Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Return To Innocence ❯ Resolve To Move ( Chapter 12 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter 12: Resolve To Move


"General Albatou, why do you spy on me from the shadows." said the silky, voice bringing Dilandau out of his silent watch. He stepped out of the darkness and in front of the window that Fresia was looking out of, the light washing over his fine armor, white hair and stunning red eyes. He did not respond otherwise.

"It is polite to answer when asked a question, especially when asked by your monarch." her gaze never left the window.

"It is a force of habit, My 'Queen'. I am a soldier after all."

"Yes, that you are." she simply stated. Then after a long pause, in which Dilandau looked at the woman with some suspicion, she said.

"Do your fingers still hurt, when it rains I mean."

Dilandau's eyes narrowed. "M'lady?" he asked, remembering his ettiquette for once.

"On your left hand, your your third and fourth fingers were broken in reccent years. Do they still hurt when it rains."

Dilandau, realizing what she was referring to, stared at her in awe. How had she known about that? As she had said, that had been years ago.

"I just thought that I would remind you of what your last leader did when you disobeyed him, only I would do much worse." And she turned arouns to face him. His face was nearly drained of color, but he regained his composure and stared into her eyes. "And believe me when I tell you this, I don't want to hurt you, Dilandau, but I will if I have to." And with those words, Dilandau noticed that she almost looked sad. How odd. The moment quickly passed and she was calm and flawless looking again.

"Have you enough troops now, General?"

Dilandau quickly straightened his posture for his reply. "Yes, Your Highness. All captured enemy forces have been turned. We now control the Necsarian Army. Do you still wish to go ahead as planned?" A slight smile threatened to cross his lips.

"Yes, head out toward Fanelia. Let us see if the strongest of the Dragon Clan will give us a worthy challenge. And then we will see them fall. Dismissed."

Dilandau bowed to Fresia, turned on his heel and walked out of the thrown room, a maliscious smile spread across his face.

***

"This Holy City, where the hell is it!" Dryden burst out. Having sat in the tent for hours, sleeping very little and now awake once again, and to say the least, he was frustrated. What the hell does it all mean?

He knew that whenever the prophecies spoke of a 'Fallen Dragon', they were referring to Folken. And many references to the god Escaflowne were made, both calling it a god and a beast.

'In the midst of battle/ The Beast will be awakened.'

It was nearly morning, he could see the faint light of dawn creeping over the horizon, and he hadn't gotten that far at all. He leaned forward on his elbows, his face resting in his hands. What was he going to do? He knew that what was left in these scrolls held the key to unlocking Gaea's uncertain future. But what? Where was it?

Dryden sighed heavily, shaking his head slightly. He was so tired.

Unbidden, his mind began to replay the events of the past, when the Wing Goddess had first arrived. three long years ago.

He had been in his home in Turoshina, in his bed chamber, thinking to himself when he heard the commotion. Looking out his window he saw it, a red monster the likes of which he had never seen outside of his history and mythology books. It had to be none other than the God of Fire, Alseides. He was calling to War, calling for a battle to be fought. And soon he was answered. There he stood, the god Escaflowne, and the battle commenced.

Dryden remebered standing enrapped in the scene before him, playing out its ruthless and bloody plot. He knew that the Wing Goddess had summoned the white god, even though she said she didn't want to, that she wouldn't, but unwilling as she was, she had brought the gods down to their soil and now their world was at stake.

In the end, it turned out that the fire god was no match for Van's sanguine battle tactics, and succumbed to the mighty titan. Triumphant, Escaflowne stood, transformed now to its native state as the God of War. Black as the night itself save for the armor of its shoulders which were red. Even its heart had turned black. Escaflowne's true nature had finally emmerged, and had taken the young king with it.

Dryden stood up and sighed. The rest, as they say, is history. Now for their present situation. He walked out of his tent and stared at the rising sun which was just visible over the far off hills.

'In the Holy City/ Where Dragons fought and fell.'

"That's it!" Dryden cried in excitement. He stumbled back into his tent and scrambled for a quill and a piece of paper. He began to write it all down as the revelation came to him in waves.

'The Holy City is none other than Turoshina. That is where the Abaharaki had taken their final stand against the Black Dragon. The Dragons - Van, Folken, and the pilot of Alseides. (No one but a Dragon of some substantial birth could command the gods). And Alseides, as well as Folken, had definately fallen that day.'

Dryden looked at his scribbled notes, then continued his hurried script.

'Also, Van saved Gaea, so obviously he was, rather, still is Gaea's champion, chosen by the gods; but a champion too must be saved. That saviour was and most likely is Hitomi, the Wing Goddess. She is the stern hand that calmed to worn spirit.'

"It was all there, right in front of me." Dryden mused, amazed that he had missed something so simple. "I must go tell Van."

Hurriedly, Dryden gathered the book and all his notes, including the ones he had just made, and ran out of his tent on towards the young kings'.

***

"Oh, Lord Van." Merle whispered as she whiped the young man's forehead. His unconscious form was trembling horribly, sweat pouring from his brow as if he were ill with a fever. He moaned every so often, making Merle lean in closer to him, anxious to see if he is rousing or just mumbling in his feverish sleep. She knew that he had suffered a vision, and it scared her, especially with the state he was in now because of it.

She daintily pushed sweat soaked hair off of his face, careful not to disturb him too much. Usually he looked absolutely beautiful in his sleep, and she should know, she had seen him like that so many times before, but now he looked older, tired and weighed down.

"Oh, Lord Van. What am I to do? How can I help you now?" the cat-girl nearly hummed the words, hoping that they would fall upon Van's troubled mind as a salve to sooth him.

Suddenly there was a quiet commotion just outside of the king's tent. Angry that someone would even unintentionally disturb the sick man laying within, Merle stood up and walked outside.

"What is going on out here?!" she hissed as quietly as possible to the guards.

"M'Lady, we were ordered to let no one in but you, the General and the Captain in, but this man will not leave." said on of the two guards standing watch over the tents entrance.

Merle looked at the 'visitor' and saw it to be Dryden, Fanelia's Chief Advisor.

"You imbecile! This is the kings Chief Advisor, Dryden Fassa. He may enter if he damn well wants to." she scolded them and lead the somewhat ruffled Dryden into the tent.

"Oh Merle, what ever has happened to him?" Dryden said as he knelt the king's side.

"He has had a vision, Fassa, and he is now suffering the consequences." she said flatly, though not meaning to sound uncaring.

Dryden stood and turned around just in time to see another figure enter. Loosely tied back blond locks betrayed the new arrival.

"Allen." Merle greeted calmly, her gaze upon Van's trembling form unwavering. Allen only nodded, he too looking at Van.

Dryden gave a small cough, drawing the attention of the blond General. Merle's ears swivelled in his direction.

"We must go to Torushina as soon as possible." he stated plainly.