Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ A New Life ❯ Chapter 1:A Year and Some ( Chapter 1 )

Chapter 1: A Year and Some

It had been almost a year since Iris first came to Gaea. During the first few months she had to go through etiquette lessons. She dreaded those days. However she wasn't alone. Her brother had to go through the same thing. He had to learn how to be a gentleman. Occasionally, his girlfriend Stephanie would visit Gaea and join in on Iris's lessons. She would someday be living on Gaea. Ian had already given her the engagement ring. Once she was finished school she and Ian would marry.

Iris sighed as she stared at herself in the mirror. Her hair had grown and reached her lower back. She wore a simple brown leather skirt, a white elbow length shirt and a brown leather vest. What she wore was considered the traditional fashion of Zenada. Her parents asked her not to wear it but Iris would have her way.

Iris was heading to Palas, Asturia to meet the Princess Millerna who was only a year younger than her. Iris's parents had told her the trip to Asturia was just so she could meet some of the royals and befriend them. However, Iris saw through her parents. What they had said was partially true but they were also trying to get her out of the castle and out of the country. Since arriving on Gaea, she barely left the castle and only left the country when her parents did.

The air ship in which Iris travelled in arrived in Palas after the long three hour flight. As soon as she stepped off the air ship the sweet smell of the ocean filled her nose. It was a smell she had longed for and refreshed her completely. A waiting carriage came up to the young princess who elegantly went in and took a seat.

The ride to the palace was a very interesting one. Around every corner there was always something new and exciting. The people were happy and no two people looked the same. As they passed by the markets, Iris could only wonder if Princess Millerna was one of the animal people who live on Gaea.

When she had arrived at the palace, a handmaiden immediately came to take the luggage and Iris was introduced to the king of Asturia, King Aston. She did a low and graceful curtsy to show her respect to the balding king.

"King Aston, it is truly a pleasure to finally meet you. I have heard many wonderful things about Asturia and am eager to find out if it is like everything I have heard." Iris had sighed inwardly when she finished speaking. Her mother had gone over that speech with her a million times.

"The pleasure is all mine Princess Iris." he smiled genuinely then gestured to the maid standing to his right. "This is Mara, she'll take you to your room where you can freshen up for dinner." Iris bowed her head again and followed the maid who wore a lavender dress like all the other maids.

The palace was large to what she had seen in her time on Gaea. The Zenadan castle was rather large but nothing like this. "Here is your room my lady." the maid announced as she unlocked and opened the door to the guest room. Iris went in and waited for the maid to close the door. *Wow, this is nice.* In the far corner by the dresser were her bags. *I might as well get changed but what to wear?*

Iris opened a few of her bags and took out a few dresses and such. After going through most of the dresses her mother had packed, she found one that looked appropriate. It was a white chemise with a royal blue velvet dress that went over top. The blue velvet dress had a square cut neck and had a slit in the front which started just below her naval. The sleeves of the dress went just past her elbows and had a bell shaped cuff with golden trim as did the neck line.

Iris wore her hair down. She didn't exactly like doing anything special with her hair other than braiding a few strands in front and pulling them back. Her mother insisted she do something else but Iris was stubborn and wouldn't be pushed around. Her parents had already made her give up her life on earth. She wasn't exactly going to let anyone force to do anything else.

About an hour later, a maid came by to escort Iris to the dinning room for dinner. The dinning room was enormous. The style of the room looked like old roman. Large tapestries covered most of the white marble walls. In the centre of the room there was a long table set for four.

"So you must be Princess Iris of Zenada." a women who Iris only guessed was Millerna approached her and shook hands with her. "I am Princess Millerna, third princess of Asturia."

"It's a pleasure to meet you princess." Iris said with a smile.

"Come, you'll sit beside me at dinner. We have so much to talk about." Iris still smiled but it was forced now. Dinner went over quite smoothly and Iris learned to tolerate the princess Millerna. "You know we're going to have so much fun the next month." Iris almost choked on her own saliva when she heard those words leave Millerna's mouth.

"Month?" Iris said in disbelief. Her mother had said it was only going to be for a week, not a month.

"Your parents sent us a message just after you arrived. They said you would be staying a month rather than a week." inwardly Iris was cursing her parents but she didn't look angry at all. "I hope Allen visits us during your stay."

"Allen, is he your boyfriend?" Iris asked grinning. Millerna blushed a bright red and shook her head.

"No. But he is a handsome devil. He's actually a Knight Cali and the youngest one too. Only twelve men in Asturia can hold the title of Knight Cali." Iris couldn't help but giggle. She said they weren't an item but yet she spoke so fondly of him.

"Well, if you two aren't courting it's obvious that you fancy him." Millerna blushed again and reluctantly nodded.

"I want to court him but my father wont let me. He's put me in an arranged marriage. I'm supposed to marry Cadell Fassa. He's the youngest son of my father's advisor, Lord Meiden. He's not bad and he's only a year older than me."

