Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Heart of the Dragon ❯ Horse Ride ( Chapter 12 )

Chapter Twelve: Horse Ride

He took hold of her hand. They were walking in the lush gardens of Freid behind the palace. No one was around and they were all by themselves. Van treasured the moment of having peace and quiet without having to retreat to his room.

"I'm happy I'm not a king," Hitomi said suddenly.

Van laughed and sat her down on a bench. He watched her arrange the soft pink skirts around her. He was actually surprised that she looked good in the color, but he didn't tell her that. "Yes, but you're a queen, and sometimes that can be even more important than the king."

"How so?"

"She can represent the country's splendor and money by how she takes care of the palace. Our palace is in need of some help. The servants seem to be slacking off." He tweaked her nose and she smiled. "When we get back, you are going to have to start taking charge of the lazy louts."

Hitomi took a deep breath of the clean, wonderful smelling air. A few green leaves and assorted colored petals from flowers blew with the wind and she caught a white petal that flew in front of her. She held it up to her face and rubbed the soft texture on her cheek. Her eyes were still closed and she opened them slowly, reveling in the baby soft feel. Van was watching her closely, loving every movement she made. He took the hand that had the petal in it and gripped it between them. He kissed it lightly and he saw her green eyes soften. "I love you, Hitomi de Fanel."

"And I love you, Van de Fanel." She said gently, "I can't believe how much you changed, Van. What happened to the stubborn boy that didn't always think things out? Sometimes you would be so rude you would make me cry. What happened to him? You're so gentle with me now. Well, not always," she said smiling. "But I just don't know what to think. You intrigue and intoxicate me, but you confuse and disconcert me. I can't get enough of you."

Van smiled at her lovingly. "You happened to me, Hitomi. I feel the same way about you. You drive me crazy and shock me all the time. Just looking at you makes me want to jump on you. You're my heart, and once a Dragon falls in love, it's forever."

Hitomi smiled happily and said, "A Dragon's heart, huh?"

"Exactly."

"I love you, Van."

"I love you more."

"I love you the most." Hitomi giggled at her triumph.

Van grinned. "You win."

He leaned forward to kiss her but was interrupted by a small messenger boy. The boy cleared his throat and they both looked in his direction, their eyes showing how much they disliked being suspended for the moment.

The black haired boy cleared his throat again and said somewhat nervously, "I'm sorry to disturb your majesties, but the heavenly knight of Asturia, Allen, requests an audience with his highness."

Van raised an eyebrow. Hitomi rolled her eyes. Heavenly knight of Asturia her butt. Why did everyone call him that here? In Fanelia he was just a simple knight.

"Where is he?" Van asked and stood up, bringing Hitomi with him.

"Right here."

They all turned around to see Allen leaning nonchalantly against a huge tree with dark bark. It almost looks like it had been on fire, Hitomi thought. The messenger boy walked away, bowing to Hitomi and Van, nodding to Allen in deep respect. Both Van and Hitomi were grinning their faces off and Allen didn't know why.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing," Van blurted out.

"My ass."

"What did I say about that word, Allen?" Hitomi asked, a look of tolerant scorn on her face.

Allen grinned. "My ass, my ass, my ass."

"What do you want?" Van asked impatiently, wanting to be alone with his bride once more.

Allen walked over and sat next to him on the bench. He felt nervous about what he was going to ask him. Maybe he was rushing things with Merle, maybe he wouldn't love her after awhile. He paused. Love her? Did he really love her? He shook his head. He admitted it to himself. He did love her.

"May I have your permission to have Merle's hand in marriage?"

Van was really surprised. He looked at Hitomi, who wasn't even paying the least bit of attention. She was watching a blue and black butterfly float by. She got up and walked away, following it.

"Since when did you realize your feelings for Merle?"

"At the inn."

Van stared at him. He knew that Merle would kill him if he said no. But could he say yes? Merle would leave him, he would barely ever see her. He didn't like that thought and he turned away from Allen. He knew that even if he said no, Allen would obey him no matter what. He was a knight and it wasn't in his code to disobey something like this. He felt Allen sitting tensely next to him, his hands sitting clasped in his lap. He watched him get up and walk away, defeated.

"Allen, wait. Where are you going?"

"I'm just leaving to go tell Merle that we can't get married. I don't know how she will take it. She'll end up probably killing herself because of the night we spent at the inn."

"What?!"

Allen's expression didn't change. "We spent the night together at the inn. She was very upset and thought that she would never find love like you and Hitomi had. Me and her were watching you and Hitomi fly, just in case you were wondering."

"Did you take advantage of her state?"

"Maybe a little."

"I should kill you."

Allen smiled for the first time since Hitomi had left. Van was really driving him uncertain with the high kingly way he was acting. He never really acted that way unless he wanted to intimidate someone. "So, is there anything else you want to say besides you wanting to kill me?"

"You have my permission to marry her, you moron. Now get out of my face. You will always, do you hear that? Always be in my debt. Now leave before I change my mind."

A contented happy smile appeared on his face and he ran away, looking for Merle.

