Beyond Aeaea
DISCLAIMER: The Vision of Escaflowne is not legally mine but the visions of this story are.
NOTE: A light moment between the happy couple.
Chapter Twelve
"I'm sorry that you had to endure such an awkward and unpleasant episode today," Folken told his wife that night, once they were safely and comfortably back in their quarters on the floating fortress, "I believe my own reputation for being cold and unfeeling has had something to do with their disbelief. Such mortification that you had to go through on my account. I am sorry."
Eries gave a soft laugh at this and put a hand on her husband's shoulder.
"Do not take all the blame for all of it, my dear," she said, "because my own reputation for indifference surely contributed to their mistaken but not wholly unfounded assumptions. I can easily understand why they thought our marriage had not yet been consummated."
Folken gave a small smile in spite of himself, remembering the preposterous way the ministers of the Asturian court had questioned his wife. He had been angry at them at first but decided against remaining so. No serious damage had been done so there was no point in nurturing a grudge.
Eries had already convinced him to let the event pass without further controversy. It was not worth getting angry or agitated about. In fact, upon looking back, the matter was not only trivial, but also darkly amusing to the usually very serious couple.
"They believe that we are incapable of feeling any desires or passions," he said with some amusement, "that we are somewhat either beyond such human weaknesses or less than human for not feeling anything at all. It largely depends on how you look at it."
"That's rather uncharitable of them, don't you think?" Eries replied with an expression of mock offense.
"Indeed, it is," Folken agreed coolly, "but it is hardly surprising, considering the narrowness of their minds."
"I've met so many of these hypocrites, I can hardly tell one from another," Eries observed almost bitterly but with biting sarcasm.
"It becomes quite a struggle to do so, after a while," Folken added, exchanging a significant glance with his wife.
"But then again, it also shows how effective we are in playing the roles given to us, don't you think?" Eries replied with a smile, likewise amused at the direction their conversation was going towards.
Only they could make light of such circumstances because they knew that without approaching the situation with some sense of humor (which many mistakenly believed they lacked), they would both go mad. Or become as cold and unfeeling as they appeared to be.
No one could know that behind closed doors, the outwardly stoic and serious couple could enjoy a laugh or two at the expense of the idiots they had to deal with during the day. It was an unspoken comfort to each that they were able to share such pleasantries together.
"Indeed it does us some credit, I think," Folken agreed and then added on a slightly graver note, "and more often than not keeping up such appearances is necessary."
Seeing his serious expression, Eries became grave as well but took his metal hand affectionately. She understood him well. They understood each other well.
He looked at her with slight surprise and gratitude. Only one person had such an effect on him although he did not often readily show it, even to her.
"One can hardly blame them for misunderstanding the matter," the Strategos commented, some of his lightheartedness returning at the gesture of his wife, "after all, we do give rather misleading impressions, don't we?"
She smiled at him, her emerald eyes shining.
"Which makes it all the more entertaining to debunk their beliefs about us," Eries remarked with diversion dancing in her eyes, glancing at her husband conspiratorially.
Folken colored slightly at the allusion and could not help but smile at his wife's obvious satisfaction at the outcome. He had not expected to be so bold, and it was one of the few times his move was not quite calculated.
No doubt the Generals of Zaibach would snicker behind his back in the coming months. And he could think of at least one captain who would never let him live it down. He cringed at the thought of all he would have to endure and yet something still told him that he had no real regrets about it. Reputation be damned!
"I believe the Asturian court has not witnessed a scandal of such scale for quite some time," Eries continued with a cheerfulness that she rarely ever displayed, even to her sister, "and I daresay we shall be the subject of much gossip and speculation for weeks or months to come. I would dare even that cad, Allen Schezar, to come up with something more controversial."
At this, she allowed a soft but almost girly giggle to emerge from her throat although she quickly covered up the slight outburst.
So far, only Folken had been privy to such rare moments, and he felt privileged to be allowed to see this lighter side of the usually serious princess.
And it was only she who could bring out his own long-hidden and rarely-expressed playfulness.
"Thank you for taking it so well," he replied candidly.
"Of course," she answered gaily, "very few things have given me more pleasure. And you managed to turn an annoyingly embarrassing event into a triumphant one. Very well-played, my dear husband, I am quite proud of you."
He merely nodded and said nothing but a rather playful idea occurred to him at that moment, and this was a rare occurrence indeed for Strategos Folken of Zaibach. It was more reminiscent of Prince Folken Fanel.
He pulled Eries closer until she was in his arms. She looked at him with some surprise although her eyes twinkled with excitement and comprehension of his intentions.
"Well, my dear," Folken began mischievously, moving his face closer to hers, "would you care to prove them wrong once more?"
"With pleasure," Eries replied gamely, pulling her husband into a deep and passionate kiss.
Later that night, as Folken gazed at his wife's sleeping figure, he realized something painfully important.
His eyes went wide for a few moments as he allowed the truth to sink in and he pondered for a while on how much he was ready to reveal. Nevertheless, something needed to be said.
"I love you," he whispered as softly as he could to her, half hoping she wouldn't hear.
If she had, she made no sign of it, and somehow, he felt grateful and relieved. It would not do for her to know of it now.
It was the first time he had ever said it though he now realized that he had been demonstrating for a long time already.
He was not sure of where to proceed from there though, of how he would deal with any response from her. Their situation was not as simple as some supposed. Nothing was certain.
It was funny when one considered it, a husband telling his wife that he loved her. It was almost unnecessary.
But he felt that it needed to be said. Although he didn't know what he would do after saying it. There were some dangers attached to this precious confession, serious risks he needed to take into account.
He lay back on the bed and clutched his forehead with his organic hand. The Strategos was once again plunged deep in thought.
"How am I ever going to sort this one out?" he asked himself silently.
Because this latest admission, and all the complications that came attached to it, scared him more than anything ever had.
He would have never imagined himself capable of loving this way, not after what happened all those years ago. He had believed his heart had long dried up.
He had never expected this.
That he loved her (and that he always had) he was absolutely sure of now.
Whether it was safe to do so was another matter.