Well then... under a unanimous vote, I have continued!!!
The opening chapter is now both complete and posted!
~Enjoy!
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts...
(from As You Like It , by William Shakespeare)
Garnet waited in her room in order to avoid any contact with the suitors. Today, she became fully a woman, and was therefore expected to court, wed and produce heirs. She rubbed her temples as she fought of the urge to cry. She had resolved always to be herself, but what was one to do? The entire courting process would only be for show, she knew. She had already chosen Peter de Granville, the only of them who was sensitive to her feelings. He had actually already tried to ask her, but she had made him stop.
She moved over to the window and opened it, as she was quite in the habit of doing, to breathe in the fresh air and to watch the flocks of doves ride the breeze over the moat. All that was yet to come, after the play. The play…would be the hardest thing yet. But she had promised Beatrix and everyone else that she would move on. She owed this to herself too.
Garnet's breath caught in her throat as the Prima Vista II split the clouds as it descended on the reconstructed castle and partially reconstructed city. Cid had definitely outdone himself with that one, which was rather apparent as the Hilda Garde IV was nowhere in sight. She smiled to herself about this as a knock sounded at the door. Beatrix's knock that was, if Garnet was by now any judge.
"Thank you, I am aware that the theatre ship has arrived," Garnet said as she strode towards the door, and opening it: "and yes, Beatrix, I am ready." The general smiled broadly at the young queen.
"You've grown up so much," she whispered wistfully. She stretched out two fingers and brushed Garnet's petal-soft cheek ever so lightly, saying gently, "Are you certain that you are ready?"
"Ready or not, as they say," Garnet smiled her eyes squinting up to look almost happy. But happy they were not, for it was merely an act. Garnet picked up her skirt and walked swiftly out of the royal chamber, afraid that if she lingered, she might cry. She brushed down the corridor with her shoulders back and head held on high, behaving as the royalty she was. Two servants opened the door for her and she proceeded along to the balcony. Taking her seat, she watched the other guests fill into the seats below. Among them were the dearest friends from her journey.
"It's been so long," she murmured with a smile. "I can't wait to see everybody." Not everybody… she sighed back the tears that continued to burn. "But…it will never be the same. I have to let go of the past," she assured herself as she settled into her seat. "I have to move on, just as he taught me." And thus, the play started.
Garnet attempted to engross herself in the story, rather than the production, but it was hard not to, considering how many times she had seen it. Therefore, she nearly lost her composure when the new friend of Marcus came out and said the lines once spoken by… She stopped herself, noting instead how he was not completely believable. And so the play went on. Not a bad production, Garnet decided, but hardly first rate. Although I do keep forgetting that Ruby is Ruby, so she is doing an excellent job. Indeed, Ruby seemed to be completely outshining the others, but then when Marcus came out hidden away beneath a cloak for his secret meeting with Cornelia, he began to pull out the stops.
"Princess… Wilt thou be happy married to a lowly peasant such as I?" asked Marcus the character, rather than the man. Garnet began to lean forward, drawn by the beautiful delivery by Ruby:
"I wish to live my life under the sky. At times I shall laugh, at other times cry. "For no life is more insincere than that lived as a masquerade." And by the time Marcus had said "Never again will I part from thee!", Garnet was thoroughly engrossed in the story. And, in the next scene, as the sun rose in the background, the once fidgety, giggly audience sat hushed on the edge of their seats. It was as if the universe had centered to focus upon this one man. Marcus carried on as if he neither noticed nor cared.
"Could she have betrayed me?" his head down, his voice soft yet wavering with fear, a fear that was quickly cast aside, although Garnet could nearly feel the struggle. "Nay," he shook his head vehemently, "Ne'er could my love speak false!" Everyone shook their heads as well. He drew himself full height to face the front, his head held aloft. "I must have faith!" he chided himself, beating his fist against his chest. Garnet nodded her head furiously. "She shall appear if only I believe!" And although Garnet knew the story well enough to know otherwise, there was no doubt in her mind that she would appear. Marcus turned to stare intently into the mock sunrise.
