Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Escaflowne: All you need is Love, Isn't it?
Chapter 55
In Hitomi's chambers
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"So what do you think?" Hitomi turned left then right.
"Yeah, great, whatever." Merle yawned as she lay on her friend's bed, on her stomach with a bandage wrapped snuggly around her leg. Holding her head up with her hands, her elbows on the bed, she said. "I don't see why you're making such a big deal about this. It's only lunch for goodness sake."
"Because I haven't see him since yesterday evening and I have a feeling things were far more serious than he let on. I want to cheer him up. Help him forget about his problems, at least for a little while. So you, think this is okay than? You don't think it's too much?" She asked.
"If you ask me its not enough. You're practically missing the whole back of the dress. Besides, don't you think a dress for lunch is kinda going a little too far?" The cat girl started licking the back of her right hand.
"You think so?" She looked at herself in the mirror. "Maybe you're right. I should save this for dinner sometime. She went to her chifforobe and pulled out a skirt and matching blouse. Then went behind the changing curtain. A minute later she came out and looked at herself in the mirror again. "What about this?"
"Yeah, great, whatever."
"Oh, you're no help." The teen pouted.
"Lord Van doesn't care about things like that. You could be wearing a potato sack and he'd think you were beautiful. He sees the beauty within." The catgirl told her pointedly.
"You think so?" The teen replied, not entirely convinced of the catgirl's argument.
"If it weren't true, he'd have fallen for Millerna or Celena a long time ago. They're way prettier than you."
Hitomi's eyes went wide with shock. "I can't believe you just said that."
"Don't get all bent out of shape by it. It's not like I called you ugly or anything. You're cute enough, I guess, for a human of course. I mean it's not like Lord Van would be attracted to an ugly girl either."
"Thanks a lot." The teen snapped, turning her back to her friend and walking over to the full-length mirror.
"Hey, I was paying you a complement." She started to get up but the twinge in her leg forced her back down.
"Funny, being told I'm nowhere nearly as pretty as Millerna or Celena doesn't sound like a complement to me." The teen shot back.
"What I said was, Lord Van sees your inner beauty: your courage, your strength, your compassion. That's what attracts him to you. Not the other stuff. Sure its nice to have a pretty face to wake up to each morning but that kind of beauty fades. The other doesn't. The beauty he sees in your face now, he'll see years from now, when you're both old and gray."
Hitomi sighed as she looked down at the floor before her. She turned and walked over to her friend and sat down next to her. "Thanks Merle." She ran her hand through her friend's hair. "Sorry for snapping at you."
"That's okay." The catgirl smiled. "Say, can you, a little to the left, right behind the ear, yeah, there. Prrrrrr. By the way, I'm sure Lord Van will like the outfit you have on."
"Thanks, but actually I was thinking of going to the kitchen and getting a potato sack instead." She replied.
After the two girls shared a laugh together, Hitomi finished getting ready. She sat with Merle a while longer until the younger girl's lunch arrived then she said her goodbyes and made her way to the terrace.
Walking out onto the terrace she looked up into the sky. Soft, gentle clouds filled the sky, allowing just enough sunlight through to brighten the day. She walked over to the table that had been set out. The servant, who was standing next to it, pulled out the chair for her.
Sitting, she thanked him then asked, "Has Lord Van returned to the castle yet?"
"Of last I heard, no ma'am, but if Ma'Lady wishes, I shall go and inquire of the king's whereabouts." He offered.
"Yes, please do." She smiled.
Bowing deeply, he turned and went back into the castle.
About ten minutes later, he returned carrying a tray with a pitcher and two goblets. Setting the tray on the table he place one goblet in front of the teen and the other where her date would eventually sit. He filled her goblet with the juice from the pitcher then set the pitcher in the midst of the table.
"I am afraid Lord Van has not returned to the castle as of yet. And there is no word from the campsite. I am sorry Ma'Lady."
"That's alright. I'm sure he's on his way." She smiled then took a sip of her juice. "Mmm, delicious."
"Would you like to start with the salad at least, Ma'Lady, or perhaps some bread?"
"No, that's okay. I'll just wait for Lord Van." She smiled again.
"Very well ma'am. I shall inform you as soon as he does arrive." He bowed and left.
Hitomi sighed as she looked at her watch. It was still set for Japan time but she just counted the minutes from the time she arrived. "He'll probably be showing up in the next ten or fifteen minutes. I'll have to let him know it's not polite to make a girl wait." She grinned to herself then took another sip of juice.
