Disclamer: I do not own Final Fantasy XII, or the characters. They are property of Square Enix and the FFXII crew.
This chapter got pretty long so expect many chapters this long or even longer... ; From Chapter 5 and on, more exciting things will happen, I assure you. Stay tuned!
Final Fantasy XII - Fabula Ex Animo
Chapter 4- Amor Omnibus Idem
It was the day of the ball. Most of them who were coming were excited already- it had been so long since an enjoying event like this happened.
However, not everyone shared the excitement.
Basch was not the nervous kind of man, but now he just wanted to go away, and don't come back until the ball was over. He really didn't know what he was afraid of. Of Ashe? Of himself? Or of the others, that could tell Ashe everything if they liked? He knew how Balthier was with wine at occasions like these. Perhaps his judgement was reduced in time with the refills of liquor, and he could tell everyone about Basch's secret.
'What if Ashe finds out... If it were to happen, I would not be able to look into those eyes any more. I would not even be able to show my face around again.'
Silently, Basch went up to his window, as he had done many times these last days. A sigh escaped his throat and he turned back again. The sun was disappearing in the horizon- meaning that it would soon begin. But Basch, dressed as the Judge Magister he really were in honor of the day, waited patiently for his sky pirate friends to pick him up.
He was deciding between wearing the helmet or skip it when someone knocked on the door. Balthier and Fran entered, looking more fashionable than ever. Balthier wore his regular kind of outfit, but the west was green, with black and nature-brown patterns as well as silver details. He had also left the side-bags, which revealed more of his well-shaped legs.
Fran was even more stunning for the evening, wearing a long, white dress with hip-high vents on both sides. And for this rare occasion, she had also kept her long, pure-white hair hanging loose, making her almost look like a different viera.
"You two look good." Basch said and smiled.
"You're not too shabby, either." Balthier replied, examining the armors closer. "I had almost forgotten how these pieces make you look so important. They look good on you."
"You never looked that important." Fran smirked, referring to the day she first met Balthier when he fled from his father's madness. The day when Judge Ffamran Mid Bunansa died, and Balthier the Sky Pirate was born.
Said person turned to Fran, grinning:
"I never asked to be a Judge. I just want to be the leading man."
"Perhaps our Judge is the leading man." The tall viera replied.
"I would rather be the supporting character I have been all along, thank you." Basch said, still trying to decide if he should have the helmet or not. He turned to his two friends for advice.
"Should I, or should I not?" he asked, looking at the helmet.
Balthier and Fran examined the helmet, then looked at Basch and said at the same time:
"Should not."
"Well, all right, if you say so. I will leave it then."
Basch placed the helmet on the table again, and the turned to the others.
"Well, then. Shall we?" he asked. The handsome sky pirate nodded and opened the door, allowing his companion to go first, being the lady and all. Then Basch followed Fran, and walked down the hall, hearing Balthier close the door after them before catching up.
The three of them headed down the hall, all the way to the crowded entrance hall. It was almost incredible how many people this room alone could house.
The crowd was waiting to be let into the Great Hall, where the ball was held. Basch couldn't see any familiar faces in this chaos, so with Balthier and Fran sticking close, they headed up the stairs to the large, guarded door. People saw that Basch was a Judge Magister and cleared the way for such a high-ranked, archadian soldier.
The Judge took a deep breath and then announced his arrival to the guards at the door. They opened the door, knowing he was a special guest along with Balthier and Fran.
The Great Hall seemed almost full already. There were people everywhere, many probably of noble or even royal blood. The three friends were stopped before they had a chance to enter the crowds, as they needed to be announced first. The announcer was a tall and thin man all dressed in white robes and blue-green belts. He somehow knew who the three people were and announced their names to the crowds:
"Judge Magister Basch fon Ronsenburg of Archadia, former Captain of the Knights of the Order of Dalmasca!"
"That is quite a few titles..." Balthier whispered and smirked.
