A cloaked figure crisscrossed the streets of Palas, traveling towards the harbor. The sunset glowed in the evening sky, shades of orange, yellow, and red blending across the endless canvas. Drawing the hood of the cloak closer around a pale face, the figure approached a merchant airship in the late stages of loading.
"This ship stops in Freid, does it not?" One of the men stopped and nodded hesitantly before moving on.
"I need to get on this ship," the figure said to the burly men packing crates into the open cargo bay.
"Miss, this isn't a passenger ship. You'd best try your luck in the morning," the man said gruffly, annoyed at the interruption.
"I have to leave tonight. Will this be enough?" Gold glittered inside an outstretched hand. The man cleared his throat and hurried forward to accept it.
"There are always exceptions." The man pocketed the coins with a smile. "Let me show you to your cabin. We are leaving in a few hours."
She nodded and followed the man inside the ship, ignoring the stares she received. The cabin he offered was very small. She could touch the opposite walls if she extended both her arms. However, she didn't complain. It was private and had a small window. She set down her luggage on the cot and sat down. Was she really going to do this?
Her sister would be furious when she came back from the war meetings and discovered that she was not in her room. Her father would be even more so. She told herself that she had to do this. She had to find her own path before someone else took it from her. Her father had almost succeeded. She would be married now if her would-be groom wasn't too busy traveling around Gaea to attend even his own wedding. Her sister had abdicated the throne, despite her affinity for managing some of the country's affairs. The throne could only fall to her now. She was not even asked if that was what she wanted.
It wasn't as if she had run away without a plan. She had one. Her brother-in-law always extended an invitation for her to visit in his correspondence with her. She was going to take him up on that offer. The Duchy of Freid would be a wonderful place to brush up on her knowledge of medicinal herbs. She hoped to learn what she could from the monks at the temple who specialized in making herbal medicines. This knowledge would be a wonderful asset to her as she continued her studies in medicine.
She removed her cloak and laid it down next to her. The sun was no longer visible from the window. She watched as the stars appeared one by one. There was a knock at her door. "We're taking off now, Miss," a man shouted through her door. She was grateful he had kept the door shut.
There was a rumbling beneath her feet as the ship took flight. She rose, marveling as the city floated by her window. A bright flame burst against the dark backdrop of the city. Her violet eyes widened in alarm as more flames peppered the city. Shaky legs bore her down the hall to the bridge, her blonde curls flowing behind her.
"We have to go back," she told the man at the helm.
He laughed. "Not a chance. Looks like this little conflict has finally reached its boiling point. I'm only thankful we did not have to delay our departure." The man took in her distressed expression.
"You don't understand. I need you to set the ship down."
"Where would you have us land?" A hand gestured in a sweeping motion across the chaotic scene below.
"I, Millerna Sara Aston, command you to take this ship down at once." She stepped forward, shoulders squared.
The man appeared unphased. "I would not land even if King Aston himself ordered me to, Your Majesty. There is no turning back now."
"What have I done?" A sense of gravity washed over her. Her sister would never forgive her now.
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Allen Schezar stood along the beach, dark waves fading at his feet. The line between the ocean and sky blurred as the knight looked on, brow furrowed. He glanced down at his hands, closing them slowly, fingers testing their grip. Why was it that he had such difficulty keeping those he cherished most safe? How many more losses could he stand to take? How many more losses before he lost himself?
"Brother." Her voice was like a forgotten lullaby, smooth and familiar. Her bright blue eyes were full of desolation. "She's really gone, isn't she?" She came to stand beside him.
Gaddess stood behind her, dark circles under his eyes. He attempted no greeting, his expression vacant. His clothing appeared rumpled and torn. Absently, his fingers touched a bandage wrapped around his shoulder.
"I couldn't keep her safe. I couldn't bring him home," he said, eyes fixed on the stars. "I'm sorry, Celena."
Wordlessly, she wrapped her arms around him, her head resting on his chest. A hand came up to touch the back of her head, consoling her. She was always there. She experienced each loss with him. She would be the one to find him if he lost his way. He only hoped that he had supported her as well as she had supported him. They were in this fight together, after-all.
"I'm coming with you when you leave." She looked up at him.
Allen blinked, then managed a wry smile. Of course he would go after them. "It would be safer for you to stay here."
"Brother, it's not safe anywhere. Not anymore," she countered, expression somber.
