Storm clouds loomed on the horizon, and Beatrix turned away. She knew this was a dark day. She needed no reminders of her.
Dulce et decorum est, pro patria mori. How sweet it is to die for one's country. Yes, how sweet, the general thought bitterly. For a hundred of her women to die because Hilda had gone insane. Beatrix knew she was too young to die, but some of these soldiers were as young as thirteen. Alexandrian women were not stifled at a young age.
She had grown up in Lindblum, mostly, which was why she had begun training at such a late age as sixteen. Her family had lived in one of the palatial estates outside Alexandria, her mother had been a great soldier. She had been bitterly disappointed by her oldest daughter, stocky, plain Beatrix. They had been delighted when her younger sister was born, and named her Callista, for her mother.
It wasn't until years after they had died that Beatrix had grown into beauty and skill. There were rumours that she had been merciless and bloodthirsty from birth, but they were lies. She had been a distraught and serious child, loved little. They sent her to board in Lindblum, which was where she first met Mina and Mordrid. She had grown so much in that city, but her parents had been blind to it.
She would need to send word to Callista, word that she would never see her big sister again. The girl would turn sixteen in two months time. Only sixteen.
'My lady?'
Beatrix realised that she had left her door open as one of Mina's acolytes knocked gently on the doorframe.
'Yes?'
The girl bowed and held out a piece of parchment, 'I bring word from the queen.'
'Thank you,' Beatrix took the note, wondering what new tragedy had befallen them. It couldn't be much worse. She opened the letter and read.
Let us eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we shall die.
Beatrix turned to the girl and raised an eyebrow. The acolyte bowed her head and said meekly,
'I believe her majesty is trying to say that the welcoming feast for her highness, Princess Wilhelmina, is to go ahead, despite current affairs.'
'What has this to do with me?'
The acolyte shifted uncomfortably, 'I believe you are invited, my lady.'
'Invited?' Beatrix heard the obnoxious tone in her voice and quickly repeated more softly, 'Invited? That is most... strange. Oh.' She realised. This wasn't a welcome. It was a farewell.
'What word shall I send, my lady?'
'Tell her majesty that I will attend gladly, and thank her for the invitation.' Beatrix sighed, closing her door as the girl bowed and scurried away. What was Garnet thinking? She didn't know what to do when it came to formalwear. She didn't know how to behave at a thing like this.
But she would do it, for the queen. To please the queen before she ran off to die.
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Beatrix looked down at the blue rags on her couch. They had been a dress before she attempted to find out how it worked. She could kill any man, woman or monster on Gaia, she could command an army of millions, but there were some things that were just too much to ask, and formalwear was among them.
She looked up as there was a knock on her door.
'Come in,' she commanded, and the door opened to reveal two of Mina's gothic handmaidens, sporting red satin, sewing instruments, makeup and various other things that Beatrix did not understand. They both curtseyed low, then one spoke,
'Good evening, madam, I am Gretchen, this is Celene. Princess Mina sent us, she thought you could use some help.'
Part of Beatrix wanted to shout angrily and send them back to their insolent mistress, but it was the other part of her, the part that wanted to cry with relief, that won.
'Please, come in,' she said, 'please, come in.'
The girls smiled, and started setting out what they had brought. 'Now this dress may not fit perfectly,' Celene said with a genuinely friendly smile, 'it's from the princess's personal collection. But that's okay, because we're both accomplished tailors, so we can adjust it, but first we need to find the correct... delicates.'
Beatrix's eyes widened, and Gretchen slid her coat off her shoulders. She watched as Celene rifled through a pile of lace and silk. 'Now her majesty was very firm on the dress, however if these are not to your liking, we can fetch more.' Celene held up several different low-backed corsets and suspenders. Gretchen laughed at the look on the general's face.
'The princess believes that even if your underwear is never seen, the confidence it gives you is indispensable.'
'Oh...' Beatrix was feeling so far in over her head that she couldn't breathe. Gretchen was undressing her further, and Celene held out something black and lacy.
'Might I recommend this one? It would suit you immeasurably, ma'am.'
Beatrix shrugged meekly, 'Certainly.' She heard the squeak in her voice and blushed. She blushed further as Gretchen finally slid her lowest undergarments down over her hips.
Gretchen grabbed the corset from Celene and started lacing it. Beatrix felt her insides squashing around and squirmed. 'Am I supposed to be able to breathe?'