Basch didn't answer; he only sent an ironic glare to his friend.
"Ffamran Mid Bunansa of Archadia and his lady, Fran of Eruyt Village!"
"Oh, so it is Ffamran Mid Bunansa today?" Basch grinned and began walking into the hall. Fran held Balthier's arm, earning him jealous glances from many men across the room. The stunning viera said:
"Balthier the sky pirate is still worth an awe-inspiring bounty. As Ffamran, he is free for this night."
"I see. Well, I must find Ashe and properly greet and thank her, being an invited Judge Magister and all. You two do as you like."
"What do you say, Fran? Should we find that sky pirate-wannabe and his lovely escort?" Balthier said to his viera friend.
Smiling, she replied:
"Someone must take care of the child."
"Of course, we got to make sure Vaan stays proper until this ball is over."
Fran smirked and Basch heard her last line before they disappeared among the crowds:
"Well, I was actually talking about you, Ffamran..."
Basch couldn't agree more; Balthier needed the care more than Vaan did. Then the Judge headed onward, to find the young Queen.
He made it almost to the end of the hall, but Ashe was nowhere to be found. He asked a few soldiers he knew from before about her, and they said she had yet to come. Though, it would probably not take that long now.
Basch thanked the soldiers, then decided find other familiar faces among the many people. He had still been away for many years, and there could be people that actually wanted to talk to him after the long absence. So Basch ended up talking to many of his former soldiers from the war four years ago. After all, Basch was a soldier himself.
A few minutes went by, and a familiar name was announced.
"Prince Al-Cid Margrace of the Rozarrian Empire!"
The young, dark man entered the hall, dressed in black clothes and his trademark sunglasses. Four almost identical maidens followed in his steps, ready to devote themselves to his will.
And as the exotic, handsome, urbane prince went into the room he removed the pair of sunglasses, handing them over to the closest maid. His dark eyes and handsome features were as magnetizing as always- especially in the eyes of women.
"If you were not the stubborn man I know you are, then I'd say that man is your greatest competition, my friend."
Basch turned startled to his sky pirate friend, whom was already equipped with the finest wine of Dalmasca. His equally equipped companions, now including Vaan and Penelo, joined up right after.
"So, you have managed to find one and another?" Basch smiled.
"Could anyone miss a good-looking man and a beautiful viera, especially when the talk about them goes around almost as they enter?" Penelo smiled.
"I guess not."
Vaan took a sip of his wine, then he said:
"Al-Cid is Basch's greatest competition?"
The brown-haired man took word, again with his all-knowing, accurate analysis.
"He probably is. He is a royal, which makes him closer to Ashe. He's got looks, manners, and a smooth tongue. And he seems truly interested in Ashe, both as a Queen and as a woman."
Although Basch certainly didn't feel any better after Balthier's analysis, he didn't have any hard feelings at all either.
"As you know, I will not allow myself to give into my feelings, so I actually welcome a rival more than anything. If Ashe were to love him, I would gladly give up my... fondness of her."
Everyone noticed his hesitation on the last words. The friends figured he thought of saying 'love for her' or something but thought it to be too strong.
Al-Cid noticed the group of five as he passed them, and stopped with a smile.
"Well, if it isn't the Queens acquaintances?" he asked with his distinct, rozarrian dialect. "How have you all been these passed years?"
"Times are good." Balthier said.
"And how is the prince of Rozarria?" Fran asked, taking a sip of her glass of wine.
"Times are good." The young prince replied with a smile, then he looked around the area. "I will be seeing you, I guess. I am going to find something to wet one's whistle with."
The friends nodded, and the dark man left them with a smile, ever with the maidens after him.
"He won't change. Only thing important to him is Ashe." Vaan stated.
"But at least he took note of us." Penelo said, grabbing Vaan's arm softly.
The announcer called out, for what time this evening no one knew, and these names were familiar ones as well, at least half of them.
