Beyond Aeaea

DISCLAIMER: The Vision of Escaflowne is not legally mine but the visions of this story are.

NOTE: Thanks for the reviews, windwraith and Ron and his Sakura. I don't have enough time yet to properly respond to all individual reviews but please just know that all your feedback is greatly appreciated.

The "trial" is by no means over but someone arrives in the nick of time to spice things up a bit. I hope you enjoy this.

Chapter Eleven

"Remind me again why you dragged me down here," a sulky young captain complained to the Strategos as the two Zaibach officials entered one of the halls of the Asturian royal palace.

"Because you need a change of environment, being constantly cooped up in the Vione," Folken replied coolly, "and you need to be more exposed to society outside of Zaibach, so that you can gain more knowledge of the world."

"Hmmph," Dilandau said arrogantly, "I think I know enough of the world to survive successfully. You ought to say that you just wanted someone to accompany you to some boring council or other. Why you would need my company is beyond me?"

"You may be right," Folken conceded, "but you have to admit that however reluctant you were to come along, you were bored enough to agree anyway."

"Hmmph," Dilandau scoffed, unwilling to admit that Folken was right.

Folken ignored the petulant tone of the younger man and retained his calm and composed stance as they walked. No, he was concerned with matters more important than Dilandau Albatou's inclinations. But the Strategos felt slightly relieved to have the young man by his side. For some reason, Folken believed that this visit required that he have some reinforcements, no matter how potentially dangerous.

What business did they have in Asturia, really? It was easy enough to say that they had dropped by on the pretext of picking some important documents or other, but Folken knew that his real motive for going through all the trouble was to reclaim his wife.

When he had returned to the Vione after escorting the cat-girls home, he was informed of the summons Eries had received. Even then, he had had his suspicions. He knew well how Asturian politics worked, and more importantly, he knew how male politicians thought. And though he knew how strong Eries was, he refused to let her face the council of hypocritical, ignoble fools by herself.

He felt that it was his duty to take her away from all that. But he breathed not a word of his intentions to anyone, especially Dilandau.

The young man, however, was perceptive enough to have suspicions. And because of his own inexplicable fondness for Eries (and a slight protective instinct as well), he had agreed to come along. He hated politics with a passion and he relished every opportunity to cause trouble.

Folken quickened his pace down the hall. He knew where the assembly was being held and he had a general idea of what was being discussed. Fortunately, Emperor Dornkirk did not have a lot of new orders and plans that needed immediate execution. Folken could afford to make this little side trip.

No, it was not little at all. He wanted to protect Eries, and that was of great importance.

He knew how long it had been since she had been summoned and he knew how long official meetings usually lasted. Something was amuck and he needed to hurry. He shuddered to think of the mortification Eries would have to endure.

Seeing the agitation that Folken was trying so hard to conceal, Dilandau frowned. It was more serious than he had supposed. Instinctively, the captain placed his hand on the sword at his side. He was ready, for anything.

They reached the venue and found that they were not the only ones eager to enter. The two men approached and saw Princess Millerna arguing with the guards outside the door.

It seemed like she was being refused entrance.

"I don't see what business father has to keep my sister in there for so long," Millerna protested, "please, you must let me in."

For some reason, perhaps female intuition, Millerna was worried about her sister and she was now insistent that she be allowed to attend the meeting. But the guards were trained well and now respectfully refused her.

Millerna was distracted by the arrival of two men. She turned and was surprised to see her brother-in-law greeting her cordially. She returned the courtesy. She did not need to tell him where his wife was.

"Good day to you, princess," Folken said politely, "I hope you are well."

"I am, thank you," she answered. She could already see that he had come here for her sister, and she was grateful that he was turning out to be a better husband than she had ever expected.

But her eyes were soon drawn powerfully towards his companion, and she could not help but stare.

It was him, the handsome but fierce young captain from Eries' wedding.

This meeting was so unexpected that Millerna found herself at a loss for words and slightly embarrassed at being caught acting so foolishly.

She explained to Folken her concern about her sister and about the meeting and admitted abashedly that she did not have enough authority to demand that the soldiers allow her to attend.

Dilandau caught the young princess staring at him and could not repress a frown. He so hated being looked like that by others, especially women. It made him even more irritable and he was already using what powers of self-restraint he had to keep from making some nasty remark or other.

What the hell was she looking at him like that for anyway?

Folken had gotten a clearer idea of the situation from the princess' insistence and worry. He was even more determined to see Eries out of this unpleasantness. But even in his agitation, the dignified Strategos never forgot his manners.

He quickly introduced Dilandau properly to the princess.

"Princess Millerna, may I present Lord Dilandau Albatou," Folken said cordially.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance," the princess said politely.

Millerna made a timid curtsy and after a nudge from Folken, Dilandau gave a slight bow of acknowledgment.

"The pleasure is mine," Dilandau uttered the expected response, though it was clear that he took no pleasure at all in it. Millerna didn't seem to notice.

Catching the way Millerna was looking at Dilandau, however, Folken was slightly worried. But he was certain that the young captain would not give the poor girl any hint of encouragement. He shook his head. Now was not the time to worry over speculations.

Folken gestured to the closed double doors and Millerna shook her head.

"I'm afraid even I wasn't able to gain admittance," she said sadly, "father seems determined to keep this meeting exclusive, though I don't understand why."

"I do," Folken thought silently.

He walked up to one of the guards. Immediately, they were at attention and crossed their spears in front of the door.

"I'm sorry, sir," the guard said respectfully, "but we cannot allow you to enter. We are under strict orders from the king not to admit anyone else in."

"Hmmph," Dilandau said scornfully, "maybe they need a little convincing."

He was just about to draw his sword when Folken stopped him and gave him a warning look. But the two guards grew more alert.

