AN: Thank you guys so much, this story has great response so far, and I am happy that you are all enjoying this. I've worked quite hard on it and I still am only so far in the writing process. I think I have up to chapter 11 on paper, but I am not to sure on that. Anyway, here is chapter 8, and I hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I only own Arathnia, and the characters from there. I do not own Escaflowne, even though I wish I did.

* mark dream sequences.

- mark visions.

The Past, Future, and Somewhere in Between

Chapter 8 Escape From Dragon House

Night had fallen over the vast city of Terra. The two moons hung halfway up in the sky shining brightly down onto the world below. This caused the castle's pristine white walls to glow eerily. Not a sound was heard in the ate hours of the gentle night It was nearing bed-time for most of the city's residents, so the city was at a standstill. In the daylight hours the streets were crowded with merchants, visitors, and just the plain old Arathnian citizens. However, when the sun went down, everything seemed to stop. It was a strange sight to see. Hitomi sat at the window beside her bed, staring down onto the castle's small courtyard. It was positioned towards the back of the castle instead of at the front, which seemed rather unusual to her. The whole layout of castle Terra was different from the castles in Fanelia and Asturia. She supposed that was part of what made Arathnia so unique. The courtyard spanned almost to the very edge of the cliff face where the mountain dropped off, and was filled with grass, trees, benches, and a large fountain sitting in the middle of the area.

Van and Astra were seated on one of the stone benches, and were talking in what appeared to be hushed voices. They were sitting quite close together, and her small and rested a top his much larger one. It seemed like a very intimate gesture. As much as it pained her to see the to royals together, they also fascinated her. They did not act like any couple she had ever seen. However, this was also Gaea, not Earth. There were no small touches, loving glances, and no gentle smiled. Just stiff gestures and straight faces. At least, from what she had experienced. Mind you, that could also just be Astra's upbringing. She didn't quite seem like a soft and loving person. At least from her point of view.

She watched as Astra rose from the bench, her face appearing as hard and cold as stone. The look reminded Hitomi so much of the girl's mother that it made her shudder. She could not be sure if the expression was a mask to help disguise her emotions from others, or if it was indeed an expression that she had genuinely inherited from her seemingly emotionless mother. Her gaze watched as Van placed a chase kiss on the girl's cheek. She followed the Princess' retreat from the courtyard with her eyes, noting the quick pace of the young girl's steps. The blonde nearly ran into the castle, not even daring to turn and look back at her male companion. Van ran a hand through his raven coloured locks. She watched him as he looked up at the sky sullenly. Hitomi could not help but feel for him. He was stuck in a strange place in which he could not escape, and where he was being watched over by a tough as nails queen. Van rose to his feet and walked to the very edge of the courtyard.

Hitomi rose from her seat at the window. She turned to look at her sleeping roommates and sighed, " How can they sleep," She wondered aloud to herself. Maybe it was just her own inner turmoil that kept sleep at bay so that it could not fully claim her, and take her into it's protective arms. The thought frustrated her. Nothing even seemed to go in her favor.

"I can't let Van be with Astra, but I can't let him break the engagement for it means war with Arathnia, and worst of all Queen Brahne," She ranted quietly to herself assessing the situation trying to think f some kind of loop hole to the whole mess. Not finding one, she sighed in frustration, "This sucks," she grumbled sitting back down on her bed.

She hated feeling useless almost as much as Van. She sighed again tugging at her shoulder length hair in frustration. Van was being so selfless, that she could not justify being selfish and forcing the king not to marry Princess Astra. Even if said marriage sealed his death. She would never come between him and the love he had for his country. He had to make that difficult decision fir himself. She began to wonder what was going through the young king's mind at that exact moment. To Hitomi's surprise, she felt the overwhelming urge to protect him. It was definitely a feeling that the seeress had never felt before.

She was so disconnected with herself, that somehow she blacked out. When she came back to reality, she found herself drifting down the crystalline corridors of castle Terra. The cold marble floors pressing against her bare feet as she walked made her shiver with the chill. It was obvious that they were the cause of her sudden snap back to reality. However, she did not care. Somethings were quite a bit more important than her cold bare feet.

