When Escaflowne Resuced Trilladen Chapter 15
by Jean  [email protected]

CHAPTER FIFTEEN:

The Day Before Departure

******************************* 

Van and Merle boarded the floating fortress from the transit carrier. The loading
dock had been dramatically altered. Whereas before the whole deck looked much
like a military outfit with observation units and sentries strategically positioned.
Now there was no sign of the dock being anything more than an over burdened
loading dock of a dilapidated old cargo vessel hauling food goods and furniture,
odds and ends.

The place even sported a crusty old barter man, eye patch and all. The walls that
were once clean were covered in a film of grime that bespoke neglect by years.
Bits of the wall that separated the dock from the corridor of lift shafts to either
points of the ship had gaping holes in them. Grubby disheveled workers lazed
about as if tired from a hard day of loading and stocking the cargo into the holding
cells for each of the goods brought in.

And then there was Van looking very majestic. His clothing was not ostentatious,
actually very understated for a king. But they were tailored fit. Adorning his left hip
was a sheathed sword, only the hilt of it revealing the royal crest of Fanelia. He
strode in purposefully, not waiting for Merle. He was always unconscious of Merle
until she seemed to need him most. She walked at her own pace, not yet
prepared to face Folken again.

One of the workers eased back against the large crates tipped back his
work-helmet and grinned wickedly. He was exceptionally tall and one arm was
completely covered and the other exposed to show a hard bulging muscled
canvas for a tattoo that even from a distance could be discerned as a shapely
woman with red hair. The handsomely scruffy fellow had a stubble face that
needed shaving. He had a patch over one eye, and unruly jet-black hair that had
one small streak of gray rising up in a cavalier fashion. Not even Merle
recognized him.

"Brother, dear brother! Come at last to greet the prodigal son! How good it is to
see you!" The worker revealed himself to be none other than Folken,
himself-mischievous, not at all serious or brooding as before.

Merle was taken aback by his demeanor. Is he Folken or a pirate? And that patch has got
to go. She sauntered up to him with a skeptical look on her face. He's actually leering
at me?

Van wasn't speechless, but close. "Folken, I..."

"Well, you did tell me to look the part, along with the ship." Folken grinned from
ear to ear. "Do you have any idea how refreshing it is to be away from performing
the duties of state- day to day doldrums, to say the least. Am I not the pirate at
hand, and here's my Barter Man, Darius, and..." he wrapped his arm around the
waist smiling down at her, "complete with a comely wench!" Then he winked.

Merle tried to stifle a giggle, knowing how serious things had developed with
Celena being kidnapped, but seeing her Folken in such a jovial state was a rare
sweetness to be savored. She decided to play along with him, Van's disapproval
be damned. She looked up and batted her eyes at him as he looked down at her
with relish. 

Van's expression darkened. He stepped up to the two and took Merle's free hand
to separate them. Merle obediently stepped away, though reluctantly. "I'm sorry,
Folken, but this is no time for joking around. I know you haven't heard yet, but the
last passenger vessel brought bad tidings."

Folken straightened up at that and removed his hat and patch and looked Van
square in the eyes. "What news?

"Celena has been kidnapped. A griffin took off with her last week, back to
Trilladen, no doubt. Allen's not himself, but very distraught. There can be only one
reason this Mugwa high priest would want her." Van ended grimly.

"Dillandau." Folken intoned as if numb.

"Yes, and Allen vows blood from Mugwa." Van informed.

"But as a knight..." Folken started.

"It doesn't matter to him. He's changed. His bride has done that, I think. The
Princess Edwina of Trilladen wears his family signet ring, and he's claimed
her!" Van emphasized.

"Well, well!" Folken raised his eyebrows. "It's hard to picture him settled with just
one woman. She posed no objections? She is a crown Princess, after all, and he
a lowly knight of the order! His missions will take him where he is needed most in
the kingdom. He actually had the audacity to just claim her as in the days of
old? That hasn't been done since...I don't know! I know it didn't happen in our
grandfather's reign!" He said.

