Lady Knight

After a long hiatus, I've decided to revive this story and get 'er done, so to speak. This chapter goes out to Firenymph23 – you reminded me that I owed it to you guys and myself to finish this one!

Chapter 6: Questions

"What are we doing here?" Hitomi's voice was barely above a whisper as she wrapped her arms around Dilandau from where she stood behind him. "This suddenly doesn't seem like it was such a good idea." She buried her face between his shoulder blades and breathed in his scent, taking comfort in the familiarity of his form. She could feel the tenseness in his muscles, and she wished for nothing more than to take that away, and replace it with the joyful, relaxed feeling that normally existed between them at this time of night, when the world was dark and their son rested peacefully and safely in the room next to theirs. Now he slept fitfully on the cot in the corner of the candlelit room, tossing in amongst the hides and rough blankets that made up the bed.

"We'll be alright," Dilandau murmured finally, lifting one of Hitomi's hands to his lips, where he placed a gentle kiss on her fingertips. His gaze was dark though, as he looked out across the floodplain before them. Celena's words weighed heavily on his mind. They had been expecting a general for their troops; a strategic mastermind in case of war breaking out, not the dynamic duo of political and commercial force that had arrived to prevent war from breaking out in the first place. In many ways, Gaea was even more backward than Dilandau had remembered. Too many years on Earth, submerged in a culture of preventative measures and high technological luxury had robbed him of his memories of the hardness and stubbornness of Gaea and its inhabitants.

Tomorrow they would head to the Fanelian palace. They would stand before Van, and the truth that Celena had never bothered to explain would explode into the forefront of everyone's minds. And everyone would wonder how the sweet girl from the Mystic Moon could have fallen for the evil, maniacal killer. They wouldn't see the changes. And they would never understand how completely their plans would have to be changed. Dilandau's frown deepened. Perhaps there were some places that you shouldn't bother to return to. He tightened his hold on Hitomi's soft hands and closed his eyes to absorb the feeling of her body close to his, more comforting than anything he had ever known. At least he had her.

"The herald will likely introduce you as Lady Hitomi and General Dilandau," Allen explained as they strode from the stables to the Great Hall, "It's probably best if you let him say it that way."

"And what about Ben?" Hitomi's voice was soft.

Allen frowned, the fine wrinkles that had begun to appear in the corners of his eyes deepening. "You should probably leave him with a servant for now. His presence will complicate things for the both of you." He gazed at Hitomi for a long moment, "He makes the connection between you and Dilandau undeniable."

"Undeniable?" Hitomi whispered, pausing in her footsteps. Dilandau stopped beside her, his eyes unreadable as they regarded her silently. He hadn't said much since they had ridden into sight of the castle. Hitomi flashed an impatient look between Allen and Dilandau, as Celena sighed heavily behind them. "You mean you think I should try to deny the fact that Dilandau and I are married?" The idea seemed outrageous.

She watched Allen shifting nervously, "It would be easier for the both of you," he replied.

"Easier has nothing to do with it!" Hitomi exclaimed. "I refuse to hide my life just because none of you bothered to tell Van about it!" A hot, red blush was working its way up her face and neck, and for the first time in a long time, she felt herself losing her cool.

"It's ok," Dilandau murmured beside her, resting one hand on her shoulder, "If it will make things easier then maybe its not such a…"

She looked at her husband sharply, "Please tell me you're kidding," she barked, interrupting his flow of words. "You are my husband, and I am your wife, and Ben is our son! That's the way things are and if Van doesn't like it, he can shove it up his…"

"Mommy?" Ben said suddenly, his green eyes staring mournfully upwards, "Why are you yelling?"

Hitomi paused in her rant and stared down at her son. "I'm not yelling." She said calmly, straightening her clothes and deflating slightly. "I just get very annoyed when people try to use the 'it's easier' excuse. It never works in the real world. It's a basic rule of good politics to avoid doing things just because they're easier." She looked up to regard Dilandau and Allen from behind her thick eyelashes, "Especially when it involves telling a lie."

Ben nodded astutely, his young face looking adorably earnest. "Jen's mommy and daddy yell at each other sometimes." His chin wobbled slightly. "She said it's 'cause they don't really love each other anymore."

