A/N: thanx 4 the reviews ppl me like reviews Right short ish chappy n im saying sorry in advance, u will find out y if u read.
Chapter 5 Freid.
The next morning at dawn Allen, Van and Hitomi arrived at Maria's like instructed. The gate had not been fixed from the soldiers visit so they had no problem getting in.
They entered the house to find Maria and Shiarn sitting at the table.
"LORD VAN!" Everyone's attention was drawn to the stairs as Merle came running down and hugged Van.
"Merle you're alive," Van embraced Merle she was the closest thing he had to family.
"She has a strong will." Kari was stood on the small balcony clutching a sword wrapped in cloth – was that the black bladed sword Hitomi had seen earlier. "Shiarn catch!" Kari dropped the sword over the balcony as Shiarn jumped to catch it, "Allen I want you to accompany Shiarn to Freid, take the Shadow-Walkers; they're waiting."
Allen nodded and left with Shiarn but not before saying it was nice to see Merle alive.
"Van," Kari began walking down the stairs. "Take Merle and Hitomi to Quintez, ask Poker about Escaflowne and take him to Freid, got that?" Van nodded "there's some transport waiting out front to take you there."
Van began to walk out the door with Merle still clinging to him; he gestured to Hitomi to follow him.
"Oh and Van!" He turned to see what Kari had to say, "I'm truly sorry for Fanelia," Vans eyes turned to the ground, "I'm Fanelian!" Van seemed shocked by this but he smiled and thanked Kari.
True to her word transport was waiting.
The trip to Quintez was a silent one filled mostly with sleep between all three of them. Hitomi was happy to see Merle and in a way; she was sure Merle was happy to see her too.
"Why hello Merle, you were gone long," Poker greeted them all; asking if it was true that Kari's brother who they learnt was called Marth really turned up.
"Yes he did. But Poker Karia asked me to ask you about Escaflowne."
"Hmmm," Poker was stalling he knew this would upset Van "Hmmm."
"GET ON WITH IT POKER. BEFOR I USE YOU AS MY NEXT SCRACHING POST!" Merle had let go of Vans arm to bear her nails; she was also frustrated.
Poker raised his hands in defence and stepped back.
"Wohhh! Calm down there Merle, OK. OK. Follow me." Poker led them through the small village till they got to an inn called the 'Dragons head'.
They walked through the small inn till they got to a door in the wall,
"Mind your heads!" Poker hit the door and it slid open, the door led down a dark stair case lit with few torches, a cold chill came from the corridor which suggested it led outside.
Poker led the way, the cold stone walls soon turned to cold mud; the steps became irregular and poker told them to be careful. After what seemed like hours they reached a large wooden door. It opened with a creek and the cold could be felt stronger.
Noise of running water could be heard which made Poker have to shout.
"Welcome to the hanger!" Hitomi looked around there was the Crusade hanging from the ceiling. They were in a very large, dark cave that was hidden by a waterfall a lot like the one behind Allens old castle.
"Where is this place?" Van walked round keeping is eye on the Crusade.
"Erm…I'm not sure I've never been through the waterfall. Escaflowne is the one on the…erm… left I think?" Poker pointed behind Van. Two covered Guymelefs were sat in the dark.
Van cut the rope to the Guymelef on the left to reveal it. It was Scherazarde Allen's melef. Van looked angrily towards Poker.
"Oh dear my bad!" Van sighed and cut the rope to the other melef. And there it was Escaflowne, but there was no energist; how was it to run?
"Alkia asked me to give you this," In Pokers hand there was one of the most beautiful energists he had ever seen. "She said 'tell him not to use blood pact it's too dangerous at this time,' what ever that means?" Van looked at Poker shocked.
"But that's how Escaflowne runs; it's the only way through blood pact!" Poker was confused he was sure that was what she had said but he shrugged anyway.
"Hay! Don't kill the messenger." Poker walked off back up the stairs closing the door behind him.
After making blood pact with Escaflowne – to Hitomi's dismay – Van decided to get going it was already getting dark. After leaving the cave they had no idea where they were and it was dark before Van got on the right track towards Fried.
"Um Van?" Hitomi was sat back in Escaflowne as they flew along; Merle was asleep at Vans feet, with a slight smile on her face.
"Yes Hitomi." Van turned to look at Hitomi.
"Who is Kari, what's a Zandrion, I've tried to get an answer out of Allen but I didn't get very far." Van turned back to watch where he was going. They sat in silence; Hitomi began to wonder if she was ever going to find an answer to her question.
"Hmmm." Hitomi looked up maybe Van was going to answer.
Van sighed, "Zandrions were…are relatives of Draconians. They lived with the people of Gaea or so the tales say. I can only tell you what I know Hitomi and there's no guarantee it's all true." Hitomi considered this for a while.
"OK anything's better than nothing." Van laughed.
"OK, the old tales say that Zandrions were sent to help the people of Gaea by the Draconians. Zandrions were very powerful; being able to control life and death it's self, they could control the elements and anything that aided in this absolute control. It's said that the Draconians grew jealous of their power over the people of Gaea, who had built shrines to the Zandrions and decided to give power back to the people.
There's a lot of different versions from then on but they all end the same way, with the Zandrions leaving Gaea and creating a small world of their own called Zandria; from here they watched over Gaea and her people interfering when necessary.
