On A Wing and A Prayer

by aefrae21

One year after the end of the Escaflowne TV series peace has come to Fanelia, but Van is not at ease. Hitomi returns to Gaea, but not without complications. Two fragile hearts once saved an entire planet, but can they save themselves?

6. The Truth

"On a Wing and a Prayer"

An Escaflowne Fanfiction by aefrae21

The Truth

Author's Notes: It's final chapter time! Now, I realize that this whole thoughts and talking stuff gets really confusing. Remember, "things in double quotes are talking" and 'things in single quotes are thoughts.' Enjoy!

Hitomi faced the knight with pleading eyes. "Allen, please, I need you to leave."
"But why?"

"Because I need to speak to Van alone." She said sternly, her features steeled.

"Okay." He bowed. "I understand." With that, he walked away.

Her attention fell back to Van. 'I was waiting to talk to you, and Allen showed up.'

He faltered. 'Why should I believe you?'

It stung. Hitomi felt like he'd just stabbed her with his blade. 'I'll prove it. Did Millerna tell you I'd be here?'

Silence.

'We planned it. I'd be here and she'd make sure you found out.'

'But why would you do that?' He moved towards her slowly.

'Because- I can do this, I can do this-'

'Do what?'

'Confess to Van.' "Oh!" Hitomi clapped her hands over her mouth. What had she done?

'Hitomi?'

vvvvvvvvvv

She wished she could just start the day over. Then, she wouldn't know that the bond was going to kill her. Then, she wouldn't be standing here waiting. Then, she wouldn't feel like her heart was about to beat right out of her chest.

Van was about twenty paces from her, and even though she couldn't see very well in the fading light, she could feel him approaching.

'Confess? She doesn't mean- as in- she doesn't-'

Her heart beat loudly in her chest and Hitomi trembled at the unease in his thoughts. Had he forgotten she could hear them? The feelings were growing in intensity with every step he took. It certainly didn't help that he was going through emotions like a pregnant woman with mood swings.

After the initial shock, Van's temper flared.

'But she was just here with Allen; she can't be- those two were probably-'

Then came doubt.

'But she wouldn't have just sent him away. Unless-' Van's steps slowed. 'Unless she wanted to- What if she's finally accepted his proposal?'

'Proposal?' Hitomi reddened. That's true, Allen had proposed to her once. Van sounded almost, well, he sounded jealous. 'Allen didn't propose. I wouldn't have accepted anyway, geez.' He was also clearly ignoring her.

'Not that it would matter.'

Regret.

'Now that she knows what this bond is going to do to us, she probably hates me.'

She shook her head. 'I don't hate you, Van. How could I?'

Still, he continued, 'Why did I think that talking to her would change things?'

'Van, wait.'

'All I wanted was to see her again.'

'To see me?' Hitomi started to shake. 'You-'

'But I couldn't even get that right. I've failed to protect her.' He clenched his fists.

'Van!' She tried.

He was lost deep within his own mind; too distant to be reached.

'And now I've killed her.'

'Please, Van stop!' Her brain screamed. It was starting to hurt. Tears welled up in her eyes.

'I've killed us.'

"Van!" Hitomi's knees gave out and she tumbled to the ground. "Enough! Stop! Stop it!"

Van froze. He hadn't done anything. He hadn't touched her or said a word, and yet, there she was, crying. 'Don't tell me- I'

"What have I done?" He rasped.

The pressure stopped and Hitomi lifted her head slowly. Standing before her, not more than two feet away, was Van. He looked so fragile. His eyes were wide and fearful, his hands were still clenched at his sides, and his lip quivered.

He was scared. So scared that Hitomi started crying again.

Seeing this, the young King turned away. 'I've hurt her again.'

"Van."

"I'm sorry, Hitomi. I-I'll just leave."

"Wait!" Hitomi cried, reaching an arm towards him. "Please, don't go."

This was it. The moment of truth. She had to tell him. Voices haunted her. Millerna. 'Just be honest.'

Merle. 'You idiot, tell him!'

