I know it's been a slow start, that's because I didn't really have a
plot in mind when I began writing this, but I've been throwing something
around in my head and in my notes. So, I now have a (much) better idea than
before about what I am writing. The chapters may be slow for a while still,
but I assure you, the story in my head kicks ass. By the way, another
result of my brainstorming was a better title, so if you're going to keep
reading this it will be under a different title after I print this chapter.
Instead of
"In the Iifa tree" it will be "?ter salto".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Garnet stood in her room, alone, gazing out a window. The sky was purpling with the oncoming storm that was moving in from Burmecia. For the past day she had been thinking. Thinking about everything at once. Zidane, Alexandria, Kuja, royalty, Lindblum, Zidane.
She knew that she had to begin her duties as queen. It was unfitting for someone like her to be in mourning, especially for someone who she didn't even know was dead. Besides, he had tried to kidnap her (albeit for a good cause) . . . she tried to convince herself that Zidane was not important to her. He wasn't worth anything to her. . .
but he was important.
He was important to her, everything about him was important; she stopped herself before she began to think of him again, she had done this to herself so many times already. The familiar burning in her eyes returned, crying was beginning to seem like a close friend that would visit her every day.
No good could come from wishing for things in the past; she had to move on.
But . . . somehow . . . she knew that he was alive, ever since she had arrived in Alexandria and concealed herself in her room to think, she felt something inside of her that just . . . clicked. Something told her that if that feeling ever went away, she would know that Zidane was dead.
Once again his pale face flashed before her eyes, she pushed it out of her mind and thought about something else.
Garnet wondered how many people had died from the Bahamut attacks, the numbers were still not in, though Steiner would probably amble in at any minute and tell her that he had finished them.
Thankfully, nothing had happened in the past three days that would take away the precious hours before she had to return to the throne. Something was going to happen, she knew it. Garnet reached forward and unlatched the window to air the room out. The cold wind that entered definitely told of an oncoming storm, it chilled her body and smelled of wet cobblestone.
She leaned her head out the window to look down into the courtyard; the knights of Pluto were running to and fro cleaning up large rocks that had no doubt fallen from the balcony at the top of the palace.
A slight swiping noise that sounded like a door rubbing on carpet told her that someone had entered the room, silently. Garnet reluctantly turned around to greet whoever had entered. She knew that the person probably had some sort of report that would draw her from the window.
It was Steiner looking sheepishly dutiful and holding a letter with a wax stamp that had the Lindblum royal crest on it.
Garnet, putting on the finest poker face she could muster, stood straight and walked to the rigid knight. Steiner knew what she was thinking about, and she knew that he knew, but it was best that she look as normal as possible; she would have to be doing it for the next few months for her people anyhow.
"I hope that I am not disturbing you, your majesty." Steiner characteristically stared straight ahead at nothing while addressing her.
"You're not disturbing me, Adelbert, and don't call me 'your majesty'. We've been fighting side by side for the past few months against an enemy that wished to destroy all of time and space, and nearly did destroy it! We are close enough now that you need not be so formal to me, at least while we're alone like this." Garnet looked at Steiner who was visually having trouble comprehending this remark. Sighing and spinning around again to close the open window, she ignored the fact that he still looked straight ahead at nothing.
"Your highness . . . ah, I have a message from Regent Cid," Steiner held out his hand with the stamped letter. "I also have a report of the progress of the cleanup being made in the town, as well as the death toll, if you wish to hear it"
Garnet turned, sighed again, and decided that her time was up.
"Alright, Adelbert, give me the letter and then find Beatrix. I will hear a full report of everything that has happened in the last three days in the throne room. Its time that I stopped running from my duties." She took the letter out of Steiner's hand and turned to sit on the bench next to her bed.
Steiner saluted and clanked down the hallway away from her room. Garnet looked at the seal on the letter while shutting the door, it was a red crest with the picture of a soldier carrying a down pointed spear.
Garnet opened the letter slowly, hoping that it had some news of Zidane.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Queen Garnet, I know that it has been only two days since we left the Iifa tree (he had obviously written the letter yesterday) but I have news about the condition of Lindblum in addition to a request.
The devastation after Atomos and the black mage army attacked us was a troublesome time, but I have received reports that our repairs in Lindblum are commencing faster than ever. We are now seventy five percent done with all three sectors.
The industrial district is still in a shambles, but that's not too important right now; we need to repair the housing in the business district first. However, we do not have as many knowledgeable carpenters here as in Alexandria, nor do we have the manpower. So, I would like to request to borrow the strongest men from your city.
I realize that you have problems much more pressing than us, but I am prepared to return the favor once the repairs are complete and loan my strongest men to your country, in addition I will pay any man who works for my country one hundred gil for each hour worked here.
