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Tar watched from the roof as the young Queen and her friend walked around the gardens and then out of sight. Normally when dealing with Queens Tar would have felt the need to be within arms length had they left the palace, but he knew Hitomi could easily take care of herself and Rosie if the need presented it self.
A few birds changed course when they sented Tar on the fall wind. They looked fat and tastey but the dragon knew that killing without dire need was wrong in Fanelia. Sure the humans cooked and ate meat at least once a day but if they started finding the remains of birds and other small critters they would be upset.
Most dragons wouldn't have thought that far ahead. That's what made Tar one of the Inbetweens. Not only was he aware of what was happening beyond his hunger but he could think of what would result from hastey actions.
Tar was a Bonded Dragon. Bonded Dragons have the sense of what is right and what is wrong. Wild dragons hardly give thought to the world around them unless it is to hunt, and then humans and their live stock are usualy in danger.
While still in the egg Dragons are tested by the older Inbetweens to see if they have those senses needed to be one of them.
Tar obviously passed the test because his egg was taken from the nest his mother built and hatched in the comfort of the true Inbetween.
Sighing Tar rolled over onto his back, exposing his paler under belly. Hitomi called it his 'cat scratch' spot because it was one of the places he had trouble reaching when an itch appeared. The Queen had taken to scratching his belly in the evenings while Van sat across the room cleaning his sword.
Of all the humans Tar had met he really enjoyed their company. they didn't treat him as a servant like most. Whenever a 'Luck Dragon' showed up most people thought it was for their pleasure and took to ordering Tar about like some ignorant child who couldn't think for himself. Those families usualy got what was coming to them. Not by Tar's hand/claw of course but by whatever it was that he was there to warn them about.
Hitomi let Tar sit on her shoulders as she went about her day, talking to him as though he was her dearest friend and Van would sit down and tell Tar about the council meetings and politics without ever acting as though Tar was different than any of the men who served the King as friends and advisor.
"I see you found my hiding spot." Van said with a grin as he sat next to Taridian.
"I was watching Hitomi leave with Rosie. From up here I can see everything that could possibly harm them." Tar rolled back over, embarrassed that the King had found him in such a way.
"We think alike." Van's smile widened, "I came up to keep an eye on my wife. I worry about her more than I'm willing to admit to her face. I'm afraid she'd think me obsessive."
"I doubt it." Tar leaned against Van's leg, "If being fearfull for your loved one's safety is obsessive then men greater then you have obsessed their lives away."
They fell silent as the winds picked up and every now and then they could hear Hitomi and Rosie's laughter carried to them.
"Are we in danger, Taridian?" van asked, his eyes on the forest where his wife was.
"Danger never leaves, My King." Tar sniffed the air, "There are always shadows to blot the happy sunny days." Tar pointed down to the yards at Selena and Dilandua who seemed to be in a heated, yet quiet arguement, "When all of this is over they will die." Tar then pointed to the villiage, "Your people are begining to grow uneasy with the attacks and surprises. Some will leave only to find death on the roads out of here."
"That's horrible. Can we do anything to change that?" Van asked, a bit unsettled by how casually Tar was saying all of this.
"Enforce the boarder guard. They have been slacking. That's how the soldiers made their way into your kingdom. Do what you can to reasure everyone of their safety here. It'll be worse for them if they leave." Tar looked at Van. knowing there was something else he wanted to ask.
"And what of Hitomi and I?"
"You shall be injured. It wont be life threatening but if you are not carefull Hitomi could slip away. Not by her choice of course. If you guard her well and treat her as your equal at the end of this, if not sooner another change will come." Tar watched Van think all that over.
"Will the change be good or bad?" Van asked, hoping it was the right question.
"That has yet to be seen." Tar shrugged, "But I see more light than darkness if you do things as I told you. That's why I am here- to protect the draconian King and Queen. That's why I was sent to you."
"Thank you, Taridian." and at the moment Van was truely gratefull. He had never been so happy to have help before in his life. With Tar around they had more of a chance of winning whatever battles they would be facing.
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Hitomi ran her finger through her hair, trying not to sigh. Her head hurt and Albert's voice was going right through her head.
And he droned oooooooonnnn and oooooooooooooooooooonnnnn. Hitomi managed to spcae out, trying to save her head from the sound of the councilor's voice.