Sometime later, she found herself standing outside in the castle's courtyard. Van remained standing at the very edge of the courtyard, staring down blankly at his feet. He appeared to be lost in his on world of thought. His raven colored hair fell over his face making it nearly impossible to see his sullen expression.

"Van," She called softly realizing that he had not noticed her approach.

Van shook his head snapping out of his revere. He turned to look at her, his usual serious mask forming itself onto his features. "Hitomi, what are you doing out here?" He asked noticing her state of dress. She was still in her sleepwear. Obviously in her blank state, she had not bothered to change her clothes. "You'll freeze out here like that," He exclaimed shrugging off the large cloak that he had draped over his broad shoulders, and placing it over hers. Despite the tropical daytime climate, Terra nearly froze at night. Frost was already forming on the grass of the courtyard, and you could see the moisture rolling down the sides of the castle. It made the large structure glitter in the moonlight.

She smiled warmly at him in thanks. "I couldn't sleep," She admitted pulling the cloak closer to herself. "I could ask the same for you?" She asked sitting down on the bench where Astra has previously been seated.

"Nothing," He spat out just a little too quickly for Hitomi's liking.

She frowned at him. "Yes Van, something is bothering you,?" She stated rolling her peridot colored orbs. "I've known you long enough to know when you have something on your mind," She explained dismissing his bullshit answer. She was not giving up until he told her a truthful answer. She would not be appeased by anything less. "Now, what's wrong?"

He sighed in defeat. "I have something important to tell you," He said taking a seat next to her.

"Is it about Princess Astra?" She questioned leaning back against the stone bench.

He looked at her surprised, but recognized the knowing expression on her face as well as the pain shining in her deep green eyes. He looked away from her shamed of himself. He knew that it was wrong of him to conceal the truth from her. "Who told you?" He asked his gaze falling to the ground below.

"Merle, and Celena told me earlier this afternoon," She admitted watching his form, reading the intense guilt from his body language. Van was one of the easier people to read. Well, at least in her eyes.

He sighed again refusing to tear his gaze away from the ground. "I'm sorry," He stated raising his eyes and turning his gaze out towards the vast city.

Hitomi frowned at his response. "Don't apologize Van. It's not your fault," She stated placing a comforting hand upon the young man's shoulder. She was surprised at how she was so understanding about the whole situation. She should be angry or frustrated at him for not telling her himself, but she just felt sympathetic and a little sad. "It's not like you were old enough to tell your father no," She continued feeling the small bubbled of rage finally traveling through her veins. "You didn't ask her to marry you, your parents arranged it," She explained in an attempt to make him feel better. Subsequently, she just made herself feel upset and very angry. Thinking over the situation now, the rage and hurt began to spread through her entire being. He should have told her. She stifled the terrible urge to reach out and smack the king for not being honest with her from the beginning. Before she stole away to his bed. If she had know then what she knew now, she wouldn't have been so eager to do so.

A ghost of a smile appeared on the young king's face. "No one can ever sulk with you around can they?" He half asked half stated. He took a hold of her hand and stroked the back of it with his thumb. There was something so surreal about the whole scene.

She shook her head finding herself smiling. The small strokes of his thumb seemed to quell the sudden flow of anger that had plagued her mere moments before. She sighed in contentment. "Nope," She replied after a few seconds of silence.

Van chuckled looking down at her hand laced with his. "I broke off my engagement to Astra," He confessed looking up at the night sky.

It took a few moments for that confession to sink into Hitomi's mind. Hitomi's mind reeled and her jaw just about his the floor at his proclamation. "Why?" She managed to force out, feeling the weight of his statement resting upon her shoulders.

He looked back to her meeting her gaze. "I told her that I cannot marry someone who I do not love, or a woman whose mother treats me like a child," He explained slowly. "She said that she understood, and that she would avoid telling her mother until after we have departed from Terra after our conference tomorrow," He concluded his gaze once again turning upwards towards that starry night sky, and the two brightly shining moons.

"Why would she wait?" Hitomi asked finding all of this very confusing. Gaean customs were certainly strange. It did not help that her emotions switched so rapidly that it was hard to keep track of any of them. It was definitely strange.

