-Chapter 2-
"Your Highness, excuse me, Queen Garnet?"
Garnet snapped out of her daze to look at Regent Artania II. He was a strong young man, about 3 years older than herself, with short blonde hair and dazzling amber eyes. The Regent was boasted as being a man of all business. He was very bright and quick on the uptake. Although Garnet usually enjoyed her time with him, today her mind was elsewhere.
"I'm sorry, Regent Artania, please forgive me," Garnet said apologetically.
"That's quite alright. Didn't get enough sleep last night, did you?" he said understandingly.
"You know me too well," Garnet said with a smile. "So, where were we?"
"I was just discussing Lindblum's current economic status. Right now, our theater district is not doing so well. Apparently their best actor is taking a break and because of that, their plays and attendance have suffered. However, our industrial district is flourishing, so we are left with no progress, but no downfall either," Regent Artania concluded. There was a quiet murmuring amongst the leaders about this information.
"What about your military?" Gid asked suddenly, interrupting everyone there.
"Our what?" Regent Artania asked, confused.
"Your military, Regent Artania, what is the status of your military?" Gid repeated. There was nothing pleasant about the tone of his voice, and the mood of the room suddenly darkened as everyone turned to look at him. Garnet felt a chill run up and down her spine as she looked into his cold gray eyes. How could Jack even suggest she marry this heartless rat?
"I'm sorry, King Gid, but I wasn't aware that we were talking about military affairs at this meeting. I'm afraid I am not prepared for such discussion," Garnet said as politely and dignified as possible.
"Nor am I. Perhaps we can set up a meeting some time next fall?" Regent Artania said hopefully. He was still recovering from the shift in the mood of the meeting.
"That won't do," Gid said simply.
"Excuse me, King Gid, but why is it so urgent that we discuss such matters?" Tot asked. The three world leaders were always very cautious around Gid. He had a look in his eye that told them all quite clearly that he was not to be messed with. They all suspected him of building up his military, even though it was explicit in their treaty from the last war that such activities were to be punished severely. They had no proof, however, so all they could do was be wary of their actions towards him and Burmecia.
"I'm just saying, you can never be too prepared," Gid said simply.
"I'm sorry, King Gid, but I do believe our treaty states that we agreed to not attack or bring harm to one another. We are all in agreement that we do not wish to bring the burden of another war upon our nations?" Tot said. Garnet and Artania both nodded, but Gid sat quite still, staring directly at Tot.
"What if one of us is to attack the other, however? What then? The others will be completely unprepared and it will be a slaughtering of innocent lives all over again," Gid said. His voice seemed to get more and more icy with every word he spoke. Garnet suddenly wished she was back in her warm bed snuggling with Zidane. She mentally smacked herself for going off track at such a time.
"King Gid, we assure you that this won't happen, our treaty--"
"Treaties don't mean a thing. They are just words on paper. I want proof that my country is safe from your racist people!" Gid spat.
"Racist? What are you implying Gid?" Artania asked.
"You know what I am talking about. I have here over 50 accounts of when my people were discriminated against in your countries because they were Burmecian! So while you all sit here and talk about your economic status, I worry for the safety of my people!" Gid slammed a large pile of papers on the table and stood up in a fury. Garnet tried to think quickly. She wanted to end this meeting as peacefully and quickly as possible.
"King Gid, I assure you that there will be an end to the discrimination as quickly as possible, but I'm afraid I do not understand. Why would there be such a shift in attitude towards Burmecians? People of all nations have always lived in harmony before," Garnet said. She chose her words carefully.
"I don't understand either, Queen Garnet. I was hoping you could tell me," Gid said through his teeth.
Everyone in the room was silent for quite awhile before the opening of the door snapped them from their trance. A Burmecian entered the room. He did not look at anybody, but walked directly to King Gid, where he whispered something in his ear.
"If you will excuse me, I have affairs to attend to else where. This has been a rather, productive meeting," King Gid scoffed. He turned sharply and left the room.
Everyone was silent once again. No one knew what to say. Garnet was deep in thought. This probably meant that Burmecia was preparing for war. Anything could tip Gid over the edge to make him fire the first shot. Alexandria was not prepared for war at all because of the treaty. She and most of her fellow world leaders have followed the rules, but one hasn't and now her people were in jeopardy.
