Disclaimer. Dilandau's mine I tell you all mine. Hahahahahaha fiddles with thumbs ok maybe in my dreams hehe. ;) He doesn't even appear in this fic hehe but I just had to say it hehe. No unfortunately I do not own Escaflowne or her characters yet Marcus and Dúfo are my creations so please keep your paws to yourself.

Chapter Five

In the Shadows of Those Who Lead

The young King of Fanelia sat in his imposing throne room, his slouched form leaning heavily on a slightly calloused palm. Deep lines of worry and concern marred his rugged good looks as another deep set of creases appeared in the once smooth skin of his brow. The room in which he sat had been built to be an exact duplicate of the one once sat in by his father, the great Lord Goau and his mother, the Lady Varie. As it had been in the years prior to the burning of the kingdom, the throne room was breath taking, truly that belonging to a King. Yet its grand scheme was not to the extent that it was overpowering. Its size was vast, consuming the space of two of the grandest bedrooms imaginable and to those unfamiliar to it were clearly unnerved. Royal red carpeting covered the long stretch of wooden flooring leading to the modestly designed throne and the smaller chair seated next to it. Both were lined with the identical red satin material covering the floor. Candelabra and chandeliers lit the room, producing a refreshing glow to the increasing apprehension, which filled the room. Yet Van had seen it all before. This room, where he seemed to spend many a waking hour, was no better than any other the castle had to offer; dull and boring! A seemingly endless chamber, consumed by not only his own anxiety but also that of the others who stood around the room's perimeter.

Van was in a dark mood and no one, not even Merle, attempted to talk to him; the familiar simply crouched by his side, her tail twitching in irritation as both waited anxiously for any news on Hitomi. The fact of the matter was that she knew very little of the situation surrounding the disappearance of Hitomi, blind to the dread consuming Van as the silence prevailed. She knew that Van's mood and emotionless, intimidating facade was simply a mask to prevent those in his council from knowing his real feeling concerning the current unknown events. She could sense his fear and anxiety, which radiated from his being until it almost overpowered her feline senses. He wasn't telling her everything, trying to protect her from something, but what? Keeping everyone at an arms length would help him little this time!

As the tension in the room increased, Merle's tail continued to twitch until it became ridged, the fur erect and ruffled as her claws seemed to delight in raking gashes into the fabric of the carpet surrounding Van's throne. She glanced up to the direction of Van's few advisers. They stood crowded together in the eastern corner of the room and seemed to be conferring about matters of the utmost importance, casting occasional glances to their young King. By the looks on their faces they were scheming something. Silently she chastised herself for even thinking such a thing. In truth all four were dearly devoted to the young King. They simply wished for him and his country to prosper. Yet although Van had succeeded in the latter that was not their main concern, for what was a country without a King?

Merle's gaze came to rest on her lifetime friend. His had been a harsh life, one with little time for happiness and pleasure and it was evident in his deep, sorrowful eyes. For a time he had been content. He had found himself a companion, a woman to cater for the needs he could never ask of her; after all Van was still a man and his needs were no different from any other. For this reason he had taken himself a young Asturian widow, one who had been given that title because of the Great War. It had taken her husband from her that year, leaving her alone. Undoubtedly her needs mirror Van's and it was this connection, which drew Van to her. Yet not even this lasted.

She was a kind person, simple and caring. She was graceful, walking as if on air, smelling of the sweetest festive berries and blooms and had an uncanny understanding of etiquette and social order. She wanted very little from life, only the conviction to live it the way she had always dreamed; in peace and Van fulfilled this completely. In truth the young King could do no better than this maiden. Yet it was not her character, sent, dreams or desires, which mesmerised him so. These meant nothing to Van; all he saw was the sandy brown hair, which hung in soft tendrils over her face and the sea green, verdant pools, which lay hidden beneath them; lost in everything that had been her.

Van's dealing with this woman remained secret, and he only ever saw her in the privacy of her own home. That is, till the day came where he felt confident enough to present her to his council and more importantly, to Merle. A stunned silence had prevailed over all following Van's declaration. Merle's shrill voice breaking the quiet helped little with this delicate situation. Instantly she declared him a fool; he was simply torturing himself by trying to have what he never could and that he would drag this innocent woman down with him.

