AN: Another Chapter for you absolutely lovely people. Sorry it's so late I had a few problems with this one, but better late than never. I had to re-vamp it several times. It took a while for me to come out with something that I liked. I intentionally put this off until I really thought it through. Thank you so much for putting up with my horrible scheduling problem. I am working diligently on that I assure you.
Disclaimer: I only own Arathnia, and the characters from there. I do not own Escaflowne, even though I wish I did.
The Past, Future, and Somewhere in Between
Chapter 19: The Warrior King
Hours passed by as the Fanelian envoy journeyed on foot towards through the frozen tundra of Basram. Their pace was slow as they trudged through the thick and merciless snow. They were forced along by the royal guards that surrounded their party. They did not seem at all perturbed by the cold around them. A cold which seemed to grow more intense the farther they travelled. It seeped through their rather thin coats and the rest of their clothing, as well as their flesh. It flowed straight down into their very bones. It clung to them in a death grip refusing to offer any relief. None of them were accustomed to such an extreme climate and were vastly ill-prepared. Thankfully, the wind was mild decreasing the chill, but only slightly. The sun never once peaked out from behind the thin sheet of cloud that filled the sky. The cold was growing increasingly unbearable the farther they pushed forward. It set in deep, right down to the bones, and clung to them in a death grip. The Prince at the head of their entourage seemed completely oblivious to their plight, as were the guards around them. Heavy breath, chattering teeth, rattling chains, and the crunch of the snow beneath their feet were the only sounds that could be heard in the tense silence that had spread over their crew. It was a surprise that the prince allowed them to retain their weapons. This implied that they were not being detained as prisoners, nor were they labelled a threat. This fact along was a relief.
Sannah was pulled along near the head of their convoy. Her wrists were still bound together in front of her with the leather straps. She was the only one aside from their dragon companion who was restrained. Her hostile behaviour and violent outburst earlier caused their escorts to regard her with caution. She was pulled along roughly by the heavy man who had originally detained her. His name was Ivor. There were times when he would tug too hard and the dark haired girl would stumble or trip and fall into the snow. These delays seemed to aggravate her captor. This caused him to treat her more roughly. Still, Sannah never uttered a complaint to her poor treatment. She remained tight-lipped, glaring at her captor or the prince leading their escort.
The guards were smart and kept Aza at the opposite end of entourage. He brought up the rear being ushered along by an additional four guards. He watched over Sannah carefully watching how Ivor treated the young girl. He glared at his back. Every so often the large creature would release a low and threatening growl. It was a good indication for the guards to stand clear of the angry brute. However, he never tried to escape. He could have, if that was what he truly desired. His main focus was the forest girl with whom he had shared his life with.
Van was growing increasingly aggravated the further they were forced to walk. The cold was clinging fiercely to him and the burn on his leg stung intensely, throbbing and shaking unsteadily with every step he took. This made proceeding forward an incredibly painful and difficult task. This was the main fuel to his irritability. He glanced around his friends noticing their various states. Allen, and his crew were good at masking their discomfort, as was General Avanon. Merle was the most well off of all of them. Her fur added an extra layer of protection from the cold. Though she was not used to it, nor was her fur thick enough to shield her completely, she was slightly more comfortable than the rest of them. Van's worry mainly laid with Hitomi and Yukari. The two friends walked side by side, huddled together for warmth. Their suffering was apparent as Hitomi's lips were beginning to turn blue and Yukari was pale and looked ready to pass out from either the cold or exhaustion. It was hard to tell which one. This just added fuel to the fiery rage that was growing inside of him.
He let out a loud frustrated sigh, "How much longer is this going to take Isaac? If we keep going, we will all freeze to death," He spat in irritation. What had been so wrong with taking them in an airship? There were dozens back at the port. Small air crafts, but they would have suited their purpose just as well. Was it really necessary to enhance their suffering by forcing them to trudged through the thick snow? It was possible that if could be some sick torture tactic employed by the prince. He wouldn't put it past the pompous ass.
Isaac simply chuckled at his outburst. "Patience Dragon King. We shall be reaching the city gates within the hour," He replied in a very dismissive tone. He had not even bothered with the courtesy of turning.
The Prince's ignorance and conceited attitude was beginning to grate on everyone's nerves. The Princess flanking his was no better. She seemed completely oblivious to their presence making quiet and casual conversation with the man at her side. This just added to the frustration.
Yukari scoffed, "What I would give for a cup of hot chocolate," She grumbled rubbing her arms in a vain effort to gain some warmth in the appendages. It did nothing to ease the chill.
Hitomi nodded in agreement to that statement. "Or a cup of coffee," She added recalling the rich and distinct taste of the liquid. She let out a small sigh of contentment at the memory. It sent out a small tingle or warmth through her body. She knew it was all just her imagination and that she was still on the verge of hypothermia, but it felt real enough to her.
Yukari let out a groan, "God yes! Coffee would be amazing right now."
"Maybe some tea and honey too," Hitomi piped up again. She was thoroughly enjoying recalling the tastes and warmth of the beverages she regularly enjoyed back on Earth. It made her momentarily forget the cold around her.
Yukari groaned with longing, "Please stop talking about warm and tasty things. It's like torture," the red head whined as she fiddled with the pockets of her jacket.
