Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Through The Glass ❯ Visions of Escape ( Chapter 4 )

Visions of Escape

11-18-01

SirLadySketch@home.com

*Sorry it's taken so long to get this out, everyone. I'm working on getting what I can typed when I can. I hope to be able to finish the rest this upcoming long weekend, but who knows how much I'll actually get done? Anyways, hope you enjoy this, I'm thinking about taking this off, then reposting it when completed. What do you think? Lemme know, k?

Visions of Escape

The next few days passed quickly, as one would expect in the heat of a week filled of laughter, amusement, shows, games, and all kinds entertainment long promised to the kingdom by the young King of Fanelia. If only it had been all laughter and joy for those in the palace. The King walked about in a guarded way, and forced a cheerful face when his counselors made a fuss about him overworking himself. Merle was by his side almost the entire time, trying to ease his discomfort and fear as best she could without getting in the way. The knight of Heaven, Allen Schezar, moped about the castle, trying to keep watch on his little sister while fulfilling his duties as representative of Asturia. In fact, the only one who was really cheerful was the Lady Celena Schezar, who smiled amiably anytime someone spoke to her. A changed woman, some remarked that she'd snapped; the pressure of being a lady had been too much for her after all those years she'd been raised as a commoner in Zaibach. Had anyone known the truth about her past or the lady herself, they'd be shocked to know that they were closer to the truth than they'd possibly imagined. Celena walked about the castle almost always smiling, the only times she would falter would be when Allen insisted that she should rest, that the shock of her past was too much for her to force herself to be cheerful like this. Celena smirked as she remembered the words Dilandau had suggested she use, and then frowned when she remembered how saying them to her brother had gotten her into her present situation- locked in her room. She scowled, muttering unladylike words under her breath and staring at the bird flitting about merrily in the cage beside the window. She smiled slightly as it sang sweetly, not the normally charming but empty headed smile of Celena Schezar, but not the insane grin of Dilandau either. She spoke softly to the bird, her thoughts quiet as Dilandau "slept". "Are you homesick, little bird? Do you want to be free?"

"Celena? Are you awake? I'm coming in." A soft click was heard and Allen stepped through the door, holding a tray of food for her. She scowled and turned her attention back to the window. He flushed ever so slightly and put the tray down on a table, then walked over to where she was sitting. "I'm sorry, Celena. I know you must be angry with me. But you know-"

"It's for your own good. Don't presume you know what's best for me, Allen. I can hardly see how putting me under house arrest is for the best. If I promise to be good, will you let me out?" He sighed, and walked over to the window.

"I've sent for a sorcerer. He'll be here within a week." She gasped, clutching her skirts in balled fists and her face went white with fear. Inside, something inside awoke and lurched. She panted, trying to keep the fear from her voice.

"Why? Brother, why did you send for one so soon? You said you'd wait until we got home!!" She didn't move even as he pulled her close to him in a strong embrace, her fear mixed with the rage and terror within threatened to make her tremble as they recalled what the last sorcerers who had touched them had done. She hissed in the memory of pain hardly bearable, the experiments, the needles and the faces all colouring a memory red, and clutched Allen's sleeve, despite Dilandau's cry for her to hit him and make him suffer for summoning the ones who had made them this way. "I don't want to see them, Brother... Keep them away from me! I don't want to be near any of them again!!" She cried onto his shoulder, and he patted her back, trying to comfort her by speaking in his most soothing tones.

"Shh, Celena, it will be alright. I'm here, and I promised I wouldn't leave you alone with them. Remember? I promised you, I'll never leave you alone again." She buried her face harder into his shoulder, and he began to feel weak and ineffective. He tried to smile, and said in a lighter tone, "Why don't you go out with Merle and see some of the festivities? You've been cooped up here long enough; I think what you really need is some fresh air and a change from the castle atmosphere." She looked up, eyes still wet with tears.

"R-re-really Brother?" He smiled fondly, she seemed so childlike, so much like how she remembered her before, so innocent and so fragile.

