Happy After Turkey Day!! (In English, that means Happy Late Thanksgiving! ^_^) Okay, okay, I know that it's been a while sense I've updated, but you gotta understand that I have a very, very good excuse! (Actually you could say excuses…)
First, my computer went crazy! We had to take everything off (that meant deleting all of my files!) and then reprogram the entire computer! UGH!
Second, my Internet decided it was going to be a royal pain in the rear and it quit on me!
Third, my dad and I got sick! We were running fever, coughing, and everything else! Plus, I have this huge earache that just isn't going away!
And fourth, there was Thanksgiving and my family was here!
Whoo! Talk about two weeks! I'm telling you, they will be one to remember!
And I really am sorry about the late update, as you can tell, I've been trying to update at least once a week! And I guess I fell behind on this week, huh? *puts on puppy face* Don't be mad!!
Title: All For Love, Chapter Six
Author: Tevrah
Email: writergirl852@yahoo.com (drop me a line!)
***
Chapter Six
Tokishim. The last standing free city. At least in a certain sense. It was a kind of safe harbor for certain types of people who didn't want to be found. The emperor barely paid it any attention. In return for not burning it to the ground, the city had to pay a tribute to him, and he was satisfied with that, for the moment.
The city was large. It had tall buildings and small buildings, and each building had one thing in common: they were filled with filth on the outside and the inside. The busiest building would have to be the tavern in the middle of the city. The doors were always open wide for anyone who wanted a thrill. All sorts of characters hung out there, and it was the perfect place to look if you wanted information about something.
Red eyes took in the scenery of the inside of the tavern. It was loud and rambunctious to be sure, and one could hardly concentrate on anything, least of all trying to get information out of someone. But you could do anything with someone who was drunk.
Dilandau observed the tavern in silence. His silver hair was noticeable, as was his pale skin. He took a swing of his ale and licked his lips. Someone was going to die tonight, he just knew it. His hand twitched by his sword, and he made himself calm down.
A hand slipped on his shoulder and blood red fingernails played with his ear. "Looking for a good, soldier?" a seductive voice asked by his ear.
Dilandau turned and looked at the tavern wench. His lips curved up. The wench removed her hand and took a step back in fright. His eyes weren't normal. She took another step back and hurried away from him in fear.
Dilandau chuckled. She would have been a good whore. She knows her place. Maybe when his job was through he would come back and have a bit of fun with her. A loud laugh drew his attention to the table beside him.
"So just because the brat was taken, he goes and decides to play hero. But get this, he ends up saving this witch that happens to be the future bride of the emperor. And now he's honor-bound to marry her!"
The men at the table laughed.
"This Dragon sounds like a character," one of the men said.
Dilandau's interest had been captured. This was what he was looking for. He smiled. Killing time was near.
"What's the witch look like?" another man leered.
The spokesperson gulped down some more ale and laughed. "She's a beauty, that's for sure. Full breasts, pale skin, brown hair, green eyes. I bet she'd be great in bed."
The other men laughed. "Maybe you'll get to find out," one called and they laughed again.
The spokesman downed the rest of his drink and stood up, his chair falling to the ground. He swayed. "I gotta get back," he crowed. "I have a curfew."
The men laughed and watched as he stumbled out of the tavern. Dilandau got up and followed him. The man turned down an alley and Dilandau seized his chance. He withdrew his sword. The man turned around and saw Dilandau. He blinked his eyes and shook her head, convinced he was seeing things. He reached out his hand.
Dilandau brought his sword down, cutting the man's hand off. He screamed in agony and fell to his knees. Dilandau stalked toward him and the man tried to crawl away. Dilandau picked the man up by his shirt and threw him against he wall. He placed his sword at the man's throat.
"Where's the Dragon?" Dilandau asked.
"A-at the church," the man fairly screamed in terror. "Don't hurt me," he pleaded.
Dilandau smirked. "You won't feel a thing." He slit the man's throat and watched as he fell to the ground.
Koji was dead.
Dilandau sighed. He was getting too soft in his olden years. He kicked the man with his foot and walked away, placing his sword back at his hip.
Cowards always were too easy of a kill.
***
Hitomi tried to stay on the horse at its neck-braking speed. Her arms were still wrapped around Van's middle and they were beginning to get tired as she tried to keep her distance from him but hold on for dear life at the same time. A small church was in the distance and a knot began to form in her stomach.
She was getting married.
Correction, she was being forced to get married. She should have felt anger, but the only thing she could feel was dread. Dear God, she was getting married. No choice, and no getting out of it.
She wanted to scream.