"Lord Van, such behaviour is a disgrace to yourself, to all who knew her and most importantly to Hitomi herself. How dare you show such blatant betrayal and disrespect to her memory?" He had stood in utter shock as the young cat girl forced herself out of her chair and dashed out of the room, only the gently sobs of her crying remaining behind. 'Betraying Hitomi's memory!' It had been that which had been the push to allow Van's fragile hold on reality to finally break and begin the vast digression from the Van she remembered before the Destiny War, to the Van she now saw before her.

Merle mewed softly, an action she knew to sooth the young man's agitated state, yet she did not attempt to look up for she had seen that painful expression once to often, it was forever etched into her mind. She longed to embrace him, smother him with reassurance and confidence like she would have long ago but like with Van adulthood had prevailed over her long before her time. She saved her few playful moments only for him, if only to see the soft smile that would occasionally tug on the corners of his lips. In truth she doted on him, yet regardless of her unadulterated devotion towards him she knew, as well as he, that she could not give him that which he craved so much. Perhaps it was for that reason which he decided to distance himself from all others; to prevent any attachment from forming which could hold the possibility of pain in the future. Even when they did talk the air, like now, was tense. She resented herself for the fact that she could do nothing to help him; that it was because of her that he was this way. Yet she couldn't let him continue the way he had, his contentment with his mistress had been fake, like everything else. He had been fooling himself into a false state of security, which would have only ended in more pain! She hoped he understood her; that it was because of her words that he had ended it all. Yet secretly she knew that he had done it for the simple reason that he could not bear to loose her as well. He had sacrificed the fragile fragments of peace he had managed to gather for the love of a cat girl who could never truly forgive him.

Attentively she placed a hand on top of Van's, gently squeezing it in a meek attempt for the reassurance both clearly needed. His storm filled eyes turned to her slowly, his features immediately changing back to smoothen as he forced his face to relax.

"Oh, Lord Van," she purred as he closed his hand over her more delicate one. The softest whimpers passed her lips, her ears flattening against the hair on her head, as she stared at him imploringly. "Where is she?" Such a simple question, one which both craved an answer which neither could give and so both were compelled to return to their previously states of anxious silence.

"I can walk myself, thank you Marcus… I don't need you to help me. I've managed to do so this far so I see no reason why you feel compelled to try and help me now."

"Wait where do you think you're going? You can't just to waltz into the castle and expect to be allowed to go where you like." Marcus shouted after the young woman as he finished seeing to the guard who had stopped to interrogate her. When he finally caught up, he grabbed her by the arm, pulling her to a halt. She stared defiantly into his claret eyes, as he did so stare firmly into her own verdant ones.

"For gods sake, let go." She huffed as she pulled her arm from his grasp and continued walking, head held high. "When are you going to catch the hint that I don't want your assistance anymore?" she growled warningly as she tried to adjust the cloak covering her face. She had been non-cooperative ever since Marcus had led her from the soldiers' barracks. He seemed to be in a rush to get this over with and had prevented her from staring at the lightened streets, which had been so intimidating the night before. The street vendors wore friendly grins and seemed overly eager to lure Hitomi to sample what they had to offer. Yet last night's would-be rescuer continued to drag her down the rows of streets, which led to the proud and sturdy Fanelian castle.

After ripping herself from his ever-tightening hold, Hitomi managed to take a small bit of pleasure from taking in the resurrected city. Although it was clear not all had been completely reconstructed, most of the homes had been rebuild and the over all feel emitted from its returned populous was that of contentment, a complete difference from the impression she had received that night. Gently she touched a passing child's head as she ran past her, receiving a joyous smile when the young girl turned to look at Hitomi's shrouded form. The girl had proceeded to follow the pair back the way she had come till she came to Hitomi's side. She smiled down at her as she continued to walk.

"Why are you hiding? It's too hot to be wearing something so big!" the child had asked imploring as she tugged on the large cloak.

"I'm not hiding from anyone." Hitomi had responded sweetly, once again placing her hand on the girl's head. "I want to surprise someone, that's all. If I show them my face before I want them to see me it will spoil the surprise." The child had beamed again and nodded enthusiastically before moving away from Hitomi.

"Bye…" was the child's parting cry, her shrill voice calling out as she disappeared back into the crowd.