'Well... no,' Gretchen laughed as she deftly threaded the corset.. 'These are very tight-fitting, but you will never again see a figure quite like what this will give you. There you go.' She whirled the general around so she was facing the mirror.
Beatrix had never been vain, but she couldn't help but straighten her back and push out her breasts as she examined her reflection. She could see why Mina liked these things. Beatrix twirled quickly and jumped as Celene and Gretchen laughed. She glared at them in a way that would have made her soldiers start trembling, but the girls just laughed again.
'We're sorry,' Celene giggled, 'we're just remembering what the princess did the first time she was in one. She also thought she wasn't vain.'
Beatrix blushed, 'let's get this over with.'
'Certainly, ma'am,' Celene said, reaching up for the general's eyepatch. Within an instant Beatrix had the girl by the wrist, a dagger in her hand.
'I wouldn't if I were you,' she growled. Celene looked genuinely scared, then compassionate as she said quietly,
'General, battle scars are glorious, even if unattractive, and there is no need to be ashamed, least of all in front of us.' Beatrix hesitated a moment, then let the girl go. She closed her good eye as the eyepatch was removed, though she could still feel Celene's wince. Gretchen's hands slid through her hair, pulling it up into a tight bun on top of her head, leaving out a few curls.
A long piece of black silk was wrapped over her eye, and Beatrix opened her other eye again. Celene smiled gently. 'Come on, we have to get this dress onto you, or you'll be late.'
Beatrix raised her arms as the beautiful dress fitted onto her body. There were many bad things to be said about Mina, but her taste was not among them. The general looked in the mirror, taken by her own image. Gretchen gently reached up and brushed red across her lips.
A knock on the door made Beatrix look up.
'General?' Haagen's anxious voice sounded.
'Come in, Haagen,' Beatrix said, the looked around. 'You two, clean this up, quickly!'
The door opened, and Haagen did a double take, looking at the wreck of the room, covered in all sorts of clothing, sewing and makeup. Then he saw Beatrix. His jaw dropped and he fell to one knee, bowing.
Beatrix blushed, then walked toward him.
'I am here to escort you to the feast, ma'am,' Haagen said in a voice of awe. Beatrix took his offered arm, then turned around.
'Celene, Gretchen... thank you...' The two girls looked up and grinned, Gretchen winked at her.
'Knock 'em dead, general.'
Beatrix turned back to Haagen, then took a deep breath and started toward the banquet hall.
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Beatrix was the subject of many looks as she strode across the banquet hall, through the dancing couples. Brahne had always made her stand, silent, behind her throne on formal occasions, she had never before been asked as a guest. The merciless general in a dress was well worth the looks she was getting. It was so demeaning.
Garnet's face lit up as she saw her general. Beatrix ignored her and took her seat on the queen's right side.
'Magnificent, Beatrix,' Garnet murmured, in awe.
'I agree,' Mina walked up to the table, decked in a black ball gown, lime green visible below the lace of her corset. She smirked at the general, kissed Garnet's hand and resumed her seat next to Beatrix.
'Yes, I - ' Garnet stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening across the hall as she pushed her hair out of her face for a better look. Beatrix tried to follow her gaze, fighting the blush at the compliment. Mina cackled next to her.
'Steiner?' the name came from Beatrix's mouth without bidding. She hadn't seen him out of armour in a very, very long time. He was actually quite... handsome. It was almost a shock. She rose to her feet, unthinkingly. His eyes fixed on her, and she was suddenly acutely aware of the fact that she was wearing the sexiest underwear she had ever seen. She sat down again quickly.
'Lord Steiner,' Garnet said, an amused smile on her face, 'nice to see you.'
'My queen,' Steiner bowed. He shifted uncomfortably, then sat on Garnet's left.
Beatrix threw a sidelong glance at him, and realised he was doing the same at her. She realised how low her neckline was, how close it was to everyone seeing her underwear, and more importantly, how flimsy her eye patch was. She looked down, the colour rising in her cheeks again.
'Beatrix, are you blushing?' Garnet laughed. This only made the general blush more furiously. This was the last night of her life and she had to spend it in a dress, being laughed at by the more feminine ladies.
She cast another look at Steiner and saw something of a note of pity in his gaze. He knew this wasn't where she wanted to be. She didn't want pity, but she was grateful that he understood. At least someone did.