'Believe in your feelings.' Grandma.

Hitomi closed her eyes. "I will."

Van looked back, both hurt and confused. "Hitomi?"

"Van," She wiped the tears away and stood up. "I have to tell you something important."

He nodded slightly. There were some unusual emotions radiating from Hitomi and it was making him uneasy.

"I want to complete the bonding ritual." Finally! She'd said it!

"You want to what?" He reeled. "Hitomi, you understand- you know what we'd have to do- and you-"

Her cheeks were growing hot. "Yes."

"And you still want to?"

She smiled. At least he wasn't objecting yet.

"Why?"

He just had to ask. The lump in her throat was swelling by the second. "Because- I- love you."

The next few seconds ticked by at a phenomenally slow rate. Van stared in disbelief. 'She loves me?' It was all so clear now.

'Why isn't he saying anything? I knew it; he doesn't care for me. I blew it!'

"Hitomi?" He mouthed.

She felt the negative emotions clearing away. When she worked up the courage to face Van, he was smiling. It wasn't any ordinary smile either. It was the special smile that he always seemed to save for her. 'That means- he- does he too?'

He picked up her hand and held it gingerly. "I'm glad."

"Van?" She pulled at their connection, trying to see-

"None of that." He placed his free hand on her shoulder. "I need to say this."

Hitomi nodded, certain that she was now wearing a giddy grin. Even without trying, she could feel the hope in his voice. It was a premonition of something wonderful.

"I was foolish not to see it. And I hope that I can earn your forgiveness." He said quietly. "I called you back to Gaea because I needed you."

"Van." She breathed.

"I love you, Hitomi. I want you to stay with me." He lowered his head. "I'm sorry that it took me so long to realize that."

A smile graced her lips. She felt absolutely wonderful. 'He loves me!'

Van could feel his cheeks reddening.

"You know, Van. I saw a vision of your mother."

"Mother?"

"Yes." Hitomi leaned towards him. "She appeared in my dream and told me to take care of you."

He stared, blushing.

"You think she knew something we didn't?"

"That sounds like her." He smiled.

After a long silence, Hitomi decided to ask mentally. 'So what do we do now?'

Van hesitated. "Well, we would need to- um- get married." He stuttered.

"Are you asking me?" She tried desperately to hide her enthusiasm.

"Well, that is- I mean-"

Hitomi put a finger to his lips and closed her eyes in concentration. Then she heard it, loud and clear.

'Yes.'

"That's cheating!" Van pushed her hand away and sprang to his feet.

She giggled. "Maybe. But-"

"But?" He tilted his head, curious.

"I will."

"You will?"

Hitomi wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him close. "I accept."

Beaming, Van held her close. There were no words or even thoughts worth wasting this perfect moment.

vvvvvvvvvv

Footsteps echoed in the corridor.

Merle's ears perked up. They were back. With the agility only a cat could possess, she leapt over statues and behind pillars until her prey was in sight. It had been worth the wait. She watched Van and Hitomi walk arm in arm down the hallway in silence. Just a few more moments and-

"So, you finally told her, eh?" Merle flipped gracefully out of nowhere.

"Merle!" Hitomi jumped.

The cat girl grinned triumphantly.

Van gripped Hitomi's arm before answering. "Yes."

"Congratulations!" She leapt into Van, throwing him back a step. "I'm so happy for you two. When are you going to get married?"

He blushed again. "When the Mystic Moon is at it's brightest. About a week and a half from now."

"Lord Van! That's wonderful!" She chirped.

Hitomi smiled. Merle had really known. In all the time she'd been obnoxious, rude, and overall jealous she'd known. And through it all, she'd allowed Van's happiness to supercede her own. How could she ever hope to repay her? Then, the perfect idea hit her.

"Merle?"

The cat girl relinquished her hold on Van for a moment. "Huh?"

"I want you to be my maid of honor."

"What's that?" Merle cocked her head sideways.

