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Kaitlyn tapped her shoe against the floor, getting more and more impatient as the minutes passed. The King himself had invited her and her father to a lovely breakfast out in the gardens and the King himself was late by at least 20 minutes.
"If he doesn't show up soon I am going back to my rooms!" she snapped at her father across the small informal table, "I got up early for this and he's probably still sound asleep!"
"No." came a voice from the door, "I was just taking care of a few other things." Van walked out with Merle on his arm, "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
"Oh, my apologies King Van." Kaitlyn bowed over her empty plate, thinking fast, "But you didn't hear the rest of what I was going to say."
"Really?" Van asked with a smirk as he waved the maids in with the trays of food, "Is that so. Well, you may continue now."
"I was about to say, My King, that I was worried. That I hoped you weren't ill because it does not seem like you to be late." Kaitlyn smiled and watched carefully what Van took from the serving plates.
"So you already feel that you know Lord Van well enough to make the assumpion that he is never late?" Merle asked as piled eggs on her plate, "Van arrives when he feels the time is right and when his other duties are done."
"But of course." Kaitlyn smiled and took the same amount of fruit that Van had.
"I hope you both slept well." Van said, changing the subject while sounding like he hadn't even been listening.
"Yes. Very well." Lord Karth answered with a bright smile.
"I slept very well indeed." Kaitlyn smiled sweetly but to Merle it looked very forced and almost painfull.
Van had been dishing more fruit and a slice of bread onto his plate and had missed the smile completely.
"With tonight being a full moon I would like to invite you both to a privtae dinner in the great hall. Here in Fanelia we still celebrate the changes in the year and the Full Moons. The week before the Conference of Trades is our celebration of Summer's end and Fall's arrival. I'm rather pleased that you will both be here for the bon fire and dancing."
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Hitomi walked slowly down the hall where her room was located with one of Van's books in her arms. He had brought it to her on a tray with a spiced apple and Gupta juice.
So Hitomi had only been awake for about 2 hours and already she had nothing to do.
She had gone to the seamstress to be measured for a wardrobe of her own, and that had only taken about 30 minutes.
On her way back to her room Hitomi had seen 6 maids dusting and a man standing in front of one of the large upstairs window just staring out. His pale blonde hair and thin frame reminded Hitomi of the stories and movies about elves that Yukari had been obsessed with. The blonde man was standing at the other end of the hallway and Hitomi decided that if he was still there after she ducked into her room to put the book away that she would say hello.
He had dissapeared within the 40 seconds that it took Hitomi to open her door, sip the last of the gupta juice and slide the book on to one of the many shelves. Somewhat dissapionted with having no one to talk to Hitomi walked to the window where the blonde man had been standing and looked down on the gardens.
She could see Van and Merle standing with an older man and a dark haired girl. As soon as they exchanged bows Van turned on his heel and walked back inside.
"So, you must be Kaitlyn." Hitomi said to the girl far below her.
She sat and watched as Kaitlyn and her father stood still for a minute or two before turning on each other with angery faces and pointing fingers.
OOOOOOOOOO
Van came up the stairs to see Hitomi perched on the windowsill staring down at something.
"Are they still agruing?" he asked and was amsued to see Hitomi jump at his voice, "I thought you knew where I was all the time?"
"My mind was elsewhere." Hitomi laughed with her hand on her chest, "You frightened me."
Van walked over and looked down on the yelling match below, "I can't belive they realy think that no one notices their raised voises and angry tones."
"I know." Hitomi took Van's hand and sighed, "They're trying to doop you."
"Doop?" Van asked. He had never heard that word before.
"Fool. They think they are fooling you with their act." she smiled, "Kaitlyn wants the stature of being a real queen and not just a daughter of a Lord, and Karth wants to have power over you one way or another."
"I know." Van smiled down at Hitomi and noticed that she was holding the curtains rather tightly, "They won't 'doop' me." he rubbed Hitomi's arms, "In fact I plan on throwing them off their plans by introducing you to them tonight at dinner."
"It's going to be a full moon." Hitomi wispered, still looking down on the pair.
"That's what the dinner is for."
Hitomi nodded, "Ok, what should I wear?"
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Hitomi knew that in a way she was the 'surprise' of the night and could feel her stomack turning as she waited for Van just outside the doors to the graet hall. She was sure that if he didn't get there soon she would puke all over the floor from nerves.
"Yea, that would be attractive." she wispered to herself.
She could hear Lord Karth and his daughter talking very quietly on the other side of the doors. What if they came out and saw her? What would she say?
Just as her heart decided to up it another noch Van came around the corner.
"Sorry about that." he smiled and Hitomi was stuck by how gorgious he looked in his white button down shirt and brown pants.
