ESCAFLOWNE WEEK 2021: Day 4: ROYALTY | THE LOVERS
Aston Captives
NOTE: Happy 25th Anniversary, Escaflowne!
This was my favorite piece to write for this series of prompts.
I've had this idea since at least 2018 and I just never found the right time to write it down and post it. Given how perfect the prompts are for indulging in a fic about my ships, I figured this was as good a time as any to finally put this on the page.
Originally, this was going to be a one-shot but as I was writing it, it got longer and longer so I thought it best to split it into three parts, as I did with my entries for days one and three. It's a complete story though.
Dryden is one of my favorite characters because he is such a cool cat and a refreshing contrast against the brash and serious major male characters. He is always fun to write and I think he and Folken would get along swimmingly so it was great to write a scene for them to just hang out and discover what they have in common.
This is my favorite piece for this week. I finally get to indulge in my ships and it is glorious.
Enjoy and let me know what you think. Thank you!
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"What a singular pleasure to have your company this evening, Lord Folken," Dryden Fassa said warmly, "I know how busy you must be."
"The pleasure is all mine, I assure you," the former Strategos of Zaibach replied politely, "And I cannot claim to have the more hectic schedule between the two of us."
Dryden sighed. "Perhaps we all deserve a little break after the madness of the past few weeks. I suspect we are in the calm before the storm so we might as well make the most of it."
No longer needing his crutch, the Asturian merchant walked to his drinks cabinet, brought out two glasses and a bottle of his finest vino and laid them on his desk, before taking his accustomed seat behind it. Folken was seated on the chair in front of the table, his metal arm concealed under a long piece of cloth and his organic arm clutching several notebooks filled with various pieces of crucial information.
Dryden had invited the former Strategos to his office under the pretext of discussing certain official matters in more detail. And so they had spent several minutes going through the plans for destabilizing Zaibach and defeating its delusional emperor. The merchant had even asked some questions about the technology of the new Zaibachi guymelefs.
But he had had another, less serious motive for seeking Folken's company and he hoped that his efforts would yield the results he desired. Given the cautious disposition of the man before him, Dryden knew that he would have to tread carefully if he wanted to get the answers he sought. But he was both patient and shrewd, and he could already tell that Folken sensed that they were meant to discuss something other than official business but that he had no inkling of what this could possibly be. The stage was set then.
Dryden filled the glasses with vino and was so persistent in offering the glass to Folken that it would be impolite for the latter to refuse. And Dryden knew that, whichever side of the war he was on, Folken was courteous to a fault.
"A fine vintage, is it not?" Dryden asked, after taking a sip from his glass.
"Indeed," was the curt reply.
"I always find that partaking of it helps calm the nerves, especially during such tense times as these," the merchant continued cheerfully, "I've been saving this for a special occasion. It was meant to be served at my wedding, but we both know how that memorable event turned out."
Folken said nothing but Dryden noticed a subtle change in his expression, something akin to a wince. He seemed on the cusp of making a profuse apology, as he had already done on multiple occasions since seeking asylum in Asturia, but he said nothing, perhaps thinking that there were no words that could adequately compensate for the damage that had been done.
The ensuing silence was awkward, as both men remembered the day in question and their roles in it, but Dryden was determined to mention it, not to highlight what went wrong, but to introduce the pleasanter topic he was eager to pursue with his remorseful companion.
"It was a disaster, of course," Dryden remarked casually, "But I suppose it doesn't exactly rank very high in the list of Zaibach's sins. It was just devastating to me, for more personal reasons."
"Of course," Folken said softly.
"If you and your soldiers were so eager to attend, you should have just asked us to add you to the guest list," Dryden teased and he was satisfied to see the look of surprise on the other man.
Folken Fanel raised an eyebrow at the merchant, unsure of how to react to such a flippant comment.
"All joking aside," Dryden continued with a sigh, "The whole thing was never going to end well anyway. Unluckily for me, Princess Millerna's heart is already spoken for."
He took a sip of his wine while Folken simply nodded sympathetically.
"It was all arranged by our parents years ago," Dryden said, "But I have grown rather fond of my betrothed, and I hoped that I would be able to make her happy. She went through with the wedding as a matter of duty, but without her affections, the whole thing is meaningless to me. And I would not keep her bound to a life that would only make her miserable."
Folken tried to find the words but he decided against resorting to the trite remarks and empty courtesies he could think of. It was clear that Dryden Fassa needed a listening ear for this important conversation and that was what Folken would offer. He could not imagine why he was chosen to be such a confidante but he was hardly going to question the man whose wedding he had ruined.
But Dryden had another motive for bringing up his painful circumstances. And now that he sensed that his companion still had no clue about what he was truly there for, the merchant began to sow the seeds.
"You're royalty yourself, of course," he said, "Did your parents make any arrangements for your marriage before you…transferred to Zaibach?"
Again, Dryden was pleased to see Folken taken aback by the question. He could see the man trying to figure out what this conversation would lead to but he also felt duty bound to answer Dryden's questions honestly.
