A.n. -I know, I really missed Dilandau in the last chapter too! Allen just isn't as much fun to write for as he is. More Dilly-sama here, promise...though not as much as I'd like ~_~. lol, I hope you all enjoy!^_^_^_^
Dedication-Litschi, Addy, Darth Vicious, and ThePinkMartini. You all have no idea just how much your support means to me, its you that review that I'm writeing this story for. It always lifts my heart to read your thoughts, to hear what you think of how this is going. I go back and read them to give me the encourgment to continue. Thankyou all so much, really. You're the best. ^_^
Dilandau rode as fast as possible, pushing his mare to edge of her endurance.
Fury pounded hot in his blood, for he knew that no matter how fast he rode he would not change what had already come to pass.
The messenger had arrived the night before, his eyes bulging and sweet dripping of his pale, thin face as he'd panted out his story.
He had been the first to die.
And when he arrived at the palace and discovered just whom had been on guard that fateful night they would join the boy in the afterlife. Already he could see his kingdom of Rowan looming over the horizon, its white castle seeming to glow under the blistering heat of the afternoon sun.
It had been a total of three days since Hitomi's kidnapping. It irked Dilandau to no end to be so suddenly blind, to not know what was coming next now that his pet Seer was far away. It seemed that the time for procrastination was at an end. The battle lines had been drawn in the sand, by tomorrow his men would join him on his campaign.
He would tear heaven and Gaea asunder until he found her, and it didn't take a genius to figure out who had taken her.
He could smell those cowardly Asturians' all over this, and they would pay dearly for daring to touch what was his alone. But, there was only one silver lining to this scenario. She would still be alive when he found her. They would not be able to bare killing her, not their precious little Hitomi.
Did you know they were comeing, Hi-To-Mi? Are you planning to betray me?
The thought settled coldly in his stomach, clinching his insides with half fury and half agony. With her outside his reach, the chances of her betrayal went up higher then he liked. After all, she had not wanted to return to Gaea in the first place, she had been thinking of that bastard Fanel for weeks now, who was to say that she wouldn't have a change of heart now that she was beyond his sphere of control?
He rode hard through the open gates of Rowan, not stopping until he reached the palace doors. They opened quickly before him, servents and gaurds alike bowing low before their Emperor. He jumped down and stalked past him, his footsteps light despite the turmoil that twisted within.
His body was a tightly wound wire, ready to spring loose on whichever unwary person happen to cross his path. His rage seemed to roll off him in black waves, all the servants kept their eyes lowered least they should be the one to contract his ire.
He threw open the door to her chambers, blood still stained the throw rug near her satin bed, gold princess curtains swayed with the breeze through the open window. He went over the room slowly, searching for any kind of evidence that would support his initial theory. He found none.
Hands clinched and unclenched at his side as he walked over to her writing desk. He ripped the drawers out one by one, grabbing the content and throwing the small drawer over his shoulders. Some were drawings, of him, of Earth, sentimental rubbish.
In the last drawer to the right, he found what he had been looking for. His hands shook as he read the short letter, threatening to rip it in half.
My Dear Emperor,
If you are reading this now, then events beyond my control have finally come to pass. I admit to of been having visions for some time now of my capture and to of keeping them from you. I have no defense to offer you on the subject, only that my knowledge on the subject was unclear. Only the end result was known to me, and if your plans are to come into fruition this is how it must be.
I do not know what will happen, and there is very little that I can offer to you to give you forewarning. The future is ever changing now, and you will be beyond my aid.
I know that King Franco is plotting against you, he plans to meet in secret with Asturian Representatives. His hatred and envy of you is all consuming. It will not be long until he strikes against you.
You will succede in your endeavor to unite all the Lower Kingdoms, as to the real battle ahead I do not have the answers. I apologize for this, though I imagine that even if I did know what would pass, and if it were unfavorable you, would forge ahead anyway. You were never one to bow to the whims of fate.
I do not know if we will meet again, though I hope that we will.
Goodbye Dilandau
Yours,
Kanzaki Hitomi
He crumpled her letter into his hand, his gloved fingers tearing through the thin paper as he clinched it tight at his chest.
