"Good-afternoon Boss," Gaddess greeted the blond knight, a stack of reports in hand. He kept his tone somber, testing Allen's mood. "These are ready for review." He placed the papers on the table, next to the map Allen had open.
"Thank-you Gaddess." Allen managed a tired smile. "Has Scheherazade been repaired?" he queried.
"Finished this morning." Gaddess cleared his throat. "What happened yesterday?"
Allen flipped through the reports. "My brother has returned. However, the situation is complicated."
"The one who disappeared all those years ago?" Gaddess appeared skeptical. "That was him?"
"Yes. Please keep this matter to yourself." Allen selected which reports he needed to review now and tucked them inside a notebook.
"Is Celena ok?"
"For now," he said, then added, "but who can say what the future holds."
Allen had only just returned from the palace. He had been there all morning. More meetings and strategy talks. At first he did not want to leave the manor, fearing his sister would leave and wander off on her own, but Hitomi never left her side. Something had changed, somehow. It was perplexing. No longer were they awkward around each other. Celena stopped holding long one-sided conversations. He overheard Hitomi describing to her how to start a campfire as they sat in the dining hall. They sat close together now. Hitomi no longer rolled her eyes at anything Celena said, or stared off vacantly when she spoke. Whatever had happened, Allen was grateful. There was never any real opportunity for Celena to make friends. Too many family scandals.
He took his notebook out into the garden. Spring was blending into summer. He wished to enjoy the last of the spring blossoms while he could. As he stepped outside, he noticed he was not the only one. Celena and Hitomi sat together, their backs against a tree. The honey-haired girl leaned on her companion, engrossed in her tarot cards. Celena quietly read her novel.
The knight sat at the table and chair set in front of them, pulling out his reports. Some were distressing, but not as sinister as the fact a Ziabach floating fortress had crossed over the Ziabach/Asturia border and now loomed overhead. King Aston continued to negotiate terms of peace with Ziabach, however it seemed neither party would find common ground with the other. There were also rumors of Ziabach soldiers hiding in the city. Allen frowned. He was glad that Scheherazade was combat-ready.
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Celena put her novel aside, having taken an interest in her friend's activity. She looked at the card in Hitomi's hand. "Who is she?" she asked, lightly tapping the card.
"Hm?" Hitomi hummed, her attention shifting. "Her?" She lifted the card up so that her friend could see it.
"Yes. She looks wise." The woman illustrated on the card sat between two pillars, a scroll in her hand. She wore white robes with a white headdress. The two moons lay at her feet.
"The priestess," Hitomi answered. "She's intuitive. Wise without formal training. Insightful," she explained.
"I like her. You seem to know a lot about these." Celena smiled.
Hitomi nodded. "My grandmother taught me." A finger touched her pendant.
"She must miss you."
The green-eyed girl shook her head. "If she were still among the living, I would be with her."
"I'm sorry." Celena left it at that. There were many things she wanted to know about her friend, but Celena was beginning to discover that the less she pried the more Hitomi opened up.
"It's alright." She shuffled the cards in her hands, her eyes full of regret.
It was quiet again. Celena read. Hitomi flipped through her cards. The honey-haired girl felt at ease. Each card was an old friend she was being re-acquainted with. Allen had gone back inside the manor. Celena stirred beside her.
"Hitomi..."
"Yes?"
"Will Dilandau come home?" she asked, her voice quivering. Tear drops splashed against the pages of her novel.
Without asking permission, Hitomi gripped Celena's wrist. She emptied her mind, exhaling. Her breathing slowed. She bundled her thoughts into a room and gently shut the door.
Someone was yelling. A woman stood in front of a red guymelef, arms outstretched. A shock of pale-hair upturned in the wind.
"Brother, I beg you!"
"There will be conflict between you. I cannot say the outcome." Hitomi released Celena's hand.
"Then I remain hopeful."
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Van Fanel lounged in his room, hands folded behind his head. Merle stretched herself out along the windowsill, content to bask in the late afternoon sun. The window looked out over the garden.
"They've been out there all afternoon." the cat-girl noted, tail flicking back and forth. "They seem pretty chummy to me." She observed Celena and Hitomi sitting among the flowers outside.
"Hm." The black-haired prince closed his eyes. "Let me know when they go back inside."
Merle shot him an annoyed look. "First you follow her every move, then you avoid her. Now you want to follow around again? Lord Van, just leave her alone."