Hitomi was at a loss. So, they didn't have maids of honor on Gaea? "Well, it's a special person that the bride selects to um- help her prepare for the wedding." She tried to think of a better explanation. "The girl would also walk down the aisle before the bride and be a witness to the ceremony."

Understanding blossomed on Merle's face. "Oh! You mean like a lady in waiting?"

It was Hitomi's turn to be confused. She turned to Van for guidance.

He nodded. "Here, a lady in waiting handles the arrangements for the wedding ceremony and acts as a witness, signing the official papers."

"Would you, Merle?" She asked.

In two seconds, Merle had wrapped herself around Hitomi's neck and both of them ended up in a heap on the floor. She laughed. "Of course I will Hitomi!"

Van just smiled. "I think we should wait to announce our-" He fumbled for a second. "engagement- until tomorrow morning."

"Aw." Merle whined.

"Why don't you head upstairs, Hitomi. I'll be right behind you." Van gently led Hitomi to the stairs. "I promise."

"Okay." Reluctantly, Hitomi released his hand and ascended the stairs. What did he mean, right behind her? Embarrassment flooded her senses and she could have sworn that she heard something falling downstairs.

"Lord Van? Are you okay?" Merle squatted down next to Van, who was currently picking himself up off of the floor. They were going to have to learn to control themselves. Otherwise-

"What happened?"

Van stared up at Merle. "Nothing. Just tripped on a loose stone. I'm fine." He rose to his feet and dusted his pants.

"So, what did you need to tell me that Hitomi shouldn't hear?" She whispered impishly.

"I promised that I would tell you everything, didn't I?"

"Yes?" Merle was barely able to contain herself.

"And I will, tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? But why?"

Van cleared his throat. "Because she's waiting and because you were barely out of hearing distance this evening."

Oops. "Fine. Tomorrow then. But only because Hitomi's waiting for you."

He smiled. "Goodnight Merle, and thank you."

"Yeah, yeah." Merle waved a paw lazily over her head as she strolled away smirking.

Van cautiously approached Hitomi's door. It was closed. Gently, he tapped on the door. "Hitomi?"

After a few seconds of silence, the door swung inward and Hitomi stood nervously behind it. "Van, um- hi." 'That sounded lame.'

"It wasn't lame." He chuckled. "I just wanted to um- say goodnight." The timbre in his voice shifted. "Hitomi?"

Her eyes widened at the suggestiveness in his tone. 'Is he going to kiss me?' Realizing her mistake, she panicked. 'Stupid! No, don't think that, think of anything else. This door, is- uh- nice?'

Van shifted, a bit nervous. 'Actually-'

'You mean-' Her mind went blank.

His lips were on hers.

And then he was pulling away, blushing hotly. "Goodnight, Hitomi."

She numbly put a hand over her heart. It was beating so fast.

Van stepped away.

Somewhere, distantly, she heard herself respond. "Goodnight, Van."

vvvvvvvvvv

Van stalked Hitomi from the clouds. He watched her carefully as she flew this way and that, waiting for him. He couldn't wait any longer. With a great swoop, he snagged Hitomi by the arm and swung her around neatly. "Gotcha!" He grinned. "Now, about my pants."

"What about them?"

Van pouted.

Laughing, Hitomi said, "Aw, not the pouting face, you know I can't resist that." She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled in her wings, dropping into Van's waiting arms. Still smiling, she tugged him closer. "Van." Her voice was heavy with innuendo.

"I want to show you something." He said, smiling. "So keep up!"

To his surprise, he actually dropped Hitomi. There was no panic. Though Hitomi screamed for several seconds, she opened her wings and chased after him.

"Van Fanel! I'm going to kill you!" Hitomi called.

"Not if you can't catch me."

"Van!"

Van let her chase him playfully until he reached their destination. It was a simple valley, uninhabited by humans. Somehow, he had known where to go. It was a place treasured since his childhood; the place where his mother had taken him so many times.

"What is this place?" Hitomi asked, placing her hand on Van's shoulder.

"This is where Mother taught Folken and I how to fly."

Hitomi held his arm tight. "It's beautiful."

