Have any of ya'all ever read Eragon? The sequel, Eldest is coming out 8-23 of this year. Just thought you should know.
Bianca: Thanks for the review. Dont' worry about repeating yourself. Writers like to hear praise no matter what words are used! Good to know you such confidence in me- I hope the next chapters are just as good or better. A few things will be revealed which is always a good part in any story. Hope this one lives up to your (our) hopes. ;)
Tsunami: LOL! I didn't even know they were draconian memories untill I wrote that! Good guess.(gives you a thumbs up)
brezzybrez: Thank you.
Goddess-Hitomi: You see the message, I promise.
Macky: Thank ya much.
blackrose: I'm glad you're back and that you like what you found. :)
steves-girl: As you wish.
Asavako: I'm happy you won't get sick of this!
chibihitomi: The funny thing is that I did kick Scott. The first time I wore the shirt we went to see Stars Wars episode 3 and he kept making fun of it so just as the lights went down I kicked him. :) Thanks for the long review! and I'm happy you liked the Merle and Tina part.
jossi-31: Everyone wants to hear the message:)
mysisterisasquijum: Carzy is fun. My entire family is carzy. :) It's nice knowing that there are others like me out there.
shadow glider: First off- love the name. Second thing- I don't think I have ever in my 20 years of life ever been called a smooth operator. I'm actualy in all truth very accident prone. So, thanks. :)
Inda: I must say I was shocked-the first review I got was from QueenTatooine. (chuckles) It's no biggie. I'm just happy you review every chapter.
QueenTatooine: Thanks! I saw Stars Wars 3 for the second time and both times I thought of you when they mentioned Tatooine. It's such a cool name!
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Van, my dear boy. My little warrior. This is my last morning in the Fanelian Castle. I know you will feel as though I have abandoned you but know that I have no choice. I must go while there is still any hope of finding your brother. In my heart of hearts I must confess that I do not think I will find him, but as a mother I can't not look for my child. While I am confessing such a fear I may as well say that I also doubt I will be returning to you. As much as it pains me I must leave you to grow up with Balgus. I do not worry about him as a person- it's just that he isn't a parent and you will miss out on a lot, my child. But I know he will be the best teacher and he is the best to handle the raising of a future King. You will be King with or without my leaving- this I know and you will be quite the ruler.
Van looked down at his mother's smiling face as she pushed a stary piece of hair away from her eyes.
I know how you will feel but in time I hope that you will forgive us all, your father, Folken and myself, we never intended for you to be alone. Your solitude will not last. Just as I know Balgus will die saving you- I know that you will meet someone who is everything you need to keep you sane as you become a strong King- the king our land will need in the years to come. This someone is your true match. Let no one tell you otherwise.
Varie looked straight ahead and to Van it felt as though she was actauly seeing him.
Beware the riders, child.
Hitomi's hand on Van's shoulder tightened.
"She didn't say that last time." Hitomi wispered, talking about when the Orbs had opened for her.
Trouble will seek you out no matter what others do to stop it and in time trouble will break through. Stand strong and true my little King. As long as you and your wife stand you can not fall.
"She didn't say that either." Hitomi sank down onto the bed next to Van as the Orb faded back to it's glassy normality.
Van sat silently for a moment before reaching for the other two Orbs. These held happy memories Van barely remembered. His favorite was of Folken and his mother teaching him how to fly out in the field by the river he had shown Hitomi.
Little Van had stood listening very seriously to his older brother as Folken explained how to kick off from the ground. It had taken three tries and Varie had had to rescue him from a tree once but little Van caught on quickly and was soon chasing. or at least attempting to chase, his big brother through the air. Folken had done a roll in mid-air which had thrown little Van off his trail completely. It all ended by Folken faking a cramp so Van could catch him.
Varie had laughed the whole time and to Van that was the best part of the memory. His mother had been alive and happy in that moment. So had his brother.
The other memories were also sad in their happiness.
Varie holding Van for the first time.
