A N: I am SO sorrry! I love this thing it's my baby 3
Chapter 8
Hitomi clasped Van's hand tightly in her own, ensuring their hands were pressed into the side of her gown and out of view. Van squeezed briefly, to convey strength and continued facing front with her.
"Kanzaki Hitomi." The words came out deeply, in a staccato pattern; so slowly. Hitomi felt as she was being addressed by the oldest gods from the deepest woods.
"Yes." She acknowledged, careful to keep the fear from her voice.
"The Dragon has chosen. Now, you must face the Mother of all Dragons." This was the part she did not fear. Folken had taught her and Van how to calmly face the forest Dragons of Fanelia. He had shown them his black wings, in the ruins of Fanelia. She stepped forward bravely, and Van came with her, so as not to break their connection.
The raspy voice called out sharply, The Dragon must wait." Van reluctantly dropped his hand and stepped back. He said nothing to her as she walked from the warm circle of fire light and was swallowed by the darkness of the forests behind the castle.
Hitomi's mind swirled with memories of this forest. She thought about the dragon waiting for her in the gloom; hidden and probably watching her. Though she was afraid, she knew when she faced the Dragon she must only convey calm and peace. Hitomi forced herself to think of Van, laying in bed with him, holding his hand…these were her most peaceful moments. "My heart," he would whisper in her ear, "my shining jewel of all my kingdom…" She hadn't known what being loved so completely by him would be like.
Suddenly branches and leaves crashed down around her and she shrieked, putting her hands above her head so as not to be injured. Hitomi crouched on her knees, waiting for the giant beast to make the first move. A pair of brown leather boots caused her to reassess her situation.
"What are you doing?" Hitomi looked up, stunned. Apollo was standing there with his wings in full view; glowing in the moonlight. He looked amazing, she thought with admiration. "What are you doing here?" she asked, still on her knees and looking up at him. Apollo cocked his eyebrow at her.
"I thought it was quite rude Fanelia neglected to invite we Draconians." Apollo glanced away into the gloom, as if to direct his words at the King and ancient Dragon elders. A waft of hot air breezed around them, ruffling Hitomi's hair. Apollo looked unconcerned at this early warning that a dragon was approaching. "Apollo I think you should go..." Hitomi knew the Crown Prince possessed a volatile heart; the dragon would attack him and kill him. A high pitched cry cut through the dense foliage of the forest, and Hitomi began to feel the prickles of fear. "Why does Fanelia insist on continuing these barbaric traditions?" Apollo sighed dramatically and crossed his arms. The ground was beginning to shake from the dragon's steps. It was a big one. Hitomi took a couple steps toward a tree. Apollo didn't move, but he shifted his gaze to rest on Hitomi. His expression had changed, though Hitomi couldn't read it.
"Will you be all right, Hitomi?" Apollo asked her rather directly. Hitomi smiled in spite of the impending danger. "Even if I wasn't, it's not your place to protect me." She responded gently. He continued to size her up, and Hitomi found herself thinking of Van when he was evaluating a plan of attack.
Suddenly the trees and brush exploded around them. A huge scaled head towered above them, and a hot maelstrom of air blew their clothes and hair wildly. Hitomi gazed up at the huge beast, waiting and tense because of Apollo. Apollo turned with such speed and agility that Hitomi almost lost where he had gone. He had jumped up, allowing his wings to spread, and had perched in a branch. The land dragon peered at Hitomi with its wicked golden eye, blinking twice, then craned its neck to study the man in the tree. Hitomi felt unsure if Apollo was allowed to be there, or if this violated part of the rite. The dragon, though territorial and defensive, was not attacking or giving off a threatening aura. Apollo whistled a low tune, one that turned into a melody and the land dragon continued staring at the man. Hitomi felt herself calming, and almost wanted to approach the dragon.
