Story
Title: I
Understood Everything You Didn't Say
Rating:
K
Genre:
Romance
and General
Disclaimer:
All characters do not belong to me and are copyrighted to their
respective owners.
A/N:
While browsing through various FFXII fanfictions an idea sprang to my
head and I thought Ashe and Basch were perfect for it. Their
relationship during the early stages of the game weren't at all
friendly. (Well, Basch was fine but Ashe made it difficult for him.)
But it was clear that they both had developed a strong bond of trust
and understanding at the end. I wanted to express those feelings even
further in this short story.
o------------------------------------------------------------o
The day was long. In a garden near the castle, everyone was garbed in black. The queen herself, Ashe, wore a black gown as well. A middle aged man in a black robe stood before a large tombstone, reciting a sermon. Yet as he spoke it seemed no one listened. Their eyes stared into the distance suggesting that their minds were elsewhere.
Ashe's hands were clasped at her thighs, her eyes were cast on the smoothly carved name in the tombstone.
Lord Rasler.
The touch of her wedding ring brought Ashe back to herself. She stared at the silver band that adorned her wedding finger. It did not glisten; the sun was not out that day. Ashe lifted her hand to her chest just as the sermon had finished. Everyone bowed their heads and began to leave one by one. Ashe did not move. Her servants and the soldiers who had come to pay their respects glanced anxiously at her, wondering if they should say anything, if they should comfort their queen. However, in the end they decided to leave her be. They walked on.
Once everyone had disappeared behind the stone walls, Ashe stepped toward the tombstone. She bent on her knees and removed the black veil that had covered her face the entire morning, then reached out to touch the name of the man who was once her husband. As her fingers met the cold surface of the stone she whispered his name under her breath. Rasler... It stung at her throat.
She could see herself reflected on the tombstone's surface. How sad she looked. If Rasler were with her, what would he say?
"I believe a smile suits you better."
Yes, perhaps he'd say that. It was a warm thought, but Ashe could not bring herself to smile. Her heart ached. She wanted to see him, feel him, hear his voice...
At that moment, she felt a warm touch on her shoulder. Her heart leaped in her chest and she spun to face a familiar stranger. Her gray eyes met his chestnut colored ones. She felt her breath stop.
Basch stared straight at her, his eyes so gentle and kind they developed her.
"Are you all right?" his voice was gentle. Ashe remembered that sound all too well. Unable to muster the strength to speak, she simply nodded. Feelings of sadness and longing began to take the best of her, and she felt them escaping through her eyes. Tears overflowed her face but she did not wipe them.
Her vision blurred. She knew she should not cry so easily, it would trouble her people, but she could not help it.
As softly as ever, Ashe felt Basch's arms envelope her. He said nothing, he just held her. The sound of his beating heart thumped quietly in Ashe's ears, and she felt her own beating alongside it. No words were spoken, but they understood it all.
