Chapter 5: Van

Van wheeled around in time to catch Boris' sword with his. Their swords slid together, slick and sharp as ice. Boris broke the contact first, charging his king with both hands gripped around the sword hilt. Van deftly ran forward to meet him, keeping his sword in line with his body and parrying as Boris attempted to drive the sword down. As Van spun away to his right, he hooked Boris' left leg and attempted to make him fall. Instead, Boris leapt upwards and flipped over gracefully into a crouch. Van grinned breathlessly over his shoulder.

Boris had been Balgus' squire up until the day he died in Fanelia. He still helped the king hone his skill with a blade. As Van mopped his sweaty face with his shirt he had taken off, Boris peered out the window to the crowds gathered outside the palace walls. "It looks to be time Lord Van." Van grunted to show he had heard and raked his fingers through his hair, attempting to smooth it. He yanked off his breeches and pulled on his tailored suit pants, his hard leather boots and buttoned his top coat to the top button. Barely five minutes had passed since Boris suggested it was time. Boris picked up Van's belt and the sword of the Kings of Fanelia, with its insignia on the hilt and handed it over. As Van tightened the belt around his waist, Boris attached a flowing navy cape to Van's shoulders. They both turned at the sound of boots on the wood.

Folken and Allen stood in the door of Van's training rooms. Folken was dressed in flowing black and silver robes, a red ruby glowing around his neck. Allen was in his Knight Caeli's uniform and armor.

"My Lord," Allen bowed upon greeting his King. Van wished Allen wasn't so strict with manners. In Fanelia they barely observed the courtesies of chivalry that Allen lived his life by. Folken allowed a smirk to pass his lips and he looked at his younger brother, now a man of nineteen. Van was only an inch or so shorter than Folken, Gods be praised, but his lean muscle could be read in every movement he made. The year of peace after the war had not weakened him or made Van any less formidable.

"We are ready, my brother Dragon." Folken spoke softly, yearning for his mother for the first time in years. She had wanted this for him. This happiness and love.

Van strode up to Folken and clapped a hand on his shoulder. "This better work. Because we all know Fanelia's steel will be the final solution if anyone stands in my way." He let his sword hand drift to the hilt of his katana, even in peace he was ready for a fight. Folken smiled gently and said, "Zaibach did not call me Strategos for nothing, dear brother." Allen smiled grimly at these intriguing words and exchanged glances with Boris. This was going to be interesting.

Van strode past his men, his cape leaping and snapping behind him. He had seen less of his advisors as the date drew nearer. Folken had eyes around the castle that reported something was stirring, some dissent. Van hated intrigue and secrets, his father had never been afraid to say as he wished and do as he pleased.

But his father had risen to the throne when Fanelia was intact, and indeed was known as one of the mightiest nations in all of Gaia. Fanelia spawned new nations and settlements that all pledged their allegiance and honor to the Dragon should the need arise. No one had been able to save Fanelia when Zaibach struck; no one even knew a war was beginning. Van was determined to bring Fanelia back to its former glory, and if that meant he was to use his steel and anger to exercise his will, then so be it. He was a warrior, like Balgus, and his father. He would slay all his enemies.

He barely noticed when Folken moved to stand at his immediate right. "I wish you happiness brother; I know that Hitomi will loyally protect Gaia and Fanelia's citizens. It was a strange fate that brought her to you, but a blessed one. Let us step forward into the light."

As Van entered into the throne room he heard Folken announce, "All hail the Dragon, Van Slazner de Fanel, King of all Fanelia, blood-bound to the War Lord Escaflowne." Van's gaze saw all as he finished ascending to the throne; the room was stuffed with people. He was not going to sit, Hitomi deserves all respect. And he was eager to see Hitomi; he had not been allowed to stroke her soft skin in two nights...

"Oh. Don't! Not there! You are so mean!" Giggles stole the words Hitomi had tried to chide Van with. The Dragon king had caught his bride to be against a window and a curtain and was eagerly exploring all parts under her bodice that his fingers could reach, his mouth delivering hot and hurried kisses to her neck. He had just got a nipple between his thumb and first two fingers when he heard Folken's sharp voice call his name. Hitomi pressed herself to Van, to conceal his hand down her front, and looked up at him with big green eyes, her giggles muffling against his shirt. Van turned his head to his brother in annoyance and commanded, "Leave us brother." But Folken spoke instead, "The Forest Dragon Clan has sent elders to bring tidings to the King of Dragons before he announces his betrothal." Van sighed, a rare moment of the many responsibilities of the king heavy in his shoulders as he pulled from Hitomi.