'Beatrix, are you alright?' Garnet was looking at her, concerned. Beatrix suddenly realised, they were all trying so hard to make nice, to pretend things were okay. Tomorrow all hell would break loose, today they just wanted to forget about it. And It wasn't her place to bring them back to reality. She smiled.
'Of course, of course, I'm just not used to wearing a dress.'
'No doubt,' Garnet said, a suspicious tone in her voice, it was like she was pleading with her general to lighten up.
Beatrix had to. It was her duty to be what the queen needed. It was her duty to support the queen where she could not support herself.
So Beatrix smiled, and sat back to bear the rest of the night in a mockery of merriment.
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'Captain, captain!' a young soldier burst into Adrienne's chambers, covered in sweat, crying. Adrienne stood up, what was the matter? It was only a few minutes before they were scheduled to depart.
'What is it, soldier?' the captain asked sternly. It wasn't becoming of a soldier to cry, it was one of the reasons women had been considered weak many centuries ago.
'The fleet, ma'am, the Lindblum fleet!'
'What about them, girl!' Adrienne roared, but she already knew, and it made her stomach turn to think it.
'They've launched, ma'am!' the girl sobbed. How old was she? Fifteen, sixteen? Maybe even younger?
'By Alexander,' Adrienne sat down again.
'What are your orders, ma'am?'
'I don't know,' Adrienne stated bluntly. She had decided to wait and with that decision, she had killed her general, her hero, the Rose of May. 'I don't know!'
What could they do now? Take Lindblum? To what end? What kind of defences waited beyond the walls? What would be left to defend Alexandria? Could she pull this off?
'I want all our offensive forces ready five minutes ago. I want two regiments to circle to the other side of the city. Take another two to the hillside. We are launching an attack immediately.'
Enough hesitation. All she could do now was hope.
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Beatrix downed the last of her wine, the world looking a little bleary, but she was alright. She looked over at Steiner, who was looking at her also. He smiled as he caught her gaze and his eyes flicked to the dance floor. He was asking her to dance. That was so sweet, she had never been asked to dance before, at least not by anyone she would consider accepting. She looked up as she heard Garnet's voice.
'Another cup, general?'
Before Beatrix could answer, Mina's voice cut in, 'I don't think so, Beatrix is an incredibly cheap drunk.'
Beatrix glared at the princess as a cupbearer poured her more wine.
'Well you are,' Mina shrugged. With a scowl, the general downed the wine in one gulp, then stood up, instantly realising what an incredibly bad idea that was.
'Let's go, Steiner,' she barked, hauling him to his feet and leading him onto the dance floor. As she left, she heard Mina's voice again.
'Keep watching, this is going to be really funny.'
She scowled again, the world spinning around her. How was she supposed to dance? She didn't even know how. But as Steiner wrapped his hands around her waist, a sudden warm confidence filled her. She leaned against him, her hands resting on his shoulders, swaying against him gently.
'You are drunk, aren't you?' he mumbled in her ear. She let out a laugh at her own expense, closing her eye.
'Yes, totally.'
He laughed, pulling her a little closer, as if to support her. She wouldn't have said so aloud, but she was grateful. The whole room seemed to be spinning, a disconcerting euphoria rolling over her. So this was drunk. She hadn't been drunk since she was quite young, when she and Mina had always sneaked out of their chambers at midnight to meet with the young men in their boarding school. She had regretted it then, but maybe it wasn't so bad now.
The world swayed and she swayed, and Steiner's breath was warm in her hair, with no unpleasant thoughts. Beatrix leaned so her whole body was stretched against his, and she felt almost as if she would fall asleep, her head on his shoulder. It was so... nice. Yes, this was nice.
How long had it been since something was nice? Too long. Things nowadays were... exceptional, magnificent, and splendid. It had been years since an understated nice had come along.
Beatrix couldn't help but chuckle at her own thoughts. Even in her own mind she was raving. Not to mention that she was dancing like a teenage tart with a crush. With this in mind she straightened slightly so that she wasn't quite showing him all that she was made of. Even alcohol couldn't affect her too badly. She wouldn't let it.
'Steiner,' she whispered.
'Hmm?'
'I'm going to miss you.' She regretted the words as soon as they had come out of her mouth. Far too deep for a pleasant dance. Far too deep. She was grateful as he kissed her hair and said nothing, just letting her continue to sway gently against him.
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'Are they in love?' Mina asked, watching the couple dance. Garnet laughed,
'Straight forward, as always, Mina.' The two of them stayed silent for a minute, considering as they watched Steiner kiss Beatrix's hair, looking at her affectionately.