"Emperor Larsa Ferrinas Solidor Archadia and Judge Magister Vis Adamoh of Archadia!"
"Vis Adamoh?" Basch thought out loud, just as clueless as his friends were.
The young, dark-haired and blue-eyed emperor walked into the Great Hall, seeming older and more experienced than his 14 years of age. To the left of the young boy walked a Judge in full armor, and by judging from the way the person walked and the height, it seemed to be a woman.
Larsa looked around and lit up when he saw Penolo waving for him. With a happy smile the boy turned and walked up to the adults he had been fighting together with two years ago.
"Good to see you, Larsa! Are you all right? Were you able to come despite your work with Archadia?" The questions from Vaan and Penelo showered over Larsa, barely giving him time to answer them.
At last Larsa found an opening and turned to all of his friends.
"I am happy to see you all here, for some of us there has been some years since we last had contact."
"You seem all the same, except that you are taller than I remember." Balthier smirked.
"And some of you are exactly as I remember." Larsa smiled back. The boy then turned to the Judge he brought and then back at his friends again.
"I was also taking this as a good opportunity to introduce to you my latest acquaintance and employee- Vis Adamoh."
The Judge at his side took of the helmet, revealing a bright and beautiful face of a woman. Her hair was long and black like raven-wings, and accompanied with a pair of dark-brown eyes. She looked almost rozarrian, but with light skin.
"Nice to meet you all. Larsa has told me so much about you." She smiled softly. Her age was hard to determine- around 28-30, perhaps.
Larsa turned to his friends for a brief introduction of them too, for Vis.
"These are Vaan and Penelo, two very good, dalmascan residents. And Balthier, to you probably known as Ffamran Mid Bunansa, the prodigy of Archadia, and the youngest ever to a attain the rank of Judge Magister."
"Please, Emperor, no flattery. At heart I have never been a Judge. And call me Ffamran tonight, some might have ears. I want to enjoy this party without having bounty hunters desire my head."
Vis smiled, probably aware of some of Balthiers history with the Empire.
"Very well then, Ffamran, I will. Onward, this viera here is Ffamrans companion, Fran. And lastly, you probably recognize Judge Basch fon Ronsenburg, the one who took Gabranth's place two years ago."
"I see. I really see why people thought you to be the one who ended the life of King Raminas. If not for the scar and the beard, I would have taken you for your brother." The female Judge said thoughtful.
"We were twins, after all." Basch replied.
"But let us not talk about matters of the past," Vis said and smiled "all that really matters is now, is it not so?"
The group seemed to agree with her words, Basch even more so. But he knew he would not be able to cast away the past, just not yet. He hated to admit it, but he was too weak. Didn't have the strength to live NOW and go forward- he allowed the past to control him. As the announcer called out once again, Basch forgot of his thoughts, hiding them deep into his mind.
"Queen Ashelia B'Nargin Dalmasca and Marquis Halim Ondore IV of Bjuherba!"
Almost immediately everything in the Great Hall silenced to only a few whispers. Ashe walked into the room, arm in arm with her uncle. She wore a long white dress, adorned in body and in the lowest part of the train with blue-green flowery patterns. Her shoulders were uncovered, wearing only silver jewelry as well as a tiara in silver, adorned with crystals.
Halim Ondore wore a long, red coat with golden details, and wore a white, slightly patterned suit underneath.
Ashe smiled while looking around, almost as a plea for everyone inside to continue speaking and enjoying the ball. Also as the couple had entered, calm music played of flutes and drums began filling the room.
Soon, the fuzz was on full again. Ashe and Halim continued down, then stopped when they saw Ashe's friends. Halim turned to his niece, said a few words, then gave her a kiss on her forehead before leaving for the crowd.
Then the young Queen went over to her friends. She was soon drawn into introductions and discussions with Larsa and Vis. A few moments later they all were entangled in discussion, but they were then interrupted.
