13. Escape and sickness

Hitomi slowly opened her eyes only to instantly close them again as her head exploded with pain. he waited for the pain to pass, then waited a few more minutes before trying to open her eyes again. This time she was able to take in her surroundings. The first thing she noticed was that she was lying in the grass with her hands and feet in chains. They apparently weren't taking any chances that she might have some way to escape. The second thing she noticed, was the fire about five feet away. Two men were sitting by the fire. Hitomi recognized one as Dilandau, and that caused a shiver to race down her spine. However, she had never seen the other one before. What confused Hitomi was why Dilandau was there. Why would he be after her so much? Then she remembered the letter Allen sent about a year ago.

# # # Flashback # # #

"Your Majesties," A breathless servant yelled when he burst into the throne room. He made a hurried bow before he began talking quickly.

"An urgent letter has just arrived from Asturia! The messenger said for you to read it immediately."

He handed the letter to Van, bowed again and left when Van dismissed him. Van opened the letter and began to read. His face paled under his tan skin. He finished reading, handed the letter to Hitomi, then put his head in his hands. Hitomi read the letter and was shocked at it's contents:

'Dear Van and Hitomi,

I have some distressing news. Two weeks ago, Celena was kidnapped. She returned a week ago, very pale and sick. After she got better, she told me what happened. Some of the Zaibach sorcerers are still alive. They took her so they could take Dilandau out of her! According to Celena, they succeeded and now Dilandau is living and has his own body! With him reawakened there can be no doubt that another war is coming. Watch out for Dilandau, Van. He no doubt still holds a grudge against you for beating him. I have to go check on Celena. Be careful!

Allen Shezaer, Knight of Caeli'

# # # End Flashback # # #

After remembering this, Hitomi knew she had to get away. Now that Dilandau had his own body, he was probably more ruthless than than ever. She needed to wait till they were both asleep before attempting escape. During this time she would think of how to escape and what was happening.

Two hours later, they were finally asleep and Hitomi had a plan. She waited a little longer to make sure they were really asleep. Finally, she closed her eyes and concentrated on Van.

/Van? Can you hear me?/

/Hitomi! Oh, Thank goodness. I've been so worried! Are you alright? Where are you?/

/I'm fine for now. I don't know where I am. I'm surrounded by trees. Van, I can't use my fire ball. I'm in chains. Use the pendant to find me, because right now, I'm helpless./

/I'll find you, Hitomi. Right now try to get some sleep. You'll need your strength./

/Alright. Goodnight, Van. Please hurry!/

/I will, Love. I will./

With that Hitomi ended the conversation and fell asleep. Several hours later, Hitomi awoke to Van calling her in her mind.

/Hitomi, Hitomi, wake up, love./

/Van?/

/Yes, I'm behind you in the trees. Are Dilandau and the other man still asleep?/

Hitomi watched the men very carefully and decided that, yes they were both still asleep, but she didn't know for how much longer. She relayed this to Van.

/ Ok, I'm coming. Stay quiet./

Hitomi stayed perfectly still and quiet, her ears straining. Even though she was listening intently she couldn't hear Van at all. She was surprised at how quiet he was being. She almost jumped when he tapped her shoulder. She managed to keep herself still and quiet as Van gently picked her up. He snuck back into the trees. Even carrying Hitomi he still managed to stay as quiet as before. After a few minutes, they came across a small clearing. Gently setting Hitomi on the ground he took out a tool he brought to get the chains off. After a couple minutes, they came off with a clatter. Gently pulling Hitomi back into his arms, Van opened his wings and leapt into the night sky. After flying leisurely for a few hours, Van's wings were really getting tired. So they set down to rest. Hitomi had fallen asleep shortly after taking flight. Van sat down, intending to rest for a few minutes, but instead fell asleep. He woke up several hours later, when the sun shone on his face. When he realized he had fallen asleep, he sprang to his feet, scooped Hitomi into his arms and leapt up into the sky. A few hours later, Fanelia came into view. After landing on the balcony to their room, he put Hitomi to bed. She moaned. He became worried when he noticed that her face was flushed. He felt her forehead and frowned. She was burning up! Van ran out of the room to find Millerna. He found her in the library and asked her to come and check Hitomi. he said he would explain later, but that Hitomi was sick. The two hurried back to the room. Neither noticed Kyria standing there and had heard everything. So she took it upon herself to tell the others that Hitomi was back.