Van with his first practice sword.
Both of his parents and his brother sitting around a table with him on his second birthday.
Varie singing her two sons to sleep.
And another of Van's favorite, the great King of Fanelia laying on the floor with his youngest son, just an infant then and telling him about the night he had met Varie.
Van hadn't remembered what his father's voice sounded like and the gentle, happy tone he had as he spoke lovingly of his family made Van want to cry.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Hitomi lay back with Van's head resting on her chest, running her fingers through his hair. Van hadn't cried but she could tell he had been close. He had stayed quiet for most of the night. The only thing he had said since setting the Orbs aside had been "Thank you."
She wasn't entirely sure what she had done to open the Orbs but she was happy she could give Van those memories. He was happy to have them- she could tell.
Van shifted and looked up at Hitomi, "Sorry we missed the magician." he whispered, "I just wanted to hold the Orbs in my thoughts for awhile yet. I wouldn't have enjoyed the night's events."
"I will always be more than happy to spend a quiet evening with you." Hitomi smiled, "You have nothing to be sorry for."
Van nodded before leaning up to kiss Hitomi's lips. When he was settled again on her chest he sighed, "The way mother put it I think we should expect the trouble to start just after the wedding."
Hitomi had had the same thought because Varie had called her Van's wife.
"We will stand." she said gently, "Just as you mother told us to, Van. And we will win."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
The morning light seemed too bright and Hitomi shaded her eyes as she rolled over, reaching for Van. When she found nothing but cold sheets she sat up quickly- her mind already searching for Van.
There was no need. Van stood just across the room looking out at the front lawns.
"I think we should move the wedding up." Van said, not even turing to look at Hitomi as she slipped her feet into her shoes and rushed over to him, "To keep the 'Trouble' from tearing us apart I think we should get married soon."
"Ok." Hitomi tried to wrap her sleepy mind around all of this, "How soon?"
"Four days." Van said, finaly turning to see her reaction.
Hitomi just nodded, "So a small informal wedding to ensure that we are united lawfully before the riders appear?"
Van smiled, gratefull that Hitomi was as smart as she was beautiful, "And then we will have a large royal wedding next month for the politics of the thing."
"Sounds sensible enough to me." Hitomi tried to smile but she could only wonder what the next four days would bring.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Pennin stood by the door listening for anyone who could be the hall listening in. They all knew of course that Hitomi would know long before any of them if someone was coming in their direction but he needed something to do. They were planning a lot for the six of them to carry out but Van was possitive that they could do it and so Pennin, trusting his King's/best friend's confidence, smiled when Hitomi turned to look at him.
"No one must know. Even the council will be in the dark about this. The Bishop is just the one from the town worship hall and thinks he is coming to bless Escaflowne's resting place." She said, looking whiter than normal.
"Much depends on this going smoothly." Van said as he looked from one face to the next, "You are the only ones who know that anything is happening at all. Rosie, Merle and Pennin will witness the marriage while the rest of you stick to the story of Escaflowne's blessing. The wedding will be told to the council the next day. They will insist on a royal bash and we won't object." Van grinned at Hitomi, "We will even agree to let them plan this one because we hid the other from them."
"My mother will also be witnessing the wedding." Hitomi said quietly, "I will be gone all day and will return directly at Escaflowne's base just as the Bishop learns the truth."
"There are many things that could go wrong." Christopher voiced Aidren's thought as well as his own and the door guard nodded.
"But we won't let them." Aidren said with a knowing nod to Hitomi.
Hitomi nodded back witha very serious look on her pale face.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
A/N: Ok, I think this is my favorite chapter so far:) It's now 11:40 at night and a lot has happened since I started typing this. I managed to slam my finger in a cabinett- so yea, typing sucks, and my friend took me out for dinner and I ate SOOOOOOOO much. I feel ill. -- But I still finished this. I had to because my schedule has been so odd. If I waited to finish this later it would have been way late. I hope you liked this! (and my ramblings) :)