'Yes,' Garnet said, frowning, 'I think they are.'
'Ah, what star-cross'd lovers are these? Will none see the folly of their ways and stop them before the world ends around them and because of them?' Mina smiled fondly.
'Lord Avon,' Garnet said, 'I want to be your canary. I really wish I had a choice. I don't want to see them torn apart. I don't know if Steiner will ever forgive me.'
'You worry so much about your servants,' Mina frowned.
'They are not my servants,' Garnet said sharply, 'they are my friends.'
'Friends? You always were the sentimental one, dear cous. Don't get me wrong, Beatrix and I were friends for many a year before our falling out. It doesn't mean I'll deny what has to be done.' Mina sipped her wine, looking thoughtful.
'I don't deny it,' Garnet tossed her hair, annoyed, 'If there was any way to deny it, I would not be sending Beatrix off to die. If there was any way...'
'But there is none... you do know that, right?' Mina sat up straight, looking critically at her cousin. The queen nodded,
'I know. I don't need to explain myself to you, princess, and I won't. I regret what has to be done, but I know it has to be done.'
'Don't forget it, cous,' the princess said sternly, 'your people are watching you.'
'Mina, pretty soon I won't have a people. Hilda is going to barrel straight through our forces, we don't stand a chance. As soon as word comes back from our fleet of our defeat, I'm ordering the city evacuated.'
Mina stayed silent. It was a harsh decision. The queen had already written off her entire fleet. This was a disaster, from beginning to end. Adrienne hadn't been in time. Beatrix didn't have to forces to fight. Alexandrians were losing faith in their new queen, quickly.
'Let us not talk of this,' Garnet said, smiling, 'this is a night to forget our troubles.'
Mina smiled, a sinister smile, 'As you wish, your majesty.'
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Beatrix looked up at the moon. It was beautiful, making the palace gardens glow silver. The world was still spinning a little, but at least the fatigue had worn off now that she was out of Steiner's arms. She shouldn't have given into Mina's goading.
Sitting on one of the low stone walls, Beatrix plucked a rose from one of the bushes. What a beautiful place this was. How beautiful the whole world was. And now love. She had thought she had lost the part of her mind that allowed love. Long ago. Now here it was again, what matter of pride prevented her from admitting it to him?
Should she go to her grave never having kissed him, she would have a heart full of sorrow. Should she confess her love, and let him into her heart, then he would break it, as all men were inclined to do.
She could not win, it was impossible.
'Beatrix.'
The general did not need to turn around to know who it was. She had a wild urge to fling herself into his arms, but she did not, she controlled herself as she always did.
'In two days time I will be twenty-nine. Twenty-nine years in this life exactly.'
He didn't say anything. What was there to say? Nothing. They would all go to their graves saying nothing. She decided to give him a break.
'Was the queen upset that I left?'
'Her majesty understands,' Steiner said gruffly, 'but I don't. Why don't you want to spend your last night with us?'
His voice was filled with pain, making Beatrix look at his face. He was a truly handsome man, she decided, and made even more so by the moonlight. Ah, moonlight, roses, beautiful gardens, what a victim of romance she had become. She had sworn off this.
'I don't want to spend my last night in a corset,' she murmured, 'this is foolish.' She looked away, not wanting to face him. She wanted her last night to be special, not a parade of frippery and politics.
Steiner was mysteriously quiet, and then Beatrix heard a restrained snigger. She looked at him and saw he was trying to hold back a grin.
'You're wearing a corset?'
'Shut up,' she slapped his arm, trying to restrain her own laughter.
'Yes, ma'am,' he replied, saluting her mockingly. She didn't hold it against him. Anything to lighten the mood. They laughed together, and then lapsed into silence.
After what seemed like a very long time, he finally spoke, 'when are you going to stop pretending that you're alright?'
Beatrix didn't have an answer for him. He was right, it was a difficult facade to hold up, but she had to, if she fell apart, where would her army be? More importantly, if she fell apart, she didn't know if she could go through with this. The sheer adrenaline of the mockery was all that kept her going.
'I have to be strong for my troops,' she said, 'they rely on me. My confidence affects them greatly, as does my lack thereof.' She heard the icy tone in her voice, and knew that she needed it there.
'Yes, I understand that,' his voice had taken a somewhat paternal tone, almost comforting, 'but I'm not one of your troops.'