"In Arathnia, breaking of a peace treaty id punishable by torture or death," He stated making Hitomi cringe at his words. "And because Queen Brahne is so sadistic, she would choose death since I don't have a second, or an heir. Then the throne of Fanelia would automatically fall to Astra," He expounded shifting his feet in a nervous fashion.

"How the hell does it fall to Astra!" She nearly yelled in outrage.

Van covered her mouth with his hand to silence the green eyed seeress. "Because, Queen Brahne is High Queen of Gaea," He replied in a whisper. "She gets to decide who is my successor if I do not name one, or produce in heir before my death," He continued in his raspy whisper. His hands slid down her shoulders to rest on her arms. "It's times like these that I wish Folken were here," He admitted with a sad sigh.

"Who appointed her as High Queen of Gaea?" She snorted wrinkling her nose in disgust at the appallingly poor taste in the decision.

"No one," Van began shaking his head at her. "There was a vote between the nations about forty years ago just as my father had taken over the throne of Fanelia. To unite Gaea, the kings decided that they would name one king as the high king that would control all undecided territories and help settle wars and disputes among the different nation. The supreme monarch," He explained brushing her hair away from her face.

"And they chose Queen Brahne?" She asked raising an eye-brow. She had not looked quite that old to her, but on Gaea, you never know.

Van snorted in annoyance of her ignorance. "No. They chose King Archibald Valoryn til Valandros III," He stated with emphasis on the end of that name. "Queen Nastrata Lilandra Brahne's father. This made Arathnia the country of the high royals. And since Queen Brahne is now in power, and she is Archibald's only remaining heir, she is the new High Queen of Gaea," He explained leaning back against the stone bench. "If either of his sons were still alive, it would be different. Much different."

"Why does Queen Brahne and her father have different family names?" She asked. It was strange that the Queen had Brahne, and her father had possessed the name til Valandros. A name which she recalled Princess Astra also possessed.

"The father's family name only extends to his or her first two children. At least in a royal family. The third child doesn't usually rise up to be a Queen or King. Queen Brahne was given her mother's family name of Brahne, since she had two older brothers. Valandran and Gue," He explained watching the water splash down into the fountain. It was a peaceful image.

" I see," Hitomi said, then trailed off into thought for a few moments. "So because the treaty had been broken," She began, "Fanelia will now be at war with Arathnia?" She half stated, half asked already knowing the answer. Dread filler her heart as she spoke those words aloud. She remembered what happened last time she had been there to witness a war. All the death and bloodshed still haunted her dreams.

Van sighed, "Unfortunately, yes," He admitted, his gaze one again returning to the ground at his feet.

A long pregnant silence passed over the two lovers. Hitomi could not believe the heavy burden that always seemed to follow Van around like a plague. And the burden that seemed to fall upon her shoulders by his admission of war. It seemed every time she came to Gaea, destruction and death seemed to await her. She was doubtful that Van completely comprehended the gravity of his simple statement. However, she did and all too well. She recalled the Destiny wars that had taken place almost four years ago and shuddered. She hoped that this war was no where near as brutal as that one had been. However, she knew deep in her heart that, that was not going to be true. It may even be worse. She just prayed that no lives would be lost. She couldn't take the heartache if she lost any of the friends she had come to hold so dear over her last visit to this strange world.

"Is this all because of me?" She asked sullenly. Her heart dropped. The whole thing seemed to crush her under the weight of it all. It was a heavy burden.

Van's head snapped up to look at her. Van noticed her pained expression and his eyes widened in surprise. "No," He stated firmly locking her gaze onto his. "You are not the reason I broke off my engagement to Astra," He assured her, even though it was only half true. He could not bare to see her upset over something he had caused. A small white lie could not harm the situation any farther.

"Are you sure?" She asked skeptically, eying her male companion very curiously. She was not sure if she should believe him or not. He could be lying just to protect her. She would not put it past him for a moment.

He gave her a firm nod, his expression never faltering. Ooh he was good. "Positive."