She looked at her watch again. "Fifty minutes since I arrived. Was I early? No, our servant was already here, ready to wait on us. He may have been a little early but not by much I'm sure." She stood up and walked over to the edge of the terrace. Looking down at the castle courtyard, she saw several Guymelefs being worked on and a few actually being built. Several young soldiers were practicing their swordsmanship while others were practicing their equestrian skills. She stood there for some time just watching the men at there work.
Checking her watch again, it was now over an hour since she first arrived. The servant had returned two more times, only to inform her that there was still no sign of Lord Van. Suddenly, she saw a horseman ride up the path that led to the city below. Her heart quickened for a moment but it sank just as quickly when she realized that the rider was not Van. He was on older, stockier gentleman with a full beard. It took her a minute but finally she recognized him. Turning, she ran as fast as her dress shoes would allow. Once inside the castle she headed for the stairs and went down the four flights.
Coming down the last flight she spotted the gentlemen making his way through the entryway, so she called out, "Sir Baschan."
The minister turned. "Ah, Lady Hitomi. It is good to see you again." He smiled.
"Thank you minister." She forced a smile as she come up to him. "Have you seen Lord Van? Is he still at the campsite?"
The minister's eyes immediately went wide as his head jerked back a bit. "You mean to say, his Majesty is not here?" He replied.
"No. He hasn't been here since he left yesterday evening." The teen replied.
"But I thought… I'm sorry, but Lord Van left the campsite nearly two hours ago. I thought he was returning to the castle." He explained.
"Over two hours." A deep frown appeared upon the girls face. "Where could he be?"
"I do not know. But I must say, I am concerned. Lord Van was quite upset when he left."
"Upset? Why?"
"Things did not go well at all at the campsite. It appears we will be unable to build the aqueduct after all." the minister's head dipped slightly as his shoulders slumped.
"Oh no. Lord Van put his hopes for this city in the aqueduct." Hitomi's heart ached for the man she loved. Suddenly, she gasped.
"Lady Hitomi? Are you alright?" The minister reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"I know where he is." She replied.
"You do? But how? Is he safe?" Baschan had about twenty other questions for her but stop there.
"He's fine. He just wanted to be alone… alone with his thoughts, I suspect." She added. "I'm going to him." She turned and started headed back up the stairway. Pausing briefly she turned toward the minister and asked. "Minister, can you please do me a favor?"
"Anything Ma'Lady. What do you need?"
"I have to change. Can you see that my horse is made ready?" She asked.
Bowing deeply, Baschan replied. "Of course Ma'Lady. Your steed will be ready to take you to Lord Van upon your return."
She curtsied, "Thank you minister. I truly appreciate your help." Then she turned and ran up the stair.
Bursting into her room, the catgirl yelped as she dropped her spoonful of desert on her lap. "Damn!" Looking up she saw her friend run over to her dresser and pull out a T-shirt. "What are you doing here? Don't tell me your lunch with Lord Van is over already?"
"He never showed up." The emerald-eyed teen said as she quickly undid her skirt and lit it slid off her hips and onto the floor then she unbuttoned her blouse and let it fall off her shoulders down on top of the skirt. Pulling the T-shirt over her head, she went over to the chifforobe and got out her jeans, which she pulled on quickly.
"What do you mean he never showed?" The catgirl asked as she scooped up the fallen treat from her lap and stuck it in her mouth.
"Something very bad happened at the campsite and he rode off over two hours ago. He never returned to the castle. But I know where he is, so I'm going to him." She replied as she tucked her T-shirt into her pants and snapped and zippered them. Then she retrieved a pair of socks and her gym shoes.
"I'll go with you." Merle insisted as slid off the bed and started limping toward her.
Hitomi turned and looked at her friend. "You can still hardly walk. Just stay here. I'll bring Van back in a little bit. I promise."
The catgirl stopped. She looked down at the floor for a moment then back up at her friend. "Ookay." She said sadly as she turned and got back into bed.
"Be sure to keep stretching that leg. And drink plenty of water." The teen said as she started for the door. Stopping briefly, she turned and looked at her friend. "Is that your second serving of dessert?"
"My third actually." The younger girl grinned.
Shaking her head, the teen replied. "You never learn, do you?"
Her friend just shrugged and went back to her dessert.
Not hesitating another moment, Hitomi rushed out the room and ran down the hall, to the stairs and out of the palace. In the courtyard a steward was holder the rains of her horse, waiting for her. She ran up to the beast and climbed up into the saddle. "Thank you." She said then she was off.
