Running Away

Chapter 13. Dagger realizes

Oh...why did he ask me that?

Doesn't he know already? I thought he would have forgotten all about me and go with Cassie… They'd be happy together…And I'd be happy for them… wouldn't I?

Dagger sat at her frilly dressing table deep in thought. Outside the sweet birds chirped sweet melodies, but inside she felt cold and guilty.

Even if…I know she's cheating…I'm happy for him to love her…right? I mean, I just told him nothing was ever going to be on between us unless it's friendship…and that's all I want…right?

I'll always love him…deep, deep inside…but I'll always love Robert more of course………

Right?

Dagger shook her head violently, shaking the thought out of her mind. If she really loved Robert she wouldn't be feeling like this, would she?

Am I making the right decision? I ask this the second time… and I was wrong…Zidane didn't love me…then why would he ask? Unless….

NO! Of course he doesn't love ME! I…I……I don't believe it……But what about Cassie? I mean, I could be all wrong! Of course…I'm wrong…….

Yes……he doesn't love me…

Dagger's eyes swelled with soft wet tears. She didn't know why the thought of Zidane not loving her still shocked her…

Then why don't I feel happy? I love Robert now, not Zidane…well not officially.

Isn't this good news…?

Suddenly she was interrupted by a soft knocking at the door.

"Come in." She called softly, regaining her majestic tone again.

Vivi walked modestly into the room, bowing low before her.

"Sir Robert Fields has arrived from Lindbulm and would like to talk to you in the main courtyard now." Vivi reported, his voice trembling.

"Okay Vivi. Thank you." She replied and slipped on a sleek purple satin robe over her thing yellow summer dress and left her quarters.

In the courtyards…

"Good afternoon Garnet. I was thinking, what if we went on a countryside ride on chocobos?" Sir Robert suggested, sitting Dagger gently down onto an outdoor chair as he sat on one opposite her. He smiled charmingly.

Dagger smiled mildly, but didn't say anything. She secretly didn't feel like spending time with him that day, instead she wanted to figure out what Zidane had meant. Sir Roberts caught onto it immediately, starting to frown.

"Are you okay Garnet? Is something upsetting you?" He asked kindly, stroking her back softly. Dagger looked up at him with a small smile.

"I'm sorry Robert, but um…could I please be alone today…please?" She asked softly, trying not to hurt him. She felt Sir Robert's hand slowly retreat from her back.

"Is it me Garnet? Have I upset you? Please, I'll stop doing it, just tell me sweetheart." He assured her, smiling again as he tried to comfort her. She smiled softly to herself.

"It's not you Robert, I just don't feel like socializing today, I'm sorry. Maybe tomorrow." She gave him a sweet kiss on the lips and left the courtyard silently.

In the library…

"I'm very worried about her…" Vivi said concernedly, leaning forward from his armchair where he sat in. Freya, sitting in the armchair opposite him, staring back seriously.

"Did we do you right thing? Do you think Sir Roberts is the right one her Dagger?" Freya questioned herself, feeling awful.

"No matter what we do Zidane will always be in her heart, always." Vivi added grumpily. He sighed, stressed. Taking off his glasses he massaged his sleepy eyes. But they didn't notice someone on the other side of the bookcase was listening in on their conversation.

Dagger pressed her ear back against the bookcase on the other side, anxious to hear what they were talking about as they continued to speak.

I wonder what they are talking about. Something about me and Sir Roberts……and Zidane…yes, he will always be in my heart……

"Oh Zidane, always has to be hurtful. Why didn't he just tell her instead of denying it?" Freya exclaimed angrily, banging her fist down onto the armchair hard as Vivi surprisingly looked at her confused. Freya eye's bulged out and angrily she sighed, she was in no mood to explain things properly.

Dagger gasped. What did Freya mean? What did Zidane need to tell her?

What's going on? What are there talking about? About Zidane needing to tell me something? What?

She trembled slightly but kept on listening, not making a sound.

"Oh god Vivi! Where have you been these few days!" Freya asked, very irritated. Taking a slow breath she calmed down to a normal relaxed state to talk normally.

"He loves her."

Dagger gasped loudly, shocked and utterly surprised then quickly slammed her mouth shut with her hand. She hugged the book she was holding to her chest tightly with her hand, breathing slowly to regain control while her mind was going crazy.

LOVES ME? ZIDANE LOVES ME! It-it-it's impossible! Impossible…But, how would they realize it? IF it's…real…

He never…told me……and so…this means…when he asked me if I…loved him…I…broke his heart…

Flashback

It was quiet for a while.

"Dagger, this might sound weird, so could you do this for me?" Zidane said hopefully.

"Okay…" Dagger said in return as Zidane held her hands and looked straight into her lovely chocolate brown eyes gently.

"Do you still love me?"

Dagger gasped and drew away quickly. She looked away and her face flushed red. She turned back to Zidane's longing eyes.

"Oh Zidane!" She worried, covering her mouth with her hand as she shook her head, miserable.

"I was just wondering Dagger! Okay?" Zidane assured, Dagger gave a sigh of relief.

"Can you still answer the question?"

Dagger sighed uneasily.

"Yes. I'll always love you. But, from afar, I had to move on….." Dagger replied, sorrow filling her heart as she thought of it.

"Oh…." Zidane muttered to himself gravely.

Silence again.

End of Flashback

He did look…sad……oh god…now I've broken his heart! I LOVE YOU ZIDANE! I love you so much and I always will! I'll never ever leave you!

But……what about Robert…? D-do I still love him…? No! I'll have to break somebody's heart!

Dagger ran out of the library crying desperately out loud, not caring whoever saw her and just ran towards the castle exits. There stood some Pluto knights with surprised expressions on their faces, having seen her highness in such a state. Dagger stared at them and tried to run between them but they came in closer together, shutting out the exit. Dagger stared at them angrily, stilling crying. Reaching at her thigh she grabbed out her Tiger Racket and stood in an attack stance.

"We cannot let you through your highness." They said nervously, scared that suddenly the soft queen had turned very angry.

"If you won't let me out I'll make a way out!" She yelled furiously through tears and swung her racket at three knight's chests. They fell down in pain, shocked that their queen could actually hit something so hard. With another painful blow, all the knights were down on the floor, their mouth open in shock. Dagger sniffed, even more depressed. After mumbling a sorry to the guards she ran off out into the Alexandrian town.

Realizing her exposure, she quickly hurried off into a quiet looking pub and sat down at the counter. The bartender, seeing her silver crown and the Silver Pendant when she lowered her head was in shock and didn't know what to do. Finally he gathered all of his courage and walked towards her with a trembling smile.

"What can I do for you, your highness?" He asked shakily, Dagger looked up at him, her eyes sore and red from crying and her beautiful pale face was covered with dried tears. The bartender just looked surprised and decided to just hide in the back room instead.