Silken Smoke

Chapter 11 Fading Hope

Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne… but I can dream can't I?

Alone…

She sat alone in the dark. Her breath froze in the air. The cold sunk all the way to her bones. She brought her knees to her to chest for some warmth. Shivering there alone…

She felt forgotten, that no one cared that she was alone and lost. She arose to her feet feeling around for something tangible or some one. Everywhere she looked there was not one bit of light, of hope, of salvation…

Fear rising in her stomach, foreboding clutching her heart, her mind swirled with anxiety and alienation.

"Hello?" calling out for hope, "Can anyone hear me?" Silence arose to meet her ears confirming her fears. Her eyes stung with tears clouding her vision, which mattered not. She sunk to her knees silently praying, wishing for company, a way out. She looked around again. "Where am I?" with anger building, "How did I get here!" She paused, raising her head.

" MILERNA!"

"MERLE!"

" … Van?…"

She began to cry, her shoulders jerked with every sob. "Help me… I'm scared…" With her head in her hands she cried hopelessly. She stayed like that for a few moments in the cold, until the atmosphere seemed to thicken and a strange smell was carried on it. A moldy, earthy smell, reminiscent of death. She looked up slowly wondering where the ghastly stench was coming from.

A thick fog surrounded her now quiet form. The nauseating smell was much stronger now. She reached out expectantly and she touched a piece of rough cloth. She stood up quickly and took a few steps back. Her heart sunk at what she thought she saw. A silhouette tall lanky form, unnaturally thin. The robe it was wearing was putrid and worn.

Before she realized it, the creature stuck out it's thin, long cold, dead hand and it found it's way clenching around the girls neck. She clawed at the decrepit appendage as it tightened around her throat. Slowly it raised her off her feet and into the air. She hung there gasping for breath as the warm tears ran down her cheeks. She looked the being that now held her captive. It's face was shrouded in it's hood and every breath it took was rattled and labored. She continued to claw at the hand that still held her up. She gasped for breath as her eyes started to roll back into her head. Pleading for release. Yet then the other hand swiftly made it's move, piercing itself into her abdomen. She let out a yelp in pain as she felt death's hand squeeze around a life. A new life inside her. She struggled to stop this thing, this unforgiving creature of malice. Struggled to save what was left of Van. She knew she was loosing the fight as she felt her own warm blood flow down her bare legs and dripping off her toes. The pain was becoming unbearable she choked on the blood in her throat as it cascaded down the corner of her mouth.

She glared at the being torturing her and yet she sensed satisfaction coming from the incarnation of evil. Feeling her arms and legs going numb she let out one last scream hoping someone will hear and help. Suddenly she felt this world fading away, what was left of the air in her lungs had all escaped. The silhouette of the creature washed away.

A high pitch scream met her ears as she jumped up holing her stomach and she got tangled up in her blanket and found her self on the ground as soon as she jumped, yet still screaming. She felt two hands firmly pressed on her shoulders.

"Hitomi! Hitomi! It's me! Open your eyes!"

'Funny I didn't know they were closed.' she thought

Her eyes fluttered opened which met Milerna's. She was breathing very fast.

"Hitomi what happened?"

"I was dreaming- I guess…" looking around, not fully aware of what was happening

"No I mean your mouth and your neck!" looking shocked

"What?" Hitomi touched the corner of her lip and examined her finger to find blood. She looked at it horrified, her hand was shaking.

"And your neck… it's bruised…" and it was, in the form of four long fingers. Hitomi touched trying to make sense of it all, then gasped remembering her unborn child. She quickly lifted up her shirt and, sure enough saw a large bruise on her lower stomach.

"Oh my God Hitomi… what happened?…"

He awoke laying on his side. His vision was blurred, he blinked, but to no avail. Remembering the pain in his leg and his fight with Van he tried to sit up. He slowly rose to examine his badly broken leg. The bone protruded through his lower leg and blood was caked on all around the injury. He looked around his empty little holding, seeing if he was alone, and he was with the exception of three skeletons in the corner. Abandoning the care of his leg he listened intently, but heard no one.

Pulling himself to the bars he looked around, down the long cobble stone corridor. Lanterns usually lit with a just flame were extinguished casting a sickly blue-gray mood along the cold passage. A musty old smell clung to his nostrils and a faint 'drip, drip, drip' could be heard echoing. Yet, no one could be seen, no guard, no other prisoners, no one.

"Hello…?" Allen called out weakly, but with no response.

He glared up at the lock and started shaking the door. With one last check down the corridor he dragged himself over to one of the skeletons. With an apologetic expression he snapped off one of the rib bones of his fellow prisoner. Scooting back over to the barred door he started jimmying the lock. After several minutes and too many flecks of bone bouncing off his face. Before long frustration won, and he lost. Shaking his cage door once more he gave up and tossed the small bone over his shoulder.

Resting his forehead against the cold steel as he cursed his fate. He stayed there staring at his busted leg thinking of his fleeting chance of escape. Letting out a deep sigh he sat there listening to the rhythmic dripping, yet a new sound came to accompany him… footsteps! And more than one pair! He looked down the shadows of the corridors and saw no one but the falling steps fell closer and louder. Knowing full well this was no friend approaching, Allen quickly crawled into the shadow of the corner. He sat there glaring at the entrance waiting for the ones whose these footsteps belonged to.

"General?… General Schizar? …"

"Yes" he grunted, recognizing the voice "I'm here."

"Allen It's us! Your men!" Exclaimed to soldier.

"I know Kiyo, how did you men get in here?"

"Well, the place is abandoned, Sir. They just left."

"Everyone! Even Van!"