"So, back to Treno's economy. The auctions and card tournaments really bring in the tourists . . . ."
"JACK!" Garnet hollered in desperation once the meeting was over and the guests had left. She wandered around the castle for several minutes before she found him in the new study. He was sitting with his back to the giant window that was the entire length of the wall. Garnet didn't spend much in this room because all the books had been imported from her old summoners' village. They gave her the creeps.
"What is it, Your Highness?" Jack asked, looking up from his book.
"Burmecia is building up their army and they are planning an attack, soon." Garnet said panicked.
"Do you have any proof?" Jack asked simply. He took his glasses off and looked at her intently. He was trying to teach her a lesson about being a queen, Garnet knew it, but she didn't have time to play his games.
"Enough proof to satisfy. He insists on knowing about all the military affairs immediately. He talks about how his people are discriminated against, how if one of the countries bound to the treaty were to break it, the other countries would be in danger--"
"This isn't proof, Garnet," Jack said simply. He looked at her sternly.
"No, but it has to be. It's enough proof for me!" Garnet said desperately. She wanted to protect her people from those monsters. She had to do something, she couldn't just sit back and wait for her people to die before she did anything about it. She had to stop it before it happened.
"You need more proof than assumption to attack a nation. I'm sorry, I know that's what it seems like, but you can't simply go on what you think. You need good visual proof--"
"Will dead bodies be proof enough for you, then?" Garnet asked coldly. "When my people are dying in the streets because of an attack from Burmecia, will you have enough proof then?"
"Garnet this is a touchy subject, you are young and inexperienced--"
"I understand this, but I know what's best for my country," Garnet said angrily.
"Then you will marry King Gid?" Jack threw back at her. Garnet faltered, she wasn't sure of what to say.
"I see, so quick to go to war, but in affairs of love . . . ," Jack said.
"It's not so simple as that--"
"Garnet, you think you are being noble by going to war. You think you have it all planned out, that you are thinking only of your country. However, in your scenario, Alexandrians will die either way. Thousands of young men will be sent to their deaths if you wage war on Burmecia, a war whose purpose you are not even sure of. What if you're wrong, what then? Those lives have been wasted, and Burmecia will never be our ally ever again, we will have betrayed their already faltering trust," Jack spoke sharply. He was not being a father to Garnet anymore.
"You silly little girl, you think you know what you are doing because you ran around Gaia with a foolish, idiotic Genome for a year, but life is more than silly, teenage love. You must put your people before yourself. Do you want to solve this problem with Burmecia? Then offer peace to them by offering your hand in marriage to Gid, that is a wise solution."
Garnet was speechless. "I will . . . need some time to think over what you have said," she said slowly before leaving the room. She walked quickly up to her room. Once she got there, she slammed the door behind her and slid down to the floor, pushing her hands through her hair in sheer desperation.
Burmecia was going to attack her people, she knew it. If only she could get proof, but how was she going to do this? Sending spies in would be too risky, if they were caught, then this would start the war she was trying to avoid. As much as she hated to admit it, Jack was right. The only solution was marriage.
She looked up from her fetal position to see two big blue eyes looking back at her.
"Hello, Zidane," Garnet said quietly. Guilt panged in her heart as she thought of the Burmecian King and the unavoidable marriage.
"Still in the same shape as this morning, I see. Day didn't go to well, then, I take it?" he said, his smile never leaving his face.
"No, of course not," Garnet said. She got up and began to take off her heavy clothing. Zidane came over and began to help, kissing her softly on her neck every now and then. With each kiss, Garnet's heart hurt more and more. She could never say 'I do' to any other man. She loved Zidane with all her heart, there was no doubt about this. Lying to the world about her feelings couldn't possibly help anything.
Before she knew it, Garnet's feelings of worry and despair had melted away. She was with the one person in the world who could truly understand her feelings and help her through her pain. She forgot about how the world rested on her shoulders, how so many people expected so much of her, when she felt she could only do so little. Her life was to solely please the man she loved, and she intended on doing just that.
The sun slowly set on the horizon, ending another day for Queen Garnet Til Alexandros the 17th. She watched the last glimmers of the sun as they lit the city. As the sun set, so did the consequences of her actions. She began to realize what the consequences of being with Zidane could mean to herself and her people if they were found out. However, when she looked away from her people, at Zidane's face, she couldn't see herself making any other decision.