grown

By Aishiteru

Eiko Carol was beautiful.

At seventeen, she had grown out of the gangliness of her childhood and early adolescence. She wasn't fully developed; but the promise of forthcoming beauty was evident in every line of her lithe body, in the flickering expressions across her face. It only made her lovelier; and the clichés about her beauty resembling 'that of a tightly furled rosebud" were actually deserved.

And Father was taking her to Alexandria.

The last time she had gone, she had been all of fourteen; still embarrassingly lanky and clumsy, right in the middle of a growth spurt. True that hadn't lasted long; she would never be the Lindbulm court lady ideal - tall and voluptuous - but she was satisfied with her own form, slim, and petite.

Rather like Dagger's actually.

She whirled around her room; small considering she was a Princess now, but larger then the dining rooms in most homes. It was draped in soft velvety folds of varying shades of green; sparked here and there by pale rose. Very feminine. At first, as a young girl she had been overwhelmed by it's grace, but as Mother had told her, she had grown into it.

Her skirts whirled in a graceful circle round her legs; it had taken a long time for her to become accustomed to their heavy silken weight, and to walk with the tiny swaying steps required to make it look like she glided instead of strode. She smiled, remembering her awkward carefree youth, and touched the entwined ribbons binding back her long fall of rich purple hair. Mog. . .Her hair had long ago grown out of the ragged cut she'd worn as a child; now it slid, a shining length, past her hips. It was murder to wash, but worth it.

Yes, you're beautiful, Eiko. She knew it in the envious eyes of the other noble ladies, in the speculative eyes of the young heirs and lords.

The question was, was she beautiful enough?

Alexandria Castle rose on the horizon, the Summoning Blade gleaming darkly in the setting sun. It was almost evening; the city was lit up with candle and lamplight, shining like a jewel amidst the dark expanse of its guarding lakes. The sound of waterfalls rose above the engines, and the Princess of Lindbulm closed her eyes, hands clenched in wide skirts, composing her frayed nerves.

The gown she had selected with Mother was a deep mossy emerald silk; green still was and always would be her favourite colour. It was lightly frosted with gilded embroidery, a tracery of delicate vines winding up the fitted sleeves, and coiling down the train. The narrow bodice outlined her equally narrow waist; but the neckline was depressingly high. It had been selected by mother after all. Butterflies kicked in her stomach; and she laid cold trembling hands over them.

Zidane!

Oh, he was married to Garnet now she knew. And she didn't have a hope of even being compared to the Queen of Alexandria's famed beauty. But she wanted to look into those blue eyes; eyes she had adored for so long; and see the knowledge that he found her. . .

Desirable.

She needed to know that. Even after all these years, her childhood crush was still in full force. She had done her best to out grow it; but it simply wouldn't go away. Even now, her heartbeat rose just thinking about him, and a flush heated her cheeks. Her hands twisted together, even as the Hilda Garde III touched down into the castle port. Funny; usually she wasn't airsick at all unlike mother, but today she felt faintly nauseous.

It was probably just nerves.

Father swept out of the main cabin; even after twelve years, he had barely aged; perhaps there were a few more grey hairs spotted among dark, but that was all. Mother was on his arm, gowned in amber silk and lace, always outwardly the perfect lady. Father reached out with his other arm, and Eiko took it graciously, with a single winsome smile.

"Don't smile like that Eiko. You make me nervous."

"Father!"

He chuckled richly. "Zidane and Garnet are going to be so surprised when they see you, darling. You've grown up so much."

She smiled proudly, lifting her chin.

"Uncle Cid!"

The Queen abandoned all formality, flinging outside the heavy ermine robe, and doffing her elaborate crown. Dagger had been holding official court, and had rushed out of the throne room as soon as her page notified her of the Hilda Garde's arrival.

Cid let go of his wife and daughter, and embraced his god daughter back.

"It's so good to see you Uncle Cid. Three years is just too long without visiting!"

He smiled, chucking her chin affectionately. "You could visit us in Lindbulm once in a while, my dear."

She shrugged, spreading her hands slightly. "I would, except for all these pesky petitions, and Zidane never helps me. . ."

"I'm hurt."

Eiko spun around; behind her. . .

Zidane.

Even after all these years, she still was shocked by the surprises living royally had wrought in the blonde once-thief. The careless blonde hair was the same; but Dagger had tamed the short ponytail into a long plait trailing over one muscular shoulder. Gone was the blue cotton suit; instead he wore fine silk brocade, stiffened with swirling embroidery, though it was all still in blue. A long coat, a finely textured white shirt, and a masterfully folded cravat. Loosely fitted breeches, white stockings, and black boots. . .he was the very picture of the up-to-date court dandy.

"What's this?" he laughed, as she rushed into his embrace. "Has little Eiko grown up while my back was turned?"

Cid beamed, all proud father. "It seemed like only yesterday. . ." he reminiscenced.

She looked up into those sapphire eyes, eyelids demurely shadowing her eyes, lashes long against her pale cheeks. And she saw. . .

Affection. Surprise. But not.. .

He still only saw her as a child. Bumbling Eiko. . .Constantly having to be rescued, but the part of the damsel in distress had already been taken. She left his arms, and simply let herself be dragged along in the conversation, her mind tumbling with disappointment and chagrin.

Of course he wouldn't notice you, you're only an ordinary plain little thing. . .he has one of the greatest beauties in the world as his wife; and before then, he probably had his pick of the ladies. . .there's no way he'd even look at you as anything other then a child. . .like his niece, or even his daughter. . .

