Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne...wahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
For a sixteen year old, Hitomi had never acted her age. Come to think of it, she never did. When she was ten, she acted twelve; when twelve, she acted fourteen. People thought this was because she was always surrounded by older people. True, she was surrounded by two brothers: Twenty year old Van, and Twenty-five year old Folken, King of Fanelia. But the reason she acted like this was because Hitomi was secretly tormented on the inside. It was not because her parents had both died of some mysterious illness when she was young. She had gotten over that years ago. No, it was because she had dreams. Dreams that would make the bravest Fanelian samurais cower in fear. She told people of her dreams. And as a result, she was sent to Freid to "calm her sanity" for five years. It had helped. No longer was she the "cursed princess", but the "blessed princess" for she had grown up to be so lovely that even dragons were known to kneel down to her.
"Such a curse to have so much power," Hitomi thought, for already suitors from all over Gaea had come to win her hand. And each time, she had refused. The suitors were either brainless, ugly, or both. Her brothers couldn't blame her. Anyway, they wanted her to stay in Fanelia. She was always there when they wanted to spar. Hitomi was an expert swordswoman, after all. This had earned her the title "Swordswoman of Fanelia." Unfortunately, the title had also attracted a rather strange empire, Zaibach.
Zaibach had technology above all countries, including Asturia, one of the largest countries on Gaea. Close to the borders of Fanelia, Asturia, Freid, and Basram, Zaibach would have easily become a threat to all countries if it weren't for the peace treaties.
And now, it was time Fanelia to sign the treaty. The treaty was Hitomi herself. If she accepted Zaibach's suitor, General Adelphos, war between Fanelia and Zaibach would cease to exist, not that there was war in the first place. But if she didn't, then the Allied Countries, Freid, Asturia, and Fanelia would be at war.
Hitomi was devastated when she found out. General Adelphos was a large arrogant man in his fourthies with a large bushy moustache. Instantly, Hitomi hated him.
"I know you don't want to marry him, Tomi-chan, but if you want peace to last in Gaea, then you have no choice." Folken had said to her one night.
"What if I stay in Zaibach until the sparring tournament, then tell them that I'd like to be the Fanelian Ambassador for Zaibach instead?" she asked. Folken, who doupted the idea, agreed with her anyway. After all, the sparring tournament was only a few weeks away. So the next thing she knew, Hitomi was on a carriage to Zaibach with Adelphos.
"I hope you like it at Zaibach," Adelphos's voice drifted though her head. Hitomi could tell he was trying to make her talk. She looked up.
"Yes." she lied. "I've heard much about it, and visiting it would be a wonderful opportunity."
"Living in it would be much better, though."
"I wish I could say the same, but I love Fanelia more than anything else. I would feel terrible to be separated from my country."
"But you've lived in Freid for five years! Surely it is nothing compared to the vast empire of Zaibach?"
"I have to admit I cannot compare Freid to Zaibach until I see it first." Hitomi said coldly, ending the conversation. The rest of the journey was silent except for the sounds of the forest.
When they reached Zaibach, Hitomi could only stare. It was nothing like Freid, which suggested a religious country. Asturia's capital city Palas was only a busy town compared to Zaibach's capital, Zaibach City (A/N: typical, ne?). Fanelia itself was a backwatered country compared to Zaibach. Then they reached the castle, which looked more like a small mountain.
"This is no castle, milady." Adelphos suddenly said. "This is the Vione, the flying fortress. You will be lounging there during your stay. If you like it here, you be living in it." He informed her with kindness, but Hitomi could hear no warmth in it.
Finally, Hitomi was settled in her room. It was more luxurious than the one in Fanelia, where she had happily slept in a room surrounded by white walls. When she looked outside, she was greeted by a forest. Here, when she looked out the window, she was greeted by a city. She didn't mind that much, but the atmosphere around her was too heavy for her taste. Sighing, she sat on the four-poster bed. It was soft, made for long winter nights. It was only a day since she had left Fanelia, yet she had already missed it.
Suddenly a knock from the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Come in," Hitomi said. A boy about the age of twenty stepped in. He had silver hair, and red eyes. He wore a red and black uniform with shoulder spikes. Hitomi supposed he was another general or something, for Adelphos wore the same uniform, but no shoulder spikes.
"I'm Dilandau." he informed her. "I'll be giving you a tour on the Vione. And after that, we'll go down to dinner."
"Where's General Adelphos?" Hitomi asked, confused at the fact that Adelphos himself hadn't bothered to take her on a tour himself. Dilandau grinned.
"You actually have feelings or that old brute?" he asked.
"No. Come to think of it, I wouldn't care less if a rock fell on top of him, ending his life." Usually, Hitomi would've kept her feelings about others to herself, but something about this boy made her want to talk. She continued,
"And when I found out that I was to marry him, it was like being sent away to my death. I don't want to spend my life with him! When I asked him about sparring, he said that I shouldn't spare. And when my brother, Van, told him I'm a tomboy, he laughed and said that he would have to 'tame' me. I don't like the sound of it"
"You spar?" Dilandau suddenly interrupted. Hitomi nodded.