Her friend chuckled, "Sorry, it was just making me feel better," She explained with a small shrug.
"Well cut it out Hitomi," Yukari snapped back.
Hitomi opened her mouth for rebuttal but she was interrupted by the hot, white flash of light behind her eyes. She winced and gasped as it assaulted her mind like a horde of red hot knives stabbing her all at once. She was vaguely aware of dropping to her knees with her head in her hands. Desperate for the pain to dissipate, she fully surrendered to her vision.
It was not quite a vision. It was more of a flash. A premonition of what was to come. Much like many of her visions had been back in the Destiny Wars. Jumbled and incoherent images that, no matter what choices were made, would eventually come to pass.
- Dread filled her heart. A golden tinted sword tainted crimson with dark red blood. The life essence dripping from the steel surface creating a pool on the ground. Streaks of blood tarnished golden curls in a scarlet hue, staining them dark red. That same blood sliding down the exposed pale skin and dropping off of a chin and then down onto a woman's chest. Then, as quickly as it had appeared, in a flash of white light the image vanished. The identity of the bloodstained blonde remained a mystery and the pain in her head vanished completely. -
She shivered. Not from the cold of the ice and snow around her, but of fear. Fear of the unknown. Blood. There was always so much blood. 'Why does it always have to be blood?' She asked herself internally. It took her a moment before she realized that someone was shaking her.
Her sudden collapse had brought their entire convoy to a screeching halt. "Come on you stupid idiot!" She recognized Merle's voice shout. "Not is not the time to go all witchy on us, snap the hell out of it," She ranted on before roughly slapping her paw against the other girl's face.
The sting of the impact brought Hitomi completely out of her daze. "Ow Merle. Knock it off!" She shouted pushing the cat girl away from her. She was angry. Reaching up and cupping her injured cheek she pushed herself up onto her feet. Placing one hand on her hip illustrating her displeasure, she glared at the feisty feline. "You know very well that can't control when I get my visions so stop yelling at me and slapping me around like a rag doll!"
"You don't need to have a cow!" The pink haired cat hissed back in response.
"If you two back there are finished bickering, I would love to continue along," Isaac interrupted the squabble. "I would like very much to reach Mideen before the sun starts to set. Believe me, if you think it is cold now, just wait until night fall," He stated gently kicking his horse's sides indicating it to start forward. By the Prince's flat tone, it was obvious that he was unamused by the girl's childish argument. He cast a glance over his shoulder to ensure that they were proceeding on as well before shooting a glare at the two girls.
Merle glared back, resuming her previous stride. "Pompous ass," She hissed quietly. "Who does he think he is," She added with a huff.
"Prince Isaac von Stromgard, heir to the throne of Basram," Mendelev answered teasingly to her rhetorical question.
Merle snarled at him, "That did not require an answer Mendelev," She spat her tail puffing up indicating her increasing aggravation.
Van placed a hand on her shoulder to help sooth her raging temper. "Easy Merle. We do not need to fight amongst ourselves and share that weakness with Basram. The last thing we need is having them against us as well," He explained in a firm tone. "Arathnia is trouble enough for us."
"Someone needs to smack him upside the head," Mendelev chimed in ensuring that his tone was low so that the guards would have difficulty hearing him. "Monarchy or not, that boy should show some respect and humility," The General stated crossing his arms over his broad chest. He shuddered, "I can't believe that one day that man will sit on the throne. I pray his father is not around to see him run their country into the ground. That prick doesn't seem to interested in his kingdom or even his position. His title seems to be the only thing that matters."
"You never know," Allen piped up joining in on the conversation. "He may surprise you. He has virtually no responsibilities as it is, this will change once he becomes king. Don't count someone out before they have been given a chance to prove themselves."
Mendelev sighed, knowing that the knight was right. "Still, it is times like these that I miss my axe,"
Van shook his head at his friend's statement. "I don't think that would get us anywhere," He replied coolly.
He shrugged in response, "It is a rather intimidating weapon. Much better than this dinky sword," He retorted gesturing to the blade slung around his waist. "It does nothing to promote the strength of it's master," He spat distastefully.
Van couldn't help but roll his eyes at this. The former mercenary and himself often became involved in this very same argument. Sword versus axe. "Enough Mendelev, don't even get started," He stated with slight annoyance. He was not in the mood for such a discussion. There were more important things ahead to worry about. "I do not wish to dwell on such matters now."
The General grumbled a response before falling silent. No one else stepped up to fill the void. Once again their entourage was doomed to silence for as their as their journey lasted. Hopefully, it would end soon.
