A woman dressed in a beautiful white gown with long sleeves that were tight to her arms, and just in her wrists got loose, long to her ankles and with a bit tailing, as well as silver slippers looked at herself in the mirror before her.
"Beautiful…" a woman whispered behind her. "You look just beautiful."
"Thank you Selena." Hitomi told her with a smile. "And thanks to you too Millerna, Merle, Eries, Riha, Yukari, I'm grateful that you're here right now."
"We're grateful too that you're here Hitomi." Millerna said with a smile.
"For a second we feared you wouldn't be coming back." Riha added.
Flashback
Ever so slowly Queen Iris opened her eyes to the world. Sunlight greeted her from the window not far away from her bed.
"Where am I?" she asked, a bit disoriented for a moment.
"Home." A voice answered her.
"Van…" she whispered, almost fearing he would be a figment of her imagination.
"And I won't let you leave me ever again." He added as he kissed her fully on the lips.
Just then, the door opened.
End of Flashback
"I swear I almost fainted the moment I saw Lord Van and you there kissing." Merle said with a smile.
"Well, I did fainted." Yukari said with a smile.
"Right." Merle nodded. "But that was just because of your 'condition'."
Yukari didn't answer at this, she just got her hand to her round belly.
"For when is it due?" Eries asked her.
"I don't know exactly." Yukari answered. "But it's supposed to be in about two months more or so."
"And you already know what it's gonna be?" Selena asked anxiously.
"Yes." Yukari nodded. "It's gonna be a girl, and we'll name her Yuzuki."
"That's an odd name." Merle murmured.
"That's because it's from Mystic Moon." Hitomi stepped in.
"And talking about that, just to remember the shock we all got when we knew you were from Mystic Moon…" Millerna said.
"Nothing compared to what happened once she had awoken and met us all." Selena said.
Flashback
Yukari, Susumo, Mamoru, Riha, Merle, Chid, Millerna, Dryden, Selena, Allen, Gadeth, and all the crew of the Crusade were sitting on the chairs in the council room in the moment Van entered accompanied by whom, until less than two weeks ago, they knew as 'Queen Iris Kanza'.
It had been almost two weeks since the battle with General Sohjiro Verou and his men. The week before Mamoru had been named King, as his sister couldn't take care of the kingdom, and was to marry Riha in a few days. The previous days 'Iris' had remained in her room most of the time, recovering from the physical injuries of the battle, and only allowed her brother, Yukari and Van in her room to talk with her.
Most of the time Hitomi preferred to be alone with Van, their friends knew there was something serious going on between those two, although their suspicions were running over other lines.
"I believe I owe you a quite few explanations." The former queen began as she stood in front of them.
Van sat down on his place, but Iris preferred to stay on her feet.
"First of all I must say I'm deeply sorry for any trouble I may have caused you." She began. "It was never my intention to do such a thing. I know what that my way of doing things wasn't exactly the best, but I believed I was doing it to protect you, to save you from going through another war."
"And you had to sacrifice yourself and go into the war all alone?" Allen asked, a bit hurt.
"I know it was wrong, that's why I'm asking for your forgiveness." Iris said with teary eyes. "I just wanted to help."
"We could have helped you to, if we just had known." Allen replied, a bit colder than he had intended.
Slowly a few tears began spilling down Iris's eyes.
"Don't talk to her that way!" Van stood up violently, yelling at Allen. "You don't know what she's been through."
"And you do?" Allen retorted.
"Yes I do." Van said seriously.
Everyone stood silent at that. Not knowing what to say.
End of Flashback
.---.
"I had never imagined anyone capable of doing such a thing." Dryden suddenly said.
Him, Allen, Chid, Gadeth, Susumo and Mamoru were helping Van in getting his clothes straighten out. He was wearing a something that looked like a dark-red suit, along with the double-speck jacket, and black boots.
And meanwhile they remembered what had happened in that time.
"When you said you knew what she had been through we first believed you meant that you, as most of us, had heard what had happened to her back on Mystic Moon." Susumo commented. "Not that you had actually lived it."
"When I was with her, in her room, I noticed her physical recovery was wonderful, really fast." Van explained. "Maybe it had to do with Millerna attending her, or all those medicines they have in that kingdom." He sighed. "But I also knew that even if her physical recovery was well, in mind and soul she was still broken."
Flashback
Hitomi laid on her side, above the bed, crying her eyes out. Van was kneeling next to the bed, holding her hand, and embracing her each moment he could, but it was just not enough.
'No matter how well Millerna says her recovery is going, deep inside she's still bleeding, and not literally.' Van thought. 'If I could just do something for her.'
"There is something you can do King Van." An ethereal voice told him.
Van didn't have any problems this time to recognize Hirome Verou. And even when Hitomi was supposed to be the psychic, she was just too distressed to notice anything at the moment.
"What can I do to help her?" Van asked.
Hirome didn't answer for a moment.
"You said there was a way of helping Hitomi." Van said getting impatient. "Tell me what is it, tell me dammit!"
