Author's Note: For my friends: Earisu, Bashashe, Maudie & Feeny.
.• SAVE THE QUEEN •.
Chapter 3
Illusion
"Love can sometimes be magic. But magic can sometimes...just be an illusion."
-Javan
Evening had stretched into night, and all of the gathered friends had partaken in good food, drink and conversation.
...
Vaan heard her laugh.
The sound rang through the air and called to him like the twinkling of a bell. His attention was pulled away from Fran's fascinating and intensive description of the proper way to gut and dry an Iguion or other beast toad if food supplies ran scarce. Apparently, certain parts were a good source of protein, whilst others were a death sentence due to the creatures hidden and highly poisonous sebaceous glands.
He glanced over and saw her.
Penelo was sitting close to Balthier as he spun a colorful tale. She seemed enthralled by whatever he was saying, watching every expressive motion of his hands with wide blue eyes. She had taken the braids out of her hair this evening, and now it was spilling over her slender shoulders in beautiful, golden waves. She was dressed similar to Ashe, in a simple but feminine Dalmascan style bodice and skirt, though Penelo's feet were bare. The two were sitting on one of the small chase lounges that dotted the area under the canopy. Balthier was leaning back comfortably, while Penelo had her knees drawn up under her. Vaan was about to turn back to Fran, when the man casually stretched his silk clad arm out and laid it along the back of the chair, resting it behind the dancer's head.
Vaan furrowed his brow and lifted his hand to take a deep gulp of the fermented drink in his glass. The young sky pirate decided he didn't like the attention his predecessor was paying his friend one bit.
...
Smiling under his gaze, Penelo leaned back more comfortably in the deep chair. Feeling something lightly caress the white flower she had tucked into her hair, she glanced back and saw Balthier's hand. A warm tingle crept into her cheeks and she looked tentatively over at the handsome man, hoping he didn't notice the blooming color. He was watching her, thoughtfully rubbing his lower lip, and she was fairly sure an almost invisible smile was there. She opened her mouth to say something...anything, to break the awkward silence, but Vaan beat her to it.
"Come on, let's play some Moogle Ball." He had approached and was now standing over them, looking back and forth between the two on the lounge.
She sighed up at him, "ok, but no cheating this time."
"No, not you Pen," Vaan finished his drink and sat it down roughly on the small table next to him, then he pointed a finger at Balthier. "I challenge you."
Some time later, the two competitive sky pirates were stuck in a draw, each had defeated the other one time. By the third match, almost everyone had joined in the lawn game.
"Basch! Fran! come play!" Penelo gave a happy twirl in the grass, then held her yellow ball up and beckoned them over.
The two warriors looked up from where they stood in quiet conversation.
"What am I supposed to do with this?" Fran looked doubtfully at the blue pom-pom like ball that Balthier had strode over and thrust into her hand.
"That's your color Fran darling, you're the blue ball." He sniggered a little to himself, while taking her hand and leading her over to the group.
Basch shook his head at the pirate, being the only other person to actually get the joke. He walked toward the Moogle Ball lawn, nearing Larsa who stood grinning and swaying with a half finished drink in one gloved hand and an orange ball in the other. As he passed, the judge plucked the wine from the boy's grasp.
"Hey!" Larsa was affronted. "Give that back at once." His attempt at sounding authoritative was thwarted by his slurred speech.
Basch ignored him and walked closer to the field, downing the last of the Emperor's glass in one swallow.
He stepped up to the sideline and looked around, folding his arms over his chest. "What are the rules to this game?"
"You have forgotten?" Ashe walked up to Basch and placed the black ball into his hand.
He looked over her delicate and disappointed face and smiled as he began to remember. King Raminas had thrilled at playing Moogle Ball after dinner on warm summer nights. His boisterous laughter could be heard all over the palace grounds. He had even talked Basch and Vossler into playing a few times.
"Well, the goal is to be the first to roll your ball through the finishing point there, but you must first pass through each of the 10 numbered arches." Ashe pointed first to the small arch at the far end of the green lawn, then to the many small hoops throughout the playing field."However, the fun is in knocking your opponents' balls out of bounds first."
Fran listened to the queen's instructions carefully, and when Ashe added the last part, she turned and looked slowly at Balthier. He was already watching the viera, smiling mischievously.