"Since the sun lends me no ear," he said mournfully, although no one in the audience might have believed that it didn't, "I pray instead to the twin moons." He turned to them and spread his arms wide, his back now completely turned to Garnet. "I beseech thee, wondrous moonlight, grant me my only wish!" He bent over as if in…prayer? But then, in a heartbeat, he spun around ripping himself free of the cloak shouting with all his being, "Bring my beloved Dagger to me!"
Garnet jolted upright, unsure of which shocked her more, the name or the instant lock of the cerulean eyes upon hers. For a moment, for Garnet, the world froze. The other patrons were either murmuring to one another in confusion or simply dumb-founded by the degree of acting that they had just witnessed. But Garnet was not aware. She leaned over the balcony, her breathing coming quickly waiting for his image to disappear, but as the seconds piled on each other, Zidane remained, unchanged from nose to tail, and his hand still outstretched toward her.
In a sudden excited rush, she turned for the door, only to set her eyes upon the hands of her two trusted guardians. And suddenly she remembered her promise… But things are different, right? He's alive! Her face fell as she remembered each of the reasons that Steiner had listed why it was better that Zidane had not returned. Well, the door opened before she got to remember all of them. She quickly looked at Steiner and Beatrix, who motioned her onwards with a smile. She smiled back, ecstatic. They hadn't stopped her to keep her from Zidane; they had stopped her to wish her well. Which they shouted to her as she tore down the hall, skirts in hand.
Completely disregarding the two surprised guards, Garnet thrust through the doors and into the brilliant afternoon sunlight and crowd before her. At first she carefully and politely maneuvered her way through, but quickly, she began to lose the timidity and shoved those who opposed her out of her way so…
Suddenly, the pendant of Alexandria flew back the way she came, and landed, it's sparkling shape pointing directly back towards the door. That pendant had been there for so long marking her as queen of Alexandria, a glowing symbol of her power that balanced her responsibilities… No, she stopped herself. I will be myself. And so she ran towards the stage, casting off her crown to show her commitment to her decision. The tears finally began to flow as she looked up through the confused crowd to see Zidane descending from the stage, coming towards her. With a final dash through the nobles, and flung herself into his arms, sobbing with joy as he spun the two of them around, obviously sharing the emotion. She held on to him for a moment, making sure that he was real.
She stepped back to look at his face. He looked into her eyes, just as he had done so many times before, his eyes filled with tears as they did every so often. And he smiled them back. It was then Garnet knew, without a doubt, that this was indeed her long-lost Zidane that stood before her. All the suppressed emotions came boiling up at once.
"Bastard…" she muttered through clenched teeth and struck him once… twice… three—she ceased when she saw his grimace. She began to cry again, and only wanted to repeat the first position. "Hold me," she sobbed and leaned into him. Zidane drew her close and stroked her hair. She rested against his neck until she calmed down. She then suddenly realized that the orchestra was playing and that the crowd was on its feet in a standing ovation. She saw a flash and looked up to see the Save-the-Queen pointed at the sky—the Alexandrian sign for victory. She laughed gaily and turned to face her beloved again, who now bore that old gorgeous smile of his.
"How did you survive?" she asked, gripping the material of his vest between her fingers.
"I didn't have a choice," he replied, stroking her cheek. "I had to live. I wanted to come home to you. So… I sang your song." He leaned his face close to hers and her heart caught in her throat. "Our song." Suddenly, Amarant was there, putting his massive hand on Zidane's shoulder. Garnet sighed in disappointment.
"Alright you," Amarant spun Zidane around, who winced at the force.
"Careful, you beast," Zidane hissed before he looked up at the man who still completely towered over him.
"What was that?"
"Why do you care?" Zidane grinned and kicked Amarant's shin playfully.
"ZIDAAAAAAANE!" Eiko squealed as she threw herself at him. He caught her with an "oof" and set her down.
"Hey," he smiled down at the now eight-year-old. "I forgot about you."
"What a rude thing to say! How dare you treat a lady like that?!"