"-Lord Van? He Lived! Through a blast like THAT!" The men buzzed bewildered.

"I don't know how, but he did!" he grunted "I saw him, but he's not himself!"

"What do you mean sir, 'he's not himself?' inquired one of the men

"He's somehow been brainwash, he didn't recognize me … and…" he scooted out of the shadow and the men saw the full extent of his injuries. They drew back with expressions of fury upon their faces.

"Did Fannel do this to you!" Gaddess said with rage building.

"No… can you get me out of here?" asked Allen hopefully

"Yes…" Gaddess answered, still enraged that someone would do this to him.

"There are no keys." Implied one of the men. Gaddess said nothing, he just unsheathed his sword, jammed it into the keyhole and twisted. A loud 'pop' could be heard as the latch released and the door swung open. Five men rushed in to help their General.

"Are you sure no one's here?" questioned Allen as he was raised, implying about the loud din they were creating. "Positive sir." saluted Kiyo "We've searched the place high and low." Allen nodded his approval.

The crew carried him through the palace and outside into the blistering cold. After a while of the men carrying him Allen commanded they stop and tell him where occupants of the castle went.

"But Sir we have to get you to a doctor!" "Yeah! You're pretty banged up!"

"No! Tell me! …This is important…"

There was an awkward pause as they stared at him. Wondering what was so important about the people who treated this way. They could always just go attack the enemy later.

They hesitated but Gaddess was the first to speak.

"Over east." as he threw his head in the direction.

"Well then we follow, immediately." Allan commanded curtly.

"Sir we can't! You-"

"That's an order!" He bellowed. They understood immediately and carried him to the ship where he demanded that they would not take him to his quarters but to the bridge and even then he would not allow anyone to mend his wounds. They quickly set sail for east, …for Austuria.

"Dryden, must we leave so soon?"

"If we stay here we'll be found for sure."

"But-Hitomi, she's not well!"

"And that's exactly why we must leave!" making his point more clear. Hitomi and Merle sat with their backs facing the other side of the tent.

"Oh I'm such a burden." Hitomi sighed with her face in her knees.

"How did you get those bruises anyway? You were sleeping?"

"Yes…" raising her head, not quite sure how to answer.

Merle hesitated "… Is … Lord Van's child… safe?" trying with some difficulty to loop her mouth around the words, fearing the answer.

"… I don't know…" her voice cracking.

Cutting their conversation short Dryden emerged from the tent announcing their immediate departure. Milerna following behind looking rather worried. They prepared in silence. As they began traveling Dryden informed them it's about half a day left before they arrive; answering Merle's unannounced question. As they rode Merle was constantly looking up at Hitomi thinking to herself. Milerna and Dryden were off in some silly little conversation, remembering fond memories and singing child hood songs to pass the time and to lighten the spirits. Hitomi would space in and out, half listening to their conversation.

It was about high noon when they reached Austuria yet there was something missing. There was no one there to greet them, it was Milerna's home country after all and yet there was no friendly greeting, no one.

"I wonder where every one is?" said Milerna ,which was on everyone's mind, as they tied up their horses.

"Maybe there's a celebration or something." Implied Merle with excitement.

"Yeah but where?" asked Hitomi

They wondered around the town looking for anyone. But it was very creepy, even Main Street: full of it's bustle of the crowds and smell of strange yet delicious foods and their beautiful hanging silks and jewelry were all abandoned. The bright sunlight shone on the beautiful streets and buildings as the haunting wind pasted through the alley gave it the feel of a ghost town. Their confusion was interrupted with the faint blow of a trumpet. Without saying anything they ran toward the sound.

"We're approaching the city Sir."

"Good"

"Hey Is that Lady Hitomi!

"Yeah it is! And Lady Milerna!"

" With Merle and Dryden!"

"What are they running to?"

"Gaddess, follow them!"

"Yes sir, General."

They Followed the sound of the trumpet until they reached a grand courtyard right outside of the Palace. Everyone in the town was gathered here also they were all staring into the canal waiting for something it seemed. There was something about them though, they seemed frightened, even forced to watch what was coming. What were they so afraid of?

"This is where Dryden and I got Married." whispered Milerna

"So is that what's going on? A marriage?"

"I think so. See right there, under that bridge" pointed Dryden, ironically that's the same place that the crowd was staring at, "That's where the Bride is supposed to sail out in a small wooden boat in extravagant clothing."

"Wow! That must be someone important to get married here!" exclaimed Milerna, while Merle gave her a strange look.

After a while of waiting, sure enough came a young woman. There was no other words to describe her but gorgeous. She had fair, flawless skin. Her long silky, fine blew in the gentle wind. Her eyes were closed which made her look very peaceful. The dress she wore was very extravagant indeed. A perfect white interlaced with fine pearls and gold thread. Yet there was something different about her features. Protruding under her sheer vale were two long pointed ears.

"Wow look at her, I think she looks better than you did Milerna!" Merle said bluntly "But Milerna wasn't listening she was looking somewhere else. Across the canal underneath another bridge, waiting.

"The Groom will be arriving from there." she whispered.

They all watched intently wondering how was the lucky guy to find this treasure. Not long after the Bride was presented the Groom soon came out.

He arrived in a small little wooden boat also like the girl and he too had a fancy attire. A white tux-suit with blood red lining and trim. Yet when Merle, Milerna, Dryden and Hitomi saw him their reaction was not the as when they saw the girl. The young man in the Vessel had a tanner complexion and the scars of battle were obvious. His dark hair had a blue gleam in the sunlight and hung shagged in his face. His eyes were lifeless brown orbs that stared unblinking straight ahead. The group stared at him not willing to believe their eyes.

"…Van…?"