"My mother and father had begun discussing potential matches for me although neither of them had settled on any particular person before my father passed away," Folken explained, "I was able to attend a few balls and other such social occasions as a part of meeting other members of the nobility my age and of recommending myself to potential brides. I doubt that I had made a very favorable expression then. I was shy and awkward and still unsure of how to conduct myself in such company. Fanelia was a small country and many of the other nobles did not hesitate to remind me of that.
But it had been considered fairly early for my family to reach a decision on the matter. I was more focused on training for other duties and for the succession ritual."
Dryden listened to this account with interest. While Folken was no stranger to making long speeches, especially since he had come to Asturia to plead his case, this was the longest he had spoken of something other than Zaibach and it fascinated the merchant to no end. There was something almost wistful about his manner as he spoke about his younger years, as opposed to when he was giving testimony about Zaibach's operations, in which he had been heavily involved, where his tone was always between wary and woeful.
And as Dryden observed his companion, he also began to see the latter's resemblance to his younger brother. The merchant had been surprised to learn of Folken's true identity and given how much time Dryden had spent with Van Fanel, he felt that he had a solid enough grasp of the young king's character. So he was always intrigued by the connection with the stern Strategos of Zaibach.
Dryden was always interested in people who went against the norm and took extraordinary risks, regardless of their political affiliations. This is what had drawn him to the journal of Leon Schezar, much to the consternation of a certain Knight Caeli. He imagined that Van Fanel would have a reaction similar to Allen's if he knew that Dryden was enjoying his interview with the elder Fanel. But it was too easy to get a rise out of men like Van and Allen, different in disposition but fundamentally dull and virtuous at their core. Complex characters like Folken Fanel were a constant source of fascination.
"I take it that arranging politically advantageous marriages was not high on Emperor Dornkirk's priority list," Dryden remarked, eliciting a soft noise of something akin to amusement from his companion.
"No, indeed, the social hierarchy of Zaibach was quite distinct and very militaristic," Folken replied and then seemed to give the matter some thought, "All things considered, the highest ranking members of Zaibach society next to the Emperor would have been the four generals and myself and none of us would have been considered particularly suitable as marriage prospects, at least not by the standards of Gaean royalty."
"You still would have been, but then, that would have risked revealing your true identity and causing more awkwardness," Dryden observed.
"Exactly."
"Well, I appreciate your candor, Lord Folken," Dryden said with a grin, "This little discussion has been a welcome distraction from our worries."
"Happy to help," Folken replied, "Though I confess I had never truly given the subject much thought."
"Always concerning yourself with loftier goals, I'll wager. Whereas I have had more time for frivolous pursuits."
"I didn't mean any offense, Lord Dryden," Folken said quickly, his remorse evident and a longer apology about to be expressed.
"I was only teasing," Dryden reassured him, reminding himself that the other man was so plagued by guilt that he always expected some form of censure for his behavior.
"I am sorry for dragging you into this discussion of my own romantic misadventures," Dryden continued, "And by doing so, I opened a topic that might be painful for you to talk about."
"It is no trouble, I assure you," Folken replied politely, "I was merely surprised."
"Well, that is something then," said the merchant slyly, "I seem to have achieved a rare feat, surprising the Strategos of Zaibach, who always seems one step ahead of everyone."
Aware now that he was being teased yet again, Folken took this well and simply nodded. He did not quite smile but his expression became less grave.
"I am glad that I have had a chance to discuss my true feelings for the princess with someone," Dryden said, more seriously, "Matters of the heart are never easy to include in conversation with just anyone, without fear of unfavorable judgment. If you are judging me, at least it is not too evident so I am grateful for that."
Before Folken could protest, Dryden waved a hand and continued, "I trust that, however strange and unexpected our topics of conversation have been, you have been perfectly honest with me and will continue to be so."
Folken nodded. "I have no right to be otherwise," he said simply.
"Splendid!" Dryden said with sudden excitement, "Then, there is one more thing I would like to ask you, Lord Folken."
Folken raised an eyebrow. He stole a glance at the bottle of vino on the table and saw that it had not even been fully consumed. And he knew that he and Dryden had a relatively high tolerance for alcohol. So the unusual glint in the latter's eye and the surge of energy could not be attributed to any form of inebriation.
"Please go ahead," Folken said apprehensively.
Whatever he had been expecting, he could not have foreseen what Dryden would say next.
"What do you think of Princess Eries?"
Dryden rejoiced in the reaction he had elicited in his companion, who stared at him in stunned silence for a few moments, an expression of mingled surprise and confusion on the usually placid face. For an instant, Dryden even fancied he saw the slightest blush.
But Folken Fanel recovered quickly and he regained his composure enough to give a cautious reply.
"Princess Eries is extremely intelligent and capable, dutiful to a fault, and devoted to her family and her people. She has unparalleled dignity and grace as well as a generous nature. Anyone would be truly fortunate to win her favor."
"Yes, yes, we can all agree on that, of course," Dryden said impatiently, "But what I was asking was what you think of her?"
Dryden pressed, noting how the other man had stiffened defensively.
"I have the highest respect and admiration for her," Folken said curtly, making it evident that this was the last he would say on the subject.
But Dryden was not deterred.
"Now, now, Lord Folken, you promised to be honest with me," Dryden remonstrated, shaking his head, "And I believe that you are holding something back."