Morning couldn't have come fast enough for Van. He had been awake half of the night because of the terrible nightmares that invaded his sleeping thoughts. He sat up in the bed, and realized that he was not alone. He was about to panic when he remembered that he had asked Hitomi to sleep in his room with him the night before. Nothing had happened, he was just comforted by her presence. He would have never requested such a thing in Fanelia, but he felt a lot safer with her close by. As improper as it may be. He was surprised that he had not roused her from her slumber with his almost constant movement. He stretched his muscles and rose the bed. The sun had just risen over the horizon. They would leave today. He was sure of it. He opened the glass door and stepped out onto the balcony. He took a deep breath of the fresh, early morning air. He sighed contently and allowed his wings to spread out to their full span. He could never really do that in Fanelia. It was a lot harder when it was easier for people to recognize him. He flapped them once, and then took off. It was nice to feel the wind in his hair, and the moist morning air against his skin. It was nice to feel free. Even if it was just for only a few minutes. There were no worries. Nothing but him and the great blue sky above.

"You what?" Allen whispered harshly as they walked down the nearly deserted hallway. The knight Caeli narrowed his blue eyes at the Draconian king. He could not believe what his friend had done in the late hours of the night while all the others had retired to their rooms.

"You heard me," Van replied firmly continuing his long stride down the hall towards the throne room where Queen Brahne was waiting for them. His face was blank, no emotion reflecting in his features. He was to meet with with the Queen and there way no way in hell she was getting her way. He was not about to let her win.

Allen grabbed Van's shoulder pulling him back so that the younger man was facing him. "Do you understand what you have done?" He whispered venomously, his blue eyes appearing to be a flame with rage.

Van nodded, "Yes, I do," He stated shrugging the knight's hand off of his shoulder, and continuing his brisk stride down the long corridors. "I understand completely Commander Schezar," He practically spat at the older man.

"I don't think you do," Allen countered following the young king. He managed to get in front of him cutting him off by blocking his path. "You would actually plunge all of Gaea into war over a girl?" He asked the volume of his voice rising a bit.

Van's eyes locked with the older man's. His wine coloured eyes blazed with his indignation. "Yes I would."

Hitomi woke with a start, shooting up in bed. She had, had another one of her dreams about Queen Brahne and her evil plot. She was so close to piecing it together, bu she always woke up at the same point. It got her no where. She leaned back against the ornate headboard and sighed in frustration. Her eyes fell to the glass doorway leading towards the balcony. It was open. By the light shining in, and the noise wafting in from the city below, she could tell it was rather late in the morning. The undeniable chill of the morning air could not be mistaken. The streets below were bustling with people and their monotonous and mindless chatter. She looked around the room that Van had been staying in, and smiled. It was simple, yet elegant. The most complex item in the room was the four poster bed and the elaborate and ornate headboard. A picture of a regal looking dragon had been carved into the wood, and it looked as if vines were wrapping around the ed posts. It was definitely unique. The bed was pushed up against the south wall directly across from the balcony doors. The east wall was completely covered by a large bookcase that covered the whole span of the wall. An empty desk sat next to the balcony doors, with a small oil lamp sitting atop the wooden surface. A large red Rogue covered the marble floor, but other than that, there was nothing. She smiled, definitely plain alright.

Suddenly, her vision got hazy and her breath caught in her throat. Images began to dance before her eyes. Images that had not been present moments before. This was her first actual vision since her return to Gaea. She had only been having strange dreams up until this point. She was not sure whether to be happy about this new development or not.

- She watched as the Crusade went down in flames in a forested area. It plummeted towards the ground at an alarming rate. A high-pitched cackle pierced the air and Hitomi spotted a red haired warrior. She was straddled a top of a rust coloured dragon, and her fiery red hair was flaring out behind her as they cut effortlessly through the air. The Arathnian crest centered on the chest piece of the woman's flimsy armor warned her that the attack was initiated by Queen Brahne.

"Goodbye Fanelia. May you rot in hell," The woman spat venomously. She then grinned and laughed that high-pitched cackle as she abruptly turned the dragon around. -

She broke out of her daze as there was a loud pounding on the heavy doors to the room. Hitomi cursed quietly, though for the wrong reasons. She knew that there was more to that vision, but her psychic connection had been broken by the loud interruption. She ran to the door without thinking and completely forgetting where she was exactly. She opened the door in one fluid motion. The second the door was opened, she found herself being dragged down the castle corridors at a very fast pace. It felt as if her arm was being torn off, and the tight grip on her arms definitely was not helping th situation. She look at her assailant and was not surprised to the she pink hair. It was a dead give away.

