From:   [email protected]
Date: Thu Jan 4, 2001 6:29pm
Subject: A Silver Feather Ch. 7


~ This is chapter seven (I think). I'm getting a little confused. 
Writing six different stories at one time can do that to you! If 
anyone out there is reading this PLEASE comment. I'm beginning to 
sink into despair! Somebody has to have _something_ to say about this 
fic... Right?

Disclaimer: I think everyone knows I dont own Escaflowne.

A Silver Feather Carried on the Winds of Fate
By: Penybright
Chapter Seven
	Maureyn went down in a disheveled heap as the figure flew 
over her, careening into the wall. She quickly scrambled to her feet 
fleeing from the room. As she ran, she heard the footsteps of her 
pursuer following not far behind. It didn't take long before Maureyn 
was lost in the unfamiliar, winding hallways. She was beginning to 
wonder if she would ever know her way around the palace. Eventually, 
she found herself outside in the courtyards, which she was familiar 
with. Moonlight illuminated patches of the courtyard, the rest 
cloaked in inky darkness. She continued to run over the cobblestones, 
without thinking of where she was going. 
	Maureyn breathed in ragged gasps of air as her eyes 
frantically searched for somewhere to hide, or at least something to 
defend herself with. Her sword was absent from her side this evening 
due to the guests in the palace. It wouldn't be proper, or polite, 
for a princess to be carrying a sword in front of dignitaries and 
royals. Maureyn rounded a corner in the tall, leafy shrubbery, flying 
into someone.
	"What the?..." a voice exclaimed angrily. Maureyn stumbled 
back into the arms of her attacker with a small cry of surprise. He 
wrapped his arm around her waist, raising his other hand up to her 
neck. Maureyn saw cold steel glittering dully in the moonlight, and 
became deathly still. 
	"What do you want?" she gulped nervously.
	"Your blood," a cold, venomous voice replied. Maureyn  
shivered involuntarily. "You Draconians are a plague sent to destroy 
mankind. I will destroy you!" 
	"Let her go!"
	"D-Drake?" Maureyn exclaimed. The figure she had collided 
with stepped out of the shadows to reveal, none other than Drake.
	"Yes, it's me Maureyn." He turned his attention to her 
assassin. "Now, let her go!"
	"I will let her go. To her eternal damnation!" The man began 
to pull the knife across Maureyn's throat. 
	"NO!" cried Drake, running towards them both. Maureyn 
instinctively tried to cringe away from the blade. In doing so, she 
stepped on her captors foot. The man let out a yelp of pain and the 
dagger stopped. Maureyn took advantage of the situation, and ground 
her heel into his toes. While the man was off-guard she grabbed his 
wrist and threw him to the ground violently. Drake kicked the knife 
out of his hand and hauled him roughly to his feet. 
	"I told you to let her go," he said shaking his head 
ruefully. There was a clatter as several guards rushed to the spot. 
They came upon the scene and stopped in shock. Maureyn sighed and 
rolled her eyes.
	"Take the criminal to his cell, where he'll await 
questioning. And you needn't worry my friend, I will personally ask 
the questions," Maureyn said in a dangerously menacing voice. The 
prisoner was hauled of to the dungeons struggling the whole way. 
Maureyn turned to Drake.
	"For what it's worth, thanks."
	"I don't know why you're thanking me. I didn't do anything," 
Drake said disgusted with himself. 
	"At least you tried," Maureyn smiled. Her smile slowly melted 
away as she saw the worried look on Drake's face. "What's wrong?"
	"Your neck, it's bleeding." Drake pulled a handkerchief out 
of his pocket and walked over to Maureyn. He gently tied the cloth 
around her neck and stepped back.
	"You better have the physicians look at that," Drake said 
softly.
	"T-Thank...you," Maureyn stammered as Drake walked away. She 
stood there for a few more moments, then turned back to the palace. 
Maureyn trudged wearily back to her room. She was so very tired, and 