Garnet stepped back and watched the others come greet Zidane, whom they had not seen in the same amount of time. However, she was still slightly jealous. Does he…? Can we…? Nervously, the queen looked to the back row, where most of "the suitors" were sitting. They all had dark expressions on their faces. Peter would know who Zidane was, for she had told him about the thief constantly. She doubted it would go over well with the men who thought they could win a piece of the throne. She looked at Zidane, who was now exchanging words with Quina. She doubted this would go over well with anyone. Or was she jumping ahead? Zidane still… or did he ever? She grabbed his arm, interrupting his conversation with Freya.
"Hey, I don't question your ways—yes?" he turned to smile at her.
"Come with me," she said quietly. "We need to talk." A brief shadow of doubt crossed his features before he turned to take his leave of the others:
"Many pardons, but it seems the queen wishes to hog me."
"Of course she does," Eiko grinned. The company laughed as Garnet began to lead Zidane back towards the door, picking up her pendant as they went. For a moment, she thought they might get inside without any trouble. No such luck, for when they were only a few feet away from the door, Steiner called out from the balcony:
"Just where are you going, you worthless mendicant?!" Garnet slapped her forehead.
Zidane looked up and hollered back: "I love you too, Rusty!" Steiner laughed out loud, and Zidane chuckled a bit as well.
"It's good to have you back!" Steiner called back.
"Look," Zidane was truly laughing now, "Why don't I come up there?" He threw a side-glance at Garnet who motioned towards the door. Zidane turned back toward the stage and made a head motion to Baku. They then began changing the scene. Intertwining her slender fingers into Zidane's gloved ones, Garnet pulled him along after herself. He let her lead him up the stairs, but when he reached the top, he released her hand and stopped.
"What is it?" she asked, turning around.
"Let's see…" he cocked his head to the side and stared intently at her face. She sighed and placed her hands on her hips. After a moment, Zidane straightened up. "Well, you look gorgeous. Absolutely… gorgeous. Just like the girl I fell for two years ago. Just like the woman who's been inhabiting my dearest dreams for the past year and a half." For the first time in a while, Garnet blushed.
"This woman I look like," she questioned, seeing an opportunity, "the one in your dreams, what's she like?"
"She's responsible, compassionate, gentle, devoted, and…" he stepped closer to her, "very strong. So strong, that she can lend her strength to others." Garnet looked away, flustered.
"I'm not that strong…" she trembled and turned to leave. But Zidane caught the end of her shimmering stream of hair and held it out at full length.
"Tell me, Dagger," he whispered. "What became of that girl, the one I thought I loved until I met the one that gave me the strength to live on? What happened to that selfish, spoiled, and self-doubting girl that I thought I couldn't live without?" It took Garnet a moment to regain her voice. He had remembered his promise*. And now she remembered who she had been. Zidane loved both of the girls he was speaking about, because they were both she. He was saying that he loved her they way she had been, and more the way she had become.
"Zidane, I…I—I don't know what to say," she stammered.
"Then it's usually best not to say anything," he said with a smile, putting his hand on her shoulder. "I'm just overjoyed just to see you again." They stared into each other's eyes for a spell, slowly drawing closer, when one of the chefs came galumphing up the stairs. He tripped on the last step, but Zidane stepped gracefully out of the way, catching the man's arm and hat as he went down. The chef began to thank him until he noticed Garnet.
"Your Highness!" he saluted. "It seems—"
"Please inform the General," Garnet cut him off. "I am engaged in handling other matters."
"I see," he bowed formally. "Right away, your Majesty." He turned and headed for the balcony. Garnet rubbed her temples. The disturbances were getting irritating. She turned and started walking towards her royal chambers. Zidane fell in step next to her as they proceeded past the guards and through the door.
"So," Garnet asked as they walked. "If you loved me so much, why did you wait so long to come back?"
"I came back as soon as I could," he answered, the gentle tone in his voice making her shiver. How she had missed his voice…
"Zidane, I understand why you left me," she said, feeling angry again for the past year she had suffered, "but what delayed your swift return, hmm?
"Before he died," Zidane had stopped before the stairs to the royal chamber, "Kuja was decent enough to tell me how to stop the assimilation. You know, the raging roots?" Garnet merely nodded, so Zidane continued. "That involved dismantling the Iifa tree."