"The Queen's mother is expected to be present at the royal wedding." was what Hitomi heard before the room went silent.
Looking up Hitomi found everyone looking at her.
"She'll be there. Just try to keep her away." Hitomi reached out and found Van's hand, "Can we finish this another day? My head is splitting."
"Of course." Van stood up, pulling Hitomi's chair out for her. He was worried and he knew she could see it, "We will continue this in two days, gentlemen."
"I'm ok, Van." Hitomi said as soon as they were out in the hall, "It's just a head ache."
The planning had been extremely boring because they were already married but it was something that had to be done. Van wasn't happy to have to sit back and pretend he was interested in all that the council was doing. They were pulling out all the stops just to spite the King for marrying without their aproval.
"Did you hear that you'll be walking down the aisle completely hidden by a veil of white and gold?" Van asked as they made their way into the bedroom.
It seemed that they spent most of their time in there hiding from the council.
"No." Hitomi laughed and stopped quickly putting her hand on her head, "Ouch. Laughing wasn't a wise idea."
Van helped Hitomi take her shoes off and unlaced her dress to let her nap in her slip.
"Queen's haven't worn hiding viels in years. It was popular for arranged weddings because the parents wanted everything to be new for the future couple." Van said as he gently ran his fingers through Hitomi's hair, knowing how much she loved it.
"Even what their face looked like?" Hitomi asked and Van nodded, "Wow, Gaians are- were crazy."
"What do you mean 'are'?" Van asked raising his eye brow.
"I said 'were'." Hitomi smiled, "I started to say 'are' but caught myself. I promise I really ment to say 'were'."
"I hope so." Van grinned, "Going around saying that your people are crazy really isn't the best way to convince them that this is a safe and happy place to live."
"Did you do as Tar suggested?" Hitomi asked, rolling on to her back so Van's fingers would reach her temples easier.
"Yes." Van looked down at his wife, "I sent Christopher to the border with some of the soldiers Chid sent to aid us. They arrived just before you came back from your walk."
"Rosie and I saw them." Hitomi closed her eyes, "We also saw Selena out in the woods. She didn't see us but she was certainly looking to see if she was being followed."
"Do you think she was going to meet someone?" Van asked.
"Yes. That's exactly what I think and when we came back we found Dilandau sulking in the gardens."
Van thought this over, his hand coming to rest on Hitomi's stomack and decided as soon as he could he'd have Tren following the pale haired woman everywhere the knight could manage to go.
As he turned back to his wife to tell her the plan Van smiled. Hitomi had pulled a pillow over her head as soon as Van's fingers had stopped their treatment.
"Are you sure you're ok?" he asked laying down next to her to peek under the pillow at her eyes.
"I'm fine. Will you get me some strong tea and the white bottle in my duffle bag?"
Van kneeled beside the bed and pulled out the duffle bag. The only items still in it were medicines and things Hitomi needed during her 'woman problems'. The Fanelian King tossed aside a box of tampons, completely unaware of what they were (he'd yet to the courage to ask Hitomi what their use was) and found three white bottle. He handed the one that felt the lightest to Hitomi and sat back on his heels to watch her take the medicine witha glass of water.
"And now tea?" he asked.
"Please, with just a little bit of sugar." Hitomi retreated back under the pillow.
Hitomi heard Van leave and then heard the balcony door open. There was only one person who ever used that door.
"Are you ill, My Queen?" Tar asked, sliding under the pillow to lay across Hitomi's neck.
"It's just a head ache, my friend." Hitomi smiled with her eyes closed, knowing he saw it, "Van just left to get me some tea."
"I'll keep watch over you while you rest." the dragon said, pushing his head out to where he could see but kept his cool, smooth body on Hitomi's neck.
"Is there something wrong?" Hitomi asked.
"Just a small distrubance in the air. Nothing big. I just want to make sure you are fine." Taridian kept his voice light and Hitomi figured that he'd would tell her what she needed to know when she needed to know it.
An unnatural silence fell and Hitomi felt Tar stiffen.
"I think you should go to the gardens." he said, pushing the pillow away from Hitomi's face, "Be silent and hurry."
He didn't have to tell her twice.
