Blissful Ignorance

Because I realized the other day that I never <i>did</i> post the rest of this fic here. Rose was right. I'm such a slacker.

Disclaimer: I know you're all really bright people, and it should come as no shock to you that Escaflowne and it's characters don't belong to me.

Bonds & Vows

Part III

By: Penybright

As soon as the door shut behind him, Van hurled the first object he could find at it. The unfortunate piece of pottery shattered on impact, creating a large mess on the floor. They had no right! He was their king, not some criminal! What had ever possessed them to lock him in his rooms? On top of that, Hitomi had run away. There was no telling where she could be. Because of his advisors' stupidity, she could be in danger.

Van quelled his urge to scream, knowing it would do him no good, and only cause him pain. Instead, he began to pace back and forth, trying to vent his anger. If they thought they were going to keep him locked up like some common prisoner for the next three days, they were sorely mistaken. He wasn't beaten yet.

<<<<<<<<<<*>>>>>>>>>>

After several hours, Van decided it was safe, and began his plan of escape. Stealthily slipping into his bedroom, Van shut the chamber door silently behind him. He made his way over to the window, looking outside to make sure no one was there. Satisfied that it was clear of possible traps, Van stripped off his shirt, laying it on a small table by the large window. Stepping up onto the ledge, Van cautiously checked the ground below him once more for anyone. Seeing no one, Van leaped out the window, pearly white wings springing from his back.

Once on the ground, Van's wings disappeared, and he dove into the closest shrubbery. He waited a few moments before bolting from his momentary sanctuary, and into the entrance of the palace gardens. Once safely inside the gardens, he allowed himself to relax a little. Few people ever came here. Taking a deep breath, Van picked his way through the garden to his own personal spot. He often came here when he was troubled.

Pushing aside a low hanging branch, Van ducked into the small clearing. In the center was a large fountain surrounded by stone benches. Trees ringed the clearing, screening it from view. Hanging vines spiraled around the trunks of the trees, going up into the branches. A dazzling array of colored flowers littered the ground, as well as the dropping vines. Rounding the fountain, Van came upon a very unexpected sight.

Hitomi had cried herself to sleep, and she was propped against a stone bench precariously. Van silently approached her, not wishing to startle her awake. Once he reached her, he shook her shoulder lightly, rousing Hitomi from her uneasy sleep. Hitomi blinked the sleep out of her eyes, the person standing before her coming into focus.

"Van!"

Van cringed at how loud her voice seemed. Hitomi's surprise suddenly turned to anger as her eyes narrowed.

"You! Why didn't you tell me?! I thought... I thought that... Never mind, I believe you owe me---" Hitomi was cut off as Van clamped a hand over her mouth, raising a finger to his lips to indicate silence.

When Van was sure that Hitomi understood, he removed his hand from her mouth. After a moments pause, he began to walk away, assuming Hitomi would follow. When she didn't follow, Van turned back to see her looking at him quizzically. With a heavy sigh, Van grabbed Hitomi's wrist, tugging gently. She hesitated a moment before following cautiously.

Van led Hitomi back the way he had come, keeping an eye out for any of the palace guards. Once they reached the path below Van's window, he hesitated. Taking a deep, steadying breath, Van scooped Hitomi into his arms, sprinting into the air as his wings unfurled. Hitomi let out a squeak of surprise and instinctively wrapped her arms around Van's neck. In moments they had reached the third story window, and Van ducked inside, depositing Hitomi safely back on her feet.

Regaining her senses, Hitomi opened her mouth to chastise Van, but he quickly silenced her with a pleading look.

"Okay," Hitomi sighed. "Just don't ever do that again without warning me!" she hissed.

Van nodded sheepishly after shrugging back into his shirt. Hitomi looked at him expectantly and Van twitched. He silently led Hitomi into the study adjacent to his chambers. Picking up a quill and parchment, Van began to scribble down an explanation. A large line of ink splayed across the parchment as Van was startled by a knock on his door. He momentarily panicked before grabbing Hitomi and dragging her into his bedchamber, shoving her in the large closet.

Van just made it back to his study as the door swung inward, scraping pottery pieces along with it. The guard looked at the pottery shards, then up at Van. Van stared back at him blankly, noticing the tray in his hands.
"I was told to bring you your dinner, Sire," the guard explained, stepping into the room. He placed the tray on Van's parchment strewn desk, nodding respectfully as he turned and left, shutting the door behind him.

