Author's Note: This time, from Vossler's side
Genre: general/angst
Rating: Kplus
Characters: platonic Vossler/Ashe
Summary: Physical, metaphorical... for a princess to be inured, her knight's heart is injured, too.
Just the Two of Us
Chapter Three: Flowers
By: Mazzie May
Most people look at the desert and think, "oh, good god." Most people think of a desert with dread and distaste. Things that are barren and dry and far too hot are compared to it. Most people hate it.
But not the people of the desert. They can find the beauty in it with so little effort. Especially Queen Dalmasca. Red Cactus blossoms and blue and white field flowers that dot the dry patches of yellowy vegetation and cluster uselessly around small springs are truly something she finds lovely.
Little Ashe agrees as she wanders away from her mother's desert manor that is half built into the cliff side of the Easternsand. Well, she's not too little nowadays; ten years old, she piles her waist length curls on top of her head and ties several black ribbons around the handful. When she drops her arms, what remains is a very messy plait, with escaped messes touching her neck and shoulders. It bobs with her as she holds up her dress, wading through the weeds towards the rocks.
Vossler is behind her, but more to the side. Strapped within metal, the heat is no comfort to him. Dalmascan armor is airy to bring comfort to the soldiers but officers of rank, like Vossler, get to wear extra. He follows her without question, though he tries to remain near the shade.
A small time later, Little Ashe carries around a wild flower bouquet and struggles against her long dress as she attempts to make her way onto the rocks. She doesn't expect him to follow her, seeing as how he'd be directly beneath the sun, and for a little while he doesn't.
She chatters on to him as she hops from one rock to another and he interrupts her with warnings until he admits that remaining in the shade is selfish of him and finally begins the climb after her. She turns quickly to tell him that she's fine, when her dress swings wide and throws her off balance. Vossler's two rocks away and Ashe hits the hard sand with a thud and a snap, desert flowers falling slowly around her.
--
Despite everything she's been through, that broken leg is by far the worst physical injury she's ever received under his care.
Vossler couldn't catch her then, and as Ashe is lead away to her cell, he lets her fall now.
Author's Note: Because Vossler needed some love. Regardless the horrible, depressing love that it is. I imagine that Ashe forgave him for the leg thing--was probably never mad at him--but she won't let the betrayl go so quickly. I also imagine he knows it, and we're back to the hurting heart thing.
R&R please, any commentary apprieciated