Chapter Three

The Queen's private chambers was in chaos. Maids flitted about under Lady Hilda's command. Garnet simply stared at herself in her reflection, unaware of who was staring back. Several arms swung around her. Maids combed her hair while another worked on weaving a fishtail braid to fall down her shoulder. One maid pinned a floral hair clip to the top of her head. Behind Garnet, a maid worked on the corset straps of her bodice, sucking her into her already confining prison. Her dress was an amazing feat, courtesy of Hilda's ambitions. It was as white as a cloud. The torso had bones sewed inside to give it a sturdy and tight fit. The fabric was embroidered with little flowers and doves that Garnet knew a poor seamstress poured hours of time into. The sweetheart neckline reached upward to the floral lace sleeves that clung tightly to Garnet's slender arms and traveled down to loop around her middle finger. The skirt was like a balloon, fanning out all around her waist to portray elegance. Garnet pursed her lips as the maids worked together to attach the long veil that matched her arms. It was a long train that reached easily a foot and a half from her gown. One of the help quickly clipped a pearl necklace around her and then, finally, everyone in the room stepped back to admire her. The maids were fawning over their work. In the mirror, Garnet watched as Hilda clasped her hands together in excitement.

"Well, darling, you certainly have redefined what royalty actually means," Hilda gushed, coming to stand beside Garnet, who still couldn't tear her eyes away from her reflection. "You're the most beautiful bride. And I'm comparing you to me, as well!" She burst into little giggles that died away as she saw Garnet had not reacted. Her dark eyes were still only trained forward. Hilda watched the side of her niece's face for just a moment before she clapped her hands. "Alright, ladies, great work! But we need to give give the bride some time alone! A woman always needs that silence to take in all they are!" Hurriedly, the maids began curtsying and funneling out the door. "I'll just be down in the garden chatting the guests up," Hilda's hand came to rest on Garnet's lacy shoulder. "Do holler if you need something, darling. I'll see you shortly!" The older woman was so clearly excited as she headed towards the door. She paused, her hand gripping the polished brass door knob. "You look so fabulous, darling. I hope this is the happiest day of your life." The door then shut behind her and Garnet found herself in utter silence.

Garnet released a breath she didn't realize she was holding. She lowered the floral arrangement in her hands, promptly tossing it onto her vanity. The tulips and lavender folded together. Garnet's heart was hammering in her chest as she approached the mirror, practically dragging the dress behind her. She gripped the frame, staring as if she didn't recognize herself. It was all too lavish. She saw it as the end of her life, but the gleaming white satin portrayed a totally different image. She breathed deeply through her nose as reality hit her full force. This was really happening. She had spent weeks denying it, thinking the day would never come. However, there she was. For a moment, she wanted to rear her fist back and drive it through the mirror. She decided to turn away from her reflection instead. Garnet let out a shallow sigh, wringing her fingers around her pearls. She then ran her hands along her jaw, feeling herself flush beneath the thick make up powdered on her cheeks. She looked down, her vision only filled with the billowing layers of satin below her. She ripped her eyes away and practically tumbled through her chambers before she found herself at the window. The garden was bustling with a funneling of people. The ceremony would take place in the clearing her mother was buried in, just beside the pier. Garnet's breaths were frantic as she pressed herself to the window, her eyes scanning every aspect of the venue. She then put her back to the glass, staring around the room in an almost panic. It felt like the walls were closing in on her suddenly. Garnet wanted to scream.

In the next moment, though, there was a knock on her door and she froze. "Who... who is it?" She asked, her throat pinched and dry.

"Your Majesty," came a familiar voice. "I have come to pay my respects."

Garnet let out a sigh, pressing her hand to her collarbone. "You may enter."

The door eased open and a rattle rang out as Steiner appeared in the room. His jaw nearly unhinged from his skull as he closed the door. Standing before him was the truth of what life had become. She was an actual young woman now. Though, the captain would never stop seeing that precocious little girl he had watched grow. Times were very different indeed. No longer was she running around the castle, making fake engine noises with her tin airship toys. Now, she was making decisions for a nation and growing into a respectable leader. There was still a fragility and tenderness about her as she could only stare back at Steiner, trying to refrain from shaking. She was almost glad in that moment that her skirt was so voluminous. Her knees were practically knocking together. Garnet's dark eyes watched as Steiner's face softened and he shook his head.

"Your Majesty..." his voice was barely above a whisper. "You look magnificent. You're... you're beautiful."