The horse slowed and then stopped at the side of the church. The church was far from the loud filthy city. The two travelers had gone the back way. It was a harder ride, but it was safer and quieter.
Van dismounted and tied the reins to a lone post that stood in front of the church. He turned back around and lifted Hitomi to the ground. He set her down gently but kept his hands loosely around her waist. She stretched her legs as discreetly as possible. Her backside felt like it had just been scraped across splintered wood.
Van hid his grin as he watched Hitomi stretch. She had her eyes closed and was lifting her feet slowly. She suddenly opened her eyes and caught him staring at her. She had the most beautiful green eyes he had ever seen. Wait a minute where had that come from? Okay, sure she had a few nice-looking qualities, but beautiful? He had to get a grip.
Hitomi stared at Van's face, trying to figure out what he was thinking. He had the worst frown on his face. He suddenly let go of her waist and walked away. She almost stumbled from the abrupt way he had let her go but managed to catch herself. Now what was wrong with him? He went to the church and knocked three times on the door. Hitomi walked to stand behind him.
The small latch on the door opened and a voice called out, "Who knocks?"
"It's me, Ruhm," Van said.
"Dragon?" the voice said. The latch closed and the door was opened.
Van and Hitomi were ushered in and the door was closed and locked behind them. Hitomi looked around in wonder. On the outside the church looked run-down, and old. On the inside however, it was an entirely different story. It was beautiful. There were paintings on the walls and ceilings. Knickknacks adorned shelves that were everywhere. At the alter, there was a beautiful picture of Jesa, their one and only god.
Van was talking to a monk and Hitomi turned just in time to see the monk take off his hood. She gasped. He was a wolf-man. Hitomi thought they were extinct. She never imagined to see one up close.
The monk was staring at her. He bowed. "My name is Ruhm, madam. I am the head monk with our church. 'Tis a pleasure to meet you."
Hitomi shook herself out of her stupor and managed a curtsy. "Hitomi," she said quietly.
"I need you to marry us," Van said, getting to the first part of his visit.
Ruhm's eyebrows rose. He looked at Van and then Hitomi. "Very well," he said. He had learned to never ask questions and to just keep his mouth shut. He just never expected to be marrying the Dragon one day. And to a lovely young woman at that. But it was none of his business, so he walked to the alter and took his place.
Van and Hitomi walked to stand before him. He began with the standard marriage speech, and then asked Van if he would take Hitomi as his wife.
"Yes," Van said impatiently. He was ready to get this over with.
Then Ruhm asked Hitomi if she would take Van to be her husband. She didn't say a word. Van reached out to her. She flinched and quickly said, "Okay."
Van's hand fell to his side again. Ruhm finished the marriage in record time. When Ruhm told Van to kiss the bride, he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. It happened so quickly that it was almost as though he hadn't kissed her at all. Hitomi was officially Mrs. Van Fanel.
She wanted to throw up.
Ruhm stepped down from the alter. "Congratulations," he said. This had to be the oddest ceremony he had ever preformed. The groom looked like he was bored out of his mind, and the bride looked like she was going to be sick. He cleared his throat. "Did you want to see the scroll?" he said.
Van nodded. "Yes. I'm interested as to why you think this is so important for the rebel cause."
"It may turn the tables for your favor," Ruhm said. He turned and went to a door behind the picture of Jesa. He touched it lightly and it opened silently. If she hadn't seen it, Hitomi wouldn't have thought it was there.
Van turned to Hitomi as Ruhm disappeared through the door. "Do not move from this room," he ordered, then turned and followed Ruhm through the door.
He walked into a small and cluttered room and watched as Ruhm fished through all of the papers cluttering the small table in the center of the small room. Finally he straightened up with a parchment in his hands. He spread it on top of the desk and motioned Van closer.
"It's a map," Ruhm explained. "I just happened to come across it when I was going through Master Veno's things." Master Veno had been the head monk before Ruhm.
"What's so important about it?" Van asked. It seemed like a regular map to him.
"This map may look ordinary, but that is far from the truth," Ruhm answered. "It is the only map that leads to the Mystic Valley."
Van looked at him. "The Mystic Valley? Ruhm, that's a myth. Everyone knows it."
Ruhm shook his head. "I know, I know, but just look at all of these markings and the key. This map is for real. I'm telling you, the Mystic Valley is not a myth. It is truth, and it could be the key you need to put an end to the emperor's reign."
Van studied the map intently. He finally sighed. "Look, I'll give it a shot. I'll put it to the other rebels and see what we can come up with." He rolled the map up and placed it on the inside of his waistband to his pants. He reached out a hand to Ruhm and clasped him to the elbow. "It was good seeing you again."
