Macky: Thank you for your constant reviews.
Bradybunch4529: Thank you! I'm glad you like it so much.
BagelBagel: I really do love your name. :) Trouble is always good in stories- especialy when even the writer isn't entirely sure where it will lead.
chibihitomi: I've changed Hitomi future telling teniques. :) She wasn't scared or spacey- Van was looking at her and seeing light while she spoke about her vision. The tear was one happiness and uncertainty.
QueenTatooine: Thanks for the review! I'm looking forward to your update aswell!
Goddess-Hitomi: I like the sweet ones. I like kids too. :) Things will get better for Hitomi. And yes, Scott and I can be sickeningly cute. We've been told so by most of our friends. Thank you for your review.
Nekokito: I'm really happy you liked Hiran! You're the only who mentioned him. :)
Inda: Thank you for being a constant reviewer. :) I ment what I said about your daughter. I mean, I tried to get my mom into Escaflowne but the only thing she was interested in was the part about Van's parents and Atlantis. You must be a cool mum with a cool daughter.
jossi-31: Thank you. :)
Bianca: I love writing about just Van and Hitomi. Thanks.
Ryume-chan: I have no plans on ending this soon. :) So enjoy.
zhane: The only thing that came to mind when I saw your review was Ameli Atwater-Rhodes' book Hawk Song. One of the characters is named Zane or Zaine. Anyways, thank you for your review. :)
maeko14: Glad you liked it!
chroma: I will honestly try to keep the crumbs from appearing again. :) I really enjoyed your review and the way you worded it. Thank you.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Hitomi dismounted and groaned as soon as her legs tried to straighten out. She had felt fine back in the clearing but now, 60 minutes later her thighs felt like they were on fire. Her butt and lower back were also in flames.
"Van..." But Van was already at her side, wrapping an arm around her before turning to the voice that was calling.
"Can this wait Albert?" Van asked as the old councilor hurried over to them.
"I'm afraid not, My King." Albert gasped for breath a hand on his chest, "The Council has just been told that Lord Christopher is becoming one of your Knights."
"Not 'my Knight', Albert. Fanelia's Knight." Van gripped Hitomi's shoulder a bit tighter, "The Knights are outside the councils rule. I don't even want to hear what you have to say."
"But My King?" Albert started but Hitomi held up a hand to silence him.
Once Albert was quiet Hitomi turned to Van, "I'm going in. I really need to sit. Talk to the councilors. Hell, toss them out on their heads for all I care. If they have no say, they have no say."
Van was fighting laughter as Hitomi hobbled towards the front steps. Albert looked as though she had slapped him.
Hitomi took carefull steps, feeling every movement throughout her body. Why in the world had no one ever told her how bad she would feel after riding a horse? True, Van had warned her but she thought he had just been playing.
He obviously wasn't.
She was four or five steps away from the stone path that led to the entry stairs when her foot sank. At first she thought it was another side affect from the riding. You know when you wear high heels all day and then take them off and your heel feels like it's lower than the rest of your foot.
That was what she thought untill the pain shot through her ankle.
A surprised yell escaped her lips and the next thing she knew Van was lifting her from the hole that had swallowed her leg all the way up to her knee. Everyone who had been out side came running.
"I'm ok!" Hitomi yelled as some of the soldiers slowed their pace, "Stepped in a hole but I'm fine."
"Your ankle is swelling up." Van said in concern.
"I'm fine, but there's something in there." Hitomi nodded to the hole that had tried to eat her leg, "Something hard."
Van let Albert help Hitomi balance as he reached down into the ground. After a moment he pulled out a what looked to Hitomi to be a crystal ball about the size of her two fists put together.
"What is it?" she asked reaching out for Van as he stood up.
"It's a Memory Orb. It's like the music orbs we have but it holds images. I wonder whats in it." Van shrugged and handed the orb to Hitomi before picking her up and carrying her up the front steps.
"I have the worst luck." Hitomi groaned.
Van smiled grimly, "Let's just hope it's not broken."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Merle sat at the end of Van's bed looking over the Memory. No one had figured out yet how to make it work and Aidren had found two more when he took a closer look at the hole.
Hitomi shifted on her pillows and winced. Her ankle, though not broken was very badly sprained and it throbbed. Being a runner Hitomi had injured herself before and could stand pain well enough. It was the fact that her ankle was throbbing that bothered her. A constant pain would have been easier to deal with. Easier to ignore. A throbbing pain just caused he to cringe every few seconds.
"How are you feeling?" Merle asked, looking down at the wrapped ankle.
"I've been better but then again I've been worse too. So, I guess I'm good." Hitomi gave her a weak smile, "Can I see the Memory again?"
"Sure." Merle handed Hitomi the clear ball and watched as the Seer turned it in her hands, looking at it from every angle.
"It's lovely. Too bad we don't know how to work it." Hitomi sighed and lowed the Orb to her lap, "When do you think they were burried there and why?"
"Your guess is as good as mine." Merle said as the door opened and Van walked in with Pennin at his heel.
Each of them were carrying an Orb.
"There's nothing about them in the books." Van sighed.
"Everyone sends their 'get well wishes'." Pennin smiled at Hitomi, "Though two young Ladies asked if you would be well by the Ball, and if Van would need a new dance partner."
Merle snorted in laughter as Van glared at her.
"I don't know why they want their feet stepped on so badly." The cat laughed.
"I am not that bad." Van grumbled.
"He didn't step on me once at our celebration." Hitomi said, reaching out a hand to Van who had come to sit next to her.
"That's because you were dancing the only dance Lord Van is good at." Merle didn't even try to hide her laughter and despite herslef Hitomi ended up smiling.
OOOOOOOOOOOO
That night Hitomi couldn't sleep. Her mind kept returing to the Memory Orbs and the image she had seen of her and Van's kids. They had been lovely. Each different than the others except for the small pure white wings that sprouted from their backs.
Hitomi smiled as she glided across the room. She was carefull to stay at least an inch away from the floor lest she accidentaly put weight on her injured foot.
She turned slowly to look at the sleeping Van. One of their children looked just like him except for the eyes.
Hitomi stood/ floated next to the bed looking down at her husband-to-be. Her thoughts weren't really thoughts. She just stared at him, memorizing his features and trying to make the images of their kids clearer.
Van grimaced him sleep before rolling onto his back. He scrunched his face up and groaned.
He looked like he was having a bad dream.
Hitomi leaned over him, wondering what she should do. With her powers making an appearance earlier she wondered if maybe she could see what he was he was seeing and push it out of his mind. She wasn't sure if she could do it, but she did have a connection with him. In true she had a small connection with just about everyone within a mile, maybe two mile distance, but her connection with Van was the strongest.
Unsure of what else to do as Van began to toss and turn Hitomi placed her palm against his sweaty brow.
Instantly Hitomi saw a stretch of sandy land and two riders. At first she had only seen the one wearing black, the one in white had blended in with the sun bright land.
Van's panic washed over her as the riders drew closer. It was felt like Hitomi was being drawn closer to the two at an incredible speed untill she was only a foot or two away.
Just as Hitomi was remembering her plan to ease Van into another dream the rider in white turned and looked her right in the eyes.
Pain exploded somewhere in the back of her mind and Hitomi's vision went dark. When she opened her eyes again she was laying on the floor of Van's room. Van was throwing the blankets back and rushing to her side when those eyes, the ones beneath the white hood appeared in her mind again.
And again, darkness filled her vision.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
A/N: My week wasn't as busy as I had been hoping it would be but I started another job (day care) and the baby is the cutest little thing I have ever seen:)
I hope you all liked this!