What game was Hitomi trying to play? So she had known that she would leave him, and had acquiesced to that fate without so much as a murmur of protest.
Well, he would drag her back by her pretty golden brown hair and damn whatever the consequences. No matter how valuable she was to him, she would pay for this oversight in blood. He would have her back. He would prove to her once and for all that her place was at his side, until he deemed otherwise.
Nothing else mattered.
Hitomi awoke to a gentle jostling sensation, somewhat like when your in a boat and rock from side to side. Sunlight streamed across her face, prickling her eyes. She let out a groan, shifting her weight only to suddenly become aware of a warm -breathing- hard wall on the left-side of her body.
Memories rushed back like a flood and her back straitened as though it were injected with steel. She was wearing a cloak, she realized, and her right temple was pounding in time with a headache that only just made its presence known. Her breath caught as she winced, moving to raise a hand to her face only realize they were both tied to the saddle of the horse.
She licked her dry lips, panic coloring all her senses. Did he know? Had she been found out? And if not, how many hours did she have until it did come out? Surely someone would recognize her. Had she killed Allen before darkness had claimed her? What were they going to do to her?
"So you're awake, finally. Gaddess was starting to worry I had sent you into a coma. I figured a Goddess wouldn't have such worldly concerns however."Allen's smooth voice vibrated behind her, his words dripping with venom.
Hitomi started, her voice catching her throat with relief. So she hadn't killed him before the lights went out, though from the hitching in his voice she realized she had wounded him. The observation made her feel rather smug. Though she hadn't wanted his blood on her hands, she was sure that any wound delivered to by a woman had done far more damage to his over inflated ego then anything else ever could. The thought was rather satisfying.
Hitomi straitened her shoulders, refusing to lean against him for support. Lifting her chin she turned her head to the side to observe the passing country side as an excuse not to have to look up at her captor. It was flat, barren fields that were high with weeds and no flowers. They weren't riding on a path, Hitomi noticed, but still seemed to have a destination of some sort.
"Not so chatty now are you, wench?"Allen taunted from behind her.
So, he still didn't know? Hitomi thanked whatever God must be watching over her for that small favor.
"I have nothing to say to the likes of you."She replied after a heavy silence, lowering her voice and adopting and imperious tone.
"You'll say plenty once your in the dungeons of Freid, so it matters little to me if you talk now or then. It'd be easier on yourself if you'd just cooperate."
Freid, so he was taking her to Freid.
Some how, Hitomi wasn't really surprised. She had expected it would be either there or Asturia since it had been Allen sent to fetch her. Hitomi swallowed hard, wondering how long she'd be able to keep this sheared up. A glance down assured her that she was still wearing her body paint from when they had captured her, she assumed that it was probably smeared so bad on her face that it was the only thing that was obscuring her identity. That and the cloak that they had added, though she assumed that was to keep passerby from recognizing her as the Seer then anything else.
Great, my life depends on whether or not I get to bathe. Just fan-freaking-tastic.
"We're going to have to make camp soon, Boss."the dark haired man said as he spurred his horse to ride next Allen's, he looked very familiar but Hitomi couldn't place him. His black hair was still streaked with a grainy red dye. "There's a cave not too much farther ahead. We could hide out there 'till dawn."
She felt Allen nodd behind her, "Good idea Gaddess, we won't be able to pass the river in the night anyway. Be easier with light. And it'll be close enough we can try to wash some of the Gods forsaken dye off."
Allen kicked the horse in the flank, urging the horse to go faster. The new jostling sensation made Hitomi morbidly aware of a bodily function she hadn't really noticed before. She had to go to the bathroom. Badly.
Hitomi squirmed slightly, pressing her thighs together. Which was rather easy as Allen had decided that she would ride side-saddle. Which, by the soreness of her tailbone, was the most uncomfortable, torturous way to ride a horse.
And a little sexist..
Her lips were cracked from thirst, but damned if she was going to beg her kidnappers for a single drop. Maybe she'd die of dehydration before the made it to their destination. Hitomi rolled her eyes, a smirk of irony crossing her face. Oh no, the Gods could never be that kind.