"I need to speak with Hitomi."
"About what?" A scoff. "Want her to tell you your fortune? She makes one lucky guess and everyone thinks she's something special. I think she's a quack," the cat-girl said with a huff.
"Merle..." Van sighed. She had been moody since he told her he would be leaving soon to obtain a drag-energist. Naturally, she wanted to accompany him but knew that he wouldn't allow it.
Van thought on the two encounters he had with that mysterious woman. Was Hitomi really the one Ziabach was after? Why did they want her? He knew now that she wasn't a regular girl, but what use could they have for her? He needed to know more about her. Perhaps the more he knew about her the better chance he had at keeping her out of enemy hands.
Merle stepped off the windowsill, nose tilted up. "Celena's not there anymore. That girl's still there." she said, reluctantly. "Lord Van, both those girls are trouble."
Van sat up and raised an eyebrow. "No more trouble than you are, Merle," he teased with a tight smile.
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Hitomi dozed, enveloped in warm light. Her tarot cards lay beside her in a neat pile next to her. Since coming to Palas she always felt tired. Not once had she slept an entire night without waking. She yawned. As she pulled an arm over her face to shield her eyes from the sun, a shadow crept over her face. She opened an eye to find a maroon-eyed man looking down at her, nervously running a hand through disheveled black hair.
"I need to speak with you privately." The phrase sounded rehearsed. He offered her a hand. Hitomi tensed at the offer, and found her way to her feet without assistance.
"About last night," he began, brows furrowed, "Are you alright?"
She nodded.
"What happened? Why were you on the roof?" His eyes fixated on hers. She looked away.
"I don't remember," she half-mumbled. No, she had not been aware of her actions at the time.
"Try. It's important," Van urged. "I haven't told anyone what happened."
"I'm sorry that you had to get involved. You don't need to be anymore." She took a step back, fists balled tight at her sides.
"I have reason to believe someone dangerous is trying to find you." Van stepped forward. "I know it sounds crazy, but a woman appeared before me in the garden and told me. Then, she disappeared."
Her heartbeat quickened, and her palms became clammy. "Who?" she snapped.
He shook his head. "I don't know. She didn't give me her name."
Her emerald eyes bore into him. "No. Who is trying to find me?"
"You don't know..." He looked around to ensure they were alone. Van licked his lips uneasily. "Dornkirk. Emperor of Ziabach."
She shuddered at the name. Even in her remote Draconian village they had talked about this man. He was ruthless, and would stop at nothing to achieve his goals of world conquest. Of course he would be after Atlantis' power. "I see," she whispered.
"Does Celena know...about your wings?"
"No."
"What happened to-"
"Don't," she said forcefully. "No more."
The prince looked anxious, eyes darting between her stern face and the ground at his feet. "I'm leaving soon on a...hunting trip. I want you to come with me."
"No," she replied flatly, crossing her arms. "I'm going back inside."
"Wait!" Van appeared panicked, a hand reaching out towards her. "Please."
Hitomi paused.
"Then I want your word that you will still be here when I return. I will consider it payment."
She scoffed. He looked serious. Still, she nodded. "Fine."
Why did he seem relieved?
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Celena woke to the sunrise blinding her as it arched up the windowpane. She turned away instinctively, sheets tangled in her legs. A grunt of displeasure sounded beside her, a hand fumbling for control of the sheets. Celena closed her eyes gently, her chest rising and falling rhythmically.
Footsteps strolled down the hall, another set of soft scuffles followed behind. "Lord Van!" a small voice squeaked. Hitomi rubbed the grit from her eyes. Did they have to be this noisy so early in the morning? Celena sprawled out diagonally beside her, face next to her shoulder. The honey-haired girl sighed, and covered the girl's back with the blanket they shared.
She was startled by a knock at the door. Celena remained comatose. Hitomi rose from the bed and wrapped a robe she found hanging off a chair around herself tightly. She opened the door a crack to find the prince of Fanalia staring back at her.
She promptly closed the door in his face. "Celena's asleep," she muttered.
"You weren't in your room." Van's annoyed voice was muffled by the door between them. "Remember your promise."
Hitomi braced herself with a hand against the door as an image of a dragon pierced her vision. Blue blood sprayed across a dark-haired figure who panted heavily over the large corpse, sword gripped tightly between two hands.
