...
...
Disclaimer:
Escaflowne and all its derivations belong to Sunrise, Bandai, etc. However,
characters Lisette, Rian, Lady & Lord Cassimey are mine! Do not use without
permission, but you knew that already...right? ^_^
[Background]: In the very last installment, Migel's identity was uncovered...here's
where the real *action* comes in.
[Author's Note]: Sorry the last chapter was really short, and the annoying
(was it annoying?) cliff-hanger at the end, all I can say is that this series
will hit its finale in the next couple of chapters. Oh, and that this chapter
will compensate for the shortness of the last two. Hmm...I saw that someone
(not at ff.net) didn't like the character Liz Cassimey, so in review, could
you also tell me *your* opinion of her? Anyway, hope you enjoy reading this
chapter as much as I did writing it!
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Speak No Evil
Chapter 7
Author: Remalna Marguerite
[BTW] if anyone has Folken-related fics/art they'd like to submit to my shrine
to Folken [http://strategos.homestead.com/Strategos.html], just tell me in
the review and I'll e-mail you about it]
******
<<<<<Evening>>>>>
"Miss, we're almost there."
The captain of the air-transport ship informed Lisette politely. She nodded
to him silently, her mind still in turmoil. In less than ten minutes she would
arrive back home. She wasn't sure what the best course of action was...her
instincts dictated that she went to her father and the authorities immediately...but
that would mean Des-Migel's-arrest...and...eminent execution. The heart wrestled
with the mind. Lisette's hands clenched so tight, her fingernails painfully
dug into her palm. The minutes ticked by...what to do...what to do...
******
Celena Schezar watched the Fanelian King through half-veiled eyes. Van was
standing stiffly a little way from the large gathering of courtiers and despite
the festivities of the room, he kept up a distant front. Celena saw this as
arrogance and fury unfurled in her chest nearly chocking her breath. By the
Gods how she hated that man. She couldn't stand his presence. Van was oblivious
to the gaze of pure revulsion she directed at him. She had managed to convince
Allen to allow her to come to the welcoming reception at the Aston's Residence...honestly,
she could twist her brother around her little finger much too easily. 'Migel,
do *not* disappoint me again.' She thought to herself, and then threw a darting
glance to the clock sitting on the upper balcony of the marbled Residence.
It was almost time. Swallowing her feelings, her pride, she began to walk
toward the King. Van saw her approach him and stiffened almost imperceptibly.
"Lady Celena." He bowed slightly over her proffered hand. His unruly, longish
hair brushed the back of her hand. She inhaled sharply and resisted the urge
to pull away.
"Your Highness..." She smiled at him charmingly. They had never met before,
not face to face like this. She was faintly surprised at how well he controlled
his emotions, nearly as well as Folken had.
"I am so *honored* to meet the famous ruler of Fanelia." Celena kept her voice
lightly teasing. Van relaxed slightly, perhaps he needn't worry about Allen's
sister after all. She seemed quite normal, if a little bit frivolous.
"Please, Van is fine."
"Oh dear, I couldn't call you that..."
"Why ever not?"
"It would be too...intimate, I've only *just* met you after all." She lowered
her voice and drew closer to his side. "And Allen Schezar's sister must be
a model of virtue..." Van narrowed his eyes. He wasn't sure if the girl was
being ironic.
"You hold virtue highly then." He tested her.
"In the highest regard, of course." She dimpled.
"And honour? Kindness? What about innocence?" His voice began to take on a
hard edge. Celena merely smiled at him again, and made to move away. Predictably,
he did not stay behind. "I wasn't finished." He said, unaware of how he had
made the comment sound like a command. Celena merely weaved her way through
the crowds, deftly around a half-drunk courtier here, and overly loud lord
there. Van pursued. He turned a corner abruptly, and found himself in an alcove
of the palace. Without warning he felt the back of his head explode in a blaze
of pain...then nothing.
******
The house was dark. Eerily silent. Then again, she hadn't expected to encounter
anyone ... they were all at the festivities. Lisette opened the front door
and quickly stepped inside. She fumbled with a match to light the candle which
she found in the drawer of the desk of the foyer. The weak glow of candlelight
illuminated her path. She climbed the great stairs to her bedroom where she
intended to change her stained traveling dress for an evening gown, her black
one, she decided. Black. The only appropriate colour for what she was about
to do. With long strides, gaining confidence with each step, Lisette quickly
walked down the second floor hallway.