that running had only exhausted her further. When Maureyn entered her 
room she was confronted with a very agitated Hitomi, a concerned 
Merle, and Van, who was pacing anxiously, rage darkening his 
countenance. Maureyn sighed, resigned to her fate. Hitomi rushed over 
to her, hugging the daylights out of her.
	"Hitomi, please! I need to breath!" Maureyn gasped. Hitomi 
apologized and stepped back. This process was repeated by Merle. Van 
looked at his sister with concern. 
	"You're bleeding," he stated flatly. Maureyn's hand flew up 
to her neck with Drake's handkerchief wrapped around it, a small, 
growing stain of dark blood on it. 
	"It's not that bad. It's only a little nick."
	"You could have been killed!" Van exploded. "I just found my 
sister and I almost lost her in the course of two weeks! Of course 
it's bad...."
	"Van," Hitomi said softly. "Calm down. Everything is all 
right now," she comforted him. Van glared at Hitomi, and then his 
eyes softened. He nodded solemnly and wrapped an arm around Hitomi's 
waist. Merle looked jealously at the two and began to pout. Maureyn 
gave her a warning glance and Merle stuck her tongue out at her. 
Maureyn sighed and shook her head. Hitomi enfolded her arms around 
Van hugging him tightly. Van glanced up at Maureyn.
	"I think there's some things I should explain to you," he 
began. Maureyn nodded as Van began to tell her about their mother and 
Draconians, the descendants of Atlantis. Maureyn listened intently to 
the telling, gaining some understanding of her unknown past. It was 
morning before Van finished. The three of them left, Van shutting the 
door softly behind him. Maureyn collapsed gratefully onto her bed, 
falling asleep instantly. Instead of the peaceful sleep she deserved, 
Maureyn had nightmarish visions of the prophecy she had told. She 
tossed and turned fitfully in her sleep, trying to rid herself of the 
horrid visions.
	"Soon," a voice whispered. "Soon it will come."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
	"Are you all right Van?" Hitomi asked with concern as they 
left Maureyn's room. Merle quickly scampered off to her room, leaving 
the two alone. Hitomi was answered with silence. "Van?" she said with 
worry. Van didn't say a word, but took her hand in his and led her to 
the courtyard. Hitomi followed in silence, content to just hold his 
hand. The soft glow of the morning sun cast it's rays over the cold 
stones of the palace. The sweet melody of birds singing drifted on 
the crisp dawn breeze. Van stopped underneath a tree with low, 
dropping branches. The leafy boughs effectively shielded them from 
prying eyes. A small smile crept onto Hitomi's face. Van turned to 
face her, and took up both her hands in his. He gazed into Hitomi's 
eyes lovingly and smiled roguishly. Hitomi sighed and flung her arms 
around Van, hugging him. The two of them stood like that for several 
minutes. Van eventually pulled away regretfully. He picked up 
Hitomi's hands again, and starred into her pale green gaze.
	"Hitomi, almost loosing my sister has....caused me to realize 
something. I know now what you really mean to me."
	"Oh, Van!" Hitomi whispered, near tears.
	"Hitomi, I realized... I realized just how much... I... I... 
love you...and I was wondering... Would you..." He paused, taking a 
shaky breath. "Would you do me the honor... of becoming my queen... 
my wife?" Van looked at Hitomi with uneasiness in his warm brown 
eyes. When she didn't respond immediately his gaze began to waver, a 
look of defeat crossing his features.
	"I... I... Van, yes!" Hitomi exclaimed, breathless. "Van... I 
love you too, and I would be honored to be your wife," Hitomi said 
through her tears of joy. Hitomi flew into Van's arms, snuggling into 
his embrace. 
	"I'm so glad," he whispered lovingly before capturing Hitomi 
in a passionate kiss. The newly engaged couple remained together 
under the tree, in each others' arms, for the rest of the day, their 
troubles momentarily forgotten.