Chapter 9 Unexpected Encounter
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne
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It was around midnight and Hitomi's stomach still hasn't settled. Milerna made a all natural concoction with the plants around her for Hitomi's sickness. It did work for a while but alas it was only temporary. Now in the middle of the night she was tossing and turning under the shelter that Dryden created. She sat up looking around at her company. Merle was curled up by Hitomi's side and in the corner Milerna and Dryden snuggled together. She looked toward the fire that was once strong crackles of orange that were carried off with the wind were now lifeless. Which didn't really matter now since it was a warm night. She groggily stumbled up, as her stomach became more turbulent. She looked for a safe spot behind some tree to make a deposit. She went a little far into the forest but not out of sight from the camp.
She straightened up wiping her mouth off. 'This is all Van's fault you know.' She thought. She turned to walk back to camp in the dark when a strong hand took her arm and pulled her close to his strong body. She gasped as another hand came up and covered her mouth. "Not one sound." he hissed in a very familiar voice that she couldn't put her finger on. A voice from the past. But who? She looked up to see whom her mystery assailant was but unfortunately he was hooded in a black cloak. He took her deeper into the forest as she took one last glance at her friends who couldn't help her now. She wanted so much to tear from his arms and wake the others for some protection. But she feared for her unborn child, which was the last thing of Van she had left. She had to live long enough for her baby to live his or her life. If she just does what this person says then maybe she'll be spared. But she couldn't tell if he was foe or friend. Judging by his voice, which was menacing and cold, it was a little horse also accompanied by a childish ring sounding somewhat of a whiny teenage boy. so familiar but it drove Hitomi crazy trying to determine his identity.
The kidnapper realized that Hitomi wasn't resisting so he loosed his grip and let go of her head but still held tight to her arm and dragged her through the forest. She followed behind him very frightened but her features hid her fear. What could be done to help her now? Van would not be coming to her rescue sadly enough. And Allen wasn't about to show up out of nowhere in the middle of Fanelia's forest to save her. Much less she didn't want him to come she was afraid to look at him after that childish crush many years ago. 'How foolish I was back then' she thought. She ran a hand through her hair as her mind wandered. Her hair ended sooner than she was used to which reminded her of what she did. 'What made me cut this all off it was finally getting long again just before my mom made me cut it off. bummer. my mother I wonder if she can see me now. she was the reason I came back here when it was the warring age. Well not much has changed since I left. it's still a warring age. these damn people always have to fight Van went to stop whoever was starting rumors of war but he was killed in the process. it was noble wasn't it? . Oh Van I miss you.' A silent tear trickled down her cheek 'Damn is this all ever do is cry?' she sniffled. The stranger noticed her crying.
"Hmm? What the hell are you cryin' about?!"
"Oh like you would care! You took me away from my friends you don't care why I'm crying so don't imply that you do!"
"Geez sorry I asked. bitch." He murmured
"I heard that you little snot! Just who do you think you are!? I demand that you tell me who you are and why you kidnapped me!?
"Humph!"
"Well? . Humph!"
She twisted her wrist so much that it slipped out of his grip, which surprised him. He wasn't ready for her to escape but she didn't run anywhere. She just stood there with her arms folded and eyes closed. His hood masked his confused look as she stated that she wasn't going anywhere until he told her what she wanted to know.
"Grrr-look I can't tell you anything right now! Just shut up and keep walking!" he growled as he reached for her arm and dragged her more. He held arm tightly making sure she wouldn't escape this time.
"Hey let go of me!" she pounded on his backed, struggling in vein.
"Shut up!"
They continued to scream at each other as they walked deeper into the dark forest. Hitomi didn't know what gave her that burst of confidence to yell at him, it must be this pregnancy thing. It was certainly annoying her captor.
~ Meanwhile with Van ~
Cold sweat dripped off his nose and onto the cold slab under his feet. Black rings circled under his eyes indicated lack off sleep. Arms still shackled to the wall. He had grown unnaturally thin and shivered uncontrollably. His stomach churned and his eyes rolled back into his head. Once again that vile woman had poisoned him. The first few times she was merely toying with him but now her attempts were to break his spirit. To cease his love with the dead, though he wouldn't believe so. His Breathing was labored and vision impaired.