Van looked down at her hands on his arm. He grinned as he caught sight of the pink stone ring on her left hand.

"Van?"

Hitomi was staring up at him with a look that burned through all of his restraints. In seconds he held her close and pressed kisses to her cheeks, her nose, and finally her lips. "Hitomi." He breathed.

Her wings vanished as she pulled him down with her into the lush grass. Van smiled, letting his own wings form a shell around them. Hitomi giggled beneath him, eyes half closed. "You shouldn't keep a lady waiting you know."

"I was only admiring you, but if you insist." Van teased. With ease, he pulled down the straps of her dress and kissed along her neckline.

"Van-" She whispered, hands on his chest.

"Van!"

vvvvvvvvvv

Merle was forced off of the bed as Van sprang into consciousness. The sheets and blankets went flying as he hurled himself into a seated position. "Wha-" He huffed. "What happened? Where's Hitomi?"

The cat girl picked herself up off the floor. "I only came to wake you up. There's a lot to do today!"

"Merle?"

"Who else would I be?" She retorted.

Van pushed his bangs back with a shaky hand. "What time is it?"

"Dawn. Is something wrong?"

He sighed loudly and slid out of bed. "Just a dream."

Merle grinned, tail swishing. "One of those dreams I see."

"N- no!" He stumbled. "It wasn't."

"Your-" She coughed. "pants say otherwise."

Blushing, he turned away. "Damn it."

"It's nothing to be embarrassed about." She purred.

"Merle."

"Oh all right. I'll be waiting for you downstairs." The cat girl exited the room, grinning madly.

vvvvvvvvvv

Hitomi drifted back to the waking world slowly. Sunlight was streaming through her windows and she blinked hard. She'd had the most wonderful, and frightening, dream last night. It was like her the others, except that she and Van- they'd almost- "It was just a dream, right?" But then, they were going to be doing that soon weren't they? They were going to be married; complete their bond. 'Oh dear.'

Gingerly, she attempted to roll onto her back. Something stopped her. She tried again. "What on Earth?" Pushing herself up, she saw them. Her wings were there again, moving gently with her movements. 'This is bad.' She hadn't told Van about her wings. But he said he loved her, right? So it wouldn't matter that she had wings too. "Well, Merle was right about his feelings, maybe she's right about this too."

Hitomi stood and walked to her mirror. "At least I thought to wear an open-back shirt to bed." Soon, she was staring at her own reflection. "Van." She imagined Van standing there, wings expanded. Images from her dream flashed before her eyes and she turned red. It was too much to imagine her and Van doing those things. And it felt so real. "I'm turning into a hormonal teenager."

"Hitomi?"

Van was at her door. She panicked, throwing clothes over her head, only to have them get stuck on her wings. 'Oh no.'

'Are you okay?' He sent mentally.

'Um, yes- I'm just fine. Don't think about it. Don't-'

'Hitomi?'

She thought of the only thing that might keep him away. 'I'm naked! Don't come in!'

"I'll- uh- just wait downstairs then. Millerna's here too, she couldn't wait to talk to you." He barely managed to complete his sentence.

"Can I come in Hitomi?" Millerna's cheerful voice called.

She could hear Van's footsteps growing distant. "Come in, but close the door behind you."

Millerna laughed as she locked the door. "I came to say congratulations. I wasn't expecting anything this entertaining."

Hitomi was standing awkwardly on one foot in the middle of the room, three separate outfits hanging off of her. Her wings were tangled in shirts and her hair was sticking up in every direction. "Funny."

Curbing her laughter, Millerna pulled her friend free. "Can you concentrate enough to put them away now?" She smiled tenderly.

"I think so." She closed her eyes and relaxed.

"That's amazing."

Hitomi opened her eyes and found Millerna examining her back again. "Millerna?"

"There aren't any marks. Did you feel any pain this time?"

She was about to lecture the princess on privacy when she remembered. "No. And it didn't hurt the last time they came out in my sleep."

