A couple of hours later, the people of Fanelia had relocated to assorted caves in the mountains. Adrina and Merle were staying in a cave with the servants fromt he palace. THey had built a fire int he middle of the bace to ward off the chill and had all gathered around it.

"What're we going to do?" Merle asked Adrina.

"Don't worry about it," Adrina smiled, "We'll think of something."

"Yeah," Merle agreed forlornly, "I wonder how Lord Van is doing?"

"I'm sure he's fine," Adrina assured.

"I hope so," Merle murmured. A plan was already forming in Adrina's mind, but it couldn't be set into motion until the next morning.

"Let's get some sleep," Adrina said, "I'm sure we'll feel better in the morning."

"Okay." Merle and Adrina each found a warm place by the fire and were asleep in no time.

Adrina woke up early the next morning after having the dream again. She still hadn't figured out what the dream meant, but she had bigger things to worry about this morning. Adrina walked over to where Merle lay sleeping.

"Merle, wake up," Adrina whispered. Merle didn't respond, so Adrina tried again. "Merle!"

"Huh?" Merle groaned and rolled over.

"Merle, come on, get up," Adrina urged.

"Wha? Why?" Merle asked, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"Keep it down," Adrina quieted. She glanced around to make sure that none of the people sleeping nearby had heard them. "We're going."

"Going where?" Merle sat up.

"To find Lord Van," Adrina informed.

"Lord Van!?!" Merle exclaimed and jumped to her feet.

"Sssh!" Adrina hushed, "If someone wakes up, they'll never let us leave."

Without another word, the girls slipped quietly out of the cave. They followed the trail down the mountain and headed into the forest.

"Be careful of the brush," Adrina warned, "Some of the spores can be poisonous."

"Okay," Merle nodded.

They continued through the forest for the whole day without finding any sign of Van. When it started to get dark, they decided to stop for the night. Adrina managed to build a fire, but they had nothing to eat. They went to sleep that night hungry and discouraged.

When they woke up the next morning, their moods hadn't improved much.

"We better get going," Adrina told Merle. They started off on their search once again.

"What is we never find him?" Merle inquired.

"We'll find him," Adrina assured, "I know we will. And probably today too."

"I'm hungry," Merle whined as they walked.

"I know Merle, and I'm sorry, but as soon..."

"Halt! Who's there?" A deep voice interrupted Adrina. Two burly men on horses appeared out of the forest in front of the two girls.

"Who are these guys?" Merle asked with fear in her voice.

"Quiet!" One of the men shouted, "What are you two doing in the forest?"

"We...we're looking for someone," Adrina stuttered.

"Sounds suspicious to me," the other man said, "We'd better take them to the boss."

"No!" Adrina shouted, "Leave us alone!"

"Adrina..." Adrina looked down at her sister. "I don't feel so good." With that, she fainted.

"Merle!" Adrina exclaimed and quickly knelt down next to her. It was then that the two men attacked. One of them grabbed Adrina from behind and the other picked Merle up from the ground.

"Let me go!" Adrina screamed. She tried to break free, but the man was too strong. He tied her hands behind her back and tied her feet together also. She was then thrown over the man's horse. Adrina looked over and saw that the other man had done the same to Merle. After both men were on their horses, they took off into the forest.

"Where are we going?" Adrina demanded.

"You'll see when we get there," the man whose horse she was on said.

"What kind of answer is that?" Adrina raged, "Tell me where you're taking us RIGHT NOW!"

"You better keep quiet before you get hurt," the man warned.

"What kind of man would hurt a girl?" Adrina remarked, "you're nothing but a coward!"

"Shut up!" the other man yelled suddenly, "the fort is just beyond those trees."

"Thank you," Adrina said. They emerged from the tree and rode into a walled fort.

"Hey boss!" the first man called as they rode up to a building. Adrina saw two guymelefs in fornt of the building, one kneeling and one laying flat on it's back. Adrina gasped when she recognized the latter. It was Escaflowne.

"We found some suspicious people in the woods," the other man said. Adrina looked around until she spotted Van. By this time the men had lifted Candyce and Merle off the horses.

"Lord Van!" Adrina shouted.

