A.N. Greetings once again and a Joyful Christmas to all. I again apologise for the time the last chapter took and have made every effort to ensure that this one is posted on time. I hope that you enjoy both the chapter and the festive season, but remember that it is about more than gifts and spend time with your family and friends for you must treasure moments with them, for they will never come again.

Goodbye and Good Fortune

Fallen Saga Creator

Alliance

It was mid-day and the huge courtyard was almost full, every citizen of Alexandria gathering excitedly, all eyes fixed upon the balcony above, all waiting anxiously for the first glimpse of their new queen, the queen that had returned and driven the evil from their city. An awed hush fell over the crowd as the intricately engraved and golden inlaid doors swung slowly open, The three generals of Alexandria striding forth from to the rail. Beatrix, serene as a cobra was serene, as beautiful as she was deadly, here single eye taking everything in with a glance. Steiner stood beside his wife, taller than any man had a right to be and broad with it, his heavily muscled frame supporting a suit of plate mail that shone in the sunlight, one huge paw-like hand resting lightly upon the hilt of his sword. And then beside him and even taller, stood Amarant, a light breeze stirring his plume of fiery red hair into a mane as he fingered the claw strapped onto his fist.

Steiner stepped forward, the deep boom of his voice filling the courtyard, 'Citizens of Alexandria, Kuja is banished from Alexandria. Last night Her Royal Majesty Garnet Til Alexandros the III returned to us and in a blossom of power drove the evil from this city. His demon legions have fled and those that have not have been destroyed by the Royal army in the hills under the direction of General Beatrix and I. Now she who has delivered us will come before you now to tell you of what we must now do to ensure that Kuja's evil never touches us again.'

Two figures stepped through the doorway now and the courtyard erupted into rapturous cheers, tens of thousands of voices lifting in harmony to greet Dagger as she swept onto the balcony, clad in her gown of white silk, with the tiara of diamonds glittering among her raven locks. She was the very epitome of queenly majesty as she strode to the rail. At her elbow Zidane moved without his usual swagger as he made an effort to carry himself in a way worthy to accompany Dagger's grace. He moved now with a deadly, almost feline grace, as though ready to fall asleep where he stood or attack any within reach. He had exchanged his rough, linen jungle clothes for finer ones, what had been thought more befitting for the Queen's guardian.

Beatrix had all but dragged him to a seamstress that had spent the last two hours putting her measuring tape laces that no-one had been before and fussing about his odd proportions and tail as she created a new outfit. A fine waistcoat of blue silk fit snugly over a sleeveless white shirt, a somehow masculine cravat hanging from around his neck. His sword and dagger were thrust into ornate sheaths that were a part of his wide belt, the buckle gleaming silver to match the inlay on his sheaths. His trouser were like no material he had ever seen before, cool and yet bearing the deep blue dye lightly as they bagged around a pair of wide brown boots, the leather fine enough to make even the royal tanneries proud.

The generals moved aside as Dagger strode toward the rail, bowing to her as the cheers rose again and again, Dagger's face alight with pleasure as she saw that her people had not been broken by Kuja's reign. The cheers died to silence as Zidane raised his hands for quite, those close enough to see his tail going wide-eyed as it whipped from side to side. Dagger did not shout but the tones carried in the absolute quiet of the courtyard.

'People of Alexandria, our city and our country is called this because the spire that grows in the centre of this mighty castle houses one of the good spirits, a mighty warrior known as Alexander. Last night his power flowed through me and banished Kuja from this city.' A cheer greeted her words, dying quickly as everyone waited to see what her next words would be. 'But destroy him it did not. He still lives somewhere and with him lives his demon legions. He is wounded yes, but he will recover and come for us, come for me for banishing him.' A low mutter spread through the crowd but cut off as Dagger's voice rose again. 'I do not mean to let him take one step within this city or within this country. Already I have sent messengers speeding to the other three great kingdoms to form an alliance that will destroy Kuja and his legions once and for all. An alliance of Alexandria, Burmecia, Lindblum and Terra.'

This time the mutters did not die, gasps of amazement sounding from all as the crowd looked to her in confusion. Terra? Nothing lived in Terra but animals, monsters and the fabled Terran Ghosts. But Dagger's voice again cut across the mutterings, the ring of command evident in her tone. 'Yes, Terra, the jungle kingdom to the East. For the legends that speak of the Terran Ghosts speak of the genome people. A race of warriors who for three thousand years have guarded the only means to destroy Kuja, the Summoning Stones. With these Kuja may be destroyed once and for all and with the aid of the genomes his armies may be smashed. I have been to Terra already and here with me have one of the genome people. A man who has saved my life more times than I know and proven to me that his people are fiercer in their intent to destroy Kuja's evil than even we who have felt it.

