Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ The Story of Escaflowne ❯ Chapter 2: The Gallant Swordsman ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2: the Gallant Swordsman

Sarah sat alone, curled up under a tree in the forest. *Did I get home? I must have. That was the same pillar of light from before so I must be home!* Sarah's spirit rose as she smile gratefully. *But where on Earth am I?* She looked around and took then it hit her. *I'll use my pendent to find my way! It's always worked before.* Sarah carefully took off the pendent and held in her hand. She shut her eyes and concentrated as hard as she could.

Sarah's eyes snapped open as she heard a deep man's voice chuckle as he bent over and held her to the ground. "Help!" she scream. She kicked and thrashed about hoping to knock the large old man off of her. As Sarah tried to sit up to push him away, he simply knocked her back down. As she fell backwards, she hit her head hard on the ground and everything before her eyes became nothing but a blur then darkness.

Sarah awoke to the sounds of men conversing. Her eyes fluttered open weakly. *What? What happened?* she wondered as she tried to find the strength to sit up. "You're awake . . .?" frightened, Sarah sat up quickly. A man with long blond hair stood by the bed with a welcoming smile.

"So the princess awakes!" one of the men in the room shouted.

"Hey ya cutie, did ya sleep well?" another asked with a wink. Her body tensed as she looked at the scruffy looking and obviously horny men fearful of what they might do. The tall blond turned and looked at the men.

"Hey stop that. She's frightened. Your faces are too ugly to wake up to." he said with a smirk. *well, that is true but not entirely.*

"You're mean boss." one replied.

"Ya, don't confuse me with Pyle." the one obviously Pyle didn't take that as a compliment.

"Jerk . . ."the group of men began to laugh and insult each other further more. Sarah's attention however was not focussed on them no longer but at a window beside the bed she sat in. quickly she leaned towards it and looked out.

"Fucking shit. I'm still here." she muttered under breath as she gazed downwards at her hands. The blond man sat on the edge of the bed and Sarah turned to face him but not before she whipped away a few tears.

"What's happened to you? You can tell me if you don't mind? As a knight of Asturia . . . Allen Schezar. You're our guest in this fort. To protect you as the owner of this fort . . .as a knight . . .no, as a man, I must do it." Sarah looked at him not surprised. *as a man? Oh please, it sounded so much better when he said as a knight. At least you can rely on knight unlike with men.* Just then the door to the room opened and two men came in.

"Boss, the brat's regained consciousness." the tall one informed.

"Bring him in." Allen replied as he and Sarah stood up. Van walked in looking not too pleased.

The following morning Allen spoke with Van and Sarah outside. Allen sat at a small table wooden table with Sarah while Van stood. "The Mystic Moon . . .? You're saying she's from the Mystic Moon? She's a resident of the Mystic Moon?" Allen seemed more then shocked from the news.

"That's right. Like I had said earlier." Van answered as he walked towards the table. Sarah sat deep in thought. *Why didn't I grab my other bag before I was brought here? It's been like three days and I'm still wearing this stupid uniform. Well at least I'm still wearing shorts under this kilt.* Allen bent down and picked up a sword which was laying in the floor. He unsheathed it a little to reveal the symbol of Fanelia.

"Well if the king of Fanelia says so . . .I must believe it." he put down the sword and turned his attention to Sarah. "So what's your name?" she jumped slightly as he had snapped her out of her train of thoughts.

"Uh it's Sarah, Sarah Heddle." she answered timidly. Allen smiled and leaned on the table.

"Sarah, it has a nice ring to it." Van rolled his eyes.

"Allen, I apologize for entering your country without notice. So, Escaflowne . . .please give my Guymelef back to me." Van asked with frustration. Allen leaned backward in his char and looked at Van seriously.

"And what do you plan to do with the guymelef?"

"I'll return to Fanelia. We were attacked by an unknown enemy, and during the battle I was taken to this place." it was obvious enough that these two men had gotten off on the wrong foot.

"It would be a waste of time." Van looked at Allen in outrage. Sarah also seemed a surprised by the remark.

"Say what?!"

"Fanelia was burned to the ground. A few of my men saw it late last night." both Van and Sarah were shocked to hear he news. *Fanelia's gone . . .*

"No, th-that can't be . . ." Van wasn't ready to accept the fact that his country was destroyed.

"I'm sorry but-" the ground began to shake as a large floating fortressed appeared in the sky and multiple guymelefs fell from it. Sarah and Allen stood from their seats.

"A Zaibach floating fortress . . .?" Allen looked somewhat confused and shocked.