Sitting on the clearing at the top of the hill where he and Hitomi had lunch just the day before, Van looked out over the forest. Sitting with his knees pulled close to his chest and his arms resting on top of his knees, he sighed as he allowed memories of the past to fill his thoughts.
"Look all around you Prince Van, as far as the eye can see. This is all your kingdom, this and more." The great samurai said.
"But it's all forest and farmland." The eight-year old boy said.
"Is that all you see. You will be king of all of Fanelia someday. You must learn to see not with the eyes of a normal man but with the eyes of a king. See the importance in the land. See what the land provides and see its potential. The ability to see these things are qualities necessary to be a great king."
The boy stared out over the forest for several minutes then turned his attention to the farms. Several minutes later he turned to his mentor and said. "But Balgus, I can't see anything but farms and forest. Does that mean I'll never be a great king?"
The samurai laughed. "Not at all young Prince. It just means you need more time. But let me give you a word of advice. Whenever time permits from your training and your studies, come here and look out over your kingdom. See what is, and see what can be."
"Balgus, I tried to see what could be. I tried to make it a reality. But how do I overcome something I cannot see from just looking out from here?" The young king lowered his head and closed his eyes. "Balgus, I could use your counsel now, more then ever."
"Would you settle for mine?" A soft, familiar voice said from behind.
Jumping to his feet, the young man turned to see the woman he loved a few cubits away sitting on her horse. "Hitomi."
The teen thought she'd say something sarcastic, perhaps lightly berate the young man for missing their lunch date but seeing the sadness in his eyes, chased those thoughts away. Instead she rode over to where his horse was and dismounted. Patting the animal along the side of its neck and down its snout, she then walked over to the man she came to see.
"I was worried about you. So was Sir Baschan and Merle." She said when she came to stand in front of him.
"How did you know to find me here?" He asked but then answered his own question. "Of course, you had a vision, didn't you?"
"Well, yes. But I don't think I really needed one to know that this is the place you would come to, to think." She stated.
He smiled sadly at her then slowly turned away. "I'm afraid I wouldn't be very good company right now."
"Van, do you honestly think I only came to Gaea to spend the good times with you? I came to be with you. Through the good times and the bad." She stepped forward till she was standing next to him.
"So you know the project has come to an end." He said.
"Sir Baschan said the aqueduct can't be built but he didn't say why." She replied.
"It's because the entire forest is sitting on top of an iron ore deposit just five cubits beneath the surface. To build the aqueduct we need to go 10 cubits down." He said solemnly.
"Oh." Was her only response. Slowly her eyebrow furled as she stared at the forest. "But how is it that these trees can grow so large if there's a …"
Before she could finish, Van answered. "The trees draw their strength from the iron. They feed off of it."
"Oh." She lowered her head. Then another idea occurred to her. "Well, maybe you can mine the ore? If the deposit is that big, you can start an iron works factory."
Van laughed softly and shook his head.
"What? What's so funny? I'm being serious." She frowned.
"I apologize Hitomi. I don't mean to be dismissive. But…" He put his hand on her shoulder and turned her attention to the nearby mountain. "See that thick black layer, a little over half way up the mountain?"
"Yes." She responded.
"That's iron ore. No digging needed, no trees to cut down. A man with a cart can ride up the mountainside after breakfast, fill his cart and be back before dinner. Iron is very plentiful in Fanelia, Zaibach and parts of Asturia closest to our border. I just never imagined it would be under the ground." He let his knees give way as he plopped down on the grass.
"Well, maybe you …"
"Hitomi, please. There isn't anything that can be done. Don't you think I've exhausted every possibility already? Considered every possible alternative? I don't need you to restate the obvious to me." He snapped.
Her lips quivered as she struggled to keep from crying. "I'm just trying to help."
"Unless you can miraculously make a ore disappear, there's nothing you can do that will help the situation." He said coldly.
"So, is that it? Have me close while everything is fine and all your dreams are coming to fruition, but run into some trouble and its, "Okay Hitomi, just stay out of my way. You can't help me with my problems, you're just a silly girl."" She spat back.
Van shot his head up and stared at her wide-eyed.
"Well, if that's your idea of love then you've got a lot to learn, King Van Fanel." She turned and headed for her horse.
"Hitomi, wait!" He quickly rose to his feet and rushed up behind her, taking hold of her shoulders to stop her progress. "Please wait."
She gave no resistance but lowered her head and allowed silent tears to roll down her cheeks.
