Chapter Fourteen
Garnet awoke with a start, the increasingly loud pounding on her door breaking into her peaceful slumber. She sat up quickly, squeezing her eyes shut against the sunlight pouring in through the window.
"Your highness! Your highness is something wrong?! You HIGHNESS??" she could hear Steiner bellowing from the other side of the locked door. She moved towards the edge of the bed when she heard a groan next to her. She looked down to see an awakening Zidane next to her. He turned and looked up at her, a grin spreading from ear to ear under his bed ruffled hair.
"Mornin'" he mumbled, stretching his arms out to her. She smiled and lowered herself back into the bed and kissed him, giggling at the ruckus erupting outside her door.
"Garnet! Oh Alexander what is going on?! Your highn-"
"For goodness sakes Steiner SHUT UP!!" Beatrix could be heard on the other side as well now. "Get your ass down to your troops and leave them be!"
"Them?!?!" Steiner bellowed, and the door shook as he pounded on it again. "He stayed HERE last night!?!?!"
"NOW STEINER!!!" she yelled, followed by a yelp of pain from Steiner. Garnet could just imagine Beatrix kicking him all the way down the hall. Bless her.
She looked up at Zidane again, who was smiling at hearing Beatrix give Steiner a good swift kick in the head. He needed it. Dagger was 21 now, she needed no babysitter. He looked down at her, her beautiful hair flowing everywhere, and reached out to kiss her again. They both settled back on the pillows, holding each other close, when they heard Beatrix outside the door again.
"Just a reminder your highness, there's a meeting in half an hour."
"Oh? Where's Steiner?" Garnet called from the bed, Zidane chuckling next to her.
"The dungeons." Beatrix replied. Zidane burst out laughing.
"Beatrix!"
"Just kidding! He's in Zidane's room, realizing his worst nightmare has come true."
All three of them laughed as Beatrix left the door, and could be heard calling to Steiner in the next room.
"Come on Steiner. Stein- No! No picking the lock! Now damnit!" she yelled, and the clanking of rusty armor could be heard fleeing down the hallway.
Half an hour later, Garnet arrived in the meeting room. Zidane had left to get washed up and dressed about 10 minutes after the Steiner episode, and was already there when she entered the room.
The long oak table was surrounded by her closest officials and friends. Steiner was sitting next to the Queen's chair, his face red with anger as his eyes burned at Zidane from across the table. Next to Steiner was Beatrix, ready to pounce on Steiner if made any move toward Zidane. Next to Beatrix sat the leaders of her spies, who were seldom ever seen in these meetings, but this one was an important one. Next down the line was Beatrix's right hand of her army, Corina. Seated next to her was Steiner's second in command, and the two were leaning against their chairs' opposite armrests, putting as much space between them as possible while pretending the other one didn't exist. Across the table were the members of Tantalus. Cinna, Marcus, Boss, and Blank. Next to Blank sat Ellie, looking awake and alert, as well as fed and less fragile than she had at the docks. Zidane was leaning over her shoulder, talking to her. Ellie was pointing to various areas of her body where bandages could be seen, and Zidane's face was covered with a brotherly concern.
As Garnet entered the room, all activities ceased as all her staff stood to salute her, and her friends simply stood out of respect. Ellie lifted herself up slowly but Garnet waved her hand, refusing to have her stand. Garnet rounded the table and took her seat at the head as Beatrix began the meeting.
"Good morning everyone," she said, looking down at the notes in front of her.
"Good morning indeed," Steiner spat out through his clenched jaw. Beatrix elbowed him hard in the side before continuing.
"The spy reports from last night showed nothing different than the past few days. While our spies picked up on yesterday's little rescue mission, the Treno authorities did not. Ellie has not been reported missing, and Advisor DeBarbarac has made no move that suggests he will do anything in response to her disappearance." A shudder ran through Ellie at the sound of his name.
