I know, I'm a horrible author who hasn't updated in forever. Well, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Again, I don't own anything from Escaflowne, just this plot line and the added characters.

Chapter 20: Turning Tables

Hitomi had wandered around the castle for a few hours before she gave up looking for Ilya. It was hard for her to just let Ilya go, but if what Folken said was true than she has been lying to her. 'No, it doesn't matter. Ilya is only a little girl who was following what her sister told her. It would have made our lives much easier if we had known from the start. I don't care about what the draconians think they can meddle in, they shouldn't be allowed to play god when it is convenient.'

Hitomi found herself in the open corridor near the main chamber. She had worn a simple dress today to let the air move around her through the heat of summer. A light breeze came through the open corridor playing with the plain tan dress. Like the first time she had been here the curtains were drawn closed as Van and the advisors were catching up on business. She was about to peak into the room when one of the advisors thrust a curtain aside and stormed out of the room. His prudish face flushed with anger. When his eyes meet Hitomi he stopped dead in his tracks.

"You are the cause of these problems!" The man pointed a finger directly at Hitomi.

Van had quickly followed the advisor when he had blown up and now stood at the opening watching what the old man had said to Hitomi. He saw shock register momentarily on her face before it was placed with a calm look.

"Why do you believe that I am the cause of the problems?" Van was amazed at how steadily she spoke.

"You are a girl from the Mystic Moon, as much cursed as if you were a draconian. The last time you had arrived on Gaea, Fanelia was destroyed. You have brought evil omens to our country and are not fit to rule these people."

Hitomi carefully choose her words, "When ever I have been brought to this planet there are plenty problems that have nothing to do with me. All I have ever done for Fanelia, no Gaea is to keep it from being destroyed by people who would rather have a dictator control their lives instead of letting a leader guide the people to making ethical decisions on their own. It was my willingness to defy these dictators that have caused them to act against me, but not to act out against the people. People like Emperor Dornkirk and Lady Serra already intended on not letting anyone beseech their plans, much less me. So to them I am only detour. No matter what happens to me I will continue to protect Fanelia and the ideals that have been laid out by its kingdom."

"Well said Lady Hitomi." One of the other advisors had come to stand next to Van now moved forward to face Hitomi.

The man was dressed in plain court clothes with slightly graying hair. He picked up one of Hitomi's hands and held it between his own. "Please my lady, forgive Advisor Cahlar's words."

Cahlar sniffed rudely but the other man ignored him. "My name is Redion, advisor and general of the Tusk army, successor of the late Luva. We all have been very worried about the events that have been taking place in the past several days. To know of your capture and rescue have sent all of us in fear. Yet after hearing your words I do believe that we had nothing to fear. Your strong will could clearly convince anyone to follow you. I am grateful to say I no longer hold any reservations saying your highness in the future."

Redion knelt down on one knee releasing her hands. He pulled out the ceremonial sword from his side belt holding the hilt towards Hitomi. "If you will permit my lady, I know you are unfamiliar with Fanelian customs but I would like to ask for your blessing so I may continue towards a better Fanelia under your direction."

Hitomi glanced over at Van who urged her to take a hold of the sword. Taking the hilt Hitomi placed the flat of the blade on Redion's shoulder as she had seen in many historical pictures from home. A smile on his lips told her that she was doing it right.

"I, Redion, general of the Tusk army willingly give my life to the service of my king and future queen. May your words of wisdom always guide Fanelia to a prosperous future."

"I thank you for your pledge." Hitomi took the sword off of his shoulder and handed it back to him. Redion returned the blade to it's sheath and bowed to her. The other advisors and generals followed suit including Cahlar who Hitomi forgave. Afterwards they advisors left leaving Hitomi and Van standing alone in the corridor.

Hitomi stood slightly flustered and slightly dizzy from the quick turn of events, but still had a smile on her face.

Van returned her smile, "I can't believe that happened."

"What did happen?" Hitomi moved closer to Van who took her hands.

"All of my counsel has pledged their loyalty to you, even Cahlar who hates anything that isn't done by tradition. Normally this isn't done until our wedding day, but your actions seemed to give them hope to believe." Van moved his face to gently nuzzle Hitomi's face. "Though I still don't know how they could have doubted you, for you have always been my hope."

"Thank you. Now we need to decide what is going to happen with the pillar."

"I need to gather some things from my study that I need to discuss with Dryden and Allen. Please will you go find them for me and we will all meet in the formal dinning room. I have a feeling that this discussion is going to last through dinner."

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The late afternoon heat did not bother Chesta as he moved carefully around the Fanelian palace. He had only moments ago arrived and was making swift progress. Having to dodge a few people, Chesta was pleased with his efforts. Careful not to move any of the hanging tapestries he found a nearby conversation very interesting.

Allen and Dryden were walking over to the dining room discussing the news that they had heard, unaware of the extra set of ears.

"Well, I hope that Folken has found some information. Fanelia didn't receive very much information taken from Zaibach after they were disbanded. I doubt he'll find something like Dornkirk's diary."

Allen nodded in agreement. "Although any information would be welcomed to help rid of the pillar, we will really need to think about how we are going to get rid of it."

