The Legend of Liocorna

Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne, only this crazy story that popped one day into my head *g*

I'm sorry for not updating so long, but I also had to repost this story because it didn't work completely on ff.net in txt. Format, so I am doing it all in html. Format. And since school has started two weeks ago, I'll only have a chance to update on weekend. I'm going to probably get a laptop at the end of September, so I can finally write at school. Then there should be no problem to post more then one or two chapters at the weekend. Enough of my blabbering. ENJOYYYYYYYY!!!

Chapter 12: Freid

"Hey Captain! We're going to land in Freid in only a few more hours if everything stays as it is right now and I don't mean the weather!"

"Good Gaddess, just keep an extra eye out those windows so we don't get caught in a fight by surprise!"

"Aye Captain!"

Gaddess left once again for the bridge to have a lookout for any dangers. They had been travelling for already over a day and they just hoped to get to Freid in time. What Hitomi had told them all about her Vision two days ago in Asturia wasn't something they would like to see when the time came.

Gaddess wondered what was wrong with the little missy, as he liked to call Hitomi. Upon questioning her where she had been all the time and what had happened and so on and on, she hadn't replied or said that they needn't know, that it was unimportant or to dangerous to tell.

Even when Dryden had shown her the scroll with the picture and the other one with the prophecy on it, her face had showed no real expression, just a strange sort of calmness.

Gaddess was so deep in thought that he almost bumped into a beautiful blonde who had insisted on coming to Freid together with Millerna and Dryden even thought her brother didn't approve of it. Gaddess face flushed as he tried to order his thought to where they belonged.

"I…I'm sorry Lady Celena. I…I…I hadn't thought… that someone was up… already at this time of the early morn'…"

"It's okay Gaddess and how often do I have to tell you to just call me Celena?"

Gaddess finally made it to talk normal again: "You'll probably have to tell it to m at least a docent times more, my Lady, for the Captain will have my head if I don't treat you properly."

"*humph* And YOU know that my brother always overdoes it with such thing every now and then. Really, we have even done some sword-practice together and know each other for already a few years. So if you call me Lady Celena just one more time it's gonna be worse then my brother trying to cut of your head."

"*lol* As you wish, LADY Celena."

"Ohhhhhhhhhh... That does it! Come back her this instant Gaddess and fight like a man! I'm gonna find you one way or the other! Men, really..."

With that `settled´ Celena stormed up to the bridge where she got a curious glance from the others standing there, which didn't include Hitomi but Van, Merle and her brother Allen.

"Is something wrong little sis? Did anything bad happen?"

"No everything is just `fine´. Except for Gaddess who can't get it into his brain to treat me like everyone else does. And I bet it is your doing!"

Allen backed away from his furious sister. Why was she so overreacting because of such a thing? "I didn't do anything this time, really! Doesn't he always behaves a bit strange around you?"

"Yeah, but it getting on my nerves. He's probably only doing this to annoy me. What do you say about this Van, Merle?"

Van: "Well, maybe he doesn't want to annoy you. I think he is just shy around you."

A blush began to creep up on Celena's face, but she fought against it: "HA! Why should he be shy around me, huh? He isn't shy around any other women, so why should be when he is around me?"

"Meow! Maybe because he likes you? I would even come to say that he has fallen for you and that already for a very loooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggg time. Hmm?"

Celena blushed even more and stormed from the bridge again all the way mumbling how no one around was much of help anymore and she always had to figure it out by herself. She left some laughing friends behind, who couldn't believe the scene she had just made and only because of Gaddess.

Merle purred" Well, well, well. There seems to be tons of love in the air around this place with al the couples and such."

"And you have just left your boyfriend in Fanelia. How very sad *lol*:"

"Grrrrrrrrrrr... How often must I tell you that he is NOT my boyfriend Lord Van? I should..."

Van retreated backwards to the door as Merle's fur began to stand on all ends. "Umm... I think I'll better go now Allen. I think I should talk a bit with Hitomi. Bye."

And of he was hoping that Merle wouldn't try to follow and tackle him to the ground. Sheeeeshhh, talk about women being sensitive! Van let out a deep breath and wandered aimlessly around in hope of finding Hitomi. He knew she would probably have left her room already, she never stayed at one place to long in hopes of avoiding everyone else. She didn't want to answer all those question they had about the time she disappeared or if she knew something about the Clan of Liocorna and so on.

He could somehow understand Hitomi, for maybe the past experience hadn't been very pleasant and she didn't want to remember them. But on the other side it was frustrating. He could clearly see the sad and far away look when she stared into space and could feel the pain deep hidden inside of her because she seemed to think she couldn't trust anyone.

Van let out a deep sigh as he got to the hangar.

There he saw her. She was sitting beside Escaflowne, knees drawn against her chest, chin resting on her knees as she stared at the vanishing countryside they were passing by. She looked so vulnerable at that moment that a huge knot formed in his throat.