Unlike the kings of Fanelia, whom were required to slay the dragon and bring home the energist in order to claim their throne, Hitomi had only to survive the encounter and return to the ceremony unscathed. Hitomi knew the completion of the tradition signified she was worthy to shoulder the burden of the monarchy; if a Dragon did not sway her then she was ready to be the bride of one. Though they spoke no more, Hitomi and Apollo exchanged meaningful looks. She noticed his body posture was relaxed, calmer than she had ever seen him. He hopped from the tree branch, maintaining eye contact with the dragon and stood in the center of the clearing. Hitomi remained close to her tree, watching the Dragon as it bent its terrifying head and jaws to the dark haired man. Her eyes widened as Apollo beckoned to her with his right hand, a smooth movement that hardly affected his posture and did not cause him to break eye contact with the Dragon. She heard him whisper, "Come here."
Following her instincts to trust this man with the wings, she stepped forward, almost as if gliding. The Dragon blinked at her movements and steam rose from its nostrils. Apollo clasped her hand and drew her towards the Dragon. Hitomi stared up at the giant beast, feeling a shiver of emotion and ageless visions pass through her. The only other time she had been so close was with Folken, pressed against the brick ruins of Fanelia as the dragons ran wild through the streets. "This dragon is ancient," Apollo whispered, "She accepts you." He never broke eye contact with the beast, and he extended their hands to the dragon. Hitomi began to feel a little more afraid, and the Dragon's giant pupil contracted. Great black clouds began pouring from the Dragon's nose. Apollo started whistling again, low, and Hitomi suddenly recognized the lullaby Van and Folken often whistled when they thought they were alone. She knew that Varie had taught her boys this lullaby. She wondered about it only for a second as the Dragon closed her eyes in response to the tune, and then made the first move by bobbing her head and brushing her giant mouth against Hitomi and Apollo's hands. Hitomi was suddenly overcome with a vision and the world turned black.
The dragon's fire raged around the familiar throne room. She was holding two blackened bundles, burned to crisps. Ashes flaked from the unrecognizable shapes in her arms. Hitomi was overwhelmed by her emotions, and soon she was falling so fast she was afraid it was not a vision. The blackness overtook her again, but not before Van's outstretched hand caught her and swept her up. They soared higher into the sky, into the bluest blue she had ever known. And then all was white.
"Hitomi! Hitomi wake up!" Van was holding her tight and speaking loudly, though not without control or with fear. She was alive, the dragon had not harmed her; so there could not be much danger for her. Hitomi opened her eyes and stared at the starry sky. She thought she still detected a whiff of smoke in the air, but she felt chilled. Suddenly, she remembered touching the dragon with Apollo. Fearing the tribal elders towering above she and Van, Hitomi looked quickly into Van's eyes to try and discern answers to questions she could not ask yet. He looked concerned, but not scared or angry. She surreptitiously attempted to study the hand that touched Dragon scale. Van tensed instantly and followed her gaze to her hand. Immediately, he moved so no one would see them examining Hitomi's hand. He took the opportunity to kiss her firmly then whispered, "Are you all right? What happened?" Hitomi was relieved to see her hand was normal, there was no trace she had been touched by a Dragon.
"Lord Dragon," rasped an ancient sounding voice, "Let the Queen-to-Be speak of her meeting." Van looked once more into his love's deep green eyes that were brimming with love and reassurance. Then, he stood up, using Hitomi's hand to bring her to her feet. Together, they faced the elder from the oldest of the Dragon Clans. He looked at Hitomi expectantly. She suddenly had the feeling that he knew what she would say, and who had visited her in the woods.
"I walked into the dark, my heart calm. But I was not alone. I could hear the Great Mother Dragon breathing, and could feel the changes in the air. Before she appeared to me-" Hitomi interrupted herself in her hesitation to speak about Apollo. She decided that she would speak with Van first before informing the elders. But she feared what they would do if they thought her untrustworthy. Van nodded to her encouragingly. Hitomi continued, "before she appeared to me, I took shelter next to a tree. Then, she was there and breathing black smoke around me. She blinked at me with her great eye and I did not move. I woke here, alone." She would not speak about her visions here to this elder. She was not sure what he would make of her origin or visions, and resolved to ask Folken later about it all. This was one of the few ceremonies Van and Merle could not explain very well to her and she refused to ask his advisors.