Chesta followed them down the hall a bit further, but the conversation soon drifted. Heading back the way he was going Chesta was rewarded by the sight of Hitomi coming out of a room talking with someone inside.

"I'll go tell everyone that you will be there shortly."

A thank you was heard from the person and Hitomi shut the door behind her. She walked down the hall towards Chesta. Suddenly she stopped in her tracks and stared directly at the dragon slayer. Chesta stood stock still not letting his body move in the slightest.

'That's so strange. I thought I saw one of the dragon slayers standing right there. Now I see nothing.' Hitomi rubbed her eyes. Looking again all Hitomi saw was a shimmer of heat.

"The heat must be getting to me." Hitomi continued down the hall feeling it had been too long since the little girl had run off.

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Van stood by the window letting the light afternoon breeze wash over his heated body. It was no surprise to him to see the door swing slightly open. 'Hitomi must not have shut the door tight.' Van went to close the door when a feeling crept along his spine sending all of the hairs along his neck to stand on end. Letting his body relax, he tried to find the source of the strange feeling. His mind went blank as he had trained his mind in the past. The pendant suddenly came to his mind pointing to a corner of the room.

Popping his eyes open Van looked at the corner. There was nothing there, but two huge book shelves shoved against on another. Then he saw it. A shimmer in the air just barely visible as it moved along the far side of the wall to the window.

"So you can see me?" said a voice.

"Who are you?" demanded Van.

Chesta concentrated for a moment before his body was once again visible to the rest of the world. Van stood stunned to his spot.

"I wouldn't call for help because you don't know what I am capable of. Why don't I show you." Chesta removed the glove from his right hand to reveal not flesh but metal, and what was more impressive was that the metal looked perfectly seamless to Van. Suddenly the hand started to liquefy into another state. Van remembered that the Dragon Slayer units had the same weapon system three years ago, but to be attached to a human was insane. The hand had modified to three ropes of metal which shot out at Van twining tightly around him.

"Let me go!" Van shouted.

"Now that wouldn't be part of my mission. I came here to deliver a message to you."

Van looked hard at the Dragon Slayer, "What is it, more of Lady Serra's lies?"

Chesta chuckled, he lifted Van off the ground which seemed effortlessly to the man and slowly pulled the king closer. "I know where the final pillar is and as I see it you have one choice in getting me what I want. You must take the final pillar to Lady Serra's fortress within two days. If you don't do this I will come back. Many here can't sense me like you and your witch of a lover. I can go around and kill all of them one by one and I can have the Dragon Slayers come and destroy this beautiful city once again."

"NO! You will not harm any of them or this city." Van furiously tried to break free from the metal coils around him.

"Then I will expect the pillar to be delivered within the next few days. If not I will come and you won't be able to stop me." Chesta tightened the coil for a moment and then released Van to the floor.

Standing up quickly Van drew his sword, but in that short amount of time Chesta had already reverted back to his invisible form. Still feeling the rush of adrenaline Van couldn't sense the dragon slayer anymore. Suddenly a sharp metal arm shot out in mid-air from the window heading directly towards Van. Having only a few seconds, he was able to draw out his sword to deflect the spear, but instead of hitting him in the chest the point raked across Van's right arm from elbow to shoulder.

"Take this as a warning. I can kill who ever, without them ever seeing it coming."

Van only saw the shimmer move out the window as he clutched his injured arm. When he looked out the window the heat coming off of the sun baked buildings covered any signs of the intruder.

A servant walked into the room at that point and dropped the tray of drinks onto the floor. The crash sent Van back into reality as the pain in his arm blossomed.

"Go get Queen Millerna, quickly!"

"Yes, my lord." The servant left in a quiet rush. Van sighed as he sat down on one of couches. His shirt was slowly becoming another color as blood trickled through his fingers. Yet his mind was not on the wound, but what the dragon slayer had said. 'If I was the only one to see him, then what could he do to Hitomi?'

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Hitomi wandered into the stables seeking shelter from the sun outside. She was tired of looking for the little girl and was trying to find a place to rest that wouldn't involve the castle. Escaflowne stood inside the stable, hidden from the outside world. Hitomi smirked at the odd picture that it presented standing around a bunch of cows chewing hay. Looking around Hitomi spotted a ladder leading to a second story loft. Figuring that it would be a good place to hid for a moment or two she ascended the ladder. When she reached the top the sounds of the animals became quieter, but a new sound had replaced that.

Reaching the top, Hitomi pulled up to the platform and looked around. There was a window for hauling bails of hay opened to the outside along with hay scattered all along the platform. The crying continued near the open window. Shifting through the hay, it didn't take Hitomi long to spot the girl she had been looking for all day.

Ilya was curled up in a tight ball. Her nightgown was ripped in the back and white feathers were strewn around, but Hitomi paid no attention to that. Relieved to find the girl Hitomi sat on top of a pile near the girl. Hitomi was just close enough that she was able to gently stroke Ilya's back.

"Ilya, what's wrong?"

Hitomi only heard a muffled answer from the girl as she talked into the hay.

"Why don't you come hear and tell me what's the matter?"