"You look good." she wispered as he offered her his arm.
"You look better." he grinned and opened the door.
The quiet chatter stopped imediately and Lord Karth and Lady Kaitlyn rose quickly to bow to Van but both stopped in mid movement when they saw Hitomi on his arm.
The measuring looks coming from both and the hatefull gleam in Kaitlyn's eyes made Hitomi (again) feel like she was going to puke.
"Lord Karth and Lady Kaitlyn I am honored to introduce to you both, the Lady Hitomi, Seer from the Mystic Moon." Van beamed at them as Lord Karth paled and Kaitlyn brought her hand up to cover her mouth.
"I am pleased to meet you." Hitomi said when it seemed like they weren't able to speak.
"Yes. Yes." Lord Karth said, finaly pulling himself together and coming around the table to kiss Hitomi's hand, "I am honored to meet woman who saved Geae."
Hitomi blushed but was happy she was wearing gloves. Something about the older Lord made her very uncomfortable.
"I am also honored to meet you m'Lady." Kaitlyn managed a curtsy, "I have heard many stories about your part in the War."
"Realy?" Van asked with a smirk, "Has Merle been talking to you today?"
"Well, yes she has. She said she wanted to show me around the palace and the grounds." Kaitlyn smiled but she looked ready to yell.
Van didn't pay any attention to her, which made Hitomi smile. Hitomi could see that Van was purposely not looking at the Lady Kaitlyn when she spoke.
To any other woman it would be a sign to back off or move on. Obviously Kaitlyn didn't know anything about Van.
'It's very dangerous to approach a dragon.' Folken's voice sounded in Hitomi's mind, 'Never play games with a dragon. They are smart and likely to kill you if you annoy them enough."
Hitomi smiled, not knowing where the voice came but not minding it either. She had liked Folken a great deal. He was, in a way, the only one who could have understood her thoughts when she had first come to Geae four years ago.
Once they were seated for dinner the food was brought in but still Hitomi's stomack was telling her she was going to be sick. The hum of human activity in the palace that she heard in her mind didn't help either. It was like the constant knowledge of where everyone was had dulled just like her connection to Van had but now it was like white noise in the back of her mind. If she thought about it it would get louder and drive her carzy.
"Are you ill?" Van asked, placing a hand over hers.
"Can I just have some water and soup if there's any to be had. My stomack isn't liking the look of steak." Hitomi said meekly.
"Steak?" Lord Karth asked, "What is steak?"
Hitomi's stomack turned even more but she managed to answer, "It comes from a cow. We eat it on Earth-uh, on the Mystic Moon."
"This is hylian meat." Van looked at her worriedly, "You look pale."
"I feel green." Hitomi smiled weakly, "I'll be ok. It's probably just the change of the planets thats throwing me off."
Half way through the meal Hitomi did start to feel considerably better.
"Are there customs you perform on the night of the full moon, King Van?" Lord Karth asked after a rather long silence.
"I usualy go out but with Hitomi here I may just walk the gardens. They are lovely at night." Van smiled at Hitomi but she could see what lay beneath that charming smile. Van wouldn't be going anywhere near the gardens now, because Kaitlyn would likely be waiting for a chance to get him alone in the roses.
"Have you recieved word of when the other Lords will be arriving for the Conference?" Kaitlyn asked, looking prettily over her plate at Van.
"Some will be arriving in time for the Fall Festival and I've invited them to stay with us aswell. It seems that they are also bringing their daughters, but I must tell them as I have told you, I have no interest." Van held his head high, looking like the king he was.
"But you must marry sooner or later." Lord Karth said in a conversational tone but Hitomi could see the muscles in his jaw jumping.
"Well, it won't be now and I have interests elsewhere." Van purposely placed his hand over Hitomi's hand and she felt her face heat up.
It was the closest Van had come to saying that he wanted to marry her. Sure he had told her a few times that he loved her but that had also involved a lot of laughter during a late night chat.
OOOOOOOOOOOO
Hitomi plopped back on her bed and sighed. It had been quite a dinner. Kaitlyn had been staring daggers at down at her plate all night while Hitomi tried not to blush everytime Van smiled at her. Hitomi was the happiest she had been in a long time but she knew there was more to come and not all of it was good.
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Kaitlyn paced in her room fuming. She had practicly run from the hall when dinner finaly ended. No wonder the cat girl had been following her around and dragging her out side at every opportunity. She didn't want her to see the King's Seer.
Stupid girl. Now Kaitlyn would have to get even, but that would be hard seeing as the Kingw as fond of her. With abit of time and thought Kaitlyn would work it out. Plan and schemes were always so easy for her.