He rambled on almost to himself. "He's got balls as big as church bells. That was
a right given to his order centuries ago. That was done to keep the honor of
knights who had been away from home too long during The Quest and had
perchanced upon a woman whom they wanted to marry. Is the union even going
to be recognized? What do the monks say?"

Van looked positively obstinate and annoyed. "Allen is going to recognize it as I
do. His old ways are gone for good if he knows what's good for him. He just
took the Princess of Trilladen as his own. Definitely a breach of good
judgment, but that has to remain water under the bridge. If a simple official
ceremony cements it, then fine. She's no longer a virgin, as he publicly
stated, and I can't wait to wipe the slate clean to be rid of any sticky situations
brewing from it." 

"So this is the true reason for the unexpected pleasure of your company. I've
been a month here, at your behest, refurbishing a mighty war vessel into
broken-down tug ship, waiting for you. I've seen Merle at least a dozen times, all
wonderful and official and completely impersonal as you've
requested-chaperones and all, hoping the next time she visited you would be
escorting her. Now that the situation is dire, I see you, my dear brother. I suppose
it can't be helped. Welcome abroad! As the captain of this bulky, over
encumbered cargo vessel, I hope your pilgrimage is pleasant." Folken bowed to
his sibling and his old mask reappeared.

Van faltered. "I'm sorry, Folken. But the people still feel the sting of the hurt from
the Great War. I must be sensitive to their needs. No real restitution was ever
executed, save to those slain in battle and the death of Dornkirk. That has been
their only consolation, after so many families were torn apart, homes burned."
Van looked down and shook his head with regret.

Folken remained very still and spoke softly. "I know that I can never atone for my
sins. I was young and week, Van: wounded by a dragon I was to kill only to
become less of a man, much less a king. I suppose it would have been better if
Dornkirk had never found me and saved my life. I would not have owed him such
a steep debt, or been so easily swayed to his way of thinking, but I thought I had
been given a second chance."

Folken sighed, feeling old again. "It's ironic, really. I have such a vague
recollection of those last days before the end. It's as if I wasn't really there, yet I
was a key player. I knew in the end that I was wrong, and I remember trying to
help you, but then it all goes blank. I don't really know why I'm alive to even speak
of it. So many questions in my mind, not answered." 

Folken shook his head, looking confused and troubled, and then he sharply
looked up as if almost grasping something. "I feel as if my being here is fulfilling
some destiny, and instead of being a key player, I'm a pawn. Does any of this
make sense?"

Van shrugged. "I don't know. I thought you were dead. I know I saw you
die. And when word came that you were safely deposited onto Zaibach's
throne, filling Dornkirk's place, I was elated. But I couldn't figure out how. At any
rate, I'm glad you are here. I need your help and you came and that's all that
matters. As for atoning for sins, I have a few of my own to ponder." Van
embraced Folken, they hugging fiercely as brothers do in reconciliation.

Merle stepped closer to what was her real family. Folken and Van both held an
arm out to her and the circle was complete, yet Merle leaned into Folken, her
cheek resting on his chest, her eyes closed as if relieved to be in out of the rain.
Merle opened her eyes to see Folken's metal arm limp by his side and her heart
ached.

"So then we're off to the Vast Waters of Violence." Van broke the spell and they
released each other.

"Well actually over the whole storm. According to our calculations, Trilladen
resides in the eye of the storm. Zaibach's shores remain calm, but as you drift
further out to sea, the waves grow and the winds howl like demon wolves. No
one's gone past that on sea, only Dornkirk and the head of Schezar all those
years ago. But our engineers assure us that we can hover high enough in this
fortress to forego the pleasure of a pitch and toss sea voyage." Folken explained.

"You must leave immediately. You will be taking the princess herself part of the
way, and as well as our best of the Samurai, which now totals about three
hundred men. Allen and I, along with a General Shinyo and hand picked warriors
will be sailing off in the Crusade for its speed. We have two important stops to
make: Ispania, and Asturia. From there we will rendezvous with you in Zaibach's
capital. I'm sure you have some cleaning up to do after being away from your
ruling tasks for so long." Van said.

