Written for Alice for Valentine's day.
It was a nice warm, sunny day in Rabanastre. It was February and today was Valentine's. It wasn't something widely anticipated after the war, many people having lost their jobs and homes and not having any money to give their significant others or someone else, gifts to show how much they mean to them.
On this particular Valentine's, two years had eclipsed since Dalmasca was able to declare itself independent from Archadia's iron grip. Ashe was wandering around her palace, wondering what her friends were doing.
Penelo had written to her two days before how Vaan had had plans to take her out to dinner, saying, "It's finally time he got around to getting me that dinner! I didn't mind waiting, but it's nice to know he didn't forget."
Basch had sent her a white rose, his meaning ever present in his gift. She didn't know what Fran and the others were doing and as she made her way into the garden, sitting down on a marble bench someways up the path, she heard footsteps to her left and turned to see who had followed her.
It was Balthier. A smirk on his face, he bowed and said, "Bonjour, Princess. Je suis revenu pour voler votre coeur."
He stood up to see the look that was present on Ashe's face was one of confusion.
"What did you just say to me?" She demanded from her seat.
"Oh, Princess. You should know what I said." He smirked again, taking a seat next to her.
"I do not. What language is it that you spoke to me in? I am unfamiliar with that tongue." She crossed her arms, getting more irritated at the minute.
Perhaps this language was something he had made up? If so he had better not have insulted her or else Ashe would have been extremely angry.
"Alright, Princess. Since you are getting frustrated, I will give you a hint. I said hello."
"Well, obviously." Ashe retorted.
Balthier smirked again, leaning in closer to Ashe's face as he continued to tell her slowly, "And, I said.. I am a pirate and I wish... to steal... your heart."
Ashe turned bright red at this and stammered out, "Y-you still haven't told me the language of which you spoke to me in!"
He chuckled and began to play with a lock of hair that was framing the side of her face.
"Why, my dear Princess. It is the language of love. It is French."
He gently pressed his lips against hers and let go after a moment, enjoying her feminine scent of lilies and said, "One last thing, Princess. Tu es mon chou."
And, with that, Balthier stood up leaving a rose in Ashe's lap, ever so discreetly and began to walk away, a smile on his face as Ashe shouted after him, "What did you say to me this time!?"
Once he was out of sight, Ashe sighed and looked down at her lap, noticing the rose in her lap. A small card was attached to the stem and on the inside it read, "It means you are my cabbage, Princess. A sweet cabbage."
She blushed again, turning even redder and put the rose to her nose, inhaling it's scent. It smelled more like Balthier than it did a rose.
End.