Hi All,

Sorry for the delayed upload but I had family visiting.

Anyway, here's chapter 11 for you all.

I hope you enjoy and as always, any feedback is appreciated but not expected.

Enjoy x

Chapter 11

Gaea

She was out in the garden looking at the flowers debating if she should return to Asturia. It had been 3 days since the incident in the library. Neither her brother or Van had attempted to resolve their ongoing argument. Merle had been her only company but she had her own things to do so she'd been feeling lonely. Even Dilandau had been elsewhere and she could only assume he was with Hitomi. She missed him slightly, though she was sure she'd regret that when he did come back. Though knowing her luck, he'd probably come back right after her and Van settled things.

She sighed, resolved to go inside and make arrangements to go home when the faint sounds of the people living below the castle reached her ears. Feeling slightly adventurous, she decided to venture out of the castle, sneaking out like Merle had shown her once before. She smiled as she walked among the buildings watching all the people as they went about their daily lives with a smile and treating each other kindly. They shared what they could with each other and talked as if they didn't see each other daily. It was one of the reasons she loved Fanelia. Asturia was full of people who only worried about themselves, the nobles and aristocrats greedy for more than they earned fairly, and as a woman you were judged harshly on your behaviour by other women who were as two-faced as the men. She hated the double standards and backstabbing there, especially as they looked down on her for being an experiment of Zaibach.

She eventually found a fountain and sat down to watch everyone. Though she wasn't alone for long, when a young girl stood in front of her in awe.

"Wow, you're so pretty," she cooed.

"Why thank you," Celena smiled crouching to the girls level, "But I think you're hair is much prettier than mine.

"You think so?" the little auburn haired girl asked cheerfully.

"Definitely. It's so much longer too. Mine's too short to even do it in a braid."

"I've never had a braid before. My mum dies when I was little and my dad can't do them."

"Your dad?"

"He's the merchant over there," the girl pointed out, pointing at the man talking with several customers in the distance, " He works all day long and is always super tired after dinner but he always brushed my hair before bed and reads me a story."

"You must be really proud of him. Do you help him?"

"I try but my hair gets in the way," she sulked.

"Well, how about I put your hair in a braid and then you can help him all afternoon?" Celena suggested.

"Really? You'd do that for me?"

"Of course," she giggled, "I just need you to turn around and tilt your head back okay?"

Whilst she was braiding the young girl's hair, she attracted the attention of other girls with long hair and men & teenagers. The young girl she learned was called Lara, was more than happy to be used as a model to show others how to braid like she did, especially when her own father took a break to learn how to do it. Celena was more than happy to braid some of the younger girls hair, promising to come do it again in a weeks' time but mostly she enjoyed the interaction. She talked to everyone who joined her and got to know all of them, even if it was briefly. She wasn't aware of it but someone had started a collection so people could pay her for braiding their hair or teaching them how to do it. Lara's father being set up so close, allowed the little girl to stay close as well as attract others. Even when the shops & stalls began to close up and the sun began to set, she was still talking to the adults as Lara dozed off in her lap.

"So what will you do with your earnings?" one of the women asked.

"Earnings?" Celena asked confused.

"You didn't know? The folks here set up a collection. It's not fair to do so much without taking something for it," one of the men stated pointing out the abundant collection.

"Oh, that's very kind of them but I was happy to just talk and spend time with you all. But it would be rude of me ignore their generosity," she answered with a smile looking at the collection with a frown, "You must all need to go home. Please, don't let me keep you."

"No need to worry about that. After all, you brought a lot more smiles to this kingdom today."

"Make sure you get home safely Celena."

Soon enough she was left alone with Lara and the collection as her father continued to close-up shop.

"I'm sorry," the man said when he came to collect his daughter, "She's never done this before."

"It's no problem. Though you'll have to forgive me, I still don't know your name."

"Jared, Miss," he answered, carefully lifting his daughter into his arms.

"Please call me Celena."

"I couldn't call a friend of his Majesty by their name Miss."

"Please I insist. I didn't come here today as the King's friend, merely as myself."

"You're too kind, Miss Celena."

"Your daughter kept me company all day so it's nothing in comparison," Celena said with a gentle smile.

"It's not Miss Celena. Lara was very young when her mother died. I've done my best but it's not easy," Jared explained with a smile, "Thank you for today, I haven't seen her smile so much in one day."

"She's a special girl. She'll grow into an exceptional woman one day."