Van let out a heavy sigh when the door clicked shut before scrambling to get Hitomi. When she stepped out of the large closet, Van cringed at her expression.

"It isn't bad enough that you bring me up here, forcing me to remain silent for god knows why, but then you unceremoniously shove me in a closet! On top of that... Ooooooh!" Hitomi cried. A resounding smack echoed through the room as Hitomi slapped Van. Van's eyes widened in shock as his hand flew to his cheek and he stumbled back a step.

"You, Van Fanel are in deep trouble," Hitomi warned, advancing towards him. Van continued to back away from her until he bumped into the wall.

"How could you?" Hitomi accused, poking Van in the chest, her voice wavering slightly. Van glanced uneasily at Hitomi's eyes and saw the tears she was attempting to hold back.

"I thought you... loved me... I guess I was a fool to ever believe you could love me. But... it still hurts Van. Why?" Hitomi asked, a few tears rolling down her face. Van lifted a wavering hand up to Hitomi's face, brushing away her tears. Pulling her into a hug, he shook his head, wishing that he could reassure her with comforting words.

Pulling back slowly from Hitomi, he lead her by the hand back to his study. Once there, he rooted around on his desk till he found the desired document. Van solemnly handed the letter he had received from the King of Eneis to Hitomi with sad eyes. Hitomi wiped her eyes on her sleeve, sniffling slightly as she began to read. When Hitomi reached the end, she glanced up at Van, who was seated at his desk, his head in his hands.

"Have-have you meet this princess yet?" Hitomi asked quietly. Van's head shot up at Hitomi's question and he shook his head no.

"I guess... I was wrong..."

Van nodded, handing her another piece of parchment. It read:
I wanted to try to explain it to you. I didn't mean for you to find out the way you did. I'm sorry.

"I---" Hitomi was cut off as the door to Van's study swung open violently.

"Your Highness!" Thomas cried, outraged. Van looked at his advisor standing outraged in the doorway. All color drained from Van's face and he swallowed convulsively. This was not going to be good...

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Bonds & Vows

Part IV

By: Penybright

Thomas glanced at Hitomi, taking in her rumpled appearance and look of distress. His gaze then shifted to Van, who looked rather pale at the moment.

"What," Thomas began angrily, "is going on here?"

Van looked at Hitomi pleadingly.

"It's not what you think," Hitomi said quickly. "We were just... talking."

Thomas raised a skeptical eyebrow at her explanation.

"How is that possible? Lord Van can not speak. He has indefinitely lost his voice due to and assassination attempt."

"Well, you have a point, but... Look, I don't know what's going on here. All I know is that I'm one of Van's very good friends, and I haven't seen him in years. Is it a crime to talk to your friends?"

"I'm sure that you are indeed very good... friends," Thomas replied skeptically. "Whether you're friends or not, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to say away from Lord Van. We can't have anything jeopardizing the wedding. Now, I suggest you---"

Thomas was cut off as a piece of paper was suddenly shoved in his face. Taking the parchment, Thomas glanced over at a very unhappy Van.
You have gone too far Thomas. Hitomi is an honored guest in this palace. You will treat her with the proper respect. If she wants to talk to me, then she gets to talk to me. I've had just about enough of this!

Thomas looked at his king, then back down at what he had written.

"Sire..." Thomas sighed. "We will allow the... Lady Hitomi to speak with you, only if you are supervised. It's for your own good," Thomas finished, exiting the room before Van could do anything in protest.

As soon as the door shut, Van slumped into his chair dejectedly. He halfheartedly scribbled something on another piece of parchment, handing it to Hitomi.

'I think you should go now.'

Hitomi hesitated, seeing the worried state Van was in. He looked absolutely miserable, not that she felt any better about the situation, but... Surely there was a way for them to be together. They had already gone through so much.

Before leaving, Hitomi walked over to Van, enveloping him in a gentle hug.

"Everything will turn out all right," she reassured. Van nodded, hugging her back. On impulse, Hitomi kissed Van's forehead before quickly exiting the study.

Once Hitomi was gone, Van dragged himself to his bedchamber, flopping face first onto his bed. Maybe she was right. Maybe now that she was here things would turn out different. Van slowly drifted to sleep, pondering his troubled thoughts.