Kaitlyn stopped pacing to look at herself in the full length mirror. She had worn her second best, lowest cut dress. The King had hardly even looked at her. Hadn't, in fact looked once at her chest. When she had spoken to him once they were seated she had leaned forward, putting more pressure on the front of the dress which in turn pushed her breats higher. Most men would have been drooling before they knew what happened.
OOOOOOOOOOO
Van slipped out of his room and knocked lightly on Hitomi's door. She answered at once and smiled up at him.
"I have a surprise for you." he grinned, making her knees go weak. He held out a hand and she took it at once, "Close your eyes." he wispered.
Hitomi closed her eyes and let herself be led across the hall. She could hear a door opening a head and wondered why Van had brought her to his room. She'd been in there before but then she felt another person in the room.
"Open your eyes." he wispered with his mouth right against her ear.
"Oh my! Van, what is this?" Hitomi asked as she looked around the room. It wasn't Van's but the one next to it.
"Your room." he smiled, "Well, it's known as the Queen's room but you are welcome to use it now, before you become Queen."
Hitomi smirked, "You're rather sure of yourself aren't you? What if i said no?"
"Then I would never marry and still let you stay in this room." Van kissed her forhead and Hitomi couldn't help but think how odd they must look to the man she knew was standing by the door. Both of them were still dressed up for a dinner that had already passed.
"Do you like it?" Van asked, his lips sitll against her skin, "Because I've alreadyhad all your things moved into the closets."
Hitomi laughed and then on second thought asked, "What stuff? I came here in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt."
Van laughed, "You saw Cara today right?" Hitomi nodded so he went on," She has this great talent for keeping all kinds of clothing hanging up only half done so she can just adjust to someones size. You now have three dresses, four pairs of pants and six shirts."
"Wow." Hitomi was very impressed.
"So you like evrything?" Van asked again.
"I love it." Hitomi beamed.
"She loves it Pennin." Van smirked at the blonde man by the door.
"I'm glad My King." Pennin bowed.
"I saw you earlier today." Hitomi smiled.
"Oh, you'll see alot of him." Van laughed, "He's the one who tries to keep me on time and makes sure I get all the right papers at the right times. Without him I would have ripped my hair out of my head by now."
"Well, then I'm very glad he's here." Hitomi felt histerical giggles trying to work their way out, "I'm rather fond of your hair."
"Thank you Pennin." Van winked at the man before he left, closing the door behind him.
Hitomi had a hand clamped over her mouth. As soon as the door clicked shut behind Pennin she burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Van asked, looking some what amused.
"The visual of you bald!" Hitomi choked out between laughs, "I'm over tired and I get the giggles easily when I'm tired. I'm sorry." But she was still laughing, "The visual just sent me over the edge."
Van stood with his hands fisted on his hips and looked at Hitomi seriously before walking over to the mirror.
"So you think I'd look bad bald?" he asked and used his hands to pull the hair away from his forhead.
Hitomi lost it again.
"Ok, ok." Van walked over and wrapped his arms around her, "Breathe. I have a few other things to show you."
With a giggle escaping every now and then Hitomi calmed down enough to follow Van to the closet.
"There is a secret door in the back. Just here." Van took her hand and showed her wher the latch was, "It'll only open about an inch without the key." he pulled a long silver key from his shirt, "Just slide this in here," again he showed her with her own hand, "and it'll open up into my room."
Hitomi jumped abit when she saw that the door did indeed swing (on it's own, mind you , she hadn't pushed at all) right into Van's room.
"Wow, cool trick." Hitomi walked forward into Van's room.
"There are also hiding places, little nooks for the Queen and few others to hide if the palace was attacked and breached." Van turned and headed back into Hitomi's room and she followed quickly, "I'll show you those tomorrow. For now, you need to see the moons." Van walked out on to Hitomi's balcony and pointed up.
"They're lovely." Hitomi leaned against Van's shoulder, "And so bright."
It was like daylight out side and Hitomi could still even tell that her dress was yellow in the moonlight.
"You realy looked amasing in there tonight." Van smiled, "You look radiant right now."
"You don't look so bad yourself." Hitomi laughed and took his hand, "Van can I ask you something?"
"Anything."
"Can I kiss you?"
Van felt as though he was holding his breath. Had he heard her right? I mean, she had said it so quietly he had strain to hear it.
"Yes." he wispered and leaned down, hoping that she couldn't see the bright shade of red he had turned.
Hitomi stood on her toes to kiss Van. As soon as their lips touched both of them pulled away. It was almost like being shocked but nicer. Hitomi opened her mouth to say something about it but Van didn't let her.
He pressed his lips to hers and felt her smile.
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A/N: Yay! Another one done! Review if you want more!