Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Ashes and Remembrance ❯ Chapter Twelve ( Chapter 12 )

TWELVE

Jindra was a nervous bundle of energy and she couldn't sit still as she waited for Folken to arrive. Soon she would feel his arms around her once again and as she looked out the window she sighed, imagining the feel of his lips on hers. She saw that the rain was coming down quite heavily and she glanced at the wrapped package on the table beside her, glad that she had arrived before the downpour had started. I can't stand this waiting! Folken where are you? You should be here by now. She began pacing the small room again, unable to contain herself.

I'm so glad that Mrs. Marchment agreed to let us meet here; she's been such a help. Mrs. Marchment was the owner of the bookshop that Jindra had sent her letters to Folken while she had been in Palas. Jindra had stumbled upon the shop several years ago and had become fast friends with the kindly widowed owner. The shop itself was located in the converted first floor of Mrs. Marchment's large old house. The main sales floor was filled with floor to ceiling bookshelves crammed with tomes on just about every subject imaginable and from every corner of Gaea as well. Mrs. Marchment had an almost photographic memory and could locate just about any book in the shop, rarely needing to consult her neat cataloging system. The main floor also included several small private reading rooms and it was in one such room that Jindra Roh currently waited.

The kindly woman had been waiting when Jindra had come to the shop two weeks ago after returning from Palas. The young woman had noticed the sad look on Mrs. Marchment's face and she felt her heart sink when the woman handed her a folded sheet of paper. Jindra immediately recognized the handwriting:

My dearest Jin,

I'm so sorry, but I won't be able to meet you in the shop today as we had planned. The emperor is sending me north for a week or so. I'll be helping with the tests on a new guymelef design. You don't know how much it hurts me to write this. I've missed you so much and want nothing more than to hold you in my arms again. I would be with you now if it were at all possible.

I will meet you here two weeks from today; I've already made all the arrangements with Mrs. Marchment. Please don't be angry with me. My heart dies a little each day that we are apart. Know that I love you, now and forever.

Folken

Jindra had felt crushed after reading the note. She was angry, but she really couldn't blame it on Folken - after all, didn't I just leave him alone for the past eight weeks. Two weeks isn't that long of time - on a calendar anyway . . . but it'll still seem like forever.

Jindra took a break from her pacing to look out the window again. The rain seemed to be coming down even harder - pounding sheets that made it impossible to see anything outside of a few feet away. Suddenly a flash of lightning lit up the sky, making her jump. Silently chiding herself for being afraid, Jindra heard the door open behind her. Turning, she watched a cloaked figure enter the room. Startled, she stammered "I-I-I'm sorry . . . this room is being used. You - you'll have to leave."

"Leave?" Slowly the figure raised it arms and pulled down the hood of the cloak. "A guymelef couldn't drag me out of this room right now." Smiling at Jindra, Folken shook water from his hair.

"Folken!" Jindra pressed her hands to her stomach to stop the fluttering she felt. Removing his cloak, Folken left the dripping garment on one of the wooden chairs that surrounded the small reading table.

The two lovers stood and stared at one another for a few moments before rushing into each other's arms. Folken crushed Jindra to his chest so hard that she could hardly breathe. Lifting her face up towards his, she sought out his lips with her own eager mouth. Brushing her lips quickly, Folken then covered her face with kisses. He kissed her forehead, her eyes, her nose and even nuzzled at her neck. Jindra felt each kiss as if it were at hot brand on her skin. She could hear Folken murmuring as he slowly made his way back to her waiting mouth. As their lips met, Jindra then became the aggressor as she forced her way into her mouth. She sought out his tongue and gently sucked on it. Folken groaned deep in his throat and gripped her tighter in his arms. After a few minutes, Jindra reluctantly released his mouth and he found himself gasping for breath.

Looking up into his wine-dark eyes, she raised her hands and ran them over the contours of his face, "Gods how I missed you." She let her hands smooth down to his chest as she rested her head against his damp coat. Folken rested his cheek on the top of her head and the two quietly held each other. The two stood entwined for several minutes until Folken finally found his voice. "Every night that you were gone, I dreamed of holding you in my arms like this."

Raising her head from his chest, Jindra pulled his head down and gave him a light kiss. "And every night I dreamed of feeling your lips on mine." Releasing her from his embrace, Folken took both of her hands in his. "You've let your hair grow."

Jindra felt herself blush, "And you've cut yours." Breaking his hold on one of her hands, she reached up to touch his pale hair. The long, floppy bangs that had constantly been in his eyes were now a spiky shock of hair that made the lines of his face seem more angular. Smiling, she gently ruffled his hair. "I kind of like it though - it looks kind of wild."

