A Silver Feather: Ch 2




~(sigh) Okay, I'm willing to give this another try. I really love to 
write. It's just discouraging when no one really responds. I 
personally like the way this fic is turning out. My beta reader likes 
it too. (even though she's not a huge Esca fan) Anyway, here's the 
second chapter. Sorry, but this one's got another cliffhangar ending. 
Please read and respond! (even if it's just to tell me that this 
story sucks. -I'm desperate for comments. Can you tell?)Without 
futher ado...

A Silver Feather Carried on the Winds of Fate
By: Penybright
Chapter Two
	Maureyn ran from the dinning hall as fast as she could. She 
raced through the winding halls, not caring where her feet took her, 
as long as it was away. A sob managed to escape as she ran, and she 
scolded herself for such foolishness. Maureyn reached a pair of doors 
and burst through them onto a balcony. She skidded to a halt, gasping 
for air. It was evening, and the stars and moons were out. The sky 
was glittering with tiny pinpricks of faceted light. The moons had an 
ethereal glow to them as they floated peacefully in the sky. Silent 
tears began to coarse down Maureyn's face as she gazed at the night 
sky.
	"It was all a lie," she whispered to herself. "All a lie!"
	"No it wasn't," Van said from behind her. Maureyn whipped 
around, startled.
	"And how would you know, brother?" she said angrily.
	"Father and mother would not have abandoned you for no 
reason. They must have been trying to protect you from something," 
Van said softly.
	"Protecting me from what? My own family?!" Maureyn cried as 
she shoved Van out of the way and ran from him.
	"Maureyn, wait!" Van called out to her. 
	"Let her go," Hitomi said to Van, placing a restraining hand 
on his shoulder. "She has a lot to think about right now." 
	Van nodded sadly, and turned to face Hitomi.
	"I had no idea that I had an older sister. Why wasn't I ever 
told?"
	"I'm sure there was a good reason, Van. Your parents were 
good people. They loved their children, all of them."
	"I just wish I knew," Van sighed.
	"It will all work out in time Van. Just give her some space 
to figure things out and straighten up her life."
	"I suppose so," Van said, holding Hitomi to him. "Just when I 
thought things were beginning to settle down," he sighed 
dejectedly. "I really don't want to see another war on Gaea Hitomi."
	"Neither do I, Van. Neither do I."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
	The next morning, Hitomi was walking through the forests near 
the castle. They reminded her of home and filled her with 
tranquility. She became alarmed when she heard the ring of steel 
echoing through the trees. Hitomi dashed off in the direction she had 
heard the sound resonating from. She broke through the foliage to 
find Maureyn standing there. Maureyn was balanced on the balls of her 
feet, swinging a sword in a graceful pattern of arcs. At Hitomi's 
noisy entrance, Maureyn altered her course slightly to bring the 
sword around inches from Hitomi's heart.
	"Maureyn!" Hitomi cried out in alarm. Maureyn lowered the 
sword slowly and re-sheathed it. 		 	"What are you 
doing out here?" Hitomi demanded, breathless.
	"I was thinking," Maureyn replied calmly. "Practicing always 
makes me feel better. It clears my head."
	"Where did you learn to do that?" Hitomi asked, as her heart 
hammered against her ribcage.
	"I told you my entire childhood was spent in training. What 
did you think they taught me?"
	"I guess... that makes sense, "Hitomi admitted. Maureyn 
sighed heavily.
	"I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean to react that way. 
It was all just too much to take. I guess I have a new past to learn 
about now, and a new family." Maureyn looked up into the sun-splashed 
canopy of the forest. "I think I'll like it here," she whispered.
	"I think you'll like it here too," Hitomi comforted 
her. "And, you'll have a new friend. That is, if you want me as a 
friend."
	"I'd be honored to have you as a friend," Maureyn said 
quickly. There was a pause, and then the two women went into peels of 
laughter. Their laughter attracted the attention of a guest who had 
just arrived at the palace. Something streaked out of the trees and 
hugged Hitomi tightly.
