A Wish of Snow

Chapter Four: "Forget"

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: I hope you are enjoying the story. Thank you so much for the reviews, I am thrilled! Also a thank you to those who +fav me or my story; much obliged. So, Thamos is starting to woo Hitomi, will she let him? And just what was that new necklace all about? Read and find out! (Then review please grin)

Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne.

"Please, just call me Thamos."

"Thamos. I think I'd like to go to bed."

"Certainly. Gregor?" On cue, Gregor opened the door and saluted.

"Yes my lord?"

"Please escort Hitomi back to her room and make sure that no one disturbs her."

"Yes sir. Come along my lady."

Latching onto his arm, Hitomi let herself be led away.

"Goodnight Hitomi, pleasant dreams." Thamos called out behind her.

vvvvvvvvvv

The door swung shut behind Hitomi and she sighed aloud. "What was he thinking? Giving me this." She gently set the shimmering pendant down on her dresser. "I mean, they captured me, didn't they? They put me in a cage. Now, he's being nice?" Hitomi plopped onto the bed, spreading her arms and laying flat on her back. "What does Thamos want with me? There was that machine, but-" She clamped her eyes shut with frustration. "I just don't understand." she huffed.

Hitomi rolled onto her side. She shivered as something small and cool moved under the collar of her dress. "My pendant. I forgot I put it back on." The tiny orb was quickly unclasped from her neck and she held it in front of her once again. "It's funny that I would forget I had it on. Normally it felt 'there.'" Almost reluctantly, she sat up and raised the pendant in front of her. "Please." she whispered. "Point me to Van. Let me know he's alive, somewhere." her voice trailed away while she focused.

Seconds passed.

Then minutes.

Hitomi opened her eyes. Slowly, she loosened her grasp until the pendant crashed neatly on her bedspread. Tears rolled down her cheeks. "He just can't be-" Absently, Hitomi pulled out the feather she'd saved and stroked it. It's soft fluff tickled her hand and her tears subsided. She sniffed. "That's right. I was going to make this into a necklace too-" Holding the feather up to her lips, Hitomi kissed it gently. Was this to be the only part of Van she'd ever see again? She slumped back onto her pillow, still cradling the fragile object. "I promised I'd never forget you, no matter what." she said quietly. Sleep soon pulled her back into its embracing calm and Hitomi felt her worries ebbed away.

It wasn't long before her eyes opened to overwhelming darkness. She blinked uncertainly. Where was she? Hitomi held a hand up in front of her face. To her surprise, it was perfectly visible, but something wasn't quite right. It was nearly transparent! She opened her mouth to speak, but it was as though someone took away her vocal chords. No sound came out. Was she dreaming again? Yes, it must be a dream.

She had no time to be relieved, for at that moment, the invisible ground under her gave way. Hitomi let out a silent scream as she dropped into the void yet again.

vvvvvvvvvv

At the castle gates of Fanelia, a lone cat girl paced before a group of men. They were holding small weapons; maces, swords, and crossbows, but they really weren't intimidating. All in all, it looked like someone had rounded up the boys who wanted to be in the army but never quite made it past the guard shack.

"So let's see." Merle glared at the unusual gathering of men. "This is all that could be spared? You guys are barely soldiers."

The men grimaced, but tried to remain firm; it was important to maintain some sort of image. The kind they had wasn't the best, but it was certainly an image.

"Miss Merle?"

She hissed and popped up inches away from the man's frightened face. "What?"

"What exactly are we-"

"We-" Merle tossed her hair, "are going to go on a very special mission."

"Yes, but-"

"No buts!" she growled. "We are to locate someone very important to the King." Eyeing her troops warily, she continued. "He has reason to believe that the Wing Goddess has come back. We are going to find her and bring her back to Fanelia." Merle resumed her pacing. "Lord- I mean, King Van has ordered you to obey my commands. So, there will be no questions!"

"Miss Me-" a soldier began.

"No questions!"

"Sorry."

"Now, this is a stealth operation, as you know, there're a lot of people out there that wouldn't welcome us. So, we will be traveling as a band of merchants."

"Hello Merle." a voice called.

"Huh? You sound familiar. Where are you?" Merle nervously scanned the ranks. There were only six or seven men-

"Down here."

Her eyes dropped to ground level. "Mr. Mole!" she gasped. "What are you doing here?"

"How better to be merchants than to bring me along?"

Merle fought down the urge to claw his eyes out. It was a losing battle until another, taller man, strolled up to the group.

"Please Merle, don't be so harsh, it's his nature to be like that."

"Dryden?"

"I'm glad that you remember me."

"What are you doing here?" Merle asked, wondering if any more strange men were going to visit today.

