A/N: Well I finally decided on a name! You'll just have to keep reading to find out!
Disclaimer: Again, I do not own Final Fantasy XII
"Ashe? You ready?"
Ashe didn't reply. She simply stared straight forward, trying to put the pieces together. This girl had green eyes. The girl in her dream had green eyes.
What does it mean?
The girl groaned again and began to cough.
"Ashe! Hurry! She's about to fall asleep!"
"I uh…" Ashe tried to speak, but nothing came out.
"ASHE!"
She snapped her head up and gazed at Vaan. "Sorry…"
"Ok…. Ok… hey you can't fall asleep yet!" Vaan shook the girl again.
Ashe took a deep breath. She'd have to cast curaga, but she was unsure if she could. The girl's smoldering eyes looked up at her. The girl was scared. She trembled as she lied on the bed. Ashe was terribly nervous.
Ashe quickly cast the spell. The girl closed her eyes after it was finished, and fell into a deep sleep.
Ashe collapsed on her nearby chair, exhausted.
"Wow Ashe, you… saved her," Vaan breathed. "That was… amazing."
"Thank you."
"So uh, what are we gonna do about her?" Vaan motioned to the sleeping child.
"I can ask one of my servants to call down a nurse, but that won't be until tomorrow." Ashe replied.
The girl sighed and rolled over. Ashe glanced at her. This girl was scaring her. Not only did the girl have those luminous emerald eyes, but also she was just like the girl in Ashe's dream. She was small, with light brown hair. Ashe just couldn't figure her out.
Vaan was awoken to the sound of Ashe's voice. While that voice sounded like a harp to him, he just wanted a few more minutes to sleep. Then, realizing where he was, Vaan sat upright.
"Is she going to be ok?" Ashe's beautiful voice greeted Vaan.
He had fallen asleep on Ashe's floor, waiting to see if the young girl would wake up. When she didn't, Vaan couldn't stay awake a moment later.
Ashe, noticing that Vaan was now in sight, glared at him, and motioned for him to lie back down. He did, and then crawled under her monstrous bed.
"She'll be fine, but she won't be stable for a few days or so." The nurse replied tiredly.
"Thank you Nurse." Moments later, Vaan could hear Ashe close the door behind the nurse.
"Vaan, you can come out now."
Vaan shimmied his way out from under Ashe's bed and stood up. There on the bed was the girl. She was still sleeping peacefully.
"She hasn't changed I see." Vaan said as he sat down on the foot of the bed.
"No. But she should be waking up soon," Ashe mumbled. "The nurse said so while you were still sleeping."
"Did you get to sleep?"
Ashe nodded and pointed to the chair. "Not the most comfortable of sleeping places, but it sure beats sleeping in the Paramina Rift. I swear, every time I fell asleep there, I felt I would never wake up again." Ashe shuddered.
"It was pretty cold there."
"Vaan there's food just down the hall… can you bring me some?"
"Sure. Anything." Vaan headed for the door.
"And knock before you come back in."
Vaan didn't question her. He'd heard Penelo mutter the same request many times before. He slipped out and headed down the hall. No one even mentioned his appearance as he grabbed three pieces of bread and tea for Ashe, the girl, and him.
As he headed back, he couldn't help but think he was one step closer to the girl he loved.
Ashe decided that the girl was to stay in the palace until she had fully recovered. After that, Ashe had no idea where the child would stay.
When she came out from behind her dressing curtain, she noticed the girl had woken up.
"Uh… where am I?" The girl questioned, not looking at Ashe, but looking out the window near the bed.
"The Royal Palace of Rabanastre," Ashe responded. "My… friend brought you here. You were sick."
Knocks could be heard from the door. Ashe twirled around and opened it. There stood Vaan, holding their breakfast.
"Ashe… you look… great." Vaan sighed.
Ashe raised her eyesbrows. "Thanks? Uh she's awake."
Vaan walked past Ashe and placed the food on her bedside table.
"Hello." Vaan greeted the girl.
"Hi…?"
"Let's start with the basics. I'm Vaan," –he motioned towards Ashe- "This is uh…"
Ashe fought a smile. "You can call me Ashe for now, but I'm technically Queen Ashelia."
The girl's jade eyes opened wide. "Wow, really?"
"Really. Now what is your name?"
"Kiara."
Vaan nodded. "How old are you?"
"13."
Ashe tilted her head again. There's no way a girl as small as this could be so old.
"Well ok… are you hungry?" Vaan asked, clearly unphased by Kiara's age.
"Sure." Vaan handed her a piece of bread. Kiara smiled and began to eat in small amounts. Vaan handed Ashe a piece and a glass of tea as well, and took some himself. They ate in silence, until Ashe realized that she was still queen.
"I must excuse myself. I've got my duties you know. Kiara, I will be back for lunch."
Ashe stood and went to leave.
"Wait," Vaan grabbed her wrist gently. Ashe turned around. "D-don't leave. Kiara needs you. What if she has another coughing fit?"
Vaan glanced at Kiara and mouthed, "Cough! Cough!" Kiara stifled a quick little cough. When Vaan furrowed his brow exasperatedly, Kiara shrugged.
"See? She clearly needs you here."
Ashe sighed and rolled her eyes. She had to rule her country. She simply didn't have time to sit around and watch over a teenager.
"Ashe she needs you. I… I need you."
Everyone needed Ashe. Though she supposed one day wouldn't result in total disaster.
"Fine Vaan. But only because Kiara is sick."
A/N: I won't be updating for awhile. I'm awfully busy, but I'll try my best!
-Joey