"I thought I was taking all of you at once. Now the plans change? What reasons
are there for this?" Folken was all business.

"If Mugwa turns Celena back into Dillandau, then I assume all of his traits will
resurface, including.."

"...his lust for blood." Folken finished. "Believe me when I tell you I did not realize
the extent of Dornkirk's treachery.

Merle sensed how heavy Folken's heart was and hugged him again. He
absentmindedly put his arms around her as he continued to talk shop with Van.
Van took note of it, but said nothing. He would talk to Folken after he had
dismissed Merle. Saying goodbye to the women wasn't going to be easy for any
of them.

"We haven't much time left, and there is still so much to do. We leave in the
morning in the Crusade, you at noon. But for now, I need one other favor of you,
Folken."

Still holding Merle completely unconscious of the comfortable intimacy they
displayed, Folken responded. "You know you can ask anything of me. What is it?"

Van couldn't stand it any longer. Pointedly removing Merle from Van's loose
embrace, he asked, "Will you stand at my side as my best man. I'm going to
marry Hitomi, she's pregnant, and afraid. I'll also need your help wrestling her
from Helliese who has made it her personal mission in life to keep me from her."

�You're getting married! You're going to be a father, and I an uncle! You've been
busy. And Helliese is here in Fanelia again! I haven't seen her since before I left
for..." and he stopped. Old wounds never heal, it seems.

Merle was glaring at Van for pulling her away from her Folken and she made no
bones about it. "I will be where I like, when I like, with whomever I like, and I like
Folken!" Giving Van a dirty look she tried to resume their embrace, but Folken
stopped her.

Smiling at her with hooded eyes he said, "You must not make Van jealous. After
all, he's used to being your favorite all these years. Although I think that's
changed, you must humor him. He's used to ignoring you, not the other way
around, dear love."

Never taking her eyes off of him, she took hold of his hand and held his palm to
her cheek. "Things change, don't they?"

"Not too quickly, I'm afraid." He gently chided her. "But hopefully you will miss me
a little."

At that Merle's old attitude reared its spunky head. "I don't plan on missing you at
all. By the way, that tattoo looks an awful lot like me-curves and all." Like the cat
that swallowed the cream she grinned an evil squinty-eyed smug grin and turned
around and stalked away. 

Before she was gone, Van barked at her. "Where do you think you are going?" 

"Back to the surface where I belong with all good docile females, obedient and
boring to a fault. Toodles."

Folken chuckled, utterly enchanted with her. "She has turned into an amazing
young woman, Van. I'd watch her if I were you."

"Yes, apparently from you." Van stated flatly, fighting a fowl mood.

"Her time was bound to come. But don't worry, I hold no illusions to my
worthiness. I feel more comfortable dressed as a pirate, actually." Folken
commented scratching his chin.

"Just don't act like one." Van warned.

"She always was like a sister to you, wasn't she. Do not concern yourself with her.
I would have to find grace again before I let her in, and that I don't know that I will
ever do. For now, my wings are still black and heaven only knows if that will ever
change."

Folken fell somber.

"I don't think that matters to her, so I will rely upon you to keep her at bay. Now
come be my best man."

******************************************************

Hitomi sat on her bed and patiently answered Helliese questions. She felt as if
she were being interrogated. She still felt unhappy that Van learned of the baby
the way he did.

"When was the first day of your last cycle? When did you start to feel sick to your
stomach? How many times have you and Van been together and why have you
kept it from him, my child."

"Exactly four weeks ago, just about from the start, only once-like it's any of your
business, and I have my reasons." Hitomi held her ground.

"Only once, and you get knocked up!? Got to hand it to him, just like his father.
So what will you call her?"

"How can you know if its a girl or a boy?" Hitomi asked in wonder.

"Oh my child," Helliese chuckled. "You'd be surprised what this old ugly hag
knows. I've been live too long."

"I want to name her after my best friend Yukari, but I haven't told her yet." Hitomi
said.

"You haven't been telling much about anything, my child. Why have you kept this
from Van when he is your obvious protector in this violent world? What are you
afraid of?"

"Mugwa."

Helliese nodded in understanding. "Then you must have the gift of sight."