The elder peered at her. I feel as if he is looking through me Hitomi thought. "And the Mother Dragon touched you?" He asked quietly. Hitomi felt Van jerk next to her and she fought the odd urge to giggle. "What! You touched her!?" Van was incredulous, and memories of the first night he had met Hitomi bubbled up and threatened to overwhelm his self control. She was brave and strong, but Dragons killed humans.
He had never encountered a story where someone was around a dragon long enough to live, let alone touch one. Quickly Van remembered Folken's great black wings and the reason his elder brother was able to be around Dragons without fear of bloodshed. Van continued to stare at Hitomi, realizing guiltily he should not have behaved or spoken so rashly. Hitomi felt a cooling breeze slide across her face, and it grounded her. She listened to the sounds of the forest behind her, the leaves rustling and a frog croaking. An owl hooted in the distance.
"Yes, she touched me." Hitomi finally spoke. The elders regarded her silently, all peering at her beneath their hoods or head ornaments. Hitomi felt a trifle annoyed. She was from Earth, and had not grown up with the same cultural, religious or superstitious ideas that they expected from her. She tried to play it off as her assumed identity, knowing eventually she would have to reveal her true origins to these elders in front of her.
"I was not raised to fear the same things as Fanelians fear. And I was instructed by the brother of the King, Lord Folken, to maintain my calm so the Dragon would not kill me. He said Dragons hate those who fear them." She closed her mouth so that more words did not inadvertently spill out. The elders were muttering among themselves, one was nodding more than others.
Van's brow furrowed into familiar wrinkle lines as he listened closely to Hitomi. He was with her when Folken instructed them both how to survive the encounter with the Dragon when he and Hitomi sought him out in Fanelia. But Van's heart had been so conflicted in his battling emotions over his love of war and love of a woman that he instead engaged the majestic beast in a fight while Folken rescued Hitomi.
Van knew Folken and Hitomi often took walks together to talk quietly and learn from each other. Hitomi had confided in Van that she trusted his brother more than even Allen, a fact that Van was pleased to hear. The Dragon allowed his diverse emotions to swirl through his mind. His body had stiffened in his internal struggle as he remembered his youth of impulsiveness. But he took a deep calming breath to steady himself, thinking that he would have his whole life to ask Hitomi how she knew so innately what to do and say. He could spend hours dissecting this night if he needed to. Right now, his woman needed his support.
The elders all began humming deep, hypnotic tones. They seemed to be satisfied and done questioning Hitomi. In the end, the bonfire was built up again to a great crackling beast as they ended the ceremony with magical herbs thrown on the fire and loud, but deep chants. Hitomi and Van walked away from the deep forest village, both with their fur lined cloaks clutched tightly around them. Van carried a torch. The forest was dark and cold as they walked.
After a time, Hitomi slipped her hand into Van's gloved one and said quietly, "I was not so scared Van. I remembered what Folken said to us when we were in Fanelia again just us and him, and Escaflowne." Van glanced quickly down at Hitomi, they rarely talked about Escaflowne in this time of Peace. He replied just as quietly, "I imagine Folken has been preparing you for this night, it wasn't just the memory that saved you." Van paused, thinking, and Hitomi waited patiently for the man she loved to voice his true thoughts, "What did he tell you?" Van asked her. Hitomi thought about Apollo. She had to tell Van the truth. Apollo would find a way to twist this to his advantage, even if he wasn't trying to hurt Hitomi. "Van, I remembered what Folken told me in Fanelia, when I asked him about this ritual he told me only to remember that day. I thought hard about it and spoke with him later, wanting to go through the whole day again. Folken only reminded me to keep calm in my heart, that was the most effective way to ensure my safety. I trusted that advice because I was with him when he demonstrated the effect it had on the dragons in Fanelia." Van's torch that he was carrying sputtered for a second, and they stopped walking so he could knock off some coals. Van took the opportunity to study Hitomi's face in the firelight. He had only known her to be deceitful when it came to him and Allen, and then it was mostly concealing her own feelings, never to hurt anyone. Her face was sincere and her eyes serious. He sensed she had more to say on the subject, and he waited.
