Ashe was at all sorts today. She wasn't sure what exactly happened a week ago. Fran had never mentioned or talked about it and simply went on as if nothing had happened. Ashe couldn't accept this. But she wasn't about to let these things bother her either. After all she had a nation to rule. And it certainly wasn't uncommon for royalty to have lovers come and go so if that is how the Viera saw this "unlikely union". Ashe decided it was best this way. She had gotten her frustrations knocked out of her that night it seemed and she had been fine ever since and was more willing to stop Balthier short in his advances.
Ashe ran alongside them at the hunts and at the quests they did for money. She held her sword and shield expertly and allowed no distractions even when Fran ran ahead of her always so sure with her trusty bow. Vaan collided into Ashe when a beast ran amuck as he tried to get away, bowling them both over. Ashe cried out, trying to push the unconscious boy off of her in concern and fright as the beast lumbered towards them. Fran and Balthier were immediately at her side, untangling the boy and shooting arrows into the creature's neck. The creature shortly crashed a few feet away from them, rumbling the ground like thunder, raising a big cloud of dirt.
Fran shielded them from debris with the large escutcheon shield. Ashe became hyper aware that Fran's face was close to hers, staring into her eyes, not blinking and unwavering. Did it mean anything to her that night? How did she see Ashe now? "Are you alright Princess?" she asked. Ashe felt her shoulders sag and she fell backwards with a slight roll of her eyes. That's how.
That night Ashe volunteered to gather water to make tea. She prepared the tea with Penelo's help and passed them around. Ashe watched everyone's expressions at receiving tea made by a princess. Vaan made a face but drank it heartily still. Balthier chatted in between sips, amicably talking to Basch and Fran. Basch drank his leisurely and nodded in approval to Ashe with thanks. Fran sat quietly staring into the cup without tasting it. And Penelo laughed merrily when Vaan kept asking for more only to keep making that face.
When it was sun setting Ashe offered to get more water and Balthier sent Vaan to help with gathering more kindling for tomorrow's fire. They both set out quietly, none saying a word. Vaan picked up a dry twig and snapped off the ends as they continued on the dirt trail. Ashe was usually fine with silence but it seemed as though Vaan wanted to say something but wouldn't be the first to break the "ice". She smiled to herself; he was still such a boy. She wrapped her arms around herself in comfort and opened her mouth to speak.
"Are you cold?" he suddenly blurted, making her turn abruptly to face him in surprise, his eyes crystalline blue, large in genuine concern. She shook her head. "No, I'm alright."
He nodded, pleased that he had said something and let out a long breath. "Funny, huh?"
What was? He didn't wait for her to answer and he shook his head, not looking at her, still breaking the twig. "We've come a long way."
Ashe nodded, "Yes. So much has happened. Each day I wonder what we will face tomorrow. I'm just pleased to know we have made it through every obstacle. And I know we can face anything head on." he nodded in response, still not facing her. They continued on the trail and hadn't gathered much kindling at all but she sensed his unease.
"Do you ever think about the future?" he said out of the blue. She stopped in her tracks and stared at his back. He stopped as well, not facing her. Why wouldn't he look at her? "Always," she said softly. "Am I in it?" he asked boldly. Ashe was hoping he wasn't going with this where she thought he was going. "I will always keep my comrades in my heart what come what may. Vaan you-"
"Are just a boy right?" he spun around to face her. Ashe flinched. So it was true. "Vaan..."
Vaan took a stride closer to her, looking her directly in the eyes. "I know I'm not as suave as Balthier or as strong and brave as Basch but I have my own strengths! I-I'm fast! I have lots of energy and I'm willing to learn! I can still be anything!"
Ashe looked directly at him as he spoke, his eyes flitting around, fists clenching and unclenching, shoulders tensing and his face turning red as he blushed, his light blonde hair swaying in the breeze and his eyes sparkling at the enthusiasm in his words. He seemed to believe what he was saying and so did she but not the way he wanted her to. She smiled kindly at him as he finished. Indeed he had grown, smarter and more courageous even. But what he was proposing under his words was reaching her loud and clear. She took a hold of his hand and squeezed it.
