My contribution to this year’s @esca-ss! An alternate universe where Folken managed to slay the dragon (while still losing his arm) and become king of Fanelia.
This was actually the first fully rendered art piece I’d done in a while. I’ve said before that the reason I’d stopped doing art for a while was because I’d felt disillusioned with my progress. That was also one of the reasons I didn’t sign up for ESS last year. But I wanted to get involved this year, and doing so forced me to jump back into art. And I’m glad I did; I’m really happy with this piece, and it’s inspired me to hopefully get back into drawing more regularly.
So this is super late as I’m unorganised and life has been really difficult/busy for me recently (being out of work, starting a new job but then quitting that for another, family stuff, health) But @radical-rad1986 and I have did a a private swap for the ESS 2019. I really struggled with what to write, I had some great ideas over the holiday but then time has passed and I was thinking about the piece I wrote about the campfire. I wanted to write something that continued from that and Hitomi’s final day in Gaea. There’s a lot of reflections, some Merle & Hitomi chatting and a little sorrow in this piece. I hope you like it ^_^
Word Count - 1,815
It was quieter down the far end of the dock, away from the markets and for that Hitomi was glad. The chaos of the past weeks, months, however long she’d been here had finally taken its toll. From the point of view of an adventurer or explorer it was nice to treat her final days in Gaea like a holiday, free to relax and enjoy everything Astoria had to offer.
She sat at the end of a pier, her legs dangling off so she could swing them backwards and forwards. She tried for a moment to match the rhythm of the small waves underneath. But that was slow and so she allowed her feet to swing freely, matching her breaths instead to the ebb and flow of the water.
The only company she had was a silent fisherman and a large white and almost gold bird which circled above and reminded her of gulls at home. Come to think of it, she tilted her head to the side, a hand stretching out to follow the path of gull tracing in the air and following it’s flight path as it circled, then landed a few feet from her. The bird’s wings reminded her of Van’s wings, a feather fell from the bird and landed next to her. Her hand slowly dropped to meet it and stroked the soft down, she recalled a sleepover with Yukari where they’d ended up having a pillow fight. She knew it was such a cliche but they’d enjoyed it, numerous feathers similar to the one she now clutched had fallen round the room. Her brother teasing her endlessly about it the following day.
As she held the feather she closed her eyes and thought of Van’s lips, his kiss as his wings wrapped round her comforting her in a soft cocoon. Then she thought of kissing Allen in the rain, the strange pull she felt in that moment almost magnetic and finally she thought of Amano. These were stepping stones to her reality which formed such a beautiful dream. Though her heart felt heavy at having to return home she knew that much like her grandmother she would be forever grateful for the adventure that the spirits had allowed her to have.
Van’s kiss felt like rain, summer’s rain where you don’t mind if you get wet or if your clothes are drenched and make-up runs down your face like rivers. It’s too hot out and there’s cicadas in the trees and birds flying ahead, the sun just peaking on the horizon before it dips down behind sky-scrapers. The rumble of the metro but above the dark clouds have gathered and suddenly the heaven’s open and trapped in the rain storm it’s as if nothing else in the world matters or exists.
“Hey whatcha doing?” Merle asked shrilly and begun scratching her ears.
Hitomi jumped and spun around to see the cat girl sat behind her, “Merle! Do you have to do that!”
Merle barely paid any attention, “Why are you out here all on your own?”
Hitomi angrily crossed her arms across her chest, annoyed that the peace had been broken.
“I wanted to be alone.” She confessed.
“Why?”
“Why do you always ask so many questions?”
Merle shrugged and sat down beside her, her tail swaying involuntarily back and forth.
“I’m curious,” she licked her paw and begun to clean behind her ear.
“Curiosity killed the cat didn’t you know that?”
Merle stopped cleaning her ear, her eyes were wide and when she didn’t blink Hitomi sighed and added, “It’s a saying back where I’m from.”
Then Merle did something unexpected, she rest her head on Hitomi’s shoulder, “I get why you wanna sit here, it’s because it’s peaceful right?” She asked quietly.
Hitomi placed a hand on Merle’s knee, “Yes Merle, because it’s quiet, because it gives me a place to both think and be free from thought at the same time.”
Merle sat up pondering what Hitomi had just said and then nodded, “I understand.”
Together they watched the swell of the water beneath them, the ocean looked so cool Hitomi could have easily jumped in but she knew it would be time for her to leave soon.
Dryden was also taking leave of Astoria, it seemed her ending was also the ending of the fellowship they had built and within a few hours she could be sat back in her bedroom listening to the radio. The thought of having to go back to a normal life scared her but she also felt excited and like all the things that had caused her concern at home, all the things that had frightened her, none of it seemed too much for her. What she had learnt and overcome during her time in Gaea meant she knew she could face the challenges that lay ahead.