Mideen. Compared to the extravagance of Terra and Palas it seemed rather dull, though not unimpressive. The the city was a fair bit small, compact. Nestled into the safety of the mountains, they offered the perfect protection from the harsh winds that blew in from the west. Thick wooden cabins acted as people's homes and vendor's shops. The sturdy structures were well suited for withstanding the harsh climate. It was strange to see merchants conducting business inside of a building rather than out of a stall as was customary for most towns. The people seemed almost ignorant of the presence of the foreigners. The odd one would look at them with curiosity, but then realize their distraction and return to their task at hand. Many waved to the Prince, regarding him and the Princess with a small smile before carrying out their duties. Resting on a cliff side, above the city, laid the castle. Castle Stromgard. It was much different from the other castles that Hitomi had seen on Gaea so far. It was a solid design like that of a stronghold. Square and surrounded by dense walls that built for the strategic purpose of defence against attack. It gave off the impression of power. The heavy stones that made up the walls were stained dark with age. Tall towers adorned the castle walls set up on each corner of the wall. In the centre was the castle. The castle stood mightily, it's shadow looming over the city in an almost protective fashion. The square towers were stacked on top each other and placed at random points unevenly at different heights. This did not subtract from the overall impression of the fortress. Positioned decoratively upon the roof and on the gates were large stone gargoyles. A wide stone pathway led up the mountain, curling around an up to the castle's gates. Unlike the other castles, there was no staircase. Just the wide path. The heavy snow seemed more sparring in this area as well. There were two flags that hung from the gates. One was deep green silhouetted with the golden image of two swords crossed over the golden image of a large bird in flight. The other was white and sky blue sectioned into four squares. In the centre there was the image of a shield. The shield was silver and navy blue and in the centre of it sat a golden coloured griffin. The first flag did not seem to belong there for it contrasted greatly with the second one.
Once they had arrived, everything happened very quickly. Three carriages were summoned and their group was crammed inside the two small ones. It had been a very tight fit, but they had some how managed not without some difficulty. Sannah had put up a fuss, after they untied her, about being separated from Aza as he was led in a separate direction away from the castle along with Galaxia's dragon Gharza. With some assurances of the dragon's safety from Isaac, as well as Van, she begrudgingly climbed into the carriage without any more difficulties. She was proving to be quite the hand full. The Prince and Princess climbed into the largest carriage at the front leaving their horses with the sable hand. As soon as everyone was situated, they were quickly ushered off on their way through the city and up towards the castle. The quick journey was rough and uncomfortable. The carriage wheels ground against the stone rolling over rocks jostling them around inside the wooden vehicles. The wheel creaked at the strain of their use but held firm. It was definitely a very bumpy ride.
As soon as they stooped, the doors were pulled open and they were ushered from the wooden vehicles and into the castle. The inside of the castle was not much different from the outside. The heavy stones were covered by long thick rugs of sky blue. Adorning the walls were banners embossed with the griffin that also decorated the flag at the gates. Classic medieval suites of armor were set up strategically giving it a more lived in look.
"I did not bring you here to cause trouble," Isaac stated as he led them through the straight corridors of the castle, towards what could only be assumed was the throne room. It seemed that is where most royals conducted their business. Basram was no exception to this. Princess Erunia walked silently by his side, looking as stern and proper as she had seated upon the horse.
Van resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he easily fell into steps behind the arrogant Prince. "I assure you, that will not be an issue," He replied dryly. He was growing weary of the other man's accusatory and demeaning tone.
Isaac scoffed in disbelief, shaking his head slightly, "We shall see about that," He mumbled as he increased his pace pulling ahead of the group.
A tense silence formed between the two lords echoing onto the group behind them. No one dared to speak for fear of a verbal, or even a silent, reprimand from either party. It did not take them long to reach the wooden double doors of the throne room. They were rather thin and made up of several thin planks of wood giving it a panelled effect. Isaac wasted no time in throwing the doors open and making his presence known to all those inside. There were not many. A few guards and some noblemen scattered about in deep conversation. However, obnoxious host interrupted drawing all eyes up on them.
The room was warm. Both in the literal sense, and in the homey sense. In the middle of the room rested a fire pit. The flames chased away the cold and darkness from the room. It was square with two additional doors on either side of the it. A small one-step platform was placed against the far wall. Situated in the middle of this platform was an lone, empty, stone throne. Behind the throne was a large painting of a woman with long and flowing fiery red hair. Her eyes were bright blue staring out at the world with a air of power. A jewelled crown sat atop her head indicating her position that she carried with pride. Clutched in her hand was a serrated broadsword with two glowing blue jewels, one attached at the end of the hilt, and the other large one sitting nearest to the blade with what looked like the image of a gargoyle above which flared out as the hilt itself. Sitting beside her, was what could only be described as a griffin. It bore armour that covered it's chest and head with a saddle strew across it's back. The majestic creature stood proud though not tearing any attention away from the woman beside it.
"What is cause for this interruption Isaac?" A cold female voice questioned drawing Hitomi's attention to the platform in front of them. The woman who spoke with such authority was tiny. She was extremely thin, but she also only came up to Hitomi's shoulders. This seemed incredibly small compared to the tall and exotic looking women she had recently come into contact with. However, this did not alleviate the power that radiated from her. That alone made her seem much larger as well as intimidating. Her thin grey hair was covered by a black and white speckled shall. The pattern stood out against the gloom of her attire. The heavy black dress she wore came up to her chin and dragged across the stone floor. It was obvious from her cold eyes that she was the woman from the painting behind her. Despite the wrinkling of age, the resemblance was uncanny. She stood impatiently crossing her arms over her chest as she starred down at their group. She tapped her fingers against her forearm, "I am waiting."