Hitomi got up off the bed, walked over to her night stand and opened the top
drawer. She picked up a deck of cards from within and walked back to the bed.
"These are tarrot cards. At school I used to use them to tell my friends fortune. I
stopped though because it got a little scary. Things were actually turning out the
way the cards foretold and I just didn't want to know. I wasn't sure if I was actually
telling the future or fulfilling some self-prophecy in my own mind. Either way, we
aren't suppose to know the future."

"Try it now and tell me what you see."

Hitomi laid the cards down in their proper sequence. First came the death card.
Hitomi's face changed to fear immediately. Still she continued. The next card that
was revealed was the dragon-the green one.

"Never mind, I don't remember how to do this." She tossed the cards onto the
floor.

"You mustn't be afraid, child. These things will come true, but you have a gift. Use
it to protect your child and tell Yukari that you intend for her to be your baby's
namesake. Yukari Fannel. Sounds good."

Just then the door flew open and Yukari stormed in. "STUPID, STUPID, STUPID!
You'd think that since he knows he's leaving tomorrow he'd actually, finally
spend some time with his girlfriend-okay friend who's a girl!" She threw herself
into the chair next to Helliese and asked no one in particular, "Are they all this
dumb?"

Helliese laughed out loud, "Miserably so!"

"Hasn't Amano spent any time with you yet? We've been here a month!" 

"No he's too busy training to be a war hero in a world not his own to impress the
girl of his dreams who doesn't give a damn about any of this-well, except that it
could put you in danger. Personally, I'm ready to return to Earth." She shook her
head forlornly.

Just then the door flew open again. This time it was Folken, followed by Van and
Gaddes who stopped dead in his tracks feeling like he intruded on girl talk.
Folken bounded like a happy youth and scooped Helliese into his arms.

"When I heard you were back I couldn't wait to give you a big hug! Helliese, you
look as beautiful as ever!" Then he planted a kiss on her cheek. "Van I refuse to
allow you to marry this woman. She's mine, of course! Has been since I was in
diapers!"

Helliese giggled like a schoolgirl. She always did have a soft spot for Folken.
Then like the healer she was she started feeling his arm. She was drawn to the
difference of it instantly. "What is this contraption?" She hissed in disapproval.

"Never could hide anything from you, could I. It my new arm. It's ugly, so just don't
have a look at it."

"Don't think to tell me what I can or cannot look at when it comes you, my boy.
I've been intimately acquainted with your naked butt since it was stinking with shit.
Now take off that shirt before I rip it off! And put me down." She ordered.

"Alas, it is my fate always to have the ladies wish to see me undressed! Damn it's
good to be back. I can even stomach the scowls I'm getting right and left!" With
that he nonchalantly tore his shirt off his torso.

His black wings unfurled and his metal arm appendage mated in an ugly fashion
with the flesh that started at his shoulder. In the bright light of Hitomi's bedroom,
everyone got a good glimpse of the machine like qualities of Folken's metal arm.
The room was silent and Helliese formed unshed tears. 

"Well, what do you think? Am I not repulsive?" He asked Helliese with a small
twinkle in his eye.

Composing herself she quickly replied, "Quite!" and then laughed a bawdy laugh.

"I was hoping you would think so." He winked at her.

During this whole scene Hitomi remained quiet. She kept her eyes on the
spectacle Folken presented to her, anything to avoid Van's eyes. But Van had
slowly moved closer to her not about to be put off any longer. When she looked at
him it was over. She saw all of his pain, pain that she had caused. And she saw
his jaw set firmly, as if he had made a decision and couldn't be moved from it.

"Get dressed, something formal. We're getting married." He ordered. Then he
turned around and walked over to Gaddes who hadn't stopped staring at Yukari.
"Get Allen, I want him here. Yukari, go get Amano." Turning back to Hitomi he
said, "You have exactly one hour to find something appropriate to wear. Folken is
guarding the door so you can't get out, so don't try. You have no where you can
go anyway. If you're not dressed in that amount of time I am going to dress you
myself. You are carrying my child; he will have my name. If anything happens to
me, Fanelia still has a future."

