DiscIaimer: I don't own Escaflowne or any of its characters.

"You're tense."

Hitomi glanced at the woman next to her, her lips parting to whisper a quick 'sorry'.

"You needn't be so nervous. Remember your etiquette; back straight, chin elevated, speak only when spoken to, and be sure his every remark brings a smile to your face. Those are the traits of a good wife."

Hitomi slightly sunk in her seat at the touch of her mother's hand on her shoulder. She supposed she meant it as a gesture of goodwill and reassurance, but at the moment it accomplished nothing but the flutter of butterflies in her stomach and steadily rising beat of her heart.

"I was as you are now when I traveled to meet your father. Only my mother was not there to support me; I was all alone. But I am here for you Hitomi- in that way, it is better for you than it was for me."

Lovingly and with great care she reached behind the burgundy veil over Hitomi's face to stroke her daughter's rosy cheeks, careful not to smear the art of her countenance. From head to toe her daughter was draped in splendor, from the silk dress painstakingly designed and tailored especially for her small frame to the elaborate golden headdress atop her head. She smiled with great pride, for though her looks had faded over the years, she was blessed to have passed on a superior beauty to her daughter.

Hitomi could only manage to purse her lips in a strange attempt to smile as she looked back at her mother. She could sense her mother was also nervous, but at the same time was overwhelmingly happy. She wanted to share in her optimism, but the circumstances would not allow. Only eighteen and already she was being shipped off to marry, and to a man more than twice her age. But then she was somewhat lucky, for her parents had been patient with her. It was customary for a girl to wed at fifteen while still in her prime, but due to her parents love for her, she was allowed these past three years to herself. It was only when her father died but two months ago did her mother have no choice but to fulfill Hitomi's betrothal.

"How long will you stay?" Hitomi focused on the floor of the coach, worried at her mother's answer.

"Until the ceremony is done and we've said our proper goodbyes. After that, you are his."

It wasn't necessarily what she wanted to hear, and the idea of being 'his' was the worst part. What did she know about that sort of thing anyway? What was there that anyone could teach her?

Her mother again reassured her, "Do not worry. I will come to you each season, and more when the children are born."

Hitomi laughed in her heart, turning to look out the window at the dry expanse of the desert they seemed all too quickly to be crossing. What did she know about parenting, about being a mother? What did Duke Fraasia know? She did not know him to be a particularly cruel man, but she'd known men to change upon receiving their bride…

Hitomi was suddenly jarred from her thoughts when she heard a shrill howl coming from the outside. It was like nothing she'd ever heard in her life, and it scared her. Straightening in her seat, Hitomi's green eyes darted to find its source.

"What was that?"

Hitomi didn't answer, only continued to look about for the one who could produce so barbaric a sound. It took but a few seconds more for that one to show himself, with two other men, riding directly behind their coach…

"Mother?" she asked, eyes wide and heart now pounding with panic.

"Bandits! Hitomi, get down, be quiet!"

Swiftly Hitomi was pulled to the floor, between the two cushioned benches of the coach. Her mother's eyes were wide with terror as she held her daughter close with all vigilance. They braced themselves as the driver sped up, the dry and rocky terrain paying little heed to the violent ride the increased speed was causing the car's two passengers to endure.

Confused, Hitomi sought to question her companion, "Mother, what-"

"It's beast men, Hitomi! Murderers, vandals, ra- "

The warning was cut short as the two side doors suddenly flew open and to the ground , revealing two masked riders on either side of the coach, preventing either woman's escape. At the site of them, both Hitomi and her mother screamed with terror. Hitomi clung to her mother as the coach rode more and more their injury, and screamed louder as she saw one of the riders reach for her and pull back just as a violent force threw her to the ceiling and her mother halfway out of the coach…

"Hold!" The man's voice was muffled from the cloths draped about his face, his eyes wide as he and his partner reined their horses, watching as the coach turned over on itself again and again, finally landing some feet away from them.

"Ruhm…" the other muttered with regret as Ruhm looked about to see who had shot the fatal arrow that met the coach's driver.

"Rajn-" Ruhm started to yell to the other horsemen who quickly approached, but was cut off by another approached from some distance.

"It can't be helped. How many passengers?"

The beast man answered swiftly, "Two, both women."

The man nodded and commanded his horse toward their target.

"Mother…Mother, they're coming. Get up…Mother…."

Hitomi tugged at her mother's cold hand with no avail as she hid behind the carriage, sobbing as she did so. Buried under the car's weight, all that was exposed was the woman's upper torso. Hitomi squinted to avoid the gore that steadily seeped into the sand from the underside of the wreckage, her sobs quickly becoming cries.

"Mother, please, Mother, I- "

Hitomi's eyes widened as she hushed herself and listened to the heavy steps that hurried her way. The horsemen were close- her mother was dead, and she had to escape.

"I love you." She whispered, and scurried over to the driver's lifeless body to salvage his weapons. He carried a sword to heavy for her, so she quickly searched for something smaller but found nothing. Panicking, Hitomi thought hard as to what might help her, and, remembering her headdress, removed it from her head, taking one of the sharp pins that once held in place as her weapon. As fast as she could, Hitomi hid it in the palm of her hand and laid face down in the sand, playing dead.

Hitomi listened carefully as the man left his saddle and walked toward her. She heard him stop and allowed herself a small peek- he checked her mother's pulse. Finding her dead, he moved on toward her direction. Closing her eyes, she braced herself for her next move and mustered her strength for the attack. She was still as he kneeled to check her pulse, turning her over. He paused for a moment, and Hitomi felt uneasy as she could feel his eyes looking her over. Opening her eyes, she took his intrigue as an opportunity to strike and cried as she stabbed the pin into his forearm with all her might.

The man's eyes widened with surprise as she did so, and quickly raised his other arm to grab her. Hitomi held tight onto the pin, removing it from his skin only to stab him again and again with quicker, more imprecise attacks. With a growl of frustration, the man finally grabbed a hold of her. Screaming almost uncontrollably and as loud as she could, Hitomi fought hard with her captor, hoping to stab, bite and scratch her way to freedom, but it was no use. He was a man and she was a woman. He had a sword and knew how to use it. All she had was a hairpin and a stubborn determination that was quickly being sapped away by the sun's heat and grief of her current situation. It wasn't long before he claimed her tiny weapon, tossing it aside for the sand to bury. And it took even less time before he had her in his hold, her back to him and his hand at her neck to somehow induce her to black out and faint in his arms.

"Lord Van." Ruhm moved to examine the blood trickling down the man's arm, but he refused.

"I'm alright." Van gestured back towards the decimated coach, "Give them a proper burial."

Ruhm nodded as Van climbed back on his horse, "It's fifty-fifty, as always. The girl comes with me."

"Yes Lord Van."

A.N: Weird ending I know, but I'm tired of typing. Anyways, reviews would be greatly appreciated.