Marlene--Part 3 
Author: Remalna Marguerite  
 

Disclaimer: Escaflowne does not belong to me...same goes for Allen
Schezar [author sighs sadly].

A/N: READ! & REVIEW! PLEASE! 

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Green 17th moon (continued)

...The Duke of Freid. An interesting yet puzzling man. At first he seemed
so cold and stern but that night at the ball, he showed me a side of
himself that was considerate...almost kind. He is a good sovereign, I
think, and the kingdom of Freid is deliciously mysterious. I like the duke,
but not in the way father hopes.

Green 25th moon

Uncle Nueva has arrived much to our surprise and pleasure. Father was
in very good spirits today and insisted on telling us "children" about his
boyhood pranks on my uncle for the hundredth time! Millerna, Eries and
I were excited to see our favourite uncle--especially Milly because she
had too much sugar and candy--she's adorable and she knows it. 

Uncle says that I spend too much time in my room, "What you need
Marlene m'dear is fresh air and exercise," so he has arranged for the two
of us to go see a tournament in the city. To be honest, I think sword
fights are rather silly, not to mention dangerous, but I would not wish for
the world to disappoint him.

Green 26th moon

My emotion are turbulent. Utterly chaotic. A hectic blush warms my
cheeks just thinking about him. Intoxicating bliss makes my heart swell
so that I don't even know how I can write properly. But I must--because,
I, Marlene Erisha Aston, am in love!

When Uncle Nueva took me to see the tournament, little did I know what
was waiting for me ahead. It started out predictably boring. In the cool
shade of the box, my mind had wandered and I sat there wishing that I
were somewhere else. Then suddenly, my eyes were drawn to the middle
of the stadium, and there I saw a real knight of Asturia. Graceful, tall and
impossibly handsome, he dueled with one opponent after another,
effortlessly defeating them! A true prodigy of the sword. And when our
eyes met, the noise and cheers in the stadium faded into a gentle hum.
The distance between us fell away. Time stopped. Oh I shall never forget
that moment for as long as I live.... It was only when Uncle Nueva called
out my name that I realized where and who I was again. 

"Marlene, are you quite alright?" My uncle worriedly said. Somehow I
found my voice. 

"Yes." I laughed breathlessly. "Yes, uncle, I'm fine, thank you. Thank
you!" 

"Eh? Marlene, look over there. An admirer of yours?."

Before my eyes, and that of the thousands of Asturians gathered at the
arena, that dashing swordsman had gently laid down his weapon on the
dusty ground, and bowed deeply over it in my direction--in the fashion of
the samurai. I had received a high compliment indeed. My heart skipped
a beat at the gallantry while I bowed my head in acknowledgement and
smiled at him gently. The cheers of the crowd was deafening.

"Uncle, please, what is his name?" I whispered, fascinated. 

"I believe his name is ... Allen Schezar." 

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Author's Note: What will happen next? How in the world will Marlene
contrive to be with Allen? Did you like Part 3 of "Marlene" or disliked
it? Either way, write a review, share your feelings and stay tuned for the
next installment. Also. Can anyone confirm Marlene's uncle's name? I
would be so grateful! < Margot >