The prince of Rozarria had found his way back and turned to Ashe.
"My Lady Queen, you look more stunning than ever." He said and kissed her hand. Ashe smiled and replied:
"Thank you very much, Highness."
"You should really visit Rozarria more often."
He released her hand and straightened again. She smiled again.
"It is not like I do not visit at all, is it?"
Al-Cid smirked, then noticed a slight change in the music. It was time to dance.
"Would your Highness share this dance with me? I would be honored."
Ashe hesitated for a moment, then smiled and offered him her hand. He grabbed it, then led them to the dance floor.
"Should we follow their example?" Balthier smiled at Fran, and she nodded smirking. They then left as well.
"You wanna dance, Vaan?" Penelo asked. Vaan shook his head.
"You know I can't dance, and compared to you I feel even worse than bad."
Penelo sighed, then stepped up to Basch.
"You know how to dance, right?"
Basch hesitated.
"Well, to some extent, I do..."
"That'll do! I can never force that sky pirate-brat anyway."
"Hey! Who you calling sky pirate-brat?"
Penelo didn't bother Vaan; she just gave him her glass of wine, then pulled Basch to the dance floor before he had a chance to stop her.
They found a free spot on the dance floor and Penelo turned to her older friend. Basch looked unsure of where put his hands, so the young girl smiled and placed his right hand on her waist, and held onto the other with her own right hand. She placed her left arm on Basch's right one, holding onto it.
"You think you can do it?" Penelo asked. "It really isn't that hard."
"I guess, I will manage. If you teach me."
"Just follow my movements to begin with."
Basch nodded and followed as Penelo began slowly spin them around, in time with the music. He learned it quickly and was beginning to enjoy the dance.
Then, when he seemed to get the hang of it, Penelo released Basch's right arm, and forced him to spin her. Then, after two spins clockwise, she made him catch her for a brief moment, then spun back one round to original position, where Penelo held onto his right arm, and he held onto her waist.
"It wasn't that difficult, right?" She asked.
"That was it?"
Penelo laughed, but didn't stop their slow spins.
"It was basics. You'll do fine with them only, but there are other, more difficult moves."
Basch nodded, satisfied with the lesson. The couple danced for a few moments and the current song ended. All those on the dance floor clapped their hands. Another song began playing, with a similar but livelier tune than the first one.
"This one's almost like the other one." Penelo said, still holding onto her friend. "Although, there are a few partner switches in this one."
"Is it difficult?" Basch asked, now leading Penelo around the dance floor.
She shook her head.
"When you hear a loud, clapping sound, you take one step back from me, then clap your hands once. Then you turn around and grab the first and closest woman you see."
"Does not sound very difficult. I can manage that."
The young girl nodded and they continued.
The first partner switch came not long after. Basch and Penelo took one step back away from each other, then clapped their hands once. Penelo sent an encouraging smile before the two of them turned around. Apparently, Penelo managed to catch Halim Ondore, whom had found his way to the dance floor. It really amazed Basch how quickly and youthful the old man moved.
Basch himself got a young noblewoman from Archadia. He didn't know her but after some brief small talk, he found out that her husband actually worked as a Judge. They didn't have time to talk for very long until the next clap sounded over the hall. Basch thanked the lady for the dance as he took one step back and clapped his hands, then turned around for another woman.
This continued for a few rounds. Basch noticed Fran dancing a few steps away, and Larsa had actually found his way to the dance floor with Vis. It looked funny when they tried to get the hang of it and the two of them must've realized that, since they were both laughing.
The clap was heard once again, and Basch took one step back from the woman he currently danced with, clapped and turned, only to find a smiling Ashe behind him.
"So I get to dance with a Judge Magister? It will be interesting." She said and came up to him.
Basch was to startled to say anything, so he only took her hand and held her waist, and began slowly spinning them around.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" she asked.
"I am, thank you. Are you, Highness?"