"We still are looking for ways to get deeper into the royal circle, particularly around DeBarbarac. The information we have has been leading us to think that he is widely orchestrating the preparations for the war." Beatrix continued, then looked to Zidane.
"Now Zidane, you were imprisoned at his home, were you not?"
"Yes."
"And then she," she said, motioning to Ellie. "Was trying to . . . help you escape?"
"Well, sort of. She would sneak down and take care of me. We were planning to escape though, yes."
Beatrix furrowed her brow, clearly confused about something. She turned to Ellie.
"You were DeBarbarac's . . . maid? Servant? What?" she asked.
Ellie turned to Zidane, her expression unreadable to all others at the table. "They don't know?" she asked, and Zidane bit his lip in regret.
"No," he replied.
"War is no time for secrets, Ellie. Who are you?" Beatrix asked, lowering her notes to stare at the girl. Ellie cast another look to Zidane, and he nodded.
"My full name is Eleanor Deminke Tehmin DeBarbarac. Advisor DeBarbarac is my father."
All of the mouths at the table except for Tantalus' fell open, Garnet's included. They all stared at Ellie as she looked down at the table, sighing sadly.
"Why didn't we know you were going after the advisor's daughter?" Garnet finally asked, eyeing Zidane as well as the rest of Tantalus.
"We thought you'd assume," shrugged Blank.
Everyone at the table burst out yelling at once except for two people. Beatrix continued to stare with her mouth hanging slightly open. Ellie stared back at her, and could see a million different thoughts running through Beatrix's mind.
"Quiet!" Garnet finally yelled and everyone sat down sheepishly. Ellie was eyeing Beatrix disdainfully, as she could see what Beatrix was thinking. Ellie shook her head no, not breaking eye contact with the general.
"But we could learn so much! Just follow him around for a day or so . . . " Beatrix began.
"No!" yelled Zidane, jumping out of his seat as he realized what Beatrix was implying. "No, don't even think about it."
Beatrix opened her mouth to reply but he cut her off again.
"No Beatrix . . . even if she was willing, she's not up to it. He almost killed her last time."
"But it could give us the upper hand in this war!"
"There's no war yet! You're beginning to sound like Steiner!"
"Both of you stop it!" Garnet yelled over the both of them, causing them to fall silent and drop back into their seats.
"Now, I don't like the idea much, but it would be of great aid." Garnet began, and Ellie sank into her seat, trying to avoid everyone's eyes.
"One of us could go back with her." Blank suddenly piped in. They all turned to look at him.
"They never saw Zidane at the kidnapping. He had a cloak over his head. He doesn't know that Zidane as involved in taking her. One of us could just go with her and stay there, pose as a boyfriend or something."
"And I suppose you're suggesting yourself?" heckled Cinna as all of Tantalus burst out laughing.
"It's an idea." Added Beatrix. "You would have protection from him. You could just say he and his friends came to get you, and if he tries anything again they'll be back in a heartbeat."
"I don't like the sound of this." Zidane replied. "What if he just throws her back into that hole in the ground?"
"Ellie had a very large public relations role with DeBarbarac," commented one of the spies. "For weeks he's been saying that his daughter, his only surviving family member, was sick. If she just disappears people are going to start asking questions. If he has half a brain, he's realizing the shit he's in right now and he would welcome her back."
Everyone turned to Ellie suddenly, waiting for an answer. Ellie stared at Beatrix, studying her face. She knew how much it would help them. Help Alexandria. Help Garnet. And in turn, help herself. If Alexandria could win the war, perhaps her father could be brought down as well . . .
"Give me a week to train up again. I want one of Tantalus with me at all times. And I want some way to communicate to one of the spies that I'm okay at least three times a day. If they don't get the signal, they move in and get me out." Ellie starting listing off her conditions, and watched Beatrix's face light up.
"None of those will be a problem. I will work with you personally over the next week. You'll be ready." Beatrix replied eagerly.
Ellie nodded, avoiding Zidane's eyes. If he saw her face, he would see the set determination she had to make sure this was the end of her father for good.
