A Wish of Snow

Chapter Two: "Dark"

Summary: Sometimes the snow brings bitterness and cold; sometimes it brings love and warmth. For Hitomi, it brings both. Van/Hitomi Romance

Author's Notes:

Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne.

"What?" She lifted her own pendant closer to make sure she wasn't seeing things. "How did you get this? I gave it to Van!"

"I know my lady." He said.

"Then what happened to him! What did you do to him?" She exclaimed, her anxiety growing by the second.

"We did nothing. King Van was a victim of war."

"What do you mean? Where is Van?" Hitomi stared hard, searching his eyes for lies.

"Dead."

"No." she gasped, crumpling to the floor once again.

vvvvvvvvvv

"I am afraid so." Thamos placed a hand on her shoulder. "We bought the pendant from a peddler. Strange one, he was, face like a mole. It took every cent we had on hand to purchase this." He frowned slightly.

"It can't be-" Hitomi held the pendant against her chest. Certainly this was the same pendant; there wasn't another one like it anywhere. Van wouldn't relinquish it to anyone if he was alive. "But how?"

"Please, my lady, I think that is enough for now. I will have Gregor show you to a proper room. I am sure you would like to rest."

Hitomi's eyes had glossed over, her ears deaf to the world. How could he be dead? "Van." she looked longingly at the pendant, as though it could bring him to her. The pendant hung lifelessly from its gold thread. Hitomi shivered, it felt so cold and dead. Gregor easily lifted her up and carried her down the long corridor.

It just couldn't be true. Hitomi could feel her body shake and hear herself cry, but she could do nothing to stop it. She was placed on top of something soft and plush. She let the soft blanket become her comfort and tissue. Hiding her face deep in the heavy folds, Hitomi sobbed herself to sleep.

vvvvvvvvvv

"She sleeps, milord." Gregor announced, silently entering the machine room.

"Excellent." Thamos waved his left hand across the air and in its wake, a misty image of the crying girl appeared. "Soon, she will have no hope, and that is when she will aid us without restraint." The wispy Hitomi on her bed faded again into the air.

"Forgive me milord, but what of the Draconian?"

"There is no need to worry, Evard." Thamos smiled. "She will not call to him. He will be blind until the moment of his end."

"Even so," Evard began, hesitant, "the Draconian will be difficult to dispose of-"

Thamos maintained his stoic face. "We will awaken the full potential of her despair, her horrific fate, and the girl will destroy him for us."

"But sir, if she is so powerful-" Thomas began.

"How will I control her?" He finished, facing his machine. "That is simple. Emotions are a terribly powerful thing; we watched their power when Donkirk fell. I intend to use them."

Many heads dipped in acknowledgement. The power of the will wasn't anything to be trifled with, but the power of the heart, of raw emotion, was even more frightful.

"But how-"

"I intend to make her love me."

His words echoed in the enormous room as a hush swept over his men. All remained silent as Thamos, grinning, strolled past. "I shall be in the central control area. Gregor?"

"Yes sir?" The large man shuffled out of his stupor and bowed slightly.

"Let me know when our guest awakes. See to it that she has anything she wants."

He bowed deeper, "As you command." Gregor stared warily at his master's retreating figure. Lately his orders were becoming less reasonable, the tasks stranger. Still, a soldier follows orders. Gregor turned on his heels and headed for Hitomi's quarters.

vvvvvvvvvv

Thamos slipped into his chambers and locked the door behind him. He pulled down his hood, revealing a young man with pale skin and blue eyes. His rich black hair fell around his shoulders as he hung his cloak on the back of the door. Papers and books were strewn all over the floor. Small, intricate objects littered the tables; the only other furniture in the room aside from the easy chair at the main desk.

Stepping around and over random clutter, Thamos sat down in his easy chair.

The worn leather conformed and bent at his touch. On his desk were still more books. "So many spells and none to truly hold the love of another." Thamos sighed. "But there are alternatives." He reclined in his chair, drawing a smoky image into the air again. Hitomi, snuggled into her tear-stained pillow came into view. "I have been biding my time. I can wait. I will capture your heart. Once I control that, I will control all of Gaea. Fate will be mine to command." He smiled, pristine teeth gleaming in the candlelight. "She will love me."

"Now, to observe." The image was wavering as the girl in it tossed and turned.

vvvvvvvvvv

Hitomi felt the ground crumpling away. She was falling again. "Van!" She cried. "Please!" No sound came out. Hitomi was helpless to stop herself as she tumbled down into the abyss. It was going to be like the last time; she was going to crash into the ground.