Hitomi was up and sprinting down the stairs in her slip.
"The dragons have come out of the forests!" someone yelled and another person quickly shushed them.
"Do you want to attract their attention, you fool?" hissed another person.
The doors to the garden were open and Hitomi could see for herself that the dragons had indeed ventured out of the woods. She waited for a large brownish green dragon to to turn his back on the palace before she silently stepped out through the doors. Imediately Hitomi felt Dilandau trapped in the open, surrounded by three dragons who had yet to pay any attention to him.
Walking quickly Hitomi kept her mind blank and peacefull as she turned the corner to find the blonde maniac standing next to the front fountain. A rather old, large dragon was slowly making his way to Dilandau as he sensed the fear that was building inside the albino's mind. Hitomi sidestepped a swinging tail and made her way over to Dilandau.
"Relax your mind." she whispered as she took a hold of Dilandau's arm, "They feel your fear and your want to fight."
"Why are you helping me?" Dilandau asked in complete shock, his eyes going wide.
"If you die Zaibach could declare war. They won't care how you died just that they have a reason to attack us." Hitomi pulled on his arm, keeping her sight on the ever approaching dragon's, "Now move."
Dilandau came willingly once he saw just how close the large land dragon's were getting.
"Hitomi!" Van whispered, standing on the balcony of their room. He threw his tumbling emotions into the word and tried to push it into her mind, "Come to me."
Hitomi looked up at Van, feeling him rather than hearing him, then turned to Dilandau, "Whatever you do don't let go."
She didn't give him time to think about her words she just took a step forward and up.
Dilandau gasped when he realised that they were walking on the air.
"Just be happy I didn't decide to fly you up there." Hitomi smiled, "Then you'd have something to worry about."
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"Why are the dragons wondering?" Christopher asked. He like a few others had been caught outsides when the dragons appeared. Many of them made it to the stables and were calming the horses when Hitomi came to get them inside.
The sun had just set and the dark outlines of the land dragons could still be seen as they lumbered around Fanelia.
"We're not sure." Dryden said, running his hands through his hair, "They usualy stick to their woods and only travel for mating."
"But mating season is over." Van said, leaning forward to look at the map of his kingdom, "It was said that they came from the east."
"Then what drove them out?" Hitomi asked.
The room went silent as they all thought about this.
"I don't want to know what could scare a dragon into leaving it's land." Dilandau said as he and Selena looked at each other.
Despite their recent arguements they seemed just as surprised and shook up by the day's events.
"Would Zaibach have anything to do with this?" Hitomi asked, watching as they both stared at the the other.
"Not unless he knows something I don't." Selena said with a sneer and nod to Dilanadau.
"Me!" Dilandau laughed, "You're the one who hasn't been telling me anything, sister!" Dilandau turned and looked right into Hitomi's eyes, "Do you think I would have been caught in the middle of them had I known the dragons were coming?"
"No." Hitomi gave him a small smile. He had been very frightened earier, "No, I really don't think you would have."
"Then what do we do?" Selena demanded.
"We go into the forest." Van said and everyone turned to look at him, hoping he was joking, "We find what's been upsetting the dragons and fix it before they start to ravage Fanelia and other kingdoms in their path."
"But the wedding!" Albert said from the back of the room where he and the other council members had been having their own discussion about the dragons.
"We move the wedding back." Van said, glancing at Hitomi who nodded in agreement.
"The wedding can wait. We must find the problem in Fanelia's forests." Hitomi sighed feeling her head ache still lingering in the back of her head.
"Myself, Hitomi, Dryden, a few knights, and Selena and Dilandau, if they wish, will head out tomorrow night. This must be fixed before they kill our crops and poison our rivers with their fueding." Van looked around the room as he named people off, "Dryden, I know you are a worried about your wife and child but your taste for rather forgotten facts and myths may come in handy but you can stay here if you wish- I would like to have someone watch over my home. Either way you will be doing me a favor."
"I will think it over, Van." Dryden smiled sadly, looking at his wife.
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A/N: Sorry once again for my random updates. I hope you all enjoyed this. REVIEW!
I haven't a lot of time to sit and type anyomore with two jobs but I'm doing my best. Also I leave tomorrow to go see Scott. I'll be staying the whole weekend so my response to your reviews will be late.