The pirate looked down at the red ball and the green ball in his hands. "Here, this one seems fitting for you." He plopped the green ball into Vaan's hand. The boy looked at it confused, then glared at the pirate's back when he added. "Being wet behind the ears and all."
Basch chuckled, then nodded to Ashe, indicating to her that he remembered the game. He looked around the group, bouncing the ball in his large hand.
"All-right then." Balthier quipped, "May the best man win."
The Queen walked past him, holding the white ball in her hands, she gave him a direct look and added, "Or woman."
...
With seven seasoned warriors playing, the game became highly competitive.
Balthier made himself a mark in the judge's eyes after attempting to knock Ashe's ball over the line. After that, Basch focused all his offensive maneuvers on him, and soon the pirate was the first to get eliminated from the game.
With much rivalry and laughter, one by one people were eradicated: Larsa knocked Fran's ball away, then Ashe defeated Penelo. When it was down to Himself, Vaan, Ashe and Larsa, Basch found himself with the opportunity to knock either Larsa or Ashe out of the game. He glanced between the two of them, one his current liege and one his former. With an apologetic shrug to the Emperor he sent Larsa's ball spinning off the lawn. Ashe was still smiling happily at Basch when Vaan sent her white ball rolling past her and out of bounds.
Seeing the grim determination on Vaan's face, Basch decided to let the boy win. He smiled to himself as he made his way back to the tent, hearing the celebratory hoots from behind him.
"That's two victories for me, to your one Balthier!"
"We'll just see about that...rematch!"
After another game, Ashe noticed that Basch was sitting by himself back under the canopy, watching a glass of ale that he turned slowly inside his hand. She left the others and made her way back to where he sat. He seemed deep in thought, and she wondered if he noticed her as she lowered herself down beside him.
...
"Captain."
He stopped looking at his glass and turned his eyes to where she sat close beside him. The knowing smile on her face told him that she had used the title purposely. She took him off guard by leaning her head against his shoulder. It was an intimate gesture, and he was unsure how to respond to it. He could feel the warmth of her seeping through his white cotton shirt and into his skin. His eyes dropped back to his hands, watching his thumbs rub away the condensation on the glass.
"Do you miss Rabanastre?"
He blinked a few times, dumbfounded by the simplicity her question. His fingers stopped moving.
Did he miss Rabanastre? His home, his honor...his life. The fallen captain thought fondly of the grand palace he had defended, in turn it had given him warmth and shelter. The brave men under his command had fought to the death by his side; he remembered swelling with pride each time he looked one of them in the eye. He thought of the benevolent king. Raminas had been like a father to him, giving a lost young man the immeasurable gift of a sense of nobility, importance and purpose. Most of all, his thoughts always returned to the beautiful, innocent and persistent girl that had broken through his stone-hard defenses. She had stolen his heart from him, then graced him with the understanding of the meaning of his life; to protect and defend those he loved by any means necessary, even if it meant his own humiliation, torture or death. Ashe was the Rabanastre he missed most of all.
He cleared his throat, fighting to keep his voice free of emotion, "Aye."
She sighed deeply and lifted her head from his shoulder. The gentle breeze caught the cactus flower scent of her and Basch bathed in it for a brief moment, feeling something inside him surrender. He returned his gaze to her, yearning to say more.
"Basch, there is something I should have said to you a long time ago."
Before she could say more, they were interrupted by the gathering drawing to an end.
...
Penelo looked to Larsa and thought the Boy Emperor didn't look so good. He was swaying on his feet, looking decidedly pallid. She walked over and gingerly put an arm around him.
"Larsa, are you ok?"
He looked at her blearily. "I'm fine," he stumbled a little before adding. "Maybe...not so fine."
She giggled and whispered, "let's get you to bed."
She lead Larsa past Vaan and motioned with her head for him to follow her.
...
They watched as the three youngest said their good-nights, then excused themselves and made off toward the palace. Basch felt a pang of guilt for Larsa's condition and for not escorting him to his quarters. He saw the way Penelo embraced him protectively and decided that the boy was in the best possible care. Besides, even though he had had a bit too much to drink for his first time, he couldn't remember seeing Larsa have as much fun as he had this evening. It was good to see him be just a boy among friends for once.
Balthier and Fran approached and bid them goodnight as well.
"Thank you for the offer to stay in the palace Princess." The pirate kissed her hand again, much as he had upon their arrival. "However, we will be perfectly comfortable aboard the Strahl. Best not to draw too much attention to ourselves." He gave a wink.
