Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ To Mend the Rose ❯ For Tenshi ( Chapter 11 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Recommendations:

"Severed" by Eboni: This is REALLY good. It's a take on what if Dilandau and Serena were prematurely separated while still on the Vione. Serena turns out fine...but Dilandau starts to get very very sick. Please read this!

Disclaimer:

Feye: If I owned Escaflowne, then I'd be animating all of my favourite fanfics. *nods* But, do you see any animated fanfics out there??? Huh? No. I didn't think so.

Folken: So, in essence, you are telling us that you do not own Escaflowne.

Feye: ...Isn't that what I just said?

Folken: You could have just been direct.

Feye: *glare* Be glad that I like you, Strategos.

Folken: ^_^

Dilandau: Hey! What about ME???

Feye: That goes without saying.

Dilandau: *sticks tongue out at Folken* Ha! ^_^

Feye: ONWARD!

TO MEND THE ROSE: FOR TENSHI by Feye Morgan

"So, thought you could avoid me forever did you?" Dryden's deep, sarcastic voice caused Van to snap his head up sharply.

"Hello, Dryden," he sighed.

Van had escaped to the library to gain some quiet refuge and to think over what he had learned from Dilandau. Unfortunately, the merchant seemed determined to foil that plan.

"You two promised to tell me what you learned, and so here I am. Cough up."

Dryden took the seat opposite the king, folded his hands beneath his chin, and peered intently at Van. "So? Come on! You found Dilandau, right? He went insane and started talking to the air. I am assuming that you've been able to glean some sort of useful information out of him after you calmed him down."

Van stared at Dryden. "How many people know?"

"About Dilandau talking to the air? Pretty much all of Palas. It's a hot topic for gossip."

Van groaned.

"Van? You're stalling."

"No I'm not. It's just...it all makes sense now...and yet it's all so confusing at the same time. I'd rather sort it out in my head a bit longer before telling you, if you don't mind."

"Oh, but I do mind. Come on Van. We can puzzle it out together. My brain and your information. We can't go wrong."

Van chuckled a bit at Dryden's matter-of-fact tone. He hadn't expected to enjoy the merchant's intrusion, but somehow the other's relaxed, familiar demeanor made him feel more at ease.

"All right then." Van took a breath and launched into a detailed recount of everything that had happened since Dilandau had been brought to Palas. He left out nothing, not even the albino's distress over the crushed petal. When he reached Dilandau's explanation, he proceeded carefully, making sure to recount as much and as exactly as he could remember.

When he finished, even Dryden had a slightly stunned look on his face. "I knew the sorcerers were unethical from reading the journal entries, but I never imagined that they'd go that far."

Van shook his head. After a minute, he opened his mouth reluctantly. "I'm finding it hard to hate him anymore."

Dryden raised his eyebrows. "My, my. Going through a change of heart are we?"

Van glared the the merchant. "He still irritates me to no end."

Dryden smirked. "Of course. He would have that charming personality. Not unlike you."

Van stared at Dryden and sputtered. "WHAT?"

Dryden laughed. "Face it, O King of Fanelia. You're stubborn, pig-headed, arrogant, and determined. Live with it."

Van snorted. "I don't appreciate the comparison," he managed, teeth gritted together.

"I didn't expect you to. Now, back to the madoushi. What are you planning to do?"

Van's expression hardened. "I'm going to take this information to the Peace Council and blow them apart. The Allies will force Zaibach to destroy them."

"What information?"

Van stared at Dryden. "What do you mean 'what information'??? The information I just got done -telling- you!"

"Think the council will buy it?" The merchant's expression was innocent.

"Of course they'll...oh damn," Van cursed. "They won't believe it, will they?"

"Not after his little episode in the woods. He's insane, remember? He hallucinates. Emperor Tsura will laugh in your face."

Van banged his fists on the table, much to the annoyance of the few other occupants of the library. He ignored the dirty looks they shot him.

"So we did this all for nothing? Is that what you're saying?" the king demanded angrily.

Dryden shook his head. "That's not what I'm saying at all. I'm saying you're not done yet. You found Dilandau, but that was only the second step. You know the truth, but now you have to prove it."

"And how do you expect me to do that?" Van asked wryly.

"I have an idea." Dryden examined his fingernails.

Van's eyes went flat. "Dryden?"

The mechart continued to examine his fingernails.

"Yes, the agreement still holds. Is that what you want?"

He grinned. "I get copies of everything you come up with."

"Fine. Now spill it."

"I'll tell you my idea, but not here."

"In my quarters?"

Dryden nodded. "You should talk with Queen Millerna first, however."

Van raised his eyebrows. "You're speaking in riddles."