"You shouldn't be here."
Lisette gasped, her heart pounding wildly as she swirled around at the sound
of the cool, detached voice. Her eyes widened betraying her shock. Migel stood
just three meters away from her, his face was hidden by the shadows.
"I said you shouldn't be here, Liz." He was completely serious, almost wooden
sounding.
"I...I." She licked her dry lips, "I could say the same. Desral."
"Where were you?"
"What do you mean."
"You were gone all day. Where did you go."
"I went to visit my friend."
"In Freid? Interesting, I didn't know you still had friends there."
He knows. He *knows*. The pretense was over, for the both of them. "You should've
let things be." Migel told her almost sadly. "This didn't have to involve
you. Why couldn't you just let things be?" Without waiting for him to finish
his sentence, she dropped the candle and bolted down the stairs. One more
step and she would've reached the bottom-but just then-Migel caught up to
her. He grabbed at her arm, toppling her off-balance. Instead of letting her
go sprawling onto the hard floor, he yanked her hard against his chest. His
arms wrapped around her, immobilizing her struggles.
"You're trembling. You heart is beating so fast." He whispered. Her breathing
quickened from her alarm. "You risked your life, and you don't even know why.
Shall I tell you? You do have a right to know...my name...is Migel Labariel.
As you doubtlessly know, I was a soldier before I was a knight. Part of the
dragonslayer unit. We were glorious. We didn't answer to anyone except our
commander-"
"You were killers." She told him flatly. "Zaibach ruined so many lives."
"I...I know. But, in the heat of battle-"
"I'm not talking about when you fought other soldiers! Were you one of those...those
*glorious* dragonslayers who murdered five hundred Fanelians? Or perhaps you
were the one who razed Palas to the ground! Well? Answer me!"
"I..."
"You lied to me. You *lied* to my parents. How dare you even think to put
on the uniform of a knight Caeli! Let go of me!" Lisette renewed her struggles,
desperately trying to loosen his grasp. He merely tightened his hold on her
arms. It was useless. She couldn't get him to understand.
"I hate who you were." She finally said. He cringed at her words. "But I can't
hate you for who you've become. We've lived in the same house for over three
years...and I know you want.... I've always trusted you."
"But not anymore."
"Perhaps. Still."
"You shouldn't though. It's not wise to trust a villain."
"But you're not a villain."
"Don't be foolish. You know what I'm capable of. I could snap your neck easily
with one hand, and wait for the rest of your family to come back and kill
them too." She refused to be guiled by his words.
"No you won't."
"How do you know? Why do you still continue to believe my word?"
"Because...because..."
"Never mind-"
"Because I love-" But her confession was silenced when Migel dipped his head
and captured her lips in a kiss. Her eyes widened in surprise, then fluttered
closed.
"Migel..." She murmured, her vision slightly blurry. He was silent. "Migel...?"
Suddenly she stiffened in pain and a gasp tore from her throat. Migel caught
her deftly in his arms just as her knees buckled and her body slumped forward.
He carried her still form into the drawing room, and laid her gently on the
sofa. He brushed his hands over her face, his fingers tracing her closed lids...lingering
upon her lips.
"Too late." Migel told the empty room. "I'm always too late." He stood up
and walked away.
________________________________________________________________________
Author's Note: There were a lot of half-finished sentences
in this chapter that I *hope* everyone knew what they were alluding to. If
you've read some of my other fics, you might see a pattern: I like to pair
Celena with Van (blame it on "Never Forgotten") and I guess Speak is not so
different. Admitedly, Van & Celena do not actually have a peachy elationship
right now...*ahem* This fic is for Migel at any rate ^_^ What's going to happen
next? Who's going to make it, who isn't? My lips are mum. Not telling! Please
review, it means a lot to me. I hope the last part wasn't too abrupt. [and
I never write this long A/N, just that people have been so kind in their reviews...so
I thought you might be interested in some of my opinions. Hope that wasn't
too hoity-toity of me to assume that. Review!!