-1Chapter 4: Freedom, glorious …Oy Not Again!

(Hey Escaflowne is not mine so back off before I get really angry!!!)

Dylan's POV:

'this isn't so bad, I mean really he's so close' Dylan thought and looked to the side as she suddenly blushed realizing her train of thought. She was slightly confused given the fact she was dressed in Fanalian garb and bound but refused to get slapped or ask any questions in regards to it. As if her thoughts were being read the com link crackled and a fuzzy voice sounded.

"Dylan, Your bait, remember to act as so, Allen is a womanizer he should go for a bound pretty girl no problem. All you have to do is act scared and helpless, understand?" the voice said and she recognized it as Folken's

"Yes sir, Folken-Sama sir" she replied dully and shook her head her hair covering over Miguel's mouth and nose.

"Sorry" she murmured and flipped the hair over her other shoulder. She snuggled closer to him almost as just second nature and placed her head on his shoulder closing her eyes thinking about her friends and family. She had been doing this a lot lately and still she was so close to the place she used to live that she really hoped that someday she would be able to see them all again.

With a sigh and a jolt they landed and she promptly slipped and fell out of the cockpit as Miguel opened it. She staggered to her feet and gasped then growled as she realized exactly whom they were going to see.

"Oh heck no, not him, anyone but him I can't do it" she stated and promptly turned to go back and hide near the melef's that were there.

"Come on you can do it, Dylan, I mean it you'll be fine, we won't let anything happen to you. Correction Dusty and I won't let anything happen to you." Miguel said softly as he caught her and turned her around.

They marched around her a silent group tall and proud Dilandau at the head a smirk light upon his 'angelic' features. It took only moments before they were inside and she looked around at all the men that were standing there. She shivered as she watched everyone gather around and stare at the group. Closing her eyes as they came to a stop she had enough time to gasp and cry out in surprise as she was thrown to the ground.

"okay now do your stuff" she murmured to herself and curled up into a fetal position not daring to move.

"I'd like to request weapons, food, and water. We're engaged in urgent military manoeuvres" Dilandau said and glared at the knight who stood before him.

"I'll do everything in my power" replied the knight and he turned slightly to his left and frowned.

"By the way, Sir Allen... You haven't seen a strange Guymelef in the area, have you?" Dilandau asked his eyes traveling in the same direction as the knights.

"No, not that I know of. It wouldn't have anything to do with manoeuvres that require even a floating fortress, would it?" Allen asked and Dilandau smirked.

"Possibly" he replied and gave a small signal.

"Would it have anything to do with Fanelia to the west being attacked?" Allen asked this, time looking directly at the young man who stood arrogantly in front of him.

"That run-down little country? Maybe its leaders were eaten by the dragons that wander that valley. It's a fitting end for such a backwater country, don't you think? At any rate, it was a country of cowards, led by a king who's gone into hiding. Who cares what happened to them…" Dilandau stated and smiled as the group heard a small sob echo through room.

"Oh that reminds me, I would like you to meet my new 'pet'" Dilandau said and Dylan felt a pair of arms grab her and throw her in front of everyone.

"Dylan" someone breathed and she looked up and to the voice. She began to cry for real this time she was so relieved. Here in front of her was Van, her brother and king. She didn't dare say his name out loud for fear Dusty would pick up on it and then they would know for sure the 'dragon' was here.

"You rat, how dare you treat her as if she is a pet." The raven haired boy hissed and stepped forward his hand on his sword.

"Besides, Not showing yourself during battle is cowardly, wouldn't you say?" he went on and Dilandau grabbed Dylan by her hair throwing her back in amongst the dragon slayer's. She scrambled to her feet and waited as he walked towards the boy. She held her breath waiting to pounce on Dilandau if he tried to hurt Van.

"I've never seen clothes like yours before. Where are you from, girl? " Dilandau asked as he shoved Van aside with ease confronting the very scared girl behind him.

"She's my new lover. I found her in the East. Her name's Hitomi. As I said, Lord Dilandau." Allen said and looked over at him. Dilandau merely sneered and returned to the others. With a signal they all turned and made to leave the room. Dylan was held by two of the slayers this time and as they got to the entrance everyone paused.

"You live up to your reputation, Allen Schezar. I hope you put the same effort into our provisions." With that being said they left. Back to the fortress that floated high in the sky, back to the one place Dylan hoped she wouldn't have had to come, back to the dismal existence that was Zaibach. She sniffed once and found herself again in Miguel's melef, This time the binds were removed but still she sat unmoving as they took off. It was only then that she lay her head on his shoulder and fell into an uneasy doze.

"Sleep well, while you can." a voice murmured and she responded with a sigh.

