Hey! This is my disclaimer! I only own characters and places that are the product of my imagination. Everything else belongs to someone whose bank account isn't as empty. There, that was my disclaimer… now on with the story…
Millerna was grinning widely as she stepped out of the levi-ship. She always enjoyed visiting Fanelia but this time… she was certain this time she would enjoy her staying much, much more.
Before Van left Asturia after her crowning he talked about going through the dragon slaying ceremony; it was no surprise after that damn attack during the grand celebration. He needed to become a king; being the throne prince wasn't enough in a case something goes wrong.
And all those who witnessed what those attackers did had every right to think something could go wrong and not being paranoid. No one attacks with the attempt to kill just like that and for no reason.
"Welcome to Fanelia queen Millerna." As a member of the royal family Merle was the one who waited on the docks to greet the newly crowned queen of Asturia and not cause an international scandal. The protocols demanded that the king or the most-ranked one in the kingdom greet the visiting monarch.
But Millerna understood this breach of protocols "He is preparing for the crowning?"
"Yeah, Balgus is drilling him with all the little details about the ceremony which is completely unnecessary cause he already knows them. Each and every single one." Merle rolled her eyes.
The blonde queen merely laughed "At least he will be absolutely certain he won't do anything wrong."
"Ah, there you are dear." Dryden said walking out of Crusade, stepping next to his wife and wrapping is arm around her waist "I missed your presence."
Merle snickered as she noticed Millerna rolled her eyes "The carriage is waiting." She said quickly.
As soon as they sat in the carriage; Dryden next to his wife and Merle and Allen opposite of them the merchant-king remembered something that made Fanelia unique on Gaea. He grinned before asking "So, tell me Merle, who is the First One?"
"Oh, her name is Hitomi. You'll meet her soon enough, she'll be waiting in front of the palace with Lord Van if Balgus lets him out of his chamber."
Millerna looked at the cat-girl confused before a wide smile spread on her face "I completely forgot about… well, tell us how she is."
"I don't like her." Merle blurted "I mean I like her but I don't like her."
The three people in the carriage observed her with confusion clearly visible in their eyes. Millerna even turned to her husband in hope he might have understood what in the world the neko meant with that strange statement but all the books in the world could not help the merchant. He was just as lost as she was.
"Do you like her or not?" Dryden asked to bring some light to the whole matter.
Merle sighed "She's awesome. Pretty and nice to everyone and will probably be the awesomest queen ever."
"But?" Millerna asked not understanding exactly which part made Merle not to like the girl.
"She sucked in all the patience of the world! I bet with some of the maids I would get her to snap at me and lost! And I did all the obnoxious things that drive everyone else crazy: I pranced on her, licked her entire face, I even stole her bracelet and how did she react? She calls me a silly cat-girl and tells me to keep the bracelet if I like it."
Millerna chuckled instantly "I think I'll like her."
Minutes later the carriage came to halt. It took one of the Fanelian samurais only few moments to dismount and open the door for the royalty but to Millerna it seemed like an entire hour. She was just so damn eager to finally meet the future queen.
Once she was standing on the stone floor she looked towards the main entrance and smiled seeing Van and his betrothed coming down the stairs. As soon as Dryden stepped by her side he nodded and said "Merle's right. She is pretty."
If the morning sun was any indication the day will be beautiful. But not as beautiful as the young girl that was descending down the stairs towards the newly arrived guests.
Hitomi was nervous under her as usually composed posture. She was caught in a middle of a thing that had nothing to do with the reason she arrived in this kingdom but still she managed to find a silver lining in her current position. With the title of the Fanelian queen she will most likely had better luck in finding the librarian before the unavoidable happens.
Van on the other hand was completely calm, inside and outside. The Asturians were his friends that arrived to witness his crowning… and wedding. Instantly as that thought invade his mind he glanced on the girl on his left and mentally patted on the back who ever picked that dress for her to wear. He could remember his mother wearing dresses in that style but the one on his betrothed was made out of pale yellow silk and rustled slightly as she moved.
Unfortunately there was no time to admire Hitomi some more because once they stepped on the small square on the city level he was to greet the guests "Welcome to Fanelia. I'm glad that you arrived to share the joy of today's events with me… us."