Another long silence descended over them. There were so many things that needed to be said, and there'd be no second chance this time. They both knew what was behind the others lips, but were too afraid to say it. Afraid. Beatrix would go gladly to her death, but could not confess her love. What a joke.
'I don't want you to go.' His voice was barely audible, just enough to make the general quiver. Before she knew it she had collapsed into his arms, clinging to him tightly. She closed her eyes, humiliated by the tears that trickled down her cheeks. She didn't want him to see her like this. She was never emotional.
It was so humiliating to be comforted by him, like a child. He held her close, shushing her, rocking her as one would a distressed child. She had never seen this side of him. He could be so gentle.
'I don't want to go,' she choked out, 'I don't want to die. I don't want to die.'
Steiner didn't say anything, just kissed her hair and held her closer. She balled up her fist and punched him in the shoulder. He grunted in pain but didn't move.
'Damn you, Steiner!' Beatrix yelled, 'You promised you'd protect me! You promised... then you just ran away. You left all of Alexandria for me to clean up, all of it to protect... you should have been there for me...'
'I'm sorry,' he murmured, 'I'm so sorry. You know the princess needed me.'
Beatrix knew. She would have done the same. She didn't know what was making her act this way, like a spoilt brat. She just wanted the laws of the universe to change, to let him stay with her, put her first. A finger under her chin made her look up.
'You're beautiful when you pout,' he said, a smile so full of love crossing his face, it made her heart ache.
'Steiner,' she whispered, 'I...'
'Save your valediction, Beatrix, we'll live to see another day.'
The general didn't know what to say. She knew she could win the day, but her life would not be spared. Why was he so sure.
'I'll never return from this , you must know that.'
'I watched you chew through a dozen mistodons and not break a sweat. I've watched you fight through the greatest armies in the world without losing a single soldier. You are a great general, the greatest, perhaps that Alexandria has ever seen. One day there will be a monument to you in the square. I do not know why everyone has lost their faith in you. Moreover, I don't know why you've lost faith in yourself.'
'Your praise is...' she didn't meet his eye, she didn't want to build up her own false hopes, 'I am unworthy. I have never been this badly mismatched in a battle. If I do win, it will be at the cost of my own life.'
'You will prevail, Beatrix,' Steiner's voice was firm. Beatrix smiled,
'You'll make a great general, someday, Steiner.'
'Until tomorrow, my love,' the captain kissed her hand and walked away, leaving Beatrix to wipe the tears from her face and watch him leave.
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Garnet watched as the sun peaked over the horizon, just spreading light to the gleaming battleships. The whole of Alexandria had turned out for the launch. They all knew their last chances lay with these brave women. So many had family that would never see them again.
The queen turned away as her heart broke, just thinking of all the death this would cause. Beatrix had assured her that she could stop the Lindblum fleet, but everyone knew it was a lie. Nothing could stop them, they could only weaken them, maybe enough that when they reached the city... maybe she would have to use her eidolons, maybe it was the only way.
A fanfare sounded and Garnet turned. She saw Beatrix and Steiner, hidden away in one of the alleyways around the dock. Beatrix was slumped into Steiner's arms, her eye closed. As the trumpets sounded, the general stepped out of his arms, straightened her clothing and stepped into the sunlight to lead her army. She turned around a moment, then with a wistful glance, walked away.
Garnet had to meet her eye as she walked up and bowed.
'Good luck, general,' the queen murmured.
'Luck has nothing to do with it, your majesty,' Beatrix smiled sneakily, and said, 'may your reign be prosperous.' The two women looked at each other for a minute. There was so much to be said that just couldn't be, not here. Garnet jumped slightly as she heard the general whisper, 'We love you, Garnet, don't forget it. We'll always be here for you.'
'Thank you, Beatrix,' she whispered back.
The general bowed again and walked to the head of her army, what was left of them. It was a group of maybe a two hundred women over twenty airships. They had only just managed to get everything fitted with steam engines in time. Every one of them would be dead in the next twenty-four hours, and they knew it, yet smiles lit their face as they saw their general. They loved Beatrix, Garnet could see it, she gave them more morale just by being there than she could ever give them.
Beatrix mounted the Red Rose, standing high above her troops, flanked by two officers. She tossed her hair and yelled,
'To Valhalla!'
Her soldiers screamed their approval, and all of them filtered into their ships, then the fleet left, flying off to a horizon from which none of them would return.