"Of course. Now, why don't you clean yourself up, get something to eat, then run off to see where Merle is? I'm sure she'll be happy to take you out." She laughed and hugged him tightly, making him gasp when he felt the strength he didn't know she possessed.

"Thank you Brother!! I will, I will!!" She ran over to the wardrobe, threw it open, and started to undress to get into her new attire. Allen blushed and closed his eyes, walking towards the door.

"I'll leave you to get dressed then. Have fun, Celena."

"I will Brother! Thank you!" Allen sighed and shook his head, walking down the corridor, not stopping even as a voice stated flatly,

"You're going to regret that, I'm sure." Allen flushed in anger somewhat, but kept his tongue- it would not be fit for him to attack his host after all.

"Maybe. But anything to make her happy, I will do. She confuses me so much- mopey one moment, giggling the next. She seems both unstable and yet at the same time a mastermind."

"Dilandau." The King's statement seemed to hang in the air, chilling the hall despite the warm sunlight pouring in from the large windows. Allen quickened his pace.

"I pray the sorcerer puts an end to it all soon."

"As do I, or your sake, as well as your sister's."

"C'mon, Celena! You walk way to slow to do anything!! The best place for shopping is over here!" The cat-girl pointed over in the direction of another market square, brightly decorated for the occasion. Celena, who did not have the benefits of wearing a short dress, lagged behind, slightly winded and hiking her skirts above her knees.

"I'm... sorry... Have to.... rest.. A moment...." The woman fell onto a bench by the side of the road, gasping and trying to catch her breath. The cat girl walked over, shaking her head.

"Celena! Don't you have anything better to go around in than... that?" Celena looked down at the frilly pink dress in equal disgust, then shook her head, sighing. In a mocking tone, she repeated the words her maid had spoken to her when they'd purchased the dress.

"'Tis better to be at the height of fashion than the height of comfort, or so said my maid back home. Do you mind if I find something a little more breathable to wander around in? I won't be able to do half the things I'd hoped if I'm stuck in this thing." She tugged at one of the laced sleeves, and Merle grinned.

"Well... I hafta admit, it is kinda... flashy... We'll go this way to get you something, then we've gotta hurry if you wanna see the knights in the tournament. There're some great warriors competing, and we really oughta try to see at least one of the sparring matches. So come on!" The cat girl raced off in the opposite direction she'd pointed earlier, and Celena hurried to follow her, making sure not to lose her in the crowds. An hour later, Celena, garbed in new attire similar to her companion's, sat next to the girl cheering on some of the competitors in the afternoon sparring match, guessing between themselves who would win. Celena was almost always right- she was able to spot the sloppy fighter from those who had potential. After the trials were over and new entertainment was brought to the field, Merle stretched languidly, watching a jester setup for some tricks around the small space.

"Soooo.... Didn't I tell you that that guy was gonna win? Anyway, what do you want to do- Celena?" The redhead blinked and looked around, finding her companion missing and a man sitting beside her, drinking heavily from a large horn of ale. "Celena!! Where are you?" The man who'd taken Celena's spot said something rude that angered the girl, so when she left a few moments later, he bore five scratches across the face. She walked around the arena for a bit, then shrugged, sighing a little. They'd said that if they'd gotten separated, they'd try to find each other, or if that failed that they would meet at the castle before dark. Merle was a little worried at the idea of Celena wandering around by herself, but there were plenty of guards around, and the woman did have a history for being able to defend herself very well (though Merle secretly believed this was because of Dilandau's influence on her through subconscious messages. How he pulled it off, she didn't know, but she held to the belief anyway.) So, Merle walked off, trying to shake off the nagging feeling that something was wrong. She spent the remainder of the day visiting some of the various shops and stalls before heading back to the castle, still somewhat worried about her friend. When she was within calling range from the castle, a guard ran up to her, a look of worry and confusion on his face.

"Lady Merle, I am sent to take you to his majesty and Sir Allen of Asturia. They say it is urgent and cannot wait until later. If you'll please follow me." He swiftly turned around without waiting for a response, and Merle was forced to run off after him, sinking feeling in her stomach growing deeper and heavier. The guard led her to Van's private study, where Allen was pacing back and forth while Van rubbed his temples, sighing. When she walked into the room, she could almost taste the anger, upset and fear that came form the two, though Van was bearing it with more composure than Allen. The knight turned as the door opened, then his features fell to an almost disbelieving horror.