"Didn't King Van tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"We're going to be using my airship to travel." he said coolly.

"How on Gaea did he manage this?" she asked.

Dryden scratched his head and grinned. "It's good to be the King, I suppose."

vvvvvvvvvv

Hitomi's stomach lurched as she fell through the shadows; just falling in total darkness. There was no light, no angel of a man to save her. This dream would end like the others before it. Silently, she flailed her arms, trying in vain to wake up before the end.

"Hitomi."

"Hmm." the sleeping girl mumbled.

"She's tossing around a lot. Is she dreaming again?" Thamos sat quietly at Hitomi's desk, watching her twist in torment.

"She's done this several times before, I was concerned." Gregor replied. He hoped he'd made the right decision in alerting Thamos. It had been terrible to hear the young girl screaming. So terrible in fact, that he'd nearly broken the door down.

"I think she's trying to say something." Thamos leaned closer.

"Van-" came Hitomi's whispered cry. It was almost a whimper.

"So she's dreaming of him." he couldn't help but wrinkle his nose.

"Poor girl." Gregor said.

"Gregor, go and fetch Amelie for me. I would like for her to stay with Hitomi."

"But sir, I am already her guard." Gregor started.

"Yes, but some things are better with a feminine touch."

"Very well, sir." the older man sat up slowly and exited the room, eyes never leaving the still struggling Hitomi.

"Now." Thamos smiled. "Let's do something about this."

He closed his eyes for a moment and waved a hand slowly across Hitomi's forehead. Blackness spread across his mind. Her struggling stopped and she mumbled.

"Van?"

"Yes, Hitomi, it's me, Van." Thamos said softly.

The dream wavered in Hitomi's mind, Van's angelic portrait came into view. "It's like before. You came to save me."

"No, Hitomi. I'm sorry."

"Van?"

"Please, forget me and be happy." Thamos whispered.

In her mind, Hitomi saw Van's sad face and heard his voice continue. "I want you to be happy, and to do that, you have to forget."

"But why? I can't forget you Van, I promised!" her voice was growing stronger, and more desperate.

"Please, Hitomi. I called you back to Gaea because I needed to tell you."

"Van. But I-"

"Can you forgive me?"

"Yes, but Van-" Hitomi's eyes moved under their lids. She was waking.

Thamos concentrated harder. "Thank you Hitomi. Please, forget, and be happy."

Smiling at his own ingenuity, Thamos noticed the feather near Hitomi's outstretched hand. "I don't think you'll need that anymore." Gently, he lifted it away from her and stuffed it into his pocket. Thamos pulled away and quietly left the room. Outside the door, he was met by Gregor and a bustling blond woman.

"Amelie." Thamos eyed her carefully.

"Lord Thamos." she curtsied.

"Please see that she has everything she needs."

"Yes milord." Amelie smiled, her green eyes twinkling. She'd waited so long to impress Thamos. He never so much as blinked at her before, despite her nice figure and rather pronounced features. Maybe if she did a good job, he would-

"Amelie?" Thamos stared at the daydreaming girl.

She snapped out of her reverie, "Sorry milord! Yes milord?"

"You know your orders?"

Gregor stood quietly next to the chatting pair, silently wary of what they were planning. Amelie had a bad reputation. He wasn't sure if she actually worked anywhere in the fortress. The girl was always wandering the hallways, taunting the soldiers and trying to slip into any room that Thamos was in. A few of the maids had mentioned her penchant for stealing. Surely, assigning her to befriend Hitomi was not a good idea and Thamos would know this.

"As you command." Amelie curtsied again.

"Very well, I leave her in your capable hands." Thamos replied. "You are to report to me each night."

"Yes milord!"

This girl was just a bit frightening. "Yes, well, I'm glad you're so enthusiastic." he managed at last. "Gregor, you are dismissed."

"Sir."

The men departed in opposite directions while Amelie smoothed out her dress in the doorway. She had to do this just right. Lord Thamos was counting on her to- well, to get this other girl to like him but-

"This doesn't seem right." she said quietly.

Amelie shook her head. "No, no, this is fine." The girl, Hitomi was only a pawn; Thamos only wanted her for her ability to run his machine. Surely when she completed her mission and the 'tool' was secured, Thamos would- She blushed.

Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door. "Hello? Lady Hitomi?"

Hitomi opened her eyes and saw- the floor. With a yelp and a thud, she landed in a heap. "I've got to stop doing this." she staggered to her feet and adjusted her rumpled dress.

"Lady Hitomi?" someone called.

"Huh?" Hitomi scanned the room for the source. Then, she heard a knock on the door. "Oh! Come in."

The doorknob turned and the door swung open gently. "Hello, Lady Hitomi." a cheerful-looking girl smiled. "My name is Amelie and Lord Thamos has put you in my care."