Celena sat up in bed, rubbing the side of her face with a hand. "Who was that?" she asked, her voice full of sleep.
"Van," Hitomi answered, as she pulled herself away from the door.
"What did he want this early in the morning?" Celena yawned, making no attempt to cover it with a hand.
"He's leaving this morning," Hitomi explained. "To slay a dragon."
"Oh." Celena flopped back down into the bed as if this were the most appropriate response to dragon-slaying. It was quiet only for a moment before Celena shot back up again, eyes bewildered.
"He's going to slay what?"
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"Alright, everything's in order." Gaddess met Van at the manor's entrance.
"Thank-you." Van spoke to both Gaddess and the blond knight standing next to him.
Allen stepped forward to give Van a few reassuring claps to his shoulder. "Think nothing of it. When you reach the outpost with the other men, they will provide you with a horse."
"I won't need it." Van gave the knight a small smile.
"Lord Van! Oh please Lord Van, take me with you. At least to the outpost. I'm so scared!" Merle whimpered, wrapping her arms around Van's waist.
Van ruffled her hair. "I'll be fine, Merle."
Allen nodded. "Merle, where he is going is no place for a lady. He'll come back for you, and in the meantime you can keep Celena company."
Merle's tail puffed slightly. "She has more than enough company these days." Her mumblings were ignored.
They bid Van farewell when Allen's men came to collect him. Merle watched him go with her ears pressed flat against her head. She believed in him, but that didn't mean that she wouldn't be worried sick about him.
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Celena and Hitomi found the days that followed Van's departure so full it was dizzying. They woke early each morning and left the manor with Allen, who escorted them into the heart of the city. There they passed the time exploring intricate networks of canals and passageways while Allen attended to his business at the palace. Pyle or Gaddess kept the two ladies company at Allen's request. In the evenings there was often a dinner party that called for their presence. Celena, who enjoyed parties, found her enthusiasm dimming as she listened for any news of her lost brother. Hitomi noted, with a frown, that her friend would decline offers to dance after dinner, opting to stand at the sidelines alongside her, pretending to smile. The young men eventually stopped asking for dances, and left her alone altogether.
One particular morning they accompanied Allen to Palas' arena, where the Knights Caeli took part in a tournament. The two young women sat lightly in their seats as they watched the knights cross swords in an elegant, but deadly dance. Hitomi was amazed at how swift Allen was on his feet, and how powerful he looked, sword in hand, exchanging blows with his opponent. He ranked second in the competition. By no means an easy feat. Hitomi found herself exchanging gazes with him just after he accepted his prize. His brow still glistened with sweat as he grinned at her. Hitomi almost dropped the meat pie she was enjoying.
That night she found a finely crafted glass flower on her dresser. There was no note, but Hitomi knew who had put it there. More pretty trinkets kept appearing as the week went on. Celena smiled each time Hitomi became frazzled by their presence.
They did not see much of Merle. It was a challenge to coax her out of the manor even for a stroll along the beach. Hitomi wanted to comfort her by sharing her vision of Van standing over the slain dragon, but thought better of it. The honey-haired girl still saw flashes of him every so often. Sometimes he stood amid Fanalia's ruins, other times she saw him traveling through the forest, longing in his warm brown eyes.
Though they ignored the floating fortress casting a shadow over Palas, Hitomi wondered how long she could evade the emperor's sight. She then remembered her promise to Fanalia's prince. If she had to, would she be able to leave the city? It was Celena who kept her here now. She would not be able to leave so easily.
It was raining the night Van returned to the manor. Hitomi was curled up in bed next to Celena when she felt warmth against her chest. Her thick eyelashes fluttered open to a soft pink glow. A hand flew to the pendant dangling from her neck. The warmth and light emitting from it appalled her. She squeezed her fingers around it as she sat up in bed.
"The blood pact."
The voice thrummed with anticipation. A sigh of ache and urgency rolled through the room.
"Send him to me. How long have I waited?"
Her bare feet hit the floor softly. Celena continued to slumber in peace. Hitomi walked down the hall, hand clutching her pendant. When she reached the top of the stairwell she saw him.
The cloak wrapped around his shoulders was drenched. His black hair was a mass of wet tendrils laying flat against his face. Water dripped off the end of his nose. He shed the cloak grimly, and wearily brushed the fat droplets of water away from his face.