"Thank you, Steiner," Garnet's eye lashes fluttered as she glanced at the intricate lace that hugged her arms. "Aunt Hilda certainly had high ambitions."

"You know, I was a fairly young boy when your mother and father were wed," Steiner said, folding his hands behind his back and approaching the Queen. "I remember that I had to climb many rooftops just to so much as get a glance of them beneath the pergola in the royal garden. Your mother was stunning in her gown. It had large, puffy sleeves, and a train that was as long as a canal. Of course, today, her dress would be considered unfashionable." Garnet and Steiner shared a watery grin. "I thought I was so lucky to have scrambled up that rooftop to catch even the slightest glimpse of them. And now, today, I stand in the same room as the Queen and can admire her up close."

"Oh, Steiner..." Garnet felt warm, salty tears brimming her eyes and she reached forward to grip both of his arms. "I can't thank you enough for all you've done for me. You've been like a father to me these past few years. I don't know how I would have made it this far without you. Well... frankly, I wouldn't have."

"Give yourself more credit, Your Majesty," Steiner smiled nonetheless. "You are a stronger force than what you've lead yourself to believe. Even in the wake of all that has happened, I have never seen you give up."

"Well, I have wanted to," Garnet whispered. She sniffled for a moment and looked away, pressing the back of her hand to her lips. "Steiner... can I tell you something?"

"Anything, Your Majesty," Steiner said, squeezing her other delicate hand. Slowly, Garnet lowered her eyes and licked her lips. Her mind was abuzz as she worked up her courage. Steiner watched her, rather sadly, before he sighed. "You don't want to marry Liam. Is that it?" Immediately, she looked to him, relatively stunned. Steiner pursed his lips and shook his head. "I know you'll never stop loving him... pining after him... no matter how much time pasts. You were impacted in ways you cannot go back on. I understand, Your Majesty."

"Does that make me a bad person?" She asked meekly. "Marrying him when he is not my true love...?"

"No..." Steiner shook his head, giving her hands a squeeze. "Royalty may be able to afford a lot, Your Majesty... but it does not always come with the luxury of options."

"Am I making the right choice... for my people...?"

Steiner placed his hand under her chin, lifting her eyes. "I can't answer that for you, Your Majesty. You have to answer it for yourself. And I hope you choose your happiness over theirs..."

Garnet swallowed roughly as her glassy eyes darted between Steiner's. "I just wish I knew what truly made me happy anymore, Steiner. It's like I've lost that piece of myself and I'm trying so desperately to find it. I only hope things start making sense soon. Do you think... Zidane's somewhere out there?"

Steiner lowered his eyes and furrowed his brow. "I don't know, Your Majesty." He looked to her sad face. "I hope so, though. And if I ever see him again, he's in for an ass-whooping, I promise." He managed to win a smile from her face even as her tears glinted down her cheeks. "Now tell me, Your Majesty... are you choosing your happiness or simply everyone else's?"

Garnet stared at him for a moment before she turned back towards the sunlight streaming through the window. She walked from his grasp and gingerly pressed her palm to the glass. The courtyard was full now with hundreds of guest sitting patiently. Liam had gathered at the altar just beyond the awning of the pergola. His dark hair had been slicked and he sported a crisp suit, the color of the night sky. That was her cue it was near time for her to march herself down the aisle. She lifted her eyes to look over all of Alexandria extending away from her. She then turned towards Steiner.

"I guess we're about to find out."

...

Garnet's stomach was in absolute knots as she stood around the hedge from the awaiting guests. She was gripping the stems of her bouquet so tightly, she was certain the poor flowers were going to wilt. As soon as she heard the cadence of the drum lead the bagpipes and flutes into song, Garnet was certain she was about to be sick. She tried to tell herself to breath. She had to focus. Now was the moment that would define the rest of her life. Garnet tilted her head back, watching the clouds drift by. A few doves could be seen taking flight, away from all the noise. How dearly she wished she could join them. The drum pounded through her head and she took a final deep breath, rounding the corner to find over one hundred eyes on her. It was a sea of unfamiliar faces, but a few stood out. Freya was in the crowd, sporting an olive green hat and matching coat. It was impossible to tell what she was thinking. Of course, Lady Eiko was there. She seemed mostly excited about the gown. Surprisingly, Amarant was present, arms crossed over his chest. He didn't even bother turning with the wave of people who wanted to gawk at the arrived bride. Quina was probably in the kitchen. The music droned through her ears ago. The very same arrangement had been performed at her parent's wedding over two decades ago.

