Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Escaflowne: All you need is Love, Isn't it?
Chapter 63
In the garden behind the castle
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"So do you train with your soldiers every day?" Hitomi asked, setting her napkin down and picking up her cup of new wine.
"Not every day, just once or twice a week." Van said as he turned his head to took at her.
Van had finished eating his meal some time ago and was now lying on the ground with his hands under his head, staring at the treetops. Hitomi sat on her knees upon the large blanket that was spread out for their meal. She had just finished eating as well, and was enjoying the new wine, which was more like fruit juice at this point. In a few months it would be real wine and she knew she wouldn't be downing it so readily then but now it barely even had the hint of alcoholic flavor. Merle was still devouring what Van had left of his meal as well as what was still in the picnic basket, ignoring the light conversation between her two friends.
"I've noticed that many of the palace staff aren't from Fanelia. Is that true for your army as well?" The teen asked.
"Some aren't, but most are. Sir Beckett and about a dozen of the men that served under him in the Chezarian Army immigrated here after the war." The young king rolled onto his side so he could look directly at her and propped his head up with his hand while setting his elbow on the ground. "Several of our soldiers are from families that immigrated to Fanelia when their countries were overrun by the Zaibach Empire during my father's reign."
"Oh, I see." Hitomi looked on pensively.
Suddenly, Merle let out a yelp, which caught her two friends off guard. As they quickly turned to see what caused the catgirl to react so, she suddenly jumped to her feet and ran across the blanket deeper into the forest.
"What is it Merle?" Van and Hitomi asked in unison, then turned and stared at each other with a smile.
"A monarchy dragonfly!" She yelled out as she ran and jumped up in to the air in a futile attempt to catch the beautiful, graceful flying insect.
From where Hitomi was sitting, it looked more like a butterfly than a dragonfly. It had large, seemingly delicate wings colored bright royal purple, deep red and black. Its body was thin but long and it seemed more to float in the air than fly. But though it seemed to float, its movements were very quick and the catgirl had little chance of catching it. Knowing this fact didn't dampen Merle's spirits or her effort at trying as she laughed and smiled while running and jumping after it.
"Do you believe that?" The teen asked unconsciously, not really expecting a response to her inquiry.
"Merle loves chasing after the monarchy dragonflies." The king replied.
"Oh." She turned to face him again.
"Mmm hmm." He nodded. "The monarchy dragonflies are amongst the rarest and most beautiful dragonflies in Gaea. Catching one safely, that is without injuring it at all, is supposed to bring a person good luck." He looked over to where Merle had run off.
"Has she ever caught one?" The teen asked.
Shaking his head with a smile, the king replied. "In over ten full seasons of trying, she's never even come close."
"That's not true Lord Van!" The catgirl called out from about fifteen meters away. "I almost caught one once!"
"I told you before Merle! That wasn't a monarchy dragonfly; that was a queens dragonfly. They almost look alike except the queens dragonfly has the dark green edge around its wings, like the one you almost caught, three years ago." He explained.
Hitomi smiled as she gazed at the man before her.
Turning his attention back to his special guest, Van studied her expression for a moment before slowly developing a somewhat nervous smile on his face when he asked, "What? Is something wrong?" He sat up. "Do I have food on my face?" He started wiping his face with the back of his hand.
Hitomi gave a soft laugh. "No Van. It's just." Her smile grew. "Sometimes you seem so… so royal, so kingly-like. But every now and then you let your guard down and it's like you're just another fifteen-year old boy."
The statement brought a frown upon the king's face.
Seeing this the teen quickly explained. "Don't get me wrong. I like it. I like that you feel comfortable enough around me to let that side of you show through. I know everyone expects you to act a certain way because you're the king: courageous, confident, intelligent, pensive. All characteristics you naturally possess; characteristics that I love about you that I admire in you, but it's nice to be able to see what is behind all of that sometimes." She leaned forward and crawled and all fours toward him, stopping when she was but a breath away. "It's like, I find new things to love about you everyday." She smiled softly.
Van slowly reached up with his hand and gently ran his fingers down her cheek, along her jaw line and to her chin. "You have the most amazing emerald eyes." He whispered. "Have I ever told you that?"
She shook her head gently.
"Well you do." He smiled.