Miguel POV

'hey she hasn't told me off for this, wow she's gorgeous, wait where the heck did that come from' Miguel thought as he piloted his Alseides one handed and he held Dylan close to him. He was wondering the same thing as everyone else at this point. They were all curious as to why she was dressed this way rather than in the uniform she was assigned. When the com link crackled to life explaining it he smiled, and then coughed as a mass of red and silver hair covered his face. He sighed and smiled as she apologized for her behaviour regarding the hair and tried to shake the feeling of unease off as they continued. He was slightly surprised as she snuggled closer to him and gave a soft smile just as they landed. He quickly released her and cringed as she hit the ground. With a sigh of his own he exited his melef and stood in formation. Miguel shook his head and growled under his breath as he caught sight of the barricades.

"Oh heck no, not him, anyone but him I can't do it" Dylan said and Miguel was caught off guard as she turned towards him. His heart broke as he saw how resolute she was. He grabbed hold of her arms and pulled her close to him.

"Come on you can do it, Dylan, I mean it you'll be fine, we won't let anything happen to you. Correction Dusty and I won't let anything happen to you." He murmured in her ear and turned her around his hand still on her arm.

Dusty merely looked over and shook his head.

Soon they were off and Miguel released her letting her get in the middle of the group. The time it took for them to get into the meeting hall was short and Miguel had just enough time to blank his expression at the sight that greeted them. He stood proud amongst the group and couldn't help but feel sorry for Dylan as she was forced to the ground. He watched the proceedings with feigned interest, it was a standard request and no one dared treat it as any other.

"I'd like to request weapons, food, and water. We're engaged in urgent military manoeuvres" Dilandau said and glared at the knight who stood before him.

"I'll do everything in my power" replied the knight and he turned slightly to his left and frowned.

"By the way, Sir Allen... You haven't seen a strange Guymelef in the area, have you?" Dilandau asked his eyes traveling in the same direction as the knights.

"No, not that I know of. It wouldn't have anything to do with manoeuvres that require even a floating fortress, would it?" Allen asked and Dilandau smirked.

"Possibly" he replied and gave a small signal.

"Would it have anything to do with Fanelia to the west being attacked?" Allen asked this, time looking directly at the young man who stood arrogantly in front of him.

"That run-down little country? Maybe its leaders were eaten by the dragons that wander that valley. It's a fitting end for such a backwater country, don't you think? At any rate, it was a country of cowards, led by a king who's gone into hiding. Who cares what happened to them…" Dilandau stated and smiled as the group heard a small sob echo through room. Miguel grit his teeth keeping his face neutral when all he really wanted to do was reassure her, never before had he ever felt this way and he knew that she was faking but still..

"Oh that reminds me, I would like you to meet my new 'pet'" Dilandau said and Dylan felt a pair of arms grab her and throw her in front of everyone. As she burst into tears Miguel reacted by simply stepping forward an inch, he would have gone farther but a hand held him back, glancing to his side he noticed it was Dusty and the two shared a look of pure astonishment and unease at the whole situation. They had both heard the raven haired boy mutter her name and they both had a suspicion that he was the 'dragon' they were hunting.

"You rat, how dare you treat her as if she is a pet." The raven haired boy hissed and stepped forward his hand on his sword.

"Besides, Not showing yourself during battle is cowardly, wouldn't you say?" he went on and Dilandau grabbed Dylan by her hair throwing her back in amongst the dragon slayer's. Miguel and Dusty grabbed her arms to help her up and held her there as if to declare her a prisoner. Self control was the only keeping Miguel from putting an arm around her. 'what on earth, why on Gaia is she so tense?' he thought and tightened his hand on her arm involuntarily. He was paying close attention to what was happening now and he tried not to shudder as Dilandau walked up to the raven haired male.

"I've never seen clothes like yours before. Where are you from, girl? " Dilandau asked as he shoved Van aside with ease confronting the very scared girl behind him.

"She's my new lover. I found her in the East. Her name's Hitomi. As I said, Lord Dilandau." Allen said and looked over at him. Dilandau merely sneered and returned to the others. With a signal they all turned and made to leave the room. Dylan was still being held by Miguel and Dusty and as they got to the entrance everyone paused.

"You live up to your reputation, Allen Schezar. I hope you put the same effort into our provisions." With that being said they left. Miguel refused to relax until they were back in the Alseides unit and he wrapped his arms around the now unbound girl once again piloting with one hand. He was very concerned about her and he watched as she snuggled closer to him. As she began to doze he smiled softly.

"Sleep well, while you can" he murmured into her hair and listened contented as she sighed in her sleep.

A/N: I took the script for some of it right from the English dub of Escaflowne, I REALLY DO NOT OWN THAT,