Folken was speaking again, "Fanelia bids welcome to the Dragon's Goddess." Van was happy for this part; the court musicians played a gentle theme that was both lively enough for a procession and lovely enough to be considered Hitomi's song. Folken, Allen and Van's immediate trustees surrounded the throne. And then Hitomi was walking in the main doors as showers of green, blue, and white flowers fell from the rafters. During this beautiful plant snowstorm Hitomi and her party of maids and warriors behind her had to stop often. Women and lords alike were stopping to stroke her cape or brush a finger with her clasped hands. Her eyes sought Van's and he wondered what their wedding would be like, if this moment was so happy for him. Before she was even to the dais in front of his throne, he was walking down the steps to meet her.

She grew a little pinker in the cheeks as he bent to kiss her close in front of his whole court, and the crowd suddenly exploded in cheers and noise. He hugged her close and walked her up the steps to the dais, where they faced the excited people of the court and neighboring nations in the room.
"Fanelia, I present the Lady Priestess Kanzaki Hitomi, goddess to the visions of the Ancient God Vulcan. Welcome your future Queen, the one who holds your King's heart." The crowd lost it; Folken had seen to it that many nations that valued Vulcan Priestess lore were present in the room, so that the cries of support and love overpowered the naysayers.

The flowers continued to float down as the people in the room quieted and kneeled, calling "Lady Hitomi!" and "Lord Dragon" and "Long Live Fanelia!" Hitomi kept a tight hold of his arm and hand, her eyes wide as she looked over the crowd. Folken and Allen came forward, both to bow before her and kiss her hand. Folken also embraced her and Van together, causing the crowd to cheer again. Folken had assured her she would not have to speak, it was enough to just be seen. But Millerna had insisted the skeptics would not be satisfied unless some magic happened. So when Hitomi stepped forward out of Van's arms suddenly, he frowned at this unplanned deviation. "Hitomi, what..."

Her clear voice pierced the room and all was silent, "I arrived in Fanelia's forests on the King's Dragon Slaying day. It was prophesied on the day of my birth that I was promised to the Dragon. For what purpose I knew not, but when I was sent to the woods I saw your brave and skilled king and his Dragon." The light had changed in the room, Van noticed, an eerie blue glow that suddenly seemed to conjure visions of the deep wood and mountains behind Fanelia's castle. Hitomi's hands were moving in a hypnotizing pattern, "Fanelia, your king and Escaflowne have saved Gaia. And they will again-A dream, no a vision has appeared!" Suddenly there was a flash of bright white light, and several ladies screamed in fear. Van angrily stepped to Hitomi, what was she doing? Her arms were outstretched above her, hurriedly making distinct motions that the knowledgeable would recognize as a summoning spell. Vnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn, a huge mechanical sound jarred the room and Van briefly felt the ground shake. Then, a great organic cracking continued and a hulking figure appeared in the center of the bright light. Van shielded his eyes as Escaflowne suddenly appeared, bent on one knee in front of Hitomi. People screamed and ran from the guymelef.

"Escaflowne!" Van shouted, no one could summon Escaflowne but the one that was merged by blood. He moved in front of Hitomi and drew his sword. That's when he noticed a flicker in the air, a shimmering wave of light that he had not encountered since-Folken has supplied some Zaibach technology it appears. This trick was due to invisibility cloaks. Hitomi called out again, "The Dragon, together with Escaflowne, God of War, will protect Fanelia-I have seen it!" At her last words people stopped fleeing and stood to watch, most in awe and disbelief.

Escaflowne suddenly moved again, and pitched forward to the palms of the hands. To Van, it looked as if the great machine was bowing to Hitomi and him. "Hail Escaflowne! Hail the goddess he serves!" Van suddenly heard his brother calling out. Folken moved forward to also prostrate himself to Hitomi and Van even found himself bending a knee to this girl from Earth. All in the room were bent in supplication, worshipping the Hitomi and Escaflowne. Hitomi saw that most people were not watching. Quick as a flash Escaflowne was gone again, hidden safe under the invisibility cloak.

She turned to Van and sank down to his level, her skirts forming a great puff of fabric around her. "My king," she whispered as she reached for his two hands. "Hitomi." He reached for her lovely face and kissed her deeply, the crowd roaring around them. She had done it.