Gaddess stepped forward. "The Crusade is almost ready. We're waiting for your orders and a heading."
"Freid. Van is taking Escaflowne there, I'm certain of it," he addressed his second-in-command. "We leave as soon as the Crusade is ready."
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Hitomi's head bobbed as her consciousness waned. She sat with her back against her companion's legs as he piloted Escaflowne into the purple dawn. He glanced down at her now and then to check on her. She had insisted on returning his shirt, claiming that she did not want to be the one responsible for making him ill. Despite his protests, she had forced the shirt over his head, seemingly unconcerned at the sudden dive Escaflowne took as a result. Van sighed as he felt the back of Hitomi's head jerk up, hitting his legs. His eyes scanned the forest floor for an appropriate place to land. He hoped that they had traveled far enough to warrant this stop. They landed at the edge of a meadow. Van brought Escaflowne behind the treeline.
"Hitomi." He nudged the honey-haired girl at his feet, then offered her a hand. They climbed down the dragon armor together, Van leading the way. Escaflowne shivered, folding itself back to its original form, metal parts clinking as they connected.
"I will take the first watch if you want to sleep," he said as he released her hand.
She shook her head. "You sleep first. I can rest while we travel."
He nodded without argument. Grateful, he stretched out on the grass. Hitomi sat down next to him. It wasn't long before he drifted off to sleep. Hitomi became restless after a few hours. Driven by hunger pains, she wandered down the treeline. She became surprised when she encountered small patches of wild strawberries. She gathered what she could find and returned to the sleeping prince.
When the sun rose to the highest point in the sky, Van woke. He rubbed his eyes as he sat up. Stifling a yawn, he looked around for his companion and found her leaning against Escaflowne, facing the meadow. He approached her, hand running through the back of his hair.
"Hey."
"Here." She offered him a handful of red berries. "I know it's not much."
Van smiled in thanks as he accepted them. They were sour. "Let's keep moving," he said after he finished eating.
They traveled until nightfall. Hitomi started a campfire when they stopped to make camp for the night. Hunger pained them both Hitomi's lip puckered into a slight pout as she thought of her travel pouch full of useful tools.
"What's wrong?" he asked, his eyes meeting hers.
"Nothing." She rubbed her hands together and held them closer to the fire.
Van appeared guilty as he watched her. He pressed his lips together pensively. "Tell me a story," he blurted out. Hitomi blinked. Van flushed and lowered his gaze.
"Like...a bedtime story?" she asked, eyebrows raised.
"Anything." He shrugged.
She rubbed her temple with a hand, her long fingers brushing her hair away from her face. "A story," she repeated, mouth fumbling over the words.
"Never mind," Van said with impatience. He leaned away from her.
"Alright." She shot him a look of confusion.
It was quiet again for a time. Hitomi tended to the fire, prodding it with a stick. She relished in the warmth it provided. Van folded his arms across his chest, his expression growing dark. It was difficult to ignore his stare. He seemed unsettled. She hugged her shoulders and rubbed her arms briskly.
"You're cold." He began removing his leather gloves and his boots, fingers working to untie them. Sheepishly, he tossed both articles of clothing to her. She caught the gloves and eyed the boots that landed next to her.
"This really isn't-" She looked up to find him in the process of removing his shirt. "Put your shirt back on!"
Reading her startled face, he froze. He flushed as he smoothed his shirt back down. "I only thought-" he paused, taking in a breath. "You're out here with me because-"
"Van, stop," she said firmly. "You didn't force me to come with you." Her green eyes softened. "I'm alright."
He nodded, but didn't seem convinced. "When we make it to Fried, I promise to see that you are properly...outfitted."
She rolled her eyes. "Fine." She brought herself down in a side-lying position in front of the fire, pulling Van's gloves on as an after-thought. Her fingers were cold.
Van stood and walked over to her side of the fire. He removed his sword-belt and unbuckled the leather pouch at his him. He set them down in a neat pile on the ground. Hitomi looked up at him curiously, eyes widening as he came to rest next to her, his back flush to hers. She quickly looked away, cheeks pink.
"Goodnight," he said as he settled into a comfortable position.
"Goodnight," she echoed. His back was warm against hers.
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A pair of deep brown eyes fluttered open. The ground moved underneath him, and he soon realized that something was dragging him. His hands brushed against a coarse fabric under him. With a groan escaping his parched lips he looked up at the forest's canopy glowing with life above him. He felt hot, and if he focused on one object for too long, everything swirled. His eyelids drooped against his will and soon he was unconscious once again.