Returning her smile, Folken gave her another kiss. "Why don't we sit down?" Without releasing her other hand, he pulled her towards an old sofa against the wall. As the two were settling themselves, there was a knock on the door. Folken gave Jindra a questioning look, but she could only shake her head. Rising, Folken went to the door and opened it.

"Oh Master Folken! I brought you some tea - you looked soaked through. I thought you could use something to warm you up." Stepping past the young man, Mrs. Marchment carried in a small tea tray and placed it on the table. Giving Jindra a knowing wink, the old woman quietly left and closed the door softly behind her.

Jindra rose and joined Folken at the table. Reaching for the small porcelain pot, she poured out two cups and handed one to Folken. After taking a few sips, Jindra put her cup down and retrieved the wrapped package on the table where she had left it earlier.

"What's that?" Folken asked as he reached to refill his own cup.

Jindra gave him a shy smile, "It's for you."

"Me - what is it?"

"Just a little something."

"Why?" He gave her a puzzled look.

"Does there always have to be a reason for everything? How about, just because I love you - that's why." She handed him the parcel.

Folken took the package and started to unwrap it. What had appeared as one large item was actually two. Taking the smaller one first, Folken undid the waxed paper and twine - inside he found a book. Opening the front cover however, he discovered only blank pages. As he ran his fingertips over the pages, he could feel that they were made from a high-quality parchment. Closing the volume, he looked at the heavily embossed leather cover. Once again running his hand over the leather, he was amazed at its softness. Looking closely he could see that the embossed figures were . . . dragons? But how could she know that?

Glancing up at Jindra, he could see the worry in her eyes. "It's a journal - do you like it? I thought you could use it for your work if you didn't want to use it for a diary."

"It's exquisite; but where did you ever find it? It's very unusual."

"In Palas - there was a man in the market there and he had the most wonderful things. I thought that you might like it."

"I do, really . . . it's just that . . ." Folken trailed off, unsure of how to continue.

Jindra moved closer and touched his arm, "What's wrong?"

"Why did you pick this? Why did you pick something with dragons on it?" Folken tried to keep his voice neutral, he didn't want to upset Jindra.

"Because of you - because you're from Fanelia; Bethanne told me that they used to call Fanelia the land of dragons. Did I do something wrong?"

Taking her hand, Folken replied. "No, no - it's a wonderful gift; I mean it. You just startled me with it, that's all. I haven't really thought about Fanelia in a long time." He kissed Jindra's hand before releasing it.

Putting the journal to the side, he picked up the larger, remaining package. As the paper fell away, Jindra watched Folken's eyes widen and he let out a low whistle. "Jin . . . this is beautiful. Did you do this?" In his hands was a framed watercolor of the Palas harbor mouth.

Jindra blushed and looked down, "Yes . . . do you like it? It's the view from my aunt's sitting room - it looks right out onto the harbor."

Running his fingertips over the painting, Folken marveled at her talent. "It's absolutely beautiful. I've never seen the ocean - it's almost as if I'm right there in person."

Jindra looked up at him, "Every time I looked out the window, I wished that you could be there to see it with me;" she said shyly.

Carefully placing the painting on the table, Folken took Jindra in his arms and gave her a slow, deep kiss. "They're both wonderful gifts - thank you."

Taking her hand, he once again led her to the sofa. The pair spent the rest of the afternoon cuddled together while the storm continued to lash outside. Jindra told Folken about Palas and what she did during her visit there. He told her a little about the guymelef testing and his trip to the north. He did not mention however, that he had seen Coren at the training facility during the tests.

Jindra's brother had been surprised to see him as well and Folken had sensed a coldness in Coren's manner that had not been there before. It's because of my relationship with Jin - she said that he didn't approve. Coren had asked him not to mention the pilot training to his sister, as we wanted to surprise her with the news himself. Folken had also kept an eye on Garufo, but the man had made no moves towards Coren. Yet. Folken hated himself for keeping things from Jindra, but he would not involve her or Coren in his private feud with the sorcerer if at all possible. He would try to protect them at all costs.

Pushing all thoughts of Garufo, guymelefs and the tower from his mind, Folken focused on Jindra as she spoke. Gods, could one person really love another as much as I love her? My parents loved each other so deeply. Could she and I ever have that kind of life together?

"Folken . . ."

"Huh? Oh, sorry . . ."

"You're a million miles away. Am I boring you that much?"

Taking her face between his hands, he smiled. "No . . . I was just trying to decide on whether or not I wanted to kiss you now or if I should wait until later."

Giving him that coy little smile that he loved, she replied. "Well, I'm quite partial to right now myself." Taking her in his arms, Folken once again felt his body shudder as her mouth opened to his questing tongue.