Van sighed. Merle, his adopted little sister was going to be married to a Knight of Heaven. He had hoped she would marry someone of higher status, like a prince or something, but animal people were second class, no matter what. He hoped neither of them would be shunned because of Allen being married to a cat woman and a second class person. His thinking continued in the same direction for a long time.

"Boo," Hitomi said behind him and wrapped her arms around him.

Van smiled and held onto her hands around his front. "I can't believe I said yes," he muttered. Hitomi let go of him and came around to his front. She sat on his lap and rested her head on his shoulder. She kissed his jaw and asked, "What did you say yes to?"

"Merle and Allen getting married."

"Did you really say yes? I'm so proud of you." She paused and smiled at what she was going to say next. "You're a sexy man."

"Sexy? Where did that come from?"

"You are. Are you denying it?"

Van laughed. "Not if you think I am and you don't want me to."

"Alright then."

Van sighed and leaned back against the bench. After a few minutes went by he said, "I have to go downtown to get some things."

"Like what?"

"Nothing that is important to you."

"Tell me before I beat you up."

Van laughed and stood up, bringing her up with him. "A wonderful prospective that will turn into something undoubtedly yummy. Oh, please beat me," he said, repeating the same thing she had said at the inn.

"Is that supposed to be funny?"

Van kissed her cheek and left her standing by the bench. She sighed and sat back down, thinking. Her life had changed so much over the past three months it was scary.

After exploring the gardens for an hour, Hitomi found Merle sitting under a large oak tree with a book in her hands. Allen was leaning against it, watching her turn the pages over and over again.

"So are you two having fun?"

Merle glanced up and returned to her book. "Extremely."

Allen grinned at his kitty and patted her hair piled on top of her head. Her hair had dramatically changed since the last time he saw her. It had changed from that orangish pink to the purest red. It had orange highlights it when the light touched it a certain way. It had grown all the way down to her hips and she loved to have it up like the other 'ladies'.

"Do you know why Van had to go downtown?"

Allen shrugged. "I was supposed to go with him but I changed my mind at the last minute because of Merle."

"Ah, how romantic," Hitomi said and clasped her hands in front of her and looked dreamy.

Merle snorted and turned the page. "This is so interesting. This man is a total jerk and I hate him. I want to kill him." She read on and snorted again. "This girl is just as stupid as him. How many times is she going to faint? And how many times is this man going to ravish her? What is her problem? Why doesn't she just kill him or make him suffer?"

"If it is so stupid, then why are you reading it?" Allen asked and sat down.

"It's so stupid it's funny."

Hitomi rolled her eyes and walked away without saying anything. She hated how hot it was out and the trees didn't offer much shade. She went back into the palace and up to her room.

"Hitomi!!"

Hitomi blinked her sleep heavy eyes and sat up, rubbing them. She climbed off the bed and walked to the window. She pushed it open with some difficulty, but finally managed it. She leaned out and saw Van out in the courtyard, waving his arms for her to come down. He was smiling widely.

"What, Van?"

"I have a surprise for you!"

Her eyes sparkled. He had a surprise for her?! She left the window and pulled on her gown. It wasn't as nice as her other ones because it was deathly hot. She caught herself wishing for air-conditioning.

She sprinted down the stairs, holding her skirts up to her knees. She ran out the suddenly opened front doors and stared.

Van was standing there, calming a beautiful white mare and stroking her smooth white nose. She started braying and pawing the ground. Her long pure white mane bounced with the movement.

She dropped her white skirts and walked down the stairs to Van.

"Van?"

He smiled and took her hand, placing it on the mare's soft nose.

"Is she for me?" she asked, shocked.

Van just smiled and nodded.

"Oh, Van, she's magnificent. Where did you find her?"

A stable lad handed Van a coarse brush and he started to rub her down. He felt anger go through him. "I went downtown earlier and I chanced upon a fat ugly old man beating her with a switch. I stopped him and the man was all pissed off because the creature had stepped on a piece of pottery. He lashed out on her again and I all but begged him to give her to me. I ended up paying him for it, but it was worth it because he wanted to abuse it to death."

Hitomi hugged him and whispered, "Thank you, Van, for saving her. I love you."

Van smiled and the grim look disappeared off his face.

Hitomi petted her nose some more and said, "I don't know how to ride, though."

"That's another reason why I bought her. I'm going to teach you."

"Really?! When?!"

"Now if you wish."

Hitomi squealed in delight. Van handed her the brush and she combed her thick mane.

"I'm going to go get Knight tacked up and be right back."

Hitomi nodded, agreeing to anything. She was mesmerized at how beautiful her surprise was. She was so gentle natured, Hitomi could tell already. She set the brush down and started to pet her nose again. The horse butted her head against her hand and Hitomi laughed joyfully.

Van came back leading Knight by the reins a few minutes later. He saw how his wife and the horse had already connected.

Hitomi turned when she heard Van and it was then she saw what he was wearing. She almost collapsed.

His black pants were so tight she could see everything. The looked just like the breeches people in England used to wear way back when. His white shirt hung open at his neck and she could see all of his hard chest muscles. She totally forgot about her present and gaped at him.