"Hmm." Millerna pulled a dress from Hitomi's closet and handed it to her. "If you can figure out what's triggering your wings in your sleep, you might be able to gain control over them."

"Huh?"

"You could call them up whenever you want." She replied. "But come on, no time for that now. Van is waiting for you downstairs. It's almost time for the public announcement."

Hitomi gulped. She'd forgotten about that part.

vvvvvvvvvv

Everything was passing in a blur. Hitomi had stood mute while Van announced their engagement and impending wedding. Merle was constantly asking her questions about colors and flowers and the things she liked. Friends and strangers congratulated her daily, expressing their joy in the King's marriage and choice of wife. Apparently, the Wing Goddess was an honorable match for the King of Fanelia. She got the feeling though, that Van had forced the issue with his court. They were acting extra polite around her since the announcement.

Plans whirled around her, but she never had to be that involved in them. Merle had everything under her control and everyone in fear of her wrath. That girl could be very scary when she wanted to, Hitomi decided.

There were only two things bothering her as she waited for her wedding day. One reason was that the right moment never came up to tell Van about her wings. The second reason was that she never saw Van long enough to talk to him. He was always busy with plans or paperwork. The kingdom needed him almost all the time it seemed.

Then again, Hitomi mused, the chaos in the castle had given her the perfect opportunity to practice flying. So far, she'd only managed to summon her wings and fall out of a tree. But it was a start! 'So, tomorrow.'

'Having second thoughts?'

"Van?" Hitomi slid from her seat on the palace stairs. "Where are you?"

'Look up.'

She did. Van was leaning out a window. 'What are you doing up there?'

He smiled. 'I've missed you. Would you like to sneak away for a while?'

'More than anything.' Hitomi earnestly thought.

'Meet me on your balcony.'

'The balcony?'

Hitomi could feel her heart beating in her ears as she raced up the stairs. She was actually going to spend time alone with Van. Their first real date, she realized. Thoughts of hair and makeup drifted over her consciousness, but she ignored them. There wasn't any time for that. The key jangled with her shaking hands as she turned the lock. "Van?"

He was sitting on the railing, shirtless and smiling, just as she'd seen him the day she returned to Earth.

'He's gorgeous.'

Van blushed. 'You're not so bad yourself.'

'Oops.' She covered her mouth. This reading thoughts business was going to get the best of her yet. 'Sorry.'

"Are you ready?"

She nodded.

"All right then." Van jumped down onto the balcony and extended his arms. "Come on."

Hitomi approached dazzled as he opened his wings and wrapped his arms around her. Lifting her bridal style, Van jumped. And they were flying. People and trees vanished from view as they flew higher. The setting sun provided a perfect mood. 'This reminds me of that dream-'

Van dipped suddenly. 'Dream? You had one too?'

'What do you mean by too?'

'Maybe we'd better land before we have this discussion.' Van thought as he again focused on flying.

They landed not far from Fanelia, in an open glade. Van set Hitomi on her feet and stared. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. You didn't just have suggestive dreams about a person that they knew about. 'The dreams can't be the same, can they?'

Hitomi returned his stare. 'What did you dream about? Do you know?'

"Know what?" He said aloud.

"Um, nothing, why don't you tell me about your dream." She hurried. 'Was I in it?'

'Yes.' Van stiffened. "I mean, well, yeah you were in it, but that's not-"

Her gaze dropped to her shoes. 'Did I do something wrong?'

"No. Hitomi-" Van tried to think of a way to explain himself, but there was no way out except the truth. After all, this woman was going to marry him tomorrow. "You may want to sit down."

"Okay." She complied.

"I've been having this recurring dream lately." He rubbed the back of his neck absently. "And in it, you kind of fly to me and then we well- you chase me for a while-"

'Before you take me to the special place where you learned to fly.' Hitomi couldn't stop herself from finishing mentally.

Van faced her, wide-eyed. "Then, it is the same dream?"

"Sounds like it."

"Well, what happened next in your dream?" Van asked absently, forgetting where his own dream had led him.

