Lady Knight

Chapter 3: Things Set in Motion

King Van Slanzar de Fanel sat alone in the throne room. He didn't often spend any more time there then he had to, ever more concerned with practical matters than the pomp most royalty dwelt upon. Today, however, he needed to think uninterrupted, and the throne room he'd decided, was the last place anyone would look for him.

At thirty-two Van cut an imposing figure. He had never quite attained the height of his elder brother Folken, but he had grown into the lanky arms and legs that had characterized him during his teenage years. His dark hair still fell into an unruly mess, at least naturally. For most of the ceremonies and such his wife, Queen Sarita, would insist upon it being tamed. Though it always amused him that she did so, for on more than one occasion she had remarked that it was one of the things she loved most about him.

Van was nearly always sure that he loved Sarita Renata Valencia de Fanel. Just as he was nearly always sure that she was the best queen Fanelia could ask for. But there were moments such as this one, when he had to make decisions that could easily tip the already precarious balance that existed between the countries of Gaea over into war, that he sometimes wished that his wife could give him advice. When it came to politics, the best advice Sarita could give was to do what he believed right, which while providing support and confidence, did little to help illuminate the correct choice to make.

In fact, even among his council, the only person Van could find to share his desire to prevent another war at all costs was his minister of foreign intelligence and homeland security, the Lady Knight Celena. An odd source of support for such a direction seeing as how Celena was not only essentially the minister of war, but also because her reputation as Fanelia's Lady Knight proceeded her everywhere. A reputation which painted her in larger than life colours, portraying her as both deadly and honourable, charitable and intelligent. She was rather embraced as a woman's hero, being able to seize not only the power and respect of a man, but to also embody the feminine virtues of a lady of the court.

Whether she actually did all that was a contentious point in Van's mind, though he would never say so. Even despite her injury and subsequent marriage four years ago, she was very nearly Van's equal with a sword. Marriage to Lord Theron had apparently done nothing to soften her warrior spirit. Though none of this was really relevant to what Van felt he needed to concentrate upon.

Daedalus, Sarita's homeland and Fanelia's ally by way of his own marriage, was playing a tricky game. Somehow it had managed to pit Asturia and Basram against one another in a wicked trade battle, a trade battle which showed signs of transforming itself into a real one. Asturia was also Fanelia's ally, through Van's friendship with King Dryden and Queen Millerna, which really made Fanelia's position in all this simple – take the side against Basram. Except that Basram possessed weaponry that could devastate Fanelia even more swiftly than the Zaibach forces had all those years ago. Something Van wasn't sure he or his people could survive again.

If only, Van thought mournfully, if only there were some way to get all the countries to speak together at once. To get all the discussions and all the variables out there in one moment. It was doubtful such a thing could be done, however. To even get every country to meet would be a difficult thing to accomplish, to get them all to agree to one idea would be a nearly impossible task. No, Van thought, it would be far better to prepare Fanelia for the worst.

"Father!" A young voice cried from the doorway. "Everyone's been looking for you!" Van looked up in time to see his eldest daughter draw near to him. Celesta was a beautiful girl, nearly ten years old and as lovely a daughter Van could have ever hoped for. Her dark curls fell softly around her face, accenting her big dark eyes. "Over here, Liana!" she cried, summoning her sister to the room as well. Liana was only six, but shared her sister's dark curls and wide eyes, though hers held a more childish wonder and astonishment at life. They were commonly regarded as two of the most beautiful young girls in Fanelia, and Van loved them dearly. But they were daughters. A king needed a son.

"Come on father!" Celesta said softly, "You have another meeting, remember?" She reached up to pull at Van's hand gently with her tiny delicate fingers.

"Daddy?" Liana said suddenly, her eyes looking luminous in the dim light of the empty throne room. "Why is everyone worried?"

Van looked down at Liana, wondering at the perceptiveness of his youngest daughter. "Because we're facing a very difficult time." He replied gravely.

"Like in the Great War?" She prompted, her voice sweet as tinkling bells.

"Who told you about the Great War?" Van asked, his eyes hardening at the thought, even as he heard Celesta take in a startled breath, holding it indefinitely as if Liana had told some secret he wasn't supposed to be let in on.

Liana twisted her small fists into the skirt of her dress. "Aunty Celena." She replied softly.

"Aunty Celena." Van repeated with a heavy sigh. "Well then," he turned to Celesta, who seemed rather pale. "We should get going shouldn't we? Before the ministers have another fit like the time we went picnicking at the falls?" As he'd hoped, the pleasant memories of that sunny afternoon took his daughter's minds off the more serious tales they'd heard, and so he was accompanied by two skipping girls up to the council chambers, his heart heavy despite his daughters' levity.

"Celena! I just don't understand why you were telling my daughters about such troubling things!" Inside Van was storming with anger, having never really mastered his short temper, but he was attempting to hold it in check.

"They should know, Van. Even as children. Especially since they are princesses." Celena was staring him back with a cold look. "Celesta at least should be taught how to defend herself as well. You know as well as I that with things looking so dark at the moment they should be just as prepared as we should be. What if someone were to attempt to kidnap them?"

