March 17, 2007

Disclaimer: I do not own Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.

Title: The Forest of Purity

Author: PurificationArrow

Rated: Teen

Genre: Romance/General

Summary: While in the Toxic Jungle, Nausicaä and Asbel's feelings for each other start to grow. They also find a strange tree that is protected by an electric barrier. Suddenly, a new problem begins to stir: someone is also after Nausicaä's heart, but who?

Notes:

Bold - emphasis on word

Italics - Thoughts

Bold and Underline - Authors note

Chapter 8: For the Sake of Clarity

Last Chapter: I stared at the door, and let out a stream of colorful curses in my head. I closed my eyes, and sat back down on the bed. When my eyes opened, they were filled with salty tears. The tears blurred my vision, and I couldn't see right. I pictured Aden in my head. "Traitor..." I choked out.

The next morning came all too soon.

Past events filled my head as soon as the light hit it.

Asbel was in a new part of the castle.

Someone whom I thought I could trust in this place had turned traitor.

My kingdom was in danger.

Just when I thought that things couldn't get any worse than that, they did.

Someone knocked at the door, and I instantly forced the stiffness away from my limbs. I climbed off the bed, and headed towards the door. Quietly, I opened it, thankful that it didn't shock me again.

Great.

It was Aden.

"What?" I snapped.

Deep down, I felt terrible for being so cruel, but I simpy couldn't hold my tongue. Because of him, Asbel had been taken away, and he might be in even more trouble than before! Behind his helmelt, I saw Aden's eyes lower a bit.

"Princess, please. Forgive me."

He mumbled in his deep voice.

I was tempted to mumble something along the lines of, 'And why would I do that?' But I managed to hold it in.

"Should I?" I asked.

Aden shook his head, "No. I suppose not Princess. However, now is not the time to discuss that. Prince Than requires your presence." He stepped away from the door, and gestured an arm out to the hall.

Due to the fact I was indeed raised a princess, I managed to not make a face.

Now was not the time.

Anything I did could affect what happened to my people, and what happened to Asbel.

I swept past him, and my gloved hands were in tight balls by my sides as Aden walked right behind me, showing me to the room where I would have the 'privilage' as he put it, of have breakfast with the prince.

When I entered the room, I had to squint.

It was quite bright, and I winced.

"Princess Nausicaä, I am pleased that you could join me. Have a seat." Than smiled, and motion to a seat not far from where he sat at a round table.

Hands, still tight, I walked to where I had been motion, and sat down.

Almost at once, random people from goodness knows where appeared and shoved dishes into my face. To be honest, I still wasn't used to that, despite my princess-ship. "Please, eat." Than said.

The tone in his cold voice said, 'Eat or else.'

The only thing left to do was to eat.

So that's what I did. Unfortunately.

There was a high chance that my food had been tampered with, and I was cautious in everything that I did concerning the food. Than rose from his chair, and faced the window. Quickly, I gathered up the food in a napkin, and slid it into a pocket of my skirt.

No telling what it might have in it.

Than faced me again. And I glared back with a look of deep contempt on my face.

"Princess Nausicaä, I would like to inquire something." He began formally.

"And that would be...?"

"Why were you snooping around the dungeons with Knight Aden?" His tone was tight, and cold.

"I was searching for Asbel of Pejite." I said, and rose my chin high into the air. The most logical thing, I figured, was to act as diplomatic and royal as possible. It might just save our lives.

Than chuckled, "Princess, please. You may think that I am a horrible person, but I assure you, I am not. I am merely a Prince, searching to restore his nearly lost kingdom." His eyes lowered, "After all, if you were in the same position, I assume that you'd wish the same."

The prince put a finger to his chin, "In fact, if I'm not mistaken, the Valley of the Wind's people aren't thriving very much, are they?"

A jolt of anger flashed through me.

The look of satisfaction in Than's eyes irked me to no end.

"It certainly would be a shame should anything happen. Wouldn't it?"

That was it.

I burst up from my seat, and knocked the chair over. It fell back with a loud thump, and the room was quiet, seeing as we were the only two in it besides Aden. "You will do nothing to harm my people!" I shouted.

"I beg to differ princess."

My temper fired loose.

My hand reached back and grabbed the xirconium cermic sword from its sheath which had been attached to my waist. I charged, my sword pointed outwards, at Than. Just like when the Tolumekians invaded our valley and killed my Father.

I felt the same anger.

No harm would come to my people. That much was certain.

The clash of swords sounded in the room.

My hands froze as my sword went flying from my grip, and landed near Than.

Aden was standing there, his own sword had knocked mine away. I couldn't see his eyes through the helmet. Than laughed behind him, "Too bad princess. Just a bit more and you might've been able to reach me."