"Adrina! Merle!" Van yelled and ran over to them. Hearing her name brought Merle out of her faint. She called to Van, then twisted around in the man's arms and fell to the ground. Van cut her loose, then did the same for Adrina. After they were cut loose, Van and Adrina leaned down next to Merle.

"Oh, Lord Van," Merle cried, "I'm so glad we found you. I thought I'd never see you again."

"Calm down Merle," Adrina told her. She turned to Van, "She fainted in the forest. I think it was because she's hungry."

"What?" Van asked, "when was the last time you two had something eat?"

"The day of your coronation ceremony," Adrina informed.

"Alright," Van acknowledged, "We'll get you something to eat in a second." He focused his attention on the cat girl. "Merle, what about Fanelia?"

"It was horrible," Merle whimpered, "It burned. It all burned to the ground." Merle began to cry, "All the samurai at the castle were killed. The survivors were scattered. Everyone was gone." Merle choked back a sob, "We were so alone. We tried so hard to find you. We were so scared." Merle's eyes closed and she fainted again.

"Merle!" Adrina cried, tears streaming down her own face.

"It's okay," Van comforted, "She's just fainted again."

"Van."

Adrina turned to see who had called Van. Standing next to the two guymelefs was a man with long blonde hair. He was holding Hitomi in his arms.

"Pick her up and follow me," the man ordered. Van picked up Merle.

"Come on," Van said to Adrina. They followed the blonde man into the fortress and down a hallway to a room where they put Merle and Hitomi to bed.

Some of the other men had followed them into the room. They blonde man turned to them.

"Bring me a bowl of water and two cloths."

"Yes sir," the men said and left the room. After they had left, Adrina turned to Van.

"What's wrong with Hitomi?" Adrina asked.

"I don't know," Van admitted. The blonde man, who had heard her question, answered.

"She has a high fever," he told them, "and she fainted." He paused, then turned to Adrina. "I'm sorry, I haven't even introduced myself. My name is Allen Schezar. I am the commander of this fortress.

"I'm Adrina," she told him.

"And you are from Fanelia?" he inquired.

"Yes," Adrina answered.

"We have two sick people here," Van interrupted, "Couldn't we save the pleasantries for later?"

"Sorry Lord Van," Adrina apologized. At that moment, the men returned with the water and cloths. Allen put the bowl of water on a table and dipped the cloths into it. He wrung them out and handed one to Van.

Van took the cloth and laid it on Merle's forhead. Allen did the same for Hitomi. After this was done, Van turned to Adrina.

"You're probably starving," Van said to her.

"I guess," Adrina shrugged.

"Do you think Adrina could get something to eat?" Van asked Allen.

"Of course," Allen answered, "Gadis!" A second later, another man appeared in the doorway.

"Yes, commander?" the man addressed.

"Show Adrina to a room to rest and get her something to eat," Allen ordered.

"Yes sir," Gadis said.

"Uh," Adrina started, "What about Merle? I don't know if I should leave..."

"She'll be fine," Van assured, "I'll take care of her. You need to get some rest."

"Alright," Adrina agreed. Gadis took her by the arm and led her out of the room. They walked to the room next door.

"You can rest here," Gadis informed, "What would you like to eat?"

"Um," whatever is easiest for everybody," Adrina answered.

"I'll have the cook make you something," he told her.

"Thank you," Adrina said. He nodded and left her standing in the hallway. Adrina opened the door and walked in. She sat on the edge of the bed to wait for her food.

Adrina didn't have to wait long. Her food was brought in about ten minutes by another man. After she had finished her meal, she laid down on the bed. She fell asleep very quickly.

When Adrina woke up an hour later, she was confused at first. She wasn't quite sure where she was. Then she remembered. She got up and left the room. She went back to the room where Merle and Hitomi were.

Adrina walked itno the room and was surprised to see that Merle and Hitomi were both awake. Van was also there.

"Hi," Merle called as Adrina entered.

"Hi Merle," Adrina greeted, "are you feeling better?"

"Yes," Merle answered. She held up her arm, showing Adrina a purple cloth wrapped around it, "Some poison got into my cut, but Lord Van made me some ointment and I feel much better now."

"I'm glad," Adrina smiled, "Thank you, Lord Van."

"It was nothing much," Van said.