"I'm an expert. My brothers taught me since I was little." Dilandau's grin became wider.
"Why don't we spar after dinner?" he asked. Hitomi looked up at him with a glint in her eye.
"Your on." she replied as she stood up and walked to the door. "Now, how about that tour you were going to give me?"
It was at dinner when she first saw him. A boy her age had bowed down to Dilandau, who was known as Dilandau-sama to the boy. He had the same honey-brown hair and green eyes Hitomi had. His name was Chesta. He wore the same uniform as Dilandau, but it was blue and black. He had no shoulder spikes. Around him were his fellow soldiers. They were known as the Dragon Slayers, the best soldiers of Zaibach. Apparently, Dilandau was their commander. Hitomi stared at him. They looked so much like each other. But before she had a chance to do anything else, General Adelphos came strolling into view.
"Milady how was your tour with General Albatou?" he asked.
"I enjoyed it." Hitomi replied shyly. She didn't feel comfortable under his gaze.
"Dilandau and I are going to spar after dinner. That is, if you don't have plans for the night that concern me." She trembled a little as she said the last words. He said he was going to 'tame' her after all. Fortunately, Adelphos didn't have any plans for her. But he was enraged when she had said Dilandau's name.
"Dilandau, let me talk to you for a second," he said. Smirking, Dilandau followed him into a room.
"What do you have up your sleeves, boy?" Adelphos growled.
"Nothing in particular." Dilandau answered smoothly. Smirking once more, he went out of the door only to find Hitomi engaged in a conversation with the Dragon Slayers who were flirting like mad. And that was he noticed the likeness of Hitomi and Chesta.
"Are you two related?" he asked them, ending the conversation. Hitomi shrugged, whereas Chesta said, "No sir." Throwing his Dragon Slayers a look that said 'no flirting in my presence', Dilandau said, "It's dinner. Come." He led them to the dining hall California Cool.
Van stared into the sky. It was nightfall, yet he didn't feel like sleeping. His younger sister Hitomi was probably in Zaibach by now. Standing on the rooftop he had been lying on, he took off his shirt. Then, with a swoosh, white, angelic wings emerged form is back. A small gasp was heard from behind. Turning around sharply, he found a young girl two years younger than him with platinum blonde hair and blue eyes staring at him in awe.
"Who are you?" he asked her.
"My name is Celena Schezar, a maid." she answered. "I saw you come up. You looked like you needed a talk with someone to let out some feelings, so I followed you, milord. But I didn't expect you to be" her voice trailed off as she thought of a word to describe the winged prince.
"A demon?" Van said helpfully. He thought the name Schezar sounded familiar. "If that was the word you were looking for, then you're right. I'm a draconian, Celena." To his surprise, Celena shook her head.
"No, not a demon. An angel." She looked at him with pure innocence and truth. He moved towards her.
"Would you like to fly?" he asked, extending a hand. To his surprise, Celena took it giddily. In one fluid motion, he lifted her bridal style and flew into the air. They went over the city.
"It's beautiful," he heard Celena say.
"I know. Celena, I want to show you something, but you must never show it to anyone else. Promise?"
"I promise," Celena whispered in his ear, and suddenly, she Van turned into a dive, making Celena hold him tightly. Van, who had been expecting a scream, was surprised when he didn't hear any. As they almost collided with the rooftops of the forest, he pulled the dive and landed near a small lake.
"Wow," Celena said as he put her down.
"I know. I love this place so much. Sometimes, swans would fly down." Van lay down on the soft grass. Celena followed the same suit.
"Milord-," she started, but was interrupted by Van.
"Just call me Van." He said gruffly.
"Van," Celena started again. "Have you ever run away like a coward because you didn't want to face something?"
"Countless." Van grinned, thinking about the times he run away from the cook when he was a little boy.
"Well, I have to admit. I was not always a maid. My brother is a former Knight of Caeli. I was delighted to find out, but then suitors started to arrive. I refused them all. At first, he didn't mind. But when the prince of Basram himself came, he said that he would make the decision himself. Apparently, the answer was yes. But I didn't want to marry the prince, so I ran away. I came here instead."
"Your brother's Allen Schezar?" Van asked.
"Yes. But he's probably disowned me, not that I care."
"Celena I could get you a better job." Van said suddenly as to change to topic of conversation.
"I've always wanted to be a librarian." Celena giggled.
"Then be Fanelia's royal bookkeeper." he said.
"Seriously?" Celena asked. Her face now held a serious look. Van nodded.
"Why not?" he reasoned. Suddenly, she hugged him.
"Thank you! Thank you so much! I'm sick of hearing the other maids gossip about me."
"Well, now you don't have to hear them anymore." With another swoosh, Van, who was now standing and carrying Celena bridal style let out his wings. And into the night, they flew back to the castle.
A/N: So, how do guys like it? It's kinda long, but I suppose it alright... Okay, I admit. I totally SUCK!!!!!!!
but, who cares? plz R&R!