Instantly, the Prince was humbled. He bowed graciously to the woman, "Lady Myrna," He stated never breaking eye contact with the woman. An expression of adoration came over his face as he gazed at the tiny woman. "Where is my father? The King of Fanelia would like to have audience with him," He stated gesturing behind him towards Van.
The woman eyes them regarding them with suspicion. She cleared her throat before speaking, "Godric is busy performing his duties, unlike you," She scolded turning her gaze back to the young man before her. Her eyes were disapproving. "It would do you well to take your position more seriously grandson, you as well Erunia for you are future Queen of these lands. Much more is expected of you two." Both Issac and Erunia lowered their gazes to the ground at her scolding. She glared at them before turning her attention towards Van. "I sense this is a matter of urgency," She commented regarding him with a small tilt of her head.
Van nodded, "Your haste would be greatly appreciated," He replied calmly.
She nodded and snapped her fingers. The sound was sharp. It reverberated through the room, echoing loudly. In an instant, a guard was at her side. She turned her cold eyes to him, "Go and fetch our Lord from his meeting. He will be most intrigued by our guests. Best not to keep them waiting," She ordered the last part spoken in a low and hushed tone..
The guard nodded and was instantly off. He opened the door to the left and disappeared. Several, agonizing minutes of silence passed by before the door was opened and the guard returned. He stood at attention, his head held high. He cleared his throat, placing one hand across his chest to rest upon his shoulder. "All hail his majesty Lord Godric von Stromgard, ruler of the winter realm," He announced clearly before bowing his head respectively.
The doors opened again and all the men in the room stood up mimicking the guard's stance. A lone man entered the room. He possessed a regal air and his presence commanded everyone in the room to pay attention to him. He was rather handsome, and a fairly tall man. His wild red hair was long and fell down to his shoulders. He was fairly scruffy, like most men. His beard was trimmed and fairly tidy though still slightly unruly. His shoulders were broad and his muscles well sculpted from training and exercise. His tight shirt left nothing to the imagination in that regard. He dressed plainly, as to not draw too much attention to himself. Strapped around his hips was a scabbard that housed the same sword that was featured in the painting behind the throne. He nodded towards his subjects and the woman standing beside the throne. She bowed her head in acknowledgement. He stepped up onto the platform and gazed out at the new faces in his courtroom. He held his hands out gesturing for his subjects to sit, which they did instantly. It was only then did he fully turn his attention to the group in front of him.
"If you are here to cause trouble, I suggest that you leave immediately," He began firmly stepping to the edge of the platform. "I do not take kindly to those who draw violence within my realm," He clarified with a stern expression.
Van bowed respectively, "I have no intention of bringing harm to your people," He stated returning to his stiff posture.
The King nodded as he turned around taking a seat in the stone throne behind him. "What brings you to Basram young Fanelia?" He asked never taking his eyes off of the young man before him. The old woman, Myrna, walked over to stand on the other side of the throne. Her hands were clasped together in front of her as she stood tall and strong. She appeared almost statuesque, like she was part of the platform itself.
Van stared at him blankly for a moment. He had not expected the King to be so forward. He cleared his throat in an effort to mask his surprise. "We seek refuge in your kingdom until we can repair our ship. Once it is repaired we will take our leave," He explained regaining his confidence and putting forth his best face.
"Why should I grant such a request?" He asked gesturing for one of the servants to approach him. "It comes to my attention that Arathnia has placed a price on your heads," He commented before uttering a silent order to his servant. In an instant, the man was gone.
Van sighed pinching the bridge of his nose which illustrated his frustration. He knew this would cause big problems. "I am aware of this," He began dropping his hand back down to his side. "All we desire is to get back to Fanelia in one piece. As it stands, we are of no match for Queen Brahne's forces."
The king scoffed leaning forward in his seat, "Do not come grovelling to me simply because you are weaker than your adversary," He sneered is disgust at the younger man. "Such cowardice you display. Give me a good reason to grant your request and I may consider it," He snapped brusquely leaning back against the throne as the servant once again appeared by his side. The young man bowed and placed a silver coloured goblet on the arm of the throne before once again departing.
"Lord Stromgard," Allen spoke up stepping forward and bowing deeply. "We do not have much to offer you nor do you have any reasons to trust us," He began calmly, "But we have no reasons to deceive you either. What Van Fanel says is true. We simply request refuge for we intend to simply pass through. We mean you no ill will or to drawn unneeded attention to ourselves." He concluded enforcing Van's own proclamation.
"Allen Schezar, I never thought Asturia would become entangled in matters of war such as this," Godric mused lifting the goblet to his lips as his other hand reached up to stroke his rust colored beard, "How curious. Such a predicament your arrival has placed me in," He stated out loud with a small sigh. "A dangerous situation indeed."
Allen did not move from his bowed position, but he looked up at the king before him. "I can not vouch for Lord Dryden, but I speak for my men, as well as myself when I say that we are in full co-operation with Lord Van and his endeavor until we reach Asturia," He stated with conviction.
"Hmm...even more curious," he commented eyeing the knight with intrigue.