Hitomi burst into tears and fell against her pillow.

"You evil brat! Get out with you! She's frightened and been sick for a month, and
all you can do is order her about like a common wench! I got stink pouches, you
know! I'll throw them all at you at once and then give you warts!" Helliese shouted
at him.

Van looked to Folken who scooped Helliese back into his arms and bellowed,
"Everybody vacate m'lady's bedchamber. A grand seduction is in order! Van,
make it quick. You still have to get married today."

"You put me down, you ungrateful dog! How dare you hoist me up like a sack of
potatoes? I didn't change your shitty diapers to have you treat me like this. PUT
ME DOWN! Oh, you're getting me mad now!" Helliese was pounding on Folken's
chest and smacked his face, all the while kicking her feet.

Gaddes slammed the door behind him, to set out his task. They were alone for
the first time since that morning after they had loved. 

"Do you regret what we shared?" Van asked with pained emotion.

Hitomi, still crying on the pillow on her bed couldn't answer. Van couldn't stand to
see her cry so he got in bed with her and held her while she cried. It was like this
the last time they were alone. After that, she had moved in with Yukari and
completely avoided Van for a whole month. He had over heard her talk with
Yukari, and planned to ask her to be his queen, but she kept avoiding him, even
at meals with the excuse that she wasn't feeling well. That got old after the first
week. Then began to wonder, but now he knew. Whatever her feeling was in this
matter, she was carrying his child and he loved her. She would marry him
regardless. She simply had no choice, he was a king, after all, and the child his
heir.

"Hitomi, please answer me." Van tried to be patient, but his heart was heavy.

Hitomi turned around, still crying, but answered him. "I'm afraid I'll lose you. I'm
afraid I'll lose this baby. I don't want you to go, I need you here." 

Van cradled her face in his hands and gently spoke, "If I stay, we all stand to lose.
If I go, there's a chance...if not for us, then for our child. If you go with me, you
and the baby would be in danger."

"No, Van, listen to me. I've had a vision. I have to go with you, we all have to stick
together, all of us. It's the only way. If we become separated, then we will all fail,
meaning that we will all die, including the baby, especially the baby. She's a
girl, and my descendant."

"No, I won't let anything happen to her or you!" He hugged her fiercely. "I love
you!"

"I love you!" She cried into his shoulder. 

He pulled her away to look into her eyes. "Then you don't regret what we've
shared? Please, I need you to be honest."

"I'm afraid and pregnant and our world is in danger, but in particular, our baby girl
is in danger. I'm not a virgin, Edwina isn't either, but my newborn child will be, and
it won't matter to Mugwa that she's a helpless infant. He'll take her from my
womb. You cannot leave my side. You have to protect me. So to honest with you,
I wish we had waited. I wouldn't be pregnant." She stopped and leaned into him
crying.

"I was so certain that if I brought you back here I could protect you. All I've
managed to do is put both you and our baby in danger. I'm sorry." Van buried his
head in her neck and wept quietly.

Not too long after that a soft knocking at the door signaled that it was time for
them to wed. Neither was ready. Both felt the burden of the future resting on
them, each in their own way, but equally taxing to their individual spirits that were
about to become one union in the eyes of heaven and kingdom alike.

Hitomi's hands stroked his hair and she comforted him as well as she could for a
frightened pregnant teenager about to become queen of a nation in grave peril.
She whispered how she believed in him and he kissed her softly on the lips, as
they lay in each other's arms. In private they would be afraid together, but once
that door opened, they would be confident and in love, full of purpose and lead a
world back into battle, or so they thought.

"I need to get dressed." She whispered.

"I'll help you. Wear that beautiful green dress that matches your eyes." He
whispered back in between soft kisses. 

"I don't want to move from your arms." She confessed.

He laughed softly and while they still were lying in bed he helped her out of the
clothes she was in, besides, she wasn't wearing the green dress just yet. She has
to get undressed before changing into her wedding gown. Kissing and
caressing her as he slowly undressed her, they ignited a fire between them,
oblivious to the slightly louder knock at the door.