No one but Fran and Balthier knew where the notorious airship was anchored and Basch thought that was probably wise.
"Of course," Ashe nodded back to them. "Thank you for coming...will you be staying for the coronation?"
Fran stepped forward and gave Ashe a rare and warm smile. "We wouldn't dream of missing it."
After putting the Emperor of Archades unceremoniously to bed, Penelo and Vaan made their way to the wing that held their rooms.
She glanced at him, and noticed he seemed unnaturally tense.
"Vaan?"
"Hmmm?" His response was decidedly short, and he didn't turn to look at her.
She was confused for a moment before she realized...he seemed to be mad at her.
"What's wrong?" She sidled up next to him, looking at him closely; Vaan being unhappy with her was an extremely unusual occurrence.
"Nothing." He quickened his pace and reached the door to his room before she could catch up.
He opened his door and stepped inside, and she barely had time to catch hold of his arm, stopping him from closing his door.
"What's gotten in to you?" She thought for a moment, then added knowingly, "Are you letting Balthier get under your skin?"
"No, but you sure seem to be letting him get under yours," his answer was abrupt.
Both her mouth and her eyes popped open in surprise. "What!?"
As he stood glowering at her, the most amazing thought occurred to her. "Wait...are you jealous?"
"No." He seemed caught off guard by the directness of her question. He flicked his white-blond bangs out of his eyes and hurriedly added, "I'm tired, see you in the morning Pen."
His door shut with a soft click and she was left staring at the grains of the dark mahogany wood.
Ashe looked over at him, surprised and pleased that he was the last person with her after everyone else had turned in for the evening. She never imagined that just the two of them would be left, and she grasped the opportunity to invite Basch to walk with her and observe some of the changes she had made to the palace grounds. Knowing it was his former home, she hoped he would approve of the expansions that had been made over the last year.
As they walked, he seemed impressed both by the additions to the chocobo stables and the military housing compound. They reached the point of the path that was furthest from the palace, and she looked up to him and thought that he looked melancholy.
He caught her looking and erased the emotion from his face. She wished he wouldn't do that and opened her mouth to tell him so, but he spoke first.
"There was something you had wished to tell me, Highness?"
She nodded, unsure how to begin. "Yes...I...I owe you an apology."
Taken aback by her words, he shuffled to a stop and looked down at her.
"Majesty?"
Unexpectedly, her emotions surged to the surface, and alarmed, she looked away from him and blinked quickly as tears threatened. He patiently stood, watching her and waiting for her response. Only when she was completely sure her feelings had subsided, she continued.
"I owe you an apology for believing that you had been a traitor to Dalmasca and my father." She could see the shocked look on his face out of the corner of her eye. "I failed to listen to my heart... Basch, it is my greatest shame."
She dared to look up at him.
"Lady Ashe, your apology is not necessary." His words were formal, but she thought she saw something behind his eyes. He seemed touched by her words.
"Yes it is."
...
Her words were firm, and not wanting to seem as if he was not accepting her sincere apology, he bowed his head to her respectfully. He looked to her and saw a wave of relief pass over her lovely face, and yet another wall of the fortress around his heart gave way.
He offered his arm out to her, and once again she weaved hers through his. The comforting sensation of her touch was something he couldn't stop himself from enjoying.
With unspoken words, both of them knew they didn't want the shared moment to end just yet. Instead of heading straight back to the palace, they walked slowly, meandering the grounds. When they neared the far side of the chocobo stables Basch couldn't help but remind Ashe of the humorous riding lesson he had given her years ago. As he described they way she flailed her arms and pitched off into the sand, Ashe found herself giggling with embarrassment.
While Basch was talking, she suddenly lifted herself up on her toes and kissed his lips briefly, cutting off his story.
He blinked and looked at her, his face playfully expressing mild surprise.
"Lady Ashe, you have been drinking," he said, while rolling his head to the side. He was unable to hold back an amused smile.
"So, I do not care... and I did not drink very much." To prove this, she leaned up and kissed his lips again, just a quick peck.
He was still smiling faintly when he said quietly, "You should not do that."
Her arm was still intertwined with his, and he began to walk backwards, gently pulling her toward him. He took a few steps off the path and into the shadow cast by a small storage outbuilding. Realizing he had lured her to a spot with a touch more privacy, her heart began thrumming nervously inside her chest. Still, the new opportunity was not lost on her, she seized it at once.