"Come on Van," Hitomi started, "You probably saved her life."

"How are you doing?" Adrina asked Hitomi.

"Oh, I'm fine now," Hitomi told her, "The same thing happened to me. The ointment helped though."

Suddenly, Allen burst into the room.

"Van, I need to talk to you," he said and walked out again, Van following.

"What was that about?" Merle questioned.

"I don't know," Adrina admitted, "Allen seemed kind of upset."

"Yeah," Merle agreed, "I wonder what's going on."

"I hope nothing's wrong," Hitomi commented.

"Yeah, me t..." Adrina was interrupted by a gasp from Hitomi. She was staring straight ahead, as if in a trance. Then she cried out and buried her head in her hadns.

"Hitomi, what's wrong?" Merle asked.

"They're coming," Hitomi groaned, "the invisible giants."

Adrina and Merle stared at each other wide-eyed.

"Do you think that's why Allen came adn got Lord Van?" Merle inquired.

"Maybe," Adrina acknowledged, "I'll go find out." Adrina started for the door.

"Wait!" Merle called, throwing off her blanket, "I want to come!"

"Me too!" Hitomi added.

"No," Adrina contradicted, "you two stay here. I'll be back in a minute." Adrina ran out of the room and down the hall they had come down earlier. She found her way outside and ran in the direction of shouts she heard.

She ran to the inner wall of the fortress and peered out. She was shocked by what she saw. Outside the far wall of the fortress, all the guymelefs of the outpost were gathered together. The men that weren't piloting guymelefs were setting up catapults and other weapons to defend the fortress.

Suddnely, someone shouted "They're here!" and the battle began. All the guymelefs were jolted into action. The cataputls began firing at what looked like open air to Adrina. Ad she watched, the air rippled and a guymelef arm appeared. A group of metal claws shot out of it, destroying the catapults. Adrina recognized the arm as a Zaibach guymelef.

Another Zaibach guymelef was battling an Asturian guymelef right outside the wall Adrina was hiding behind. The Zaibach guymelef picked upt the other and threw it. It sailed past the fortress wall and crashed into the fortress itself. Adrina covered her head as debris from the impact rained down around her.

Adrina looked past the wall again. All of the Asturian guymelefs except one had been immobilized. The one that was left now ran over to the fallen guymelef by the fortress.

"Kio, are you okay?" Allen's voice floated down from the guymelef. All the buildings around them were now on fire.

"Sorry boss," Kio apologized, "I failed."

"Where's the enemy?" Allen demanded.

"Looks like they already got into the underground tunnels," Kio informed.

"So there's no way to hold them off now," Allen murmured. Adrina couldn't believe what was happening. Why was Zaibach doing this?

"Allen!" Van suddenly emerged from the smoke, "Where's the Escaflowne?" He asked.

"Don't worry," Allen assured, "It's been loaded onto the Crusade."

"The Crusade?" Van repeated.

"The castle has fallen," Allen told him, "We must withdraw."

"What?" Van exclaimed, "You're running? After what they did to your men?"

"I mustn't allow any further loss of life," Allen proclaimed.

Enraged, Van drew his sword and pointed it at Allen. "And you call yourself a samurai?" he growled, "I won't run. I'll never turn my back on an enemy and run away. To make them pay for what they did to the people of Fanelia, I will fight to the death!

Adrina flinched at the harshness of his words.

"There is nothing brave about rashly choosing to die!" Allen shouted angrily, "Van, you are Fanelia's King. As long as she has a King and a people, Fanelia has a future. Baring indignities such as this is the mark of true courage. A samurai's life is meant to save others, don't forget that!"

Van looked down at the crest on his sword, then let it drop. He had a defeated look on his face.

"Kio," Allen started, "I'm transferring headquarters to the Crusade. Tell the men."

"Understood sir," Kio said and ran off. Allen then laid the hand of his guymelef palm up in front of Van. Van, who was still standing with his head down, looked up, then sheathed his sword and climbed onto the hand.

Adrina, seeing they were about to leave, rushed forward. "Lord Van!" she called and ran up to him.

"Adrina!" Van exclaimed, "What are you doing out here?"

"Why aren't you on the Crusade with Hitomi and Merle?" Allen asked.

