DISCLAIMER: I do not own Final Fantasy IX, any of the characters from that game or Sir Elton John's song COLD. I do, however love all three and felt the need to use them in this story that I am making no money from. It is strictly for my own amusement and the amusement of others via fanfiction.net.
I do own this story however. Do not copy or plagiarize my work or re-post it without my permission.
Love hurts so much
Love leaves a scar
'I don't love you' is like a stake
Being driven through your heart
Dinner had been the horrid affair that she'd thought it would be. The courtiers had indeed gossiped and stared, with absolutely no regard for whether or not she was within earshot. The worst of the rumors said that Zidane had been the one who'd beaten her, but Sir Fratley had done wonders to suppress that one.
But Janus had taken a delight in her discomfort in her distress that was sadistic. There had been no way she could avoid his notice long enough to escape the dining hall.
The only light in the entire dinner had come during the final course. Sir Fratley had invited her to Burmecia for the birth of his first children. Garnet had agreed readily, both to get away from Janus and to see her old friend Freya. And then, during a moment when Janus had his back turned, the Dragon Knight had whispered in her ear: "If you want to leave him, all of Burmecia will be behind you."
She'd smiled. Even if she couldn't leave Janus, it had been comforting that Fratley had made such a promise. It was comforting that he'd realized what was going on and wanted to help her.
Now, she was sprawled on her bed, face pressed into a pillow, sobbing her eyes out. It wasn't fair that she was denied anything resembling happiness after all she'd done for her people--and the whole world. She'd accepted Janus' proposal of marriage so that she could bring stability and prosperity back to her people; the least fate could have done was to make him nice to her.
Instead, she'd married a sadistic tyrant.
And, at the last meeting to discuss the economy of the Regency of Alexandria-Lindblum, the chamberlain had told her that Alexandria was supplying all the revenue to the treasury. Lindblum was providing exactly nothing to the 'alliance.'
She'd never needed to marry Janus to help her people. She'd only needed to give things a bit more time.
Janus apparently had not been the excellent successor that Uncle Cid that thought he was when he stepped down. Idly, Garnet wondered if Cid even knew what was going on. Probably not, or he'd have throttled Janus for the way he treated her, weather he was regent or not.
She wished Zidane was here. Things always made more sense when he was around. It didn't matter if Janus caught them together. He never came to her room with guards, and if he tried to kill Zidane alone, he'd never be able to take the former thief.
And if she was here when it happened, Shiva and Ramuh would both fit in this room.
Suddenly, something clicked in her mind, and Garnet stopped crying. I'm such an idiot.
Even if he sent a hundred guards against them, there was no way that Janus could kill Zidane if the two of them were together. Even if they were unarmed and naked her Eidolons were more than enough to protect them.
She allowed herself a moment to feel stupid for her lack of thinking. Then she got up from her bed to change her clothes.
Five minutes later, Tiger Racket in hand, Dagger dropped off of her balcony and into the courtyard. Deftly dodging Steiner's Pluto Knights as they patrolled, she headed into Alendria City and toward the house Zidane kept there.
I do own this story however. Do not copy or plagiarize my work or re-post it without my permission.
Love hurts so much
Love leaves a scar
'I don't love you' is like a stake
Being driven through your heart
Dinner had been the horrid affair that she'd thought it would be. The courtiers had indeed gossiped and stared, with absolutely no regard for whether or not she was within earshot. The worst of the rumors said that Zidane had been the one who'd beaten her, but Sir Fratley had done wonders to suppress that one.
But Janus had taken a delight in her discomfort in her distress that was sadistic. There had been no way she could avoid his notice long enough to escape the dining hall.
The only light in the entire dinner had come during the final course. Sir Fratley had invited her to Burmecia for the birth of his first children. Garnet had agreed readily, both to get away from Janus and to see her old friend Freya. And then, during a moment when Janus had his back turned, the Dragon Knight had whispered in her ear: "If you want to leave him, all of Burmecia will be behind you."
She'd smiled. Even if she couldn't leave Janus, it had been comforting that Fratley had made such a promise. It was comforting that he'd realized what was going on and wanted to help her.
Now, she was sprawled on her bed, face pressed into a pillow, sobbing her eyes out. It wasn't fair that she was denied anything resembling happiness after all she'd done for her people--and the whole world. She'd accepted Janus' proposal of marriage so that she could bring stability and prosperity back to her people; the least fate could have done was to make him nice to her.
Instead, she'd married a sadistic tyrant.
And, at the last meeting to discuss the economy of the Regency of Alexandria-Lindblum, the chamberlain had told her that Alexandria was supplying all the revenue to the treasury. Lindblum was providing exactly nothing to the 'alliance.'
She'd never needed to marry Janus to help her people. She'd only needed to give things a bit more time.
Janus apparently had not been the excellent successor that Uncle Cid that thought he was when he stepped down. Idly, Garnet wondered if Cid even knew what was going on. Probably not, or he'd have throttled Janus for the way he treated her, weather he was regent or not.
She wished Zidane was here. Things always made more sense when he was around. It didn't matter if Janus caught them together. He never came to her room with guards, and if he tried to kill Zidane alone, he'd never be able to take the former thief.
And if she was here when it happened, Shiva and Ramuh would both fit in this room.
Suddenly, something clicked in her mind, and Garnet stopped crying. I'm such an idiot.
Even if he sent a hundred guards against them, there was no way that Janus could kill Zidane if the two of them were together. Even if they were unarmed and naked her Eidolons were more than enough to protect them.
She allowed herself a moment to feel stupid for her lack of thinking. Then she got up from her bed to change her clothes.
Five minutes later, Tiger Racket in hand, Dagger dropped off of her balcony and into the courtyard. Deftly dodging Steiner's Pluto Knights as they patrolled, she headed into Alendria City and toward the house Zidane kept there.