"There is a way." Hirome finally spoke. "Although it's difficult, and very dangerous."
"Explain yourself." Van said.
"The problem with Hitomi is that there's too much pain within her soul for her to bear." Hirome explained. "If she doesn't release at least half of it soon, she'll die irremediably.
"No." Van said firmly, holding Hitomi's hand tighter. "I just got her back, I'm not gonna lose her again."
"You would really help my granddaughter, even risking your own mental health?"
"Yes." There was no doubt in his voice. "I'll do whatever is needed for her."
"As I said, she needs to get rid of half of the pain she feels internally, but even if she wants, she can't just let it go that easily." Hirome explained. "That pain must go somewhere. You understand what I mean?"
"Yes. If I accept she'll pass half the pain she's feeling to me. Then we'll both be able to help each other heal."
"I'm afraid it's not that easy my lord. It's a miracle Hitomi has endured so much, but even then, she has her psychic powers to help her a bit, while you have none. We don't know how your mind might take such a blast. Just half of it might be worse on you than how the full package is on her."
"I don't care the risks. If it helps her I'll do it. Besides, I know she'll be next to me."
Hirome was taken aback by such decision in the young man's voice and eyes. It was true that he was the perfect match for her granddaughter.
"Then so be it." Hirome said.
There was a small glow, first on Hirome's hands, and then on Van's and Hitomi's, the hands they had together. And then Van could feel it, it was as if he had just been hit by a ton of bricks; all the images, sounds, feelings, everything fell into his mind in a whirlwind of power that left him without breath.
And after all the tornado, it all went black.
End of Flashback
'I was unconscious for one whole day.' Van was thinking as he put on his gloves. 'And then woke up to her beautiful face.'
.---.
'I almost died when I saw him laying there, on the floor, unconscious.' Hitomi was thinking at the same time.
Riha and Millerna where helping her with the makeup.
Flashback
"Van…please wake up…Van…" Hitomi repeated over and over again.
It had been a great effort for her to get Van over the bed where she slept. It was big enough for both of them, and so she had been laying there, waiting for him to wakeup. She had even stopped her other friends from getting in the room, out of fear for them seeing the state in which Van was.
"Van…wake up…please…" Hitomi begged taking his hands in hers.
And suddenly, movement. Van's eyelids opened slowly. A pair of red-maroon orbs meeting a pair of tear-stained green ones.
"What…" Hitomi began, a bit confused.
There was something in Van's eyes that called her attention.
"Hitomi…" Van whispered.
And then she knew it. In Van's eyes, and in his voice, there was the same pain that flooded her, it was now reflected in him.
"What have you done?" Hitomi asked worriedly.
"Helped you." Van replied.
He was still dizzy, so much emotions, above all the pain; they were too much for him; it was taking him a great mental effort, and all his will not to collapse.
"You could have died for doing that." Hitomi said, she tried to be mad at him, but was more worried.
"So could have you." Van replied with a half-forced smile.
"This was my fate, not yours."
"You once said we each make our destiny. I decided this would be mine. To help the woman I love carry on."
Hitomi began crying, but not because of the pain of her memories, but because of the joy and love she was feeling.
"Am I really worth it?" she asked.
Van was a bit puzzled at her question.
"All the risks." She continued. "All the pain, all the tears. Am I really worth it?"
"You're worth every single bit of it." Van answered. "I love you Hitomi."
"And I love you too, Van." She said, embracing him.
End of Flashback
When Hitomi got out of her memories she noticed Yukari had just finished combing her hair into a tight bun with a few curls loose.
"You look wonderful!" Yukari said.
"But we're still missing the veil." Selena added taking it out.
As Eries held a fine silver tiara.
"I just can't believe you're finally marrying Lord Van." Merle said with a huge smile. "It's just so wonderful!"
Hitomi looked at herself in the full-length mirror and nodded, life was just turning out to be so wonderful for her and everyone she loved.
"I love you Van…" she whispered to the wind.
.---.
"I love you Van…"
Hitomi's voice reached Van's ears.
"And I love you too Hitomi." Van whispered back.
"Hello…" Susumo called with a half-smile. "Gaea to Van…"
"Eh?" He asked confused.
Van got out of his trance-like state to be surrounded by his 'friends' who seemed to find something in him funny enough to be smirking.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
"The way you talk to her, even when she's not here." Allen said with a smirk.
"Don't worry Van, you'll be marrying her soon." Mamoru told him, helping him get the cape into place. "And then nothing will tear you apart."
Van nodded.
There was nothing he wished more than to make Hitomi his wife and queen of Fanelia. That was all he had been wishing since six and a half months ago when he discovered it was her under the 'Queen Iris' façade.
'I still remember the day I told my advisors I would be marrying her.' Van returned to the memories of the previous months.
Flashback
It had been two months since King Mamoru's and Queen's Riha's wedding. They were now the rightful governors of Kizanka, and things seemed to be fairly well for them. It had taken very little time for them to recover from the battle, and find a place for all of those who had accepted their protection. And with some advise from his sister Mamoru was doing wonderfully as king. And even when Riha had been saying for so long she wasn't ready for such a responsibility she was doing just as wonderful.
