Here is my next chapter, oh and if I have forgotten I don't own any of Escaflowne, just the story. Yes this was in the Action/Adventure area, but with the amount of fluff I couldn't keep it there.
Chapter 7: False Past
Hitomi pulled the hood of her cloak tighter around her face. Van had suggested that if they were going to make it look as if Hitomi was royalty she better be seen with royalty and what better way then to enter the palace with royalty. Dryden's ship was scheduled to come in during the evening and so it was his plans for Hitomi to be seen walking in with the royal couple and the prince. Allen had made the excuse to the guards that he was going to meet the royal ship and drop off one of the servant girls on his way. Merle and Tris had found a large enough servant dress and cloak to fit over her cloths. Riding on a horse with Allen was slow and nerve-wracking. Hitomi was certain that someone would recognize her from earlier in the day, but as she stood outside the gates of the city with Allen no one had noticed the girl in plain baggy clothing.
They didn't have to wait long before the ship was spotted in the sky and landed near the Crusade. Allen and Hitomi walked swiftly up to the elevator that was lowered for them as the flying ship was powered down. Stepping onto the lowered platform Hitomi and Allen were raised into the ship. The platform stopped in the main room of the ship Hitomi remembered the ship from her first adventure on Gaea and wondered how Dryden managed to get it back from the Ispanos. On the couch sat Dryden nearly unchanged since Hitomi had seen him. Prince Chid stood next to him having grown at least a head taller and looked like a miniature verson of his late father. Millerna had quickly closed the distance and had Allen in a friendly embrace.
"Why Allen, it is good to see you, but I wasn't expecting you to be in Fanelia."
"I came on business and have been asked to stay a while Princess. Prince Chid I hope you are well."
"I am very well, thank you. It has been a while since I have been able to get away from the duties of my country."
It was Dryden who finally noticed the lady standing next to Allen.
"Allen, who is the lady standing next to you?"
Hitomi lowered her hood and looked up at Millerna's surprised expression.
"Hitomi!" Millerna quickly went over to her friend and gave her a tight squeeze.
Prince Chid and Dryden had also move to her and greeted their friend.
"I didn't think we would be seeing you after the defeat of Dornkirk." said Dryden.
"I guess the fates have decided to have me come back."
"Don't tell me you have been wearing rags the entire time you have been here." Hitomi giggled as Millerna looked at her dress.
"No it is just a disguise. Can you help me out of this second dress I'm beginning to cook." Millerna and Hitomi were quickly away and undoing all of the ties on the second dress and Allen filled the three in on the 'Royalty Plan'.
"I would be glad to help. I have just the right books in my study." said Dryden.
Millerna held the dress down as Hitomi stepped out of the servant outfit and shook out her light blue dress.
"That is much better thank you Princess."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Millerna wagged a finger at Hitomi, "If you are going to pretend to be royalty then your going to act like one and that starts by calling me by my first name."
"Well, as soon as the escort arrives we can enter the city." Stated Allen.
"I'm going to gather a few books and take them with me to the castle I think I may be able to dig up a past for Hitomi." Dryden left, but not before placing a small kiss on Millerna's forehead.
Hitomi watched Millerna follow her husband out the door with a sigh and a bright smile. Millerna turned her attention back to Hitomi and blushed when she saw her smiling at the princess's actions. "So Hitomi how did you get back to Gaea?" asked Chid.
Lady Serra let her maids busy themselves around her as they fitted the dress she would be wearing tomorrow to the ball. Besides the hum of the activity around her the hum of the engines below her could also be heard. She knew it would take a while to get to Fanelia since they had to go through parts of Freid and most of Astoria. She let her gaze fall out the large glass windows and watched the sun set over the horizon. There was a distortion heading towards her ship. Shoeing the maids out of the room to have less ears in the conversation, Lady Serra waited for her guest to come. She loved this flying ship. It had been one of Zaibach's and she was amazed that the king of Astoria let her keep the ship. One thing she loved the most about it is the fact that a cloaked guymelef could enter the ship without being noticed until it was well hidden within the confines of steel. Swiftly she changed out of the dress and was in her typical brown leather clothing and coal grey shirt. A knock at her door informed her that the ex-Dragon Slayer was there.
"Come in." she called.
Miguel entered the room as the door slid shut behind him. Lady Serra sat down in a chair.
"What do you have to report." stated Lady Serra.
"Our mission is accomplished and the rest of the Dragon Slayers should be at Fort Castelo soon. We will carry out the plan tomorrow night."
"Good." Lady Serra reached over to a goblet and pitcher and poured herself some wine.
"Is there anything else you would like to say Dragon Slayer." The annoyed tone in her voice easily tipped off Miguel that she was not pleased with this course of action.
"We just want to know that this mind swap will work."
Lady Serra gave him a piercing stare the sent chills through Miguel's body. "Dilandau will be fine. I plan on completely destroying Tyrune's mind completely so there will be no switching personalities. Just remember that when this is done the Dragon Slayers work for me. I will not tolerate my decisions second guessed."
"Yes Mam'!"
