The Dream In My Reality
Final Fantasy XII belongs to Square-Enix.
The young Queen stood on a balcony overlooking the royal city. She came here every morning. Her blue-grey eyes would look upon Rabanastre and also fly up towards the horizon, taking in every speck of roaring engine that lined the serene blue sky.
Ashe found herself watching the sky every day. Though she would not admit it, she was waiting; waiting for a sign that was once familiar to her: a certain airship that she had made her annoucement of freedom to all Dalmasca on only about a year ago. But every morning she would be greeted by the same view; airships would come and go, but not that one, and not him, not the one she longed to see.
Ashe turned from the horizon, stepping away from the bright dawn glow into the quiet ephermeral shade of her bedchamber. She approached the delicate table that sat within the borderline of the archways light. On it were three items that she treasured most, a silver ring, a card and a small pouch. She reached out, grasped the note and raised it up to the light, the handwritten words became legible as they crossed the boundary of shadow; 'Something more valuable: the Cache of Glabados. I await in Bervenia.'
She turned the card over, and smiled reminescently at the final line on the back, 'P.S. Give this to our Queen for me, would you?'
Ashe laid the note gently back onto the table, then reached for another object; the sleek silver ring. She felt both a pang of relief and regret for its return. It was a treasured keepsake for the memory of her beloved husband, but it had also been carried by another whom she held feelings for; a sky pirate. But he had returned her ring. He kept his word, she placated herself. But an unbidden voice within her would always retort; why did he not keep it? Why did he not look upon it as a piece to remember her by, a piece of her which he could continue to carry? The youg woman was irked by her confused thoughts.
As the Queen of Dalmasca, she was regarded by her people and esteemed by many. It was foolish to think she had a chance to ever act on her muddled dream. A Queen, and a...sky pirate, a wanted one at that. It could never happen, she could not lose face in the eyes of her people. And, he has already pledged his love to another she reasoned with herself. And she has returned it. She gave up all she had, her life within the confines of a peaceful village, adopted a new way of life, to join him on his quest for treasure.
And look at yourself. You would not compromise your position for him, you would not even leave in search of him. She deserves him more than you ever would. Ashe sighed, and raised the ring up to her chest, closing her eyes as she fell into a hopeful wish. Though it could never be in reality, her dream would always stay strong.
She allowed only one word to escape her lips as she stood with her hands clasped to her heart in the morning glow; Balthier.