Finally this day Van had arranged for Mamoru, Riha and his beloved to come to Fanelia, he had summoned the advisors to a meeting, he had an important announcement to make.
"I'm getting married." He said.
Some of the advisors where taken aback by this. They had insisted their king for so long, and he had refused, that now that he accepted it was just such a surprise for them.
"To whom my lord if we may know?" one of the eldest advisors asked.
"To Lady Hitomi." Van answered. "The woman I have loved since the Great War, more than Seven years ago."
Very few advisors knew who their king was talking about and were scandalized by the idea.
"But my lord." One of them said. "You can't make her your wife, she's not eligible."
"And why, if I may know Lord Deveru, is that?" Van asked, not satisfied with the comment.
"She's of no royal blood my lord." Deveru explained. "And the law says…"
"I am the law Lord Deveru." Van interrupted him. "And I'm capable of marrying whomever I wish."
"But…" another advisor began.
"But if it settles your thoughts." Van continued. "I have to say she is of royal blood."
This statement left them all with a confused look on their faces.
Just then there was a light knock on the door.
"Come in." Van ordered.
"The door opened to let pass a royal couple.
"Their Royal Highnesses King Mamoru Kanza, and Queen Riha Kanza, from Kizanka." The herald announced.
The advisors immediately stood up and bowed to the royal couple.
"What brings you here, my lord, my lady?" one of them asked.
"We're here, under invitation of Lord Van." Riha said with a calm voice.
It was true that in a very short time she had learned the ways of the court. Even if she never stopped being humble, she had learned how to get others to respect her as the queen.
"It's an honor my lord, to come here and give you the hand of my sister in marriage." Mamoru's words were slow and serene.
And the reaction from the advisors was instant.
"But you said…" Lord Deveru began.
Just then another woman entered the room. Dressed in a gorgeous strapless lavender dress that reached her ankles, with a white sash on her waist, pink sandals, and her hair waving behind her in a loose ponytail.
Mamoru took the hand of the newcomer, and linked it with that of Van.
"I give you my blessings." Mamoru said with a smile to both of them.
"Be happy." Riha added.
The couple nodded happily.
"May I introduce to you ladies and gentlemen of the council, my bride, and Fanelia's to-be-queen." Van said seriously. "Princess Hitomi Iris Kanza, from Kizanka."
The shock was evident on everyone's faces. Until, one by one, they all began bowing to her, their future queen.
End of Flashback
'I think I have never seen them so shocked about anything.' Van thought. 'Not even in all the times I repeated to them I wouldn't marry.' He laughed inside. 'And talking about marrying…'
He looked at himself in the mirror. He really looked like all the king he was. Normally he didn't like to be so dressed up, but the situation required it.
"There." Dryden said finally. "You're ready."
"Everyone is already outside." Kurama told them peeking inside the room.
"You ready?" Chid asked with a smile.
"As much as I'll ever be." Van said nervously.
"Don't worry." Allen told him, poking him in the ribs. "You'll do fine. That is, if Hitomi doesn't run away."
"Allen!" Dryden, Susumo and Chid scolded him.
Allen just smiled.
"Don't worry." Mamoru said to Allen. "My sister would never run away. It's been her dream to marry you for so long."
"I know." Van said calmly. "It's been my dream too. And now we'll make it true together."
.---.
"Come on, hurry up!" Merle kept saying over and over.
"Stop it Merle, I'm already too nervous." Hitomi told her pacing around the room.
"I know, but if you don't hurry you'll be late for your own wedding, I don't think anyone would like that, especially not you, would you?" Merle asked.
Hitomi was ready, or so it looked, inside she was shaking so badly, she feared she would faint any moment.
Just then the bells chimed, it was her cue to enter the temple.
"Come on." Merle pushed her to the entrance.
Hitomi was really shaking, but the moment she saw Van, all dressed up, smiling at her, waiting in the front of the room, everything else seemed to vanish.
'We have been trough so much to get to this point.' Hitomi was thinking as she finally got to the front.
'We have waited for so long.' Van thought as he took her hand and the ceremony began.
The ceremony was a blur to them, they didn't really seem to care much about it. The rings, material proof of their compromise; the vows, a talked-out promise of loyalty and devotion to one-another; and the kiss, a seal for their eternal love.
"We have finally made our dream true…" Hitomi whispered to Van as they embraced.
"Together." Van added.
And they kissed again.
The End.
Here it is! My first Escaflowne Fanfic finished. I hope you liked it. The part of the war, and the destruction of Earth I did it thinking on how we're slowly killing our planet, and what could end up happening. Although obviously we don't have the 'get away' Hitomi/Iris gave some of the people.
I would like to know what you think of my stories. You may leave a review, or send me an e-mail, (the mail appears on my profile).
I hope to see you in the next fic.
Thank you.