"We'll need Dilandau. But as of now, Asturia is only waiting for his injuries to heal before setting him up with a war crimes trial date. You'll want to pull some strings, and postpone that decision indefinitely."

"Or until his story can be confirmed."

"At which point a trial will be traded for a pardon."

Van rose. "I'll see to that immediately. Let yourself into my room. I'll be there shortly."

Dryden nodded and stood. "The Queen shouldn't be busy right now. I'd expect she'll be available."

~*~*~*~

Allen strode down the hallway towards the infirmary. He held in his hands a small golden diadem. The smirk still tracing his mouth told of unpleasant things done to Dilandau's attackers.

::I'm sure they are enjoying their stay in their own jail:: he thought wickedly.

The men's commander had been furious, and had immediately discharged them from duty. The man had even saved Allen the trouble of throwing them bodily into a cell, causing the diadem to fall out of one of the men's belt's accidentally. The blonde knight had scooped it up instantly, recognizing it as belonging to Dilandau.

The commander had actually turned a dark shade of purple at the sight of the golden jewelry. "You stole from -and- attacked the prisoner?!?!" Allen had discretely left the scene as the commander began to advance upon the terrified men.

Allen arrived at the infirmary and sought out Dilandau. He had been given a small personal room for protection and privacy. After the incident in the cell, Allen wanted to keep the youth as safe as possible.

The boy was still asleep when Allen entered the room. His face was calm and smooth, a small smile on his lips.

::He actually looks peaceful:: the knight thought. ::I'll bet he hasn't been this relaxed for years. Poor kid::

Allen set the diadem silently on the bedside table, next to the box of rose petals, looked once more at Dilandau, and left.

~*~*~*~

Van was fortunate enough to find Queen Millerna in the throne room. Unfortunately, however, she was surrounded by court ladies and guards. Van decided to wait discretely at the door until he was noticed.

He was noticed fairly quickly, possibly because the Queen herself was looking for a reason to escape the madness by which she was surrounded.

"King Van!" she smiled, a relieved look in her eyes. Van smiled back graciously and bowed.

"Might I request an audience?"

The court ladies frowned, disappointment clearly etched across their features. Millerna, on the other heand, positively beamed. "Of course. Follow me, if you will, King Van."

Van nodded and let the Queen lead him away from the gaggle of gossipers. As soon as she had closed the door to her reception room, she heaved a sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness you came, Van-san. I was about ready to scream." She gave the king an exhausted look.

Van chuckled.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm forgetting myself." She motioned him to sit in a comfortable-looking chair. He obliged, and the Queen sat down opposite him. "What did you come to see me for, Van-san?"

"Please, after all we've been through together, just call me 'Van'."

Millerna smiled. "All right, 'Van'. But only because we're alone."

"I came to see you about Dilandau."

The Queen's expresson grew very serious. She leaned forward attentively, waiting for him to continue.

"You've heard about his...ah..."

"Incident?" she finished for him. "Yes. Everyone has by now," she said wryly.

"He has information concerning the madoushi that would, if revealed, completely ruin them. Most likely it would earn them the death sentence in every nation concerned in the council."

Millerna raised her eyebrows in surprise. "That bad?"

"Worse."

Millerna mulled this news over in her head for several moments. "Where did you get this information from?"

"Um..."

"Let me guess; Dilandau?"

Van nodded glummly. "That's why I need to ask you to postpone the consideration for his trial."

"The issue has not yet come up in the council discussions, but I have a feeling that it will soon. There are many nations that were injured by Zaibach's elite captain."

"You see, the information Dilandau has would not only condemn the madoushi, but it explains Dilandau's behavior. They controlled him completely. Now that he is no longer under their influence, he is no longer a threat."

Millerna nodded. "But you need to first prove this information, is that it?"

Van nodded. "Yes. And we need Dilandau to help us."

Millerna studied the king intently. "And how to you intend to do this?"

Van faltered. "Um...Dryden has a plan...but he hasn't told me yet..."

Millerna tilted her head back and laughed. "Dryden! In that case, you'd best not say anything more! Knowing him, I'll be best off in ignorance."

Van silently agreed with her.

"So, I'm betting that once Dilandau is well again, he will be taking a leave of absence from this palace?"

Van looked uncomfortable. "Er...I really don't know yet..."

Millerna nodded. "I will be sure to postpone any discussion of Dilandau until you are ready with your information, or, if the case happens, you do not succeed."

Van preferred not to dwell on the latter case. It infuriated him to think that such monsters could be let free in the world. He rose from his seat and bowed to the Queen. "Thank you, good Queen."

She smiled. "You're very welcome. Now, go off and find Dryden."

Van grinned at her and walked to the door. Just as he reached to open it, she spoke again. Her voice was serious.

"Van."

He turned to look at her. Her eyes locked with his.