"We are honored to be able to watch you become a king and a husband." Millerna said back politely before turning to Hitomi "It is a honor to meet the First One. I am Millerna Aston Fassa, queen of Asturia and this one next to me that is currently staring at you like a fool…" she elbowed Dryden in the ribs "…is my husband Dryden Fassa."
The green-eyed girl laughed slightly before answering "It is a honor to meet you queen Millerna. I am Hitomi Kanzaki."
"Please call me Millerna. I see no point of using a title when talking to someone of the same rank. Although there are those who would disagree with me." She mumbled the last sentence but Hitomi still heard and understood her. And she knew better then to ask who those people were.
Once they were back in the palace the guests were lead to their chambers to rest before the crowning, Balgus walked away towards the training grounds for some final instructions to the samurais and Merle practically ran in the direction of the kitchen.
Van watched his adoptive sister disappear behind a corner before turning towards the girl that stood by the window. He wondered for a moment why she was still there, standing with him in a deserted hallway, looking out the window when he remembered she only arrived in the palace and spend most of that time in her chamber. It mad Van feel strange… it made him feel bad because he was the reason she felt to lonely. If she felt lonely, which wouldn't be surprising.
"Hitomi, do you want me to show you to your chamber?" Van asked stepping next to her.
But as she turned her head and looked at him Van started to hope she'll refuse his offer, that she would want to stay in the middle of a hallway because then he would have a reason to watch her a bit longer, after all he couldn't just leave her alone and leave.
"When we find some time could you tell me a bit more about Fanelia?" the young prince was taken back by the gentle tone and the meaning of her question.
"It would be an honor to teach you about our kingdom."
"Our?" Hitomi asked smiling.
Van just nodded. Their wedding was around fifteen hours away and then Fanelia would be their kingdom… and she would be his wife.
The sun was on its highest position when the crowning started. It was a ceremony the Fanelians have been expecting for ten years now so it was basically the event of the decade and the it seemed like all those who lived in the capitol gathered on the square in front of the main stairs but they were not allowed to go on the upper level where the palace and the main courtyard was. But the people didn't mind at all. They were gladly staying on a lower level of the city and waited for the newly crowned king to appear on the gates.
Hitomi was not so fond of kneeling but it was a part of the ceremony, a tradition in this country, so she knew she had no chance to avoid it. But it helped a bit to see the same rule applied to all who had the honor to watch the ceremony. In fact, Millerna was kneeling right next to her on her left. Hitomi was eager to speak to the young queen, to ask her for advice seeing she would find herself in a same position but as Van stepped out of the palace the chitchat became the last thing on Hitomi's mind.
The royal ceremonial armor looked massive and was quite heavy but it sent the clear message Van was to be a king and everyone meant to obey his orders. And as he walked towards the center of the courtyard, in the very center of the strange colorful pattern that decorated the open area, he looked like a king. His head was held high, his posture straight and his face expression serious.
Behind him walked Balgus with two priests.
Hitomi's green eyes followed the tall mad with interest, he reminded her of an friend she left behind when she came to Fanelia, but now was not the time for memories and the past. The future was far more important. Not to mention the presence.
In Balgus hands she noticed a sword in blue sheath. At first it didn't mean a thing to her but then the main samurai unsheathed it and lifted it in front of his face things changed.
"Van Slanzar de Fanel, in the ceremony of the dragon slaying you have defeated your enemy and took his energist as a prove you are worthy of the throne as your ancestors have before you since the founding of Fanelia. This is the royal sword that will prove your lineage and your position in the times of peace and serve you well to defend your kingdom, people and family in the times of war. Van Slanzar de Fanel, receive this sword as the insignia of your power."
In a single fluid motion Balgus sheathed the sword once more and offered it to Van who took it and kept holding it in the same position in front of his body horizontal to the ground. Instantly Balgus kneeled on the stone floor and bowed his head. The samurais that were posted around the courtyard followed his lead to show their king respect and obedience.
The two priests didn't kneel down though; instead they started to chant blessings for the newly crowned king. That took for several minutes and once they were done the samurais sat strait once more and Balgus stood up completely. He nodded to Van and the young king nodded back before turning and walking towards the gates.
A loud roar was heard as the people of Fanelia saw their kind stand proudly at the entrance of the palace grounds. They were happy this day has finally arrived, they were happy the throne was no longer empty and they started to repeat Van's name as a chant. Fanelia loved its king.