"Your majesty," Hitomi piped up gingerly stepping ahead of the group. It was obvious by her expression and her stance that she was incredibly nervous to address the king directly. A small blush formed on her cheeks as she felt all eyes upon her. She swallowed nervously as butterflies began to roll around in her stomach. "Forgive my interruption for I know it is not my place," She began her mouth suddenly feeling dry. Her confidence began to fade and she found herself losing a grip on her words. Still, she managed to force it down with a big, yet dry, gulp. "We have traveled a long way and have suffered injuries at the hands of others..."
The king chuckled effectively cutting her off. When she fell silent, he gestured his hand outward to urge her to continue in an almost mocking fashion. When she remained silent still he rolled his eyes in annoyance. It showed clearly upon his face that she had rubbed him the wrong way, "I know who you are Hitomi Kanzaki. You may be a hero to some, but you are foolish to think that your petty sentiment should have any sway with me. Fall back in line. I do not have the patience to tell you twice," He spat her name as it if left a sour taste in his mouth. "A woman of your stature should know better than to address a King with such false bravado. It is most unbecoming," He stated cruelly.
This statement just added to Hitomi's embarrassment. The abject humiliation from the snickering behind her sparked anger within her. She clenched her teeth holding her tongue down to hold back any outburst that threatened to come out. She had grown more outspoken over the years and now was not the best time for that to show. However, she sensed that this was going no where fast and they were in way over their heads.
To her complete and utter surprise. It was Van to stepped up to speak next. "You know nothing of what this woman has done for Gaea if you speak to her like that," Van retorted in her defence. He glared up at the King with an intense fire in his eyes mixed with the defiance he was clearly displaying. "I am in no position to be treated with such total disrespect and disregard," He snapped. It was obvious that Godric's previous statement had hit a nerve inside of him. "I always respected you for it was obvious that you ran your kingdom well, but I will not stand idly by while you insult and humiliate my friends. The fact that you sit here and do nothing while Queen Brahne plunges this world into war proves that you are more of a coward than I."
To everyone's surprise, it was not the King who took the greatest offense to the young man's tirade. Myrna stepped forward her eyes narrowed into slits. "How dare you," She seethed venomously. "How dare you come in here and speak to my son in such a rude and derogatory fashion," She snarled pointing her boney finger towards him. "I did not suffer forty lonely years on that throne to sit back take this all in stride. You sniveling little insect. "
"Lady Myrna," Galaxia spoke up moving of the front of the group. She grabbed Van's shoulder pulling him back. He turned his head towards her his anger now being reflected onto her. She scowled and shot him a disapproving glance before turning her attention to the old woman in front of her. "You must forgive him, he is a little hot-headed and in bad need of an attitude adjustment," She began in an effort to soothe over the situation. "He's still young and has big boots to fill if he wants to be a decent King."
Van growled. She was just adding fuel to the fire, "You don't know what you're talking about!" He spat at the former knight shrugging her hand off of his shoulder.
"Enough!" Godric shouted slammed his fist down on the arm of his throne. His goblet toppled over landing on the ground with a clunk. Wine spilled onto the floor and splashied up onto the side of the throne as well. It was obvious from the fire in his eyes that he was furious at the spectacle that was taking place before him. "If we are done with this display, I would like for you to leave at once," He announced rising to his feet. "You have been here all of five minutes and you already have my courtroom in an uproar and I will have none of it!"
Galaxia growled shoving Van back. He had not anticipated this and stumbled back nearly knocking into Allen as he went. She glared daggers at him, her eyes flashing crimson which just further illustrated her anger, "You idiot," She seethed just loud enough for everyone in the immediate vicinity to hear. "I knew from the start that I should have taken this matter into my own hands," She continued on quietly, almost ranting, as she reached back and fumbled wit the clasp on her medallion. She was trying to take it off but was finding it difficult in her haste. When she managed to unhook the clasp, she gripped it tightly in her hand. She took a deep breath before speaking, "My name is Galaxia Evania Tantuar, former knight to the throne of Arathnia. I stand before you Lord Stromgard, and ask for your mercy," She began confidently. "I ask not for my companions, myself, or the throne I served," She continued shaking her head slightly, "I ask for my father," with that she raised the medallion up for all to see. "Valandran Archibald til Valandros."
Murmurs filled the room and her companions looked at her in shock. Even Hitomi was stunned. From what Freya had said, the blonde had not wanted her identity known. She was really putting her self out there for them and needlessly so. Apparently the medallion held some kind of meaning to Galaxia and the royals that stood before her. Myrna stepped back in surprise eyeing the medallion with curiosity. However, her eyes narrowed, "Valandran has been dead many years, his wife and daughters followed him sometime after. It is impossible for you to lay claim to his name," She stated crossing her arms over her chest, challenging the younger woman's claim.
Galaxia seemed to be expecting this for her confidence did not waver. "My real name is Savanna Celesta til Valandros," She clarified stepping closer to the platform. "If you have any doubts, why don't you look at this medallion for the truth. It was given to me by my father before he died. A family heirloom that he wore before me and his father before him,"She insisted shifting her hold on the medallion so that her fingers did not obscure the image.
