My Shadow in The Sun
Chapter 1:
"Your Majesty, I know this may hardly be my place to say so, but you actions but a moment ago were appalling to say the least. I don't think I need to remind Her Majesty, but it is in all ways unbecoming of someone who is idolized as a protector and keeper of this city." Councilman Paulus scolded as his queen returned to the castle latching her eagle claw that she had dropped a few minutes ago while running out to welcome Zidane home. She lowered her head in shame, "I know Paulus, I'm sorry. I'll try not to let it happen again." she said in a sad tone. She really had no intention to cause a scene but she had a tendency to forget the world around her when she was with him.
"No, she doesn't need to be sorry!" A voice erupted from Garnet's bedroom door. Beatrix trotted in looking clearly angry with old man's comments. "Councilman Paulus, shall I remind you of your job here? You are here to advise, not scold Her Majesty. I implore you to apologize this moment or I will break each of your fingers until you do." Paulus's face turned to shock as Beatrix emphasized her sentence by violently pulling on her fingers as she said each word. At that Paulus quickly apologized and removed himself from the room.
Beatrix turned her head to Garnet who was looking out her favorite window curling the ends of her mahogany locks around her fingers. She gave a maternal smile that seemed very unnatural on a woman with more battle scars than stars in the sky. "Your Majesty, you have to stand up to people like Paulus. He doesn't know his place but in a way he is right. You are the icon of Alexandria, your strength and candidness is what gives people faith in you." Garnet continued to fiddle with her hair and looked with a hopeless sigh. Until a year ago she hadn't ever been in a position where she needed to be a queen, for her entire life she was always a princess and she assumed it would always be that way. "I know Beatrix, I will try harder. I promise you. It's just so…"
"I know," the general interjected, "It'll take time, until then I will be your voice when you can't seem to get the queen in you to wake." Garnet gave her a sweet smile and thanked her old friend. Beatrix curtsied and continued on her patrol around the castle. Garnet moved her gaze back to her window and watched some doves peck around the court yards below. "Zidane, what were you trying to tell me?" She thought to herself. Earlier she had heard Zidane had returned to town, she was so exited she ran from the castle just to see him, her pendant that had been fought for so many times before had fallen yet she didn't care enough to spend another minute away from him. When she finally met him though he just hugged her and gave her a melancholy smile and told her he had to go. It didn't seem natural for someone whose joy could be so contagious sometimes to have such a sad smile. Not natural at all.
Zidane sat on a wooden stool tapping his cards against the green fabric that had been poorly glued on the table. His tail wrapped against the side of the chair almost in unison until a hand slapped against the table breaking his rhythm.
"Zidane, are you going to even bother playing the game?" Blank yelled from the other side of the table. Zidane just looked up and laughed, "Yeah! I was thinking of what I wanted to do next." He replied.
"I'm almost positive that isn't the case…You were tapping your cards on the table for almost five minutes! I can see them all – ace of spades, five of spades, 8 of hearts, jack, queen!" Suddenly blank moved back and slumped back down into his chair, "I see now. You're not thinking about the queen in your hand you're thinking of the one in the castle. Why don't you just find her and tell her you love her to pieces? It would save us all a lot of grief you know." Zidane fanned his cards out on the table and leaned his head forward on his hand, his hair laced in between his gloved fingers. It had been a month almost since he last saw Garnet and there were still so many things he couldn't wrap his head around. It was true she was on his mind, more than he'd ever admit anyone even Dagger herself, he didn't even know what he could call her anymore. Was she Garnet, was she Dagger? Could a Garnet be seen on him as much as he thought a Dagger could?
"Blank," Zidane said with a sigh, "I really don't think there is much to say to her. She's got obligations now, she doesn't have time to run around and play games with someone like me. She has thousands of people to take care of now, she just doesn't have time. I don't even think I'm worthy of being in the presence of someone so important." Blank gazed as his friend grasping at things to tell him but his experiences with love weren't nearly as complicated. Ruby was a common girl, simple, and a bit crass but the thing he loved about her most was her love of drama, both theatrical and not but he thought about how she would be if the drama was every single day, there wouldn't be a time or place for him. He imagined that maybe this was what Zidane meant.
In the distance bells could be heard, people ran through the streets in a way that could only have meant trouble. Zidane ran over to the door way and saw the people massing in the town square. I traveled through the see of colorful peasants only to hear whispers and rumors of what the matter was about. A man appearing to be some sort of aristocracy was announcing something from the center of the square, but Zidane could only make out bits and pieces of what was truly being said.
"…She was a beauty in life and forever will be a beauty in the eyes of this kingdom. May she rest in peace…" Zidane's heart started to sink each passing word from the man in the center sinking into his chest like a knife. He couldn't believe it, was Garnet really dead? Why else would there be so much commotion over someone's death who else could it have been? His knees became weak and his head foggy, he was almost sure the heat welling up in his face and throat was going to make him pass out. A few more words managed to escape the crowd, "…Our great General Beatrix. The ceremony will be held to all those invited, thank you." Suddenly a weight was lifted from Zidane's chest, he'd never felt so confused in his life. Garnet may not have been dead but Beatrix was and this was even more perturbing as why would a healthy general just die for no reason?