She blinked twice and smiled warmly. Then they both slowly closed their eyes and leaned closer together, gently pressing their lips together and softly moaning their mutual pleasure at the sensation. After several moments, the young couple sensed more then heard, someone next to them. Unwillingly, they broke their kiss and turned their heads to see Merle kneeling just a short distance next to them with her hands cupped in front of her and a sweet innocent smile on her face as she looked down at the object in her hands.
"What do you have there Merle?" Hitomi asked.
Speaking very softly, the catgirl replied, "I caught a monarchy dragonfly." She looked up and smiled at her friends.
"Really?" Van moved closer to see and Hitomi followed his lead. "Oh my goodness. By the gods Merle, you actually caught one this time. And it's the really thing." The young king smiled with wonder.
"It's so beautiful." The teen spoke in awe of the small miracle of nature.
Merle nodded. "It is, isn't it?" As her smile grew while watching the small creature gently raise and lower its wings within her cupped hands.
"I can't believe it Merle. You actually did it. You actually caught one." The young king looked with amazement from the small delicate creature to his friend's shining face.
"So what does she do know? Does she make a wish or something?" Hitomi asked.
"No." Van smiled at her. "The monarchy dragonfly doesn't grant wishes, it is simply an omen of good luck if you're able to catch one unharmed." He explained.
"So what should I do now Lord Van." Merle asked, still looking with wonder at the life within her hands.
"Release it. Let it fly away so it can bestow good luck on some other worthy soul." He answered with a smile.
She looked up at him for a moment then nodded and opened up her hands to allow the small creature to fly away. For a moment it just stayed in her hands then with the gentle flap of its wings it took flight. It flew around Merle several times before coming to rest on the tip of her nose as it slowly raised and lowered its wings several times. Merle gasped in surprise but managed to remain perfectly still as she crossed her eyes in an effort to see the beautiful creature.
"Amazing." Hitomi whispered.
"Yes, it is amazing. This is a very good omen for you Merle." Van looked on with the same expression of wonder that the other two had.
Then slowly the beautiful dragonfly took flight once again and flew away, up into the trees.
"Bye-bye little friend!" Merle waved as a big happy grin crossed her face.
"Merle, I must say, I'm really surprised. How did you ever catch it?" Van asked.
"Yeah Merle, tell us." Hitomi added.
"I'm sorry you guys, but that's my secret." She continued to follow the flight of the dragonfly. "You have to find out how, on your own. I think maybe that's part of the good luck." She finally turned and smiled at them.
"I think I understand Merle." Van smiled and placed a gentle hand upon her shoulder. Then as if remembering something important that he had forgotten to mention, the young king quickly stood up.
"Well, if we're done here, there is something I'd like to show both of you." He offered each young lady a hand up. "It's in the castle, so shall we?" He gestured to the large stone building. Both smiled at him as they made their way back to the castle. As they left their picnic behind, several servants made their way out to pick up after them.
"So what is it you want to show us?" Hitomi asked as she looked over her shoulder at the king.
Van quickened his pace and got in step with the two of them, one on each side. "I'm afraid you're just going to have to wait until we get there." He smiled.
The teen shook her head. "Everyone with their secrets."
Van smiled. "You'll see soon enough." He said as he took her hand into his, which brought a smile to the teen's face as well.
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AN: Well, I hope this was soon enough for an update. ^_^ I was looking to accomplish a couple things in this chapter. One, was to show a lighter, more normal (if you will) side of Van. As was pointed out in some reviews, he is a king but he is still just 15. And while I get the impression that in Gaea, the idea of teenage years is non-existent, (you're either a child or an adult) there is still a certain youthful nature that still exists in the young king. The second thing I wanted to accomplish was to show a real change in Merle's character. Where in the past, seeing Van and Hitomi kissing would have caused her to act with jealously, here she silently waits to share with them the wonder of the beautiful creature she managed to catch. I hope both of these aspects came through in this chapter.
By the way, can you guess what it is that Van wants to show them? It's not to hard to guess if you think about it for a moment. ^_^ I hope to have the next chapter up by mid-week so as not to keep you in suspense too long.
Thank you for all your reviews of my last chapter. I'm so glad you liked it. I was a little concerned that a chapter that focussed on two minor characters may not go over so well. But I wanted to start laying the ground work for them now so later, much later, when they become a more important part of the overall plot, you will already have a frame of reference for them and a sense of who they are and what motivates them.
I look forward to reading your reviews of this chapter as well. I cherish every review I receive. ^_^
Thank you all,
A. Amishi