Van had no idea what torture she was going through and came up to her, pulling her up against him in a fond embrace.

"Van," she breathed.

He raised an eyebrow at her when he noticed how badly her body was shaking. "Yes?"

Hitomi shook her head. "Nothing."

"Why are you trembling?"

Hitomi pulled away from him, embarrassed.

"If you act this way every time someone gives you something, expect a surprise everyday." He grinned at her.

"Along with what you're wearing, if you please," she said demurely with a wave of her hand.

Van looked down and realized why she was acting the way she was. "Ah, so you like what I'm wearing?"

Hitomi thought. Should she say yes or no? "If I said yes, it would be a vast understatement. If I said no, then that would mean I would like you without anything on at all."

Van grinned smugly and stood next to her. He pointed to the stirrup and picked up her left foot, slipping it in. "Grab a hold of her mane to pull yourself up and swing your leg over her back carefully. I'll be right here, don't worry."

Hitomi took a deep breath and hauled herself up, swinging her leg surprisingly graceful over the mare's back. Her gown cinched its way up to her knees and Van smiled when he saw the simple white socks that went to her upper calf's. She looked oddly comfortable.

Van mounted his horse smoothly and click-clicked it with his tongue over to her horse. He explained easily how to steer it up high on the horse's neck and to stop it by pulling back gently. He told her to squeeze or kick it in the sides to make it walk or go faster than a walk. She paid attention to every word he said.

"Does it hurt if I kick her?"

"No, but it depends on how hard you kick her. If you get scared and think you are going to fall off, just hold onto the pummel."

Hitomi blinked and Van showed her what he meant by pointing to the handgrip. "Oh, alright."

"Or you can hold onto the mane."

Hitomi nodded and watched Van start out at a fast walk. She squeezed the horses sides and she started forward slowly. She squeezed harder and she quickened her pace. A silly grin was plastered on her face when she came up next to Van. He smiled back at her.

"So where are we going?" Hitomi asked.

"Somewhere not crowded, that's for sure."

Hitomi followed him as he maneuvered his way slowly through the small crowd around the palace. He found a small worn path and they soon were at a large grassy field. The long grass flowed with the breeze and Hitomi looked at Van. He started forward after inspecting the field for possible dangers and told Hitomi to stay close. He told her more things and showed her how to do them. He practiced with her as she turned the horse around in complicated circles and in and out of large rocks and stumps.

Satisfied that she had an idea with what she was doing, he brought her out of a simple walk to a trot. He told her how a walk was four paces, a trot two, a canter three, and a gallop four. She was confused at first, but he showed her what he meant. He walked for her, then trotted, next cantered, and finally galloped. She noticed how the hooves made the beat of one, two or one, two, three or one, two, three, four. She nodded when she understood and she kicked the horse in the sides. She laughed, shocked when the horse let forth a sudden burst of speed. Van laughed when he saw her bouncing up and down in the saddle and showed her how to raise herself up and down to the horse's movement. She followed exactly what he did and noticed how much smoother it was, but it started to strain her muscles.

Van came up next to her and they trotted across the field together. He loved how happy she was, how her smile of determination never faltered or left her face.

After a few more hours of practice, he brought her back to the palace. He grinned when he realized how sore she was going to be. He dismounted easily and gave Knight over to a stable hand. He walked over to Hitomi who looked embarrassed and slightly nervous.

"Van, I have a problem."

"I can just imagine!!"

"It's not my fault!"

"Here," he said and put his hands around her waist. "I'll help you down."

He pulled her down and let her slide down his body. She felt a bolt of pure heat spread through her body, but it disappeared when Van let her go and she toppled to the ground.

Van laughed and helped her back up. She hit his arm hard and then caressed the spot she hit. He picked her up without further words and brought her into the palace, the guards stationed there opening the doors and bowing. When he got past them, he asked, "What are you going to name her?"

"Adara."

"Why??"

He climbed the stairs slowly, not wanting to rush his time of holding her. "It means 'beautiful'. I have this little name book that says what names mean. I love it."

Van brought her up to his room and excused the maid that had been dusting the mantle and figurines on top of the fireplace. She curtsied and left, closing the door after her.

Van laid her on the bed and sat next to her.

"My thighs are killings me," she complained and leaned back against the pillows.

"It won't always be that way. Only for a while."

"For your sake, I hope so. If I was walking, my legs would be spread just as wide as that horse had been."

Van laughed, picturing it. "What do you mean for my sake?"

"If I was this sore all the time, you wouldn't be touching me."

Van got a serious look on his face. "Well then maybe I shouldn't teach you how to ride that horse or to let you ride it as much as possible so you'll get used to it-"

"Shut up, you evil man!!"

He grinned and kissed her lips quickly, standing up. "I'll relieve you of my presence so you can rest. If I stay here, nothing will be done. Make sure you are ready for tonight."

Hitomi groaned. "Why couldn't it be tomorrow? Any day but today!!"

She heard Van laugh as he closed the door.