29 September, 2000

Vision of Escaflowne

"The Return"

by: The MOUSE.................................

To Hitomi it seemed as if the snow-covered land had just swallowed up the only two men who were capable of saving her now. She stared in the direction their dark silhouettes had been and hoped desperately. The anguish had been impossible to deny. It had been Van's anguish. He hadn't wanted to let the Raiders get away like they had, she could feel it. But there hadn't been much choice in the matter. She had long since stopped struggling against her captor's grip, opting instead to be completely passive and silent, even amid her tears. A self-defense instructor she had once said that one can greatly increase their chances of surviving an abduction by passive resistance. Don't move under your own power and don't say a word. Hitomi would do just that.

After what seemed like an eternity of riding, a grouping of tents and torches came into view in the distance. A mobile camp had been set up by the Raiders inside a natural amphitheater formed by the surrounding steep hills. A few men bundled in thick furs walked about the camp with no set destination in mind, sometimes stopping near the campfires to warm themselves. The arriving riders enter the camp and all but threw Hitomi off one of the beasts of burden. She stumbled to her knees in the snow and waited. One of the riders grabbed her arm in a vice-like grip and half dragged her into the camp's largest tent where he shoved her forward. Trying to regain her balance she tripped on one of the many layered carpets and ended up in a very undignified sprawl before a low set platform. Rising to her knees Hitomi looked up to the imposing, muscular man sitting on what she could best describe was a throne made from ornately carved wood. This was Sheahan, traveling despot of a ragged band of thieves. His black eyes glared at her from his commanding height and she flinched from a sudden, random thought he projected.

Want.

Her flinch seemed to make him smile, pleased.

"And what do we have here?" he cooed in a rough, grating voice.

"A possibility for a Royal ransom, sir." the riding party's lead Raider replied. "We came across three travelers heading to the West; two swordsmen and her. One of them had Fanelia's crest on his sword. A Royal guard no doubt by the way he fought."

"No doubt." Sheahan repeated, his eyes never leaving Hitomi, making her feel more and more uncomfortable.

"She must be some sort of royal. Name's Hitomi something. They were protecting her pretty hard. She called to the younger guard, the Fanelian, when we took her. Called him Van."

"Fanelian? Van? You idiot!" he roared as he suddenly stood and lunged at his Raider, striking him hard across the face. "You had a double prize in your hands and let it slip away!"

"S- Sir?"

"That was no guard! That boy was King Van Fanel of Fanelia himself!" Sheahan turned his attention back to Hitomi cringing in fear on the ground. His frowned became thoughtful and he rubbed his lip. "Van Fanel traveling with a girl named Hitomi... Hitomi... Ah, yes!" he suddenly smiled. "Hitomi, the girl from the Moon of Illusions! Yes, you're still a very substantial prize. Helped many Kingdoms in the Great War. Any number of them would pay through the nose to get you back safely. So we can't have you escape just yet, now can we. Search her coat and bag!" he suddenly ordered.

Her coat and nap-sack were ripped away from her and shaken thoroughly of all the items they possessed. She could only watch helplessly as they rifled though her cherished possessions. Her pager. Her Tarot cards. Her many school supplies. She saw one of the men pick up a piece of folded white silk that had fallen from her bag next. Panic struck Hitomi for some reason she couldn't fathom as she rushed to retrieve it. The Raider kept it just out of her reach, confused, then tossed it to his leader while restraining Hitomi.

"What's this now to cause you so much worry?" Sheahan wondered, unfolding the silk, ignoring Hitomi's pleas to the contrary.

The silk floated to the ground, leaving Sheahan to hold an immaculate white feather. It shimmered with its own inner light in the dimly lit tent. The corner of his eyes began to twitch at the sight of this perfection.

"There was a second one tucked into her coat." another Raider stated as he handed over the second object.

The Raider's leader was in sheer awe of the sight. "Draconian feathers!" he breathed in reverence.

He had heard of these rare objects and knew of collectors who would give everything they owned for just one of these feathers. And here he was holding two of them. He held whole Kingdoms in his hands. He suddenly grabbed Hitomi by the throat to pull her nearer.

"Where did you get these?" he demanded, shoving the feathers in her face.

She remained silent, defiant.

"Answer me!" he bellowed, his hand tightening around her neck.

Stars began to play before her eyes, his grip having cut her blood flow to her brain, but she was determined not to tell him anything.