"Merle, what's going on?" Hitomi asked extremely confused as to why the cat girl had burst into the room and was currently dragging her down the marble hallways. They received strange looks from the servants that wandered the halls, as well as some of the other Arathnians present within the castle.

"Lord Van told us all to pack up our things immediately," She explained quickly as she dropped Hitomi's arm and the two began to run down the maze of corridors. Merle decided to go on all fours, forcing Hitomi to pick up her pace if she was to keep up with the cat girl. "We're going back to Fanelia!" She exclaimed nearly knocking over a few of the hand maidens as she ran past them.

"Already?" She questioned. She was definitely surprised by exactly how fast everything seemed to have progressed. Van could sure work fast when he wanted to.

Merle barreled into their shared bed chamber. "Something is not right, and we have to leave as soon as we can," The cat-girl stated throwing her friends empty duffel bag at her.

Hitomi nodded in agreement, "I know," She replied tossing the bag onto her bed and throwing her meager possessions inside.

Within the hour, the crew that had traveled to Arathnia, boarded the Crusade and prepared to make the long journey back to Fanelia. Everyone seemed to be moving at a much faster pace than Hitomi deemed necessary, but then again, Van was calling the shots, and he seemed desperate to get out of there. She didn't quite understand what was going on exactly, but whatever it was, Van seemed to have it all under control. This thought alone made her relax a bit. Hitomi wandered into the airship and through the halls to the cabin that was designated as hers. She spotted a familiar red head perched on her bed.

"Yukari? Where have you been?" She questioned in slight surprise. After their discussion with Merle and Celena the day before, Yukari had disappeared.

Yukari scoffed, "Don't act all surprised chickie," He began with a smirk. "I've been wandering around the city. This place is awesome!" She exclaimed as a grin spread across her rounded face. "No wonder you wanted to come back here. There is so much to look at."

Hitomi rolled her eyes, "Well, we're heading back to Fanelia, so say goodbye to the awesomeness of Terra," She stated tossing her bag onto the bed beside her best friend.

"Why? What happened?" Yukari asked curiously raising an eyebrow at her friend. "What did Van do?"

"Something that will remain between Van and Queen Brahne," Allen spoke up from the opened doorway. "If we do not leave fast enough, we could all be dead," He explained bitterly before silently disappearing from the doorway. Sometimes Allen was too serious for his own good.

Yukari swallowed loudly and looked back at Hitomi, "Then why aren't we flying yet?" She asked with a nervous smile.

Hitomi shrugged, "I honestly don't know Yukari."

Nearly an hour later, the Crusade was in the air and were well past the Stonetalon mountains that surround Terra on all sides. Van wondered if their abrupt departure had alerted the queen that something was off, she was very perceptive. Van sure hoped not. He sighed deeply and stared out the from window at the small patch of rain forest beneath them. It only took minutes before the forest thinned out and turned into grassland, and then gradually into the golden sand of Dragonsand. Van let out a sigh of relief. It felt good to finally to leaving Arathnia. He already felt the heavy burden that had been sitting on his shoulders for weeks, diminish the farther they traveled away from the capitol. Just another hour and they would be out of Queen Brahne's control, and the Arathnian laws would no longer apply to him. Then they could return to Fanelia where he, and everyone he loved would be safe from her wicked talons. This thought however, was shaken from his head almost instantly. The airship beneath his feet rocked violently from some unknown force. Van looked back at the crew of the Crusade, bracing himself against the wall.

"What's happening?" He demaned resting his one hand upon the hilt of his royal sword. The commotion had also brought Hitomi, Yukari, and Merle barreling onto the bridge with frightened expressions.

"It's the Arathnian Dragon riders Sarge," Reeden cried running up beside Gaddes. He almost fell as the airship shook again, more violently this time. "Lorelei Lemmar is leading the charge," He explained urgently.

Allen's gaze turned straight to Van. "It seems that your princess did not keep her word. I knew a child of Arathnia could not be trusted," He spat his eyes narrowing at the raven haired king. He turned to look at Gaddes, "I'm going out in Scherezade."

