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The shirt felt too tight across her back and her muscles were screaming with every step. Who would have thought that flying would leave you in so much pain.
Hitomi frowned at the floor as she kept pace with Van. He had explained that her body would have to get use to being used in a different way and that she would indeed be sore for a day or two. He didn't mention how most of her discomfort was due to the fall she had taken just moments after becoming air born. He was too kind for that. Instead her helped her into a hot bath and then into some clean clothes for their meeting with the newly returned Council.
Van stepped forward and pushed the doors open before the guards could move to do so for them. It wasn't a King's place to be opening his own doors but then again Van wasn't the type of King to let others wait on him hand and foot.
Hitomi had to bite back the laugh that threatened to escape when she saw Albert glaring across the room at Selena and Dilandau. Of course the councilors knew who they were but Van hadn't told anyone why they had been invited to the council meeting.
"It's good to see that you all have returned safely from your trips." Van said as he walked to the head of the long table, causing everyone to fall silent, "I'm sorry to keep you from unpacking but there is an issue that must be discussed now."
Everyone, even Albert looked up at Van but it was Hitomi who spoke.
"Gentlemen, during your absense a few things have changed. As you may have been told we have an ally Queen guesting with us along with her family. What you may not have been told however is that the biggest change has come in the form of blood." Hitomi held out her hands, the silver writing catching everyone's eye. Dilandau sat up a bit straighter to get a better look.
Van told the story of the Twins' arrival and the surprise they brought. The council gasped and Van had to call their attention back to him. The rest of the story came out quickly and easily. Van and Hitomi had spent an hour or so going over wjat would be said and what would be left out.
"Hitomi seems to be perfectly healthy." Van said with a smile as the room fell silent for half a second before the council members started talking all at once.
"How do you know she is healthy?-"
"How can this be?-"
"This is ridiculous! Prove it!" This last one was Albert, who had turned an ugly shade of puce.
"Prove her health?" Van asked, not confused in the least. He knew what this was about.
"Prove that she is Draconian!" Albert yelled.
"I won't." Hitomi said straight to Albert, "Draconian wings are sacred. They are only shown in trust and friendship. I neither trust you nor count you as a friend."
The room fell silent beyond comfort.
Dilandau shifted and Selena's head snapped to the side to glare him into stillness.
"And you two." Hitomi said, standing closer to her husband so the table full of people stretched out before them, "As ambassador's you are doing a very poor job. You have yet to ask for an audience with my Husband or myself to state why it is that your country sent you here."
"You may state your bussiness now, here in front of Fanelia's council or you may return to Zaibach's dark shadow." Van locked eye's with Selena, knowing that she was one in charge. No one in their right minds would ever put Dilandau in charge- not after the War.
"We've come to discuss trade routes." Selena said after a small glaring contest with Van, "Zaibach, while once a powerfull army is now a struggling country. We need supplies and fresh water."
Van nodded his head, "Very well. We will talk about this tomorrow after lunch."
Dilandau bristled at being dimissed so but Selena stood, indicating that they were leaving and he was forced to follow. The last thing he wanted was another arguement with her.
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Van turned onto his back and scooted over, reaching for Hitomi's warmth. Lately the only way he could sleep was if he was touching his wife. It didn't matter if it was just his hand on her arm or their shoulder's touching. He couldn't sleep if she was out of reach. Most nights he ended up sleeping butt to butt with her.
His dreams had been rough and shifty. Everytime he woke up tense and couldn't remember what the dream had been about. The only thing he could remember was the horrid feeling they left lingering in his mind.
Movement just outside the balcony doors caught Van's attention. He pulled away from Hitomi slowly, carefull not to wake her as he reached for his ever present sword. The door was ony four or five feet from the bed and Van kept to the shadows, his eyes on the moon lit balcony. The entire area was clearly lit with pale light and Van could see nothing. He stood just watching, waiting for anything. When nothing happened Van cracked open one door and stuck half his body out to see if there were any animals crawling around out there.
He saw nothing.
A cool breeze picked up and sent Van hurrying back to the warmth of his bed.
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Hitomi flinched in her sleep and frowned.
There it was again- a small pin prick of pain on her top lip.
Hitomi rubbed at her eyes and brought her hand down on something warm and scaley.
Scaley?
Hitomi opened her eyes and screamed.
There on her chest lay a golden dragon the size of a large Earth cat.
The dragon screamed when Hitomi screamed and ran to the head board where he climbed up one a wall hanging.
"What are you screeching about!" the dragon asked, breathless.
"You frightened me!" Hitomi nearly yelled.
"What's wrong?" Van came sliding into the room, half dressed with his sword drawn.
"Sorry, m'Lord." Hitomi didn't know if she should laugh or cry at the dragon's perfect, gentlemenly voice. She felt as though she were suddenly loosing her mind, "I seemed to have scared your wife." the dragon bowed to Van and then to Hitomi, "My deepest apologies."
"Huh." Van smiled, "I haven't seen one of you since I was little."