Ilya rose from her spot and scooted towards Hitomi. Hitomi saw how red her eyes were, but the little girl didn't stay sitting. Instead she put her head in Hitomi's lap. 'It must be something that she usually does with her sister.'

"Can you tell me what is wrong?"

"I can't tell you any more."

"Why not?" Hitomi began to absently stroke Ilya's hair, every once and a while picking out a piece of straw.

"Because I was told not to tell you anything. Ilyssa is going to be mad with me when she finds out that I told you about her. Folken is going to ruin everything like he did before."

Hitomi sat confused by the little girl. 'She seems so much older than she looks. It must be her sister's influence. Why was Ilya burdened like this?'

"Hitomi, can we go back to the palace?" Ilya looked up at her with her bright green eyes.

"Sure." Hitomi let the little girl stand and directed her towards the ladder. When they were both on the ground the two of them walked back to the palace hand in hand. They had barely stepped inside the palace when Merle came running up to them.

"Hitomi! Van was hurt!"

Hitomi's heart dropped to the bottom of her chest. Running after Merle, she was soon ushered into Van's study. He sat on the couch with Millerna just finishing up bandaging up his right arm. His white shirt was soaked in blood and the right sleeve had been torn off to have access to the wound.

"Van!"

Millerna glanced up at Hitomi, "He will be alright Hitomi. The weapon only hit flesh. He had to have a few stitches, but he should be alright in a few days.

"How did it happen?"

Van looked at everyone staring at him with anticipation, "A dragon slayer snuck into the palace and threatened us. He was using a cloaking device much like their guymelefs."

"What did he want?" asked Merle who had curled up at Van's feet. Hitomi ignored the feeling of jealousy knowing the cat girl only wanted to protect Van as much as she did.

"He must have found out about the pillar." Folken stated. Van just stared into space.

"What how could he! Everyone one who was told about the pillar was sworn to secrecy." Millerna said flabbergasted.

"That doesn't mean that if he was cloaked that he couldn't have listened in on conversations and we may not have even known that he was there."

Hitomi suddenly remembered seeing the dragon slayer in the hallway. 'So he really was there.'

"It doesn't matter how he found out, there has been an ultimatum on the pillar." Van said coldly. Hitomi didn't like the tone of his voice knowing that it must be something terrible. She sat down on his right side being careful not to hurt the injured part of the arm.

Van tried not to remember his thoughts of earlier when Chesta had talked with him. "We have to get the pillar to Lady Serra's fortress in a few days, . . or. . ."

"Or what?" Hitomi looked into Van's eyes trying to gauge the emotion hidden behind them. Then it hit her, 'he's afraid'.

"There won't be an 'or what'. What he has set must be done, I will not lose what I have worked so hard to have." Van gazed lovingly in her eyes trying to push out the reflected fear.

"Then I suggest that we start creating a plan to get the pillar to Lady Serra. Also, a plan of attack for after that is accomplished would be a good idea as well." Stated Dryden.

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Lady Serra was busy most of the day and through the night. Her army was quickly rebuilding the fortress. Lady Serra said a hasty blessing to her elders for being miners, it made task that much more quickly to complete. Now she stood in the middle of the courtyard overseeing the night crew in the completion of their tasks. 'Nothing is going to stand in my way. This was only a surface wound in comparison to the pain I'm going to cause. My word will be done.'

She recounted the reports that came in from the dragon slayers who had left to retrieve the pillar Asgard. It would take them a bit longer to get the pillar back, but it would be in place within a few days. The thought of seeing the gateway complete thrilled Lady Serra. Now her army could arise to destroy the planets soft inhabitants.

A guard came over to her as she walked up the stairs to the open ramparts. "My Lady, the dragon slayer Chesta has returned and is awaiting you in the war room."

Lady Serra tugged her thick cloak around her body as she went to the tower. When she entered Chesta immediately knelt on one knee.

"My Lady."

"What news do you have to bring me?" Lady Serra sat in her armchair.

Chesta stood to give his report. "I have located the final pillar. If it does not come within the time that Dilandau has returned than I will go to finish the job."

"Very good." Lady Serra purred. Standing up once again she walked right up to Chesta.

"How is my creation? Has it worked well?" Lady Serra toyed with the strings holding Chesta's shirt closed. They easily unworked themselves, but Chesta dared not to make any moves against her. A red glow lit up Lady Serra's face as she traced her hand along his exposed chest. The red glow came not from the fire place behind them, but from the drag-energist embedded in Chesta's body. Her scientists were mirical workers when it came to creating anything for her, like a human guymelef. Most of Chesta's body had been replaced by mechanical parts, like his arm had been outfitted with a liquid metal propellant tank. Levitation rocks had been placed inside his body and hardwired to the drag-energist. Lady Serra was pleased when she had gotten the plans of the Teiring guymelef designs. The stealth cloak designs from the Alseides were just a simple to integrate.

"This body has served a wonderful purpose."

"I'm pleased. Why don't you get some rest. You may have another mission in the morning so be prepared."

"Yes, Lady Serra."

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Another chapter down! We are started to hit some of the good stuff. Let's see what happens when this gate is activated.

-EmpKaylenatye