While the others had their lunch in the main dining hall Hitomi was eating alone in her chamber. It wasn't the first time she dined alone, she did it before she came to Fanelia but it never bothered her before. But for some reason it did bother her now. For some reason she would rather be in someone's company right now. Van's perhaps.
She looked towards the large wardrobe and sighed. With the lovely carved doors slightly open she could see the bottom hem of her wedding dress and that brought her back to reality. Today was her wedding day.
Shaking her head in hope that would chase away the disturbing thoughts and uncertainty Hitomi tried to focus on her meal. It was useless. No matter how much she tried to think about meat and mashed potato somehow the upcoming ceremony turned out to be a more interesting subject.
A soft knock on the door made Hitomi snap out of her thoughts "Come in." she called.
The doors opened slightly and a maid walked inside "Milady, I was send to give you this." She said offering Hitomi an old looking book "You suppose to read it today until the wedding ceremony."
Hitomi looked surprised "Read the entire book? Why?"
The maid shrugged "It is your obligation milady. As a queen of Fanelia you need to know some things and-"
"For that I need to read that book." Hitomi finished for her "Thank you." She took the book from the young maid who just nodded and left the chamber leaving the future queen alone once more.
Alone with her thoughts… and an old book.
The brown leather covers didn't make it look specific of priceless but there was a saying one should never judge a book by its cover. Sure, it was a metaphor and wasn't talking really about books but it could be taken literally as well.
Opening it Hitomi could smell the years that had passed since it was written. The pages were dark yellow and slightly torn on edges. But the text was still well visible and Hitomi started to read.
"Lord Van, are you alright?" Merle asked as she walked behind Van towards his chamber but the newly crowned king remained quiet. The cat girl sighed and tried again "What is bothering you lord Van?"
"It's nothing Merle, I'm just thinking."
"About that?"
Van turned towards his adoptive sister "A lot of things. The trade agreement with Basram, who was behind the attack on Millerna and Dryden's wedding, the reforms I talked about with my advisers. Lot of things."
"Hitomi." Merle deadpanned "You didn't mention Hitomi."
"Should have I?"
The cat-girl grinned "The question isn't if you 'should have'. It's if you 'did'."
"Merle, I'm-"
"It's alright to think about the one you would marry lord Van. Most men would, actually all of them would. Some would even think about the one someone else would marry."
Van chuckled "You have a point there but… I'm not sure… what if this doesn't work? We don't even know each other."
"Well guess what? You will have an entire life for that."
The wedding that began at midnight was short and not as complicated as in other kingdoms. It was held in the temple of the Protector God of Fanelia on Van's request. The temple was basically unused and because of that Van picked it to be his sanctuary in younger days; whenever the pressure became to great he would come to this place to escape his duties, teachers and advisers. But now he had Hitomi and this place lost its purpose.
She was his sanctuary now.
Merle, Millerna and Balgus were only witnesses allowed in the temple, there was no need for more. The ceremony was only necessary for to set Hitomi's position among the other royalties, in Fanelia the queen was set in another way. Slightly more personal way.
And as the green-eyed girl walked in the temple Van thanked every God he could think of for meeting Hitomi in the forest in such a crucial moment. Not that he could remember more then two, the sight of his bride made his brain overload.
Her silk the seamstress used for the dress had the most unusual color; Van never saw anything like it before. It matcher her tan perfectly so he couldn't tell where the dress stopped and bare skin of his future wife began. And before Van could react that made other thoughts appear in his mind, more intimate thoughts.
Hitomi was completely unaware of that, she just continued smiling as she approached him and the priest that was waiting to wed them. She did notice how fortunate she turned out to be, there was no way she would have find such a handsome husband back home.
The priest cleared his throat as she stepped next to Van and began with the ceremony "Van Slanzar de Fanel, as the king of Fanelia you have the responsibility towards the kingdom and its people, and from this moment on you will share that responsibility with your queen. Hitomi Kanzaki, you are the one who will rule this kingdom on the side of your husband, you are the one who will be his support and who will give him children, heirs of this kingdom protected by the dragons and Escaflowne."
Van turned towards Hitomi, took her left hand in his and gently placed a silver ring on her finger. And when their eyes locked he smiled and said his wove "From this moment forward you will be my support, the one who would show me patience and calmness and be there for me until the day the Gods take me away."
Hitomi copied his movement and moments later a dark silver ring was on Van's finger proving to everyone he belonged only to her. She looked in his eyes, smiled and spoke the wove she altered slightly "From this moment forward you will be my support, the one who would show me strength and wisdom and be there for me until the day the Gods take me away."
