AN: This chapter is rather short. I've been a bit busy, and I didn't just want to rush into things with the palace. This is yet another filler chapter. ^^
Dagger sat patiently amidst the endless conversation the engineers seemed to have with one another. So far, none had seemed to notice the fact that the merchants nor the innkeepers were around. She wondered if they would ever notice. Perhaps she would have to entertain them as guests in her home until she grew old, and by that time, Lindblum would no longer need her help.
She sighed, not noticing how loud she had been. The men silenced and awaited a speech from the queen of Alexandria. Dagger was grateful for a moment she could finally take a short leave.
"If you will excuse me, gentlemen, I'd like to get some fresh air." They all stood from their chairs and bowed curtly as she left the room with as much grace as she had entered it. Continuing at a leisurely pace, she walked out to the docks and dismissed the guards so she could be alone. At the top of the steps she sat, no regard for the new gown she had acquired to entertain the engineers. Another sigh escaped her lips.
"You know, I really don't give you enough credit..."
The familiar voice caused a warm smile to grace her features. She didn't even have to turn to know Zidane was no doubt leaning against one of the newly bought statues, a smug grin plastered on his face.
"Credit for what?" She said as loftily as she could manage, not bothering to face him and trying to hide her amusement.
"Oh, you know... this and that..."
This time she was not able to refuse the small chuckle that forced its way out of her. An amused glimmer shone in her once weary eyes. "I'm afraid I don't know, sir. Would you mind elaborating?"
Eiko stood off to one side, not bothering to make her presence known.
'Ugh... this is so stupid...' she thought. 'Just get it over with already!'
Truth be told, she was happy for Dagger. Obviously, she still desired Zidane, but the latest circumstances had led her to believe he was much more suited for Dagger than herself.
Dagger's and Zidane's thoughts reeled through her mind faster than she could collect them. It gave her quite the headache, and she took her leave, deciding to try again with Zidane later. She had not yet lost all hope, and she at least wanted to make it known that if things with Dagger didn't work out, she would be there, waiting patiently, though she doubted she would wait forever.
Not noticing Eiko's departure, nor for that matter, her arrival, Zidane continued, no longer relying on the statue for support. He approached Dagger slowly.
"Well... that dress... it must've cost you... what... 5,000 gil?" He asked smugly.
"10,000," she replied, attempting to match his smug tone.
"Yeah... 10,000. Like I said." By now he stood above her, looking down at her. Still she refused to turn toward him. "And you didn't seem to mind plopping down on the wet cement."
Dagger looked at her gown. In truth, she hadn't really thought about it when she sat down. Now the elaborate gown was starting to carry more water than she thought she could bear. If she were to stand, she feared the weight of the water would pull her back down.
"And have you nothing to say on that subject?"
Zidane's grin stretched across his face as he purposefully fell to the cement, right in the middle of a mud puddle, splashing mud onto the previously undamaged parts of her gown. "Nothing at all, My Lady."
Eiko stretched and began to relax for the first time in several hours. Luckily for her, the inn keeper was asleep, so his thoughts did not register within her mind. She had simply crept quietly up the stairs and into one of the vacant rooms, falling atop the
irresistible bed. She was now sprawled across it, smiling.
'"Finally, some peace and quiet!"
As she began to drift to sleep, something entered her mind. At first, she believed it to be her own dreams, but the personality gave off much more of a strong-willed, passionate, and stubborn aura than that of her own.
'What am I doing here? I shouldn't be anywhere near Alexandria. I shouldn't be anywhere near the queen or near him. Leaving now would be the best idea... but I promised her. One thing I would never do is break my promise to my queen. My queen? I have no right to call her that anymore...'
Eiko groaned and pulled herself to her feet. With as much as the person in the next room thought, she would never get any sleep. Groggily she dragged her feet across the hall and knocked on the door.
"Hey, if you wouldn't mind, can you just... go to sleep sometime soon?" She hardly wished to bother with formalities anymore.
The door opened slowly and Eiko immediately recognized the woman standing before her. She may have been dressed differently, but there was no mistaking her.
"You're..."
