Ryume-chan: Van is suppose to be out of character! Van is finaly happy so there's no need for him to be the angry, ready to fight younge man that he was before. True, he's still over aware of his suroundings just as any warrior should be but he's relaxed a lot since the end of the war.
Macky: Thank you.
Queen Tatooine: Thank you! I was wondering how I should go on with a new villan. Sorry that I kept you from your work but thank you so much for your advice. ;)
Goddess-Hitomi: Truth be told I had no idea how to write out the fight. I've using my own relationship as a stand by when I needed cute stuff to write (my friends say that my bf and I make them sick) but I've never fought with him about something. Sure I've been annoyed by something he's said but no fights have ever come of it.
ann: Merle 'clobbering' someone is a great visual. :) I still want her to so keep your eyes open- I'll work it in somewhere later on.
BagelBagel: Thank you:) I thought simple would be a good way to go with chapter ten. I like it when couples can just relax and hang out. I think it's the best part of dating.
maeko14: Thank you for the review.
Asavako: I don't think there's any chance of me stopping this story anytime soon. :) Ideas just keep coming and I keep typing. Thank you for reviewing.
Inda:) :)
mysisterisaquijum: Ok, have you ever read The Dark Tower series by Stephen King? I'm reading the last book now and everything reminds me of it. Even your review. :) It's kinda creepy. I mean even the third Harry Potter movie reminded me of it the other day.
jossi-31: It is sad but Van is very aware of why Hitomi never left their room That's why he's taking her out for the day. :) Isn't he sweet.
chibihitomi: The 50 people to go before them in the wedding is sorta like an escourt. Most of them would be soldiers, if not all. As for kids I've always thought that 2 or 3 kids would be perfect for a royal family. Ignore the spelling mistakes please:) I'm not good at spelling either.
yunnie yuae: I'm glad you like my story! Thank you for the review.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Van had been right. All of the royal horses were gentle and very responsive to Hitomi's nervousness. The one Van had chosen for her, Hiran, was very lovey. While Van was saddling the horse Hitomi found that if she wasn't in the Hiran's line of sight he would turn to look for her.
Hitomi laughed as Van became annoyed with Hiran's distraction, but as soon as they were off Hiran kept perfect pace with Van's horse Tian. Hitomi barely had to do anything at all except concentrate on staying in the saddle.
The day was lovely. The air was warm and everything smelled like summer. Hitomi found that she was having a great time and they could still see the palace walls.
"How are you feeling up there?" Van asked, noticing Hitomi's happy, glowing face.
"This is wonderfull!" Hitomi laughed, "I feel like I should have been doing this my whole life."
"Just wait till you dismount." Van smiled.
"Why?" Hitomi tilted her head to the side and Van could tell that she was trying to think of reasons why dismounting would be not so wonderfull.
"Your legs won't be happy with you to say the least." Van nudged Tian and the horse stared to trot a bit faster. Hiran automaticly matched his pace, "But don't worry." Van said, turning to look at Hitomi, who-in his opinion- looked very good in riding clothes, "We should be there in 20 mintues or so."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Hitomi gasped.
The clearing they had just entered was still in bloom and there was river to her right that was an incredible shade of blue.
"It's beautiful." she whispered as Hiran slowed to a stop.
"It's one of my favorite places." Van dismounted in one smooth motion and moved to her side to help her down. Van grabbed Hitomi's waist and steadied her Hiran tured his big brown/black eyes to watch them.
"Thanks." Hitomi beamed at Van once her feet were on the ground.
"Any time, my Lady." Van hugged Hitomi to his chest and kissed her hair, "I love you."
"I love you too." Hitomi smiled into Van's shirt before standing on her toes to kiss him.
"I can't wait to marry you." Van said in a voice so sincere that it made Hitomi want to cry.
"Really?" she asked.
"Really. You are what I've always wanted. You're what I need." Van kissed Hitomi again.
It was a long slow kiss that left them both breathless.
Blushing, Van pulled away, "Uh... I wanted to show you the river." he grinned at Hitomi's dreamy eyes, "It's lovely this time of year."
