Disclaimer: Escaflowne and all variations of its product (i.e.) characters belong to Sunrise, Bandai, etc. Author's Note: I revised this fic for several reasons...mostly because the first version was a little *too* abstract (thanks Rubie for the constructive comments!) and I caught some inconsistencies in it. Again, this is told through Allen's eyes... Last Revised: 02/02/01 _________________________________________________________________ "Please Protect My Little Sister-The Story" By: Remalna Marguerite Celena married her prince today. I gave her away and held her in my arms one last time before she got onto the ship that would take her to distant Fanelia. She looked radiantly beautiful; but the happiness shining from her clear, blue eyes ripped at my heart. During our carriage ride to the church, I tried to memorize her face--to engrave it into my memory. When would we see each other again? Perhaps not for many seasons...perhaps not for many years. My intense and solemn gaze must have made her nervous, for her cheeks coloured slightly. A blushing bride, I thought cynically. But then she smiled at me. A genuine, melting smile. "Oh Allen, you needn't worry." She assured me, "I can take care of myself." "But you've never traveled so far in your life." I said rather moodily, sounding like a stubborn little boy who refused to part with his favourite toy. But Celena was not a fragile glass doll that needed my ever-constant care. I knew that. But deep down, I also knew that I wanted, no, *needed*, her to stay by my side, always. Don't go Celena...please don't leave me. My heart pleaded to her silently. I averted my eyes to the passing scenery and stubbornly refused to look at her. The silence stretched out between us, seemingly a tangible force that was pushing us apart. Suddenly, from the corner of my eye, I saw her move to sit beside me. The fragrant scent of her hair teasingly swirled about me. I felt her fingers brush against my cheek and I trembled at her feather-light touch. Breathe, Schezar, breathe. "Allen. Allen, please-look at me." Her voice was small. "Don't you trust my decision? Don't you trust Van?" Ah, yes. Van, my friend and young ruler of Fanelia. When I first met him--in the forest by the border--he'd tried to fight me. But after countless battles and endless adventures...we had become as close as brothers. Then, when Hitomi left, I saw him slip helplessly into a depression. He had lost the girl he loved to Fate and it seemed to me, for a time, he would never recover. But, inevitably, one day, he met Celena. From the beginning, I tried to selfishly break the budding romance, I did not want to share Celena with another man, even one whom I held in high regard...but it was too late. They had fallen in love and I was going to be alone, once more. Ironic, is it not? "I trust you, Celena." I told her finally. Her shapely lips curved into a warm smile. "I shall write often--every week!" She exclaimed purposefully. Perhaps, I thought to myself, but somehow I knew that her new role as Van's Queen left little time for an older brother in Asturia. But I did not tell her that. I did not want to ruin her wedding day. Suddenly, I felt old beyond words. The rest of the trip was quiet and uneventful. However, when we neared the church, Celena became agitated and asked me if she looked all right. "You look beautiful." I said to her and squeezed her hands--they were warm compared to my icy cold ones. "Are you ready? Are you sure?" She considered my question carefully. It was an agonizing moment for me. Was she having second thoughts? Perhaps, after all .... "Yes. I'm sure. I want to marry Van." A transformation came over her; she lost her nervousness altogether, and looked confident and content once more. My heart fell in disappointment. Tall stain-glass windows illuminated the inside of the church and our friends applauded as I walked Celena down the aisle. An eerie sense of deja-vu swept over me: I have done this before. It seemed that Allen Schezar was destined, or cursed, to give away the woman he loved to another...first Marlene, then Millerna, and now, more painfully than the other times, Celena. A part of me wanted to bolt out of there and crumble from the heartache or rage against the world, but I was trained too well to break convention. I had an important duty to perform...duty and honour...my two old companions. And then, the next thing I knew, my sister was no longer Celena Schezar but Celena Fanel. Fanel ... married ...Celena was married. At the banquet after the wedding, I tried to talk to her in private. I needed to tell her how much she meant to me--there was so much to say to her before she left--but she was busy receiving praises and compliments. I had to admit, she and Van made a handsome couple, she with her fair colouring and he with his darker complexion and hair. From across the room, she caught my eye. I tried to smile at her but I could not...I was breaking up inside...so instead, I raised my glass and toasted her. I think she was going to wave to me, but Van whispered something in her ear and her attention was diverted. Celena had never been very focused. "My dear friends," She announced. I looked in her direction. "I shall be leaving now...on a grand adventure with...with my husband. I wish you all great joy and happiness!" The guests raised their glasses and saluted. "To joy and happiness!" Woodenly, I mimicked their gesture. Joy? Happiness? Have I ever truly been happy? When I was a little boy, I used to think that if father returned home everything would be all right. But Leon Schezar perished for a dream; my baby sister was taken from me; and mother died of grief. It was all too easy to wallow in self-pity...I could be destroyed by the weight of my many regrets and sorrows of the past...perhaps that is what I secretly desired. Helplessly, these tempting thoughts flickered across my mind...I shut my eyes tightly. When I opened them again, inevitably, reality came rushing back. All too swiftly, the newlyweds left for the docks. I saw them off as an older brother should for his sister. "Allen," Van said to me, very soberly, "I'll treat her well. I do love her." I nodded silently, my eyes were hooded. "You must visit as soon as you can." Celena said, her voice, urgent. I nodded once more for I was incapable of words at this point. Suddenly, tears welled up in her sapphire blue eyes. I hastily and unthinkingly reached out my hand and brushed away a teardrop. At my touch she began to cry in earnest destroying my defenses with a single stroke. Throwing caution to the winds, I pulled her gently into my arms, hugged her slight form against the length of my body...and kissed her one last time. If only perfect moments could last. If only they could be suspended in time.... "Celena, we have to go." Van said softly. She nodded quickly and I let my arms drop. "Good bye Allen." Her lips trembled. "Good bye Celena." ******** She was truly gone. It has been ten years since I saw my sister last--on the day of her wedding. I sit here, in the old library of my inherited estate, gazing at a half finished portrait of her. I could not remember why the painting was not complete. But it did not matter, for the artist had managed to capture her face in perfect likeness. Her eyes seemed to smile at me, as if to reassure me that everything was going to be all right. And, surprisingly, I feel that it will be. The year is drawing to a close, and perhaps, just perhaps, I will find the courage to visit her. In Fanelia. _______________________________________________________________________ [Fin]