Hitomi shifted again, biting her bottom lip enough to make the taste of copper fill her mouth. Idly she wondered about the merits of simply letting her bladder go and urinating all over the Knight and his horse. Though it would be undoubtedly amusing to see the look on his face, she would then be forced to continue this journey in wet, smelly clothes.
The repercussions to her by far out-ruled the benefits of such an action.
But if he doesn't stop soon it may not matter!
Hitomi took a deep breath, looking around herself wildly. There was still nothing but wild plains in the distance, she couldn't even hear the river they had talked about.
"Something the matter, Goddess?"Allen sneered the title, looking down at her from his nose.
Hitomi gritted her teeth, "Are we going to stop soon?"
"I apologize, I'm sure you're not used to such mundane methods of travel. In about an hour we should make it to the caves and we'll rest there through the night."He replied, his tone matter-a-fact and unsympathetic.
WHAT? An HOUR?
"I need to stop now, I have...needs I have to take care of."
"That is not possible, we have to cover this ground before night fall. Whatever needs you have will have to wait until then."he replied, urging his horse to go faster.
Hitomi was close to hypervenilateing, stomach cramps spiderwebbing their way through her abdomen.
"It really can't wait that long."she insisted.
Allen huffed out a breath, "Its going to have to."he replied brusquely.
Hitomi shifted again, opening her mouth to demand he stop when one of Allen's hand slammed down around her waist, tucking her tightly up against him, his hand was splayed out against her stomach. The hold was not overly rough, but he was applying pressure where none was needed.
"Look, I'm not going to take the chance of you running off and us having to waste valuable time to catch you. Which we would. So stop squirming like a child and sit silently." He snapped, irritation coloring his voice.
Hitomi bit back a desperate moan. Okay. So, she'd just have to hold it. She held her silence for what felt like hours but was most likely closer to a little over an half hour.. Sweat beaded across her brow, her abdomen ached and she was close to crying. Hitomi had never been good at 'holding it'.
"Is it much farther?"She asked, desperation makeing her voice high.
Allen slowed his damply grey stallion, "Not by too much. Gaddess, I thought you said we'd be there by now?"
"Sorry, Boss, I was going by how long it took us to get away from there the first day. But we were riding pretty hard then...I guess It'll take a bit longer since we're going at a slower pace."The dark haired man replied.
Hitomi tilted back her head. This was hell. It had to be. This was some warped cosmic joke by the Gods themselves to make her pay for her sins. Die from her bladder exploding, or from the sheer embarrassment of release. One or the other.
The had just entered the forest, the sun was low in the horizen casting strange shadows around them. To make matters worse Allen had slowed his horse.
"Okay, look, I can't take this any more. Either you stop the damn horse and let me off to do what I need to do or you're going to regret it."Hitomi bit out, anger dripping from her voice.
Allen sighed, looking down at her with those clear blue eyes. They were still quiet stunning, still the exact same shade as Amono's had been. The thought made her heart squeeze. The warm emotion was jerked away as another painful cramp seared through her abdomen.
"I apologize for the inconvenience, but we will be at our camp soon. You'll just have to wait."He replied simply, pulling her body tighter against his as though she may try to jump and run off at any moment.
Hitomi felt tears burning at her eyes, fighting to spill over. She couldn't take it any more. And it served him right, the bastard!
The relief was so sudden and great that Hitomi thought she might pass out from the sheer joy of finally letting it go. For about five seconds Allen didn't even notice what had happened. All at once when he was looking down, trying to understand why he'd gotten warm and wet at the same time he realized yellow liquid was dripping of his horse.
"You wench! How dare you!"Allen jerked the horse to a halt, jumping off quickly.
The front of his grey leggings were wet, making it appear that he had been the one to loose control of his bladder.
Hitomi drew herself up to her full heigth, trying and failing to gather and hold onto her frayed dignity.
"I told you I had needs! You wouldn't stop so I could go! What did you think would happen?"
Gaddess and two other men drew up short behind them, the other two trying and failing not to laugh. Gaddess however looked mortified.
"Why didn't you say she had to go Boss? We could have stopped...thats very unlike you, Boss, to ignore a Lady's ah...needs."His tone was slightly affronted.