Garnet awoke with a start, the increasingly loud pounding on her door breaking into her peaceful slumber. She sat up quickly, squeezing her eyes shut against the sunlight pouring in through the window.
"Your highness! Your highness is something wrong?! You HIGHNESS??" she could hear Steiner bellowing from the other side of the locked door. She moved towards the edge of the bed when she heard a groan next to her. She looked down to see an awakening Zidane next to her. He turned and looked up at her, a grin spreading from ear to ear under his bed ruffled hair.
"Mornin'" he mumbled, stretching his arms out to her. She smiled and lowered herself back into the bed and kissed him, giggling at the ruckus erupting outside her door.
"Garnet! Oh Alexander what is going on?! Your highn-"
"For goodness sakes Steiner SHUT UP!!" Beatrix could be heard on the other side as well now. "Get your ass down to your troops and leave them be!"
"Them?!?!" Steiner bellowed, and the door shook as he pounded on it again. "He stayed HERE last night!?!?!"
"NOW STEINER!!!" she yelled, followed by a yelp of pain from Steiner. Garnet could just imagine Beatrix kicking him all the way down the hall. Bless her.
She looked up at Zidane again, who was smiling at hearing Beatrix give Steiner a good swift kick in the head. He needed it. Dagger was 21 now, she needed no babysitter. He looked down at her, her beautiful hair flowing everywhere, and reached out to kiss her again. They both settled back on the pillows, holding each other close, when they heard Beatrix outside the door again.
"Just a reminder your highness, there's a meeting in half an hour."
"Oh? Where's Steiner?" Garnet called from the bed, Zidane chuckling next to her.
"The dungeons." Beatrix replied. Zidane burst out laughing.
"Beatrix!"
"Just kidding! He's in Zidane's room, realizing his worst nightmare has come true."
All three of them laughed as Beatrix left the door, and could be heard calling to Steiner in the next room.
"Come on Steiner. Stein- No! No picking the lock! Now damnit!" she yelled, and the clanking of rusty armor could be heard fleeing down the hallway.
Half an hour later, Garnet arrived in the meeting room. Zidane had left to get washed up and dressed about 10 minutes after the Steiner episode, and was already there when she entered the room.
The long oak table was surrounded by her closest officials and friends. Steiner was sitting next to the Queen's chair, his face red with anger as his eyes burned at Zidane from across the table. Next to Steiner was Beatrix, ready to pounce on Steiner if made any move toward Zidane. Next to Beatrix sat the leaders of her spies, who were seldom ever seen in these meetings, but this one was an important one. Next down the line was Beatrix's right hand of her army, Corina. Seated next to her was Steiner's second in command, and the two were leaning against their chairs' opposite armrests, putting as much space between them as possible while pretending the other one didn't exist. Across the table were the members of Tantalus. Cinna, Marcus, Boss, and Blank. Next to Blank sat Ellie, looking awake and alert, as well as fed and less fragile than she had at the docks. Zidane was leaning over her shoulder, talking to her. Ellie was pointing to various areas of her body where bandages could be seen, and Zidane's face was covered with a brotherly concern.
As Garnet entered the room, all activities ceased as all her staff stood to salute her, and her friends simply stood out of respect. Ellie lifted herself up slowly but Garnet waved her hand, refusing to have her stand. Garnet rounded the table and took her seat at the head as Beatrix began the meeting.
"Good morning everyone," she said, looking down at the notes in front of her.
"Good morning indeed," Steiner spat out through his clenched jaw. Beatrix elbowed him hard in the side before continuing.
"The spy reports from last night showed nothing different than the past few days. While our spies picked up on yesterday's little rescue mission, the Treno authorities did not. Ellie has not been reported missing, and Advisor DeBarbarac has made no move that suggests he will do anything in response to her disappearance." A shudder ran through Ellie at the sound of his name.
"We still are looking for ways to get deeper into the royal circle, particularly around DeBarbarac. The information we have has been leading us to think that he is widely orchestrating the preparations for the war." Beatrix continued, then looked to Zidane.