Van blinked recognizing she didn't use the usual words she supposed to but he smiled never the less, her wove was perfect. He would show her strength, protect her from whatever danger and keep her safe. That he promised to himself.
She was far to precious to him; even though he knew almost nothing about her he knew she was his life.
Van was standing in front of the large glass balcony doors and observed as the sun was rising. He awoke and left the bed just minutes ago to enjoy in the beautiful sight in front of him. The light of the new day made the valley look like a piece of paradise.
Paradise Van had the opportunity to experience the previous night.
He young king swallowed hard, by the Gods only thinking about it, about her and him, made his desire wake. Instantly his breathing became irregular and his heartbeat reached the critical point. It felt so damn good, so right, so… Gods, he wanted her again.
After calming down his raging nerves Van turned away from the window and lied back under the covers of the large bed. His head instantly turned towards her sleeping form and another bolt of desire shoke his body. Before he met Hitomi he never imagined doing to a woman what he did to her last night, and he never imagined she would respond to him in such a way that almost made his heart stop.
The young king was completely unaware his bride awoke until he could feel her fingers gently moving from his chest to collarbone, over his neck and cheek and all the way to his messy black hair. Gods he loved the feeling of her nails on his scalp as she entwined her fingers in the mass of his hair.
"You are torturing me." was all he managed to mumble.
"Then stop me." Hitomi said giggling.
But Van did nothing to stop her; he closed his eyes and continued to enjoy her touches. He even moaned when her lips came to his neck, the sound made Hitomi smile and kiss the same spot again.
Unfortunately their hopes for the morning in which the passion from last night would repeat itself were ruined as a knock was heard. There was someone on the other side of the doors that led in the royal bedchamber and both Van and Hitomi were sure that someone wouldn't be leaving anytime soon.
"Yes? What is it?" Van asked annoyed. Didn't they understand they were newly married and had needs?
"Lord Van, it's Merle. You need to get out of the bed, put something on and let us inside."
Van groaned "Why the hell didn't they come later? Like two hours later."
Hitomi merely giggled as she pulled away and picked up a red silk housecoat that was placed on the chest at the bottom of the bed. Van's eyes followed her movements before he picked up his pants from the floor and put them on as fast as he could.
"Lord Van." Merle whined from the other side of the doors again.
"Alright, get in." Van called and instantly the hyperactive cat-girl was inside. She eyed her adoptive brother for a moment before she and the main chambermaid walked to the bed, removed the covers and took off the sheet that covered the mattress. Hitomi's mouth opened wide as the two women they walked on the balcony and hung the sheet over the railing.
"What? Why are they doing that?" she whispered to Van completely shocked.
She calmed a bit when Van's arms found their way around her waist and his chest came to contact with her back. He then whispered in her ear "This is the actual conformation to the people of Fanelia they have a new queen."
"A sheet on the balcony? That doesn't make sense."
"Oh, but it does. You see it's not the sheet-it's the stain." Van said chuckling "The small stain of blood from last night when I made love to you."
Dark red blush colored Hitomi's cheeks "Van, you mean…"
"It is the prove that I claimed you as mine, that there in no other for me but you from now on." Although she was embarrassed at first as the exact meaning of his words sinked in she turned her head and kissed Van as passionately as she could in this position.
"Ok, the sheet will hang until the sunset." Merle said returning in the chamber interrupting the newlyweds "Is there something you two need?"
"A new sheet and some privacy." Hitomi blurted and instantly her blush returned.
"I'll see to that." The chambermaid left instantly. Merle followed her as soon as she winked at the couple grinning.
And once they were left alone Van kissed his wife's throat and pulled her eyen closer "My queen, my wife… I'm in love with you."
Hitomi turned around, wrapped her arms around Van's neck and leaned her head on his shoulder before whispering gently "I'm in love with you too Van, I'm completely and utterly in love with you."
Instantly Van kissed his wife and once they parted he groaned "If she doesn't come back in two minutes I'm locking the damn door, sheet or no sheet."
Hitomi laughed "Two minutes is far too long. I suggest you lock them right away."
Her words caused Van to chuckle "Even better."
To amend for the long absence of updates-a long one with few nice events. And now please send a review so I don't fall in another writer crisis. Ok?