Once she was certain of how to reach the castle, Hitomi had broken into a light run; the relief of seeing Van again after the nights long and tedious revelations simply causing her to run faster. She had been met by the first set of guards upon reaching the steps to the castle. Instantly she had been refused entrance, the long swords of the guards being drawn in front of her path, ignoring her request to see their King. Ad so grudgingly she had waited for Marcus to catch up to her. She resented this, although she was glad to see that the castles security was so strict. Marcus's reaction to her request to see Van that morning had enraged her beyond words. He had instantly presumed her to be that of a street crawler simply because it! She stared defiantly at the young man as he came towards her a cocky grin on his face.

"I told you that you would not be permitted entrance without me!" She turned to give him a stubborn glare as he turned to talk to the men on guard. At he approach both had become stiff in posture and it was clear that this man was far senior to their own status. They cast occasional glances at her, trying to see under the cloak, which hid her. Puzzled glances followed the unlikely pair as Marcus took off after her when she, once again, pulled from his hold and began to run off down the castle's entrance, shouting after her as she did so.

And so this was where the merry dance had led them. Marcus was beyond frustration with this would-be acquaintance of the King. He spoke to her more harshly than before as the pair neared the throne room and continued to try and control the damned woman before she made a fool out of not only herself, but him also. With a sigh of irritation Marcus dragged Hitomi to a halt in front of the beautifully engraved doors of the throne room and with a quick glance at Hitomi raised his knuckles to knock on the mahogany wood, which served as a partition between the pair and the mighty King of Fanilia.

The combination of masculine and feminine voices in the distant corridor almost instantly caught Merle's attention; the volume continuing to increase until the feline no longer strained to hear it. By now her once flattened ears twitched with curiosity. She hadn't even realised that she had raised herself from her forlorn position beside Van, her abrupt movement catching the attention of every person in the room.

"Marcus is coming!" she purred in delight, instantly attempting to make her slightly dishevelled state more presentable.

"I can walk myself, thank you Marcus… I don't need you to help me!" Yes the masculine voice belonged to the Fanelian general yet she could not identify the woman with him. Her tone held that of frustration and irritation and the closer the pair came the greater her tone increased. All congregated members remained still, all but Merle who continued to preen her self so diligently. Van remained stock and silent on his thrown; his only movement was to push his unruly locks away from his maroon eyes, eyes that flashed with some unknown, hidden emotion as the voices neared. Finally a light tapping on the chamber door signalled the arrival of the second general of the Fanelian army. Ever since the destruction of the lush kingdom and the murder of its generals Van had attempted to rebuild the army. This process had taken well over a year. He selected two Generals to govern this formidable army. Both places had been assigned to experienced men. An older man had taken the position as General of the first army. Respected by Van's council as well as Van himself; General Dúfo was the perfect man for such a strenuous task. He was veteran of the Great War who was wise enough not to trust anyone without due cause. He was of twenty-seven cycles, though his looks fooled all into believing him to be much younger. That, accompanied with his experience in the art of swordsmanship and war, made him a redoubtable enemy. Marcus Luenthia had been given the position of the second General. The 17-year-old had been given that title only a few months back but already his character and personality had labelled him a fine man and soldier.

At the first tap on the door Van's bottled emotions broke. He had the sneaking suspicion that his General would, in his normally jovial manner, has some menial task for his Lord to complete yet at such a time the young King could only concentrate on where and how Hitomi was.

"Yes!" Such lack of patience, strain and anger vibrated around the room at that one tongues utterance causing all to shudder visibly. No, the King was not in a favourable mood that day.

I'm sorry that not much action occurs in this chapter but as the chapters come I know that the plot with thicken. Call this just a bit of inside information about what is going on and more on Marcus and I didn't want to spoil it by adding too much. Hope you enjoyed and I will bring out a new addition as soon as humanly possible.

Ps: Fanilia thanks for the help on the title. Good team aren't we. As she so eloquently pointed out it works with the fic. It refers perfectly to Hitomi following Marcus through Fanilia and Merle living in the shadow of Van's depression described in the chapter.

No one kill me because I had Van have a mistress because although I am a V/h fan all the way I did say that this would be a little different and knowing men the way I do, his needs would end up leading him the way any young virile would go. Its only natural for him to act on instinct. Hope you enjoyed and I'd love to have some coments. Please R+R. Oh and to all of you who have been so supportive. Thank you so very much, you are what keep me going in my writing.