Van let a frustrated sigh escape his lips. A princess should never have need to draw a sword, in his opinion, and that went twice as strongly for his own daughters. Though there was some sense to the suggestion, he grudgingly admitted, secretly terrified at the thought of either of his daughters, with their big innocent eyes, being kidnapped. He let himself sink into his chair. "Celena," he said softly, "I don't know what to do. This whole thing with Daedalus and Asturia and Basram has my mind twisted in knots." To say Celena was his most trusted advisor would be an understatement.

He heard a soft sigh escape Celena's lips. "My Lord," she said softly, addressing him formally, something she never did in private unless she knew what she was about to say would anger him completely, "Maybe there is another way, besides senseless battle."

Something in her words struck a chord within him. Wasn't that the very thought he'd been having earlier? Of a united accord between nations? If only it could be done…

"On the Mystic Moon," Celena said softly, "They have something called the United Nations."

Van stared at Celena in shock, "United… Nations?" He repeated dumbly. It was as if his very original idea was suddenly being stolen from him.

"Yes," here Celena gave a heavy pause, "Hitomi…" she paused again, "Dilandau told me Hitomi was working for the organization that oversees this United Nations process, providing input and consulting work, or something to that effect."

Ah yes, Van thought, Celena's rarely mentioned telepathic link to Dilandau. It was something that Van could rarely get a straight answer out of Celena about, though from what he gathered, the link was becoming weaker by the year. Now the two could communicate only through dreams, and now only very rarely indeed. Van struggled to remember every detail, of the precious few Celena had shared, about Hitomi and Dilandau. She'd said little about Hitomi, he reflected, though Dilandau had apparently married. Van shook his head at the thought, who in their right mind could marry a monster like Dilandau?

"Sire?" Celena said questioningly, summoning Van from his scattered thoughts.

"Yes, Celena?" She was looking at him expectantly. He swallowed suddenly, a darker thought arising in his head. "Actually," he began hesitantly, "Out of curiousity only," he paused, for this thought would be a difficult one to say indeed, "If Dilandau were brought back to Gaea, would he fight for Fanelia, seeing as you…" Van chose not to finish the thought, the shocked expression on Celena's face enough to still his words.

He watched her chew her lower lip thoughtfully, "I think he would." She said softly. "But I don't think…"

"War is the right answer?" Van concluded for her. "I know, it seems a rash decision, but…" he paused, "I'm not certain the United Nations idea would work here." Which probably really translated to the fact that Van was simply not prepared to see Hitomi again. He chose to ignore the look on Celena's face, she seemed torn between saying something more and general confusion.

"Van," she said suddenly, "I'm not certain we could get one without the other." She looked very torn, Van found himself thinking, almost as if there was something very important that she was leaving out.

"Because only Hitomi can use the jewel to bring them back here?" he supplied.

"Well," Celena began awkwardly, "yes." There still seemed to be something sitting unsaid.

"Celena," Van said suddenly, his mind already made up, "Can you try to bring them here?" It was the only thing he could think of to try to protect Fanelia. Even if he wasn't ready to see Hitomi again, maybe there was something more she could do for Gaea, and may the heavens forgive him for bringing Dilandau back.

Celena stood in the front hallway of the estate she now shared with Theron. She trembled slightly, afraid in a way she hadn't been for a very, very long time. Secrets somehow had a way of backfiring on you, she thought morosely.

"Celena?" Theron's voice echoed in from the living room. "We have a guest!"

Celena gave a pathetic smile, wasn't this just what she needed? She trudged into the living room, her smile suddenly becoming sincere. "Allen!" She cried gratefully, pulling him into a hug.

"Celena." Her brother replied, a questioning tone in his voice. "Why did you look so worried coming in the door?"

Celena stared up at her brother, his temples were beginning to show signs of grey, but his face looked as earnest as ever. "Because of the situation between Daedalus and Asturia and Basram, Van wants me to get Dilandau and Hitomi back here." Allen and Theron both looked at Celena blankly. She found herself stumbling for words, "I said it might be difficult to get one without the other…"

"You didn't tell him that they're married, did you?" Theron interrupted, his face contorting into a wickedly amused smirk.

"No." Celena squeaked.

"Celena!" Allen cried, his tone slightly hopeless. He looked helplessly at Celena, "You better hope they don't bring their son, on top of it, you know how bitter Van is about having only daughters. Can you just imagine how badly he'll take it when his worst enemy shows up married to his ex-fiance, with a son no less, and him having to ask for help?"

Celena winced. "Now you know why I look so worried?" She supplied weakly. She closed her eyes, she'd rather be facing an entire army single-handed than deal with Van once the whole situation Allen was describing occurred.

Dilandau woke with a start, sheets tangled around his form as he breathed deeply. Sitting up, he ran a hand through his short silver hair and stared around the room, trying to still his disorientation. He looked down to see his wife sleeping on solidly. He smiled fondly; Hitomi had always been a heavy sleeper. As pieces of his dream fell into place, however, his smile faded. Concern filled Dilandau's gaze as he looked down at Hitomi's sleeping form The simple everyday pattern of their lives had been broken, and now he was the one who would have to tell her.