"I certainly hope so," Jared answered, "I should get her home."

"Before you go," Celena offered handing him the bag of money that was collected, "I wouldn't have earned this if it wasn't for Lara. Take it and save it for her or use it when you need it."

"I could…."

"Please. I don't need it and I want it to be useful to someone who will appreciate it," she explained.

"Are you sure?" He asked hesitantly.

"Of course," she answered cheerfully.

"Then I'll take it. Maybe I can buy her a dress with it. You really are too kind Miss Celena. You'd be a perfect queen one day," Jared stated.

"Well I certainly hope that'll be the case."

They both turned to see Van standing a few steps away with a smile. She hadn't even been aware that he was there and suddenly she found herself feeling nervous and apprehensive as he approached to join them.

"Your majesty," Jared greeted flustered as he tried to figure out how to bow whilst holding Lara.

"Don't try to bow. You'll disturb her and she looks like she's sleeping soundly," Van stated softly.

"Ah… Thank you your majesty."

"You should take her offer. I'm sure Celena would only find a way to sneak it back to you," Van joked.

"It's only fair," Celena countered.

"Celena, come play again," Lara murmured in her sleep.

"Take her home. If she wants to see Celena, bring her by the castle. I'll have the guards keep an eye out for you both," Van offered shocking the two.

"Your majesty I cou….."

"You're my guards favourite merchant and the people all know you're the best at getting goods from the other tribes. You also don't take the full cost when you know the buyer doesn't have much," Van explained, "You're welcome at the castle anytime if you don't mind adding deliveries into your job.

"Thank you, your majesty, Miss Celena."

"You're welcome," Van answered.

They watched the man take his daughter home with smiles on their faces before the silence between them became tense. They started walking back to the castle, though it was Celena who couldn't bear the silence any longer after a noisy day.

"How long were you watching? She asked quietly.

"Most of the afternoon. Some of the guards wives came to see them and were talking about what you were doing. A few even had their hair braided by you. I didn't want to interrupt though."

"I didn't know you were checking the guard duties today."

"I wasn't. I was looking for you and overheard them."

"Oh."

"I wanted to apologise for not believing you or making you feel I was being dismissive. I don't doubt what you saw but I don't think I can understand until I see for myself that Hitomi has changed," Van stated, "And I know a single apology won't make up for it. I don't want to make the same mistakes I've made before and if I start to think of you and Hitomi as the same or similar, then I'll see you as Hitomi and that's not fair to you."

"Then explain it to me," she requested softly, holding his hand as they slowed their pace.

"I don't know about Allen but for me, Hitomi was a symbol of hope. After the war, she became a focal point of the stories that were told. So much so, she became a symbol of hope for everyone I think. She was certainly revered as a god in my kingdom and I think even I got caught up in it, especially when I remember everything she did & how it turned the war for us," he explained, "And if she came back, she would be our best chance of getting ahead of the enemy if this war happens like I suspect it will. I don't meant to speak of her like a weapon. I made this mistake before but I know this time everyone is looking at her as the solution. Gaea needs to learn to rely on each other, not the power of Atlantis or someone else to solve it for them. So we need to limit who knows about her. I was so concerned about the details, the way I spoke was tactless. But I can't think of Hitomi as anything other than who I knew her to be, otherwise I lose hope."

"I understand not wanting to lose hope Van," she stated quietly, "But you should have spoke to me about this sooner. You always valued my opinion before but since we started this relationship, you've dismissed it like I'm a subject."

He stopped walking and looked at her in shock, aiming to argue but the look on her face made him fearful for the first time since the war.

"Don't even attempt to argue, you know I'm right. You don't accept change easily and you don't often listen to your subjects because you're so set on keeping Fanelia as it always has been in your memory. But if you want a wife who will be just another subject, then we should end this now because I refuse to be anything less than an equal to the man I marry regardless of rank. If I wanted to be dismissed when I have an opinion to offer, I'd have married one of the men Allen picked for me," Celena explained, "I'm not stupid. You and Hitomi will always have a connection but expecting her to still be the same person when she left is foolish. The war changed everyone including her and anyone who would understand was here, while she was alone. Do you really think that wouldn't affect a person?"

"I guess not," he stated sadly, "But I regret making you feel like you wasn't my equal Celena."

"Then don't do it again or leave it a few days to settle things," she said softly.

"Has Dilandau bothered you much?" Van asked as they started walking again.