He heaved an almost inaudible "Why are you doing this?" to Evilian.
"To watch you sweat!" she giggled.
She leaned against the stone doorway playing with a lock of shimmering golden hair. She stood in the shadow where Van could barely see her but she was still blurry as the poison made his sight out of wack.
"Will you finally-::cough:: kill me this time?
She stepped up to him and put a gentle hand on his chin and lifted his gaze to meet hers. 'She's beautiful' he thought. Her eyes were emerald green that glistened in the bright sunlight coming in from the sky light above her, which reminded him of Hitomi and made him long for her more. Her silky bangs ended just below her eyebrows. Her face was smooth and flawless and was milky pale. Her chin came to a sort of point. Another thing that came to a point that Van found strange was her ears. 'She's an elf?' Her eyes were not like Hitomi's exactly, they were smaller and gave her a little sinister look.
"Not yet." She wrinkled her nose.
As soon as her words escaped her lips Van's eyes softened and closed and fell limp in his shackles.
"Finally you passed out," she said relieved.
"I'm sorry my young King that you must suffer like this." She said as she ran a finger down his toned chest, which still bore his redundant red tunic/shirt. "But please understand that I have to take these measures to make you. mine." She said as her eyes went soft as she stared at his pale lips. She ran a finger on them and leaned forward and kissed his warm lips. She broke away and looked into his face, which looked peaceful.
"Unh. Hhh." Van muttered in his unconsciousness. The poison made talk in his sleep, actually it made him reveal things. It was a love potion. He would forget the one he loved before and would start to love the one who gave him the spell.
"Hi. Hitomi." He muttered.
"Yes forget about her! Relinquish your love for her and be mine!"
"I love."
The morning light played through the trees as the mist dispersed from it's heat.
"AHHHHHH!!!"
A flock of birds in a nearby tree flew away as fast as they could from the sudden irritation.
"SHE'S GONE!!!"
Dryden and Milerna jumped awake when they heard the screams from Merle.
"What? Who is?" asked Milerna confused.
"WHO DO YOU THINK?! HITOMI!! SHE JUST LEFT!!"
"Now calm down, I'm sure she didn't leave she's probably behind a tree or something you know."
"Yeah your right." Said Milerna trying to change the subject.
"HITOMI!" she called
"She's not around!" said Merle irritated.
"What? How do you know?"
"Because I can't smell her!"
"Oh that's right. then she's really gone. why would she leave?"
"I don't think she just up and left. I think she was kidnapped."
"Oh no! What do we do?" said Milerna concerned
"There's nothing we can do, unless Merle can smell a trace of her, which way she went?"
"WHAT DO I LOOK LIKE? A BLOOD HOUND?!"
"Well you do have an acute sense of smell don't you?"
"Well yeah."
"Well why can't you do it?"
"Alright fine!"
"What? What was the problem then?"
"I'll do it ok!"
"Ok..." said Dryden knowing that if he inquired any further he would ruin any chance of finding Hitomi.
They packed up they're few belongings they had and mounted they're horses. Merle led the way as she followed Hitomi's faint trail.
It led them deep into the forest.
"I pick up another scent as well. It's-::sniff sniff:: familiar.GASP! Could it be?"
"What?" Questioned Dryden and Milerna
Merle didn't answer she just looked puzzled. 'Why would it be. him?!"
"C'mon we've been walking all night can't we just rest." Said Hitomi exhausted.
Her captor ignored her instead he pushed her into a cave they were approaching.
"Ow! What'd you that for?!"
"Why did you bring me here? Who are you"
"Alright" he sighed "I'll tell you"
His back was facing her. He turned around and put his slender fingers on the rim of his hood and slid it off over his head. Long silver threads of hair spilled out in his face and flipped up on the sides of his face. His Violet eyes were slim and caniving.
Hitomi gasped "It's you! But how? I thought. what happened what did you do with Celina, Dalandau?!