About two weeks after Iris had arrived in Asturia, her older brother was sent there to visit as well and to also give his younger sister a little message from her "wonderful" parents. "What!?!" Iris yelled as she paced back and forth in the garden where her brother had taken her to talk to. "Those fucking bastards!" Millerna heard the outraged yell and went to see what was the matter.

"Iris, is everything all right?"

"Um yes Millerna." Millerna looked at her unsure. She knew something was wrong but would wait until a later time to ask them.

"Lady Millerna, the air ship Crusade is landing in the harbour." Millerna turned around quickly to face the handmaiden. Her smile grew. *he's here!* she thought with Delight.

"Iris, come. We have to greet our guests at the harbour!"

"Well wouldn't it just be better if we wait?" Millerna looked at her friend outraged.

"Wait!? If we wait they wont get here for like an hour!" Iris's eyes widened as the princess scolded her. "Now come on! We don't have much time to lose!" she grabbed Iris by the wrist and dragged her to the sables to get a horse and ride down to the harbour. "Allen!" Millerna shouted with excitement as they approached the air ship. Both girls quickly dismounted and walked up to the tall blond man.

As he turned around he saw a familiar princess and another woman with her. he approached the two and bowed down onto one knee. "Princess Millerna, it is always a pleasure to make your acquaintance." he placed a gentle kiss on her hand and Millerna blushed a bright pink. Allen rose from his position and got a better look at the other woman.

"Oh Allen, this is Princess Iris of Zenada. She has been visiting us for about two weeks now." Allen bowed to her and placed a kiss on her hand as well.

"Any friend of Princess Millerna's is a friend of mine." Iris couldn't help but blush. Now she could understand why Millerna was so gag for him. He wasn't bad looking was certainly knightly. Like a knight in shining armour out a of a fairy tale. Millerna took notice of the extra guests with Allen.

"He's . . ." she began.

"He's the king of Fanelia, Van Fanel." Millerna smiled.

"I thought he looked familiar. When I was child, I visited Fanelia once. Fanelia has such lush forests, and it's a beautiful country. There's a castle with a green roof. You were with your brother in the garden behind it." Van frowned at the mention of his brother.

"Princess, I need to go to the palace first." Millerna surprisingly didn't seem upset.

"Of course. Father had mentioned that he needed to talk with you. Here take my horse." she handed the reins over to Allen and he quickly mounted and road off.

"Aren't you going to blow him a kiss good-bye?" Iris asked sarcastically. Millerna frowned and glared at her. "Oh lighten up Millerna."

"Well, we should head to the palace as well." Millerna looked towards a girl clad in white and black with short honey brown hair. "You there, take Allen's bags." The girl seemed confused.

"Me?" she asked meekly. Millerna smiled and nodded.

"Yes you." Millerna confirmed.

"She's not a handmaiden. She's with me." Van said almost interrupting the princess.

"Oh, sorry. I just figured since your clothes were so um, unusual." Iris quietly snickered at the princess.

"Tisk tisk Millerna. You should never assume such things." Millerna shot a glare at Iris and looked back at the girl. But not before mumbling, 'As if Iris. You probably thought the same thing.' Iris just shook her head.

"Well, there's so many people who visit Asturia but . . .I've never seen someone like you before." The girl frowned at Millerna offended.

"Well, I suppose not. Not someone from the Myst-" the young cat girl slammed her foot on her foot hard. The girl slapped a hand over her mouth and looked away.

Later at the castle Millerna gave the girl who was called Hitomi a dress to wear so she would blend in better not attract to much attention. Iris still couldn't stop thinking about what Hitomi had tried to say earlier. 'Well, I suppose not. Not someone from the Myst-' the Mystic Moon? It was all she could wonder. Well, the girls clothes looked like she was from Earth.

Iris's thoughts were interrupted as a handmaiden announced there was a letter from Sir Allen for Princess Millerna. Millerna took the letter and read it over quickly. " 'Go to the bazaar ahead of me.' Men, they never keep their word." Millerna remarked rather bitterly. "Well, we'll get bored if we wait around here so lets go."

As they walked the busy streets Iris couldn't help but laugh at poor Hitomi who looked like she was going to have a heart attack. She reminded her of herself when she had first come to Gaea and saw the 'animal' people. "Hitomi." Iris tapped the girl on the shoulder lightly.

"Yes princess?" she replied kindly.

"Forget the formalities, I just want to talk to you." Hitomi looked at Iris confused. "Are you from Earth?" she was startled by the question but answered.

"Yes, why?"

"Well, don't tell anyone but I'm from there as well." Hitomi couldn't believe it. She wasn't the only one who felt out of place. "I only came to Gaea a year ago. My parents had kept it a secret from both me and my brother for years." Hitomi sighed in relief. *now maybe I'll have someone I can really talk with.*

A/N: Well, hope you readers enjoyed. Can you guess why Iris called her parents fucking bastards? Probably not but in the next chapter you'll all find out and be pleasantly(hopefully) surprised.