"Those, those are the invisible things that attacked Fanelia!" Sarah exclaimed as the three of them watched the guymelefs land.

Later, all of the residents within the fort's walls gathered in a large hall to 'greet' the Zaibach soldiers. Van and Sarah stood at the very back of the crowd of men. Sarah tried to see what was going on by stepping on tip toe but all she could see were the tops of their heads. She crossed her arms as she had given up. Van, however, pushed his way through the crowd to get a better look. Sarah saw and took the opportunity to get a better look so she fallowed Van. She was stunned at the sight. *Holy shit . . .that silver haired dud is soooo HOT!* she could feel herself blush as she looked over his black leather suit and red armour.

Allen glanced over at Van and didn't look too pleased. "By the way, Sir Allen . . .have you seen a strange Guymelef around here?" the silver hair soldier asked.

"No, I haven't Dilandau. Does this have something to do with the mobilization of the floating fortress?" Sarah looked in awe at the soldier Allen had addressed as Dilandau. *Dilandau . . .it just rolls off your tung in the right way . . .*

"More or less." he replied with a slight smirk.

"I've heard that Fanelia, in the west, was attacked." Allen commented looking at him in all seriousness.

"That poor, small country . . .? They might have been destroyed by the dragons that tend to wander around the valley. It's a proper ending for a poor country like that. Anyway, it's a country of cowards, and their king's disappeared. I don't care what happened to it." Van wasn't the only one who was shocked at his comment. *Ok, screw all my other thoughts of him! Dilandau, what kind of name is that? But still . . .*

Van put his left hand on his sword's sheath, looking ready to draw. "Cowards are the ones who don't show themselves in battle." Van barked at Dilandau. He looked towards the young king and narrowed his eyes. He then walked towards him but pushed him aside and walked up to Sarah. Her breathing quickened the closer he got. She nibbled on her tung as she wondered what to say let alone do.

"You're wearing strange clothes. Where are you from?"

"I'm . . ." Sarah began as he took a step forward and looked at her intrigued. Allen walked up to them with a plan in mind.

"She's my new lover. I found her in the east and her name is Sarah." Allen then bent down and placed a gentle kiss on her soft, red cheeks. *lover? Lover!?!* Sarah backed away from Allen appalled.

"Excuse me? Who said I was your lover? Because I sure as hell aren't!" before Allen or anyone could say another word, Sarah slapped him hard across the face and stormed out of the room. *How dare he! Claim me as his lover!* Her mind was raging. *I still can't believe him. After he acted to gentlemanly like last night. It was probably some stupid act last night any ways.*

Sarah wandered around the fort until she found herself outside. she shut her eyes and took in a deep breath of the fresh air. Instantly she felt relaxed. When she opened her eyes, she saw the Zaibach soldiers walking back to their guymelefs. *Oh God they I love their uniforms! Black leather . . .But that Dilandau guy, he makes me sick! How could he say all those horrible things about Fanelia? I should have said something.* Sarah sighed and watch the rest of the soldiers march.

A gloved hand came from behind Sarah and covered her mouth. An arm then quickly wrapped around her body. She let out a muffled scream as she thrashed about. An idea then hit her. as the hand tightened around her mouth she opened it and bit down hard on the hand.

"Ah you stupid bitch!" Sarah gasped. The voice was all too familiar. It belonged to only one person imaginable, Dilandau. His grip on her waist loosened and she took the opportunity to wiggle out of his grip. He grabbed his hand in pain then looked at Sarah looking more than just angry. "Now we can do this the easy way or the hard way."

"Ok what the fuck do you want with me?" Dilandau grinned. "Well? Speak up fucker!"

"If Allen lives up to his reputation then you must be good." Sarah looked at him confused.

"Good?" she repeated, expecting an explanation.

"Well, he did claim you as his lover and everyone on Gaea knows he only sleeps with the best." Sarah rolled her eyes.

"Fucking men," Sarah muttered and looked back at Dilandau. "I hardly know Allen and I would never sleep with him. First of all he's not my type, secondly he's older than me and thirdly, I just don't sleep around with guys like some slut!" Dilandau grinned, amused at her little act. "And if you think I'd sleep with you, you're sadly mistaken. Not after what you had said about Fanelia being destroyed you heartless bastard!" Dilandau smirked and looked at her or so Sarah thought. He just stood there doing nothing which made her suspicious. *what the fuck is he doing?* That's when it happened. A white cloth drenched in alcohol was held firmly over her mouth and nose. She had not choice to inhale the toxic fumes. The last thing she saw Dilandau laughing and another soldier standing beside him.