"He has?" Hitomi puzzled. "What happened to Gregor?"

"Gregor has other duties." She moved closer. "He is a commanding officer after all."

"Yes, I guess you're right."

"Excuse me Miss?" Amelie sat down on the bed and met Hitomi's eyes. "Were you crying?"

"No! No, I mean- well- yes, just a bit." she stuttered.

"Please, Miss, whatever for?" the girl patted the bed next to her and Hitomi soon plopped down as well.

"Well, it's just- a bad dream."

"Now, now, dreams are just dreams right?"

"Not mine."

"Hmm?" Amelie looked vaguely confused.

"My dreams, they usually come true. They're, well, they're like visions." Hitomi explained. "I saw-"

"What did you see?"

"Someone. I saw someone close to me; he went away." she said stiffly.

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"It's okay, there isn't anything you could do." Hitomi frowned, the tears threatening to flow again. "He just, meant a lot to me."

"You know what?" Amelie rose to her feet and strolled towards the dresser. "When I'm upset, I always dress up to make myself feel better!"

"Does it work?"

"Every time!"

"If you think it will help." Hitomi said.

"Oh! This is so beautiful! Let's put this on!" Amelie squealed, holding up a blue pendant.

Hitomi grimaced. That had been a present from Thamos; she wasn't entirely eager to put it on. Yet, the jewel shimmered, even in the soft light of her room and Amelie was so excited. It couldn't hurt to put it on right? "Okay." she answered.

"Great!" the girl bounced back over to the bed, pendant in hand and quickly pulled the chain around Hitomi's neck. "This is going to look so beautiful!" She giggled as she fussed with the clasp.

"Done! Look in the mirror!"

Turning around, Hitomi gazed at her reflection. The necklace was stunning. Even against the green of her dress, it stood out and made itself known. It was almost, magical. "It's beautiful." It reminded her of something else though, something small and smooth. "I think I was wearing something like this before." she said hazily.

"Really?" Amelie asked.

"Maybe. I don't really remember."

"Maybe you wore something like this when you were little?" she volunteered.

"Yes, that sounds right. It must have been someone else's." Her head was suddenly fuzzy. She closed her eyes and saw little flickers of light, but they soon vanished.

"Lady Hitomi?"

"Yes, Amelie?" she looked up, eyes clear.

"Are you feeling better yet?"

"Yes." she smiled, "but I think I'll need a new dress to help me along."

"Let's go find the seamstress!" Amelie chirped. Things were going great. Now, if she could keep Hitomi happy, the necklace would do the rest. Thamos was going to love her for this.

vvvvvvvvvv

"Damn it!" Van cursed. "The pendant doesn't glow, there's no pillar of light, but I could feel her!" It had hit him hard. He was taking a walk through the training grounds when he saw Hitomi falling into some sort of black void. He reached out for her, but suddenly, she disappeared. He punched the wall hard, letting some blood spill from his knuckles. Where was she?

"My King?" someone called and Van swiftly hid his bruised fist.

"Wendell. What news?"

The advisor bowed momentarily, "We have received word from out outpost in Zaibach."

Van furrowed his brow. They really didn't need another war. "And?"

"There is activity at the fortress. Steam rolls out from it."

"Someone is living there?"

"We think that they may be amassing another army." Wendell frowned. King Van was clearly not in a good mood already.

"Send a band of men to investigate closely." he replied.

"Actually, Sire, there is other news."

Van's curiosity soared; could it be Hitomi? "What? What else?"

"Our troops have reason to believe that sorcerers know of The Dragon's location."

The King continued to stare.

"We may be on the verge of another war."

Van's mind was already distancing itself from Wendell's voice. If Escaflowne was in danger, Hitomi couldn't be far behind. But what about her? "Wendell?"

"Yes Sire?"

"Was there any news of strange phenomenon? For example, a pillar of light?" he tried.

"Well, there was quite a bit to report, my King." He touched a finger to his chin in thought. "Now that I think about it, the messenger did say that there were strange lights in the sky a few nights ago. Your highness?"

The King's face was blank, his eyes were closed. Wendell reached out to touch him, but drew back when something shocked him. "What the-"

A pink pendant swung in Van's mind.

"King Van?" Wendell tried again.

His eyes snapped open. "I've got to tell Merle." Without another thought, Van raced towards the castle gates. "I hope she hasn't left yet."

vvvvvvvvvv

A/N: Haha, a cliffhanger! So yeah, now Van knows she's on Gaea. Is it too late? Hitomi's got the other necklace on now; bet you can't guess what it does! Hehe. I hope you're enjoying the story so far! Next time: she's going on a date?