A short and sweet chapter for you fantastic people. Thanks so much for the lovely reviews so far, it's all about quality not quantity! I hope you enjoy this chapter, BaschAshe :D

Disclaimer: Still don't own

3. Mischief and Trickery

"Basch!"

The Coeurl he had just slain thudded to the ground and Basch turned to see why the Princess was scolding him. With a sudden urge to laugh he realised she was very close behind him. Her eyes were closed as if to calm and compose herself for a moment.

He moved to a more respectful distance and put away his bloody axe.

"If you keep darting in front of me like that your going to end up as sliced as that Coeurl!"

"My apologies, your Majesty," he replied, fighting to keep his face straight.

Ashe glared at him and they carried on walking through the Tchita Uplands, slightly in front of Basch as was their habit. "I'm serious- just because the others aren't around doesn't mean I'm any less capable, ok? Let me deal with a few foes myself."

They walked in silence for a while, Basch hoping his charge would forget her annoyance with him soon. He couldn't help being over-protective of her, it was instinctive. He still felt that as a woman of such stance, Ashe would prefer to have a man fight blood and guts rather than do it herself. He should give Ashe more credit- she was a warrior now and just as good a fighter as the rest of them.

Admittedly, Basch had worn himself out with fighting all day. The fiends here were stronger the further into the Uplands they travelled and he had tried to take on the bulk of them on his own. It had been hours since they'd let the Chocobos return to the Phon Coast and they hadn't stopped to rest since then. The air was slowly beginning to cool now, the sky awash with orange and red. The old and bandaged gash in the crook of Basch's arm was yet to heal and it felt hot and sore.

Eventually they reached a little stream and this was a clear sign as any that they should stop here for the night. In silence they took their fill of water and had a look around to find a safe place to rest. The ritual was so automatic by now that there was no need to discuss it, and the two felt that talking was not a necessity to take comfort in each others company. If he wasn't tired and the night so peaceful he might have missed the general noise of Vaan, Penelo and Balthier at this time of day. The grass looked lush and springy and though there were no trees here at the top of the valley there were many a boulder to take shelter behind.

Before he could set himself down, Ashe's voice carried over to him. She was watching the sunset over the high waterfall, her form bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. "How old are you, Basch?" Another of her strange up-front questions she came up with when she was silent and thoughtful for too long.

"It's funny you should ask..." he said, thinking that he would not normally say what he was about to but it would help him avoid a direct answer. He calculated in his head just to check. Ashe turned to him in expectation. "It's my birthday today, actually." If he'd gotten the date right.

Ashe's eyes widened and she immediately began to scold him again, "You should have told me! Honestly, Basch-"

Basch laughed and interrupted her before she could go into a string of it. "I only just realised, Highness, do not worry over it." She stared at him with an exasperated expression that made him desperately want to change the subject. "I haven't remembered my birthday for a few years, it seems."

Ashe's expression changed in an instance. Reverting her gaze to the ground and looking fairly anxious. Basch thought he knew what was gracing her thoughts. He didn't wish to cause her distress, so he rarely brought up his two years in prison in her vicinity. It was true that Basch had no way of keeping track of the days while he hung broken in that cage, but celebrating birthdays had been the last thing on his mind.

"Your Highness," he approached her, wanting her to be annoyed with him again, anything to lift the expression she held now. As he brought up an arm to touch her shoulder she suddenly glanced up at him, a curious glint in her eye. Taking his outstretched hand in hers, she said, "well you'll remember this one".

She darted forwards pulling Basch into a run with her in a tight grip and with horror Basch realised what Ashe was doing a moment too late. Releasing Basch, Ashe sprinted toward the edge of the waterfall and leapt into the air. Panic darting through his veins, Basch was but a moment behind her, sick with worry and shock... yet feeling suddenly alive.

The edge came all to soon and he was flying, nothing but warm air around him. It whistled in his ears and stole away his breath. He caught a glimpse of treetops against an orange sky before his stomach seemed to vanish and he dropped like a stone into shockingly cold water that ripped at his senses.

Completely submerged he thrashed blindly for Ashe, preying she was allright- dreading the sight of her smashed and broken across the stones around the pool.

His hand caught flesh and his heart leapt in relief as her limb moved against his hand. She was alive, thank the Gods, thank the Gods. Oh he was going to kill her.

His head broke the water and he gasped, shaking his hair out of his eyes and grasping Ashe around the waist instead of her bare thigh. Their limbs entwined in the water as Basch held her upright. She was very close, her hair slick and her skin pale with goose bumps. As they both struggled to control their breathing, Ashe leant in a little too close to Basch. He was overcome with an urge to close what little distance remained and his pulse was alive with electricity. Ashe smiled at him, looking pleased. All thought of shouting fluttered from Basch's mind as he struggled to compose himself. Why must his charge be so damned beautiful?

They needed to get out of the water before he did something he would regret.

His arms reluctantly released her and they swam a short distance to the banks of the lake. Basch hauled his soaking body out first and turned for Ashe. She refused his hand out of pride and tried to pull herself up alone- to no avail. He tried not to notice how her clothes clung to her body as he pulled her out by other means.

They both collapsed, panting on the bank, soaking and tired now the adrenaline was ebbing away. Finally, Basch found his voice. "Ashelia B'Nargin Dalmasca, are you insane?" he said lowly, sitting up wearily and watching her in disbelief. "When you toy with death you toy with a Nation. Whatever came over you?"

Ashe sighed, rolled her eyes and sat up. "Oh, Basch... For just a moment can we forget about Ivalice and remember that I, too am a human being? I must make sacrifices for my people, I know only too well... But one can't grudge another merely for being human. Besides... you loved it... and you will never forget it." She shot him a mischevious smile and Basch was momentarily enchanted.

He knew it was best not to argue with her pathetic excuse so he merely shifted so that he sat up-right against a knarled tree stump and readied himself for the first watch, making sure he was uncomfortable enough not to fall asleep. Ashe chuckled and rose to her feet. "Oh no you don't, I'm taking first watch." She sat on a small bolder in front of him as Basch began to protest.

"Why must you be so disagreeable?" he said tiredly, shaking his head. "I'll wake you nearer morning and you can watch then."

Basch wondered what on earth had come over her today as he wrenched himself to his feet to fetch her pack and pull out the blanket for her. His arms felt maddeningly weak as he rummaged through the bag. By the time he had turned and made back toward her he realised something was wrong. He went down on one knee, not quite noticing when exactly and struggled to hold up his head. Ashe just smiled that mischievous smile she'd been flashing all evening. He realised what she'd done as her face began to fade from his exhausted mind.

"You bewitched... me..." he muttered before he slumped to the ground, saved by Ashe's slender arms. She gently laid him out more comfortably, pleased with her little trick with the sleep spell.

A tiny part of her did feel guilty about putting him through that little drama of hers after he'd worked so hard to look after her all day. Hopefully he would realise that this was how she was thanking him. The sun had set by now and the trees around her blocked out any light that the moon may have cast over them. Resisting the urge to just curl up next to Basch, she set to work and made a small fire. Basch was still wet and the hair on her head would turn icy cold if she didn't dry it soon.

Hours later, a curious shadow appeared at the top of the waterfall, seeming to gaze down on her where she sat with Basch. Ashe stopped her administrations to his damp hair in her lap and peered at the black shape. Why was it that in the dark her eyes played tricks on her?

Basch stirred in her lap and she blushed, cursing their current position. Quickly she whispered the spell again that would have him under for the rest of the night now. She'd have to take his watch as well but that was no problem. She was wide awake now... and the black outline against the stars had disappeared.

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