steves-girl: Cookies are good but mum made chocolate fudge cake.:) I love chocolate.
maeko14: Thank you.
macky: Thank ya much.
Cev:) I just read your story last night! I loved it. Things get better explained in this chapter. Sorry I just cut things short last time. Varie's part is also expained.
math-nerds-unite: Math has never been my thing. My grades in high school would have proven that. But it's a cute name and a thumbs up to you for understanding all that stuff. ;) :)
Goddess-Hitomi: I do't go into it but in my mind I saw Dilandau just sitting there shocked neyond anything that someone- anyone would speak to him that way. As bad as his temper is he was just taken by surprise and silenced for the time being.
kelsey: I always update. Have no fears.
Clemence: I like how you reviewed twice. :) Sunburns do suck- big time but now it's just peeling. There's no pain just a lot of iching. --
kiwi: Thank you:)
Inda: Thank you. I love that part.
Tsunami: Heh, glad you liked it.
QueenTatooine: Yea scott and I bought aloe vera and 'soot-a-caine' the day I turned red. I have no idea what I would have done without Scott. I mean, I couldn't move at all. He had to help me out of bed, put the aloe stuff on me and dress me. I felt and walked like an old lady.
mysisterisasquijum: I do feel better. Thank you.
pure hope: She does rock, huh? My mum IS that cool. LOL. Only my mum would have booted him in the butt for even thinking that stuff.
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Van paced the room he shared with his wife. Lately he felt like all he could do was pace. Sitting still was torture and his legs felt the need to be moving, as did the rest of him. He only wished he could be doing something more productive about the new problem with Zaibach.
"I don't understand why you let them into our home in the first place. They're likely to try and kill us in our sleep." Hitomi said from her dressing table where she sat brushing her hair.
"I invited them in because we need to have some idea of what Zaibach is planning and Dilandau has a habbit of gloating before they've even made a move. One way or another we will find out what the hell is happening." Van looked at his wife and felt some of his anger drain out of him, "Guards have been posted all around the palace. There isn't anything about their doings that we won't know about."
Hitomi nodded, watching Van in the mirror, "I know you have done everything to keep us safe. I'm sorry I even suggested that they could get to us. I just hate the thought of that lunatic being so close to all the people I love."
"At least your mother is now at her home and safely away from all of this." Van smiled and Hitomi smirked.
"Did you see how fast Dilandau shut his mouth when mum yelled at him?" Hitomi asked, barely holding in her laughter.
"I knew there was something about that woman I related to." Van stepped up behind Hitomi and placed his hands on her shoulders, "She loves you so much."
"And she loves you just as much." Hitomi smiled, "You're part of the family now."
Van kissed the top of her head and nodded, "I know. The only thing that's seriously bothering me is my own family. My mother, in truth, was the last thing on any world I expected to see."
"I know." Hitomi cupped the side of Van's face in her small hand, "But it isn't forever. Dilandau said so himself. She is here as a distraction and will fade as the magic weakens."
"But it's really her." Van whispered, "She spoke to me when you went to your mother's. She said she's seen my brother- in the White."
"Van-?"
"He made it." Van began to sob, "He made it through the shadows and found his way to the White."
Hitomi stood and held her husband in her arms, "Did she say anything else?" she asked quietly.
"Nothing else." Van managed to whisper into her neck.
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Allen walked the Halls. His mind was too full for even the thought of sleep. It had been days since he had last closed his eyes for more than a few minutes at a time.
Allen nodded to the guards he came across them and they nodded back. He knew that mean anything. He was being followed and he didn't blame the King at all. If their places had been reversed he would have locked his guests in their room as well as placed guards at their doors.
But then again Van had always been the fighter rather than the thinker. Allen could see that that was also changing since Hitomi came back into the picture.
The gaurds by the King's rooms shook their heads as he aproached, indicating that he couldn't go down that hall and the same thing happened when he came to the hall where his sister was staying.
So Van had started using his head more. Allen smiled to himself. Since Hitomi a lot had changed. The Draconian King had brought his kingdom back from dust and ashes and his people back from a life of wondering. Van had become a friend and ally to many distant lands and now, at a time when all could possibly crumble around him, Van had married the one person who was destined to save him. Hitomi saved him during the War and now she was there to save him from the demons Zaibach had started throwing his way.
Allen's training was the only thing that kept him from running the smaller person over when he rounded a corner. Allen stepped to the side and bowed to hide his distraction and surprise at Merle's sudden appearance.
"I just wanted you to know that if you do anything to hurt Hitomi or Van or anyone I care about you wont know what hit you." Merle stood with her arms crossed, her cat like features dark, "I don't care if you're better trained or bigger than me- I will make sure my family stays safe."
"I bring no ill to those you love. I came to warn them and offer whatever help I can." Allen was seriously proud of and impressed by the cat girl before him, finding it hard to place her as the pink haired, squealing ball of fur from four years ago. She had grown up, "The fact that Selena is my sister no longer matters. In my mind that thing you met today is no longer part of my family."
Merle nodded slowly, "Just remember that I am a Lady of Court and my orders are followed just as if I was the King's true sister."