"I admire your efforts on the field. Indeed you have grown and yes you can be anything, I commend you for that. If one day you wish to join me in my court I would welcome you as my royal guard if that'll suffice your skill. Until then, please continue to grow and be who you want to be, sky pirate or not." she let go of his hand when his drooped. She had seen his face become elated and then fade when he realized what she was getting at. But he would have to be satisfied with this for now. He nodded meekly as if he had just been told by an older sister.
"Right," he said with a nod and backed away shyly. "Of course, please continue to watch me grow then." He gave a halfhearted smile and clapped his hands to cut the awkward air. "Well I better get that wood or else Balthier will tan my hide. W-will you be alright?" he asked, already turning to leave her. She nodded and patted her side where she carried her sword. He nodded again and hurried off into the woods.
Ashe stood a few moments staring at his back before he disappeared. She wrung out her hands and turned around to continue her path. She heard a slight rustling and a pair of ears flicked into view. "Charming," the voice drawled. Ashe stopped in her tracks at suddenly seeing Fran materialize from the brush, almost startling her but not completely surprised. In the time she had gotten to know Fran she had found out that she was a master at nearly everything. She has had plenty of years to master anything she fancied. The way she mastered sex? Ashe quickly turned away to hide her blush and brush away the sudden thought. "Is he?" she asked, trying to distract herself.
Fran slowly stepped into the moonlight with deliberate steps, "T'was refering to you."
"Did I not handle it well?" Ashe summered, glancing sideways at the tall viera. Fran crossed her arms and cocked her hip to one side and tilted her head. "You are not one to reject one properly. He was serious. Made him believe he has a chance."
"And if he did?" Ashe asked almost indignantly at Fran's accusation. Fran stared back at her coolly. "Even though I am a princess I do not like to refuse people's emotions, there is always a way to go about it."
"Rejection is a way of life, if he keeps believing he has a mere chance of you in the future he will continue this chase, keeping his hopes up until he becomes obsessed with you and here you are telling me you do not wish to hurt his feelings?" Fran stepped up closer to her and stared down at her. "Who do you think is hurting? The fact that you don't want to hurt his feelings? Or the fact that he will think you like him when you do not and he is happily chasing his tail."
"Hurt," Ashe repeated then looked her in the eyes. "I suppose rejection is easy for you."
Fran smiled thinly at the response and then turned with a flick of her white hair. Ashe realized she had ticked her off and chased after her. "I also do not wish to hurt anyone I care about. It confuses me to no end but I wish to master it from the master." Fran turned sharply to face her, eyes darting from each eye, still maintaining her poker face. She turned away again with a sigh. Ashe grabbed her wrist quickly, halting her. "Show me," she whispered. "Show me how. So neither of us is hurting." Fran froze and stiffened, not turning.
"If you do not hurt then show me how to properly reject you," Ashe couldn't believe she had honestly said those words. They had poured out the moment Fran turned her back to her as if she was leaving and would leave Ashe alone forever. She quivered realizing Fran wasn't turning to face her, her cheeks burned and her eyes collected tears. Why was she crying? Is this what one night of passion does to someone? Was she that eager to have a bedmate? No this was more than that; she knew it deep down it was more than sex. She cursed herself for being an emotional woman.
Fran turned to face her finally and Ashe blinked causing the tears to streak down her cheeks. She quickly let go of Fran's hand and hastily wiped her face. "Forgive me. I'll leave you be. I have a task to complete." She ran off down the road as fast as she could with her heart in her throat. When she got to the brook, she fell to her knees and wept bitterly.
.
Only Basch was up for the first watch when she returned. She apologized for the delay and retired for the evening. In her tent she stayed awake, reliving the conversation and in her misery recalled that night Fran took action on her hidden emotions. She chastised herself for thinking lewd thoughts. She admired the viera so much to the point where it did indeed became an obsession. The way she watched Fran walk by, run after a beast, poise to shoot her arrows and even how she slept the night they bunked together. With memories slowly calming down she finally managed to doze off for a few hours.
She awoke in the middle of the night to get a drink of water. As she opened her tent quietly she drew her cover over her shoulders to keep the night chill off. Basch was nowhere in sight, only the glow of the moon overhead. She looked up at the moon in passing and instantly felt her skin get goosebumps. She turned abruptly and discovered she was only a few feet from the Viera's intense staring. Fran merely cocked her head to the side, "Restless?"