"You spent over a year and half again cutting down a tree?" she replied, both vexed and incredulous.
"It's a big tree," Zidane said defensively. His expression was too much for Garnet, and she shook her head and laughed.
"You are impossible to remain angry with," she told him. "Do you realize how much I've worried about you, till I finally was made to grieve your death?"
"I'm sorry," Zidane hung his head. "I had to." She sighed and wrapped her arms around herself. She had only hoped for this. She had never anticipated Zidane's return. And now she knew not how to handle it. Zidane ascended the stairs to stand before her. "Your Highness," he inclined his head, "Neither Terra nor her people will ever pose a threat to your beloved Alexandria again. I have seen to that."
"Zidane," Garnet choked on newfound tears. It was almost too much… and the guards were watching. She turned and opened the door to the royal chamber. Zidane followed her inside and closed the door behind him. She stood with her head down and her back to him.
"Dagger?" he questioned, and walking around to her face: "Garnet? What's wrong? Please tell me; I'll understand." Garnet noted the hint of fear in his voice and decided that she had to tell him.
"After all this time," she looked up and smiled. "I discovered that…I truly loved you." She smiled more at his sharp intake of breath. "And I knew I had lost you forever. And to find out that you're alive…I am just overwhelmed."
"Just overwhelmed?" he asked, inching closer. She nearly laughed at his question, for she understood what he was hinting. She remembered being plagued by the same question when they had gone to Lindblum, and it actually had never been really answered until just now.
"No, Zidane," she laughed lightly. "I couldn't get over you. There is no other." She knew what was bothering her now, watching Zidane sigh in both relief and love. All her problems had disappeared with his appearance, but they had been replaced by totally new ones. "But there are many who think they are…"
"Nobles, huh?" Zidane said with a snort and whipped around with an angry expression on his face.
"That's not being fair—"
"Not being fair?!" he almost shouted. Garnet sighed. At least he understood the situation.
"Zidane, if I could have my way…" she placed a slender hand on his shoulder, "if I had the power, I would completely disregard my peers, my board of advisors, and even my people. But I don't and I won't."
"Do you intend to give up?" he asked, clouds of sadness filling his eyes, as he turned face to face with her. Garnet placed her other hand on his other shoulder and gazed into those eyes.
"That's up to you," she answered. As soon as the words were spoken the clouds were replaced by a light—a light of fire. Garnet had never known that blue could burn so. It made her heart flutter. "Court me, Zidane," she murmured. "Beat them at their own game." His hands settled firmly on her hips, drawing her closer. Her hands traveled over his shoulders and around his neck as he said in a mellow voice:
"That's what I do best." His hands moved to the small of her back and their stomachs touched. Slowly, Garnet inclined her head. A knock sounded at the door. Zidane's spine straightened, pulling his head upright and away from her mouth. The door opened before Garnet could either pull away or even allow the disturber to enter.
"Beatrix, that is rather rude," she chided angrily, for she knew who had knocked. Beatrix stepped through the door anyway.
"For confidence, your Majesty," she saluted. "The guards did see you two enter together. And just be happy that I came back here rather than Steiner." Zidane chuckled nervously and crossed his arms.
"My apologies for being cross," Garnet sighed with a smile.
"It is quite understandable," Beatrix chortled. "I came to inform you that the play is over, the sun is setting, and you are wanted at your own birthday party."
"Already?"
"…yes," Beatrix nodded. Garnet looked over at Zidane.
"Will I see you there?" she asked.
"Sure," he grinned. "It'll be my opening number."
"It's a formal banquet and ball," Beatrix interjected making a face.
"So I can't go like this," Zidane shrugged as he regarded his outfit. "I'll just go change." Beatrix didn't look so convinced as Zidane waved and left. "So long, my sweet. I won't be a minute, I'll be many!" he called through the open door. Garnet laughed. She finally knew how she felt: ecstatic.
*(A/N: for those of you who didn't get this, Just before Garnet cut her hair, she asked Zidane to "remember the way [she] was, for [her]." Personally, I don't think that she was talking about the length of her hair right there...)
Zidane at a ball facing down the nobles? Oi, that could be trouble... Review, please! I'll be back wih more in a bit.