Allen's cheeks had turned a brilliant red, "I didn't realize that was the 'needs' she was talking about! I thought she was just trying to find a way to run off. She never explicitly said she needed to use an outhouse!"
Allen marched forward and grabbed the horses reins, "Are you done? Is there anything else you need to do, My Lady?"Embarrassment was clear in both his posture and tone.
Hitomi straightened slightly, "No, thank you."She replied as primly as possible.
"Good. Lets go, Men."He tilted his head infront of them and began leading the horse along.
Wave after wave of embarrassment assaulted Hitomi. She could hardly wait to get to the river.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, it didn't take long to get there. Merely another fifteen - twenty minutes. A fact which only served to deepen Hitomi's self-inflicted barrage of torment. Twenty minutes. Why couldn't she of waited a little bit longer?
She sighed, what was done was done and there was nothing to do about it except to bathe and get rid of the smell as quickly as possible.
"I need to bathe."she stated as he helped her down from the horse. She stood awkwardly with her hands up around the horse as he slowly began to untie them.
"Alright. Can you swim?"The quick agreement surprised her, and Hitomi suspiciously surveyed his face for any hentai-like thoughts.
"Yes."she replied cautiously.
"Good, you'll come with me then. Gaddess, Troi, G'Mal?"They all looked up as their names were called, "You all unload and get ready for the night. The Lady and I are going to clean up at the river. Keep your guard up. Troi, you scout the area before the last bit of light escapes, ne?"
Troi nodded, "Hai, Sir!" And left the camp quickly.
Allen grabbed a small leather satchel from his horse and he led her a little ways from the cave, it wasn't long before they heard the trickling sound of the river. They were near enough still to the camp that if she strained she could still hear the two men's voices though she couldn't make out the words themselves.
The current was set at a rather lazy pace, clear in the setting sunlight.
He slowly untied her wrists and Hitomi backed a way a step, rubbing her red and irritated flesh.
"Bathe."He said, gestureing behind her.
Hitomi's eyes went wide as dinner plates. Not only the first thousand hentai reasons that He was with her to bathe but the fact that if she did she'd wash away the paint and he would recognize her.
Or would he? He hasn't yet...I may be safe, for now anyway. It'll be dark anyway, he won't be able to tell. I can rub some ash or dirt on my face before he wakes up in the morning. Something...
He miss-interpreted her hesitation as fear and sought to reassure her. He smiled, takeing her wrist and leading her to the water.
"I promise you I'm not going to hurt you. I realize I have been somewhat...rude on this journey. But I admit, that you would deceive so many people into worshipping you as a Goddess outright offends me. I cannot condone or accept such behavior. But, I promise no harm will come to you from me. Leave your clothing on to bathe, I'll be near you in the water so please don't attempt to escape me."His voice was actually very soft, almost as though he were talking to a wounded animal.
Hitomi didn't even debate for a moment regarding her clothing and just walked into the stream. It wasn't icy cold, but neither was it warm. She walked to the middle, it rose only as high as her hips and only to mid-thigh on him. As promised he stayed near, handing her a cake of soap he'd produced from his satchel before following.
Hitomi took it gratefully and began to scrub her body quickly as she could through her clothing. She rubbed the rough soap through her hair and rinsed, enjoying the fact that she could wash the sweat and grime off at last.
She worked quickly, her back turned to the Knight of Cali even as her ears strained for any splash of water that would suddenly intone very un-honorable actions.
The moments passed slowly, almost at a crawl with nothing but a heavy silence between them. Hitomi felt the first brushes of guilt slippering through the cracks. She felt she had been acting rather unjust towards Allen. Yes, he had kidnapped her. But then, wasn't she working with his nemeses to bring about the downfall of Gaea? Of his livelihood? Of everything he knew?
Wasn't she the real villain in this play?
She turned slowly, looking him over from the corner of her eye. He had removed his shirt and was washing it roughly in the calm water. His chest was sculpted like one of the Greek statues she had seen in a museum. His hair was glistening wet and was starting to show its true golden blond through the dirty dye. He was still wearing his black leather pants, an observation that made Hitomi's face burn.
