Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Author's Note: Since this is my first Escaflowne fanfic, I'd better write a little about the background of the story. This fic was inspired by Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (1816 - 1855) and all the characters and places from that book belong to her.

Anyway, this piece is set in an undetermined time in history. This way if I make a mistake, I won't get yelled at! (I'm a very sensitive writer, LOL) In this story, Hitomi is a Seer and we will see her use her gifts. But in her society, Seers are frowned upon. I'll go into detail later. As for Van's situation in society...well I'll let you figure it out for yourselves. I will say this, he is higher up then Mr Rochester was...

Enjoy!

"I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge - myth is more potent than history - dreams are more powerful than facts - hope always triumphs over experience - laughter is the cure for grief - love is stronger than death."

Robert Fulghum, The Storyteller's Creed.

xXxXx

Miss Temple was gone.

Hitomi had spent the whole evening sat in her room, looking out the window towards the road that had carried Miss Temple and her new husband away to begin their bridal tour. The darkness surrounding her reflected the shadow that had crossed her heart, staining her perception of the school she had lived in for the past eight years. Her contentment living within Lowood's walls had disappeared, stirring within Hitomi the feelings of restlessness she had long suppressed.

What was she to do now?

Was she supposed to act on these rediscovered feelings, or suppress them once more?

The silence surrounding her answered her unspoken questions. She could not stay. But that arose another problem, if she was to leave where would she go? A vision rose unbidden to her mind, of a cold house and the figures that dwelled within it looking down at her from its windows. No, returning to that place was out of the question.

If Miss H K can provide suitable references, we will be willing to employ her in the role of governess…

The familiar words broke Hitomi out of her musings. She looked down at her pendent, finally noticing the gentle glow radiating from it. She wrapped her hand around it, concealing its glow should anyone enter unannounced. She rose from the bed and knelt down next to it, reaching for the loose floorboard that hid one of her few possessions from her life before Lowood.

Her tarot deck.

She opened the drawer of her desk, revealing the letter she had received the day before. Hitomi removed the letter and placed it on the desk, and gazed at it for a moment before returning her attention to the drawer. She moved her hand to the back, feeling for the little piece of cloth that opened the hidden compartment. Eventually her fingertips brushed the worn old cloth, and after a gentle tug it revealed her hidden treasure.

Carefully she drew out the cards, protected by their unique case which depicted a dragon flying across the night sky foreshadowing the moon. The detail and effort used to make the carvings was the only physical evidence of her parents' love for her. Which made it precious to her, just like the cards and the pendent. The cards themselves were old, very old. And their level of accuracy was unnerving, even to Hitomi. Despite this, they had never lead her astray and at this moment she needed their guidance more then ever.

She shuffled the deck, before placing it back on the desk and gently laying her left hand over the deck.

"I ask for wisdom, I ask for aid and I ask for guidance."

The pendent began to glow brighter, and a unknown gentle wind made the loose hair from her braid dance around her face. Hitomi closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before asking her question.

"I ask of you, will this letter lead me to my destiny?"

The light grew brighter, and the pendent became hotter and hotter as the light increased. Hitomi could feel it through the layers of her dress, along with the power of the wind that was making her hair dance wildly around her face.

Suddenly, all was quiet.

The wind died, and the light faded away leaving Hitomi once more in the darkness. She drew out a candle from her desk and lit it, placing it in the holder on the windowsill. The cards had split themselves into three equal stacks, and Hitomi's hand slowly reached out for the left hand stack and turned the top card over.

The Fool - beginnings of journeys, either physically, mentally or spiritually. Important decisions to be made.

Important decisions. The beginning of a journey. Already the cards predicted a change in Hitomi's uniformed life, and the news was welcome to the lonely girl who yearned to escape and explore the world beyond Lowood's walls. She turned over the second card.

The Hermit - Caution. Discretion. Planning. A time to step back and reflect upon circumstances. Counsel sought and taken.

Her heart sank. The cards urged caution and discretion, which meant that she would probably face some opposition from the Inspectors. Hitomi realised she would have to get assistance from the new superintendent, and together they could plan what to do next like the cards recommended. She reached for the final card, which would reveal what the cards could see in the future. She turned it over, with butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

Wheel of Fortune - Good fortune that is unexpected. The appearance of Destiny and Change.

Hitomi sank back in relief, letting out the breath she hadn't realised she was holding till that moment. The appearance of that card made her whole world appear brighter. She picked up the letter, determined to go to the superintendent first thing in the morning and ask for her help and guidance.

It was then she saw the fourth pile.

Her eyes widened. The presence of a fourth pile was used when a Seer was identifying the Arcana that represented a person. Hitomi already knew what her Arcana was, it was The Moon. The pile was next to the Wheel of Fortune, which meant this Arcana was for someone in her future. Puzzled she turned the card over.

The Ace of Serpents.

Hitomi's pendent flashed a brilliant light, forcing he to close her eyes. When she opened them again, she was no longer in her room at Lowood. The room she was in now was much larger then her own, and richly furnished beyond Lowood's means of economy. It felt cold, despite the roaring fire in the large grate. The flames danced along the walls, covered in tapestries and paintings that were half hidden in the shadows. A breeze was gently blowing in through an open balcony door, stirring the curtain tied back allowing the moonlight to enter the room.

A loud fit of coughing shattered the silence.

Hitomi spun around. Her emerald eyes landed on the four poster bed, which she now noted had an occupant. The curtains were tied back, allowing the occupant to feel the benefits of both the fire and the breeze. And see her stood in the middle of their room.

"Who…who's there?"

The voice was hoarse, and its owner began another bout of coughing as they finished speaking. Hitomi slowly approached the bed, moving to the side that was it by the firelight.

The figure lying in the bed was small, a child. As she reached the bedside, the figure turned its head towards her. A young boy's feverish eyes met her own. He looked at her briefly before succumbing to another fit of coughing , his small body jerking and struggling for air. Hitomi felt pity for the boy, he had been left all alone and he was ill.

She went to the bedside table, taking up a pitcher of water and pouring some into a glass. She lent over the boy, lifting his head and placing the glass to his lips. The child drank greedily from the glass, spilling some of it down the side of his neck. He took a deep breath as Hitomi settled his head back down on his pillow.

"Thank…you…"

She down at him, stroking his dark hair and placing a cool hand on his forehead. He leaned into her touch, and Hitomi could see his chest slowly rise and fall as he began to drift to sleep. She wetted a small towel next to the pitcher, placing it on the boy's head before pulling the sheets down so he could feel the breeze better.

"You're welcome."

Her pendent grew bright once again, and Hitomi found herself in her seat at Lowood staring at the Ace of Serpents. She blinked and looked down at her pendent that now lay dormant on her chest. Had that been a vision, or something else?