Hitomi blushed. 'Why did he have to ask that? How can I tell him that we- almost- I mean-'

Van had the decency to stop her. "Hitomi, in the dream, you were wearing a ring."

"A ring that looked like my pendant, yes."

"This ring." Van reached into his pocket and revealed a thin gold band with a bright pink stone oval set in it. "I had it made for you. I hope-"

'It's beautiful!'

"Here." He motioned for her hand. Taking hold of it, Van slid the ring on her third finger. "Up until now, I'd thought that the dream was just a fantasy."

"But it's not." Hitomi smiled down at the gleaming ring. "It's a premonition."

"Are you nervous?" He asked.

"Well, a little."

"It feels like more than a little, Hitomi."

'That's cheating.'

'Says the woman who did the same thing to me not so long ago.' Van returned.

'Should I tell him?'

"Tell me what, Hitomi?"

He looked so happy. "Did the dream- Did it make you happy? Or do you regret it?"

"Hitomi? How can you ask that?" He grabbed her by the shoulders and she turned her eyes away. Frowning, Van lifted her chin, forcing her to face him. "I love you. And I don't regret any of this. I thought- the dream was, well- nice."

"Really?" She asked cautiously. 'It was nice?'

"Yes."

Hitomi made up her mind. "Van? I have something for you too."

"Hmm?" He didn't remember her having a gift in the dream.

"But I need you to do something first-" She gulped. "Kiss me."

Van grinned nervously. He had only kissed her once before, was she expecting something? "O-okay."

With determination, Van closed his eyes and pressed his lips to hers. He felt her shoulders tense momentarily, but then she started kissing him back. He was lost to the feel of it.

"Van?" Hitomi pulled away slowly, breaking the kiss.

He blinked.

She stepped back so that he could see her. "Van?"

'How is this possible?'

Hitomi watched as he drew nearer. Carefully, he stroked her feathers, making sure that they were real. 'Van, please, speak to me.'

"When- when did this happen?" He moved to face her.

"It first happened the night I read the book."

'That long? Why didn't you tell me?' His eyes pleaded.

'I thought you might blame yourself.'

'You're right-'

"Van, don't-" She pulled his hand to her lips and kissed it lightly. "Don't blame yourself. At first, I was afraid, but then I remembered your wings. To me, they were always something special about you."

Van stood dumbfounded. What had he ever done to deserve this?

"And I want you to teach me how to fly."

"Hitomi." Van hugged her tight. "Just promise me you won't ever fly away."

Happy tears trickled down her cheeks. "Never."

vvvvvvvvvv

The ceremony was everything and more than Hitomi had ever dreamed of. After all, it was a royal wedding. And she hadn't even seen the sanctuary yet. Suddenly, Merle shoved her forward. "Come on Hitomi, that's your cue!"

"Right!" She gasped, stepping through the big wooden doors.

Van smiled from the front of the room. He was wearing his royal armor, a set of banded mail adorned with the seal of Fanelia. A cape flowed over his shoulders and he held a shiny plumed helmet in his left hand. His hair had been mildly tamed for the event, only sticking up in a few places. And best of all, he was going to be hers.

As she entered, all eyes in the sanctuary were on her. Van noted this with a sharp smile. She had chosen to wear a simple white dress, a halter with a low back, and a long, translucent veil. It was hardly what any of the counselors would have selected, but for her, it was absolutely perfect. It was the dress from their dream. 'You're beautiful, Hitomi.' He directed the thought at her.

She blushed slightly. 'You too.'

Upon reaching the altar, Merle laid Hitomi's long veil out neatly and moved to her side, smiling all the way. A balding man in black vestments stood at the altar with the couple and started speaking.

Van and Hitomi stood there, holding hands for a long time as he spoke. It felt like forever before he directed any words at them. "Van de Fanel, King of Fanelia, come forward and receive the royal scepter." The old man bellowed.

Van obeyed, walking up to him and taking the bejeweled scepter in his hands.

"Lady Hitomi, kneel." He commanded.