'For three thousand years they have held to an oath to fight and guard the only hope that this world has against Kuja all in preparation for this time. I will meet soon with the three leaders of these kingdoms, the Regent of Lindblum, the King of Burmecia and the Queen of Terra. Together we will find a way to destroy Kuja and his armies once and for all. Never again my people will I allow such evil to befall you. My mother fought until her last breath against Kuja once she had uncovered his deception and I will do no less. We must all do no less or else we may all fall. Together we may destroy Kuja and his armies, and together we shall.'

The cheers that burst forth now made her greeting seem a whisper, those who carried weapons thrusting them into the air as they let out their battlecry, 'For Alexandria and the Queen! For Alexandria and the Queen!' Again and again the cry rose, the citizens of Alexandria inspired now to fight with all their might against the evil that had once ruled them. Dagger turned from the scene with a small smile upon her face as Zidane followed her closely. Dagger smiled as she felt Zidane's arm cross her shoulders and squeeze them affectionately, his lips planting a light kiss on her cheek.

He smiled at her as she turned to him. 'That was amazing. I've never seen anyone speak like that. You were… incredible.'

She smiled and cupped his cheek, letting him press a kiss to her lips. 'I don't know where the words came from. I hadn't planned what to say but when I began they just came. '

Zidane grinned, 'It's because you are a Queen, not just by title but by soul. People will follow you because they know that you will lead them well. They know that you will not let them down. Everything about you says that there is more to you than meets the eye, your voice, your movements, your gaze.'

Dagger smiled coyly, 'Do you always speak to women with such a honeyed tongues?'

Zidane grew serious as he let his hand caress her neck, his tail creeping forward to brush against her waist, the soft contact sending sparks through them both. 'I have only ever spoken to one woman with love I my voice Dagger and I am looking upon her now.' The pair spent a long moment simply staring at each other before Zidane gently tugged at her hand, walking with his arm through hers as they walked back to her chambers. Once there he let her sit before rising to pour wine into a crystal glass and give it to her, watching her closely as she drank. She caught his eyes and set the glass down, pulling him to her so that she could lean against him.

'Zidane, please, don't begin to treat me differently from how you did when we were simply two people in Terra. You have been with me for only three days and already you have been with me when I have spoken with more nobles and dealt with more petty matters that a Queen must deal with than I care to remember. Everyone calls me your majesty and treats me like I may break if they do not do exactly as custom dictates. I… it is stifling, knowing that to most I will never be more than a Queen or perhaps I should say never be less. I am a woman as well as a Queen. Please, do not start to treat me as the latter when it was the former that you swore to love and that loves you in return.'

He smiled his uniquely inane grin, 'Sorry, I guess I have been acting kinda weird lately. I won't forget. I promise.' He leant down and captured her lips with his, his tail creeping out to gently wind around her waist as his arms surrounded her shoulders in an embrace.

She smiled up at him and traced the contours of his face, 'I will be Garnet Til Alexandros, the Summoner and the Queen to the rest of the world Zidane. But to you always I will be Dagger. You let me fly free like I have always wanted, free of the bonds of rank. It is one of the things that made me love you as much as I do.' Their lips joined in a kiss and Dagger felt something enter her from his lips, a tiny wisp of feeling that seemed to travel down her spine and send a shiver of emotion through her, peace, love and devotion all blossoming inside her yet seemingly meant for her. Her eyes flew open as the moment passed and she stared at Zidane as he smiled at her, one hand softly stroking her hair as it fell in loose locks from the tiara.

'What was that?'

Zidane smiled back at her. 'Like I said, the oath is a spell unto itself, the stronger the bond formed, the more that the bonded truly love each other, the greater the effect of the spell. When we kissed we shared our minds, each feeling a portion of what the other feels for them.' His smile widened, 'I have to say that I liked it.'

Dagger smiled back at him, 'As did I. What else will happen between us? What will the spell bring?'

'I'm not sure. Exactly how far the spell takes them is a private affair between those who are bonded. There are stories of bonded who have been able to speak to each other through their minds, so that even when apart they could be together.'

Dagger cupped his cheek, 'I would love nothing more than to have this bond link us forever Zidane. I thank the good spirits for whatever magic was in those words and that you were the one to speak them to me. I never want to be so lonely ever again?'