She stared straight ahead now, straightening her shoulders. Her stomach continued to twist tighter and tighter as her eyes fell over Liam at the end of the aisle. His bow tie was pristinely straight and he wore the biggest smile. Liam's hands were folded behind her back. His coat parted as he shifted between his feet and she caught a glimpse of his suspenders beneath his gleaming silky vest. He seemed pleased as punch as Garnet began taking a few robotic steps forward.

. "I'm sorry I let you all down."

"You did no such thing. You really don't have to explain yourself. You have to do what's best for you, Zidane."

"You'll come for my birthday?"

"Hell, I'll act in that show until you get sick and tired of seeing it."

"Will you come... for my wedding?"

Garnet stopped abruptly in the center of the aisle. Her shoulders were rising and falling as it suddenly became difficult to breath. She stared straight ahead at the beaming Liam, her heart pounding in her chest. The music continued to drag on, but for Garnet, it was slowly becoming the anthem for her funeral. She could hear a few hushed whispers break out amongst the crowd as she realized she had been stuck in place for well over a minute. Her manicured nails were slowly digging into the stems and she felt the sticky juice of the flowers dribbling towards her palms. Slowly, Liam was straightening up and his smile was beginning to falter. Garnet still kept her eyes locked on him and it felt as if the world was suddenly falling out from beneath her. Liam's eyes darted towards the nearby band as they continued without fail to keep the music merry and upbeat. Liam took a single step out from beneath the pergola but froze up entirely in the next moment. Garnet hurled the bouquet to the ground and whirled around. She lifted her skirt and ran with all her might. All the wedding guests came to their feet in waves, gasping sharply and getting loud with shock. Garnet raced right past Beatrix and Steiner.

"Your Majesty!" Beatrix shouted. "Wait!"

"Garnet!" Hilda nearly wailed, racing down the aisle. "Garnet, darling, come back!"

Garnet was already panting heavily as she took a sharp turn around the corner. She ran directly into a Knight of Pluto, but Garnet quickly shoved the surprised soldier aside and continued running as fast as she could. She could still hear her name being shouted from behind her, but she didn't stop. She staggered down the sloping stone staircases. Her hurried foot pressed into the skirt. RIIIIIIIIIIIIIP! The slip beneath the skirt tore and instantly, the dress lost volume. The fabric was left behind in her hot trail. That didn't delay Garnet as she leapt from the stairs, landing in the buckling gondola. With shaking, frazzled hands, she reached for the oar and, with great urgency, pushed away from the edge just as Beatrix, Steiner, Freya, Eiko, Hilda, Liam, and a fleet of soldiers came bursting into the scene.

"Where are you going?!" Eiko held her arms out at her side.

"Anywhere but here," Garnet was breathless as she batted the oar through the murky water. She wasn't even certain anyone heard her.

Hilda gave the soldier beside her a whack. "Go get another gondola, what are you waiting for!? She's not in the right state of mind, we have to stop her."

Liam was silent and unmoving as he watched her desperate attempt to get across the river. As the other side came close, Garnet abandoned the oar into the river and leapt with tenacity. She collided with the stone pier, her skirt falling into the water. Garnet kicked quickly, losing her heels in the process. She scraped her elbows as she pulled herself up. Crimson red blood stained her lace. She glanced over her shoulder for a fleeting moment before she took off in a run again, her bare feet slapping against the cobblestone.

"Jump in and swim, you dolt!" Hilda demanded furiously.

Freya glanced towards the angry lady beside her before she bent her knees, easily sending herself through the air. She landed on the pier across the river and gave the boat a mighty push to send it back across the small channel. She turned to see the last bit of Garnet's veil disappearing around the bend. Freya was light on her feet as she hurried after her old friend. "Dagger!" Freya shouted. She was quick to catch onto Garnet's trail as the young monarch raced through the market square. Several people seemed bewildered as they watched the dirtied bride run by. Garnet glanced over her shoulder to see Freya. In her moment of distraction, she ran directly into the side of a fruit cart and she cursed loudly as the purple berries splattered up her bodice. Garnet was quick to round the cart, knocking it over in the process. Freya leapt over the mess. "Dagger! Wait! I just want to talk, please!" Down the winding alley Freya chased Garnet. The runaway bride ran directly in front of a man carrying a crate of produce. His boot came down on her veil and Garnet let out a cry as she was forced to the ground. The veil promptly ripped in half. Her scalp was burning, but that didn't stop her as she staggered to her feet, the side of her dress smudged with dirt. "Dagger!" Freya shouted again, rounding the surprised worker who wasn't quite sure what had just happened.