"You are his sister." Allen bowed to her and continued on his way, unable to shake the dark look she had given him at the start of their conversation.
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Van sat back apon his throne and watched as his mother walked slowly around the room. She looked completely lost and her eyes had a frightened urgency in them.
"Lovely, isn't she?" Dilandau asked from the doorway, "We're not sure why she hasn't spoken. Zaiback's Magicians said that there might be some set back about bringing a spirit that's been at rest for 15 years back to this realm."
"Is this hurting her?- Her being here, I mean." Van asked, not taking his eyes off his wondering mother.
She seemed to be looking for something.
"Usualy the answer would be no but a Draconian spirit may be different from all the others. The Boss almost didn't let us bring her here. He was worried about her magical strength and what she might do. But as you can see, something went wrong when she crossed the gate from the White. She's not how she was ment to be." Dilandau's smirk and annoying laugh were gone. He stood in the doorway with three guards behind him and he looked almost human.
"When will she return to the White?" Van asked, speaking slowly incase Dilandau realized he was giving Van the answers that would ease his aching heart and worried mind.
"She should have returned by now." Dilandau stared at the dead Fanelian Queen, "We expected her to be gone by dinner last night. The spirits usualy use up what material energy they have and they fade back."
Van and Dilandau's attention shifted as the door at the far end of the hall, the one leading from the servant's stairs opened and HItomi walked in looking slightly annoyed.
"Have you seen Rosie?" she asked Van, "Pennin said she's been feeling ill and I can't find her to ask if she's feeling better. I've looked everywhere."
Van smiled and shook his head, "No, my love. I haven't seen Rosie."
Varie had turned and was staring blankly at Hitomi.
"Hello Varie." Hitomi bowed, normaly she would have curtsied but she was wearing pants and bowing was much easier.
"Hello." Varie whispered and Dilandau stepped entirely into the room, surprised by Varie's voice.
"Has it been nice seeing Van again?" Hitomi asked, trying to keep Varie talking.
Varie smiled and her face cleared. She looked as she had in the Memory Orbs. She nodded.
"Good." Hitomi stepped closer and smiled herself, "We are happy. You see that right?"
Another nod and smile.
"Then don't feel as if you have stay here." Hitomi reached out towards the other woman forgetting that she couldn't touch her, "Return to peace and to Folken and your husband."
Just before Hitomi's fingers would have slid through Varie's arm the dead Queen reached out and snatched Hitomi's hands in a very solid grip.
"Van!" Hitomi yelled as pain shot up her arms and into her chest.
'A gift from the Elders. A gift for your future.'
With a bright flash of golden light Varie was gone.
Hitomi stood clutching her hands together, trying to will the pain in her palms to stop.
"What the hell was that!" Dilandau yelled, trying to push past the guards to walk over to Hitomi who was now being held against Van's chest.
"Are you ok?" Van asked, taking Hitomi's hands to check her palms. Van's breath sucked in quickly be he managed to stay quiet and they both looked down at the silver marking's on Hitomi's hands.
"What does this mean?" Hitomi asked, feeling panic start to work it's way up her spine, "What does this mean, Van!" she yelled.
"I'm not sure but that looks like the writings from Atlantis." Van whispered directly into his wife's ear, "Please stay calm. We will figure this out too."
"She said it was a gift from the Elders." Hitomi said as she turned her large eyes up to Van.
Dilandau curse violently before turning on his heel and running from the room.
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The Autumn sun had turned the sky an orange red and the pale Fanelian palace reflected the fiery glow turning the city into a dream.
Van looked down at the gardens from his balcony. Christopher was on guard directly below and looked up every so often to see if his King needed him.
Everyone was worried and excited about the gift that had been given to Hitomi. News and gossip spread like wlidfire in Fanelia and Van had no doubt that by the time morning came there would be a group of people lined up at the palace doors asking for the new Queen to heal them, grant them wishes or bring rain to their crops.
Van turned to look in at his wife who was sleeping on their bed. The 'Gift' that his mother had bestowed on her had proven too much for her to handle and the Healer had to called in to give the Queen a sleeping tea.
The pain that Hitomi had felt when the gift was first given kept returning and the Queen had started to cry uncontrollably, muttering to herself in a tongue Van couldn't understand.
That last part Van hadn't told anyone. He didn't want people to think that a Draconian gift had turned the Queen's mind soft.
Hitomi shifted in her sleep and called his name softly. Van was at her side and whispering comforts to her as she took her next breath.
"Van..." Hitomi sighed and reached out towards the voice of her husband.
Van caught her hand gently, "I'm right here, my Love."
"I'm sorry." Hitomi opened her eyes sleepily.
"For what?" Van asked, smoothing her hair back.
"I didn't understand. I...I didn't understand." Hitomi took a deep breath and held her free hand, palm up, to him, "The Elders gave me something I didn't understand."
"And you undertsand now?" Van asked looking at the ancient silver letters that circled his wife's palm.
"I think they gave me Draconain gifts...Draconian blood."
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A/N: Ok, the last chapter was short and rushed- I hope this one makes up for that.