Hitomi nodded as a blush crept up her neck and into her face. She let Van lead her by the hand over to the bank of the small river.
"Wow." Hitomi breathed in. The air was crisp and full of energy, "There was magic here. There still is but not a lot."
Van nodded, "Folken and mother use to bring me here to swim. Mother said that the Daconians had blessed this place. It was one of the few that they cared about in their rush for control and power." Van sighed, also feeling the tingle of magic, "It wasn't just their control over wishes that was their downfall, but their rush to control things out of the Draconians' grasp."
"We will bring our children here." Hitomi said in a far away whisper and Van saw that her eyes were looked as through a light was shining from within them, "Van, we'll be a happy family. I can see it." the light suddenly went out and Van was once again looking at Hitomi.
"Children?" Van smiled, "That sounds wonderfull coming out of your mouth."
Hitomi smiled, "For an instant I saw it. Like I was looking at a movie. It was dim and mostly white but they were there...Van, I saw our kids." a tear escaped and Hitomi didn't bother wiping it away.
Van had no idea what a movie was but he didn't care. He grinned at Hitomi before sweeping her up in his arms and kissing her.
"But I saw something else too." Hitomi's smile faded, "It was dim because it was only one of the many different futures that could come. I saw a flash of shadow across the image- danger is heading our way."
Van nearly drew his sword when he saw a dark figure out of the corner of his eye but realized rather quickly that it was Hiran, wondering why the Lady's mood had changed to sadness.
"We will deal with that danger when it comes. As for now, we know it's coming so it won't be able to sneak up on us." Van couldn't help but grin as Hiran pushed his brown face against Hitomi's arm, "It looks like you have a new friend."
Van watched as Hitomi happily talked to Hiran. His mind caught on the fact that Hitomi had had a glance at their future. She had said it was dim, meaning that it may not come at all. Hitomi hadn't been able to see the past or future since the end of the war, and it worried the younge King to know that she could do it now- just in time to tell him of a danger.
The charm around his neck pulsed with warmth that had also been telling him about a change that was soon to come.
Aidren had come to him early that morning before they had left for their ride with worries of his own. For the door guard to even mention the word 'worry' was enough to put Van on full awareness.
The King's sleep had been troubled as of late because of the dreams that always came in the early hours of the new day.
Two riders. One in black. The other in white.
Just the sight of them in his dreams was enough to make him start carrying his sword with him everywhere he went. There was just something about them that grated on his nerves.
They made his skin crawl and his stomack twist.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
They mounted up and turned to head home after spending a half hour in silence on the river bank. They both had been lost in their own thought but niether could forget the closeness of the other and everynow and then they would turn without a word and kiss. The kisses were sweet, full of love and comfort.
On their way back towards the castle Hitmoi began to tell Van about her discovery that she could walk on the air. She had decided that now was as good a time as any to tell him
To Van it seemed rather random for her to just suddenly bring it up out in the open. Van was worried about someone over hearing them. It had been an unspoken agreement that Hitomi's powers wouldn't be discussed. For her to talk of them now seemed out of place.
"I didn't tell you sooner because I was waiting untill I was able to do it without concentrating so hard. I've been practicing every chance I get." she smiled, "I no longer fall if I turn around. In fact I can make myself glide- I don't even have to take steps to move."
"Why are you telling me this now and here?" Van asked gently to make sure that he wouldn't sound as though he were scolding her.
"Because there are too many ears in the palace now." Hitomi cocked her head to the side and looked Van in the eye, "I love you and all but I really can't wait to have everyone out of the palace."
Van laughed, his mood lightened by her words, "I agree. The festival is in a few days and then the conference will be held 24 days after that."
Hitomi sighed dramaticly before grinning at Van, "So we have to put up with all those nosey people for a month more?"
Van chuckled, "Yes, Love. A month more and then they'll be gone."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
A/N: I know I'm gonna be busy this coming week so you guys get this one early. Ignore, as always, the spelling mistakes. And please REVIEW!
Just a side note: Van's horse is Tian. I took the name from Stephen King's Wolves of The Calla, book 5 of The Drak Tower series. I love those books!