Myrna was about to utter a response when Godric stood up. He placed a hand on his mother's shoulder to silence her before stepping to the edge of the platform. He eyed the medallion with suspicion before reaching out and taking it from the the blonde's hand. Galaxia stepped back as he inspected it at a much closer distance. His expression was intense as he ran his calloused fingers over the creases and ridges in the metal. "Valandran was good friend of mine," He commented not looking up from the piece of jewellery. His expression was unreadable. The king sighed glancing towards the woman at his side before casting a glance at Galaxia. He held his hand out to return the medallion to her possession. "Perhaps these hostile times have made me hasty in my judgement," He stated with a small sigh of regret. The same regret filled his eyes for a brief moment before his kingly guise returned. "Very well. I shall grant your request for you and your companions to seek refuge until such a time as your departure," He stated flatly turning his gaze towards Van. "Which I trust will be soon.," He added raising an eyebrow in question.
Van was shocked at the King's sudden change of heart. He rebounded from this quickly and nodded bowing out of respect for the older man's decision while letting out a small sigh of relief. "Yes, of course," He agreed to the older monarch's terms without hesitation. His sudden change of heart was a welcomed one. "Thank you for your benevolence Lord Stromgard."
Myrna turned and rested her hand upon her son's arm. "Godric, are you sure this is a wise decision?" She asked speaking in a low tone as keep her voice as quiet as possible. It seemed to work for no one but the intended heard her speak. "Such a bold act of defiance by assisting the Fanelian fugitives could bring the wrath of the high Queen down upon us and our people," She explained fully expressing her concern for their safety. "I do not think it is a good idea to put the safety of our people at risk, especially when the Celebration of New Light is just days away."
Godric held up his hand dismissively, "I am am aware of the risks," He replied. "I choose my own path. I do not blindly follow Nastrata's will. However, I thank you for your concern mother."
"Father you cannot be serious!" Isaac cried stepping towards the platform with such and outrage on his face.
"Hold your tongue," He snapped turning his attention to his son. It was clear by the look in his eyes that he was not at all pleased with the Prince's outburst. The cold look made Isaac stop in his tracks. "You may be my son, but you will respect my position as King of these lands," He scolded the young man. He bowed his head as if in shame. "Learn from me what I learned from my mother. A kingdom cannot be ruled with an iron fist. Politics and tact are important son, and as long as I sit on this throne this is my decision," He stated his voice rising slightly to emphasize his point. "When you are King, you are free to make your own choices when it comes to rule. Until that time, I expect nothing but obedience from you. Is that understood?"
Isaac bowed his head humbly."Yes father," He mumbled as a response. It was obvious that the young man felt a small bit of humiliation having been scolded by his father in front of the court, strangers, as well as his fiance. However, the dark skinned girl offered her full support by gently placing her hand on his arm.
Godric nodded curtly excepting his son's reply. "Good. Your mother and I did not raise you to be so incompetent, start using your head instead of using your position to bully people into caving in to your will. I will have none of it," He continued on effectively ending his small tirade against his flesh and blood.
"I apologize father," was Isaac's quiet reply as he bit his lip. It was obvious that he was holding back a rather nasty rebuttal. His annoyance as well as his flaring temper were obvious within the lines of his face.
His father looked skeptically, but nodded just the same, "Indeed," He commented accepting the quiet and flat apology. "Although," He spoke up again, "I am pleased that you brought the Fanelian envoy to me first. Good work," he stated in an effort to encourage and praise his wayward son.
"Thank you father," He mumbled in response with a curt nod of his head.
"It appears as though I reacted a little harshly in my haste," Godric spoke turning his attention back to his guests. "I apologize Lord Van, and I humbly welcome you and your companions to Mideen."
Van nodded respectfully accepting the older man's meaningful apology. Perhaps the bridge of friendship between their nations was being lowered. "Thank you Lord Stromgard."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Folken asked Galaxia once they had found themselves alone. He was not to happy about being deceived. He had been forced to reveal his true identity to her and she had acted so betrayed and hurt by his secrecy. She knew all the while she was harbouring the same secret that he had. The whole time. There had been plenty of opportunities for her to admit to her own deceptions, and she did not. What a hypocrite she was turning out to be.
Galaxia sighed in annoyance. She did not wish to deal with him at the moment. Still, it would do her no good to put it off much longer. "I didn't want you to know," She began fastening the clasp on her medallion returning it to it's proper place around her neck. "My past is a burden that I wished forgotten," She began her explanation with a aggravated sigh. I never wanted to reveal my true identity to anyone," She confessed without hesitation. "I do not want to be a princess, and I do not wish to hear your lecture either," She shot back resting her hands on her hips.
"Is that what you think?" Folken shot back stepping towards her. "I am not going to lecture you." He insisted irritated by her immediate assumption. "Is it that you don't trust me?" He asked slowly. He was trying his best to understand her, but she was proving to be most difficult.
She shook her head, "No, it's not that at all," was her reply to the question. She looked up at the ceiling, closing her eyes as she let out a small, troubled sigh. "I don't want my family's shadow to hang over me and dictate my life. My secrecy had nothing to do with you," She explained opening her eyes and turning to look at him. "There were not many people who truly knew my identity. That's how I wanted it."
He shook his head. Although he did not agree with her decision to conceal herself from him, he was beginning to understand her way of thinking. "What did you intend to accomplish with this?" He asked coming to stand next to her.