Hitomi continued down the stairs, the heat her pendant emitted waning. She released the pendant from her vice-like grip and found that it no longer glowed. He looked up at her, the depths of his burgundy eyes blinking in surprise.
"Hitomi."
"Escaflowne calls you. Can't you hear him?" She stopped an arm's length away from him.
He nodded, producing a pink orb from the leather pouch at his hip. "I have something he wants." He rolled it between his upturned palms. "I shouldn't keep him waiting." His eyes didn't leave the drag-energist. "Come with me."
She glanced down at her attire and gave him a dubious look. "You can't be serious."
"I'll wait outside. If you don't come out, I'll go alone." He slipped the energist back into its pouch.
"I'm not the one it's calling."
A sigh escaped her, despite her attempts to contain it. She marched upstairs, muttering to herself. Why she even considered going with him was beyond her. Perhaps a part of her, a larger part than she realized, was curious about Escaflowne's secrets. It would be less of a headache to simply return to bed.
"Hitomi?" A concerned voice called to her. She found Allen in the hall. He wore a loose white shirt and plain slacks, his sleek long hair tied and gathered over his shoulder. "I heard voices."
"Van returned," Hitomi explained.
"Did he...?" Allen tensed, voice hesitant.
She nodded.
"You should return to bed. You look cold." He cupped a hand around hers. "Your hands are ice!" Placing both hands around hers, he rubbed her hands gently.
Blush spreading across her cheeks, she pulled her hands back. "Goodnight."
"Yes. Goodnight." He gave her a sheepish nod and watched her continue down the hall.
Hitomi had just reached Celena's room when she heard metal slice across flesh. A man cried out in the dark, blood streaking across wet sand. She stumbled back, face pale.
Alarmed, Allen rushed to her side, his arms enveloping her. "Hitomi! What's wrong?"
"Van!" She gripped Allen's shirtsleeve, an anchor to reality. Her green eyes were wide with fear.
Blinking, she collected herself. She untangled herself from the blond knight and raced down the hall away from him. Rain pelted down on her as she rushed through the manor's entrance. Van wasn't here. Her bare feet were numb against the muddy dirt road.
The beach stretched out before her endlessly. Fat raindrops dented the incoming waves. She saw Van walking further down the beach, parallel to the road into the city.
"Van!" she screeched, voice hoarse. Hitomi scrambled across the sand towards him. He looked back at her just as they collided, sending them both flying across the sand.
A bolt of liquid metal materialized out of thin air, crashing into the ground next to Van. Hitomi lay sprawled over the prince, panting.
"Where did that come from?" Panicked, Van found his footing, pulling Hitomi up with him.
Brushing wet hair away from her face Hitomi pointed up at the floating fortress. "I'm not the only one they're looking for." Her breath was still raspy.
Van's eyes were grave as he looked at her with awe. "I owe you my life."
Rain continued to beat down around them. Hitomi studied the floating fortress. Whatever it was that attacked Van, it must need time to recover. There had already been ample opportunity to strike a second time.
"Consider it payment."
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"You fool!" the chestnut-haired man yelled at the pale youth before him.
Clad in black pants and a loose shirt, the youth looked away from the man, ashamed. "I had him in my sights. I took the shot. If it hadn't been for that wench..."
"What wench?"
Dilandau looked up, a hard frown creasing his mouth. "Next time, I won't miss."
The man adjusted his spectacles. "We no longer have the element of surprise. Your dragon-slayers did well in locating him. I would advise you exercise restraint in the future. It wouldn't hurt to ask for my opinion next time."
Wine-red eyes pierced him. "But father, the emperor wants him dead! His wishes are mine." He bowed mockingly.
The man rubbed the bridge of his nose. "The emperor is too hasty. We need to locate the dragon. Van Fanel will lead us to it."
Dilandau snorted. "If we exterminate the Fanalian royalty there will be no one to pilot that old rusted armor."
"That's where you're wrong. It would choose another." His patience was wearing thin. The Fanalian stories surrounding Escaflowne were just that. Stories.
"Then what would you propose we do?"
"That we do things my way."
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AN: I hope I spelled Scheherazade correctly. I've seen it spelt a few different ways so I hope this is the right one... Anyways, I hope you enjoyed.
lttle grl, thanks for the review! Yes, Allen is such a flirt.
TBlaze, thank-you for reviewing again! You're a real peach! ^.^
Thank-you to the readers! Please read and review!