Hitomi felt something inside her give, just as Dilandau's hand found her own and gave her's a quick squeeze. Her eyes followed her husband as he released her hand and kneeled beside their son, staring him eye-to-eye. "Your mother and I love each other very, very much," he said softly, his voice hoarse, "You never need to worry about that." His eyes looked upward, meeting Hitomi's, "There's nothing in this world or any other that could ever change the way I feel about your mother." He turned his gaze back to Ben's, and gave him a quick wink, "No matter how much she yells."

Celena watched the family's exchange with a sense of unease. Dimly, she felt thankful that Theron wasn't there to see it. A part of her felt squashed. She would never have a son or a daughter. There would never be anyone else to worry about the state of her marriage besides herself. And somewhere, even deeper than all that, she felt a fissure of jealousy that Hitomi was on the receiving end of Dilandau's love. She had felt what he felt for long enough to know that what he said was true. He would never stop loving Hitomi; he would never disappoint his son.

She wondered if it would be better if Van saw that too, or if catastrophe could only be avoided if he remained blind to that. The idea that a monster like Dilandau could become the best of them all was as terrifying as any Gaea had ever faced.

Such thoughts had no place in the present, however, and Celena steeled herself as their small group came to the end of the hallway. She watched Allen murmur something to the herald and Celena knew, with a sickening sense of dread, that whatever happened next would be entirely her fault. She watched the herald's eyes widen almost comically as he turned his head to take in the trio from the Mystic Moon. The herald seemed to move in slow motion as he ushered the group into the Great Hall. Celena lifted her eyes to the front of the hall, where Van sat on the throne, his head turned to converse with his queen, Sarita, his expression seemingly bored from what she could read from his profile.

"Your Majesties," the herald began, his voice strong and clear, "May I present the Lady Knight Celena, Sir Allen Schezar of Asturia, and," the herald's voice faltered. Celena watched distractedly as Van's gaze lifted to grace her with a warm nod before settling on the rest of the party. "And," the herald cleared his throat anxiously, "Lord and Lady Albatou, and their son." Celena watched the world crumble into chaos around her.

She hadn't expected it to go over well. Hitomi was not the naïve girl who had first come to Gaea; she had become a doctor of political science and an analyst and consultant on many major political issues. She knew what scandal did, but knew even better how much more scandalous secrets could be in the political arena – especially when it came to the personal lives of those involved. It was better to reveal everything now. Secrets could be used against you. Of course, she now found herself thinking, so could the truth.

The entire court had fallen silent at the herald's introduction. The name Albatou had a certain notoriety in Fanelia, and the moment it was uttered, every pair of eyes had focussed in on Dilandau's calm, violet gaze. Cultural memories were hard to erase, Hitomi recalled. Of course, the gasps and curses and whispers had been expected.

What she hadn't expected was the punch to the gut that was Van's sharp gaze. He had become a monarch in the years since she had seen him last. Van had become more stern and regal. His dark features had deepened and where once had been a young man struggling with his power, there was now a man who had learned to wield power and honour and respect with ease. He was even less the soul she had once loved. But the look of sudden astonishment and betrayal that had darkened his eyes affected her no less.

"Hitomi?" Van's voice was low, his gaze flashing rapidly between the two male members of her family and herself.

"Your highness," she replied, bowing stiffly while recalling that on Gaea, women were supposed to curtsy. Drat that her last political exchange had been in Japan.

A second, louder round of gasps and whispers erupted around the court. Of course they remember the woman who had almost been their queen. One and one began to add together in their minds, and she heard at least one courtesan faint somewhere behind her. She let her eyes remain focussed on Van's. It wouldn't do to appear ashamed or weak before him. It had been her choice to reveal her marriage to Dilandau, and she was not going to let anyone make her second-guess herself.

"Hitomi… Albatou?" a song-like voice ventured. Hitomi let her gaze slide to the woman at Van's side. The queen was a beautiful woman, dressed in lovely silks and colours that complimented her fine complexion and her bright eyes.

"Yes, your highness," she replied, her voice firm. She let her gaze slide back to Van. "We are here, just as you requested."