This will help solve the inevitable economic difficulties in the trade between our countries after we complete the repairs. I would also like to request an audience of your highness so that I may discuss some issues that have come up since I have returned; the overuse of mognet, the issue of the cleanup of Burmecia, and finally, a band of one hundred black mages that has been found in Pinnacle rocks.
The final bit of news is not as shocking as it sounds, the mages are all completely unconscious, that is, they do not seem to speak or have coherent thoughts like those in the black mage village. They do not respond to anything, but are not dead; their eyes still glow under their hats and, every once in a while, they fight back with the same powers as any normal black mage when they are threatened by a monster.
Also, one of them seems to have wings, but he never moves at all. Other than this, my patrols have not found anything out of the ordinary anywhere around Lindblum or the valley below. Overall, the area near us seems to be in tiptop order.
Anyhow, I would like your highness to come to Lindblum in two days, but if that time does not suit you, come at a time that will. Eternally yours, Regent Cid
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The news of the repair of Lindblum did not surprise her, it was a huge place filled with incredibly hard workers, and Cid's idea of exchanging men to help with the repairs was a stroke of brilliance in diplomacy and economics.
These matters paled in comparison to the black mages that his soldiers had found in Pinnacle Rocks, though.
How could he take it so easily? It sounded like he didn't care at all that a possibly deadly group of mages, who had attacked his city at one point, were just outside his door. How he could be such a genius politically and such an idiot when it came to the safety of his city was beyond her.
Garnet quietly laughed for the first time in a long while
"God! I sound just like father."
a knock on the door and the subsequent entrance of her one-eyed general and advisor, cut her laughter short.
Beatrix had a warm smile on her face, a drastic contrast to the usual frown that she had during battle. Garnet blushed at her earlier outburst and looked at the beautiful older woman awkwardly. Beatrix just smiled as if she knew what Garnet had been laughing about and said.
"Your highness, there are numerous duties to be attended to in the throne room. I know that you're still recovering from . . . well you're still recovering, but we need you to make a few crucial decisions about the rebuilding of Alexandria. It sounds as though you have thought enough about . . . everything, and that you are ready to come down now. Vivi is here to see you, and Eiko has been asking about you since you've . . . secluded yourself."
Garnet knew that both of them had been wondering about her, they both had been peeking in the door every once in a while, trying to be inconspicuous but failing miserably. She made a half smile at this thought and stood up from her seat
"Alright, I will come down. Besides, we must have a conference about Regent Cid's letter. I fear that he is taking a serious situation too lightly."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Garnet stood in her room, alone, gazing out a window. The sky was purpling with the oncoming storm that was moving in from Burmecia. For the past day she had been thinking. Thinking about everything at once. Zidane, Alexandria, Kuja, royalty, Lindblum, Zidane.
She knew that she had to begin her duties as queen. It was unfitting for someone like her to be in mourning, especially for someone who she didn't even know was dead. Besides, he had tried to kidnap her (albeit for a good cause) . . . she tried to convince herself that Zidane was not important to her. He wasn't worth anything to her. . .
but he was important.
He was important to her, everything about him was important; she stopped herself before she began to think of him again, she had done this to herself so many times already. The familiar burning in her eyes returned, crying was beginning to seem like a close friend that would visit her every day.
No good could come from wishing for things in the past; she had to move on.
But . . . somehow . . . she knew that he was alive, ever since she had arrived in Alexandria and concealed herself in her room to think, she felt something inside of her that just . . . clicked. Something told her that if that feeling ever went away, she would know that Zidane was dead.
Once again his pale face flashed before her eyes, she pushed it out of her mind and thought about something else.
Garnet wondered how many people had died from the Bahamut attacks, the numbers were still not in, though Steiner would probably amble in at any minute and tell her that he had finished them.
Thankfully, nothing had happened in the past three days that would take away the precious hours before she had to return to the throne. Something was going to happen, she knew it. Garnet reached forward and unlatched the window to air the room out. The cold wind that entered definitely told of an oncoming storm, it chilled her body and smelled of wet cobblestone.
She leaned her head out the window to look down into the courtyard; the knights of Pluto were running to and fro cleaning up large rocks that had no doubt fallen from the balcony at the top of the palace.
A slight swiping noise that sounded like a door rubbing on carpet told her that someone had entered the room, silently. Garnet reluctantly turned around to greet whoever had entered. She knew that the person probably had some sort of report that would draw her from the window.
It was Steiner looking sheepishly dutiful and holding a letter with a wax stamp that had the Lindblum royal crest on it.