The young Queen smiled.
"So far, I am. You know, it has been five years since we had something like this. You remember, right?"
Basch nodded. How could he forget?
"Of course," she continued "I was young and somewhat stupid, so I can barely remember anything."
"Young, but not stupid, Highness." Basch said, looking into her blue eyes. "More curious, would I say."
Basch remembered that night clearly. It was roughly a year before the war broke out full and King Raminas was murdered, Basch sent to prison, Ashe supposedly committed suicide and Dalmasca fell into the hands of Archadia and Emperor Gramis Gana Solidor and his son, Vayne Carudas Solidor.
Basch and his friend Vossler were guards at that ball, where mostly nobility of Dalmasca attended. King Raminas socialized with his many friends and didn't notice how his only remaining child of nine, the 16 year old Ashelia, literally poured wine into her small body. Before long, she was beyond recognition, and even more drunk than many of the men there.
Raminas finally noticed the state of his daughter, and decided to let her take a rest before something could happen. He called Basch and Vossler to himself, ordering them to take care of Ashe, when the maids were nowhere to be found. Raminas also believed his daughter would be too hard for the maids to handle anyway.
Said and done. Basch and Vossler managed to get the young princess out of the Great Hall, but as they approached her room, at this time located far in the west end of the palace, she just placed herself on the floor.
"What is it, Princess?" Basch asked.
"I don't want to." was all she said.
"Well, you have to anyway, young Highness." Vossler said.
Fearing that Vossler would easily tire of this kind of babysitting, Basch turned to him.
"Why do you not go find some water and perhaps some food, Vossler, and let me take care of this."
Vossler looked at his friend, then nodded and went down the hallway again, leaving Basch alone with the princess. Ashe was still sitting on the floor, but she looked as if she was to fall asleep any moment.
"Princess, you need to rest. I will carry you to your room."
He tried to sound as gentle as he could, and it seemed to work and she nodded. Basch reached down and lifted her light body from the floor, and began carrying her down the hall to the west. Ashe really was tired so she placed her head against the soldier's shoulder and held around his neck. She seemed to fall asleep, as her head then slumped forward, only stopped by Basch's cheek.
Finally, they reached her room. Basch took the young woman to her bed and carefully placed her there. She slowly opened her eyes again, and looked up at him.
"How do you feel, Princess?" He asked.
She didn't say anything, but instead she sought his hand and held it.
"Is something the matter, Princess?" He asked as he sat down in the bed beside her.
"I... am just afraid."
"Of being drunk?" he smiled, feeling that was not it at all.
"No. Of the future, I guess. You know of Lord Rasler, do you not?"
Basch nodded, still holding onto the young woman's hand.
"Well, I am to marry him within a year. He says he would like no other, but will I satisfy him as his wife?"
Basch still didn't say anything; he just let Ashe speak- she would probably not remember much tomorrow anyway, after all that wine.
"Then, when Father dies," she continued "I will be the heir to the throne of Dalmasca. Will I satisfy the people as their Queen?"
That was when Basch for the first time saw true weakness of the young princess and he was moved by her insecurity. He somehow liked this side as well as her strong and willful one too. He could not define the feelings that began flowing inside of him, if they were of good or bad.
"I cannot see why you would be unsatisfying, if I may say so, Princess?"
She smiled and said:
"Thank you, Captain Basch."
When she said his name, it felt like his heart took an extra beat. His body calmed down as she closed her eyes and seemed to fall asleep again. During the last years, she had really grown from a sweet but willful child into a beautiful and still willful woman.
Almost automatically, Basch reached for her face and caressed her cheek, then touched her hair. Then he drew back his hand as if he had burned it.
He released her hand and rose, still fully aware of her soft skin, her silky hair. His body was in turmoil and he had to use all his willpower to calm down. Luckily, Vossler arrived a moment later with water and some fruit, and could without knowledge restore balance for Basch.