~Enjoy!
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts...
(from As You Like It , by William Shakespeare)
Garnet waited in her room in order to avoid any contact with the suitors. Today, she became fully a woman, and was therefore expected to court, wed and produce heirs. She rubbed her temples as she fought of the urge to cry. She had resolved always to be herself, but what was one to do? The entire courting process would only be for show, she knew. She had already chosen Peter de Granville, the only of them who was sensitive to her feelings. He had actually already tried to ask her, but she had made him stop.
She moved over to the window and opened it, as she was quite in the habit of doing, to breathe in the fresh air and to watch the flocks of doves ride the breeze over the moat. All that was yet to come, after the play. The play…would be the hardest thing yet. But she had promised Beatrix and everyone else that she would move on. She owed this to herself too.
Garnet's breath caught in her throat as the Prima Vista II split the clouds as it descended on the reconstructed castle and partially reconstructed city. Cid had definitely outdone himself with that one, which was rather apparent as the Hilda Garde IV was nowhere in sight. She smiled to herself about this as a knock sounded at the door. Beatrix's knock that was, if Garnet was by now any judge.
"Thank you, I am aware that the theatre ship has arrived," Garnet said as she strode towards the door, and opening it: "and yes, Beatrix, I am ready." The general smiled broadly at the young queen.
"You've grown up so much," she whispered wistfully. She stretched out two fingers and brushed Garnet's petal-soft cheek ever so lightly, saying gently, "Are you certain that you are ready?"
"Ready or not, as they say," Garnet smiled her eyes squinting up to look almost happy. But happy they were not, for it was merely an act. Garnet picked up her skirt and walked swiftly out of the royal chamber, afraid that if she lingered, she might cry. She brushed down the corridor with her shoulders back and head held on high, behaving as the royalty she was. Two servants opened the door for her and she proceeded along to the balcony. Taking her seat, she watched the other guests fill into the seats below. Among them were the dearest friends from her journey.
"It's been so long," she murmured with a smile. "I can't wait to see everybody." Not everybody… she sighed back the tears that continued to burn. "But…it will never be the same. I have to let go of the past," she assured herself as she settled into her seat. "I have to move on, just as he taught me." And thus, the play started.
Garnet attempted to engross herself in the story, rather than the production, but it was hard not to, considering how many times she had seen it. Therefore, she nearly lost her composure when the new friend of Marcus came out and said the lines once spoken by… She stopped herself, noting instead how he was not completely believable. And so the play went on. Not a bad production, Garnet decided, but hardly first rate. Although I do keep forgetting that Ruby is Ruby, so she is doing an excellent job. Indeed, Ruby seemed to be completely outshining the others, but then when Marcus came out hidden away beneath a cloak for his secret meeting with Cornelia, he began to pull out the stops.
"Princess… Wilt thou be happy married to a lowly peasant such as I?" asked Marcus the character, rather than the man. Garnet began to lean forward, drawn by the beautiful delivery by Ruby:
"I wish to live my life under the sky. At times I shall laugh, at other times cry. "For no life is more insincere than that lived as a masquerade." And by the time Marcus had said "Never again will I part from thee!", Garnet was thoroughly engrossed in the story. And, in the next scene, as the sun rose in the background, the once fidgety, giggly audience sat hushed on the edge of their seats. It was as if the universe had centered to focus upon this one man. Marcus carried on as if he neither noticed nor cared.
"Could she have betrayed me?" his head down, his voice soft yet wavering with fear, a fear that was quickly cast aside, although Garnet could nearly feel the struggle. "Nay," he shook his head vehemently, "Ne'er could my love speak false!" Everyone shook their heads as well. He drew himself full height to face the front, his head held aloft. "I must have faith!" he chided himself, beating his fist against his chest. Garnet nodded her head furiously. "She shall appear if only I believe!" And although Garnet knew the story well enough to know otherwise, there was no doubt in her mind that she would appear. Marcus turned to stare intently into the mock sunrise.