"No he's been gone since that day too."

"He disappeared again? Sounds like he's choosing when and how long."

"Because he is. He goes to a void where he's able to see Hitomi. He's the one who showed me what happened to her," she explained, "The only way I'll get rid of him for good is if Hitomi gets her necklace back."

"Then everything he's shown you is true?"

"Unfortunately."

"It doesn't matter. We'll figure it out," he said pulling her hand up to kiss the back of it, "Together."

She smiled and curled her free hand around his arm as they walked back onto the castle grounds and headed for the dining room. They were sat side by side talking as they ate a light meal when on of the castle staff interrupted with a message for Van. She stayed quiet as he read the letter but after a while she became too curious.

"What is it?" she asked.

"They approved," he answered.

"Approved?" she asked confused.

He smiled and pulled her into his lap, kissing her deeply. She froze momentarily before sinking into it until they pulled away for air. He brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear with a warm smile.

"The Asturian Court approved the engagement," he stated softly.

"Really?" She asked excitedly.

He nodded and showed her the letter. She tackled him in a tight hug that knocked the chair to tip, but he grabbed hold of the table so they wouldn't fall. They were still in the same position, quietly discussing an engagement party when Allen and Merle joined them. It didn't take them long to fall into their regular pattern of friends spending time together.

Earth

She winced as she sat down on the sofa carefully before stretching out along it. She stayed in the void with Dilandau training until an hour before the twins stopped by to check on her and it all had a lasting effect. It was 2 days later and her body was still stiff. She'd tried stretching that night after the twins had left but she had stiffened up almost immediately as soon as she relaxed.

'We may have overdone it a bit with your training,' Dilandau said.

'I think it's the 48 hours on a hallway floor that's done it. It's not as bad as it was so I should be ok tomorrow,' she answered.

She may have been back from the void but Dilandau had stayed with her pulling her into the void of a night only so she could loosen up her muscles during the day. He was dividing his day watching Gaea from the void and being in his head. Today she'd made the effort to get out of the house to show him the mundane side to life on Earth as well as visit the twins. His commentary was certainly made the day much more interesting.

'You sure we're not prolonging it by bringing you into the void?'

'It hasn't affected it before. Besides you're back with Celena tomorrow.'

'Well if the lady insists. Close your eyes.'

She did as she was told and only opened them again when she felt hands grabbing hers to pull her into a sitting position. He'd changed their surroundings to a bedroom this time. Clearly he wanted her to get some rest with him.

"So have there been any developments?"

"The Asturian Court approved the engagement. They're hosting a ball in just under 2 months to announce and celebrate officially. They'll likely marry 2 or 3 months after that," Dilandau stated.

"Then we have just under 2 months to prepare," Hitomi stated coldly.

He studied her carefully as she seemed to disappear into her own mind to plot. Honestly he had expected tears. Considering how quick this was moving, but instead it was like she was keeping the hurt and anger inside. He must have stared for too long though because she was suddenly frowning at him.

"What?"

"I thought you'd be upset."

"I'm sick of crying. It doesn't help anything and if anything I'm furious," she answered, "I wonder if my fury will attract the dragons."

"It would get the point across but would you risk it?"

"We wouldn't be there for long," Hitomi stated with a smile, "I'd only be there to get you and my necklace."

"That's still enough time to attract dragons."

"Then I attract dragons. We'll deal with it, if it happens. And I doubt it would even happen anyway."

"With you anything is possible."

"Ok then what do you suggest?"

"Apart from taming a dragon? Pray Van doesn't try to talk sense into you."

She giggled at the air quote gesture he made. He was taking on more Earth mannerisms than he probably realised. But taming a dragon…

"You like the idea of taming a dragon don't you?" he asked with a smirk.

"You wouldn't want a fire breathing pet?" she challenged.

"You do realise who you're talking to right?"

"It was a valid question."

"Dragons can't be tamed Hitomi. But it's nice to see I'm not the only one who wants a pet dragon. We can get to the fun stuff once we finish talking about your brief return to Gaea."

"I assume since you don't want to attract dragons, you'd prefer stealth."

"To begin with at least," he smirked.

So that's it for this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it.

For anyone who's a beyblade fan, I've uploaded my latest chapter for my new Beyblade Story, 4 Queens - another slow burner but I'm partial to long stories lol

As always, any feedback is great feedback, but it's not expected.

I'll be uploading the next chapter on 25th December.

Until next time xx