This is a only half a chpt-SORRY! That is because we've had a series of DISCUSSIONS surrounding plot (it doesn't show up in the text, but it mainly dealt with Asturian custom and was sparked by e-mails on Asturian fashion by Didodikali-san ) and then another set of ISSUES involving computers and internet access. Since we did not want to leave you hanging another month while we finished, we decided to post what we have . So keep in mind that this chpt and the next are actually one chpt.

Sooooo.this chapter and the next goes out to the two biggest Dryden fans that we know of: Aria-chan and Didodikali-san. Big thank you to Didodikali- san for all her help. The latter portion of this chapter is all done in first person. We did that because we had to spend a bit of time trying to get into Dryden's head (because he so different from Allen and Eries) and after all that, it just seemed more natural to write it that way. Besides, Ron has always said that if he were a character in Escaflowne, it would be Dryden.

We hope you don't mind it, and if it sucks, let us know and we won't do it again.

Also thanks to Aerika-san for the sketch of the Aston sisters ; ) By the way, if you haven't checked out her website, take a look at : http://www.geocities.com/aerikas/

And thanks to Leila-hime for adding us to her website : )

Date posted. July 22,2002

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By the following week, all of the requisite documents had been drawn up, completed, and signed. All that was left was to make everything official was a formal proclamation. The betrothal was to be made public once Dryden had been informed. However, locating Dryden was not an easy matter. His once regular correspondences to Palas had been erratic since Millerna's death. He had been seen in a number of places since leaving the capitol, but no one was exactly sure where he currently was. King Aston dispatched 15 teams of messengers to locate him. After a month of searching and no Dryden, Meiden Fassa, concerned that Eries would attempt to derail the engagement while it still was out of the public eye, pressed for the announcement to be made even without Dryden's acknowledgment. And he succeeded.

When the first letters of congratulations came in, it was a bit strange knowing that people in Basram and Daedalus knew about the betrothal but Eries' fiance did not.

About two weeks after Eries and Dryden's engagement was declared, a message arrived at the palace. Dryden had finally been located near Catalina. He and his fleet would return to Palas in two days.

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On a balcony of one of the highest towers of the palace stood Princess Eries. The autumn wind was chill and brisk, whipping her hair around her. But she remained where she was. Leaning against the balustrade, she stared into the horizon. Crossing over the last of the mountains at the capitol's borders was a convoy of levi-ships . Dryden's ships. In an hour or so, they would touch down at Dryden's dockyard at the edge of town.

Despite all their differences in personality and style (and his annoying habit of needling her), she liked and admired him, for who he was and what he had accomplished. He was a good friend, and an old one at that. Whenever Dryden was able to make one of his rare visits home, Eries made a point of it to greet him within a day or so of his arrival. Twice, she had gone so far as to greet him at his dockyard.

But as she watched the ships descending, she felt none of her former anticipation. Instead she felt a sense of trepidation. The message had been terse; it did not say what Dryden's reaction had been. But she was positive he was not pleased at the current state of affairs. And she dreaded facing him.

I should go meet him, she thought.

An hour later, she remained rooted to the balcony.

* ** ** ** * My neck began to cramp. Come on, hurry up, Sniper.

The niche that I was currently sharing with a bust of King Reginald VI was not what one would exactly call spacious. And my body had long since outgrown the days of hide and seek. Unfortunately, Eries had started this game, and it was up to me to put an end to it.

I had been in Palas for four days and had yet to see her. Unless you count glimpses of blond hair flying around a corner. She was avoiding me. Unfortunately for me, she knew the ins and outs of the palace better than I and was able to make good her escape each time. Scheduling an appointment was a joke; I'd already been stood up twice. So finally I had to resort to an ambush.

Me ambushing Sniper. If things weren't so screwed up, it would be hilarious.

If I had learned anything in my merchant career, it was that it pays to use your connections. So I approached my cousin Annette to figure out what the best way of cornering the elusive princess was. Nette looked as if she had been expecting me and was more than willing to provide me with the information I needed--and then some.