It's said every so often Gaea would be tested by three Zandrions to see if they should return or not." Van stopped he was thinking if he should go on. "And that's what's happening now. Karia her brother and some other guy." Van went quiet,
"When the Bringer falls; Gaea will fall.
When the Taker falls; Gaea will slowly fall.
And when they both Fall; Gaea will be reborn.
It is the Chosen one that decides from his love for life or death."
Hitomi thought back to when she was on Earth that man said he needed her help. Was he the Chosen one that Van had mentioned?
Hitomi managed to get van to rest for a while when she noticed they were slowing down. After a well dissevered rest they were off again and reached Freid in good time.
It was more beautiful than she remembered. Kari and chid were waiting for them at the castle.
As they landed they noticed Kari was not happy.
"Did you stop?" Van looked bewildered "did you stop to rest Van?" Kari's tone of voice was unusual, a blend of anger and worry, something was wrong.
"Yes. Not for long why?" Kari cursed under breath so to be polite in front of chid – the king of Freid for two years now.
"Is there something wrong Kari?" Everyone looked towards Chid; he had addressed Kari as 'Kari'.
She knelt sown and looked at Chid with warm eyes like those of a mother reinsuring her child when they think they have done wrong.
"Oh, No dearest Chid, it's nothing I can't handle; just say your Gallant Swordsman is going to be in some trouble when he arrives." Kari spoke with a calming tone this was new to Hitomi and the others. She acted like a mother towards Chid, then it crossed Hitomi's mind – she knew, she knew about Chid and Allen. Was that why she acted this way towards him, because she knew that Chid lived thinking his father was dead; when actually his father was on his way.
Hitomi noticed there was a bond between them he had called her 'Kari' yet she was a princess and she had called him 'dearest' and yet he was a king.
"SIR!" An odd looking man came rushing in. "My lord, ladies," he bowed to Van, Hitomi and Merle. "Ah. Kari. He has arrived. But I suggest you go easy on him, please Kari." Hitomi looked at Kari that warm motherly like look in her eyes had gone and she was back to her unhappy 'there's something wrong' look she had seen several times already.
Kari was now standing, she looked at the young man; then her eyes widened and she was off sprinting at full pelt down the halls. The others all ran after her. She came to an abrupt stop at a curtain like door that were common in Freid; and pulled it back.
Allen was sat on the floor; he looked like he had been in a fight. Blood and slashes were noticeable on his clothes and he had a large gash on his forehead that a young woman was seeing too.
As Kari opened the door Allen and the young lady suddenly turned. Just as the others were arriving Kari fell to her knees.
"KARI!" Chid cried out as he saw her fall. Allen ignored the ladies want to stitch up his wound; and walked casually towards Kari.
He knelt down and looked her in the eye; slowly tears formed in her eyes, Kari fell into Allens arms crying into his shoulder.
Hitomi had not thought it possible, for one person to be so different – one minute cold the next motherly then finally so vulnerable. As she silently cried in Allens arms, they understood what had happened. Hitomi felt like crying as well but realised she had no right – Kari was the bringer of life and; yet, Shiarn was dead because she had miss judged her enemy. An enemy only she seemed to know, and was unwilling to revieal.
Kari had thought sending the black bladed sword with Shiarn and Allen would have been the safest way to get it to Freid…She was wrong.
Later that day. Hitomi went for a walk around the castle grounds, it was very beautiful and peace full. The gardens had been well designed with a large fountain in the middle surrounded by maturing tress and flowers Hitomi had never seen before but smelt so sweet.
"Oh, Hitomi. Hello." Chid was sat on the edge of the fountain, playing with the water.
"Hello Chid." Chid smiled and Hitomi sat next to him. He did not seem to mind just being called Chid but Hitomi did not know were ether to call him Duke or King.
"Erm Chid…can I ask you something?" Chid stopped playing with the water.
"It's about Kari isn't it?" Chid sighed. "I know, it's just after my mother died Kari looked after me, she would come every so often and see how I was, she was always around when I needed someone. Father never liked her much but Mom, so I remember would always have her round; they were the best of friends." Chid smiled as he remembered his mother but that smile soon turned to sadness. "I remember how Father and Kari fought at Moms funeral, she stopped coming over as much then," Chid stopped someone was coming their way. It was Kari back to her full beauty; she had that motherly look in her eyes again.
"Hello there. I've been looking all over for you," Kari smiled as Chid got up and hugged her; Kari knelt to be at Chids level. "I'm very sorry dearest Chid, but I must go away for a few days." Chid looked as if his whole world had fallen down around him. He was about to say something when Kari put her finger over his lips, "don't worry. I'll be back in time for your Birth-date." Chid hugged Kari tightly. "I wouldn't miss it for the world." Kari got up, nodded to Hitomi and left. So it was Chids birth-date. How Fun.
Hitomi could just imagine it, Kari comforting Marlene when she found out that she was pregnant and keeping it secret from the Duke. Being there when she died with Chid. No wonder she loved Chid so much she had let Marlene die, Van had said she could 'control life and death it's self.' She felt guilty. Hitomi wondered how much pain Kari must go through being who she was.
A/N: Dont kill me, u can kill me l8er wen i kill off more ppl... Review Review
Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne or anything to do with it.But i do own Kari n a few other ppl that turn up like poker n maria(the list is very long ish) so plz dont use them wiv out asking (y ne one would i have no idea)