"Since the sun lends me no ear," he said mournfully, although no one in the audience might have believed that it didn't, "I pray instead to the twin moons." He turned to them and spread his arms wide, his back now completely turned to Garnet. "I beseech thee, wondrous moonlight, grant me my only wish!" He bent over as if in…prayer? But then, in a heartbeat, he spun around ripping himself free of the cloak shouting with all his being, "Bring my beloved Dagger to me!"
Garnet jolted upright, unsure of which shocked her more, the name or the instant lock of the cerulean eyes upon hers. For a moment, for Garnet, the world froze. The other patrons were either murmuring to one another in confusion or simply dumb-founded by the degree of acting that they had just witnessed. But Garnet was not aware. She leaned over the balcony, her breathing coming quickly waiting for his image to disappear, but as the seconds piled on each other, Zidane remained, unchanged from nose to tail, and his hand still outstretched toward her.
In a sudden excited rush, she turned for the door, only to set her eyes upon the hands of her two trusted guardians. And suddenly she remembered her promise… But things are different, right? He's alive! Her face fell as she remembered each of the reasons that Steiner had listed why it was better that Zidane had not returned. Well, the door opened before she got to remember all of them. She quickly looked at Steiner and Beatrix, who motioned her onwards with a smile. She smiled back, ecstatic. They hadn't stopped her to keep her from Zidane; they had stopped her to wish her well. Which they shouted to her as she tore down the hall, skirts in hand.
Completely disregarding the two surprised guards, Garnet thrust through the doors and into the brilliant afternoon sunlight and crowd before her. At first she carefully and politely maneuvered her way through, but quickly, she began to lose the timidity and shoved those who opposed her out of her way so…
Suddenly, the pendant of Alexandria flew back the way she came, and landed, it's sparkling shape pointing directly back towards the door. That pendant had been there for so long marking her as queen of Alexandria, a glowing symbol of her power that balanced her responsibilities… No, she stopped herself. I will be myself. And so she ran towards the stage, casting off her crown to show her commitment to her decision. The tears finally began to flow as she looked up through the confused crowd to see Zidane descending from the stage, coming towards her. With a final dash through the nobles, and flung herself into his arms, sobbing with joy as he spun the two of them around, obviously sharing the emotion. She held on to him for a moment, making sure that he was real.
She stepped back to look at his face. He looked into her eyes, just as he had done so many times before, his eyes filled with tears as they did every so often. And he smiled them back. It was then Garnet knew, without a doubt, that this was indeed her long-lost Zidane that stood before her. All the suppressed emotions came boiling up at once.
"Bastard…" she muttered through clenched teeth and struck him once… twice… three—she ceased when she saw his grimace. She began to cry again, and only wanted to repeat the first position. "Hold me," she sobbed and leaned into him. Zidane drew her close and stroked her hair. She rested against his neck until she calmed down. She then suddenly realized that the orchestra was playing and that the crowd was on its feet in a standing ovation. She saw a flash and looked up to see the Save-the-Queen pointed at the sky—the Alexandrian sign for victory. She laughed gaily and turned to face her beloved again, who now bore that old gorgeous smile of his.
"How did you survive?" she asked, gripping the material of his vest between her fingers.
"I didn't have a choice," he replied, stroking her cheek. "I had to live. I wanted to come home to you. So… I sang your song." He leaned his face close to hers and her heart caught in her throat. "Our song." Suddenly, Amarant was there, putting his massive hand on Zidane's shoulder. Garnet sighed in disappointment.
"Alright you," Amarant spun Zidane around, who winced at the force.
"Careful, you beast," Zidane hissed before he looked up at the man who still completely towered over him.
"What was that?"
"Why do you care?" Zidane grinned and kicked Amarant's shin playfully.
"ZIDAAAAAAANE!" Eiko squealed as she threw herself at him. He caught her with an "oof" and set her down.
"Hey," he smiled down at the now eight-year-old. "I forgot about you."
"What a rude thing to say! How dare you treat a lady like that?!"
