Hikaru

Chapter Ten: Reunited At Last

"Van-sama!" Merle called earnestly, "Van-sama!"

"It's useless, Merle," Milerna sighed, "Van is not at the palace."

"Van-sama! I need to look for him! If Van isn't here, he must be sad or some…"

"Merle," imposed a deeper voice. The two girls, the princess and the feline, turned to look at who interrupted them. Allen Schenzar.

"Allen…" Milerna began. She was quite annoyed with him considering how he rarely contacted her these past few years. Although, she was glad of this as Milerna was still in bewilderment concerning her emotions, and even though she felt a profound emotional as well as physical love for Allen, Dryden had become a more regular part of her life than Allen had ever been. Allen was of course, a fine man, but he had broken many promises to her… his infidelity had become corrected, but she could never be sure if he could match her suit. But could she be this unfair? He did after all, had just found his sister. Merle gave Allen a suspicious glance, as she never did take too much of a liking of his authoritative attitude. She was convinced that Lord Van was a far better leader than Allen would ever be!

"Van should be left to his own devices. I persuaded him to come tonight, that is true, but a heart so inclined as his, I know he did not feel as if he could have stayed any longer. Give a good word for him, but also give him time to adjust to his life having to go through such royal niceties."

Milerna nodded in agreement, but one could tell from her expression she was displeased by Allen's failure to talk to her directly and ask how she was. She was after a princess! Where had his chivalric behaviour he would always go on about gone? Merle gave a sigh, and went to look for Van in the Fanelian royal gardens. Milerna and Allen were left standing there. There was a strained silence between the two and Milerna desperately wanted to admonish Allen for his inability to keep in touch with her. She was grateful when the Earl of Kamanyak's daughters approached her, possibly to make conversation and addressed them immediately. "Greetings, my dear, is there anything I can do to help you?"

"Where ever could our Grace be?" asked Alya inquisitively, she seemed a bit distraught. The seven daughters of Kamanyak as well as some other ladies in waiting, all crowded round Milerna as she tried to think of a reason. Allen smirked as he watched her with much amusement as she fabricated her excuse. "Lord Van… he has… gone to prepare gifts… for such beautiful ladies… a surprise that shall await you all during the morning!"

The girls squealed excitedly, even some of the daughters of the prestigious Kamanyak.

The ball continued, but the King never showed up during the festivities. Allen was very pleased to see the Duke of Fried and his young illegitimate son, Chid and entertained him with stories of his travels since their last sparring. Dryden did not turn up as planned, and though Milerna was slightly disappointed, she was still whisked away by the pleasures of socialising with the royals, but made sure to keep as far away as distance possible from the charming as always, Allen, who seemed to be even more appealing to ladies-in-waiting than Lord Van himself.

Fanelian Woods

Van hurried through the foliage, though at times he made sure to slow down in his pace to allow the little man time to catch up. His emotions were strangely confused, he was scared but at the same time hopeful… he ran, and whilst hitting the large branches away from his body with his hand, he wondered if the girl this character spoke of was Hitomi. He guiltily wanted it to be, however, he felt grievance at the idea that if it was, she was in some form of pain.

Finally, they neared a small building… if one could truly call such a thing one, and it was made out of wood. It was weak and it was a miracle that the construction actually stood up. The tiny man pulled open the door which creaked at the hinges… and there lay a figure pathetically trying to keep warm in the cool of the night whilst covered in flimsy rags.

"M'lady…" the man said gently.

Van could hear a whimper from under the materials that lay over the thin girl. Bending down in order to go through the door, his eyes could make out wavy, mid-length brownish blonde hair and quite long legs.

Suddenly it hit him… was it truly her?

"Hitomi?"

No answer.

"M'lady might not be hearing you… she seems to have fainted and bruised herself quite badly."

"How did she hurt herself?"

"Fell from the sky… a flash of light explod'd on the plains and there she was, M'lord… lying on the ground."

"Hitomi?" Van tried again, this time with more desperation.

A frail reply came from the girl… "Who…?"

No, it was not her. Van wanted to scream. Who was this girl? Had she also come from the Mystic Moon? This transportation that this man talked of, was exacting to how Hitomi first appeared on Gaea.

"Are you lying?" Van demanded, rather quietly but persistently.

"I saw it, M'lord, I swear on Damned Atlantis itself. M'lady dropped from the sky." Van breathed out calmly, getting ready to pick her up. Lifting her off the ground, her face was turned to the side so he could not see her properly.

She spoke again, "Who…"

Van froze. The girl's face turned to look at him, though pale, it was mesmerising and pretty. She possessed such glimmering green yet tired pupils, which peered upwards at him from under thick, dark lashes and from her mouth she had soft, slightly parted, well-formed lips. Her gaze was timid and familiarly soothing. Then he realised… it was…

"Hitomi!"

The Royal Palace

Panic erupted in the palace. An arrow had been aimed at the Duke of Fried, but luckily one of his loyal servants had taken the blow and his head had been severed terribly. People swarmed around the door hastily and some left on their carriages straight away. Handing the Duke to another loyal servant and an apprentice Knight, Allen drew his sword with no hesitation, raging with absolute vehemence as he searched for the perpetrator who had threatened the life of his son.

Flames hurled up from West Wing of the palace from the stables, making its way through the velvet carpets to the balconies and sweeping the castle walls. Carriages lay scorching in broken pieces on the ground, whilst families watched in horror as their only means of getting home turned to dust.

Cooks ran from the kitchens begging for mercy for they were not the cause of the terror. Lord Van was nowhere to be seen, and Merle was enveloped in utmost fear. Taken by Milerna, the two as well as some of the royal families exited the areas that were being burnt and waited for some help from the village people who came with massive buckets of water, and strange machines used for hosing down the fire.

Luckily, all was safe, but about a fifth of the vast palace lay in ruinous condition. One life was also lost, and many families were stranded in Fanelia that night. Milerna took responsibility and ordered the Asturian guards to help protect the palace as if it were part of Asturia. She also, on Van's behalf, arranged rooms for all guests. Some had to share, and as the King was not present, he looked especially bad and rumours began to spread, that the reason for this was that the King of Fanelia was cursed by Draconian blood. The Fanelians, did however, act quickly, making sure that guards were set outside every entrance possible and told to watch out for suspicious characters. Allen was completely enraged as he learnt that Chid had to stay the night and having to risk his life for longer. He kept clamouring, "This is ridiculous!" but ensured he stayed, at all times, by Chid's side. Surely, a plot was going on... but where was the King at this crucial time?

Next Chapter:

Chapter Eleven: Bedchamber of a King