"And you as well," Ruhm said. "Perhaps now that you are married, I shall see a lot more of you?"
Van shrugged.
Ruhm smiled at his friend's answer and shook his head. "Take care of her Van. I'd wager she needs it more than anyone of us will ever know."
***
Hitomi swallowed. Her life just kept getting worse and worse. She walked up to the alter and ran her hand over the smooth wood. She sighed. Kneeling down, she clasped her hands and prayed.
"Jesa, I know I haven't spoken with you in a while, and I'm sorry about that. I guess I'm still a bit mad with you over the fact that you didn't answer my prayers as a child when I wanted someone to come and take me away from Allen. I know I don't have a right to be angry with you, really I do, it's just that I wanted to be free so badly, and there was no one there to help me.
You know, I think that's why I helped Chid. I could feel is pain, and it was so familiar to me. It was my pain. I couldn't let him face this world like that because I know how it feels to be alone. He didn't deserve that. He's a sweet child, so alive, and so loved. Please don't let him be scared by what little time he did have to face the world alone. He's so small.
And please help Millerna and the baby. I've only known them for a small amount of time, but Millerna is so nice and kind. Even through everything that she's been through because she's a draconian, she still has a good heart. And that's all that counts, right?
Now, Jesa, I don't mean to second-guess you or anything like that at all, but I would really like to know the reason why it was in your plans for me to marry Van. He's so…cold. I don't know what I'm going to do. At least when I was at the castle, I didn't have to be afraid about being physically abused. I knew that no one would hurt me, but with Van…it's different, Jesa. And I'm scared. Probably just as scared as I was when I arrived at the castle. I just want to be happy. Is that too much to ask?
I'm sorry if my prayer has made you angry or upset, but I know you like honesty, so I tried to be as honest as possible. Thank you for listening. Amen."
Hitomi sat down and leaned against the alter. Now what was she going to do?
In the shadows behind her, Van closed his eyes. Anyone with half a brain would have been able to hear the fear in her voice. And he knew he was the cause of it. He had only caught half of her prayer, but it had done something to him. For as long as he could remember he had been on his own. Relying on no one but himself. He didn't even rely on Merle. He loved her like as sister, sure, but she was still so young, and didn't deserve burdens like the ones he had. That's why he had saved her. That's why he protected her. But Hitomi was different. In her prayer, she had sounded lost, and he could relate to that, but he didn't what to do with her. He knew he had to protect her, no...he wanted to protect her. He withheld a groan. He was getting a headache.
The door to the church was suddenly thrown open. Hitomi turned around and saw a shadow standing in the doorway. She was suddenly pushed behind Van's large body and the shadow was taken from her sight.
"Oh, am I late for the wedding?" a singsong voice called out. Hitomi shivered and got closer to Van's protective presence. That voice sounded purely evil. "Too bad," the voice continued. It was getting closer, and Hitomi got as close to Van as she possibly could. What did the owner of the voice want from them?
Van could feel Hitomi's shivering frame pressed up against his back. He knew she was frightened, and for some reason that that thought alone made him want to kill the newcomer in the church.
The man came into the light just as Hitomi gathered enough courage to look around Van's shoulder. She gasped in fear. The man had the palest skin she had ever seen, and his hair was completely silver. But that wasn't what frightened her. No, it was the man's eyes. They were blood red. And they were filled with evil.
Van felt Hitomi clutch his arm tightly. He reached his arm behind his back and wrapped his around her waist, pulling her closer to his back. "Who are you?" he called out with a voice filled with authority. "What do you want?"
The man laughed. "My name is Dilandau, and I've come for the little bird hiding behind your back," he said. "The Emperor would like her back quite badly."
"Over my dead body," Van growled.
Dilandau's eyes flashed and his lips turned up. "Oh, not to worry, you'll be dead long before he gets her back."
"Stop!" Ruhm's voice shouted. He came to stand behind Hitomi. "This is a holy place. There must not be any blood shed here." There was a flash of silver, and then suddenly Ruhm cried out in pain. Dilandau's dagger was in the monk's stomach. Ruhm crumpled to the floor, crashing into a stand of lit candles.
"Ruhm!" Van shouted. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched his friend fall to the ground. The lit candles fell onto a cloth covering the wall and the flames began to eat their way up.
Van pushed Hitomi back out of his way and drew his sword. He charged toward Dilandau and was met with the sound of steel on steel. With every blow he would make, Dilandau would block. The fire and smoke was making it more and more difficult to see and when he finally managed to knock Dilandau back, he lost sight of his opponent completely. He turned in a complete circle, but couldn't find him.