Garnet stepped back and watched the others come greet Zidane, whom they had not seen in the same amount of time. However, she was still slightly jealous. Does he…? Can we…? Nervously, the queen looked to the back row, where most of "the suitors" were sitting. They all had dark expressions on their faces. Peter would know who Zidane was, for she had told him about the thief constantly. She doubted it would go over well with the men who thought they could win a piece of the throne. She looked at Zidane, who was now exchanging words with Quina. She doubted this would go over well with anyone. Or was she jumping ahead? Zidane still… or did he ever? She grabbed his arm, interrupting his conversation with Freya.
"Hey, I don't question your ways—yes?" he turned to smile at her.
"Come with me," she said quietly. "We need to talk." A brief shadow of doubt crossed his features before he turned to take his leave of the others:
"Many pardons, but it seems the queen wishes to hog me."
"Of course she does," Eiko grinned. The company laughed as Garnet began to lead Zidane back towards the door, picking up her pendant as they went. For a moment, she thought they might get inside without any trouble. No such luck, for when they were only a few feet away from the door, Steiner called out from the balcony:
"Just where are you going, you worthless mendicant?!" Garnet slapped her forehead.
Zidane looked up and hollered back: "I love you too, Rusty!" Steiner laughed out loud, and Zidane chuckled a bit as well.
"It's good to have you back!" Steiner called back.
"Look," Zidane was truly laughing now, "Why don't I come up there?" He threw a side-glance at Garnet who motioned towards the door. Zidane turned back toward the stage and made a head motion to Baku. They then began changing the scene. Intertwining her slender fingers into Zidane's gloved ones, Garnet pulled him along after herself. He let her lead him up the stairs, but when he reached the top, he released her hand and stopped.
"What is it?" she asked, turning around.
"Let's see…" he cocked his head to the side and stared intently at her face. She sighed and placed her hands on her hips. After a moment, Zidane straightened up. "Well, you look gorgeous. Absolutely… gorgeous. Just like the girl I fell for two years ago. Just like the woman who's been inhabiting my dearest dreams for the past year and a half." For the first time in a while, Garnet blushed.
"This woman I look like," she questioned, seeing an opportunity, "the one in your dreams, what's she like?"
"She's responsible, compassionate, gentle, devoted, and…" he stepped closer to her, "very strong. So strong, that she can lend her strength to others." Garnet looked away, flustered.
"I'm not that strong…" she trembled and turned to leave. But Zidane caught the end of her shimmering stream of hair and held it out at full length.
"Tell me, Dagger," he whispered. "What became of that girl, the one I thought I loved until I met the one that gave me the strength to live on? What happened to that selfish, spoiled, and self-doubting girl that I thought I couldn't live without?" It took Garnet a moment to regain her voice. He had remembered his promise*. And now she remembered who she had been. Zidane loved both of the girls he was speaking about, because they were both she. He was saying that he loved her they way she had been, and more the way she had become.
"Zidane, I…I—I don't know what to say," she stammered.
"Then it's usually best not to say anything," he said with a smile, putting his hand on her shoulder. "I'm just overjoyed just to see you again." They stared into each other's eyes for a spell, slowly drawing closer, when one of the chefs came galumphing up the stairs. He tripped on the last step, but Zidane stepped gracefully out of the way, catching the man's arm and hat as he went down. The chef began to thank him until he noticed Garnet.
"Your Highness!" he saluted. "It seems—"
"Please inform the General," Garnet cut him off. "I am engaged in handling other matters."
"I see," he bowed formally. "Right away, your Majesty." He turned and headed for the balcony. Garnet rubbed her temples. The disturbances were getting irritating. She turned and started walking towards her royal chambers. Zidane fell in step next to her as they proceeded past the guards and through the door.
"So," Garnet asked as they walked. "If you loved me so much, why did you wait so long to come back?"
"I came back as soon as I could," he answered, the gentle tone in his voice making her shiver. How she had missed his voice…
"Zidane, I understand why you left me," she said, feeling angry again for the past year she had suffered, "but what delayed your swift return, hmm?
"Before he died," Zidane had stopped before the stairs to the royal chamber, "Kuja was decent enough to tell me how to stop the assimilation. You know, the raging roots?" Garnet merely nodded, so Zidane continued. "That involved dismantling the Iifa tree."
"You spent over a year and half again cutting down a tree?" she replied, both vexed and incredulous.