'What is this?' She thought as she knelt down.

Van's voice echoed in her head. 'It's all part of the ceremony. They were supposed to go over it with you yesterday, but we weren't here. Sorry.'

'Fine time to tell me.'

'Sorry. Don't worry, it's nothing big.' He thought as he approached her. 'I'm just going to tap this to your shoulders. Then you'll stand up and the priest there will present you with a crown. It's just symbolism.'

'Van-' She was cut off as Van tapped her shoulders.

"Rise, Lady Hitomi." He held a small crown in his wrinkly hands. "Do you swear your undying loyalty and devotion to the kingdom of Fanelia? To protect her and her people-" He droned on.

'Van, you didn't tell me anything about this! I keep forgetting that I'm marrying a king!' She thought desperately.

'Do you regret it?'

Hitomi closed her eyes. 'No.'

'Then don't worry about it. Just say I do and stand up. They're waiting on you.'

She hesitated, taking a quick glance around the room. They were in fact, waiting on her. Hitomi got to her feet slowly. "I do." She held her breath. Hopefully, that was what the crowd was expecting.

"Very well. Stand together." The priest instructed.

'What's next?' She thought.

'I've asked him to include an exchange of rings. It was part of the original Draconian ceremony.' Van replied mentally.

'That's strange. On Earth, couples usually exchange rings too.'

"Now, place the ring on her finger and repeat after me-"

'Maybe it's something that connects our worlds.' Van smiled softly as he pushed the thin gold band onto her finger. It set neatly next to the pink stone ring he'd given her earlier in the week.

He repeated the priest's words, but Hitomi couldn't focus on them. Her mind was too busy dealing with what he was thinking and feeling. 'Van stop, I'm going to forget what I need to say!' She thought frantically as the priest turned to her.

'You'll be fine.'

"Repeat after me, I Lady Hitomi-"

"I, Lady Hitomi," She repeated careful not to sound distracted.

Sixty seconds later, Hitomi had finished speaking. Now, she only had to contend with the anxiety of kissing Van in front of everyone. 'What if my wings trigger?'

Van squeezed her hand gently. 'They won't. Trust yourself.'

"Now, by the power vested in me by this glorious kingdom of Fanelia," The priest raised his arms high and the crowd took to their feet. This was it.

'But Van, that's the only way I know to-'

"His Highness may now kiss the bride."

'Trust me.' With a half-grin, Van pulled her into a soft kiss.

The crowd cheered.

'See,' He pulled away, 'Not so bad, right?'

"I now present their Highnesses, King Van and Queen Hitomi de Fanel!"

vvvvvvvvvv

At the end of the night, Hitomi found herself face to blushing face with her new husband. "I'm a little nervous." She admitted, sitting on the bed. "It's silly. We've been through war, fought dragons, overcome some of the most difficult and deadly situations in the world, and I'm afraid of this."

Van took a seat next to her and slid his hand over hers. 'Me too.'

'You?' All she'd ever heard was how, well, willing men were.

'But-'

'But?' Hitomi wondered.

'I know that this is what I want to do. What we want to do.' He smirked slightly.

She pulled her hand free. 'Are you sure it's not just to save us from the bond?'

"Hitomi." He huffed, twisting her to face him. "You know me inside and out. I would never have asked you to marry me if that wasn't what I truly wanted."

Their eyes locked and Hitomi couldn't find her voice. There was something undeniably right about all of this. 'It's what I want too.' Before she could stop herself, she was kissing him. 'I love you.' She leaned back, eyelids heavy, a goofy smile pasted across her face.

Van ran a calloused hand along her cheek. "I love you too."

"Van." She breathed, her skin tingling.

'Still afraid?'

Hitomi wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled them gently back onto the bed. 'Not if I'm with you.'

vvvvvvvvvv

A/N: And that's the end folks! I may write an epilogue, but I think the story ends nicely here. I'm sure that I can leave the rest to your capable imaginations. Please remember to be kind, rewind- I mean, um- please review? Thank you for sticking with my story until the end!