<<<<<<<<<<*>>>>>>>>>>

Van awoke the next morning feeling less than wonderful. His head ached, and his stomach felt queasy. He sat up quickly, and instantly regretted it. When the room ceased tilting at odd angles, Van cautiously stood up, slowly. He made his way to the closet, reaching inside and pulling out his robe. Cinching the belt at his waist, Van walked out into his study. Making his way over to his desk, he found a breakfast tray there with a stack of documents next to it.

'Another day in my room I suppose,' Van thought as he sighed, running a hand through his tousled obsidian locks.

Sitting down, Van took one look at the tray of food and instantly shoved it aside. He didn't think he could stomach anything the way he felt. While dragging the stack of documents closer to himself, the one on top caught his attention. He quickly snatched it up, breaking the seal and felt his heart sink to his stomach when he saw the scrolly writing.

King Van,
I suppose I should call you son now, shouldn't I? This letter is to inform you that my daughter and I will be arriving the day before the wedding. My daughter wishes to meet the "dashing young king" is I believe how she put it, who is to be her future husband.

Out entourage shall be arriving sometime around midday. I expect you to be there to greet us. Do not make a bad first impression... son.

King Vespan

After reading the letter, Van stood up while scribbling down instructions. Opening his door, he handed the letter and instructions to the guard. The guard nodded before walking down the hall. Van returned to his desk. Sitting back down, Van allowed his head to sink onto his desk as he sighed onerously.

There was a timid knock on Van's door, and his head shot up. He instantly groaned and winced at the sudden pain and dizziness. The door swung cautiously inward to reveal Hitomi. Van cringed when he saw her somber expression and puffy, bloodshot eyes. She had been crying again... because of him.

Hitomi smiled wanly.

"It's all right Van. I just... needed to come to grips with things," She explained seeing his distressed face.

"I came to tell you that Allen is here to see you."

Van seemed confused by her statement.

"You didn't know he was coming?"

Van shook his head.

"Anyway, he's down in the courtyard. I'll wait for you, and we can go down together. I don't think he's going to take the news well."

Van's shoulder's slumped, and he slowly rose from his seat. It was then that Hitomi noticed how pale and shaky he looked.

"Van, are you okay?" she asked, her concern evident. She walked over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder to turn him around. She had to steady him when he stumbled and almost fell.

"God Van, you can barely stand up!"

Looking into his eyes, she saw the fatigue and worry swimming in them. For the first time, her eyes caught on something. She suddenly noticed the blood stained gauze around Van's neck.

"Is... is that why you can't speak?" she whispered. Van swallowed and nodded.

"I think that maybe you---" Hitomi was cut of as Van shook his head and pulled away from her. Hitomi sighed, knowing that Van was going to be stubborn, no matter how much she tried to persuade him otherwise.

"Fine, I'll wait for you outside."

Van nodded again before stepping into his bedchamber and shutting the door softly behind him.

"Why does he always have to be so stubborn?" Hitomi asked herself, then answered her own question. "Because he's a king," she lamented.

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Bonds & Vows

Part V

By: Penybright

When Van stepped out into the hallway, Hitomi noted that he didn't look quite as pale, though he still shook slightly.

"Shall we go?" she smiled, linking arms with him. Van glanced nervously at the people in the hallways as Hitomi dragged him along. Was she trying to get him in more trouble than he already was? No, she probably just didn't understand what such a simple action could mean in Fanelian court. He really should have someone explain everything to her, since he was unable to.

Van's spirits seemed to improve when he stepped outside. A little fresh air was a tremendous boon to him after being cooped up in his stuffy room. Of course, it didn't help to calm his nerves any. He knew that Allen would probably try to kill him when he found out Van wasn't marrying Hitomi. Why did Allen have to be like an overprotective brother to Hitomi, a very dangerous overprotective brother? On the other hand, if Allen did kill him, then... No, that would only make matters worse.

"Allen!" Hitomi cried, giving her friend a hug. Allen smiled when Hitomi pulled back, looking at the couple before him.

"So, you finally got the courage to ask her?" Allen teased Van. His smile quickly disappeared when he saw Van's ashamed face.

"What's the matter? Having second thoughts about me being your best man?" Allen said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Allen... I think we should talk somewhere private. Why don't we go to the gardens," Hitomi suggested quietly. Allen nodded, not liking where this conversation was going to lead.

