Chapter 1: Thank you

Penelo had spent most of her life living in the basement of a grand city. She recognized this; however she didn't need or want to be marked by it. She could see it in their faces. Ashe, who was next in line to be the Queen. Balthier, who had known a much grander side of life in his youth, and who had the pride to match even the most noble of gentry. Fran, who looked at her only as a child. And then there was Vaan. Vaan never looked at her as anything but a little sister. She wasn't as capable as him (though she didn't think him that capable to begin with…), she wasn't a warrior, and she wasn't a thief. She was Penelo. Nothing more, but compared to his companions, seemingly less. However, Basch cannot be left out of the picture.

Basch was something different altogether. She couldn't initially tell if he treated her as an equal because he felt they were all equal, or he felt as though his past significantly lowered him to "her level." Regardless of the activity or situation, Basch was always kind. He was a strong arm ready to shield her from harm, or to pat her on the back when consolation was needed. However, kindness, in the eyes of a young girl, can oft be misconstrued as something far different.


The Paramina Rift was Hell frozen over. There was many a foe ready for anything that had survived long enough to still be warm and delicious to eat, and the endless cold was becoming a bit much for Penelo. Her desert clothing was not entirely well equipped to handle the bitter chill. When the journey was put on pause for the need of a warm fire and well earned sleep, Penelo wanted nothing more than to eat something hot, help set up the group's tent and spread out her bed roll. After all, she had been the one saddled with the particularly heavy piece of equipment. However she couldn't quite seem to catch a break.

After all of the equipment was unpacked and a strong fire made, the group settled down on seats made of rocks found nearby. And that seemed as if that was all they were going to do. Penelo looked around curiously. She thought sure that Ashe would soon begin on dinner. It was, after all, her turn. Penelo was rather good at cooking; however she seemed to be pushed into the chore every night. She was quite certain, in fact, that it WAS Ashe's turn.

"So…" Vaan piped up. "When are you gonna start on dinner, Pen?" He asked.

"What? But it's…" she said slowly. "GAH! Never mind!" Penelo spat the words out and stormed off in search of her weapon.

She found it quickly and started off in any direction that wasn't back to camp. She continued walking steadily until she was out of eyeshot of the others. When she had been lost from their view she threw her spear into the snow as if it had offended her greatly. She began kicking the cliff face next to her. Out of love of her foot she decided to settle against it instead and rested her arms on her knees. She began to wonder why she even came on this stupid quest anyway. She regretted her thoughts and felt slightly ashamed. It was for her people. Her family. She knew this, but when she was treated as the personal slave of the people she had been stuck with for almost a year, she almost wanted to withdraw. What was she anyway? An orphan girl. She wasn't the best fighter. She wasn't the best at negotiations. She wasn't even the best cook!

"Why am I here?" She said aloud. She let her head fall onto her arms. At least it helped muffle her sobs.

"Are you alright?" It was Basch. The only one who felt chivalrous enough to even check and see if she was alright. And she most certainly was not.

"Yes…" She mumbled without lifting her head. "No…" She said looking up at the knight. "I'm not alright." She said, her eyes red and puffy.

She stood and brushed away her tears, perhaps trying to seem brave.

"I'll be fine. I just," She paused trying to come up with an excuse to get away from him.

She felt ashamed of her tears in front of him. She was supposed to be strong. She couldn't waste her time crying about nothing. Look at him. He'd been in a cage for two years. His former honor stripped from him by his very own flesh and blood. She couldn't cry in front of him.

"I just need to find something to cook." She said flashing a hopefully reassuring smile. "I'll be okay. You can head back to camp. No need to help, I'll be quick." She said turning her back to shield her red eyes, water beginning to well up against her will.

"Nonsense." Basch said drawing his sword and walking toward her.

He rubbed her back with a calloused, warm hand and pulled her chin to face him.

"There is a difference between being strong and being foolish." He said calmly, wiping a tear from her cheek.

She sniffed and started to retrieve her spear. "I'm sorry." She said rubbing her eyes with her palms. She retrieved her spear and joined him by his side. She looked at the ground as much as she could, avoiding looking him in the face.

"So tell me. What troubled you so?" Basch said looking at her confused.

"I… It was just nerves… It's getting at everyone. I just had a weak moment." She smiled as happily as she could but continued her downward gaze.

"Nay, Penelo. You need not be ashamed to tell me. It will stay between our ears." He said gazing her way again.

"I just… I'm sick of being the weakest in the group, and of course getting saddled with every chore! I've cooked for the group for the past five nights! Not to mention I carry the supply bag AND the tent! I'm just done. Just because I don't wave a sword as well as Vaan! I… I can't do this anymore." She stopped, resting her spear on the ground and placing a hand to her forehead leaving her bangs a mess.

"You're right. I am sorry." Basch said seemingly deep in thought.

"I… What? I mean… You shouldn't be sorry. It wasn't your fault." Penelo corrected herself reaching a hand out to metaphorically wave off his concern. She blushed pulling her hand back to her chest.

"Nay. It was my fault, because I didn't do anything to prevent it. I will the carry the tent if that's alright with you." He said gently. She could detect the presence of a small smile. He ruffled her hair which seemed more to correct the hairs gone astray than create them.

They quickly made work of a wolf and together they dragged it back to camp. Penelo felt closer to Basch. He seemed to be the only one who actually acknowledged the things she said. She liked feeling a little important sometimes.

When they entered camp little notice was taken of them. That is until Basch did something rather unexpected.

Basch threw the wolf at Balthier. "Clean it." He said. His tone was calm and steady, but Penelo could pick up tones of displeasure. "My Lady, I am sorry, but I believe it is your turn to cook the evening's meal, if I am not mistaken." Basch left the group, who seemed utterly shocked that he had said so much, let alone in such a manner of authority, and retrieved his bedroll. He walked to where Penelo was sitting and placed it around her shoulders.

"Th… Thank you… Basch." Penelo said in surprise. She looked into his eyes, for what seemed like the first time. They were a steel blue and quite possibly his most fascinating feature. Had she been standing her knees would probably be knocking.

Balthier may be the ladies man of the group, but Penelo had never felt such intimacy with him as she had just now with Basch, the quite, stoic knight that blushed when anything even remotely concerning the female specimen was mentioned in conversation. Penelo quickly averted her eyes for fear that she might fall into them and never escape. She blushed slightly and pulled the bedroll around herself hiding the hint of rouge.

After a rather amusing argument between Ashe and Balthier as to what was cooked in which order with what, a dinner of a rather odd looking soup was served. It didn't taste half bad, and Penelo enjoyed the feeling of warmth that accompanied its ingestion. When half of her soup had been slurped, she walked carefully over to Basch and sat the other half a portion on his knee.

"Thank you." She whispered in his ear, enjoying the smell of firewood and soap.

Penelo retreated to the tent for she was last watch tonight and wanted to get an early start at some much needed rest. Therefore, she could not see the slight twitch of a grin on Basch's face. However, it did stop him from rejecting her offering, and she felt comfortable with that.