Dragon Kin
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne or its characters. This is all done for fun.
NOTE:
Happy Birthday, Eries!
This was the toughest chapter to write because for the longest time I wasn't quite sure how Eries' arc would come together only that she definitely would be a big part of the whole story. Dilandau, Folken, and even Merle have relatively simple paths to follow in the main narrative and it was easy enough to link their fates together.
Eries was another story and it was a challenge to fit her into this one without making it seem random or forced. I wanted her to be part of this dragon epic not just because I really wanted there to be some elements of a potential FolkenxEries connection (further down the line) but also because she is not an obvious choice when it comes to expanding Escaflowne/Gaea dragon mythos and that was what made it more exciting.
The first part was fairly easy though because my own work lately is causing me a lot of stress and this might as well have been autobiographical. I only wish I had the same method of de-stressing as Eries does. And there's a not so subtle hint of my field of study, because I always feel that Eries is as much a nerd as I am (if not more so.)
So I've laid out the foundations in this chapter, and hopefully, if all of this does not seem too far-fetched, the disparate threads will come together more coherently in the next section. The four perspectives have now been introduced and now I'll just have to find the time and energy to start weaving them together.
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Eries Aston sighed as she placed another letter on the growing pile on her desk.
She had been working for hours but there was still so much to be done. And she was determined to finish as much as she could so as not to leave too much of a backlog. She was never easily daunted by a multitude of tasks but these days, with the world struggling to recover from the ravages of war, there was simply too much to do.
Especially when the Alliance of Gaean Nations had appointed one as the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
It was an immense honor, to be sure, and she was extremely grateful to have been chosen. But there were days that she wondered if the role was no more than a symbolic one, and that she possessed no real power or influence. More often than not, the world did not seem to have changed that much. It was still operating on the status quo before the war: men controlled what truly mattered.
It was a sore point with her, and one that she endeavored to change. She was pleased that her sister had begun taking her own royal duties more seriously and was proving to be a capable and wise queen, loved by her people and respected by many of the other world leaders. Eries felt extremely proud of her, and recently, spent less time worrying about Millerna getting into some mischief. She still worried though, and this time, she devoted all her energies in defending and protecting her sister from her political detractors, all the while holding her own against those suspicious of having another Aston woman in a position of power.
But by all accounts, Eries was succeeding, proving to everyone that she had the knowledge and skills to execute her duties excellently. She made sound decisions on important issues and presented very compelling arguments. No one could doubt her commitment to the role.
But it was all so very exhausting.
Eries Aston rarely displayed any sign of tiredness, giving rise to the belief that she was indefatigable. But every now and then, even she felt the burden of her duties weighing her down. And it was in these rare moments that she sought respite in a most peculiar way.
Like all ancient, royal structures, the Asturian palace had a number of secret passageways leading to all sorts of places, some meant for servants and others meant for the royal inhabitants, should they ever need to escape from enemies besieging the castle. Since such dire circumstances no longer occurred as frequently as in the past, these passageways were rarely used and only by those who knew them well.
Eries had discovered such a corridor years ago when, as a curious child, she had wandered to the farthest corner of the library, determined to seek refuge from the weight of her duties. She had followed the shadowy tunnel until she reached a source of light and had found herself by the sea side, along a narrow path of paved stones, overlooking the sea. She could see the ships at the dock in the distance but no one else was there in that part of the breakwater.
She had often come to this special spot, to breathe in the fresh air, taking in the salt of the sea breeze and to marvel at the vastness of the water. These occasional visits gave her peace and helped her clear her mind of most worries, even if only for a few moments. Being so close to the sea almost felt like she was in her element and it helped her organize her thoughts.
And it was in such a reflective mood that the dragon found the princess.
Eries Aston was not a particularly religious person. Naturally, she fulfilled her obligations and attended the services that were expected of a member of the royal family, but she did not display any of the fervor of more devout worshippers of Jichia.
And yet, in a way, she was probably the most pious of them all because she was one of the rare mortals given the privilege of proximity to the dragon deity.
For Jichia was no myth, but a living, breathing ancient creature, who generally distanced herself from the mortal world but on the rare occasion that she did reveal herself to them, she chose them with great care.