Meanwhile, Millerna was tending to Hitomi

"I think her problem is that she hasn't had anything to eat, and in her condition of being pregnant, not eating and everything else that happened yesterday. It's finally taken it's toll on her. We need to get some food and fuid in her. Go ask the kitchen to make some soup."

Van nodded. He went to find Merle so she could help. When he got to the library, he heard his friends talking about Hitomi. He walked in and they all got quiet.

"How is she doing," Allen asked.

"She has a high fever. Millerna said that she probably hasn't eaten since yesterday morning. Millerna wants me to get some soup for Hitomi, but I thought I'd tell you how things were going. How did you find out Hitomi was back, anyway?"

"I told them," Kyria spoke up. "I heard you talking to Millerna."

"I'll go have the cooks start on the soup," Merle volunteered. With that she scampered off to the kitchen.

"I'm going to see if Millerna needs anything else," Van said sighing.

He got up, left the library and headed back to his room. When he got there he saw Millerna pulling up the covers. Then she looked at Van.

"I take it you're going to stay with her?"

Van nodded.

"Good. When she wakes up, have her drink this," She showed him a cup on the bedside table. "It'll help her sleep and hopefully bring down her fever. If the soup comes before she wakes, give that to her first. She might need help. She'll be pretty weak. I'll be back later to check in on her."

With that, Millerna left leaving Van alone with Hitomi. He pulled a chair up and sat down next to the bed so he could hold Hitomi's hand. And that's how Merle found him later when she came in. She was holding a tray with the soup and a glass of water.

"Lord Van," She whispered.

Van's head shot up and looked at Merle. He hadn't even heard her come in.

"I brought the soup."

She set the tray down on a table next to the bed, then turned to look at Van.

"You really should get some rest, Lord Van."

"I don't want to leave Hitomi."

"I'll stay with her while you sleep. You won't do her any good if you get sick too. Now, please, go."

Van obediently got up, but before he left, he gave Merle the same instructions Millerna had given him. Then he went to the room next door and slept.

# # # Meanwhile in Zaibach # # #

"YOU FOOL! How could you let her escape!"

Mariana was beyond furious. Dilandau had let the seer escape! She sent out a blast of magic, sending Dilandau slamming into a wall. The attack was so unexpected that he let out a small cry and fell to his knees.

"I told you that if you failed me again, I would kill you, Dilandau. Instead, I'm going to make you wish I had killed you! GUARDS! Take this Imbecile to the dungeons. I'll figure out his punishment later," She said imperiously, waving her hand dismissively.

With that Dilandau was dragged away to await his punishment.

(I really liked writing this scene. :) )

# # # Back in Fanelia # # #

Van woke up three hours later and came back to find Merle still sitting Diligently in the chair reading a book. The soup, water, and medicine from Millerna were gone. Hitomi was sleeping peacefully.

Merle, having heard Van enter, went over to him and whispered to him.

"She woke up a couple of hours ago. I helped her eat the soup, the water and that other thing. She fell asleep shortly after. She's been sleeping since."

"Thank you, Merle. I'll sit with her now."

After that Merle left the two alone.

It stayed this way for two more days before Hitomi's fever finally broke. Three days later she was up and walking around as if she was never sick. After her ordeal though, They decided to wait another week before going to the Mystic Moon.

#A/N Phew! I didn't realize how long this chapter was till I was writing it. Hope you enjoy. I'm only writing because I was getting tired of reading. Also my internet is being really slow and uncooperative. It took me like 2-3 hours to finally get this on the site.#