'd expected that it would be Merle to initiate the hold, but this time it had been Van. The man watched as the young warrior spun the girl around in his arms, an act so purely passionate that Balgus could see that his prince was feeling the affects of battle. So Van was coming into his own strengths, was he? Would he be starting his change into a man so soon? Just watching him holding the girl now, Balgus could easily imagine that more than likely, some part of Van wanted to would claim Merle for his own at this highly emotional moment. But the both were still young, so none of that would be happening while the old warrior had any say, or at least while he was present.

'So are you going to actually give me that towel you've been holding for an hour now, or not?' Balgus intruded harshly to draw their attention away from each other for the moment.

'Um…' Merle hesitated, looking down from Van's arms at the towels she'd dropped on the wet ground in the thrilling hug.

'Go and get some clean ones!' Balgus barked demandingly. He didn't actually have much need for a towel, but it was a good ploy to force them apart so that Van could calm down.

'Yes sir!' the poor little kitten hastily muttered as she pulled herself out of Van's embrace. Then taking the two soiled towels, she scurried inside to get fresh ones.

Balgus nearly laughed when he observed Van's displeasure at the girl's disappearance. There was a low kind of growl sound emanating from his throat, as his piercing eyes glared at the man, who'd chased her away.

'Don't worry Van, you'll get your time with her,' Balgus reminded his passion-hazed mind. 'But you need to cool off before you do. Remember that Merle isn't a doll,' he instructed as Van's high started to wear off. 'You are growing up Van, which means that you're starting to react different to things. It's all right though, perfectly normal for a boy your age. Just remember to take it easy.'

♦♦♦♦♦

'May I introduce Princess Paris, of the Western Kingdom,' a flamboyant man announced. The girl was the fifth to be introduced to Van in the last year, and was from a country that Van had only read about. It was supposed to be a relatively inadequate country, and Van was surprised when her caravan had arrived.

Paris herself was a very pretty girl, and seemed to be of pleasant nature when she curtsied to him in respect. She had her brown locks piled atop her head in a very womanly fashion. And her cloths were quite rich looking, despite rumor that her country was about to go bankrupt due to the poor management by her father.

Van was dressed in his best, a simple show of respect to her position. He wasn't all that interested in the situation, but begrudgingly went along with the act. He was the last of his family; people wanted an heir as soon as possible. And he imagined that with this girl at least, she was meant to save her country from the debt they were in. It was a poor situation for both of them.

But as Van looked at the poor girl, he gratefully remember his dear Merle. She was part of the reason why he was permitted to turn down everyone of these girls. Merle was a comforting last resource. Van had no doubt that the powers that be would force them to marry if there was a sudden need for an heir. But of anyone he could be made to marry in such a way, he was happy that it was Merle. Of course though, people preferred that he would better the country with his marriage. So they tried to set him up with girls that were from counties that made good political matches. And though it would make a strong show of power for them to show that they had an "alternative", Merle's age made it a bit laughable, so she was only once invited to the meetings. Not to mention the reason of her jealousy over the other girls.

When the formalities were over, the adults sent the two children to get to know one another as they discussed the situation. Van formally offered the girl his arm so that he could lead her to the gardens, which she kindly accepted. However his plan turned out to be a bit of a disaster, when they found that Merle was playing there.

'Lord Van!' Merle called, not yet seeing the other girl. She had probably been stalking a bird, as Van noticed that she was coming from where the cook fed crumbs to them. But he was pleased with her when she showed her respect to the princess, despite her feelings.

'Hello Princess,' Merle greeted as she curtsied.

'Hello my dear,' the thirteen-year-old Paris returned.

'This is my life-long friend Merle,' Van introduced. 'Merle, this is Paris of the Western Lands.'

'So you're a playmate?' Paris observed rudely.

'I am Lord Van's girlfriend!' Merle countered proudly, not paying attention to Van's reaction to the title she'd given herself.

'You mean that you are a girl that is his friend!' Paris corrected. 'Besides I will be the one that he will marry!' she claimed just as proudly as Merle had claimed her own position. Neither girl noticed Van's strategic silence, as he slowly backed away from the coming outburst of emotion.

'Don't make me laugh! I'm not dumb! I know all about how your father blew all of your country's money on a bunch of stupid castles that have halfway fallen down! And how he's trying to sell off his daughter so that he can pay off the crappy construction! Not to mention the forced labor that your peasants have endured to create the monstrosities! But no one will take you, will they? You're not much of incentive for those problems!' Merle cruelly pointed out.

Merle felt good, she was sure that she'd affectively shown her dominant role in Van's life, no matter what was decided. Even in marriage, Merle would make sure that Van would never be anyone's but hers. And as she stood triumphantly before the crying girl, Merle never expected to be physically attacked.

♦♦♦♦♦

After the horrible experience with the surprisingly violent Paris, all potential talks of marriage were halted. The princess's caravan stayed only long enough to buy supplies, and then left the country as quickly as they could.

There were some that were ready to reprimand their prince for his behavior, but they too were afraid of his already riled temper. Van had expected the princess to lash out at Merle, for the words that she'd said, but not by punching her in the nose. Poor Merle had been more shocked than hurt, and didn't think to protect herself from more attacks. Luckily for Merle though, Van's protective instincts kicked in. Putting himself between the two girls, he caught Paris' fist as she haplessly threw it in the general direction of Merle for a second time. He then growled his displeasure at the princess's behavior, holding back from doing anything that could start any real conflict between his country and hers. He then pulled her back to the hall where the adults were still discussing their future, and announced that they would not be getting married.

When Van returned to the garden to find Merle, he found that she was waiting for him while rubbing her sore nose. There wasn't any blood, but a bruise forming on her face. But even as she was nursing his wounds, she looked a bit disappointed at her own behavior.

'I'm sorry Lord Van,' she apologized as he came close.

'It's not your fault Merle; I should've known you were out here,' Van corrected.

'But I know I shouldn't be so mean, but I can't help it. I know that you're going to marry a princess,' she referred to the politics. 'But I don't want to be replaced as "your girl",' Merle cried.

It broke Van's heart to see his friend so broken up over the future, though they'd had this conversation many times before. And every time he'd assured her that she'd never loose her place in his heart, though it never seemed to sink in for her. But he couldn't really blame her; he too worried that she'd be replaced in his heart. He could promise both her and himself that they would always stay the same all that he wanted, but that didn't make it true. He knew that time could change everything; he just prayed that it didn't.

To Be Continued.

Finally continuing this! So what did you think? By the way, the chapter title is "Together Alone".

Ryoko Porter