"Actually, you saw me." the dragon bowed again, "My name is Taridian and I was here checking up on things on this side of the universe."
"They're called Luck Dragons." Van said to a very lost looking Hitomi.
"We are more commonly known as the Inbetweens." a smile curved Taridian's repitilian face, "We are niether here nor there. I recieved a request that I come stay in Fanelia as a friend to the new Queen."
"Friend to the Queen?" Van asked. Nothing like this had ever happened in Gaea's history.
"I've had a special request that I stay here."
"From who?" Van asked.
"I'm not exactly sure but I want you to know that it has to do with the changes that have been coming to Fanelia."
"But where are you from?" Hitomi asked, still feeling as though her mind was slowly slipping away from her.
"Here, there and everywhere." Taridian gave her a small dragon smile, "We come from the inbetween. We travel back and forth keeping tabs on how things are progressing in many different places."
"I never saw a dragon on Earth." Hitomi said slowly.
"Of course not, my dear. We don't want to cause a stir, but then again a few of our ancestors were seen. they never were all that carefull back then. How else do you think Earth came up with all it's Dragon mythology?"
Hitomi didn't know how to answer that.
"If you want to stay you may stay Taridian." Van smiled, "We could use all the friends we can get with Zaibach's ambassadors sitting just down the hall."
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Hitomi was confused by Taridian's sudden arrival and the rest of the day just seemed to go downhill.
The counsil called Van and Hitomi into a meeting where it seemed that all they were doing was trying to convince themselves that they still held some power in Fanelia.
After the meeting Van left Hitomi to go speak with Selena and Dilandua. He and Dryden decided that the two of them would sit and talk with Zaibach's trusted diplomats with a few guards present.
This left Hitomi with nothing to do. She was walking back to her room when she decided to see what Millerna was doing. At the very least Hitomi could take Inda for a while to give Millerna a rest. The Asturia Queen had been looking rather tired the past two days and Hitomi was thinking that maybe a nap would do her friend some good.
Half way there Hitomi realized that Taridian was following her.
"What's wrong, friend?" Hitomi asked, stopping to let him catch up.
"I'm not use to staying in one place. I thought maybe a look around would do to take up the afternoon, but I'm bored and it's only 2." Taridian came and sat by Hitomi's feet with his wings folded tight against his small body, "I must say though, I believe I scared the plae blonde twins when I came apon them in the garden. "
"I would have enjoyed that very much." Hitomi laughed, "What was is it they seemed to be doing?"
"They were trying to get a letter sent back to their 'Captain'. I believe that's what they called him." Taridian frowned as he turned to look up at Hitomi, "They made it sound as though he wasn't far away."
"Van has said that he thought there were more Zaibach soldiers in Fanelia." Hitomi tucked Taridian's information away for later when she would be able to speak to Van.
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Hitomi spent the afternoon with Taridian and Inda. Tina and Merle had come to visit once they heard that there was a Luck Dragon now staying in the palace and Merle asked a million questions before Hitomi asked her to give Tar a break.
Tar, as Taridian informed her, was his nick name given to him by the other 'inbetweens'.
"Our full names are only known by ourselves and our mothers." Taridain said as let Inda crawl over him.
The young Princess was very intrigued with Tar and his shiny scales. Tar had more patience than Hitomi had thought Dragons were capable of.
"You said something this morning about the changes that have been happening. How much do you know about all of this?" Hitomi asked, steadying Inda as she ran as fast as her little legs could carry her.
"More than most would think." Tar said, fluttering up onto the table by Hitomi's left elbow, "Centuries ago we were known by many cultures as Shadow Gliders. No one was ever sure that we were really there but our knowledge was well known by all. Kings and soldiers use to pray to us for guidance."
"Did you ever give them any?" Hitomi asked, watching Inda as she stumbled, righted herself and then kept up with her run around the room.
"A few, but only those who deserved it." Taridian stepped closer to Hitomi and placed one clawed foot on her arm, "Fanelia is a great Kingdom. We don't want to see it fall."
Hitomi looked down into Tar's eyes, noticing that they were a silvery purple, "It won't fall. Too much has happened for us to let it fall. This is now my home. I can't go back to Earth. Not with wings."
"You are a white Dragon now." Taridain climbed up Hitomi's arm and settled around her neck, his head coming to rest on her right shoulder.
"And as a Dragon I will protect those that I love." Hitomi stood and caught Inda by the hand.
"Just as you should." Hitomi felt Tar nod, "You will make a fine Dragon, my Queen. We've never had any doubts about that."
"Well, as long as you think so." Hitomi smiled and picked Inda up.
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A/N: Thank you all for being patient with me. Writer's block seems to be connected to stress and let me tell you I've had a Hellish week. I'm surprised I'm not scorched and smoking. I'll try to update again soon. Thank you all again.
Shadow Glider: I love storms. I live in NH and the mountains bounce the storms back and forth. Thanks for always reviewing. I love getting your reviews and I'm only replying to you because I'm rather moddy and stressed. I've no patience for more typing.
I still love all my reviewers. I'll respond to you all next time. I love you!