"It's a big tree," Zidane said defensively. His expression was too much for Garnet, and she shook her head and laughed.
"You are impossible to remain angry with," she told him. "Do you realize how much I've worried about you, till I finally was made to grieve your death?"
"I'm sorry," Zidane hung his head. "I had to." She sighed and wrapped her arms around herself. She had only hoped for this. She had never anticipated Zidane's return. And now she knew not how to handle it. Zidane ascended the stairs to stand before her. "Your Highness," he inclined his head, "Neither Terra nor her people will ever pose a threat to your beloved Alexandria again. I have seen to that."
"Zidane," Garnet choked on newfound tears. It was almost too much… and the guards were watching. She turned and opened the door to the royal chamber. Zidane followed her inside and closed the door behind him. She stood with her head down and her back to him.
"Dagger?" he questioned, and walking around to her face: "Garnet? What's wrong? Please tell me; I'll understand." Garnet noted the hint of fear in his voice and decided that she had to tell him.
"After all this time," she looked up and smiled. "I discovered that…I truly loved you." She smiled more at his sharp intake of breath. "And I knew I had lost you forever. And to find out that you're alive…I am just overwhelmed."
"Just overwhelmed?" he asked, inching closer. She nearly laughed at his question, for she understood what he was hinting. She remembered being plagued by the same question when they had gone to Lindblum, and it actually had never been really answered until just now.
"No, Zidane," she laughed lightly. "I couldn't get over you. There is no other." She knew what was bothering her now, watching Zidane sigh in both relief and love. All her problems had disappeared with his appearance, but they had been replaced by totally new ones. "But there are many who think they are…"
"Nobles, huh?" Zidane said with a snort and whipped around with an angry expression on his face.
"That's not being fair—"
"Not being fair?!" he almost shouted. Garnet sighed. At least he understood the situation.
"Zidane, if I could have my way…" she placed a slender hand on his shoulder, "if I had the power, I would completely disregard my peers, my board of advisors, and even my people. But I don't and I won't."
"Do you intend to give up?" he asked, clouds of sadness filling his eyes, as he turned face to face with her. Garnet placed her other hand on his other shoulder and gazed into those eyes.
"That's up to you," she answered. As soon as the words were spoken the clouds were replaced by a light—a light of fire. Garnet had never known that blue could burn so. It made her heart flutter. "Court me, Zidane," she murmured. "Beat them at their own game." His hands settled firmly on her hips, drawing her closer. Her hands traveled over his shoulders and around his neck as he said in a mellow voice:
"That's what I do best." His hands moved to the small of her back and their stomachs touched. Slowly, Garnet inclined her head. A knock sounded at the door. Zidane's spine straightened, pulling his head upright and away from her mouth. The door opened before Garnet could either pull away or even allow the disturber to enter.
"Beatrix, that is rather rude," she chided angrily, for she knew who had knocked. Beatrix stepped through the door anyway.
"For confidence, your Majesty," she saluted. "The guards did see you two enter together. And just be happy that I came back here rather than Steiner." Zidane chuckled nervously and crossed his arms.
"My apologies for being cross," Garnet sighed with a smile.
"It is quite understandable," Beatrix chortled. "I came to inform you that the play is over, the sun is setting, and you are wanted at your own birthday party."
"Already?"
"…yes," Beatrix nodded. Garnet looked over at Zidane.
"Will I see you there?" she asked.
"Sure," he grinned. "It'll be my opening number."
"It's a formal banquet and ball," Beatrix interjected making a face.
"So I can't go like this," Zidane shrugged as he regarded his outfit. "I'll just go change." Beatrix didn't look so convinced as Zidane waved and left. "So long, my sweet. I won't be a minute, I'll be many!" he called through the open door. Garnet laughed. She finally knew how she felt: ecstatic.
*(A/N: for those of you who didn't get this, Just before Garnet cut her hair, she asked Zidane to "remember the way [she] was, for [her]." Personally, I don't think that she was talking about the length of her hair right there...)
Zidane at a ball facing down the nobles? Oi, that could be trouble... Review, please! I'll be back wih more in a bit.