His physical beauty was marred only by the gauze that circled his right shoulder. Hitomi gently touched her still tender temple.
"So, I did stab you after all. I had wondered."
Hitomi hadn't meant to spoke aloud, and the moment they left her lips she longed to able to recall the words. He paused from his cleaning, before rinsing the now off white shirt.
"Yes, I do apologize for striking you. However, you didn't appear to want to come willingly."he replied in a dead pan tone.
Hitomi nodded slightly, "True enough."She moved to walk towards the bank, "Are you done?"
He reached out and clasped her wrist in cold fingers, "Yes, done enough for now."
He pulled her along to shore. Stopping only to grab the remaining rope and tie her hands back together. Hitomi endured this silently and without a single word of protest.
"How long until we reach Freid?"she questioned as he wrapped her cloak around her shoulders. It was dry, and clung to her wet flesh and clothes.
But she would of rather endured the cold then remove her sopping wet attire. Allen seemed to guess this, or he was uncomfortable with having a naked captive in the mists of four men. Either way, it didn't really matter to Hitomi.
"Not long. Perhaps another day or two's ride."
The sun had finally set, and the moons were rising up into the sky. The pale blue light seemed make everything glow. Hitomi looked up into Allen's eyes, her expression placid.
"You know that He will come for me. You've started a war in taking me. Many people are going to die because of what you've done."
Allen's face spasmed for a moment, guilt flashing along with anger and finally only an empty expression of resignation.
"Many people were going to die either way. People don't take kindly to tyrants and slavery. And that is what this so-called Peaceful Order is. Your Emperor just glosses over the finer details, telling them he is liberating them so they will place the shackles on themselves."
Allen's voice turned harsh," And you have helped him,"he shook his head in disgust, "I don't know what you are or if you really can see the future, and it doesn't really matter to me. But I hope you have enough clairvoyance to see that every drop of blood spilled is on your hands more then any other." His eyes were a cold blue fire, searing strait down to her soul. His hands gripped her shoulders, almost painfully.
"I know."
"Then why?"he shook her, seeming lost in his own passionate rise of righteousness that he'd kept buried during this trip, "Why did you do it? Was it the glory? The riches? Why?"He never shouted, never raised his voice but somehow he had managed to make Hitomi feel two inches tall.
Emerald eyes shifted away first, pulling the hood of her cloak up around her face as though to physically shield herself from his penetrating words.
"I have my reasons, Shezar. None of which I need to explain to you." Her voice didn't waver, stayed firm despite the turmoil that rocked her insides.
He stared at her a moment, before grabbing the knotted length of chain between the makeshift rope cuffs.
"No, not to me. But to King Chid, you will."
He pulled her along until she was back at camp. The other men left to go and bathe as well. Troi had already returned and had stoked a fire. Rabbit had already been caught and was roasting on a stick near it. Allen offered her food out of cold politeness then anything else, Hitomi refused.
She sat there, on the edge of their group to the back of the cave. In the view of everyone present. Allen had tied another length of rope to her wrists, tieing the other end around her waist so she couldn't run away while everyone rested. There was enough slack to the rope that she could lie down alone, not enough that she could slip out without him knowing however.
The night passed by slowly, for Hitomi it felt like her last one among the living.
Vaan Slanzar De Fanel was pissed off.
Not only was Allen late getting back with the so-called Goddess but aside from the first carrier pigeon to inform them that he had acquired his target they had heard nothing at all! It was infuriating. Three times he had been standing in front of Escaflowne and had been forced to talk himself out of throwing caution to the wind and pursuing. What was there to lose!
Everything. His Kingdom, his people, everything that he had worked so hard to raise from the ashes.
But by the Gods did he hate waiting!
He had just come from a mock training duel with some of the knights still in the palace. A mock duel because they were not, of course, aloud to hurt him in any way as he was a visiting diplomat. Meaning that they never actually put their all into the fight. As such it had left Vaan feeling very...unsatisfied. Like a caged animal.
"Lord Vaan?"
Vaan spun on his heel at the soft command, years of politics smoothing away the irratation from his features.
"King Chid, what can I do for you?"But then diplomacy had never really been his strong suit.