"Don't get caught."

Van was silent. He nodded once, and left.

~*~*~*~

Allen smiled when he spotted Van walking down the hallway. He fell into step beside him. "Hello, Van."

"Hello, Allen."

"What have you been up to?"

"I've just been to talk to Queen Millerna about Dilandau."

"Ah."

Silence fell between the two for several moments. Then Allen continued. "About his information?"

Van nodded wordlessly.

"She didn't buy it did she?"

Van hesitated. "It wasn't that..." He paused as he reached the door to his quarters. "You'd better come inside."

Allen frowned in puzzlement as he followed Van through the door. The frown turned into a downright glare when he spotted Dryden lounging in a chair.

"What is he doing here?" he snapped.

"My, my!" Dryden laughed. "Chip on your shoulder?"

Allen shot a look full of daggers at the merchant.

"Allen, please," Van sighed, slightly annoyed. "Dryden has a plan."

"Huh. And how much are you charging?" the knight shot.

Dryden assumed a hurt expression. "Nothing. Just that the agreement from before holds; whatever you find, I get as well.

Allen did not change his hostile stare.

"ALLEN!" Van yelled, finally fed up. "Put your personal vendetta aside for one moment and cooperate!"

Allen shot Van a pointed look.

"Hey, don't look at me like that. Sure I got annoyed with Dilandau, but I cooperated, didn't I?"

Allen sighed and reluctantly folded his arms. "Fine."

"Okay, Dryden. What's the plan?"

Dryden leaned back. "It's very dangerous. It's also illegal."

Van nodded. "Millerna guessed as much."

The merchant chuckled. "She has wits, that one. I'll tell you this up front: if you're caught, we're all dead."

"Wait a minute," Allen broke in. "You make it sound as if you aren't participating in whatever it is you're proposing."

"I'm not made for covert operations. I provide the brains and the means, you execute it."

Allen glared.

"Allen, let's just hear what the plan is." The king looked expectantly at Dryden.

"Simple in concept: just break into the madoushi's lab and steal their incriminating documents."

Van and Allen's mouths dropped open simultaneously. "You're insane!" they shouted at once.

Dryden raised his hands. "I know it sounds that way, but it isn't impossible. My father did it. So can you."

"Meiden had Geckos!" Allen snapped.

Dryden raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying you aren't smarter than a Gecko?"

Allen sputtered.

Van broke in, "It's not that we aren't smart! It's that we can't climb walls! Geckos are the best thieves on Gaea!"

"You two are intelligent, stealthy, and fast. And you'll have Dilandau with you. We need him, since he is the only person alive, besides the sorcerers themselves, who knows where the labs are in the Zaibach capital."

Allen nearly rose from his seat in fury. "What makes you so sure that Dilandau will comply?"

Dryden simply looked blandly at the furious knight. "He will if he wants the madoushi put away."

"It might kill him to go back there!" Allen's knuckles were white.

"Allen is right." Van looked angry as well. "First of all, how the hell do you expect us to get to the Zaibach capital?"

"I have a merchant convoy bound for the capital in about a week. You can hide on board." He studied Van and Allen. "I can disguise the two of you as well. Dilandau will be harder; he has very distinctive features. But I think, with my funds, that I can manage."

Allen shook his head. "No."

Dryden frowned. "What do you mean 'no'?"

"I MEAN NO!" the knight yelled. "We are NOT going through with this ridiculous suicide venture of yours!"

Dryden was annoyed now as well. "Then everything we've done so far has been in vain. Your information will rot like dust, Dilandau will be executed, and those piles of filth in Zaibach will go on unharmed. Don't you understand? This is the only way! I want to see those monsters destroyed as much as you do, and this is the only option we have!"

Allen shook his head, somewhat less angry at Dryden's sincerity. "No. It's impossible. I refuse to risk it."

Dryden's eyes narrowed. "Van?"

Van was silent. "If Allen isn't going, then I won't. I wouldn't stand a chance."

"Good," Allen snapped.

Dryden clutched the armrests hard. He turned a steely gaze onto Allen. "You once had a sister, Allen."

Allen froze, his face a mask of ice.

"She disappeared about the age of five, didn't she?"

Allen looked at the merchant with an expression of pure hatred. His jaw worked, but somehow he couldn't get himself to speak.

"The madoushi kidnapped children around that age, and I heard that the late emperor had a grudge against your father."

Allen looked as if he had been hit by a crima spear out of the blue. "Serena..." His face twisted. "You have no proof! You don't know anything about her!"

"You're right: I don't. But are you willing to risk the chance that I'm right?"

Allen was silent for a very long time. Van could see emotions in turmoil inside him.