“Don’t tell Van but I’ve grown rather fond of you.”
Merle smiled, “Same.”
“I know when I get up and turn around, that I have to leave. I’m not sure I’m ready yet,” Hitomi admitted.
Merle nuzzled into her and held her hand in her paw, “Then let’s sit here for a while.”
And so they sat in silence not li
“Winter, what’s winter like here?” Hitomi asked suddenly remembering the snow up in the mountains and her breath hanging in the air.
“Why’d you ask?”
Hitomi shrugged, “I like to enjoy places in all seasons, if I know what Gaea is like in Winter I can day dream about it when i’m home and it’ll give me something to look forward to for the next time i’m here.”
“Well,” Merle begun and looked thoughtful, “Winter is peaceful, here in Astoria it’s different but in land the snow falls heavy and covers the world in a glittery carpet. There’s all kinds of animals which have a winter camouflage and there’s red berries that taste so sweet. Winters can be long, daylight short, there’s purple flowers that come up all winter in the woodland and give off a sweet scent. There’s markets where there’s plenty of music and campfires, singing and dancing. People try to make the most of each season you know, Winter is a good time to be close to family and friends. People play on ice lakes, they dance…”
Hitomi was enchanted by Merle’s description of Winter, it reminded her so much of home, “Ice-skating?”
Merle raised her eyebrows, “Dancing on ice, we call it ice-skating.”
“Ice-skating,” Merle repeated.
“What’s your favourite part of Winter?”
“When the sunlight first touches fresh snow and the world is silent apart from the swoop of wings from an owl or the early morning birdsong. When there’s no prints in the snow so you know you’ll be the first to leave your mark. Those purple flowers are closed at night and when the sun touches them the warmth awakens them and with that the smell. It’s enchanting.”
Hitomi felt tears well in her eyes at the description Merle painted of Winter, suddenly she found herself missing home terribly and enjoying the build up to the holidays, Ice-skating with Yukari and good food with her family in restaurants with wide fire places.
She closed her eyes and forgot where she was for a moment, she could have been home waiting for the train, the sound of gulls rocking her into a sense of security and familiarity. A sting of homesickness in her belly made her feel more certain she was doing the right thing in returning and helped to ease the pain of leaving.
"Hitomi!" A voice called, she turned and saw Allen stood at the opposite end of the pier looking as gallant as he did the first day they met. Ever the perfect knight, she was sure Yukari would fall in love from the description alone.
Allen had that same smile on his face, a smile that told her everything would be okay. It was warm like the taste of citrus fruit in May.
He didn't have to say anything else, just the look on his face and the way he held his hand out to her told her it was time to go.
The past 24 hours had been perfect, the stories they told round the fireplace last night would stay with her forever, a sense of calm and tranquillity washed over her now.
She took Allen's hand, as he helped lift her to her feet she smiled remembering their first encounter and how grateful she was for him.
"Is Van not coming?" She asked suddenly.
"Of course, they're all waiting to say goodbye."
Hitomi nodded knowing the action was more for her sake than his, it was an affirmation that she was doing the right thing.
Merle brushed up against her legs and then ran off ahead of the two of them and into the woods.
"I know you'll want a few moments alone with Van, but I wanted to say goodbye without prying eyes too."
Allen brushed her hair, Hitomi, despite what had passed found it hard not to blush under his stare. But now she looked up at him with admiration, "Thank you Allen for everything.”
Allen bowed his head and pressed a soft kiss on her forehead, he lingered for a moment and when he pulled away he said, “And thank you Hitomi for teaching me a valuable lesson.”
They walked through the woods in silence listening to the birdsong which accompanied them, great flowers were in bloom, orange and red bright like the sun. Hitomi took everything in, the memories of blood shed slowly fading.
Somewhere in the trees she heard chatter and laughter, the friends who had come to say goodbye and there ahead of them was Van leaning against a tree. Hitomi thought he gave the impression of a man trying to look casual but he could see in his eyes the deep sorrow and uncertainty. As the two reached him Allen passed her hand to his silently and then left them alone to join the others.
There was a moment, several heartbeats where they stood in silence facing one another hand in hand just waiting for the other to speak.
"I'll never forget you," she said as tears welled in her eyes.
All Van could say was her name as he reached up to stroke her cheek, wiping a tear away as he did so.
He leant in to kiss her, when his lips met hers the fear melted away, she could smell grass in Spring and her heart felt light as she kissed him in return.
When they parted their foreheads remained pressed together, both teary eyed but both smiling, almost laughing.
“Even when I’m old, I won’t forget you, I’ll write every word of our tale down - once upon a time there was a girl and a Prince…”
I accidentally put their name on the ESS without a form submitted so I decided to do a private swap.