He smirked and gave me a look, "However, I cannot afford to die just yet."

A flurry of movement in front of me reminded me that Aden was still there. Or at least he was. I felt something solid collide with my stomach, and I felt a start go through me. Fiery pain shot through my system, and I couldn't move.

The solid thing moved away, and I fell.

The strength in my libs had abandoned me, and I could no longer stand. I lay there on the carpet, on my side, wincing in pain. Aden stood above me, his fist tight. He had done it again.

I had been betrayed.

His hand though... it was trembling.

Darkness began to cloud my vision, and my hearing started to go as well as I slipped into unconsciousness.

"... Take Princess Nausicaä back to her room. Stay with her, and make sure that you are with her at all times. Understood?" Than asked. I couldn't hear the first part of his sentence.

"Yes Prince." Aden mumbled back, though he seemed to be having a hard time doing it.

"Good." With that, Than vanished, and Aden turned to me and knelt.

He laid a hand on my arm gently. "Princess, forgive me." He said. Although, something must've been wrong with me. His voice sounded so much different than the deep one I was used to.

Aden reached up, and pulled his helmet off.

Unfortunately, that was as long as I could stay awake for.

Just as the helmet came off, I faded away.

Asbel...

Was my only thought as I slipped away into the dark of unconsciousness.

---

I floated...

I floated...

I floated...

There is was, floating quietly.

The space around me was dark, and I could not see a thing. Not even my hands that I was waving in front of my face. "This is a dream... this must be." I told myself. "Where am I?"

'Princess Nausicaä, you are correct. This is a dream.'

A new voice said.

I turned, and saw an image flickering before me.

It looked familiar, though I could not be sure. "Who are you?" I asked, forgetting entirely to give my own name first. The figure seemed to laugh gently, 'My name is Adena.' She said.

"Adena, tell me then, what is happening?" I asked.

'Princess, many things are happening. However, the thing that is most important, the thing that is of the essence, is to find Asbel of Pejite. Escape from this place, and quickly.'

Suddenly, she began to fade again.

"Adena! Wait!" I shouted after her.

Adena seemed to be having trouble with something, though I could not properly see her. 'Princess Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, you are strong. You must find a way. Speak with Aden, he will help. Trust him again. Please, this is all that I ask of you. We will speak again. Until then, goodbye...'

Adena's voice faded away.

"Adena!"

---

"Adena!"

I jumped up from my laying position into a sitting position.

Beads of sweat rolled off my face.

Who was that person?

She'd come to me in a dream, and her words still confused me. Speak with Aden. Find Asbel. Escape. Too many thoughts were buzzing around in my head, and I could sort them all out.

My head hurt, my mind was foggy, and my heart was thundering in my chest.

Something I'd learned over the years, whenever that happened, something bad was about to happen.

"Princess..."

A quiet voice mumbled.

Without having to look, the voice was instantly named. I buried my face into my knees which were covered by a white sheet. "Yes?" I mumbled, unable to think of anything else to say.

"Princess Nausicaä, understand that I meant no harm. I had never intended for Prince Than to find out and take Prince Asbel again."

My first instinct was to snap. But Adena's words stopped me. She had told me to trust him once again. Something inside me said to listen to him. That's what my gut and heart were saying.

"Aden."

"Yes Princess?"

"I'll try."

There was silence.

"Princess?"

"I'll try... and trust you again."

Once again my words were met with silence, "Thank you. Princess Nausicaä. I shall not let you down." Aden replied, his voice smothered with gratitude and laced with thankfulness.

"First, let me ask you this." I turned my head towards Aden.

As always, he was wearng his silver suit of armor. He said nothing, but I knew he was listening intently.

"Aden, who is Adena?"

Once again there was a pregnant pause. Except the air was filled now with tension. "Princess... how did you know of Adena?" Aden asked somewhat shakily.

"She came to me in a dream. The dream I just had." I explained.

Aden sighed. "Very well. If Adena wished to reveal herself to you, then I will tell you whatever you wish to know." I heard fiddling, and I turned abruptly. Aden was fussing with his helmet, and he undid a latch that helped keep it on.

He sat beside the bed where I was, and he lifted the helmet off his head.

My eyes widened, and I was at a loss for words.

Handsome, noble grey eyes stared back at me, a clean face, and a messy knot of brunette hair.

This was Aden.

"Princess Nausicaä... Adena, is mine and Prince Than's sister."

---

(A/N:) Haha! I'm evil. And I love myself. No, I'm not narcisstic. The next chapter will be coming out whenever I have the time. Get over it! XD Just kidding. Anyways, review lots, etc.

P.S. This is my best friend's birthday, wish him a happy birthday too!

-PurificationArrow