The two cat-women bearing him on the makeshift stretcher shared a glance. They had decided to take him home with them, uncertain what the future would hold. So, they had unravelled a blanket and used it to transport their charge. Beside the injured man they piled the weapons they had acquired.
Once they made it back to their small hut they cleared out a corner in their sleeping quarters for their guest. After stowing away the morning's find, they tended to the silver-haired man, cutting away his soiled clothing until only his small-clothes remained. They cleansed and stitched the wound at his side closed before redressing it with clean strips of linen. The man had yet to flinch at any of their ministrations.
It was after nightfall when he began exhibiting signs of life. He called out, sharp cries of agony as he tossed and turned. The sisters responded promptly, two firm pairs of hands helping him to a semi-sitting position, spooning watered down soup and herbal remedies into his mouth. They changed the linens under him again in the morning. Sadly, his small-clothes had to be removed. Together they bathed and repositioned him on his good side and covered him with a light blanket. He had few semi-lucid moments when he opened his eyes and spoke. Sometimes he asked after someone named 'Van'. Other times he praised the soft semi-liquid diet they fed to him and commented, "Merle, you've grown, but what happened to the end of your tail?" His countenance became very serious and thoughtful. He often called them by the name 'Merle', his voice warm and fond. They continued to care for him, cycles of linen changes, sponge-baths, and soft food until one morning he stirred, eyes opening, scanning the room with sudden clarity.
He sat up slowly, carefully. "Where am I?" he asked the silver cat-woman sitting on a cot nearby. A hand skimmed along the neatly arranged bandage at his side.
The woman regarded him cautiously, wondering if he really was as clear-minded as he seemed. "Near Adon," she answered.
"Where is my companion?"
A golden-haired cat-woman entered the room, moving a length of fabric hanging from the entrance aside with a hand. "What companion?" she asked.
His eyes darted between the two women. "There was a man with me."
The two women looked at each other. After a moment the golden one nodded to her sister. "You were the only one we found alive that morning," the silver one explained.
He closed his eyes and bowed his head. "I see."
"We have questions." The golden sister retrieved a sheathed sword leaning against the wall. She pulled up the hilt only far enough to show the Fanalian crest it bore. "A blade fit for a king, is it not?"
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Van stirred. The smell of the dying campfire lingered in the air. He began to stretch his legs out, but stopped mid-motion. Something had pinned his arm down while his other arm draped itself over something else. He opened his eyes, heartbeat quickening. Hitomi curled up next to him, her head resting on his arm. She slept soundly. He flushed when he noted that her nightgown had advanced well up her thigh. Wincing, he daintily plucked the edge of her garment and drew it back down her leg. Then, he gently inched his arm out from under her at a glacial pace. He whistled a sigh. She remained asleep. After tugging his boots on, he went in search for breakfast.
He returned with a small unlucky grouse he caught by surprise. Hitomi was awake, already reviving the campfire. Together they plucked and cleaned the unfortunate creature. They took turns holding the stick they impaled the bird on as it cooked over the fire.
"You slept alright?" the black-haired youth asked as he turned the bird over.
She nodded. "It wasn't as cold as I thought."
He smiled shyly to himself, glancing away. They ate quietly, fingers messy. When they finished their meal, Van kicked dirt over the fire to obscure it as best he could. Soon they were in the air again, soaring over the treetops. Hitomi sat in front of him as he piloted.
"It's odd," Van began, breaking the quiet, "I never thought I would meet anyone else like me," he paused, not seeing her sour pout, "Are there others?"
"Yes. Not many." She stole a calculated look up at him. "Do they know about you?" she asked.
"Only Merle."
Up ahead there was a break in the sea of trees. A small village sprouted at the edge of a river. Van took Escaflowne down. Beast-men gathered at the village entrance as they walked through, curiosity piqued. Hitomi frowned down at the red shirt Van insisted she wore. Eyes blinked at her as she walked, scrutinizing her attire. She stood back and watched Van barter with a merchant over a table of goods. Gold coins exchanged hands. Van returned with a bundle under the crook of his arm, and a moderate sized bow in hand. "I hope this will do until we make it to Fried." He slipped the bow over his shoulder and rifled through the bundle with both hands. A simple red dress sprung free. He handed it to her. It was long, sleeves cut off at the elbow. The fabric was soft.
