So destiny has brought us together.
Oh, so close together.
We were light angels in the night.
Living the dream,
at last I'll be with you forever.
And all at once it feels so right—

"Fever"—Judas Priest

A Time of Peace. A Time of War.

Chapter IV

At nine the next morning: Garnet, Steiner, Beatrix, and Freya gathered in the conference room.

"Well, should we begin, Dagger?" asked Freya.

Garnet did not answer.

"Is something wrong, Your Highness?" asked Beatrix.

"Well, Zidane said to me last night that he wanted to be here for this meeting, but…"

"Oh, I saw Zidane earlier this morning! He wasn't able to see you like he wanted to, but he left me with a message; and I forgot to tell you it."

"What was the message?"

"He said that he had to go into town today, and buy something very important. He wouldn't say what it was; only that it was important. And if he couldn't get back in time for the meeting that you should start without him, because he was certain Freya's time was valuable; and that she shouldn't wait on his behalf."

Freya smiled. "Well, that was considerate of Zidane to understand how important other people's time is."

"So, should we begin, Your Majesty?" asked Steiner.

"Why isn't Zidane here? What could be so important in town that he'd miss this meeting? …Well, it's my duty as a queen to conduct this meeting even if Zidane's not here…But when he comes back; I'm going to wring his neck! …Yes, let's begin."

Freya nodded. "Thank you, Dagger."

"So what's the situation so far?"

"Well, some civilian homes've been rebuilt…And many citizens of both Burmecia and Clerya've expressed their gratitude over the reparations they've received…However, there's still much more that needs to be done."

"Like what?"

"Burmecia's palace has yet to be rebuilt. Our legendary statue of a dragon knight's still damaged. And in Clerya, money must be given to rebuild the cathedral, and a request has been made to return the jewel that'll recall the sandstorm."

Garnet nodded. "The jewel can be returned immediately, but I'm afraid that the money you're requesting'll take a little bit more time."

"Quite frankly, Dagger, you've been saying we'll need 'a little bit more time' for sometime now. And I don't know how much longer that line of rhetoric'll work on the citizens of Burmecia and Clerya."

Garnet nodded. "I understand where you're coming from, Freya, but please understand me. The tax collectors've had a hard time collecting the taxes…"

"With all due respect, Dagger, that may be true; but I'm afraid that won't be a satisfactory answer for the citizens of Burmecia or Clerya. They want their money now."

"Tell them to be more patient," interjected Steiner.
"They've been patient enough as it is! Many of them lost everything they had—including a spouse, a parent, or even a child!"

"Please relax," replied Garnet. "Beatrix?"

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Please summon the Royal Accountant."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

A few minutes later, Beatrix returned with the Royal Accountant—a short-robust man in his mid-forties that bowed before his queen.

"How can I help you, Your Majesty?"

"Jeremy, do you know how much money's in our Treasury at this moment?"

"…I'd say around one million gil."

Garnet nodded. "Thank you." And she turned to Freya. "Freya, would around 900,000 gil be helpful?"

Freya smiled and nodded. "Yes, we can rebuild so much with that."

Garnet smiled. "Thank you. Jeremy, please complete the transaction."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Thirty minutes later, Zidane returned to the Castle. And the first person that he noticed was Captain Steiner.

"Hey Steiner! I haven't missed the meeting, have I?"

"It ended half an hour ago. What praytell was so important that you had to go into town and miss this meeting?"

"I'm sorry. I can't tell you that."

"What!"

"Only Dagger's going to be the first to know. But don't worry, you'll be hearing about it very soon…Speaking of Dagger, where is she?"

"She's in the throne room."

"Thanks."

"Zidane!" Garnet replied, almost to the moment he entered the throne room. "You said that you wanted to be at the meeting today, and then you didn't bother to show up!"

"Damn, she's really angry…Well, I had my reasons."

"So I heard. You had to go into town and buy something. And what was so important that you had to go into town and buy it now, rather than wait until later?"

"Well, I had it on my mind after we finished talking last night…It's a gift for you."

The statement, 'it's a gift for you' sparked Garnet's interest. "Oh?"

Zidane reached into his pocket, pulled out a small box, and opened it.

Garnet gasped. Inside the box was a diamond ring.

Zidane smiled, and knelt before his queen. "Would you always be my dagger, Garnet?"

"…Yes!"