"I should not...do this?" She advanced toward him. He fixed her with his eyes and backed slowly, until his shoulders made contact with the warm stone wall. She leaned her face up, and after a quick shy glance, pressed her lips again to his. This time the kiss lingered, she felt him slide his lips over hers, responding to her touch. Her senses heightened; she inhaled deeply, absorbing the fresh smell of his skin, like the spray off the twilight sea at Phon Coast. He made no move to stop her for a long moment, then he broke the contact by leaning his head back against the building. His playful smile had vanished.
"Yes that." His deep voice had become a whisper; his eyes looked over her flushed face and fell to her bruised lips.
She nodded in agreement, then slipped her fingers through the soft golden hair on each side of his head. "You wish me to stop?"
Under her hands, she felt his head come away from the wall as he tilted back down toward her. His nose moved lightly over hers and his warm breath caressed the sensitive surface of her lips as he shook his head softly.
"No."
Ashe braced herself, realizing she was about to experience no ordinary kiss.
As Basch touched his lips to hers, an eternity of longing finally gave way. The moment the kiss began, they seemed to fuse into each other. Ashe parted her lips and his tongue gently moved in, penetrating her void. One of his hands came up, and wrapped around the back of her head, as the other found the bare smooth skin of her lower back. She gripped his head firmly and released upon him the passionate kiss that she had been holding inside her for years. Feeling his eager response, she let out a wistful sigh and pressed her body against him. She was pleased when he was noticeably affected by this; he pulled her tighter against him with his strong arms and deepened his kiss, his breath heavy on her smooth cheek. She wrapped one leg around his and at this, his breath shuddered.
Then as quickly as it had started, it ended. Basch gently pushed her away from him.
"My apologies, Highness." He held her by the shoulders, looking decidedly affected by the encounter.
"Your apology is not necessary." She breathed, using his own words.
He dropped his arms from her shoulders and took a step away from her. Then, sighing loudly, he turned his back to her, walked a few paces and brought both his hands up and ran them through his short blond hair. He stood that way for a moment, leaving both his hands on each side of his head.
"You are not a woman that should dare be touched by a man who has not properly courted you...please forgive me."
She stared at his back in wonder.
What was he saying?
He turned back to her, then averted his eyes. "Please allow me to escort you back to the palace."
Was thinking of courting her?
He lay on his back in his darkened room, desire smoldering inside him. He found laying in Ashe's former bed did nothing to calm him. As the softness engulfed his bare skin, he reached out to slide his fingertips over the smooth silk of the coverlet. He remembered the icy blue color of the fabric, for it was the same that had adorned her bed the few times he had glimpsed inside her room when he was still a proud knight of Dalmasca. He turned his head on the down pillow and pulled some of the fabric toward his face. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply, and caught her distinct scent. Could he sense her on the fabric after all this time, or was her fragrance on Basch himself? He moved his nose off the embossed silk and onto his hand that held it. The smell of her lingered there as well, though fresher and sweetened with cactus flower. The embers of his desire flickered up and became flames. After several agonizing moments, sleep finally brought him relief and also a visit from a king.
...
He was still lying on his back, but he could feel that he was no longer in Ashelia's former bedroom. This place was familiar; he had been here before. Basch tried to open his eyes but, the brightness of the room and the throbbing in his head would not allow it. He sensed Ashe close by. He tried to speak to her, but his tongue felt too dry, it was if his mouth and throat were stuffed with cotton. His heart sank as he heard her move away from him; he felt her presence disappear from the room. He tried with all his might to call out to her or move. There was silence, but he realized he was not alone.
"Basch."
The voice was familiar. Deep and wise, it was the voice of a man that he honored as much as his own father. The voice of his king.
Finally, Basch found he was able to open his eyes. He blinked several times and looked up into the hazy and ethereal face of King Raminas.
"You...Your..Highness." It took everything he had to mutter the low croak.
Raminas smiled warmly, then leaned closer to quietly say, "Don't forget the words I spoke Captain fon Ronsenburg."
Basch fought to clear the fog and confusion from his mind. He blinked his eyes several times, and realizing he could move his arms, he rubbed his face with heavy hands. Suddenly he sat bolt upright, looking wildly around for the king.
"King Raminas!"
