Van wins a quick victory from the three men in Guymelefs and the King grants him stay and also camouflages Escaflowne to look more like theirs.  Hitomi sees Allen and Princess Millerna and is sad to see them acting so friendly.  After she returns to her room, a group of geckos kidnap her and Merle sees this.  She gets Van who heads out to rescue her in Escaflowne.  The Zaibach fortress gets wind of Escaflowne's whereabouts and Dilandau heads out to capture (or in his demented mind - kill) Van.