Escaflowne Ep. 7: Unexpected Partings

Van battles the three Bounty Hunter Guymelefs that are eager to defeat him and earn money. Van destroys the energist of his first attacker with the butt of his sword, bashes in the energist of the second and impales the third. All fall within a matter of seconds, and everyone stares in shock. Van gets out of Escaflowne and is congratulated by the king. Hitomi is about to say something but Allen interrupts, saying this wasn’t a chivalrous thing to do. Van says he didn’t mind as such encounters can occur in a real battle. That night Aston toasts to Escaflowne, which is being held in the dining hall. Aston’s subordinates propose to disguise Escaflowne from Zaibach, which Van agrees to. Van then leaves. Meiden asks Hitomi where she is from. Millerna says she comes from a far off place, then talks to Allen, wanting to see him later. Millerna’s elder sister Eries, who looks upset, reveals that Millerna is engaged to Dryden, Meiden’s son. Hitomi is gleeful to hear about this and drinks a little too much alcohol. Millerna is against the marriage, not knowing Dryden, who is always on the road. Meanwhile, in the Vione, Dilandau scratches at a wine bottle with his knife then slams it on the ground. He is very impatient and wants to capture Escaflowne right away. Gatty comes in with a message from Dilandau’s superior, General Adelphos, that they are going to attack the country of Freid and that Dornkirk orders Escaflowne to be captured beforehand. Folken tells Dilandau not to get too carried away since they will be using Asturia’s harbor as a staging ground. He says if they capture Van he will let Dilandau do what he wishes with him. Meanwhile Allen puts Hitomi to bed and is confronted by Eries, who tells him not to get too close to Millerna, since she thinks Allen only sees Marlene, their deceased eldest sister in Millerna. Allen says he’ll never fall in love again. Seeing Hitomi, Eries calls him a liar and storms out. On the roof, Van practices his sword skills. Allen walks up and says he’ll be his sparring partner.

Van and Allen duel, with Allen winning once again. Millerna claps and approaches Allen after Van leaves, he tries to refuses her advances but she convinces him not to. Van heads downstairs while Hitomi walks up them. Hitomi ignores Van’s warnings to go upstairs and sees Millerna and Allen. They kiss, and Hitomi leaves crying. Hitomi thinks she is a fool and runs back to her bedroom. At that time Merle looks over the city while three sets of eyes lurk in the corner. Hitomi runs in crying and Merle asks her what’s wrong. Hitomi tells her to leave her alone and throws a pillow at her so Merle climbs outside onto the roof. Three Gecko men who had been hiding inside the room jump down and capture Hitomi. They leave while Merle watches and she goes to tell Van. The kidnappers head out in a small water craft, and Hitomi wonders if Allen will save her, but thinking of him kissing Millerna, thinks that he won’t. Meanwhile, Folken and Aston chat in the Vione about Escaflowne, and questions why Zaibach is after it. At that moment Escaflowne walks through the streets in its disguise. When it passes below a bridge the disguise is torn off and a lookout sees it. This is reported to Folken, and Aston gives Zaibach permission to send its forces after Escaflowne. Folken orders Dilandau to be woken, but he’s already up and leaving in his Guymelef. Folken tells him to not involve the citizenry. Meanwhile, Escaflowne catches up with the Gecko’s ship and they dive underwater. Escaflowne follows and grabs the ship. Van pulls it up to the surface and tears it apart so he can save Hitomi. Hitomi is shocked to find that it was Van that saved her instead of Allen. Escaflowne steps out of the water and Merle unties Hitomi. Suddenly, Dilandau arrives and attacks. Escaflowne dodges his attack and blocks with its sword. Dilandau starts shooting flames at him and misses, burning down the nearby buildings. Van tells Dilandau that they can’t fight here and Dilandau says it’s his fault the city is burning. Dilandau steps up to Escaflowne and attacks, but Escaflowne turns into a Dragon and flies over him. Dilandau turns to pursue, but Allen stands before him in Scherazade saying he’ll have to answer to him if he does any more damage to the city. Escaflowne flies away from Palas. Hitomi says farewell to Allen.