He swallowed hard as he walked over to his love. He kneeled down behind Hitomi, wrapping his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. He felt her snuggle up against him and tightened his hold around her just a little bit more:

"Everything okay Hitomi? Slept well?"

"Everything fine here. How long until we arrive in Freid?"

"Just a few hours more. Don't worry, we'll make it in time. Everything is going to be alright. Try to relax a bit, okay?"

"*sigh* I'll try, but don't expect to much. Not until everything if finally over and there are no more dangers ahead of us."

"Well, then let's hope that that won't take to long. You probably want to be alone again so I'll take my leave now."

Van was about to get up when he felt Hitomi shift. She turned around wrapping her arms tightly around his waist as she buried her head into the crook of his neck.

"Can't you stay here? I don't want to be alone anymore. I've been alone for so long... so long."

"Shhhhh... Don't worry. I'll stay with you for as long as you like. Didn't I say that I wouldn't leave you again. And I'm going to hold my word, I promise. I love you."

"Thank you. I love you, too."

For the rest of the trip the two lovers just stayed like that in each others arms, feeling content and save of knowing that the other was save.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ A few hours later in the Capital of Freid ~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Welcome to Freid, I hope you all had a save trip. If you would please follow me to the palace where the duke is already waiting for you..."

The servant waiting at the dock bowed once more after his short welcome and led them to the already waiting carriages. The ride to the palace was a silent one. No one spoke, all to caught up in their own thoughts. What would be done after they had informed Chid and he had evacuated the city? Where they going to stay and fight. That would probably be a bad idea, since they didn't have the slightest idea, how much would attack, when they exactly would attack, from where they would come and if their defences were enough. Normally Palas would have already been destroyed, if it hadn't been for that Unicorn. And since no one knew where it was and if it would appear again, the only thing they could do was try their best to stop them reaching their full goal.

When they arrived a short while later at the palace and entered the throne room, they saw the young duke Chid sitting on his throne an listening intently to one of his advisers speaking beside him. He spotted them as he turned around to look at the newcomers and his solemn face broke out into a big smile.

"Aunt Millerna! I never thought to see you here so soon after the attack on Palas! And you have brought Dryden and Allen with his sister with you. And why are Van and Merle here also? And..."

Chid stopped in mid sentence, eyes growing wide. He rubbed his eyes to make sure he was really seeing things right. Of course, his gaze was settled on the last person of the troop who had now stepped forth.

"Hitomi?"

"Hello Chid. It is nice to see you again."

Before anyone knew what happened Chid was up from his throne and nearly had Hitomi tackled to the ground.

"Hitomi. You're really back! I can't believe it! Where were you? What happened? When did you come back? Why..."

Van interrupted the totally excited boy as he himself tried had to contain his laughter as he saw the priceless face of both Hitomi and the adviser from Chid. Hitomi, because she hadn't expected such a surprising warm welcome and the adviser, because he was shocked at the behaviour of his still young ruler.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you, but there are important things we have to disgust with you immediately, for we are certain that the enemy will attack Freid next and that very soon."

"Of course. Please follow me to the conference room where we can talk freely."

~~~~~~~~~~~~ About 40 minutes later... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What you say, my friends, is very astonishing. Was it really a Unicorn that saved Palas from it's doom, aunt Millerna?"

"Yes, I couldn't believe it myself at the beginning, but since all the soldiers who have come back from the battlefield can tell you it really happened."

Chid looked very astonished. Talk about winning a battle, but winning it because of a Unicorn appearing out of nowhere was something you didn't hear every day. He looked thoughtful at each of his friends sitting at the table. His eyes came to a stop at Hitomi.

"And you had another vision Hitomi?"

"Yes. I saw how Freid was being attacked and the Fortuna temple totally destroyed."

"Well then, it will probably be best if I firstly order the evacuation of the city and then..."

Dryden interrupted: "What then? We don't know if we have a chance against them. Fighting them won't show what will come of it."

Allen: "But we'll have to fight eventually. Maybe if we tried a new tactic...?"

Van: "I don't think that that would help very much against these foes. There is gotta be some way to stop them. I f we only knew exactly what they want..."

"Well, there is maybe one way to find it out." All heads turned to Hitomi, who had been rather quiet through the whole conversation, except for one or two sentences. Her eyes sparkled in the light coming from the candles which stood on the table. "Maybe, we can find an answer at or even in the Fortuna Temple, before they attack. Besides I don't think that they'll attack the capital first and head the to the temple. They will probably attack both destinations at the same time."

Chid thought for a while: "I think you are quite right. It would make not much sense for them since they seem to be after the last power the temple hold of the Draconian race. I will give the order to evacuate the city right now and when that is under control, we will head to the temple."

Chapter end.

Sorry, to end this so abruptly, but I didn't quite know, how to finish this chapter. And again, I am sorry, that you had to so long for an update. Forgive me ! *begs on knees* PLEASE REVIEW!!!