The subterfuge had always annoyed him. Vaan had always been a man more of action then of words. Preferring to say what he wanted and others to do the same, it was this attitude that always made him an oddity in court.
Chid's blue eyes tilted down at him, irking Vaan deep down. How did that shrimp manage to grow taller then him too? It was vastly unjust.
"You seem very stressed today, more so then usual. I was wondering if I could be of aid?"Always so polite, so damn polite. How could you cut someone off if they were being that courteous?
Vaan forced a smile that came out as a grimence, "I doubt it, My Lord, I'm simply...concerened about the mission Shezar went on. Has there been any more communication?"
Chid chuckled, "Had there been, I assure you that you'd of been the first to know. Please, come with me."he waved over his shoulder back to the sparring arena, "I saw that you were fencing with some of my knights earlier. You are quiet good, but I was curious to see how you'd fair against me. Will you honor me with a spar?"
Vaan frowned slightly, knowing when he had been manipulated even if it was with good intentions. Though Chid's tone and words conveyed it was only a mere offer, the order of the words conveyed that if he refused he would insult Chid's honor. As a guest in his castle, Vaan had no choice but to oblige him. But that didn't mean that he had to go easy on the boy.
He nodded curtly at Chid and the two walked slowly to the courtyards. With a gesture the sparing ground was cleared and many of the knights remained on the sidelines to watch. Chid shrugged out of his heavy gold outer jacket leaving him only a white poet's shirt. Vaan did the same, passing it to a servant near by.
The noon sun was high in the sky, a prefect cool breez blew up his hair and swirled around them. Sweat beaded at Vaan's brow as he flexed his fingers in anticipation.
Vaan removed his sword and bowed slightly in respect to Chid. Chid mirrored the gesture. Never one to wait, Vaan charged at Chid first. The blond teenager moved with liquid speed out the way, Vaan slashed behind him only to meet air. With a cry Chid brought his blade down from above, Vaan was only able to catch it a breath before it would have cleaved into his shoulder.
Throwing the blade off, Vaan circled away suddenly much more wary of his seemingly demure opponent. Chid's face had transformed since the battle began. No longer was there the peaceful look of serenity, now there was fire blooming in those eyes, and his face was twisted in determination. He would give and receive no quarter. Vaan's easy victory had turned into something else entirely.
Vaan charged forward again, this time striking low at Chid's knees. Chid blocked expertly, dropping to the ground to sweep his leg under Vaan's leg. Vaan jumped an instant before hand, dodging to the left and taking advantage of Chid's surprise to grab him roughly from behind and bring his sword up in the ending strike. To lay the cold steel against the pale jugular of the young King.
Chid slipped out from beneath his arm however, using Vaan's own momentum against him he flipped the raven haired man onto the ground, kicking the sword from his hand. Chid placed the sword against Vaan's neck, his expression serious and triumphant all at once. He stood above him, his shoulders back and a smirk on his lips.
"Over confidense is the achillies heel to any warrior, Lord Fanel. You'd do well not to underestimate your opponot's skill just because of age and experience."
Vaan lowered his gaze, cursing under his breath as he jumped to his feet. Grabbing his sword from several feet away he slammed into the scabbard. Beaten by a boy he was more then five years senior to! It was humiliating!
Vaan shook his head, banishing the ugly green emotion deep into his gut.
"You fight well, Your Majesty, we must do it again."He growled out, mentally filing away their duel. This would never occur again, he was going to make sure of it!
"MY LORD! MY LORD CHID!"
All heads turned as the messenger broke into the courtyard, he stopped in front of Chid, his hands resting on his knees as he fought to catch his breath.
Chid smiled, slipping his sword back into its scabbard and shrugging back into it. It seemed a switch had been flipped, as soon as the coat slipped comfortably over his shoulders then intensity on his face that Vaan had seen smoothed away to the pleasant expression from before.
"What is it?"His tone sounded slightly exasperated.
The servant bowed quickly, a handsome twenty year old with cornflower blue eyes and a crown of curly blonde hair.
"Lord Allen has returned, he has brought a prisoner!"the man gasped out, his voice held a tremor of excitement.