He realized he was once again in the castle infirmary. The place where he had been taken after his injury during King Raminas' final grand tournament. The king was no where to be found, nor was the princess.
He had forgotten the moment when both the princess, then the king had visited his bedside. It must have been the head injury that had not allowed him to hold onto the memory. Now it came rolling back. Believing him to be unconscious, Ashe and the king had spoken openly of the feelings the princess had for a certain knight...him. She had assured her father that Rasler was the man she would choose, for the sake of Dalmasca. After she had left the room, the king had spoken, and Basch had been the only person to hear Raminas' words.
The king had sighed regretfully and whispered, "I do wish our times were different Ashelia...for if they were you and the captain would have my consent."
...
Basch opened his eyes. Once again, he was in the present and in Ashe's bed. His mind was racing, trying to hold on to the images that were fading from his mind. His heart sank when he realized it had only been a dream.
A dream yes...but also a memory.
...
Ashe slept alone and fretfully in the King's grand bed. Something was refusing to let her fall deeper into sleep. Her consciousness swam up through the murky depths and just before she awoke completely, she heard the voice. His voice... her beloved father.
"Ashelia."
Her pale eyes fluttered open. "Father?"
She sat up and looked about her room, her heart pounding. Slipping quietly from her bed, she tiptoed over the floor, her ears straining to hear the slightest sound. She caught the soft rustle of robes and nearly cried out in alarm. Immediately, she made her way toward the sound. It had come from the direction of the study.
"Father?" She whispered. Several strong emotions were bubbling up inside her at once: fear, hope, despair, love.
She entered the elaborate library and study that he had loved so much. Countless hours he had spent here, though he did much of the administrative duties of running a country from this room, it had also been his private sanctuary.
She looked over the room, trying to catch a glimpse of him, for she strongly sensed his presence. Then she saw it. Sitting right on the edge of the large writing desk, where before there had been nothing, now sat a tiny golden key.
A sob escaped her lips, as she crossed the study and reached out to grasp it. The moment she did this, a cool breeze swirled about her for a briefly, making her gasp, then it was gone.
She held the key up to her chest, and the warm tears began to slip down her cheeks, "Father...I miss you."
She felt an emptiness in the room and knew that he was gone; part of her began doubting the experience had happened in the first place.
"Is this a dream?" She was startled by the sound of her own voice.
She glanced down at the golden item in her hand, everything around her was too crisp and clear to be anything other than real. She knew exactly what this key opened. Glancing over at the shelves that contained volumes of the king's grand collection of bound books, she saw it. Her father's locked wooden box had been undisturbed since Ashe had returned to the palace. She supposed eventually she would have found a way to pry it open to examine the contents, but now it seemed her father had personally invited her to open it.
Still dazed, she approached the small, unassuming trunk and lifted it down from it's resting place. With trembling fingers, she slid the key into the small lock and nearly jumped when she heard the resounding click as the latch let go. Slowly, she opened the lid, reached in and freed the secret that rested inside.
Walking silently along the palace corridor, she knew it was terribly early in the morning. Surely all of her guests would still be sleeping. She cringed slightly with guilt, but her excitement could not be contained and she simply could wait no longer to see him. Every step she took closer to him made the tempo of her heartbeat increase.
She paused outside his closed door and listened for a moment. From inside, she could hear his low muffled voice. She was surprised to discover he was awake and speaking to someone.
"Yes... that is my nose...Thank you Ian...though I do not wish for you to put that inside of it."
She cupped her mouth to her hand and stifled a laugh.
What in the name of the Gods was Ian doing in Basch's room?...and what is he sticking up the man's nose?
She knocked softly upon his door.
...
After a brief moment, the door swung in and Ashe found herself standing face to face with Basch.
He seemed to have been expecting someone else, for when his eyes fell upon her he quickly straightened his stance and ran a hand through his slightly disheveled blond hair. He was wearing his black leather pants, but his white cotton shirt hung loosely and mostly unbuttoned and his feet were bare.
"Highness."
"Good Morning, I was afraid I would be disturbing you this early, but I see you already have company." Just before she finished speaking, Ian ran over and threw himself against her and hugged her tightly around the knees.
"Please, come in." Basch backed up, then bent down and plucked Ian off of her legs so she could enter.
She closed the door behind her, then turned to look at the two of them, a curious smile spreading over her lips. Basch held Ian easily on his forearm, while the boy began mock fighting in mid-air with the two tiny knights he held in each of his chubby hands.