"The idea was to get rid of all the conditioning. To die in myself," She explained clutching the amulet at her breast. "I wanted nothing to do with my birth name, title, or the cruel and brutalized family that surrounded me." A small chuckle escaped her lips as she look up at the ceiling, "I never succeeded though. Queen Brahne would always remind me of it," She added bitterly.
"How so?" He pressed on raising an eyebrow.
She tucked her hair behind her ears, "'See I can see your mother on you, it's still the conditioning. You haven't gotten rid of it, you're not dead yet'," She recited from memory. It seemed as though the blonde had replayed that particular passage in her mind over and over again to a torturous extent. A constant reminder of what she was trying to accomplish for herself. "Something like that. It doesn't matter now"
Suddenly he felt guilty. Despite his own feelings, it was obvious that the road she had chosen was not an easy one. She had suffered and endured tremendous losses and hardships but still managed to stand tall and strong, unwavering. He was growing to admire her courage more and more as each day passed by. He found that no matter how he felt about her small betrayal, he could not hold it against her. Not when he himself was guilty of the same crime with very similar reasoning. He recalled his conversation with Van nearly four years ago when he had run into him on the bridge in Asturia. 'Folken of Fanelia is dead. On that day, the day that the dragon ripped of this arm, I died'. He recalled that moment with absolute clarity. How true that statement rang, even now. Yes, Galaxia shared many parallels with him. They were two sides of the same coin. Maybe that's why they were drawn to one another so strongly and so quickly.
"Perhaps that it's a good thing you opened yourself up," Folken began sliding his arm around her waist. "I do not think it possible to outrun your destiny, regardless of the name you use. It always catches up," He added pulling her closer to him. "I can't blame you for trying."
She eyed him curiously, "I thought you were still cross with me?" She commented cheekily, leaning into his embrace.
He kissed the top of her head affectionately, "I have told you many times that it is hard for me to stay mad at you. Especially when your explanations are so well crafted and your reasoning is so much like my own," He admitted with a small smile.
"Well that is certainly one small bit of information that is good you know," She replied closing her eyes and resting her head against his chest. "You are one strange man Folken."
Van sat at the window in one of the various towers on the farthest end of the castle. It was deserted. He liked that. Dinner was taking place downstairs, actually it was more like a feast, but the young man did not fancy eating. He did not feel hungry, nor did he want to deal with prying eyes or even the company of his own envoy. A lot had been said in that throne room today that had left him wondering a lot about their situation as well as Galaxia's confession. There was much to account for and so much that needed to be dealt with. All he truly desired at that moment was to be left alone. This he had accomplished rather easily. It seemed as though his companions had noticed his distance this and left him to his own devices. It was a relief. He sighed staring up at the night sky. It was a clear night, though snow would come soon enough. The dampness could be felt in the air, which simple just added to the cold. Van could feel it across the bare skin of his arms but did not feel the need to go and fetch his coat. It was not bothering him all that much. It was strange, the as frosty as it was outside, he still felt relatively warm.
"How come I knew I'd find you up here?"
Van turned around in surprise. He had not expected anyone to follow him up here. Especially not the target of his affections and the whole root and heavy core of his dilemma. "Hitomi, it's just you," He greeted her coldly before turning his attention back out the window. As much as he enjoyed her company, he was not in the mood to deal with her at that particular moment. Her presence manipulated him into making inappropriate choices.
"What are you doing up here all by yourself?" She asked walking over to stand next to him. She could sense his poor mood and felt uncertainty tug at her. Perhaps seeking him out had not been the wisest of decisions. Still, she did not wish him to be alone.
"I'm not really in the mood to talk," He stated flatly not turning to look at her, "Leave me alone."
Hitomi rolled her eyes. Typical Van, always pushing her away when it was most convenient for him. He still had not grasped the concept that she was simply trying to help him. Emboldened by his quick dismissal, she crossed her arms over her chest. "Come on Van, you can't spend all night up here brooding," She interjected shooting him a disapproving glance. "The others are downstairs mildly celebrating our good fortune. Why don't you come down and join us?" She suggested a tad more softly.
"This is only a minor step in our journey Hitomi," He commented gruffly, leaning back against the wall behind him. "We still have a long way to go before we reach Fanelia's borders. Until then, I will remain on guard," He informed her in a very matter of fact tone. "Celebration is not in tall order."
"Oh come on Van," She huffed in annoyance. He could be so stubborn it was irritating. "I understand that it's not much, and that we have loads more problems ahead, but you can't always be so...moody," She scolded him taking at seat beside him without invitation. "You have a lot of pressure on you, I get that, but you need to relax once in a while. You've been stuck in a funk since you got in to that fight with Aza and I have to say that it's getting real irritating," She commented growing increasingly irritated with his brooding and antisocial behavior.
Something she said must have struck a nerve in the young king. He quickly turned to look at her, annoyance clear in his features which were also laced with anger. "Do you have any idea what is truly at stake here?" He snapped causing Hitomi to shrink back slightly. She had not expected him to react so harshly. "How can I relax when the fate of my entire kingdom rests solely upon my shoulders?" He continued on when she fail to respond. "I broke the peace treaty with Arathnia. I alone have to deal with the repercussions and the consequences of my actions," He rambled on with a heavy sigh. He ran a hand through his rather unruly hair. This did nothing to tame the dark locks. "I was foolish and let my feelings and desires get ahead of me and made a rash choice without thinking the matter through in it's entirety. I am liable for the lives of thousands upon thousands of people. How can I relax with that burden upon me? Galaxia was right. I'm still to young to be a good king." He grumbled turning back to look out the window.