'The woman... who can't even really be given such a distinguished title... who turned her back on Alexandria? Yes, that would be me...'
"No, that wasn't what I was going to say..."
"Excuse me?"
"Uh... nothing... you're Beatrix, right?"
'Unfortunately...'
"Why do you say that?" Eiko forgot once again that Beatrix had never actually said anything.
"I don't recall saying anything..."
"Sorry. I'm just... yeah... I haven't had enough sleep today, is all. So... why'd you return to Alexandria?"
'Because I was forced to... or perhaps because I actually wanted to return? No... it must not be the latter. And even if it was...'
'Jeez... she thinks WAY too much!' Eiko tapped her foot impatiently.
"A request from the queen."
"Oh, right. Dagger. Are you going to be staying here... and... why aren't you at the palace?"
'Because the palace is too awkward of a place for me to even consider being...' her spoken answer was calm and reserved. "Yes, I am staying here, and I am not staying at the palace because I am a commoner now. I relinquished my position as general, therefore I have no right."
Eiko grinned. For once, she actually enjoyed being able to read someone's mind. Especially when that someone's thoughts contradicted their words and actions.
"I bet Dagger doesn't see it that way. I'll bet she wants you to stay."
"Yes, she gave that impression."
"I'll bet she wants to know why you left in the first place."
'Why I left? Now there's a good question... she may have to keep wondering, though... I'm not even sure of why I left... but it was... the right thing to do. Had I stayed, what would have happened? They respect me for who I am when I'm a general, but I can't be a general all the time...'
Eiko snickered. This was going to be fun. She mentally kicked herself for never thinking of it before. The palace! There were bound to be some interesting thoughts there! And perhaps if she could interpret them and harness her power so that she could only receive the thoughts she felt worthy, then maybe Zidane wouldn't be as far away as he seemed!
"Come to the palace with me!"
Beatirx was slightly taken aback my the child's straightforwardness.
"I'm feeling a bit fatigued."
'Time must have permitted me to become a better liar, it seems...'
"Oh, come on! You can't fool me! There's time for sleep later. If you don't go, I'll sit out here and pester you. You wouldn't want that, would you?"
'Anything would be better than facing them again.'
Eiko clearly sensed the fear driving the woman's thoughts and she smiled once again. As long as she could get her to say yes, she could use Beatrix as her guinea pig for all of the experiments she pleased without the
former general even having to know about them.
"I suppose it would be hard for someone trying to obtain sleep... and I also can guess that you're rather relentless?" Beatrix smiled slightly, just enough to crack the cold expression she had worn previously.
"Yep." Eiko nodded, grabbing Beatrix's gloved hand. She was surprised at the strength
of the young girl and she had to keep a quick pace just to avoid being dragged behind her.
They walked briskly through the square and Beatrix noticed the girl's eyes close tightly. A few times, she even shook her head, as if ridding herself of something. Beatrix looked around but found nothing overly peculiar.
"Good day Miss Eiko, are you..."
They reached the palace gates and were immediately greeted by two guards.
'That's... isn't that... that's... it's...' Eiko was amused by the guard's reaction to Beatrix's presence, but she didn't have the time to waste.
"The general and I want to walk around a bit. You could arrange that, right?"
'Ex-general...'
Eiko wanted to glare at the woman beside her, but she kept her eyes on the guards, smiling at them sweetly. Her bow seemed to give her an extra glimmer of innocence.
"Of course, Miss Eiko, General Beatrix... come right in." They pushed the gate open from the center, a guard on each side. Eiko was hardly willing to wait until it was open completely to step beyond its boundary.
Beatrix, however, waited patiently as if she had all the time in the world.
'I shouldn't be here... if I were to run now, I could probably get a good distance before she gained on me. I may be older than her, but I'm not that old...'
Eiko let out a groan as she raced back to Beatrix and grabbed more of her wrist than her hand, pulling her up the stairs and inside the palace.
AN: As always, comments are welcome. Oh... and I'm considering writing an omaké when this fic is done, since I got such a response about everyone's thoughts. It will include the main cast from Final Fantasy IX, as well as some of the minor players. If you would like to read that, just let me know by saying so in your review! Thanks! ^_^