Chapter 1.
The Party. Letters.
Azier sighed and tossed her long tassel of red hair behind her shoulder. She was waiting for Larsa to come to their wing from his meetings with his Senate. She rarely ever went to the meetings unless she was needed. She always felt that the old men were watching her and waiting for her to mess up. They didn't like her, and she didn't like them. She stood and walked over to her makeup stand and looked at her face in the mirror. She picked up her hairbrush and pulled it absently through her hair. She usually needed help to brush and wash her hair because it hung nearly to the back of her ankles, but she was in no mood for her maids today.
"Azier, are you in here?"
Larsa closed the door behind him and ran a hand through his thick black hair and yawned. He had been stuck talking to his Senate most of the day and he wasn't in a hurry to go out again. When Azier came out wearing her opal silk robe, Larsa smiled and his posture relaxed. She put her arms around his neck and looked up at him. He stood an inch over six feet, and she was five feet and seven inches.
"What happened today? Any big problems?"
"No, just more trouble with the monsters in the south near Salika Wood. Oh, and the last minute arrangements on our anniversary gala."
"We've only been married for a year, Larsa. Do we need a gala? I know that I'm a country girl, but-"
"No you aren't. You," he smiled down at her and kissed her quickly "are a princess who was forced to leave her kingdom at a young age. Then you helped save us all from Vayne. Then you accepted an engagement to the fifteen year old Emperor and waited for two years until he turned 17 to marry him. You just aren't used to all the politics yet. We have to have a huge party. Did you send out all those invitations?"
"Yes, all 837 of them. I still have paper cuts. I thought Empresses didn't have to do that sort of thing."
"Ah, the queen's lament…" he joked, trying and failing to keep a strait face. Finally he couldn't hold out anymore and burst into laughter.
Rolling her eyes, Azier spun out of Larsa's grip and picked up several folded pieces of paper from a table.
"These came today. One from Rabinastre, the other from Bhujerba."
"Vaan and Balthier."
"Yes. I've already read them several times, now you get to read them."
Larsa took the pages and sat in an overstuffed chair, slouching slightly.
'Greetings Larsa and Azier,
As we have been invited to this lovely affair of yours, we will be arriving later this week. Things are going well here in Bhujerba for the most part. Fran has her own magik shop now, so that has been keeping her busy. I have been working hard as well; after all, what sky pirate ever finds time for rest?
I was not sure if Fran and I would be coming to this wonderful event that you have planned, but Fran made it very clear that if we didn't go, there would be serious physical repercussions. She has been a little moody lately, I'm not entirely sure what's wrong, but I am a little leery about asking anything.
I promise I will be on my best behavior while in your home. Can't guarantee anything that happens outside your walls though.
Wishing you the best,
Balthier and Fran'
Larsa shook his head and sighed. The sky pirate was a good man and a loyal friend, but he was a bit hard to understand sometimes. He handed his wife the letter and moved on to the next, smiling at the sight of Panelo's neat handwriting.
'Dear Larsa and Azier,
I'm sorry we didn't write sooner, but things have been wild here in Rabinastre. Basch has been keeping Ashe safe, but we are having a hard time keeping up with things. I'm sorry to say that Migelo died recently, and he left me his shop. I don't think I'm very well suited to running this place, but everybody says that I'm doing well.
Vaan and I are expecting our first child any day now. The doctor says that I should be fine for flying, so we will be there for your party. Vaan is convinced that the baby is a boy, but I went to the fortune-teller, and she said that she is sure it will be a girl. If it is a boy, we are going to name him Reks, for Vaan's older brother who died near the end of the war. I'm still trying to decide on girl names…
Well, I need to go to see the doctor again, so I need to wrap this up. We love you both!
Yours Always,
Panelo and Vaan
PS Any babies in your future yet?'
"Well, that was direct…"
Azier smiled and tied her hair into a long horsetail and stood.
"I'm going for a walk. I'll be back in an hour or two. I'll see you, love. Don't forget me!"
He laughed softly, looking at the third letter, which was in Vaan's sprawling hand.
'Larsa and Azier,
Panelo had the baby. A girl that we named Franzi, for you, Azier, and Fran. She will be joining us. See you soon.'
Larsa kissed Azier again and smiled at her as she left the room, but feeling slightly sad, as he always did, when she was gone from him.