"Stop talking like that," She snapped. "You're a good king. You are putting that pressure on yourself. No one asked you to do this," She explained calmly though assertively. She was not going to step away from this argument, especially when he was beating himself up over things that he couldn't change. "Is your wounded pride the true cause of all this sulking? If it is you are acting extremely immature," She added but regretted instantly.
"You have no idea what you are talking about, nor do you understand how I am feeling," He retorted shaking his head at her obliviousness. "I should have just accepted my fate and dealt with the hand I had been given," He remarked bitterly.
Hitomi blinked in confusion unsure of what he meant with his statement. His mood was shifting rapidly and it caught her by surprise. She shook her head and composed herself before pressing onwards."Are you saying that you would have rather continued on and married Princess Astra?" She asked probing deeper into his previous statement. Her desire to know exactly what he meant tickled at her revealing it's existence.
"No, that's not it at all," He fired back without pause. "Astra is not an issue," with another sigh he continued, "What I mean is that I should have waited until we had returned to Fanelia and then sent word of my choice instead. I got ahead of myself like a fool. I put the lives of you and everyone I care for as risk. For that I am truly sorry."
He said all this never looking in her direction. His suddenly humbled demeanor was more annoying than soothing. She rolled her eyes knowing that he would not see. Still, she reached out and placed a hand on his arm."Shoulda, woulda, coulda," She recited the old saying. "Don't dwell on it Van."
He turned to her, "What?" He asked the expression going over his head completely.
She couldn't help but smile at this. He could be as stubborn as a rock and extremely infuriating at times, but the confused look on his face just seemed to make it all disappear. "Sorry, it's an Earth saying," She apologized shifting closer to him. "It basically means don't stew about the things you can't change. It's a waste of time. Instead think toward the future and press onward," She encouraged him. "You put so much onto yourself and it causes you to suffer unnecessarily. What's done is done and nothing can change it. Accept that and move on from it."
He pondered her words for a moment before shaking his head slowly, "I don't know if I can do that." He admitted scratching the back of his neck nervously.
"I get that you believe this is all your fault, and to some extent it is, but you don't have to do this all alone," She continued on gently squeezing his arm to offer him the comfort and support he secretly required. You know how I feel about you and I will stand beside you for as long as I am here Yes, your decision was rash but we all stood by you. We still do, even Allen. If there were any doubts that you had made the wrong choice, none of us would've come this far. Please, stop beating yourself up."
He sighed. She was right, though he hated to admit it. Never before had she been so insightful. Maybe Freya's influence had rubbed off on her during their stay in the holy land. "You are right," He voiced out loud after a few moments. "How did you get so wise?" He asked a small, slightly forced, smile forming on his lips.
Hitomi returned his smile gently squeezing his arm one more time before sliding her hand back down into her lap. She had reached him at last. "I have had excellent teachers," She remarked with a wink.
He sighed contently closing his eyes for the briefest moment. "Thank you"
She beamed as she rose to her feet. His acceptance of her argument greatly improved her mood. "You're welcome, now do I have to drag you out of here, or will you come willingly?" She asked turning and stepping towards the door.
He chuckled lightly watching her slightly bounced steps. It seems she was able to improve both of their moods. He had to applaud her efforts. "Fine," He caved pushing himself up onto his feet. "You win," He conceded following her lead.
AN: I have good news! Only 2 more minor characters to introduce and all the cards are in place! Well, at least for a while. Then everything will hopefully flow smoothly. Sorry about all the politics but you can't please everyone and have the story progress as it needs to. I have all the chapters mapped out and what events occur where. I have a couple of gaps later on, but I am sure I'll have no problem filling those in. I am really enjoying the flow and quick pace of this story. It's a nice change from what I am use to writing.
Next: To Bring Honour to One's Family.
Response to Reviews:
Joss-31: Thanks for the review. Hitomi is actually a big part in the story. It's just that with everything going on the focus needs to shift from time to time. I am trying to set the stage for everything that is to come. We aren't even halfway through the story yet. I try to at least mention her or have a scene involving her in each chapter. I know that it seems kind of odd, but trust me, she is very important. It's just not so obvious yet.
PrefersFiction: Good to hear your input. At this stage of the story, I'm more focused on introducing a few characters, minor as they are, and getting our protagonists closer to their current goal. It doesn't help that all the royalty stuff is really entertaining for me haha. It's something I have great enjoyment for. There is a bit of drama between Hitomi and Van coming up and there will be some non-lemony scenes as well. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about that part of the story. There is also a lot of drama coming up between Van and Galaxia that is rather intense. I really look forward to that as well. As for Sannnah...well there is significance to her role. However, I don't wanna give anything away. Thank you for your input, I really appreciate it.
Guest: No! You found out my secret! Ha ha, thank you for having such interest. Your review was just what I needed to FINALLY finish this chapter. Thank you!