According to her calculations, Eries should be coming down this hallway any second to meet her father for dinner. I only hoped I caught her before my old man found me.

Ugh. It had taken an obscene amount of threats and bribes to keep Mr. Rat from squealing on my whereabouts to Father. Normally he wouldn't care about me making an appearance as long as a report was delivered to him upon docking. But this time there was a bit more at stake than just my mercantile fleet. I feel a bit guilty about upsetting Mother though. I'm back after months but I'm still bunking alone in my leviship instead of spending quality time with her. But I know my intentions are nothing short of a bombshell for the old man. It should rival the ruckus that I caused by giving Millerna back the wedding ring. However, that time, Eries, understanding how I truly felt, helped to calm the mayhem. This time, she's the cause.

If he caught me now--no, if I don't think about it, it won't happen...I hope.

My ears pricked up. Footsteps. Just a little closer...Bingo! the profile of one Eries Aston passing by my hiding place. Her head was slightly bowed; she looked as if she were deep in thought as she trudged down the hall in her royal grey and purple finery.

I scrambled out of my hiding place, nearly tripping over my habayah in the process. Striding up to her, I grasped her hand. "Eries, may I please have a word with you?"

Eries nearly jumped out of her shoes at my sudden appearance. "Dryden!" she squeaked.

"DRYDEN!!!"

What lousy timing.

I had Eries frantically looking about for an escape, and now my father was barreling down on me like an enraged bull.

"Dryden, I'm sorry. This isn't...this isn't a good time," Eries said trying to pull away.

Oh no, you're not getting away that easily. I kept my grip tight on her. Unfortunately for me, my father was in my face and venting before I knew it. "Eries, I've been trying to see you for the last few days and--FATHER, STOP THAT--and it's quite urgent that we speak--WILL YOU PLEASE PUT A LID ON IT, OLD MAN!-- privately--LET GO OF ME ALREADY!--it's extremely important."

I don't think she heard a word I said. Then again, the barrage from my father was somewhat deafening. Father alternated between berating me for jeopardizing my future and the family's good name and entreating Princess Eries not to pay attention to anything I had to say until he had a chance to properly explain things to me (yeah right). I could see that the guard posted a short distance away from us was rolling his eyes at the commotion. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought I was a player in a vaudeville act.

A familiar voice cut into our "discussion." "Uncle Meiden!" We all looked up.

Saved!

Flying down the hallway with her robes billowing was Nette. "Uncle Meiden! Uncle Meiden! Thank heavens I found you. I need your help--right NOW--on a very urgent matter." She rushed up to Father and latched onto his arm. I took advantage of his momentary surprise to detach my robe from his grip and start moving away from him with Princess Eries in tow.

"Denny, hello!" Nette chirped as if she had just noticed me. "How nice to see you! It's been ages! You don't mind me borrowing your father for a few do you?" she said as she started doing her best to pull my father in the opposite direction.

"No, no not at all. Take as much time as you need. Later, Nette." I began dragging Eries away in earnest.

"Later Denny." She grinned and winked, as she hung onto my none too pleased father, who was loudly demanding that she unhand him.

Good old Nette. She may be a Callen, but she has the gumption of a Fassa. And I knew she was a match for my father. In determination anyway. Despite my father's substantial weight advantage, she had him detained and was doing an admirable job of keeping him from pursuing me. But I knew she could only last so long.

I exited the building as quickly as humanly possible with an unwilling princess. En route,she somehow found her tongue and began insisting that I let her go. I ignored her of course.

Although I was never formally Millerna's husband, I had stayed in the royal family's residence during the days that I had acted as the King's proxy and was quite familiar it.The guards on duty were visibly startled when we appeared. "Don't mind us. Just your typical engaged, royal couple going to have a little premarital chit chat," I said casually, waving to them as we rushed through the entrance.

Through the foyer, up the stairs, right turn, down the hall, to the last door on the end. I opened the door, practically threw Eries in, and followed after, closing the door firmly behind me.