"Thank-you."
"Let's move on."
They ate as they flew. Chunks of bread and strips of dried meat. Hitomi savored the meal, careful not to get crumbs on the red dress that curled around her legs.
"It was expensive, wasn't it?" she asked between mouthfuls.
"Fanalian currency isn't worth much these days," Van began, then added, "I wouldn't be surprised if he melted those coins down for the gold."
When night fell they stopped to make camp. Van tended the fire while Hitomi sat beside him, legs folded under her. She watched the fire grow and crackle. She was grateful to be warm and have food in her belly. Van watched her out of the corner of his eye, tensing when she finally noticed. She trained her eyes back to the fire.
"Do you have family in Fanalia?" he asked.
"Something like that," she replied.
He appeared thoughtful, hands reaching out to grab another dried out log. He added it to the fire. "Why didn't you leave with your family? Why leave with Celena and not them?"
Hitomi shifted and straightened out her dress. "Why do you want to know?" She saw him look directly at her with such tenderness that she found herself paralyzed.
"I wanted to know why..." he trailed off, his cinnamon eyes steadfast on hers.
She couldn't tear her eyes away. Her heart beat faster. "You don't have to worry about me." He had enough to worry about. His brother was missing, his country was recently invaded by Ziabach, and now he was on the run with Escaflowne.
He drew in a long breath, exhaling slowly. "Tell me," he said with new-found conviction, "Why do you always look sad?"
Van waited for her to yell at him in protest, or to tell him that it was none of his business. He waited for her to bolt up and run away, or strike him. She did none of those things.
Her response was reserved. "It's not easy, finding your place in the world when your wings are broken."
"What happened?" he asked her quietly.
"I was born like this," she explained. "A bad omen, they said. A sign that the Draconian curse had finally taken hold."
"Draconian curse?"
"Do you not know the stories? The history?" she asked, brow furrowed. He was also Draconian. That history was also his.
"I don't." His eyes were intent.
"It seems you will be getting that bedtime story you asked for." She managed a tight smile. "Long ago our kind lived on the Mystic Moon. They were a very prosperous and peaceful people. Their collective wishes were transformed into reality with the help of an ancient device. They lived in a city that they called Atlantis. A paradise for the Draconian race. However, not all were satisfied.
"Some looked at the world and were distressed to see war and suffering around them. The humans were different from us. They constantly struggled. Some wanted to change that, and bring the entire world under one rule to bring everlasting peace. Draconian rule. The Elders were against this because it would mean that Atlantis would go to war; the very thing that they wanted to prevent. No human country would come willingly.
"Soon, civil war broke out between the Elders and the opposing Draconian faction. Outside forces took advantage of the chaos and swept in to invade Atlantis. The humans eventually broke through Atlantis' defences. To prevent Atlantis' power from being used as a weapon of war, the Elders sacrificed themselves to destroy the city. Atlantis sank to the bottom of the ocean.
"The surviving Draconians, having lost their homeland, came together and used their remaining power to create Gaea. They were ambitious. They believed that Gaea could become a place of harmony for both humans and Draconians. Atlantis was not the only city that fell during the war. Those who wanted to come to Gaea were welcome.
"It was peaceful for a time. Human and Draconian civilizations grew. However, old rivalries resurfaced. Humans wished to use Draconian technology for their own gain. War began anew. There were those who blamed the new leaders for allowing humans to come to Gaea and formed a rebel group. In response to human aggression, the Draconians created giant guardians solely to protect Draconian borders. However, the rebel group stole what guardians they could and used them to attack human cities. Their goal was to exterminate the human race.
"However the rebel group's numbers were too few and they were overtaken by the humans. They were captured, and ransom was set. The cost was too great. The humans demanded the same technology the Draconians employed. The Draconians refused, and the Draconian rebels were killed. It is said that with their last breath, the Draconian rebels cursed the Draconian race, wishing for their wings to fail and break as punishment for betraying them." Hitomi paused, closing her eyes.
"Wishes are powerful things, Van. Especially the wishes of Draconians. Our kind lost the war. No one knows what happened to the ancient device that turned wishes into reality. No one knows what fate that befell the guardians. We have cursed ourselves."