*He's killing you! Tell him!* Van's voice seemed to scream in her mind. She blinked. Did he really...? *Please!*

"... From... from Van..." she managed to croak, in response to the mental plea.

"Does he have more?"

*It's all right, tell him*, the voice soothed gently from within.

A tear slipped from her eye. "... yes..."

Sheahan threw her to the ground with a growing gleeful smile. "Draconian feathers are very rare, boys, hard to come by, and are worth several hundred times their weight in precious gems." he explained to him men. "Send word to the boy King on where we are. If he wants her back as badly as I think he does, then he'll have to pay dearly."

* * *

Van let his breath go ever so slowly, his eyes remaining closed for a moment longer. She was safe now... for the moment. But it had worked. He could feel what she felt when she felt it. And, better still, he could communicate with her over distances. It had been hard, and painful, but he had reached her in time. He opened his eyes to be greeted by the worried faces of his Advisory Council and of his friends gathered around the war table.

"Van-sama, are you all right?" orange furred Merle questioned carefully, noting how pale he was.

"Yes, but it was close." he answered, hoping no one caught the slight quiver in his voice.

He had felt the life suddenly being squeezed out of Hitomi, felt her lack of breath and the growing lightheadedness. His reaction had been almost instinctive, reaching his mind out to her to help her any way he could. She had been willing to die to protect him and his secret. Deep down a small smile touched his worried heart. She could show such devotion sometimes, it was awe-inspiring. His choice was perfect. He blinked and looked to the battle plans being drawn up before him.

A scout had recently come back to Fanelia with the location of the Raider camp, something he had stumbled upon accidentally. It was a welcome blessing. Plans could be made in advance without having to wait to hear where the Raiders were based. Allen would lead the Asturian army on a left flank assault. Prince Sid of Freid would send his formidable warriors to attack from the opposite side. He looked to the small boy and smiled at his willingness to help. He knew Sid thought of Hitomi as the Sister he never had and blessed him for his quick arrival. He looked to the plans again. Fanelia's army would charge up the middle. It would work. It had too. He nodded to the assembly, a signal that sent them all off to prepare their part in the impending rescue effort. An advisor touched his arm to restrain him for a moment more. Van looked at the Advisory Council with barely concealed impatience.

"Lord Fanel, there is one more matter we must look into." one began.

"What matter?"

"An heir."

"You think of that at a time like this? I refuse to even discuss the matter until Hitomi is safe."

"But, Sire--"

"No. Subject tabled." and he quickly walked away. He had his own part in the rescue to attend to and prepare for.

The Advisory Council looked at each other, perplexed and a little anxious. A decision had been taken the day he had left for the Moon of Illusions and it had been acted upon already with the belief that he would be in agreement with the decision that was made for him. What were they to do now about the Princess?"

* * *

A full day had passed since her capture. Hitomi sat alone in the middle of a small tent and shivered in the dark. Outside the winds howled from the growing snowstorm. No heat reigned in this tent, all sources of heat having been removed to keep her docile and to keep her from trying to escape. This also included her clothes having been removed as well, torn to shreds. The overwhelming sense of humiliation returned and turned her skin a deep crimson as she remembered the enjoyment the Raiders had taken in stripping her. Her cries and struggle only seemed to encourage them. Thankfully they had restrained themselves from forcing themselves on her. All she had been given to wear, for modesty's sake, was a large sheet of pale gold silk. Silk, even fashioned in a wrap-around toga, offered no warmth whatsoever to the frightened girl. She looked to her Tarot cards lying on the ground nearby, the one item in her possession she had been allowed to keep with her, and sighed, her breath crystallizing in the cold night air.

Might as well do a reading for myself to pass the time, she reasoned to herself as she reached for the deck.

Her fingers barely touched the cards when an almost forgotten sensation gripped every one of her senses. Hitomi froze as the feeling intensified. A vision was coming.

No, not again! she pleaded silently.

Her mind's eye plunged into darkness. Then the images came.

Men running.

Clashing swords.

Cries of war.

Cried of death.

Guymelefs.

Fire!

The fire spread everywhere, consuming people, animals, and tents.

Through the flames appeared Escaflowne. The pilot's visor was down and she could see Van shouting orders to his men.

A catapult was taking careful aim at the powerful guymelef. A fireball was lit on the catapult and was sent sailing through the air. It collided with Escaflowne, directly into the open pilot's visor.

Hitomi screamed in anguish, the vision fading, then passed out with tears in her eyes.

To Be Continued…