The Dragoon could feel herself growing winded but continued the pursuit. Garnet was undoubtedly running on a lot of adrenaline. She chased the Queen past the docks and watched as she effortlessly leapt a fence. Garnet's lungs were burning but something inside of her could only command one thing: run. She didn't know where she was going or for how long she could keep it up. Garnet just knew she had to get out of there. Down the steps she barreled. The hem of the skirt was frayed and strings trailed after her. Freya appeared at the top of the stairs and paused, her shoulders rising and falling, as she watched Garnet continue towards the next set of stairs leading down the alley.

"Freya!" Beatrix was panting as she approached the Burmecian. "Did you lose her?"

"No, no," Freya shook her head. "Straight ahead."

"The southern district...?" Beatrix huffed, furrowing her brow. Soon, the Knights of Pluto, Squad Beatrix, and all the rattled friends of Garnet began funneling out of the alleyways they had taken in pursuit. "She's going to run out of land eventually. She'll have to turn back. Why wouldn't Her Majesty take the western district? She knows that will lead her in a direction with a traversable path..."

"Let's hurry!" Steiner's winded voice called out. Quickly, in a straight line, Freya lead the group of people after her, deftly scaling the steps.

Just up ahead, Garnet windmilled her arms as she came to an abrupt halt. She felt against the cool brick wall, tears streaming down her hot face. Her chest was rising and falling heavily as she tried to catch her breath. What was she going to do now? It felt as if she had just put the final nail in her coffin. She rubbed tiredly at her face as her breathing still continued in erratic patterns. Her hands were shaking almost violently as she wiped the salty tears and sweat from her brow. After a moment, she heard yelling down the alley. She bit down on her tongue so hard, she tasted copper. Didn't anyone realize that she just wanted to be alone so she could think for a moment?

"Garnet, sweetheart," Liam appeared around the corner. Garnet backed up, her grimy feet sliding across the cobblestone paths. Her nails dug into the clay brick walls. "Garnet, let's talk." Hurriedly, she spun around again, nearly tripping over her torn up skirt. "Damn it all!" Liam sneered as he immediately took off after her, followed by Freya, Beatrix, and Steiner. With short pants, Garnet looked over her shoulder to see them pursuing her. She swung her arm out and knocked a trash bin over, ripping her lacy sleeve from the wrist to her elbow. It now flailed freely in the breeze. Liam nearly face planted over the trash can, pumping his arms even harder. "Garnet! Garnet, wait!" She didn't stop, though. She continued barreling around the curving alleyway, approaching a black iron wrought archway.

"She's heading for Phoenix Cliff!" Beatrix shouted, her hair beating against her back. "She'll have no where to go from there."

Garnet's feet crossed the threshold that lead her to marshy soil and wispy, wild grass. She continued forward, the Mist Continent now filling her vision. She could see the distant weaving rivers, the dense collections of trees. There was the mountain range that divided Lindblum from Alexandria. Suddenly, though, Garnet found herself stopping on the bank of the flowing river. She was at the edge of a cliff. She felt the mist of the waterfall come across her sticky, flushed skin. Garnet breathed heavily, her hands trembling at her side. She heard boots crunching through the grass and she whirled around, a breeze coming up the cliff and lifting her hair. Her make up was dark and smeared across her face. The dress that had been beautiful just ten minutes before was a wreck. It was tattered and stained, drooping heavily on Garnet's wiry figure. She held her arms out at her side, staring at the people as if they wished to harm her. Not a single person had ever seen the Queen so pitiful before.

"Garnet..." Liam said slowly, taking only one step forward. "Let's talk about this, sweetheart. Come a little closer to us."

"Don't call me that!" Garnet's breathy voice cried out. "Stay the hell away from me!"

"Garnet, darling, please come closer," Hilda clutched her pearls tightly in her hand. "We can work through this, darling. Have a heart to heart about it all!"

"It's too late for that!" Garnet shouted, hot tears blurring her vision. "You're only upset you aren't getting your way in the end."

"That's not true, darling," Hilda shook her head. "We only want you to be happy, you know that."