	"Merle," Hitomi gasped, the breath knocked out of her.
	"Hitomi!" Merle cried. "I can't believe you're back! It's so 
good to see you again! I've missed you so much," she finished 
excitedly.
	"It's good to see you too, Merle," Hitomi smiled.
	"Who's she?" Merle said, cocking her head in the direction of 
Maureyn.
	"Her name's Maureyn, and as for the rest, you'd better ask 
Van."
	"Why, is she some sort of spy or something?"
	"No, it's nothing like that. It's just a very complicated 
situation... involving the past."
	"Oh," Merle breathed.
	"Merle, have you heard yet?"
	"Heard what?"
	"Serena was lost in Zaibach territory."
	"No!" Merle cried, shocked. "Poor Allen. How is Van taking 
it?"
	"Well..." Hitomi trailed off. "I think Van has a few other 
things on his mind right now." 
	Merle looked at Hitomi suspiciously, then turned to Maureyn. 
Maureyn had her mouth hanging open in astonishment. Upon seeing 
Merle, she hadn't known how to react.
	"You...you're a cat!" Maureyn exclaimed. Merle turned to 
Hitomi.
	"Where'd you dig up her?"
	"She's not from this planet," Hitomi responded.
	"Where's she from then? Your home planet?"
	"No, she's from somewhere called Drongar. No, don't ask me 
any more questions," Hitomi said, cutting Merle off. "She's a friend, 
and you can ask Van about the rest."
	"Fine, I will!" Merle replied huffily, sauntering off through 
the woods towards the palace. Maureyn watched the cat-woman with 
strawberry-pink hair as she disappeared through the trees.
	"That was Merle, your 'adopted' sister," Hitomi told an 
astonished Maureyn.
	"She's my.....sister?"
	"Yes, Van's parents took her in when she was little. They 
found her abandoned."
	"I see," Maureyn said curtly, unsheathing the sword and going 
into stance again. Hitomi sighed and went off to find Merle and Van.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
	That afternoon, Van found Maureyn sitting by a lake in the 
palace gardens. Maureyn heard his approach and stood up, turning 
around to face him. Van saw that Maureyn was once again dressed in 
trousers and a shirt. He sighed to himself and smiled ruefully. He 
would have to talk to her about that. She was a princess of Fanelia 
now, and she had to dress the part. Maureyn smiled as Van approached.
	"Good afternoon, brother," she said cheerfully.
	"Good afternoon. I'm glad to see you're in better spirits 
today." Van missed a step when he saw the sword resting on Maureyn's 
left hip. 
	"Is something wrong?" she asked, concerned. "Van?"
	"You're wearing a sword," he stated in disbelief.
	"I'm sorry, is that wrong? I'm used to wearing  a sword. It's 
a comfort."
	"Maureyn, you're a princess now. I know this is hard, and 
you're having a tough time with this, but there's some guidelines you 
have to follow."
	"Like what?" Maureyn asked suspiciously.
	"First, you can't go around dressed like that," Van said, 
indicating her attire.
	"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" she asked genuinely.
	"It's not that the clothes you're wearing aren't nice, it's 
just that they aren't appropriate. If a foreign dignitary happened to 
stop by right now and saw you..." Van sighed. "Well, let's just say 
it wouldn't be a pleasant ordeal for you, or me. And the sword. I'm 
afraid that you'll have to give that up, too."
	"What?! I can understand the clothes, but the sword? I can't 
give it up. I won't!" Maureyn finished staunchly. "It's a part of who 
I am."
	"You can perhaps keep the sword... if you prove you are 
worthy of it," Van said hesitantly.
	"That suits me fine," Maureyn answered curtly. "Who is to be 
my oponent?"
	"I'm not so sure you want to do this, Maureyn. I don't think--
-"
	"I'll do the honor, Van," Allen said, stepping up in front of 
Maureyn.