"Just thirsty," Ashe replied and continued on her to way to retrieve a drink. Fran put her hands on her bow and leaned on it, watching Ashe in amusement. Ashe felt her eyes on her and wanted to shrug it off. Last time she had her back facing her when Fran had come up from behind and things had escalated. Without realizing it she had sat on her heels in front of the water bucket like that night and had slowly spread her thighs like that night as well. Wait, was she tempting the Viera? She felt her blood rush to her ears and cheeks. She shook her head and gulped the water down briskly having to heave a deep breath after the cup left her lips. She stared at the water shimmering inside the cup as she tilted it again to her lips. She gripped the cup with both hands and trying to keep a cool composure as she stood up casually and walked over to where Fran perched. Fran followed her every move with her eyes but remained poker faced.
"Have you had a drink yet?" Ashe didn't know why she suddenly asked that question. She knew Fran was perfectly capable to cross the walk and get herself a drink, but just the thought that she had been in one position for hours, looking out for them while they slept comfortably knowing that she had their backs eased Ashe and to show her appreciation she had brought the cup over.
"My thanks," Fran said softly and took the cup from her hands gently and closing her eyes she took a long sip and Ashe noticed from the same brim her own lips had touched. "Fran…" she began but just as abruptly there was a slight snap to the left of them in the distance. Fran wasted no time, she dropped the cup and even before it had hit the ground spilling its contents she had released an arrow into the underbrush. Whatever it was got agitated and ran forward. Fran braced her feet and raised her arms, pulling the bow taught, arrow head glinting in the moonlight. She let it fly the second it got within a few yards, hitting it square in the forehead, toppling it over to skid a few feet away from them.
Ashe quickly loosened up when she realized she had gotten extremely tense and had cowered behind Fran automatically. Fran noticed this too but said nothing but Ashe could feel her grin. "You like toying with me!" Ashe hissed wrapping her arms around herself, annoyed. Fran turned to face her, peering down at her, coming up close so that her chest touched the princess's. Ashe blushed and hid her face again from sight but Fran's slender fingers reached out and caressed her cheek. Ashe was especially aware of the two defanged fingers that stroked her jaw. The fingers that had ignited it all that night.
Fran leaned in closer to her, snapping her out of her reverie. "I wouldn't dream of toying with my desires," she whispered, red eyes shining in the moonlight. Ashe almost pulled her in for a kiss but immediately pulled away from her. "Perhaps I should get some sleep. You- you should too," she said hesitantly and then with a last glance at the Viera she entered her tent and threw her pillow over her head to muffle her sigh of exasperation. Guess she wasn't over her frustration yet.
The following week was a blur, Ashe tried to keep herself aloof in her thoughts of battle and of her kingdom. Again she had seen Rasler in a dream but this time she did not wake up crying as she did many times before. Was she moving on? She hoped he knew how important he was to her; she kissed the ring on her finger and held her hand to her heart. She sighed and running her hands through her hair she got up and walked off to talk to Basch. Fran was at the side watching her, lowering her eyes when she noticed Balthier was observing the two girls. "I'm going on a limb here and I must say you are a brave one."
Fran flicked her eyes to him, "How's that?" she walked past him not wanting an answer. Balthier chuckled and crossed his arms, leaning against the tent post. He watched in amusement as Fran tried to occupy herself and her mind by packing up the tent and its contents. "So how was it? Everything a man dreams of?"
Suddenly out of the corners of every one's eyes, Balthier flew out of the tent with such force he stumbled head over heels, skidding onto his back. He rolled to his knees, clutching his stomach and wiping a bloody cheek. He half chuckled. "My, my." He turned to Ashe and grinned. "My congrats princess," he said with a hearty smile. He quickly scrambled to his feet as something in the tent growled. He ran off laughing to himself before disappearing around the thick tree line.
"What was that about?" Vaan asked directly behind Ashe. She shook her head even though her heart was beating a mile a minute. Balthier … knew… about them? Wait, was she panicking? She tried to calm down, taking in deep breaths.
"Are you alright?" Basch asked placing a hand on Ashe's back, making her flinch. She swallowed hard and nodded. Vaan offered to take her things to her ride and she obliged. She turned her gaze back to the tent that was housing Fran at the moment and she could feel her blood singing in desire.
.