Once they were safely in the garden, and out of earshot of any nosy passerby, Hitomi turned to face Allen. Her expression was grim as she took a deep breath and told him the truth.

"Van's not marrying me Allen."

"What?!" he sputtered, incredulous.

"He's marrying someone else. A princess from somewhere called Eneis."

Allen's disbelief quickly turned to anger when he saw Hitomi's sad face. She looked absolutely miserable. Allen was upset enough that he decided to take his anger out on the cause of Hitomi's distress.

"You bastard," Allen whispered lowly, his hands wrapping around Van's neck. Van's eyes widened in pain and surprise as Allen began to squeeze, lifting Van's feet several inches from the ground.

Van's fingers clawed at Allen's hands as he began to panic. He couldn't breath, and the pain was almost unbearable. Fire and ice scorched through his neck and throat, searing it. Hitomi noticed Van's panic, and instantly came to his aide.

"Allen! Allen stop it! He's hurt. You're killing him!" Hitomi cried while attempting to drag her friend away from Van. Allen relented grudgingly, dropping Van to the ground. Van stumbled to his knees, wheezing horribly as he coughed up blood.

Hitomi glared at Allen before running to Van's side. She noted with dread, that the gauze on Van's neck was now soaked through with blood. Taking the hem of her skirt, she shredded some of it into long strips. Hitomi then began to gently undo the bloody gauze from Van's neck. His hand painfully gripped her free wrist as she worked. She could only imagine the kind of pain he was feeling at the moment.

Once Hitomi had Van bandaged up, she cradled him in her arms and turned to glare at Allen.

"It's not his fault he's marrying someone else. He's being forced into it, and they're using his people's lives as leverage," Hitomi explained. "They even tried to kill him!" Hitomi exclaimed. "And you almost finished the job for them," she accused.

"I'm... sorry," Allen apologized, kneeling beside Van. "I didn't know about... your neck. I guess I should have given you a chance to explain," he sighed.

Hitomi smiled slightly.

"I would have liked to see him try to explain," she chuckled. Allen looked
at her questioningly.

"He can't speak," Hitomi explained, glancing at Van, who seemed to be breathing a bit easier.

"He can't talk? Well, he never was that much of a talker anyway," Allen pointed out, earning a semi-glare from Van.

"True, Van never was one for words. I guess---"

The conversation was cut short as several guards rushed into the garden, two of Van's advisors trailing behind. Without a word of explanation, Van was hauled to his feet. One of the advisors wove his way through the guards to Van.

"Ah, I see that Sir Allen has arrived. Good. Lord Van, I believe you have an important guest arriving today. You need to get ready to greet her."

Van looked like he wanted to flee in terror, but he had nowhere to go. He reluctantly allowed himself to be led back to his chambers. Hitomi and Allen watched him go, feeling pity for the young king.

"I don't like this," Allen commented. "Something just doesn't seem right."

"I know what you mean. Somehow, I don't think that Van's supposed to last very long after the wedding. This King Vespan person seems to hold nothing but ill will towards Van."

"I guess that means that we'll have to watch his back."

"You'll have to watch his back," Hitomi corrected. "I'm not allowed near him without supervision."

<<<<<<<<<<*>>>>>>>>>>

Van stood in the courtyard with guards flanking either side of him, and his advisors to the rear. He fidgeted with the stiff formal garment he was wearing, tugging at the high collar of his shirt and trying not to wince at the pain it caused. He wanted nothing more than to escape to the solitude of the gardens. At this rate, he was even willing to accept the solitude of his stuffy room.

As the sun glared down mercilessly on the young king, he clenched his jaw and forced himself to stand steadily. No one else seemed to notice how pale he was, or how every so often he would waver and try to regain his composure. Perhaps they didn't care. Or maybe they just thought he was nervous. No, Van wasn't nervous, he was just awaiting his fate with absolute dread.

There was a shout from the gate, and Van steeled himself. This was it. He was going to meet his bride today. He was also going to meet the king who had sent someone to almost kill him. Today was going to be one of the longest days of his life. He knew tomorrow would be even worse. Tomorrow he would be forced to marry a woman he barely knew and didn't love.

'Hiotmi...' Van sighed inwardly as a carriage approached.