His knuckles stroked her cheek gently, 'What do you mean again?'

'In Terra, when the hunters returned,' she hesitated, the remembrance of the time summoning the grief she had felt. 'When the hunters returned they told of how they had been beaten back by the demons. They… they told everyone that you were dead. They said that one of the demons had crushed your skull. When I heard I cried, even though I barely knew you I cried almost all night. Then, after only a few days the scouts came and said that an army of the demons had appeared from Alexandria, marching into Terra, cutting down trees and burning them as they went. In the confusion as the Queen assembled the genome warriors I stole a horse and left, going South to avoid the fighting before moving up into Alexandria. I had to know. I had to know what had happened, I had to know what had killed you.

'When I heard that you were dead I felt completely alone, as though my only companion had been torn from me, like a part of my heart was gone. I knew then that I had fallen in love with you, that I wanted more than anything to stay by your side. I never want to feel like that again, I never want you to leave me again. It… It is lonely when you are Royalty.' She smiled at him through the tears that had brimmed in her eyes, 'Even a queen needs someone.'

He hushed her with a gentle kiss, running a lock of her silky hair between his fingers, 'As you said, when there are others you are the Queen and the Summoner. But when we are alone you are Dagger and never will you be alone.' Their lips joined in a small kiss and Dagger's eyes closed, the tears in her eyes slipping down her cheeks as she felt his feelings blossom within her, love and devotion filling her. She kissed him back almost feverishly, pressing her lips to his as she tried to push all of her feelings for him through their link. Gratitude for all he had done, gratitude for all he had become for her sake.

He smiled at her and brushed a lock of hair from her face, 'I will stay by your side forever. And yes I will become angry with you and you with me and yes we will fight and argue about things that all argue over. But never will I stop loving you.'

She returned his smile, 'Nor I you, no matter what tests we face always will I be true to you. I swear it by the Light.'

He grinned as though seeing something funny. 'You know, I never thought that could happen.'

'What could happen?'

'That both of two lovers could be bound by oath. The genome oath only works for men. I'm probably the first genome in history to know that his wife is bound in the same way that he is.'

She looked at him, startled. 'You consider the oath a bind? A shackle?'

'The oath's a privilege and a gift to me, it just seems a little weird to me that a woman would swear an oath of love. Among the genomes a woman asks a man to marry her and that's considered enough. The fact that she chooses him means that she's responsible for making the right choice. After that the man swears what oaths he wants to show how much he returns her affections.' Dagger smiled and seemed about to reply when a trumpet blast blared through the quiet, three sharp blasts on the castle's alarm that could be heard for miles beyond the city walls. A shout rang out, being repeated over and over as guards carried the message with their voices.

'Airships! Airships from the north-west! They're from Lindblum.'

Zidane scrambled to his feet, instantly transformed from lover to guard as his hand came to rest on the twin pommel of his folded sword. Dagger stood beside him, a queen once more as she smoothed her features to regal calm and strode from the room. Steiner hurried to her side as he spotted the in the hall.

'My lady, Airships of Lindblum design, from the north-west, approximately a dozen of them. They fly the pennant of the Regent but I have ordered the cannon to stand-by in case it proves to be treachery.'

She nodded. 'Good, but tell them not to fire unless fired upon. I would hope that Kuja has retreated into obscurity for now, not into another conquest and if it is the Regent then I would not have my mother's closest friend fired upon as he came to our docks.'

He saluted, 'As you say your Majesty.'

'If it is the Regent then bring him and his entourage to the Throne Room when they dock.'

Zidane bowed, 'By your leave Dagger I will greet him, I'll be able to smell a mile off if they're more of Kuja's undead.'

Dagger nodded again, shooting a glare to Steiner as he raised a fist to cuff Zidane for his familiar tone. He lowered his gauntlet as Dagger nodded once more, 'Make it so. Steiner, have your knights of Pluto ready as a guard of honour or as a repelling force, which ever is required.' The two saluted turning to make ready to either welcome a much-needed ally or fight to the last against an attacker.

A.N. I hope that you have enjoyed this chapter as much as you all seemed to enjoy the last, in the next chapter the four great kingdoms will meet and truly a great strength for good will be formed. But evil will not have been idle and even with the new strength to support the Summoner, danger threatens Dagger from every direction. As always, I would ask that you take the few moments required to review this chapter and tell me what you thought of it. If you have any suggestions or comments then do not hesitate to e-mail me personally and if you wish a response, I will do my utmost to give you a satisfactory one.

Goodbye and Good Fortune

Fallen Saga Creator