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was around midnight and Hitomi's stomach still hasn't settled. Milerna made a all natural concoction with the plants around her for Hitomi's sickness. It did work for a while but alas it was only temporary. Now in the middle of the night she was tossing and turning under the shelter that Dryden created. She sat up looking around at her company. Merle was curled up by Hitomi's side and in the corner Milerna and Dryden snuggled together. She looked toward the fire that was once strong crackles of orange that were carried off with the wind were now lifeless. Which didn't really matter now since it was a warm night. She groggily stumbled up, as her stomach became more turbulent. She looked for a safe spot behind some tree to make a deposit. She went a little far into the forest but not out of sight from the camp.
She straightened up wiping her mouth off. 'This is all Van's fault you know.' She thought. She turned to walk back to camp in the dark when a strong hand took her arm and pulled her close to his strong body. She gasped as another hand came up and covered her mouth. "Not one sound." he hissed in a very familiar voice that she couldn't put her finger on. A voice from the past. But who? She looked up to see whom her mystery assailant was but unfortunately he was hooded in a black cloak. He took her deeper into the forest as she took one last glance at her friends who couldn't help her now. She wanted so much to tear from his arms and wake the others for some protection. But she feared for her unborn child, which was the last thing of Van she had left. She had to live long enough for her baby to live his or her life. If she just does what this person says then maybe she'll be spared. But she couldn't tell if he was foe or friend. Judging by his voice, which was menacing and cold, it was a little horse also accompanied by a childish ring sounding somewhat of a whiny teenage boy. so familiar but it drove Hitomi crazy trying to determine his identity.
The kidnapper realized that Hitomi wasn't resisting so he loosed his grip and let go of her head but still held tight to her arm and dragged her through the forest. She followed behind him very frightened but her features hid her fear. What could be done to help her now? Van would not be coming to her rescue sadly enough. And Allen wasn't about to show up out of nowhere in the middle of Fanelia's forest to save her. Much less she didn't want him to come she was afraid to look at him after that childish crush many years ago. 'How foolish I was back then' she thought. She ran a hand through her hair as her mind wandered. Her hair ended sooner than she was used to which reminded her of what she did. 'What made me cut this all off it was finally getting long again just before my mom made me cut it off. bummer. my mother I wonder if she can see me now. she was the reason I came back here when it was the warring age. Well not much has changed since I left. it's still a warring age. these damn people always have to fight Van went to stop whoever was starting rumors of war but he was killed in the process. it was noble wasn't it? . Oh Van I miss you.' A silent tear trickled down her cheek 'Damn is this all ever do is cry?' she sniffled. The stranger noticed her crying.
"Hmm? What the hell are you cryin' about?!"
"Oh like you would care! You took me away from my friends you don't care why I'm crying so don't imply that you do!"
"Geez sorry I asked. bitch." He murmured
"I heard that you little snot! Just who do you think you are!? I demand that you tell me who you are and why you kidnapped me!?
"Humph!"
"Well? . Humph!"
She twisted her wrist so much that it slipped out of his grip, which surprised him. He wasn't ready for her to escape but she didn't run anywhere. She just stood there with her arms folded and eyes closed. His hood masked his confused look as she stated that she wasn't going anywhere until he told her what she wanted to know.
"Grrr-look I can't tell you anything right now! Just shut up and keep walking!" he growled as he reached for her arm and dragged her more. He held arm tightly making sure she wouldn't escape this time.
"Hey let go of me!" she pounded on his backed, struggling in vein.
"Shut up!"
They continued to scream at each other as they walked deeper into the dark forest. Hitomi didn't know what gave her that burst of confidence to yell at him, it must be this pregnancy thing. It was certainly annoying her captor.
~ Meanwhile with Van ~
Cold sweat dripped off his nose and onto the cold slab under his feet. Black rings circled under his eyes indicated lack off sleep. Arms still shackled to the wall. He had grown unnaturally thin and shivered uncontrollably. His stomach churned and his eyes rolled back into his head. Once again that vile woman had poisoned him. The first few times she was merely toying with him but now her attempts were to break his spirit. To cease his love with the dead, though he wouldn't believe so. His Breathing was labored and vision impaired.