After the formal escort to the castle and dinner the group of friends gathered in Van's study and talked about old times. Millerna was curled up on one side of a couch while Merle sat with Chid playing a card game that Dryden had taught the boy. Dryden and Allen poured over the many volumes of books to come up with a solution to Hitomi's heritage as Van and Hitomi sat next to each other on the opposite couch of Millerna. Looking at her surrounded friends Hitomi felt right in place with these people, but some one was missing. 'Come to think of it, Ilya wasn't at the dinner with the rest of us.' Hitomi excused herself from the conversation and went in search of her charge.
It felt like hours before Hitomi had found traces of the little girl. The maids had told Hitomi that Ilya insisted on eating with them and they didn't want to deny her. After they had finished dinner the girl was shown to the stables and that she may be playing around there. After searching the stales Hitomi faintly heard the little girl's voice. Her voice was coming from just outside of the stables where the horses watering trough was. Coming up slowly behind the girl Hitomi saw her staring at the surface of the water and talking to herself.
"Yes the key is whole now, but if you say what has happened is true than it is not safe."
"Ilya who are you talking to." Said Hitomi with a small smile.
The little girl whipped around her hand grazing the water sending a small spary of water. A look of fear crossed her face before it was masked by a cheerful smile.
"Hitomi!" The little girl threw herself at Hitomi. Bending down she picked up Ilya in her arms.
"I heard that you were eating dinner with the servants and that you came out here."
"Oh the servants told me all sorts of stories about the castle and the battle that you fought in with Van."
Ilya rambled one about the amazing tales that she had been told while Hitomi walked back with her in her arms. Entering the room Ilya had finished her story and Hitomi had settled her back on the ground.
"Who is this precious little one?" Millerna said getting off of the couch.
"Good evening lady Millerna." Ilya bowed in her short skirt.
Hitomi looked at the girl suspiciously. 'How did she know she was royalty? Ilya wasn't with us tonight.' Prince Chid had hopped off of the couch and stood in front of Ilya.
"My name is Prince Chid of Freid." He gave a well rehearsed bow towards the younger girl. Ilya blushed slightly and curtsied in return.
"This is Ilya. Van, Allen, and I found her in the forest when I came back."
Chid and Ilya were seemed content to stare at each other when a loud whoop broke the silence in the air.
"I think I found an answer for Hitomi." Said an excited Dryden. Everyone crowded around the table as he pointed out the family tree that he had sketched.
"With Allen's help we have constructed a royal family for Hitomi. Well, as long as you don't mind being my third cousin twice removed that is."
"Not at all!" Hitomi gave Dryden a quick hug that made Millerna slightly jealous before she wrapped her arms around her husband.
Dryden cleared his throat, "It seems she is a relative of mine on the merchant side, but her parents were arch-dukes. My relatives were on some sort of expedition that landed them missing nearly twenty years ago. A few secretly know this, but they are confirmed dead. We can just pass Hitomi off as their daughter found in the wreckage as a young child. My family took her in and raised her. Since most of my family doesn't talk to royalty, there will no one to contest the fact she is family."
"That is absolutely wonderful Dryden." Said Van.
Millerna nudged Hitomi and nodded for her to look at the two younger children. Not taking that much interest in the group Prince Chid and Ilya had moved themselves to the couch and began to play the card game. Millerna and Hitomi both giggled silently when a yawn escaped Hitomi's mouth.
"Are you tired Hitomi?" said Van.
"It's been a very long an eventful day. I think I will turn in now."
"Let me walk you to your room." Van looped Hitomi's arm around his and lead her away.
"They are so cute together. Did you see the glances that they kept giving each other during dinner?"
"How could I forget it was nearly revolting." chided Dryden. Millerna playfully cuffed him on the shoulder.
Feigning hurt Dryden held on to his shoulder. "That hurt my dear. I do believe that you have broken it. I dare say I won't be able to dance at all tomorrow now."
"Oh, you will dance." Millerna crossed her arms.
Dryden just smirked.
"Well, I am going to check back in with the Crusade and stay there for the night. I will see both of you at the ball tomorrow night." With that Allen made a quick exit
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Van had stopped outside of Hitomi's door.
"Well, as long as my advisors don't ask too many questions tomorrow we will announce our joining."
Hitomi just silently nodded her head in response. Van easily followed her quiet attitude.
"Hitomi, what's the matter?"
"Oh, Van. Everything is happening so fast."
'She doesn't want this does she?' Seeing the hurt play in Van's face Hitomi quickly continued.
"Don't get me wrong, I love you. I just get this horrible feeling that something bad is going to happen."
"Don't worry Hitomi. We got through the battle with Zaibach; we can make it through anything." Moving ever so slowly Van let his fore head rest on Hitomi's. He let his arms encircle her waist as he felt her arms reach around his neck.
"I won't let anything come between us."
Leaning down Van placed a small kiss on Hitomi's lips. He felt himself lose all sense of reality as the kiss continued. Although neither wished to part the need of air protested in their lungs. Breaking the simple kiss both took in a much needed breath. Making sure not to jeopardize anything, Van wished Hitomi good night, giving her a quick peck on the cheek, and went to his room. Still dazed from the kiss Hitomi barely registered that she had changed into her night clothes until she had pulled the covers of her bed around her shoulders. 'Well, I did it Yukari. I will finally have my king, my angel.'
Sorry this took so long and that it is short, I just wanted to make sure there would be enough for the next chapter and building up for the rest of the plotline. I will try to finish this story so that I'm not trying to write this while I have college going on. Continue reviewing.