Chid was already moving as soon as the words escaped Vaan at his side. Vaan's heart speed up with every step he took.
Finally that prick has returned!
Finally he could confront this so called Seer, and erase forever any doubt in his mind that she had anything to do with his Hitomi.
The walk to the Royal Chamber's had never seemed so long, Vaan fighting the impulse to break into a run to finally see for himself. The large gold doors opened before him.
Vaan's first thought was one of amusement. He had never see the Captain of the Knight's Cali so bedraggled. His normally pristine appearance was creased and worn, his golden locks tinted with red in a way that made Vaan wonder just how many Rowan soldiers he had killed.
He recognised Gaddess at his left the other two as members from Allen's upper unit. G'Mal and Troi if he remembered correctly. All three were loyal to a fault to blond knight. Vaan wasn't suprised he had decided to take them with him on such a covert mission.
It wasn' them that riveted his attention though. It was obvious that their captive was a woman, that was evident by the womanly curves that were scantly covered by the garment she wore even with the black cloak over her shoulders. The hood was up, obscuring her face from his hungry eyes. Vaan sneered at her, had Allen brought back the Seer or had his loins distracted him into bringing one of the Patron Saint's concubines?
"Lord Chid,"Allen greeted, "I have returned with the Order's Seer."
Chid nodded, stepping in front of Vaan, "I am glad your mission meet with success." He moved closer to Allen who stood infront of the girl, she was just a bit shorter then the Knight and the King Vaan noticed. "I am also glad you did not lose any of your men."
Allen simply nodded, stepping back to give his King full view of the woman who had caused so much trouble.
"I am King Chid of Fried, who are you?"
The girl lifted her head, squaring her jaw as she turned her cheek to the king with an imperious air.
Vaan froze instantly, his heart hammering away in frenzied breaths. No, no it couldn't be. No! Memories flashed in his brain of a haughty girl with short hair standing above him in a fury, her hands fisted her side.
No, it couldn't be.
"Your silence will do you no good here. We don't wish to harm you, but if you truly are a Seer surely you can See why we could not allow you to be using your talents for such an usurper as the Patron Saint?"
The girl said nothing, fisted hands rising to cross in front of her chest. Her face, was still obscured in shadows and Vaan could take it no longer.
In a second he had stepped in front of King Chid and he ripped the hood back from her head. Emerald eyes rose to meet his, the deepest green he had ever seen. A small petite nose, lush full pink lips and high cheekbones. Her hair was longer, pure honey that drifted over her shoulders. Her face was smeared with dirt and ash but he would know those eyes any where.
"Hitomi."he whispered raggedly.
The woman burst into tears, whirling away from him as though he were a viper ready to strike.
Dilandau sat at the head of his army, already they had begun their march to the upper kindoms. His sword seemed to quiver in its sheath, as though longing with it's master to taste blood.
He would wait no longer, and in his heart of hearts he was nearly grateful for the Asturian fools for giving him a reason to finally forge ahead in this war.
He was going to kill them all. Every last one. But he would save Fanalia for last. And he would keep Vaan alive just long enough to watch it burn for the second time. Right before he drove his sword strait into his heart. And then, with the King's blood on his hands, he would reach over and caress His Hitomi's face because then she would know once and for all that he was all she had. She would never try to run away from him again, because she would know he would tear apart to the world until he had her again.
He had eight thousand five hundred men at his back, all blood thirsty as he was with the knowledge that the Freid and Asturia thought to steal what was rightfully theirs. The symbol of their freedom, their Goddess. These men would fight to the last man standing to see her back in her rightful place.
Soon his Generals would be on the way with a few hundred men each to add to his fold. Dalet would be the last to rejoin them, as he was the one taking care of ending King Franco's life and appointing another that would be much more attentive to the Order's needs. The death of the Royal would spread like wildfire and would cow any other ideas of mutiny.
The sun was high in the sky, his men streatched as far as the eye could see. They would decend on their enemies like a plauge.
And at long last, all Dilandau desired would be his.
End Chapter
A.n.-Alright *rubs hands* time for the war to _finally_ start! Thoughts? Comments?