Garnet, putting on the finest poker face she could muster, stood straight and walked to the rigid knight. Steiner knew what she was thinking about, and she knew that he knew, but it was best that she look as normal as possible; she would have to be doing it for the next few months for her people anyhow.
"I hope that I am not disturbing you, your majesty." Steiner characteristically stared straight ahead at nothing while addressing her.
"You're not disturbing me, Adelbert, and don't call me 'your majesty'. We've been fighting side by side for the past few months against an enemy that wished to destroy all of time and space, and nearly did destroy it! We are close enough now that you need not be so formal to me, at least while we're alone like this." Garnet looked at Steiner who was visually having trouble comprehending this remark. Sighing and spinning around again to close the open window, she ignored the fact that he still looked straight ahead at nothing.
"Your highness . . . ah, I have a message from Regent Cid," Steiner held out his hand with the stamped letter. "I also have a report of the progress of the cleanup being made in the town, as well as the death toll, if you wish to hear it"
Garnet turned, sighed again, and decided that her time was up.
"Alright, Adelbert, give me the letter and then find Beatrix. I will hear a full report of everything that has happened in the last three days in the throne room. Its time that I stopped running from my duties." She took the letter out of Steiner's hand and turned to sit on the bench next to her bed.
Steiner saluted and clanked down the hallway away from her room. Garnet looked at the seal on the letter while shutting the door, it was a red crest with the picture of a soldier carrying a down pointed spear.
Garnet opened the letter slowly, hoping that it had some news of Zidane.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Queen Garnet, I know that it has been only two days since we left the Iifa tree (he had obviously written the letter yesterday) but I have news about the condition of Lindblum in addition to a request.
The devastation after Atomos and the black mage army attacked us was a troublesome time, but I have received reports that our repairs in Lindblum are commencing faster than ever. We are now seventy five percent done with all three sectors.
The industrial district is still in a shambles, but that's not too important right now; we need to repair the housing in the business district first. However, we do not have as many knowledgeable carpenters here as in Alexandria, nor do we have the manpower. So, I would like to request to borrow the strongest men from your city.
I realize that you have problems much more pressing than us, but I am prepared to return the favor once the repairs are complete and loan my strongest men to your country, in addition I will pay any man who works for my country one hundred gil for each hour worked here.
This will help solve the inevitable economic difficulties in the trade between our countries after we complete the repairs. I would also like to request an audience of your highness so that I may discuss some issues that have come up since I have returned; the overuse of mognet, the issue of the cleanup of Burmecia, and finally, a band of one hundred black mages that has been found in Pinnacle rocks.
The final bit of news is not as shocking as it sounds, the mages are all completely unconscious, that is, they do not seem to speak or have coherent thoughts like those in the black mage village. They do not respond to anything, but are not dead; their eyes still glow under their hats and, every once in a while, they fight back with the same powers as any normal black mage when they are threatened by a monster.
Also, one of them seems to have wings, but he never moves at all. Other than this, my patrols have not found anything out of the ordinary anywhere around Lindblum or the valley below. Overall, the area near us seems to be in tiptop order.
Anyhow, I would like your highness to come to Lindblum in two days, but if that time does not suit you, come at a time that will. Eternally yours, Regent Cid
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The news of the repair of Lindblum did not surprise her, it was a huge place filled with incredibly hard workers, and Cid's idea of exchanging men to help with the repairs was a stroke of brilliance in diplomacy and economics.
These matters paled in comparison to the black mages that his soldiers had found in Pinnacle Rocks, though.
How could he take it so easily? It sounded like he didn't care at all that a possibly deadly group of mages, who had attacked his city at one point, were just outside his door. How he could be such a genius politically and such an idiot when it came to the safety of his city was beyond her.
Garnet quietly laughed for the first time in a long while
"God! I sound just like father."
a knock on the door and the subsequent entrance of her one-eyed general and advisor, cut her laughter short.
Beatrix had a warm smile on her face, a drastic contrast to the usual frown that she had during battle. Garnet blushed at her earlier outburst and looked at the beautiful older woman awkwardly. Beatrix just smiled as if she knew what Garnet had been laughing about and said.
"Your highness, there are numerous duties to be attended to in the throne room. I know that you're still recovering from . . . well you're still recovering, but we need you to make a few crucial decisions about the rebuilding of Alexandria. It sounds as though you have thought enough about . . . everything, and that you are ready to come down now. Vivi is here to see you, and Eiko has been asking about you since you've . . . secluded yourself."
Garnet knew that both of them had been wondering about her, they both had been peeking in the door every once in a while, trying to be inconspicuous but failing miserably. She made a half smile at this thought and stood up from her seat
"Alright, I will come down. Besides, we must have a conference about Regent Cid's letter. I fear that he is taking a serious situation too lightly."