"Now Zidane, you were imprisoned at his home, were you not?"
"Yes."
"And then she," she said, motioning to Ellie. "Was trying to . . . help you escape?"
"Well, sort of. She would sneak down and take care of me. We were planning to escape though, yes."
Beatrix furrowed her brow, clearly confused about something. She turned to Ellie.
"You were DeBarbarac's . . . maid? Servant? What?" she asked.
Ellie turned to Zidane, her expression unreadable to all others at the table. "They don't know?" she asked, and Zidane bit his lip in regret.
"No," he replied.
"War is no time for secrets, Ellie. Who are you?" Beatrix asked, lowering her notes to stare at the girl. Ellie cast another look to Zidane, and he nodded.
"My full name is Eleanor Deminke Tehmin DeBarbarac. Advisor DeBarbarac is my father."
All of the mouths at the table except for Tantalus' fell open, Garnet's included. They all stared at Ellie as she looked down at the table, sighing sadly.
"Why didn't we know you were going after the advisor's daughter?" Garnet finally asked, eyeing Zidane as well as the rest of Tantalus.
"We thought you'd assume," shrugged Blank.
Everyone at the table burst out yelling at once except for two people. Beatrix continued to stare with her mouth hanging slightly open. Ellie stared back at her, and could see a million different thoughts running through Beatrix's mind.
"Quiet!" Garnet finally yelled and everyone sat down sheepishly. Ellie was eyeing Beatrix disdainfully, as she could see what Beatrix was thinking. Ellie shook her head no, not breaking eye contact with the general.
"But we could learn so much! Just follow him around for a day or so . . . " Beatrix began.
"No!" yelled Zidane, jumping out of his seat as he realized what Beatrix was implying. "No, don't even think about it."
Beatrix opened her mouth to reply but he cut her off again.
"No Beatrix . . . even if she was willing, she's not up to it. He almost killed her last time."
"But it could give us the upper hand in this war!"
"There's no war yet! You're beginning to sound like Steiner!"
"Both of you stop it!" Garnet yelled over the both of them, causing them to fall silent and drop back into their seats.
"Now, I don't like the idea much, but it would be of great aid." Garnet began, and Ellie sank into her seat, trying to avoid everyone's eyes.
"One of us could go back with her." Blank suddenly piped in. They all turned to look at him.
"They never saw Zidane at the kidnapping. He had a cloak over his head. He doesn't know that Zidane as involved in taking her. One of us could just go with her and stay there, pose as a boyfriend or something."
"And I suppose you're suggesting yourself?" heckled Cinna as all of Tantalus burst out laughing.
"It's an idea." Added Beatrix. "You would have protection from him. You could just say he and his friends came to get you, and if he tries anything again they'll be back in a heartbeat."
"I don't like the sound of this." Zidane replied. "What if he just throws her back into that hole in the ground?"
"Ellie had a very large public relations role with DeBarbarac," commented one of the spies. "For weeks he's been saying that his daughter, his only surviving family member, was sick. If she just disappears people are going to start asking questions. If he has half a brain, he's realizing the shit he's in right now and he would welcome her back."
Everyone turned to Ellie suddenly, waiting for an answer. Ellie stared at Beatrix, studying her face. She knew how much it would help them. Help Alexandria. Help Garnet. And in turn, help herself. If Alexandria could win the war, perhaps her father could be brought down as well . . .
"Give me a week to train up again. I want one of Tantalus with me at all times. And I want some way to communicate to one of the spies that I'm okay at least three times a day. If they don't get the signal, they move in and get me out." Ellie starting listing off her conditions, and watched Beatrix's face light up.
"None of those will be a problem. I will work with you personally over the next week. You'll be ready." Beatrix replied eagerly.
Ellie nodded, avoiding Zidane's eyes. If he saw her face, he would see the set determination she had to make sure this was the end of her father for good.