He heaved an almost inaudible "Why are you doing this?" to Evilian.
"To watch you sweat!" she giggled.
She leaned against the stone doorway playing with a lock of shimmering golden hair. She stood in the shadow where Van could barely see her but she was still blurry as the poison made his sight out of wack.
"Will you finally-::cough:: kill me this time?
She stepped up to him and put a gentle hand on his chin and lifted his gaze to meet hers. 'She's beautiful' he thought. Her eyes were emerald green that glistened in the bright sunlight coming in from the sky light above her, which reminded him of Hitomi and made him long for her more. Her silky bangs ended just below her eyebrows. Her face was smooth and flawless and was milky pale. Her chin came to a sort of point. Another thing that came to a point that Van found strange was her ears. 'She's an elf?' Her eyes were not like Hitomi's exactly, they were smaller and gave her a little sinister look.
"Not yet." She wrinkled her nose.
As soon as her words escaped her lips Van's eyes softened and closed and fell limp in his shackles.
"Finally you passed out," she said relieved.
"I'm sorry my young King that you must suffer like this." She said as she ran a finger down his toned chest, which still bore his redundant red tunic/shirt. "But please understand that I have to take these measures to make you. mine." She said as her eyes went soft as she stared at his pale lips. She ran a finger on them and leaned forward and kissed his warm lips. She broke away and looked into his face, which looked peaceful.
"Unh. Hhh." Van muttered in his unconsciousness. The poison made talk in his sleep, actually it made him reveal things. It was a love potion. He would forget the one he loved before and would start to love the one who gave him the spell.
"Hi. Hitomi." He muttered.
"Yes forget about her! Relinquish your love for her and be mine!"
"I love."
The morning light played through the trees as the mist dispersed from it's heat.
"AHHHHHH!!!"
A flock of birds in a nearby tree flew away as fast as they could from the sudden irritation.
"SHE'S GONE!!!"
Dryden and Milerna jumped awake when they heard the screams from Merle.
"What? Who is?" asked Milerna confused.
"WHO DO YOU THINK?! HITOMI!! SHE JUST LEFT!!"
"Now calm down, I'm sure she didn't leave she's probably behind a tree or something you know."
"Yeah your right." Said Milerna trying to change the subject.
"HITOMI!" she called
"She's not around!" said Merle irritated.
"What? How do you know?"
"Because I can't smell her!"
"Oh that's right. then she's really gone. why would she leave?"
"I don't think she just up and left. I think she was kidnapped."
"Oh no! What do we do?" said Milerna concerned
"There's nothing we can do, unless Merle can smell a trace of her, which way she went?"
"WHAT DO I LOOK LIKE? A BLOOD HOUND?!"
"Well you do have an acute sense of smell don't you?"
"Well yeah."
"Well why can't you do it?"
"Alright fine!"
"What? What was the problem then?"
"I'll do it ok!"
"Ok..." said Dryden knowing that if he inquired any further he would ruin any chance of finding Hitomi.
They packed up they're few belongings they had and mounted they're horses. Merle led the way as she followed Hitomi's faint trail.
It led them deep into the forest.
"I pick up another scent as well. It's-::sniff sniff:: familiar.GASP! Could it be?"
"What?" Questioned Dryden and Milerna
Merle didn't answer she just looked puzzled. 'Why would it be. him?!"
"C'mon we've been walking all night can't we just rest." Said Hitomi exhausted.
Her captor ignored her instead he pushed her into a cave they were approaching.
"Ow! What'd you that for?!"
"Why did you bring me here? Who are you"
"Alright" he sighed "I'll tell you"
His back was facing her. He turned around and put his slender fingers on the rim of his hood and slid it off over his head. Long silver threads of hair spilled out in his face and flipped up on the sides of his face. His Violet eyes were slim and caniving.
Hitomi gasped "It's you! But how? I thought. what happened what did you do with Celina, Dalandau?!