"Hitomi…" He sighed. "You're right. I'm sorry. It's just… before the war, from the time my mother disappeared till the Zaibach attack, though I was technically the ruler of my kingdom, I relied entirely upon Balgus' counsel. In reality, he ruled Fanelia during that time and he prepared me to take the throne. Since his death, I've had to been my own counsel and it hasn't been easy."
"What about your ministers?" She whispered.
"They offer advice but they don't come close to the wisdom Balgus possessed. He was far more then just a great swordsman and samurai. He was my confident, my tutor, my mentor, and my advisor. Now, without him, at a time like this; it all just feels … so overwhelming." He explained in a soft, non-threatening tone.
Slowly turning around to face him, Hitomi whipped her eyes dry and looked up at him. "I may not be wise and I may not be able to tutor or mentor you in anything you might think is useful but I want you to know you can always confide in me. I will never think any less of you just because your plans don't work out. I won't blame you or look down upon you or consider you a failure just because things didn't work out. And things won't always work out, no matter how much we want them to. That's just how life is."
Staring deeply into her eyes for a few moments, Van pulled her into his embrace and held her tight. They held each other for several minutes before he whispered. "I had no idea how much I needed to hear words like that. All I could think of was how I had let Balgus down, how I let my people down, how I let you down."
"Oh Van. I'm sure if Balgus were here today, he'd tell you how very proud he is of you. And your people love you and admire you. I love you, more than anyone ever will. You're what, fifteen years old and ruler of your own kingdom. How can I not admire you and be so very proud of you." She pressed her cheek against his chest. "I know how much this aqueduct meant to you, means to Fanelia. I know you're upset but I want you to know. If you're serious about wanting me to become your… your… your Queen, you've got to learn to confide in me. Don't just come to me when everything is going well, but come to me when things are going wrong too. I may not be able to advise you wisely but I'll listen to you and hold you and be here for you, always."
Van leaned back slightly, causing Hitomi to act in kind so their eyes met. "I think we both underestimate your wisdom Hitomi. I won't make that mistake again." And as they stared longingly into each other's eyes, their lips slowly drew closer together, and just as they could feel the other's gentle breath upon their lips, a loud rumbling sound echoed over the hill.
Pulling back slightly Hitomi started at the king, whose face had turned a faint shade of pink. "Was that your stomach?"
He just looked away.
"When is the last time you ate?" She smiled.
"Dinner, yesterday." He answered honestly.
"You must be starving. Come on, let's head back to the castle." She started to pull out of his hold but he held her fast.
"In a moment." He said, as he leaned in again. Slowly Hitomi's smile faded as she leaned in as well only to have an even louder rumble fill the air. With that the teen began to laugh out loud. "I'm sorry, but I…" She was unable to finish her sentence as she laughed even louder when a third rumble sounded.
"Okay, lets go to the castle." The king finally let her go, realizing that the moment had past.
As they mounted their horses and made their way through the forest, he asked. "So what is for lunch?"
"Well, it was going to be grilled yellow fish and sautéed greens with peppers but that was almost two hours ago. I guess we'll just have to see what Chef Salzer will be able to come up with on short notice."
"Two hours ago. I had no idea I was gone for so long." Van shook his head. "I'm so sorry I missed our lunch together, Hitomi."
"That's alright. You can make it up to me with a very romantic dinner." She smiled.
Smiling back, the king replied. "A romantic dinner?" He thought for a moment then continued. "Very well, I think I have just the dinner in mind."
"Really? What?" She asked inquisitively.
"Sorry, you'll just have to wait till tonight." He grinned.
"Ohh!" She pouted. "This better be worth waiting for." She warned.
"If it is not, you can have me horsewhipped." He offered.
"Eew! Sorry Van, I'm not into S and M." She teased.
"S and M… What are they?" He inquired with a confused look upon his face.
Hitomi just laughed and rode on ahead.
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AN: Sorry of the long wait but my DSL modem died and my dialup modem wouldn't work so I had to go out and buy a new dialup modem. Man is this slow! L Well, was it worth the wait? I sincerely hope so. Don't fault Van too much for his outburst. It's going to take him some time to get used to confiding in someone. What will be the solution for the aqueduct? Well, it won't be an easy one and it won't be resolved during this trip. But life goes on and as is often the case, other troubles will soon rear their ugly heads.
I hope to have another chapter for you for the weekend. J
Thank you for your comments as always. They are what keep me going. J J J
A. Amishi