"Celena isn't with you." Merle gulped, shaking her head.

"We got separated during one of the tournaments, but we're going to meet up in front of the castle as the sun is setting, so don't worry. I've gotta hurry so that she won't be waiting and think I'm lost or anything!"She laughed, but the two glanced at each other, then Van responded softly,

"You would be waiting a long time then. Celena didn't get lost by accident, Merle, she purposely lost you." Merel gave a half laugh, already fearing the truth.

"Lord Van, there has to be some mistake! I men, there's no reason for her to run off like that, mean with little money and no food or provisions or anything..." She trailed off, knowing it was a weak argument even as she spoke it. "Right Lord Van..?" The young looked at Allen instead.

"Show her, Allen." The pale knight of heaven handed her a piece of paper that had been crushed- either in frustration or by accident, she didn't know. Her eyes widened as she read what the letter said, and began to understand the reason for the increased guards and somewhat flustered appearance of some of the higher ranking officers. They knew what the public didn't: Dilandau Albatou was free. Licking her suddenly dry lips, she looked over the letter again, this time reading it out loud.

"Dearest Brother,

By the time you've found this, I'll be out of the city, and hopefully near the borders of Fanelia. Though when I say 'I', I really mean 'We'. I was able to wake up Dilandau, but he's still worried about you. I refuse to let you hurt him in anyway, Allen! We know that you know what a sorcerer would do to him, and I refuse to lose a part of my past, no matter how bloody and violent it is. You did not live through what I did, you know nothing of the experiences we've shared, the pain we've endured, the good as well as the bad. I refuse to part with someone who understands me more than you, my own brother. I love you, Allen, I hope you know that. But I will not be treated as a child, nor will I allow you to force me to go on, pretending the past didn't happen. It did, and I will live to the end of my days knowing all I have done. I have to have my other half to do this; you will not destroy that which makes me whole.

I decided to take Dilandau's advice and run away, because I believe I know someone who will help. I know that the one I'm thinking of will- a kind heart will not turn away one in need, or so Mother always said. We've though about this thoroughly, and we've thought of everything. Dilandau and I will be separated, the Dragonslayers will be resurrected, and then we'll part ways- you'll never hear from them again, you have my oath as well as Dilandau's. Just make sure that Lord Van doesn't try to follow us, it may be too painful for him. And tell him I'm sorry, but I needed to borrow it and I was sure he wouldn't have handed it over. He'll get the necklace back when I return. And tell Merle I'm sorry for abandoning her like that, but I had to do it to get out of the city without anyone noticing something amiss until it was too late. Don't worry, I've bought supplies, a horse and proper traveling attire for this adventure, and I borrowed one of the knight's practice swords.

And also... I wanted to tell you that when I return it won't be for good. I'm tired of you babying me, and treating me like I'm nothing but a glass doll that you have to lock up all the time. I'm a grown woman, Allen, I can take care of myself. We'll talk when I return.

Please, don't be angry with me.

Love,

Celena

Ps- Don't worry about the bird, I fixed it."

Merle looked down at the letter in disbelief. "She ran away? I never thought she'd have the guts to do that! And what does she mean about fixing the bird?"

"She freed it last night. I found the cage this morning after I found the letter under my evening wear." Allen sank into the chair near Van, putting his head in his hands. Van spoke up.

"We can't afford to let her escape, not if Dilandau could be manipulating her. I'm sending you with Allen in the morning to bring her back before she-" He cut off, lowering his eyes. Merle's heart cried for the young King.

"...Before she summons Hitomi?"

"Precisely."

*AN- ok, sorry it's so late, things have been hectic as of late and this is the first I've been able to type it all up. I think there might be more than the original 15 chpts I'd hoped, but oh well. I'll get 'em up asap, but don't expect anything before the end of this week, k? PLEASE R/R. Lemme know what you think!! ~ SirLadySketch@home.com*