One-sided mild pining Eries over Gaddess.
Eries leaned against the balcony rail as the sunlight played across her face. Rarely was she bored or faced with empty time to be bored in; there was always something for her to do or someplace for her to be. Lessons, dinners with royal guests, keeping an eye on little Millerna.
Right now though, there was nothing and she relished in it.
Watching the goings-on in the palace courtyard and sitting in the sun seemed like a good idea.
Until a certain someone arrived to give his monthly report.
Easily she could close her eyes and not see him, not so easily could she cover her ears and not hear him. Eries could go inside her room until he left the courtyard, but she was too comfortable to move for such a short time only to then return. Sighing, she chastised herself. Her silly little feelings for the Knight of Caeli were annoying and childish, nothing more. He’d already proven not worth the effort.
Sniffling at missing her elder sister, Eries almost missed an unrecognized gruff voice speaking. Cracking her eyes open, Eries searched for the source of the voice. It was different than most she heard in the courtyard, gravely and unsophisticated. Swiftly her eyes scanned the courtyard, dismissing familiar faces.
Until they landed on the scruffy, unkempt face of the commoner man next to the Knight.
His clothes were a little too big and dusty from travel, his hair was uneven around the back, and the stubble on his chin accented the angle of his face.
They had to be companions of a sort, because otherwise the commoner wouldn’t be allowed in the courtyard. They walked close together across the courtyard and did not separate. They entered the palace though the doors the Knight always took to the quarters reserved for a single night’s stay.
Something coiled in her stomach as she caught his voice again, barely distinguishable from the ruckus of the courtyard.
Eries knew the routine: The Castello’s monthly report would be given among the other reports for the afternoon, the Knight would retire to a guest room for the evening, then return on the earliest airship outbound for that section of Asturia in the predawn hours.
There were maybe a few hours for her to discover who the stranger was.
While she rarely traversed the guest quarters, it wasn’t a unique occurrence for Eries to be wandering the palace hallways. If she were coming from a certain location, the guest wing was a logical place for her to be because it was near the Politicians’ Halls. Which was the Knight’s destination and a place Eries frequented.
She’d learned early in life that if she walked at the back of a crowd of people, tendency leaned to ignoring her presence. She wasn’t open and inviting like little Millerna, nor did she have the accepting grace of Marlene. Thus she earned sliding eyes, which she appreciated.
Eries found the Knight’s waiting antechamber all too easily, as a gaggle of young kitchen workers and laundresses were an obvious marker. Pretending to be on her way into the main room, she gave them the hard look that indicated they shouldn’t be blocking the hall and to return to their duties. They quickly retreated back to where they were meant, leaving the hallway empty. Eries knew someone would come through soon enough and she’d be a spectacle standing near the door eavesdropping.
Carefully stepping toward the open door and remaining out of sight, she heard the two men inside talking about the usual goings-on at the Castello. Shortly, she heard the Knight refer to the other man as Gaddess. Eries rolled the name around in her mind for a moment, then quietly walked away before someone caught her. Reaching her room, she spoke the name aloud.
It had a pleasant ring to it.
She woke early the next morning, hoping to catch them leaving via the courtyard. Luck was with her, but neither man spoke as they crossed the empty courtyard. The Knight’s uniform was freshly pressed and the commoner’s clothes were still dusty.
He never arrived with the Knight for the monthly report again and Eries didn’t see him until a few years later. She’d mostly forgotten about him until the report that Millerna and the Castello’s second in command had sprung the Knight from prison.
“Gaddess,” Eries spoke to the empty courtyard after her city had burned.
As fate would have it, she met him under the strange situation that the Knight had been taken away ‘by a pillar of light,’ thus making him commander of the Crusade. There hadn’t been an area to search, so Merchant Dryden had insisted they all return home to Asturia. Father had fallen ill the moment he’d heard Millerna had left and thus Eries received the report of all that transpired.
Now was a very inappropriate time to remember the coil that had tightened in her stomach the only day she’d heard his voice.
Later, much later, under the pretext of assisting in Celena Schezar’s return to Asutrian society, did she maneuver an introduction to the scruffy, gravely-voiced soldier.
-
Random Notes:
I always thought it was “unkept” but it's “unkempt”? Lol
Y’know, the images I found of Gaddess show him clean-shaven… but I wanted the contrast to Allen and basically wanted to keep the ‘scruffy’ imagery, plus it's several years before the Series, so… *Shrugs*
Thanks to @esca-ss for another great year for the Escaflowne Secret Santa!
Because of Tumblr’s new ‘wonderful’ TOS with posting adult stuff, I cannot post the full version of @fruitso ESS gift, I’ll be emailing it to them personally but if you’re willing to view it, it will be uploaded https://privatter.net/i/4387990! (Make sure to use a capital E)