Hitomi felt Van's fingers brush against hers. She pulled her hand away, curling it into a ball. He appeared not to notice. His eyes remained fixed to her face. "My grandmother told me that my wings were slow to appear. A late bloomer, they thought, but when they finally appeared one wing was malformed. Our village Oracle interpreted this as a sign that the Draconian race would never again rise to greatness. That we would never fly again, for our wings had been broken at last. That the curse had finally become real.
"The villagers blamed my family for every misfortune that fell on the village. We were outcasts, and my mother hated me for it. What's worse, I began to see things. It started off small at first; I knew when it was going to snow, and I knew when my father would return early from hunting trips. Soon, I could look at two people and know that they were going to get married or know when something bad was going to happen to someone. I was always right. Every time I tried to warn someone they would believe that I had cursed them. When I kept my predictions to myself they became bolder with their taunting. So, I told them all the sad and terrible things that would happen to keep them afraid. I became the monster they wanted." The fire was dying, embers glowing and fading in spurts.
"I left the village. There was no future for me there." She idly touched the pendant through the fabric of her dress. "There was nothing to keep me there anymore."
"I'm sorry," he said, then added, "For everything."
Something shifted in her expression. Her green eyes appeared calmer. Her mouth no longer curled into a frown. Only exhaustion remained. She didn't say anything else. He didn't ask her any more questions. He eventually found her asleep beside him, lying supine on the grass. With gentle hands he covered her sleeping form with a blanket.
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Celena sat alone on the bridge of the Crusade, back to the wall as she hugged a cloth pouch to her chest. Her chin rested against the rough fabric. Beyond the windows the sky was black, stars brilliantly scattered overhead. The contents of the bag were of no interest to her, although she knew them well. A few lengths of rope, varying in thickness. A knife. Flint. A couple hooks and other odds and ends. She had no use for the items. It saddened her knowing that the owner did and was probably missing them. She saw Pyle walk past her, expression puzzled when he saw her. He made no greeting or comment, continuing on his path.
Footsteps approached. A man stopped, looked at her, then breathed a soft sigh. The man pushed a hand through his short black hair then rubbed the scruff on his chin. "What do I do with you?"
He sat next to her, groaning as he settled. "Van is with her. She'll be fine," he said, as his eyes took in the cloth pouch.
Pressure rose to her sinuses. Her eyes warmed with tears. "You can't make promises like that. She could be sick or injured. She could be cold, or perhaps Ziabach has already caught up to them."
An arm wrapped itself around her shoulders and pulled her in closer. "Or she could be fine," he paused, turning his attention to the window. "Look," he said, one finger pulling away from her shoulder to point. "Look at how dark it is tonight. What else do you see?"
She tilted her head to look. "Stars?" Her tone was dry.
"Right." He smiled at her. "No matter how dark the sky is, the stars are always up there. No matter how dark, the light will try finding its way through." He cleared his throat, bringing a fist to rest at his mouth. "And when the night is at its darkest, that's when the stars shine the brightest."
Celena managed a smile, even as tears continued to cloud her eyes. "Maybe you're right, Gaddess." She relaxed into his one-armed embrace. "Maybe she's fine after-all."
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"Lord Dilandau, I think we've spotted them,"a voice broke over the intercom. The guymelef pilot grinned as he leaned back in the cockpit.
"I see you," He spotted the dragon armor move down into the trees below. "Time to come out and play." He chortled as he brought his guymelef closer to the forest floor. "Yes, let's have some fun."
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AN: Another chapter posted. I seem to be turning them out pretty regularly these days. I'm actually proud that I've been able to do that! LOL Well, it is a labor of love. I write fanfics because it's entertaining and relaxing for me. It really is the only creative outlet I have besides cooking/baking. I hope that you guys enjoyed, and that this chapter doesn't come across as too slow. The previous chapters seemed to have much more going on- fighting, kidnapping, rescuing etc. Thank-you for reading and following. I'm surprised us Escaflowne fans are still out there. Yay!
TBlaze: Thank-you for your review! I still haven't completely decided what to do with Folken. It hurts my brain, but in a good way. The other 'Lord Albaltou' still has a role to play yet- he has been quiet so far. Thank-you again! ^.^
lttle grl: I figured out why the last chapter was so difficult to write. Guymelef battles. I don't know why but they are so tedious for me to write- but I can't leave them out. I love it when big mechs fight! I hope to get the plot moving along soon to Fried and beyond. This kinda felt like a limbo chapter to me. *sigh*
Anyhow- please read and review. I look forward to hearing from you. Take care!