Chapter One

Her right arm tingled painfully, it wasn't until Garnet opened her eyes that she realised she was lying on her arm. Carefully she sat up and looked around at her surroundings. She was in a small circular chamber seemingly made of metal, the floor had a pattern which she was sure was imprinted on her cheek. The air was uncomfortably warm and she wiped a thin sheen of sweat from her face. Where are we? She tried to think about what had happened. She remembered walking around the desert, looking for Kuja's palace. The quicksand, she realised looking around in horror where they were. So much for a surprise attack. She thought bitterly.

"My little Canary has awakened." Garnet looked up sharply as the voice filled the room, how long had Kuja been watching her? "The door to your chamber will open in a moment. Follow the Black Mage's instructions." Garnet crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head firmly, she was not about to walk in to a trap. She jumped up as the floor began moving in a circular motion, moving over to the wall and hugging it tightly as the floor opened to reveal the source of heat. Only a few feet below her lava bubbled menacingly, she flinched as a bubble burst and sent a spot landing just millimetres from her foot. "I can of course guarantee your safety; I have no intentions of harming my Canary. Your friends however…well I care not for them. So, do I have your obedience?" Biting the inside of her cheek Garnet forced herself to nod and the floor shifted back into its closed position. The door slid open and she followed the Black Mage over a small bridge where a second one waited.

"Stand here please Miss." She nodded and stood in the centre between them, closing her eyes as they teleported her away. When she opened her eyes she had to take a minute to adjust to the darkness. The room was windowless and lit with candles in sconces along the wall and a roaring fireplace. Bookcases lined one of the walls and in the centre of the room was a hole covered by a metal grill.

"Sweet Canary, welcome to my humble abode." Kuja bowed deeply to her as she stepped off a circular disk, but she caught the mocking glint in his light blue gaze. He reached for her gloved hand but Garnet snatched it back quickly, she remembered their encounter in her palace. "I will tame you eventually," he smiled and gestured for her to sit down at a small circular table. Seeing no point in refusing Garnet obeyed and accepted a goblet of wine from him suspiciously. Even after he had poured himself a goblet from the same jug and drunk deeply she still couldn't bring herself to drink. The two sat in silence, thoughts tumbling around Garnet's head but she was unable to voice any. Were her friends safe? Where were they? She suppressed a shudder as she thought about the circular floor in the chamber, had he opened it and sent her friends plunging to their deaths? She flinched as Kuja's fingertips brushed under her chin and turned her face so she was forced to look at him. "Why does the Canary not sing?" Garnet looked away with her eyes, when she tried to move her head he forced it back to look at him. "Garnet," his voice was sharp and she looked back at him. "Do I need to remind you of what will happen to your friends if I get anything less than obedience?" Garnet shook her head vigorously, "Then speak. I shall not be given the silent treatment in my own home." Garnet looked at him helplessly, how could she tell him she couldn't? Kuja stood up and walked over to the circular hole in the floor. Nervously Garnet stood and followed him, following his gaze down into the pit below. She gasped as she saw Eiko and Mog, both looking as if they were asleep. Eiko's arms were curled around Mog, her face buried into the soft fur of the Moogle. Slowly the floor began to circulate revealing the horror beneath. Desperately Garnet reached out and grabbed Kuja's arm. She tried to break his concentration but he was staring entranced at the widening floor below. "It just takes one word."

"I cannot!" She tried to scream but no sound came out of her mouth. She looked back down to see Mog had woken up, and was flying frantically around trying to pick Eiko up but finding her too heavy, Garnet grabbed Kuja's mantle and twisted him around to face her, her deep brown eyes were bright with tears and she tapped frantically at her throat all the time mouthing; "I cannot speak!" Kuja looked at her startled and clicked his fingers; Garnet looked into the pit and was relieved to see the floor had shut once more. She sagged with relief and leant against the railing of the grill keeping her eyes squeezed tightly shut so he would not see her cry.

"You have no voice?" He asked softly and Garnet nodded, "a canary who cannot sing…such a tragedy. How long have you been silent?" Kuja asked gesturing for Garnet to take a seat at a small table; she looked at him unsure of how to answer. She flinched as Kuja rested a hand on her throat but he pressed his left hand against the back of her neck, almost as if he intended to strangle her. "I am just trying to help you," he laughed coldly. "Can you use your own magic?" Timidly she held up right hand and concentrated on her magic, a small white ball appeared and floated lazily when she took her hand away. "Then it is not magic…" Kuja sat opposite her and motioned for a black mage to serve them drinks. "We will have to find a way to return your voice my little Canary…I have heard you singing. Nothing is sadder than a songbird losing her voice." Garnet looked at him unsure of whether he was mocking her but he seemed quite serious. She took a sip from the silver goblet one of the mages placed in front of her and almost spat out the liquid in shock. She had tasted spiced wine before, but this was thick and heavy. She would not put it past Kuja to drug her. Her lack of voice was starting to irk her and she set the goblet down with more vehemence than she meant too. This was not the man she wanted to be silent around. The childish part of her wanted to rage at him, to blame him for everything that had happened and the fate that had befallen her mother. But the mature part of her just needed to know why? What was he planning with the eidolons? Does he realise I possess mine again? This was not an appealing thought, if he did would he steal them once more? And if he did not…what would he do when he learnt that she had claimed her powers once more? A flash caught Garnet's eye and she looked over Kuja's shoulder to see an orb with an image of Zidaine, she felt her stomach clench as she saw the metal floor beneath him. It was closed, but what would it take for Kuja to decide he no longer needed her friends alive? Uncle Cid? She saw a piece of brown cloth flutter in the corner of the orb and her fear overcame her. If her uncle died…it was bad enough she had brought her own kingdom to ruin without destroying her uncle's! Kuja followed her gaze and smiled. "So you're finally awake…" Kuja stood up and Garnet made to follow him but something kept her bound to the chair. She looked over at one of the black mages who bowed his head in apology. She could only hear the murmuring of Kuja's voice, what he was plotting that he did not want her to know about? "Forgive me little canary but your ears are too innocent for the task I must bestow on your friend." Gently Kuja pulled Garnet to her feet and swept his arm around her slender waist. "I must send him on an errand I am afraid he is unlikely to return from…but I will keep you occupied while you wait." The wolfish grin he bestowed upon her did little to calm her nerves and she pushed him away. At the sound of Zidaine's voice she tried to push past Kuja but he was too quick for her and grabbed her arm to pull her back. "Stay here and do not make a sound," Garnet glared at him her brown eyes blazing with hatred as he mocked her. "I am not unfair, if both you and Zidaine co-operate then I will let you say goodbye to him."