Tears continued down her face, but despite that, Garnet broke into hysterical laughs. "You? Wanted me to be happy? In what world is any of this happy?! It's just your daft, shallow, delusional world that you live in and project on others. You're a self-absorbed bimbo." Hilda gasped sharply.

"Dagger, you don't mean that," Eiko meekly shook her head, unsure if it was a question or a statement.

"Actually, I do," Garnet's eyes were intense. "I'm so sick and tired of everyone have this preconceived idea of who I am and what I'm like. I'm just me. Unfiltered, unadulterated - but it seems like no one accepts that or even tries to see me as I truly am. It's maddening. I can't live like this. I don't even want to be the Queen."

"Garnet..." Liam's breaths had shallowed now and he slowly inched toward her again, holding his palms outward. "Come closer to me, sweetheart. I think all your exhaustion and anxiety is getting to your head. It's alright, sweetheart. It happens to us all. But let's not make any rash decisions in the moment, okay? Come on..." He raked his hair from his sweaty face and extended his arm out further. "Give me your hand. It's okay... I'm here."

She ground her teeth together as the frustrated tears continued to ski down her powdered, messy face. "Don't you touch me. I told you I was sorry, didn't I?!"

"Liam, step aside," Steiner now came forward, feeling his entire body draining of warmth beneath his armor. "Your Majesty... it's me... Please, come back to us. I hate seeing you like this." Garnet sobbed and sniffled, shaking her head painfully at the man she grew up admiring, no matter how much he was a pain in the arse. "Let's get you home. We'll get you out of these dirty clothes... into something comfortable. Please..."

"I don't want to go back there," Garnet's voice was pinched as she shook her head. "That castle does nothing but fill me with dread! It reminds me of everything I lost! Everything I can't have! I cannot spend a moment more there or I may well lose my mind!" Her lips trembled as she felt something inside her utterly breaking. It was the point of no return, she was certain. "Eighteen months ago..." She sputtered, her voice shaking. "I watched the love of my life get in a boat and depart from my castle. I can't stay cooped up in that castle, letting my life passively go by, all on the account of some false obligations. I do not want to be Queen. I never was supposed to be. Maybe I should have just let Astrid have it all those months ago!"

"Your Majesty, can you hear yourself?!" Beatrix threw her arms out at her side.

"Perfectly fine," Garnet straightened her shoulders and tilted her chin up. "Loud and clear for the first time in a while, actually."

"No, this is not like you," Beatrix shook her head. Another strong breeze rushed through the scene. "You fought valiantly to the end for your kingdom. You put your own safety on the line. You're a good person, Your Majesty. You are not this. You are above it!"

"Above what?" Garnet shot back. "I'm only a good person because I hide all my pain and act right for everyone else's sake? This is my life and I'm only allowing it to use me as a puppet. When do I get to live?! When do I get to answer for myself!?" Everyone was only gravitating closer to her now.

"Darling, please," Hilda practically pleaded now. "Come to us. Let's take you home, darling. To a nice warm bath. You can sort your thoughts there."

"I've already made up my mind," Garnet told them defiantly. "I'm going after Zidane. I need closure. And I'll never get it with a life like this."

"You don't even know where he is!" Liam raised his voice. His coat flapped in the wind. "You're in absolutely no condition to be setting off on your own like that. You'll get yourself killed, Garnet."

"I'd rather die fighting for what we had, rather than sit here and waste away with you," Garnet said darkly.

Liam's green eyes stared at her intensely. "Well, then... what's your next move, Garnet?"

"One of freedom," she whispered, barely to be heard over the roar of the waterfall. In the next moment, she closed her eyes. She could hear bits of the jazzy, bright, slight off-key Tantalus band, along with the roars of the crowd. The flapping of the flag line was close to her ear and the next thing she felt was absolutely nothing. Liam bolted forward. Screams and shrill cries rang out, but it all fell on Garnet's deaf ears. Liam fell harshly to his knees, letting out an agonizing shout, as if he had been wounded.

"Garnet, no!" Liam yelled, watching as her body disappeared into the mist and tides of the waterfall. Tears flowed down his face and he slammed his fist against the boulder until his knuckles were bloody. "No, godsdammit! Why, why, why?!"

"Your Majesty...!" Steiner's entire body felt petrified and he staggered, falling right on his back end.