"NO!" She screamed, as she careened off of her bed and onto the floor with a loud thud.

The door flew open and the burly man Thamos had called Gregor, ran in. "Are you okay, lady?" He reached out to help her up, but Hitomi pulled back and used the bedside table for support instead.

"I- I'm fine." She steadied herself and shakily sat on the bed. It had been the same dream as before.

"Is there anything that you require?" Gregor asked softly.

Hitomi stared at the man. He was at least six feet tall and built like a small house. His matted black hair stuck out from under a worn hat that she suspected he never removed. Gregor's eyes were small and brown, his face scarred, but there was something to him that felt comforting. Ignoring her perception, Hitomi turned away. "No."

"Very well then." Gregor returned to the doorway. "If you need anything-" He pointed to a bell with a long silk rope attached. "Ring this." Without another word, Gregor closed the door and the silence assaulted Hitomi's senses again.

Her heart was still racing. To calm it, she took in her surroundings for the first time. The room was cozy, a double bed rested against the left wall opposite a large dresser with a mirror. There was a small table next to the bed; on it rested an oil lamp. The floor was wooden and covered by a central red-patterned carpet.

She strolled over to the mirror. Bending forward, she sighed. "My eyes are all puffy." Turning around, Hitomi grimaced. No matter how much she aged, she still had a runner's body. The years since her time on Gaea hadn't changed her much. Her form was still slim and not curvy at all. Her face had matured a little and she'd changed her haircut slightly, letting it grow out long enough to make a short ponytail. Without the hair-tie that she'd somehow lost in the snow, her hair was tangled and frizzed. The clothes she'd put on this morning seemed like a good idea, but now her top was wrinkled and still damp in some places, and her jeans? Well, the jeans were ripped at the knee and lucky to have survived the trip. Frowning, she wobbled back over to her bed.

Thoughts of appearances aside, the memory of the dream found her again. "Why am I seeing this now? I didn't have any visions while I was home, why now? Why that vision? Why is Van miss-" She gasped. Maybe Van was missing from her dream because he was dead. Was that what the dream was telling her? "No. I won't believe it!" Hitomi picked up a pillow and threw it hard into the wall. With uncontainable rage, she grabbed the second pillow and beat it mercilessly against the floor. "He can't be gone!" The pillow hit the floor hard. "I won't accept it!" Smack! "Why have I been brought back then?" Smack! "What is wrong with me?" The pillow exploded into a rain of feathers.

She caught one in her palm. "Van." she cooed, anger melting away. Cuddling the feather to her face, Hitomi closed her eyes. "I promised that I wouldn't forget you. So-" Quietly, she tucked the feather into her jean pocket. "I won't forget. No matter what happens, I won't forget you, Van." Tears threatened to pour from her eyes, but she wiped them away before they could fall. "I'll find out the truth, but first-" Hitomi sniffed with resolve and walked over to the bell. Pulling it lightly, a dulcet tone rang out sweetly in the hall.

Moments later, Hitomi heard the door unlatch and Gregor entered the room. "My lady?" He frowned at the sight of the destroyed pillow. "Is there something that you need?"

"Yes. A bath please."

"This way, my lady." Gregor led her out of the room and down the long corridor.

vvvvvvvvvv

After her bath, Hitomi found that a change of clothes had been left out for her. She panicked for a second, until she found her old jeans and the feather, still safely tucked in the pocket. Breathing deep, she set it aside and grabbed the fresh clothes. "Great." She sighed. "They gave me a dress. That's Gaea for you." The dress was simple enough and it was clean, so Hitomi just shrugged and pulled it over her head. It was green, emerald green and long. The dress hung simply below her knees. It had long sleeves and a high neckline. The only decorations on the warm material were a brown leather belt and a slim silver trim near the neck and buttons.

Grabbing the feather and her old clothes, Hitomi knocked on the door. "I'm done." The door swung towards her and her eyes met with Gregor's back. "You can turn around."

Slowly, the big man turned. He pulled the clothes from her grasp. Seeing her unsure gaze, he said, "I'm just going to have these cleaned for you."

Not certain of what to say, Hitomi nodded shyly.

"Follow me now, we'll get you back to your room." He took a large step forward, but she didn't follow. "My lady?"

"Do we have to go back there?" she whispered.

"Is there somewhere else you'd rather go?"