The day after, Ashe really didn't remember anything, but Basch himself realized that his feelings for would not fade- rather, they grew more as he learned more about her, spoke with her. He had fallen for Princess Ashelia B'Nargin Dalmasca.
"Basch?"
He came back to reality again and looked back at the face of the same young woman as then, though she was slightly older, but much more matured.
"Hmm?"
"You were far away, were you not?"
He nodded, then smiled.
"I was thinking of the past. Of how much has happened."
She nodded and smiled too. Then Ashe slowed them down, as the music was beginning to stop. Then the music stopped and all the couples clapped their hands. Another song was played immediately, but Basch attempted to walk off the dance floor.
"Thank you for the dance, Highness, it was very enjoyable. As for now, I would like something to drink so if you will excuse me..."
"Walk with me, then, Judge Basch. I, too, am thirsty."
He nodded and offered his arm to the young Queen. Holding onto him, Ashe allowed Basch to lead of the dance floor to where maids were filling and refilling bottles of wine.
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The rest of the evening went well, but Basch decided rather early to leave, thinking he was too old for all this. Then, right after midnight, he took his chance and left, walking back to his room. The noises from the Great Hall couldn't reach there, apparently. Not much was heard except the blowing wind from his open window.
Basch took off all the armors, just leaving them in a pile on the floor. He felt a little dizzy after the wine, so he just placed himself in a chair, taking a quick rest. Upon the dizziness, it was hot as hell in the room. After all, Rabanastre was lying in the middle of a desert.
With some difficulty, Basch finally got his black sweater off, leaving him only in the black pants.
After a while, he went up and washed his face in his private bath. While he did that, someone knocked on the door. Thinking it was Balthier and Fran, Basch only took a cloth towel and headed for the door and opened it.
It was Ashe.
"Highness?"
"I apologize if I disturb you, but I wanted you to have this." She smiled shyly and pointed to the floor.
He looked down, and saw a box made of tree.
"It is your things. I did not want them to be thrown away, so I took care of them in you absence."
Basch took the box and carried it into the room, placing it on the table. Ashe walked silently after him. Basch became curious of what the box might contain and he opened it.
"You want them back?" Ashe asked.
"Are these... all my old clothes? Those from two years ago?"
She nodded and went up to him. Basch looked through his things, realizing it was all there. The red west with brown leather-straps, the white sleeveless tunic, the pale-brown shorts, even the brown leather boots and the brown and green belts.
"Thank you, Highness." He said at last, and smiled at the young woman. She lit up and said:
"So you did want them back?"
"Well, I cannot say anything less then that I really liked these clothes."
A moment of silence went by, then he continued.
"Perhaps I should use them again, sometimes."
Ashe smiled and nodded, then turned to the door again. Before leaving she looked back at Basch, who had put the things back in the box and walked a few towards her.
"Balthier and Fran had something talk about tomorrow, so they wanted us all to be in their room before breakfast, if it is all right with you?"
"I will be there."
"Then, good night Basch."
"Good night, Highness."
Her steps disappeared down the hall while Basch closed the door after her. That she had taken care of his left things made him happy, but also thoughtful. Was it coincidence? A sign? He did not know.
As he went back to get to sleep, he suddenly remembered something. Something someone said to him long ago.
'You know, most things in this world are all random. If we live by fate, then I'd say fate is random. Nothing is the same, everything change. Except maybe how we feel. Happiness is the same for all. Hate is the same for all. And perhaps most importantly, love is the same for all. Humans live only to wage war and violence with one and another, but could we not just learn to live by our positive feelings. Remember, Basch, that if you fall in love, you cannot just throw it away.'
Basch could not remember who said it, but wasn't he doing what he was told not to do? Throwing his love away.
'I have reasons for doing this.' he convinced himself.
'But I like that line anyway... Do not throw love away. Love is the same for all.'
Basch felt the person was right about that.