"I came to see what was going on," Adrina confessed.

"Well, get on," Allen ordered, "We have to get out of here right away." pAdrina did as she was told and climbed on. She sat down in front of Van and steadied herself. Van leaned down and held onto the thumb of the guymelef with one hand and the little finger with the other, forming a protective barrier behind Adrina so she couldn't fall off. Allen lifted the hand off the ground and straightened his guymelef.

"I will never hand over you or the Escaflowne," Allen promised, "You have the word of Allen Schezar." With that they started off. They headed behind the castle, which was burning, and into the forest. They continued through the forest until they emerged at the edge of a cliff with a waterfall cascading down it. Van was now sitting down with one leg on each side of Adrina so she fall off the hand when they were running through the forest.

Adrina and Van leaned forward and looked over the cliff.

"What are you doing?" Van asked.

"Hold on tight you two," Allen instructed.

"No wait!" Van yelled, but he was too late. Allen toodk a few running steps and jumped over the edge of the cliff.

Adrina and Van both screamed as they plummeted down the side of the cliff. Adrina wrapped both arms around Van's waist while Van clung to the thumb of Allen's guymelef.

After what seemed like forever, the guymelef stopped falling. Adrina hadn't realized it, but the whole time they'd been falling, she'd had her eyes closed. She opened them and saw that they had landed on top of a levi-ship.

"Are we alive?" she asked Van.

"Yes, we're fine," he answered.

"In that case," Adrina smiled, "Let's do it again!"

"You're crazy," Van laughed. He jumped out of the hand and helped Adrina out. "Where are we headed?" he asked Allen.

"To the capital of Asturia," Allen informed, "Their floating fortress can't keep up with us."

A sound behind them had them all turning around. Flying behind them and closing in fast were teh Zaibach guymelefs.

"Look, it's them!" Van shouted.

"What, their guymelefs can fly?!" Allen questioned.

The guymelefs flew straight at the Crusade. They careened upward, then fell down and landed.

"You've had your way for long enough," Allen called to the Zaibach pilot standing in front of him. They began to fight. Adrina and Van stayed where they were and tried to keep out of the way. Suddenly, Van ran to the edge of the Crusade. He jumped off and caught himself on a cable.

"Van!" Adrina shouted. She ran over to the edge and looked down. She saw Van swing off the cable and land in the back of the Crusade.

"Van," Allen yelled, "just what do you think you are doing?"

As Adrina watched, a chair emerged from the back of the ship with Escaflowne sitting atop it. Escaflowne stood up as the chair came to a stop.

"Oh no you don't," Adrina mumbled and ran to the edge just above the Fanelian guymelef. Escaflowne took a step and jumped off the Crusade, free falling toward the river below. Without thinking, Adrina jumped also.

Adrina fell down toward Escaflowne quickly, which was now in dragon form. For a brief second, Adrina thought she was going to miss it completely and plunge to her death, but then she landed hard behind Van.

"Adrina!" Van shouted, "What are you doing?"

Adrina groaned and rolled over, then sat up. "Merle and I looked for you for a day and a half," Adrina informed, "I wasn't going to let you get away that easily." She groaned again. "Although, jumping off the ship probably wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done."

Suddenly, a stream of fire shot by them.

"Get down!" Van yelled. Adrina ducked down so she couldn't be seen. Another ball of fire shot by, causing the Escaflowne to lurch to the left. Van struggled to correct it, but before he could, yet another ball of fire shot toward them, this time hitting the back of the Escaflowne and sending it toward the ground.

"Hold on!" Van yelled back to Adrina. She grabbed a hold of a piece of metal and held on tightly. The Escaflowne hit the ground and transformed back into guymelef form. When the transformation was complete, Adrina was sitting on Escaflowne's shoulder, clutching one of the metal structures.

The Zaibach guymelefs landed in front of Escaflowne, then disappeared. Van was turning Escaflowne, trying to figure out where the Zaibach guymelefs had gone. Suddenly, a Zaibach guymelef shot some metal at Escaflowne. Van dodged and swung back at the guymelef. The force of the blow jolted Adrina so hard that she lost her grip. She slid off Escaflowne's shoulder and fell to the ground. She hit the dirt hard and then blacked out.