The young princess had been afraid at first but she had faced the deity with dignity and grace, something that impressed Jichia greatly. The deity had not revealed herself in her full glory, but had simply raised her head ever so slightly over the water and then communicated with the girl telepathically, her ancient voice, so full of wisdom and gravity, entering the mind of the stunned princess.
Eries had seen the head of the dragon and the shadow of the rest of its massive body beneath the water. She had known immediately that she was in the presence of true greatness and she had shown Jichia due respect and courtesy.
"Eries Aria Aston," the dragon had simply greeted her, "What brings you here?"
"I was trying to find some peace," the girl had answered truthfully.
"And did you find it?"
"Not exactly. But being here helps a great deal."
"Indeed."
They had not spoken much in the years that followed but when they did, the dragon would usually ask Eries about the state of the world and the princess would reply with concise but accurate accounts. An unusual bond had formed between them, one that both valued immensely.
The princess had been sworn to secrecy, not that she needed to be reminded. No one could be better relied upon to be discreet than Eries Aston and indeed she had been called upon to keep many a significant secret in the years that followed.
During the war she had barely had a chance to visit her illustrious acquaintance, only once apprising Jichia of the situation before excusing herself. The deity understood all too well the precarious situation the princess was in and did not expect many visits during that turbulent period.
The ancient dragon generally did not interfere in human affairs but observed at a safe distance, and disapproved of the conflicts they were getting themselves into. She saw many of the people involved and was able to identify certain individuals who she was certain would play important roles in other stories to come.
And she was confident that, when the fortuitous moment arrived, she would be able to rely on Eries Aston's support.
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"It's been a while, Eries," Jichia remarked, "You've been too preoccupied of late."
"I have," the princess replied sincerely.
There were a few hours left till sunset and the reflection of the sunlight of the sea made it seem like the surface was full of diamonds. The breeze was refreshing and Eries breathed it all in. She had missed this, and it had truly been too long since she had last enjoyed a moment's peace. She suddenly felt her mind clear, as it usually does whenever she went to this place.
She had also missed her conversations with the ancient deity since the dragon had always provided her some much needed counsel and encouragement. It was strange to never speak of this connection to anyone, but she also valued it all the more. She was keenly aware of the privilege she enjoyed and she always felt so honored to be chosen.
"Congratulations are in order, I hear," the dragon said proudly, "Minister of Foreign Affairs."
Eries bowed in gratitude. "An honorary title," she said modestly.
"But one you are making the most of, nonetheless," the dragon commented, "You were never one to waste any power given to you."
"I try my best, but limitations remain," Eries explained.
"Such are all human affairs."
They continued to talk of various items, as amiably as they always had, but on this occasion, Eries sensed something different about the dragon. The deity never betrayed any emotion other than the occasional mild amusement at the mortal world. But this time, Jichia almost seemed worried about something. And when an ancient, all-powerful being was distressed, there was truly something amiss in the world.
"You seem troubled," Eries said at length, having developed enough of a rapport with the being to be able to speak frankly.
"Always so observant," Jichia replied, "And indeed, there is something I would ask of you."
Eries waited expectantly, almost fearing what she would hear, but extremely curious all the same. She felt that she was on the verge of something truly monumental.
"Save us," the dragon said simply but with a certain urgency in her tone, "My kind is under a threat it has never known, not in the centuries of our existence. And we have now to rely on a chosen few to be able to aid us in this, our hour of great need."
Eries stared incredulously, moved by the gravity of the dragon's tone and overwhelmed by the great responsibility this presented. All of a sudden she felt so small, mortal and weak, unsure of how she could play any role in the salvation of a race of beings so much more than herself. The dragon sensed her doubt.
"I know that you have duties enough," Jichia said, "And this might be the most important one of your life. But only if you choose to accept it. I shall not impose on you. You alone have the freedom to decide if you will throw your lot in with us on this. And I assure you that I will not hold it against you if you refuse. After all, it is a truly daunting endeavor."
But Eries Aston would never shirk away from such a duty. If anything, she felt up for a new challenge. Her hesitation passed and she faced the dragon with courage and conviction.
"What must I do?"