She brushed through the long purple hair ruthlessly, uncaring of the pain. It was nothing compared to the trauma done to her heart.

Unworthy, unworthy. . .Can't do anything right. . .Pathetic. . .Still trying to get his attention even after all these years. . .

"Eiko?"

She jerked up at the sound of that concerned voice, brush flying out of her grasp. "Zidane?" She was suddenly abruptly aware she was only wearing her nightgown; true it was fairly thick for winter, but still. . .It wasn't proper. . .

Oh, who cared anyway. It was only Zidane, and he would only see her as a child anyway.

"Are you alright? You were quiet at dinner."

"I.. .I'm just tired Zidane. It's alright."

He came up behind her, and she stared into their reflection in the dressing table's mirror. He noted the slender locket around her neck and smiled.

"You're still wearing it!"

He had given it to her. For her birthday, seven years ago. Of course she would still wear it.

"I never take it off."

He smiled again, slightly quizzically. A blonde eyebrow rose. "C'mon Eiko. . .you can tell me what's wrong, can't you?"

"Really, I. . .I'm just tired."

He frowned pensively, his eyes filled with his concern, and she felt obscurely better. "If you need to talk. . .you know where to find me. You know Alexandria Castle as well as I do!"

She bent her head, retrieved the hairbrush, and resumed untangling her hair. "Thanks Zidane."

"Well. . .goodnight."

He touched her shoulder; his hand was so warm. . .

Then turned, and left.

Dawn was clear, with the peculiar clarity that only comes with the morning light. She woke, and stretched, and somehow in that light, her troubles didn't seem nearly as bad.

The song of the Eidolons was particularly strong today, washing through her slender form for an almost tangible force. She could hear their unearthly voices. . .It happens today. . .It happens today. . .

Plead as she might, they wouldn't tell her what was happening today.

She donned simple clothes; wide legged pants, with a slim fitting tunic. Why bother with a skirt? She obviously wasn't impressing anyone with it. Besides, she wanted to re-explore the Alexandria Castle Gardens, and see if they were as she remembered.

She slid down the banister to the ground level of the castle, servants turning around to laugh or gape at her antics. But they should be used to it; her Royal Highness Princess Eiko of Lindbulm disappeared in these familiar halls, leaving behind only Eiko Carol, who was free to act and do as she liked. It had been like that every time she visited.

Maybe they were new.

She ran out to the Gardens, not caring how she looked, simply feeling young and alive, her blood coursing strongly through her body, and she plunged wildly through the elaborate mazes, following routes she had worked out when she was six.

She came to the fountain, an elaborately carved thing, marvelously simple in it's pure design. A snowy marble statue of the summon Shiva, water gushed from her outstretched hands to cascade down, a sparkling rush into a wide pool. Smack in the middle of a perfectly round pool, it was one of the least visited glades, mainly because most people had a hard time finding it. Not Eiko though,

"I knew you would come here!"

And not Zidane.

She turned to the teasing voice, her smile wide and heart felt for the first time. He might not see her as a woman; but that didn't mean they didn't have a bond.

She walked over, automatically lapsing back into the energetic leaps of her childhood, and sat herself down next to him.

"Everything alright now?"

She nodded, kicking her legs back and forth in her restless way.

"That's good. I wish. . ."

"What?"

"Never mind."

"Zi~dane!"

He frowned, his own legs swinging. She would've laughed if he hadn't looked so unhappy. The Prince Consort of Alexandria, kicking his legs, dressed in all his cour-

Wait, he wasn't decked out in all his court finery. . .Instead he was wearing something very close to what he had worn in the 'old days.'

"It's just. . .Dagger."

She tilted her head to one side, puzzled. "But you're both so happy together!"

He shook his head, blonde hair waving. "She has. . .dreams sometimes. And they're not. . .they're not. . ."

"They're not?"

"They're not. . .about me."

She blinked. So what if Garnet didn't always dream about Zidane? What was the big deal?

He must of seen her perplexed face, for he shook his head again, this time dismissively. "It doesn't matter. I shouldn't be telling you these things. . ."

"Zidane!"

"Eiko!" he mimicked.

She glared at him.

His mobile face relaxed into it's habitual smile. "You've grown up so much. . .did I say that before?"

She nodded in mock solemnity.

His hand traced a line down her cheek, and Eiko unconsciously held her breath. There was a peculiar abstracted look in his clear eyes, a lingering sadness. His fingers slid down her face, then up, then down again, until he was cupping her chin. The glade was so silent, she could hear her own heartbeat thumping furiously in her ears. . .

Slowly, so slowly, he leaned forward, his lips just lightly brushing hers, then a little more firmly, until. . .

He was actually kissing her.

She half froze for a moment; and then her hands moved of their own will to tangle at the nape of his neck. He kissed her harder, and she closed her eyes, almost swooning. His kiss was delicate, tender, and he was clasping her so tightly; she could feel every sinew and line in his body. His strength startled her. She had always known Zidane was strong - who wouldn't after that last battle with Kuja and the Necron, but this...She flinched away.

He jerked back, blue eyes very wide, and she blinked up at him, not really believing what had happened. Zidane jumped to his feet, and began to back away. "Eiko. . .I'm so sorry. . .I had no right. . .I-I'm sorry!"

She just sat frozen in the sunlight, as he babbled his apologies, then fled. A slender hand rose to her lips, and then she smiled.

Yes, Eiko Carol was beautiful.

To be continued. . .