"Allen no!" Celena cried grabbing onto his arm. "You don't stand a chance!"

"She's right Allen," Van stated still holding onto the wall for support. He looked at Reeden. "How many are there?" He asked mentally making note of how many warriors loyally served Queen Brahne. It was almost too many to count.

Reeden nodded looking into the viewing scope. "There's four of them. I think it's the Arathnian generals. I have never seen such large dragons either," He explained quickly as the ship shook again. "One of the levistones if coming loose!" He exclaimed urgently.

"I'm going out there," Allen stated firmly ripping his arm out of his sister's grasp, and turning to leave the bridge.

"Allen, Schereade cannot withstand the force of four full grown dragons!" Celena cried grabbing his arm again and pulling him back. "And if it is the generals you'll have to deal with the toughest. The combination of Silver, White, Shadow, and Rust is just asking for death. You cannot out match the piercing hot flames the White dragon can produce, or the undeniable speed of a Silver dragon, and the toxic mist of the Shadow dragon. And you can't forget the corrosive, poisonous acid of a Rust dragon!" She cried shaking her brother's arm with as much force as her small muscles would allow.

"If I don't, they'll bring down the Crusade and kill us all!" He yelled pushing his sister away from him.

She stumbled back, "I don't care!" She yelled back her eyes shifting to the unmistakable shade of lavender once more. "You'll die Allen!" She yelled glaring at her older brother. Her voice sounded a bit deeper as well. Allen glared right back at her obviously noticing these things as well. His left hand came to rest on his sword just in case.

"Allen just listen to her," Hitomi exclaimed from her spot by the door. She didn't want to experience anymore of Celena's strange behavior. "Stop," She pleaded hoping that the knight would listen to her. She didn't want him to die, just because he was foolish.

Allen's glare shifted her way, but he sighed and crossed his arms over his chest dropping his aggressive stance. If there was anyone who could clam his anger, Hitomi was the best bet. She had that effect on a lot of people. He looked at Celena one more time before turning his head to look out the front windows. "Fine," He spat through clenched teeth. He was not happy with the decision.

"I do have a plan," Van stated his eyes falling on Hitomi and mouth a silent 'thank you' her way. She nodded in acknowledgment.

"I'm listening," Allen stated after a moment of silence.

General Avanon moved from his spot in the corner to take his place at Van's side. If Hitomi did not know how kind hearted the scarred man was, she would definitely be intimidated by him. Van had been wise to chose Mendelev Avanon to be his first general. Van paid no attention to the older man, as he stood by him. "We drop the ship. Close the sails, cool the levistones, and just free fall," He explained mimicking Allen's stance. By now they had gotten used to the quakes that rocked the ship as the generals attacked from behind. "Then just before we crash, unfurl the sails to soften our landing," He concluded quite enthusiastically.

"That's preposterous!" Reeden cried. "That will damage the ship to the point that we'll be unable to repair it!" He explained not willing to lose his job, or the ship he had come to call home.

"It's the only chance we've got!" Van retorted glaring at the Crusade's crew member. "I am not going to die like this!"

"I'm with Lord Van," General Avanon spoke up. "It may be our only chance to escape death on this day. If we do not, they will follow us to the ends of Gaea to fulfill their Queen's desire. Do not doubt the loyalty of the Arathnians," He explained pulling his sword from it's sheath at his side. "As much as I wish to stay and fight, the best chance we have at this time is to flee so we can gather our wits and out strength. Who's with me!"

Yukari, Hitomi, Merle, and Gaddes cried out in agreement to the General's statement knowing all too well that he was right. He had seen enough battles in his lifetime to know when to admit defeat.

Allen scowled at the General. "Fine!" The knight snapped. He turned to his captain, Kio. "Do it."

With those final orders, the Crusade plummeted down towards the now forested ground below at an incredible speed. However, they avoided further damage by the Dragon riders, and their large powerful dragons. Their only problem would be what would happen when the ship hit the ground below.

AN: It's a short one folks. I would like to thank you all for the praise, and how much you are enjoying this. I didn't think it would actually get this much of a response. Thanks so much.

Next: Scorpigal

Response to Reviews:

TropicalGarden: I am glad you like it.