"Van!" Hitomi's voice screamed.
He turned around and sliced his sword up. An agonized scream followed. Dilandau fell to the ground with his hand covering his cut cheek. His face would be scarred for life.
Van heard Hitomi scream again. He turned around and saw the flames surrounding her. Without a second thought, he jumped through the fire to her. He took her in his arms to protect her as he frantically looked for a way out. The roof was collapsing and the beams were falling all around them. He held her tightly as his mind figured out that there was no way out. "I'm sorry," he whispered to her.
Hitomi closed her eyes. No! They had to get out of here! She refused to die like this! She wouldn't die like her mother. Suddenly, her pendant began to glow and a bright light surrounded them. They were picked up higher and higher until they disappeared from sight.
Down below, watching them disappear into the sky, in his burned clothes and bleeding cheek, Dilandau vowed, "You'll pay for this, Dragon, you'll pay."
Okay, so what did you think? And just for taking so long to update my story, I'm gonna give you guys a preview of one of my next stories:
Title: Blessed
Summary: (A/U) Van and Hitomi were married through an arranged marriage. Three years later, they have a son. Will the trials of life and jealousies of others bring them together or tear them apart?
Genre: Romance/?
A bit of chapter one:
The carriage traveled smoothly over the well-worn road. An escort rode beside the carriage, with the knights sitting proudly upon their steeds. Each knight carried a sword at his hip that had the emblem of a dragon carved on the hilt.
City gates loomed up ahead and the knights straightened their backs even more. They were almost home. It had taken a full week to bring the precious treasure from the far away kingdom, but it had been worth the trouble and distance traveled. Fanelia would now be whole.
There were no cheers as the carriage rode through the capital city of Adom, only curious looks as the people went about their lives. Who was in the carriage, many wondered. The carriage came to a stop at the castle steps. The knight riding in front of the escort dismounted from his horse and proudly strode to the carriage. He opened the door and offered his hand, bowing low.
A gloved hand reached out and took the knight's offered hand. A lithe body stepped out of the carriage and extracted her hand from the knight beside her. She kept her face to the ground, a veil covering her face and hair.
"Right this way," the knight said and walked up the palace steps with the woman following behind him.
The inside of the castle was huge. The walls were extraordinarily carved with beautiful pictures and symbols, but the woman took no heed of that, keeping her face down. The knight led her to two massive wooden doors and ordered the two guarding soldiers to open them.
Van Fanel, King of Fanelia, raised his head when the doors to the throne room opened. His sword was resting against his hip as always and he clasped his hands behind his back as he waited for his expected company. His trusted knight, Jon walked in, leading a woman behind him. The veil and dress showed nothing of the woman's face or skin. She was covered from head to foot with layers of clothing.
Jon walked to stand in front of Van and bowed low at the waist. He then stepped aside and said, "May I present the Princess Hitomi Iris av Kanzaki of Kanzakia, the future Queen of Fanelia."
The woman curtsied. Van bowed in kind. "Welcome to Fanelia, your new home," he greeted regally. He wished that he could ask her to take her veil off so that he could see her face, but he knew he couldn't.
It was a known custom in Kanzakia that a girl was not to show her face to any man until her wedding night, for the first man to see her face should be her husband. Woman spent a great deal of their lives in solitude in Kanzakia.
Van motioned to a maid hovering close by. "See to the princess's needs," he ordered. The maid bowed.
He turned back to his future bride. "The servants will see to your comfort. If you need anything, let them know."
The woman stood as still and silent as a statue. Yet another Kanzakia custom. No man could hear the girl's voice until she was married. Van withheld a sigh and watched as the princess Hitomi left with the maid.
He turned to Jon. "Was the journey difficult?"
Jon shook his head. "Nay, my lord, it was not. To be honest with you, it was as though we were merely escorting a statue in the carriage."
Van nodded. "Kanzakia customs are strange to be sure, but this alliance is needed. Kanzakia is a land of bronze and copper. Our weapons and walls could use all of the support offered."
Jon nodded. "Yes, my liege."
"Rest, Jon," Van ordered. "We must all be prepared for the wedding tomorrow."
Jon bowed and did as he was told to do. Van sighed and looked up to the massive thrones. A king and queen would once again sit in them as his mother and father had. Turning his mind from memories of the past, Van placed an impassive expression on his face and returned to his duties. He had no time for such thoughts.
Memories only held pain.
What do you guys think? Good? Bad? I hope you like it! When I finish with the chapter one of the other story I'm working on, I'll probably give you a teaser too! Luv ya! Tevrah ^_^