Freya stood absolutely still, like a statue. Her light eyes were as wide as saucers and she suddenly felt lightheaded and nauseous. Her brain effectively began to shut down and, for a moment, she thought she was going to faint. She crouched down, putting her hand over her mouth in a stunned fashion. Lady Hilda turned away from the scene and found herself collapsing to her knees, shaking and trembling, sharp gasps stuck in her throat. Eiko fell against her, losing all control of her body and mind. Beatrix's breathing was shallow and her hands were shaking violently. She ground her teeth together, watching as Liam squirmed and writhed just on the bank of the river.

"I... I need a fleet!" She shouted, barely able to hear herself. It felt like she was underwater. "An emergency fleet!" She turned to the stunned soldiers gathered at the iron wrought gates. "Get down there! You have to find her!"

Liam's face was wet as the tears fell freely and he weakly held himself on all fours. "There's... there's no way she could have survived that fall..."

"I don't care, dammit!" Beatrix roared. "Get a move on! This is a classified search and rescue. Go! What are you standing there for, you idiots?!" The soldiers all quickly stumbled off. Beatrix walked a few paces, as if to follow them. But she couldn't. She crumpled to ground, holding her face in her hands. The scene was seared into her brain, watching as Garnet let go of everything and simply fell backwards into the abyss. "Why is this happening?!" Beatrix screamed at the top of her lungs. She also was reduced to pounding the ground with her fists.

It felt time stood absolutely still after that. The Kingdom of Alexandria became dark and quiet. No one wandered the streets. No one opened their shutters. And soon, night time had descended over the shocked nation, encasing it in utter pitch. Liam stood in Garnet's chambers, looking out the window at the messy garden filled with overturned chairs and rumpled runners. He still sported his dirty white button up, his tie let loose and dangling from his collar. His hair was a sticky mess on his head and he couldn't stop sweating. It had been hours since the search team had left. Liam was only assuming the worst. Phoenix Cliff was over a hundred feet tall. No way would anyone survive a fall such as that. His heart wrenched in his chest as he slowly turned from the chaotic scene and silently left Garnet's chambers. He felt like he was in slow motion as he climbed the steps to the deliberation room where everyone else had holed up. He opened the door to more sadness, confronted with Hilda's shrieks as she descended into madness. Eiko sat on the steps leading to Garnet's throne, her fingers knotted through her hair, refusing to look at anyone. Beatrix turned immediately when she heard the door, but she only deflated when she saw it was Liam. Freya was against the wall with her head tilted down, her palm pressed to her face. Everyone was shell shocked and petrified. Hilda rocked back and forth on the ground, completely ignoring Regent Cid, as she screamed and cursed. The scene kept replaying in everyone's minds. Liam approached Beatrix and Steiner, who stood like ghosts in the middle of the room.

"Nothing still?" He asked softly, even with Hilda's ongoing shouts.

Beatrix shook her head, her face pale and sticky. "The bay at the bottom is large and deep in some areas. They may also be following the river downstream."

"Where does it lead?" Liam asked.

"Towards the South Gate."

Liam turned away, rubbing his face tiredly. He regretted everything in that moment. His stomach tossed again as he thought about where his life should have been instead that exact second. He ached horribly as he took a few steps away from the General and Captain, holding his side as if he had been speared. Liam felt so sick inside. So absolutely gutted and jaded. Why did all of this happen? How did they even get to that moment in time? He tried to review everything, but it was too much and too taxing.

Freya pushed away from the wall. "I'm going after that team. I'll make my own headway. I'm familiar with the lands down there."

"I'm going with you," Eiko came to her feet, her eyes red and puffy. "I have to do something. I can't sit here and just think about it for one more second."

"Eiko, no," Hilda croaked, hiccuping as she continued to sob. "I can't lose you, too."

"If Dagger did survive, she probably won't run from us," Freya said as Eiko came to her side. "We can't sit here and let the fate of our friend fall to the soldiers. We have to do something."

Beatrix pursed her lips and let out a tense sigh. She glanced away for only a moment before she nodded. "Fine. Report back in at dawn."

"Deal," Freya replied. "Come on, Eiko, let's go."

Hilda's cries became shriller and she didn't have the energy to get to her feet. She only lamely reached after Eiko as she watched the young Lady leave with the Dragoon. She then pressed her face to her palms and was wracked with another wave of exhausting emotions. Everyone looked to Hilda, lacking anything to say. Beatrix and Steiner held a tense eye contact. Both were only moments away from collapsing themselves. Liam roughly landed his back against the wall and slid down, placing his head between his knees. It would be a long time until the next sun rays would pierce over the distraught kingdom. It would only prolong everyone's suffering and regrets.