::Serena...what if he's right? What if she was taken by the madoushi. Dilandau wouldn't remember if she was; the only other prisoner he knew was Tenshi, and she wasn't Serena. The only way I'll ever know is if...::

"I'll go."

"Good." Dryden clapped his hands together in anticipation. "Now, be prepared to leave in a week and two days. Dilandau will be healed by then, won't he?"

Van was doubtful. "He was hurt pretty badly..."

Dryden frowned thoughtfully. "I suppose I could postpone the convoy until two weeks. I'll pin it on faulty equipment in the ship. I would suggest breaking the news to Dilandau as soon as you can."
Dryden stood. "Find me the day before so we can work out the details. I'll make arrangements." He grinned. "I have connections in low places."

"You sure do," Allen muttered as the merchant left. "Jichyia. What have we gotten ourselves into?"

Van sighed wearily. "I don't know, Allen. I really don't."

~*~*~*~

Dilandau was awake when Van and Allen slipped through his door. The albino groaned inwardly.

"Coming to squeeze more out of me?" he asked sourly. "I've told you everything I can already."

Van shook his unruly head. "No, Dilandau. We're not here for that."

"Huh. Well then?"

Van and Allen exchanged uncomfortable glances.

~Oh no~

Dilandau groaned out loud this time. "Good god, just tell me, all right?"

"Fine then." Van brutally and bluntly told the albino of Dryden's plan, and of Dilandau's part in it. When he finished, Dilandau was staring at Van in shocked disbelief.

"Y-you want me to...to go back there?" The youth's voice was small and trembling. His face had drained of all color, and his usable hand clenched the covers in a vice-like grip born of terror.

Van nodded. "You won't be alone. You'll be with us-"

"NO!" Dilandau screamed. "No! Nonononononononono..." He pulled the covers over his head and continued to babble incoherently. His entire body was shaking beneath the covers. Visions of dark, terror-filled nights swarmed in his memory. Black-clad demons laughed at him from the shadows, and pierced him with sharp metal objects.

~Leave me alone! Stay away!~

Van and Allen's eyes grew wide with concern. Allen approached the terrified youth, forcibly yanked the covers down from his face, and pinned his shoulders. Tears streaked the boy's eyes and trickled down his cheeks.

"No!" he pleaded desperately. "Please don't make me go back! Please! I'd rather die than go back!"

Allen just looked at the terrified, trembling boy, at a loss as to what to say. It was Van who spoke next, kneeling down by the bed.

"Dilandau," he said, his voice strangely calm and comforting. "Look at me, Dilandau."

Dilandau looked in spite of himself. Van's face was almost unreadable...but was that concern in his eyes? Since when did Van Fanel care about Dilandau?

The youth felt a hand grasp his wrist to place a hard object in his palm. Dilandau looked down.

It was the rose box.

Dilandau looked back up at Van, the terror in his mind receeding to be replaced by curiosity.

"Remember Tenshi, Dilandau?" Van asked, his eyes boring into Dilandau's ruby ones. "Remember her? Remember how innocent she was? Remember what They did to her? Remember how she died?"

Dilandau could only stare into Van's deep cinnamon eyes, at a loss for words.

"This is the only way to stop Them. How many more innocent Tenshis will die, if you don't help us stop Them? How many more children will suffer?"

Dilandau slowly broke the gaze to look at the rose box.

~Tenshi~

He remembered her. He remembered everything about her. Golden hair and silver eyes. The most beautiful eyes. She had always seemed so wise, and so innocent at the same time.

~*~*~*~

"Tenshi?" A nine year old Dilandau looked curiously at a young girl of about six or seven. "Why aren't you afraid?"

The girl smiled serenely at Dilandau. "Because it'll be all right," she said simply.

Dilandau tilted his head. "No it won't. They're going to hurt us." A twinge of fear crept into the boy's voice.

"But they can't steal our souls, can they? As long as we have ourselves, then we'll be okay." She smiled brightly.

Dilandau stared at the girl in childlike wonder. "No one's ever made it out of their final test before, Tenshi," he said timidly.

"I'm not afraid."

Silence.

"Tenshi?"

"Yes?"

"Is there a place after death?"

"We have to go somewhere, Dilandau. I was told that we go to a lovely place after we die, all comfy with clouds as beds and rainbows as playgrounds."

"Do many people go there?"

"Every time a rose petal drops, a person goes to heaven. And there are -a lot- of roses out there." Tenshi beamed at an amazed Dilandau.

~*~*~*~

Dilandau closed his fingers over the rose box.

~For Tenshi~

"I'll go."

~*~*~*~
AN:
Oh yes! Almost forgot! There's a new anime fanfiction site up, and it needs more stories! 22 out of the 29 are Escaflowne ^_^ Cool huh? Do look it up!

www.anime-fiction.net