"I did keep calm with the Dragon, Van, and I thought of you to maintain that calm. You create such a peaceful feeling within me when we are together. But, I was not alone in the forest, Van. Apollo was there too." Van was shocked again, and now angry. "What was he doing there?!" Van gritted out through clenched teeth. Hitomi gently touched his arm and they began walking again, arm in arm. "He said he thought it was rude the Draconians had not been invited to the ancient ceremony." Van snorted, emphasizing how he felt about Apollo. "I didn't quite know whether to believe him or not, but he seems to be curious about me, Van. And I am curious about him." She could feel Van stiffen again, and she knew he was fighting his misinterpretation. Briefly, she thought about reassuring him, but let the thought pass. They were promised to each other, and were secure in their trust and love. It was fine for Van to feel protective of her when it came to Apollo, but not to be suspicious of her intentions.
"The reason I am curious is because my view of Draconians is one learned from people who feared and shunned them. I seemed to be the only one who loved and accepted you Van, the only one besides Merle you showed your wings to. But Apollo seems to have ancient knowledge that Fanelians also have. The Dragon touched me because Apollo knew the same lullaby you and Folken whistle, and it seemed to hypnotize the Mother Dragon. Apollo actually walked up to her, I was so frightened for him because I assumed his emotions were too volatile. That the Dragon would eat him in a second. He had to whistle because I started worrying, I started to fear and not to trust either him or the Dragon. Van, this night has shown me that Apollo is trustworthy." They walked on in silence, Hitomi feeling a sense of lightness and Van deep in thought.
It was wise not to tell the elders this information, Hitomi." Van's words cut through the silence as he finally spoke. "I too would like to discuss this night with Folken, with you more. I never knew that Dragons were so approachable; they may have a deeper connection with humans than just powering guymelefs with their Drag-Energists." Hitomi smiled to herself, both at Van's words that echoed her thoughts, and because she could see the lights of the castle ahead of them. She was hungry and tired, and looking forward to the warmth of the castle.
Merle finished clearing the dishes from the small round table, and added two more large logs to the hearth. She had kept some choice pieces of roasted meat and vegetables warming in a large tray by the fire, knowing they would both be too tired to ask. The threesome had eaten together in Van's large parlor chambers, Merle chatting about the day and goings on within the castle. She shared gossip that had been circulating among the serving staff, who had thought Hitomi would return and who had bet she would be eaten. It made Van and Hitomi laugh and relax, and by the time the three finished they were happy to sit together silently in front of the warm fire. It was very late and Merle noticed Hitomi's head nodding onto Van's shoulder. "Van-sama." Merle whispered and pointed to Hitomi. He looked down at the slumbering woman and smiled, then whispered back, "Thank you, goodnight Merle." Merle smiled, and in a forgotten show of affection, hugged Van lightly around his neck. She pressed her cheek to his and whispered, "Good night Van - Sama. I was so worried." Van warmed at her words and remembered that Merle was still young, she still felt as if he were her big brother.
After she left, Van disentangled himself from Hitomi, which woke her up. She stood up sleepily and turned her back to Van, which he took as an unspoken request to undo the buttons of her dress. Before he got to the end, she wriggled her arms out and stepped out of the dress. Hitomi hated the undergarments that Fanelia expected her to wear and still wore only bras and panties; she had Kara use her old clothing to make patterns and she had a bureau full of just undergarments. Kara was creative. Van loved it. He also stepped out of his boots and breeches, flinging his tunic and jacket over the sofa. Hitomi was already burrowed deep beneath his fluffy covers in the other room. He closed the doors to the bedchamber, leaving their clothes in the parlor room. Someone would take care of it, and he and Hitomi would be allowed to rest all the next day.