AN at end

Folken was sitting at his small round table in front of the fireplace. He was dressed only in his grey dressing gown, and was drinking tea as he read scrolls. He looked up sharply at their footsteps, and ignored Van and Hitomi momentarily to go to Boris. He hissed as he examined his wounds and said fiercely, "Van, fetch the healers. Lay down Boris. Hitomi, please re-heat the kettle of water you see by the hearth." His directions were followed quickly, as Van tore out of the room, clearly desperate to loose some of his energy. Hitomi shakily swung the iron arm holding the kettle over the fire, and added two logs. She rinsed her dirty hands in Folken's washing basin and turned towards the two men with a clean towel in her hands. After wetting it, she pressed it to Boris' bloody wounds. Folken was quickly and accurately undressing Boris, but he flicked his eyes towards Hitomi and she saw his eyebrow raise in a question. She assisted Folken with pulling Boris' arms out of his shirt, and she didn't know how he had carried her or stood upright for as long as he did. He had a shallow gash on his back, reaching to the front, and blood was pouring freely from his leg. Folken's bed was ruined already.

Hitomi steadied herself, the blood red as fire, then spoke, "Folken. Our airship was destroyed, we are the only survivors." Folken stopped what he was doing and stared at her, then back to Boris, and continued to clean away the blood and sticky cloth. Hitomi's mind conjured up the wild explosions that had rocked the ship, as Boris was running in front of her, the shaking of the walkway beneath her feet. She shivered at the intense memory and was relieved when Van burst through the doors with Allen and the healer behind them.

"Hitomi!" Allen called, obviously glad to see her safe. "Allen! Thank goodness!" Hitomi returned, rushing to meet them as the healer slipped past and quickly was prodding Boris' body. Allen took her hands, but Hitomi was drawn to look at the bed. Boris was drinking deeply from a wine goblet Folken was holding. When Folken moved away with the cup, a drop of milky red liquid slid down Boris' chin. Hitomi saw he seemed to be sleeping, but his body was slack in a way that didn't seem right. "Hitomi, what do you remember? Shall I send for any survivors?" Allen's voice and arm moved her from the scene unfolding on the bed. She swallowed as she momentarily felt the sting of tears. She tiredly rubbed her forearm against her eyes and said, "Yes please do, Allen. At once." She felt him stiffen and leave her side. She thought she heard Van and Allen speaking before Allen left Folken's chambers at a quick pace. Van was hovering next to Folken, holding something in a bag the healer needed for Boris. Hitomi felt hot, and slow, as though a heat wave was shimmering through her whole body. She found she could only focus on Van, as his eyes suddenly found hers amidst the healer's vague yells. Black crowded her vision then, and she felt like she was sinking. Van wasn't looking at her anymore, but he hadn't moved, his eyes were looking somewhere above her.

Hitomi woke seconds later to the feeling of being propped in a chair, soft hair brushing her forehead as strong and gentle arms left her back. She opened her eyes and saw blue eyes the color of glaciers. "Allen?" She asked, dazed. The eyes crinkled in a way that was vaguely familiar, and a voice that was not Allen's said, "Lady Hitomi, I'm glad you're fine." Hitomi snapped to consciousness and hissed, "Your grace!" Apollo shook his head and respectfully stepped away as Van came between them quickly. Folken was still bent over Boris, as the healer looked from Hitomi to Apollo, and motioned for the crown prince to assist him in place of Van.

Hitomi was embarrassed she had fainted and looked up Van, blushing but determined, "We have to send for Boris' family, they should be with him." Van's eyes traced over her features and whispered, "Of course. But are you truly all right? You don't have any injuries you're hiding?" His hands tightened around her upper arms as she shook her head no, and she leaned closer to him so she could be comforted within his arms. He encircled her, "I told Allen where to go, and he went. He said he would take Gaddes and two platoons of soldiers. Hitomi you do have some cuts."

Hitomi barely noticed as Van wiped blood from her face and shoulders. She felt a blanket around her and then she was being lifted and taken away. "Why Van? Why is this happening?" She said listlessly as he took her away from Boris and Folken's hot chamber. "My love, you know why, but please rest." She didn't even think seconds had passed when he laid her down on their bed in their castle. He tucked her in and lit candles near the fireplace. "Van, stay please, you must rest with me." Hitomi pleaded as Van shrugged into clean pants and a jacket. He came to her and stroked her hand but said firmly, "I cannot Hitomi, but Merle will be with you. Rest for me, my love. Send me strength as I work to find the root of this plot." Hitomi struggled against the covers to leave with him, but Merle had somehow entered and was climbing on to the bed in her dressing gown, holding her crocheting needles, and she had a familiar stern glint in her eye. "Hitomi! Do as Van-sama says. I won't leave you. Thank goodness you and Van-sama are alive!"

Merle curled her tail around Hitomi's body, and Hitomi turned towards Merle to watch her crochet in the firelight. Silent tears slipped down her cheeks and Merle paused to stroke Hitomi's hair. "Try to sleep Hitomi, it will ease my worry, and you will be able to help Van-sama later."

Hitomi took a shaky breath, "Boris took me from our room. Van wasn't there, I didn't know where he was." Merle continued to stroke her hair, and once she was certain Hitomi was seeking comfort she said, "You did the right thing, you must always trust Boris with your life and not second guess or fear his actions. He has saved Van-sama countless times since being Balgus' squire. He will always do the same for you and your family."

Hitomi nodded but said through a sob, "Oh but what if he dies? He was so injured when he came for me, and now..." Another sob took her words before she could finish her thoughts.

"Shh, Hitomi, the healer and Folken-sama will ensure his life is safe. I brought Boris' family to his side, they will spend the night in rooms next to Lord Folken's for as long as they wish. Please try and rest, sleep will help you recover from this. You will think more clearly about what happened, and we will take our revenge on whoever threatened your and my King's lives." Hitomi thought more about the word revenge, and took her comfort freely from Merle's words. Angry or not, in this moment it made her feel better to think of some of her pain and fear passing to someone else. Her eyes closed for the last time and she slept.

Woah! Ch 12 and 13 were actually one long chapter, but I split them in two to make myself feel more productive! Love this story. So glad I indulged myself almost 4 years ago!