"Fanelia?"

Gregor shook his head. "I'm sorry my lady, but I cannot take you anywhere outside of the castle." Before she drew her breath to reply, he added, "There are terrible snow storms here in Zaibach this time of year. I'm afraid you won't be able to leave here for several weeks yet."

"Oh." Hitomi frowned.

"But don't worry. You have free reign while you're here. I'll take you anywhere that you want." Gregor was not certain why, but he felt compelled to be nice to the young woman. He continued. "Maybe the kitchens? That broth can't have filled you."

Her stomach replied for her with a loud gurgle. "I guess so." She blushed slightly embarrassed.

"Let's go then." He held out a hand. Hitomi just stared at it. "Come on." He waved it a little.

Hitomi got the message at last. "Oh!" Slowly, she clasped a hand onto Gregor's bulky arm. He started walking.

"It's for security." he said after a few paces.

"Huh?"

"The escort."

"Oh."

"The only women here are in the kitchen. And the men here are well-"

"Scary." Hitomi mumbled.

He chuckled. "Just a bit there, miss, I suppose." They turned a corner.

"You know, you're not as scary as I thought." Hitomi smiled a little.

"Well-" Gregor tried to think of a good response, but none came. "Thank you."

The kitchen door loomed before them. "Well, here you go my lady. Just let Marietta know what you want and she'll take care of you."

"Where will you be?" Hitomi asked.

"I am, after all, a military officer. I will be with my troops." he replied calmly.

"Okay."

"Send for me if there is anything else you need. Lord Thamos has placed you in my care."

"Anything?" She held her clasped hand to her chest.

"Yes?" Gregor eyed the girl in wonder. She looked just like- images of a little girl holding flowers close popped into his head. He stared blankly.

"Gregor, sir?" Hitomi tried.

"Yes?" He shook his head a little. "Sorry my lady, you reminded me of a little girl I knew once. What is it that you need?"

"I'd like some thread and a needle."

"Is that all?" Gregor grinned. "Marietta's got a sewing box somewhere in there." He pointed at the kitchen door. "Be careful though, she doesn't let the men touch anything in there."

"Is she mean?"

"No, not at all." Gregor struggled for words. "She's just, well, Marietta. You'll see. Go on." He nudged her forward.

Hitomi pushed the huge oak door and to her surprise, it moved without much effort. In fact, it flew open and in the doorway stood a short round woman, her black hair curling around the base of a round white hat. Her force of presence was enough to knock people back and surprised to say the least at the woman standing less than a foot from her, Hitomi promptly fell on her butt. "Who's this now?" the woman lifted Hitomi easily to her feet.

"Evening Ms. Marietta. This is the lady Hitomi." Gregor said politely.

"Oh is it?" Marietta glared down at the girl. "Now, listen Hitomi. We don't take formalities in this kitchen. Except that you call me Ma'am. That's the way it is. Take it or get out." Marietta looked solemnly at Gregor. "What are you still doin' here? You've got matters to take care of, right?"

"Yes, Ma'am." Gregor winked at Hitomi. "You'll be fine."

"Now, I suppose you want something to eat dearie?" Marietta asked sweetly, glancing at the slim wrist in her grasp.

"Huh?" The shorter woman didn't wait for an answer. She merely dragged Hitomi into the warm glow of the kitchen.

vvvvvvvvvv

A/N: Well, that's it for now. I know, not too much changing yet. At least I've given you clues about what's going on. I wanted to establish a few of the characters (new ones) and hint at where the story is going. I tried to be more descriptive, but I'm not sure if that came across well. I hope it's still interesting! Please continue to read, I promise there will be really cool stuff as Thamos tries to make Hitomi like him…shudder

Character notes: (for those who care to remember)

Thamos – sorcerer who used to serve Donkirk, wants to use Hitomi to conquer Gaea. Why? Wait and see.

Gregor – a trusted general under Thamos, really turning out to be a nice guy

Rawn – youngest soldier under Gregor, the red-haired blunder 

Sil – soldier, and survivor from the 1st Zaibach war

Evard – soldier, kinda greedy and distrustful though

Marietta – head of the kitchen, a 50ish woman that you do NOT want to mess with

Emily – Hitomi's roommate at college

I really don't intend to add any other characters. I'm sure it's confusing enough. But there must be villainy and thus there are sidekicks! Very soon the story will revolve less around the minute characters and more around Hitomi/ Gregor/ and Thamos…I also promise some Van screen time!