Collide

Song: Collide by Howie Day


The flight from Bhujerba to King Raithwall's Tomb was the longest she's ever had. She felt so restless.

The first hour, she managed to keep still by biting her nails. She's never done that since she was nine.

When all her nails were perfectly trimmed, she proceeded to pace around the bridge. This went on for about five minutes until Balthier got so annoyed, he basically sent her away.

She still couldn't stay put. So she started obsessively cleaning around the Strahl.

All the while, Basch was watching her. He was worried, but it would be futile to tell her to relax. He'll just have to let her run out of steam, like what he always did when this happened. And this has happened a lot. It's just Ashe to worry too much.

When Penelo expressed her worry too, he just told her what he told himself. She wasn't convinced, but she agreed to the futile-to-tell-her-to-relax part. Basch assured her that he knew the perfect remedy.


After an hour and a half of scrubbing, Ashe returned to her seat. Soon, as expected, she fell asleep.

"What do you know, Basch was right," said Vaan.

"Better take her to her room," Balthier intoned from the pilot's seat, "We wouldn't want Her Royal Highness waking up with a bad back."

"Allow me," Basch volunteered and proceeded to carry the princess.

In her room, he carefully laid her down on the bed, like placing a porcelain doll in her velvet case. He fought back the urge to kiss her on the forehead. Instead, he opted to stroke her cheek. She's changed immensely since he last saw her. It seemed like she was an entirely different person from the Ashe he knew, yet somehow still the same. She's gone through so much that she's become hardened. But, he knew that, that hardness is always in danger of breaking. At the end of the day, she's still just a child longing for her father's embrace telling her everything will be all right.

On some level, Basch blamed himself. He whispered an apology. This time, he let himself kiss her. On the cheek though.

On his way out, he left his 'remedy' beside her pillow.


Know that I'll follow, wherever you'll go

Sometimes I worry I won't see your face light up again

But, remember, even the best fall down sometime

Even the wrong words seem to rhyme

Out of the doubt that fills your mind,

You'll somehow find you and I collide

Ashe couldn't help but smile. This was beside her pillow when she woke up.

After everything that's happened, it's hard to believe this was all she needed to feel better. She thought so too, yet it was just that. It was not signed, but she knew that handwriting only too well. That realization caused her smile to grow wider.

Then, a knock on the door interrupted her musing.

"Come in."

"Your Majesty," speak of the devil, Basch appeared in the doorway, "we'll be landing soon."

"Um, yes," was all she could reply. She was still too caught up in the message. And the fact that it was from him.

Just as he was leaving, she called. "Basch."

"Majesty?"

She smiled at him. "Thank you."

He could've sworn his heart melted. "It was my pleasure," he smiled back. He wanted to add I would write a tome's worth of poems just to see you smile like that, but she didn't need to know that.