Millerna regarded this whole exchange with interest. Such a violent and reckless thing to do. She had never met such a dangerously impulsive person. So she was even more fascinated with the crimson-eyed soldier. She was also curious as to what method Folken would employ to gain admittance.

Turning once more to the guards, Folken stood to his full height, his dark cloak secured around him, and a shadow falling upon the faces of the guards. He could be a very imposing figure when he chose to and now he was using this to his advantage.

"I have every right to enter this assembly," he said in a calm but subtly menacing tone, "for I am the chief ambassador of the Zaibach Empire as well as the husband of Princess Eries. I am certain that King Aston would have no objection to my entering."

He said it in a tone that they could not possibly refuse. It was no request, it was a statement of fact.

The two guards looked nervously at each other, each debating on what to do. But turning their gaze from the stern figure of the Strategos to the smoldering blood-red eyes of the fierce captain who still had his hand on the hilt of his sword, they gulped and stood aside.

Millerna was amazed by this show of diplomatic coercion and waited to see what would come of it. But she grew more nervous when she realized that only Folken would be going in and that she would be left alone with Dilandau.

The latter, for his part, paid no heed to the princess and was eagerly waiting for what trouble Folken would stir up with his unexpected arrival. He had never seen Folken use intimidation to break the rules before and he was curious about the results of this.

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Suddenly, the great double doors were opened and all eyes of the council were turned to the unexpected intruder on the assembly. Gasps and exclamations echoed across the hall when slowly but resolutely, Strategos Folken walked in.

Eries, from her position at the center of the room, stared in surprise at her husband, and did not know how to react.

For his part, Folken took a sweeping glance of the assembly and instantly knew what it was about. He saw with indignation that Eries had been forced to stand in the center, like a common criminal being tried for heinous transgressions. She was staring at him now and he met her surprised gaze.

As usual, she stood calmly and dignified but he knew her well enough to see that she was extremely upset. Her lips were pursed in suppressed anger (no doubt at her father and the rest of the council) and he could see that her fists were clenched at her sides.

He narrowed his eyes at the men surrounding her, and he was determined to save her from their brutishness. He made his way towards her decisively.

There were whispers of protest echoing in the hall but no one dared voice their opinions too loud. Folken had a stern expression on his face that showed that he would brook no arguments from them.

And they were all still nervous from Eries' assertion that they ought not anger her husband and risk Zaibach's retaliation.

Recovering from the shock first, King Aston spoke.

"Lord Folken," the king said, in a slightly agitated tone, "we did not expect to see you here."

"Indeed, I was not summoned to this assembly," Folken replied calmly, his gaze never leaving Eries.

Her eyes were asking him, "What are you doing here?" But she was grateful for his arrival, and even slightly amused by it.

"It was not necessary to call you," the king explained, fumbling for an excuse and not daring to reprimand the diplomat for unsolicited interference, "there were certain matters I needed to discuss with Eries alone."

"I perfectly comprehend that," Folken answered, struggling to remain diplomatic even when Eries still looked so upset, "but Princess Eries has already been here for several hours, surely you have concluded all the necessary discussions."

The king said something noncommittal in affirmation and there were more mutterings from the council members.

"I am not ignorant of the kind of issues you must have discussed with her today," Folken said sternly, "and I'm certain that she has given more than adequate answers to any questions you might have asked."

Again, the king muttered something in reply, with the other council members mumbling more in assent. Folken wasn't really interested.

"In any case, I am aware that my presence here is unnecessary," Folken announced, "but I have come here to escort my wife back to Zaibach."

He was now at Eries side and she was still staring at him with utter astonishment. King Aston and the other council members were now busy bombarding Folken with speeches and excuses, all of which the couple ignored. With his good hand, Folken took one of Eries' and felt her fist unclench and her fingers intertwine with his.

"I didn't need to be rescued," Eries whispered stubbornly, and then gently, "but thank you."

"I needed to see you," Folken whispered back, "I couldn't let them keep you here."

"Don't worry," she replied with a small smile, "I was just about to storm out of here anyway."

"There were just certain pressing issues about your marriage that we needed the princess to verify," Meiden Fassa was saying.

Folken looked at Eries and she rolled her eyes at him. He fought the urge to laugh. They were surrounded by colossal fools.

And then, something mischievous occurred to Folken at that very moment. It was preposterous and yet he wanted to do it, if only to spite all the hypocritical old men in that room.

He was sure that Eries would cooperate for she was already looking at him with an expression that said, "What are you planning?"

"Trust me," the look in his eyes replied. She nodded silently.

"Well then," he announced, "I hope that this dispels all your doubts."

And without a word, he pulled his wife close and leaned in. Eries' eyes widened in surprise as she felt his lips press against hers but she smiled, realizing his purpose, and returned the kiss with equal ardor.

Of course, horrified gasps filled the room. Eyes grew wide and jaws were dropped. And for the next few moments, the Asturian council was at a loss as to how they could react to such an unexpected display.

"Preposterous!"

"Utterly insupportable!"

"Exceedingly improper!"

The couple broke away reluctantly and smiled at each other conspiratorially before facing their audience with greater confidence and no trace of regret. In fact, Folken and Eries dared them all to disapprove.

"I don't see anything improper about a husband showing affection for his wife," Folken commented candidly.

Eries said nothing but she was beaming with pride. Incredulity was written on the faces of King Aston and all the other council men.

"Well, we shall not be detained here any longer," the Strategos announced with a small bow, "good day, gentlemen, we take our leave."

The great double doors were opened to reveal an impatient Dilandau and inquisitive Millerna watching and waiting for the pair.

Folken offered his arm to Eries, and she took it. Husband and wife exited the hall triumphantly, leaving the council speechless in utter astonishment.