Seeing the look on her face Basch chuckled. He began explaining before she even had to ask.
"I...found sleep somewhat evasive early this morn." He glanced at her sheepishly, then quickly continued. "I went to the kitchen to see if I could find an early breakfast. There, I found poor Corliss in quite a state...and this fellow." Basch bounced the arm that held Ian briefly, causing a laugh to bubble from the boy's mouth. "Let us just say, he was not making her chores any easier."
Basch set Ian back on the floor and made his way over to the side of the bed. He looked down at it, then back to Ashe. She realized he would not sit until she did, so she walked over to the bed and perched herself on the side facing the toddler.
He sat next to her, then added, "So I offered to watch him for her until her tasks became more manageable this morning."
An incredulous smile had blossomed over her face; he looked back at her raising his eyebrows, the early morning light illuminating him from behind.
"So you are the baby-sitter?"
He grinned and looked down at his hands. "I suppose I am."
...
They watched the curly haired boy play for awhile before Ashe said simply.
"My father visited me last night."
From her side vision she saw Basch turn his head quickly in her direction. She blushed, realizing that he must think she sounded crazy...or silly...or stupid. She turned and looked directly at him, ready to defend what had happened. Instead the look on his face was wide-eyed and pale.
"What?" He seemed astounded.
"He spoke to me." She watched as he blinked several times, then looked away.
"He showed me something."
This time, Basch's movements were deliberate and slow. Almost as if he found it difficult to move, his head turned back toward her. She lifted a small scroll out toward him, and he swallowed thickly as he gently removed it from her grasp.
...
Upon unrolling the parchment, Basch was struck first by the King of Dalmasca's official red seal stamped into the upper right corner. Next, with a lurching of his heart, he noticed the date on the document. This decree must have come from the same official senate meeting that had decided for Raminas to travel to Nalbina to sign the Treat of Peace with Archadia, it was dated the night before his death.
He glanced wonderingly up at Ashe, realizing the importance of the document he held in his hands. She was watching him anxiously, and he felt a surge of nervousness flow into his body. Taking a deep breath, he returned his attention to the parchment and read.
By way of a unanimous vote of the Royal Senate of King Raminas B'nargin Dalmasca, it is declared that Sir Basch fon Ronsenburg, a Captain in the Order of the Knights of Dalmasca, shall be henceforth granted the title of Commander of the Order of the Knights of Dalmasca. As Commander, fon Ronsenburg, gains sole directive authority over the entirety of the military forces of King Raminas Dalmasca, in addition, Commander fon Ronsenburg will obtain a vested seat on the Royal Advisory Committee of the king. Commander fon Ronsenburg's swearing in ceremony will commence upon the king's return from Nalbina, post haste.
The official document was signed by Raminas and all the members of the senate.
Basch slowly lowered the letter, stunned to his very core.
She reached out, and gently laid a hand upon his shoulder, "Basch...I think he wants you to come home."
...
He didn't move or speak, but she could see that his face was slightly contorted with emotion. She moved closer and put both her arms around him, resting her face against warm skin of his neck. Her heart pulsed with joy when he abruptly turned toward her and wrapped his arms around her waist, returning her embrace. She lifted her head until her cheek rested against the roughness of his.
They remained that way for several undisturbed moments before Ashe felt tugging on her skirt. Ian was trying to pull himself up, with great effort, onto both of their laps. Basch reached down and lifted him easily. The little boy wormed his way into the hug, flinging his arms around each of their necks and breathed his hot baby breath into their faces. Both Ashe and Basch placed one arm around the little boy.
Corliss bustled down the hallway as fast as her tired legs could carry her. She still couldn't believe she had agreed to let an honored guest of the queen take on one of her duties. She fretted, hoping it hadn't been too much of an inconvenience for the man. When she reached the door to Captain Basch's quarters she found that is was not closed entirely. She poked it gently and peeked her bonneted head in, preparing to announce herself.
Once again, she found herself gazing upon the same strange trio she had witnesses before in her kitchen. Only this time, they looked nothing like a menacing Archadian Judge Magister, the royal Queen of Dalmasca, and a poor orphaned servant's child.
They looked like a family.
Author's Note: The bad stuff didn't happen yet, because my chapter got way to long and I had to cut it in half. :D
Stay Tuned...
