Ashelia B'nargin now went back to her role of Queen of Dalmasca. There were guests from all around the newly freed Ivalice, and now would be a great time to make connections that had been cut off to her father and grandfather.

She spent some time speaking to guild masters and merchants that she knew normally never got attention from royalty, even though they provided much needed trade and saved the day for weary travelers. "Oh, Your Majesty Ashelia." Ashe turned around to face an elderly Archadian couple of status. The older woman took Ashe's hand and curtsied to her. "Your dance brought tears to my eyes. It was so beautiful."

"Thank you," Ashe replied with a smile.

"So long ago that dance was popular all through Archades…" the elderly gentleman commented with a smile.

"And that boy… oh if I may say Majesty, you were a wonderful match on the floor."

Ashe's heart rate picked up for a moment as she recalled the look in Balthier's eyes during that dance. She gave her thanks to the old couple and continued on. As she schmoozed, nearly everyone commented on her dance with "that fine young Bunasa boy." And everyone "had been wondering where Dr. Cid's only son had gone." For a while after she first heart it, all she could do was snicker to herself. If they only realized where the Bunasa boy had really been and what he had really been doing. But as she continued on, she learned that all the gentry really believed that Ffamran really had just been laboring silently in the shadows for his father after he stepped down from a judge position.

She knew it was really bizarre when one of the oldest advisors to the Dalmascan kingdom commented that Ffamran Bunasa was a fine intelligent man of Archades, and it pleased him that the dance the Queen had with the Archadian noble and the Emperor had shared with a Rabanastre peasant could be a true symbol of peace. Now she really knew something was wrong. What exactly was Balthier planning in that knifing mind of his?

The room was getting warm, and Ashe was getting a bit worn out from the formalities. It was amusing to her, since she had spent her entire life save about two and a half years in this lifestyle, but she had so much difficulty re-adjusting. Upon spying Balthier and Larsa on the balcony, she decided that she would take a breather and question the sky pirate and what trickery he was up to this evening.

"Ah, Lady Ashe," Larsa proclaimed with a smile as she approached them on the balcony.

"Lord Larsa," Ashe replied with a nod before turning to Balthier, giving him a questioning look.

"Told you," Balthier said, pointing to Larsa.

"Told him what?" Ashe asked as she noticed the odd look on Larsa's face.

"That you'd be coming after me for all this Ffamran talk… That is what you're here to ask, right Princess?"

She looked annoyed that he had called her Princess again, but had no comment for it. There were more pressing things on her mind then the title turned nickname. "What sort of trickery is afoot here Balthier?"

"Actually," Larsa interjected and cleared his throat. "Lady Ashe, it was my idea."

After a long pause of Ashe looking at Larsa and then turning her glaring look back to Balthier, she asked, "You got him into your tricks too?"

Balthier gave her a look of complete annoyance. "Do you even listen?" He asked, slightly throwing his arms up in exasperation.

"I wish only for his name be cleared Lady Ashe, and the best way to do that is for Balthier to go back to his name of Ffamran."

"And he will pirate under that alias now?" Ashe asked, now curious for Larsa's answer.

"Well, I do suppose that is a possibility. But a hero deserves a clean start, what he does is from there."

"And you believe this faerie tale will work?"

"My people will take my word," Larsa replied with a smile, taking her twenty questions in stride. He bowed to take his leave and left the two on the balcony.

Balthier turned his back to Ashe and leaned his arms on the railing. "You should have a bit more faith in me you know. After all, I did save your kingdom, and even gave your ring back. You should be more grateful."

Ashe gave a small sigh as she stood next to him, hands resting ever so gently on the railing. "You never answered my question," she pointed out.

"The children needed something to do after I took the Strahl back," he said, clearly not convinced by his own story as he looked out at the city below them.

Ashe pretended to take his answer, but after a moment was unable to hold her chuckle back. "Is that the excuse Fran allowed you to use?"

Damn. If it wasn't Fran it was Ashe, Balthier mused to himself. He was silent for a long time.

Ashe finally broke the silence. "It was enough to know you were both well," she told him quietly.

"Not angry?" Balthier asked, cocking his head slightly to the side as he looked at her.

"Annoyed may be the proper word," she answered, returning his look.

"Well, that's good then," Balthier commented with a smirk.

A maid came out and handed them each a drink before excusing herself and walking back inside. As they sipped at their drinks, Ashe said, almost a whisper to him. "There was another question I asked you this evening you didn't answer."

Balthier thought back, hiding the fact he was racking his memory to remember what she was asking him. It was then that he stole a glance he noticed her right hand was touching the pendant, and he remembered. Well, good as time to tell her as ever, he thought to himself.

"Upon once a time, as these stories always start,

There was a knight seeking his princess' heart.

However, he had to leave,

And to this she would silently grieve.

Many suitors wished to be her fate,

But she could only wait.

Though no correspondence he would send,

The princess refused to bend.

The first gift she would receive

Was one that would cause her to freeze.

The object he returned, was from her a gift

To assure her that their distance would cause no rift.

The second, a pendant to mark a wonderous day,

That when given to her, she had nothing to say.

A circle with stones of gold

That shine the colors of the rainbow.

He had one more gift for her,

That he, himself would deliver.

A ring with a single gorgeous stone,

So that she would never be alone.

And up above the skies would bear witness,

A treasure that would be the princess's greatest gift."

Once Balthier finished, he looked at her expression, which was part stunned and part excited that he knew her favorite tale by heart. "How did you know that was my favorite story?" She questioned.

Balthier looked back to the city. "Because a long time ago… I told you that story."

Ashe looked at him confused. She racked her brain so hard trying to remember when Balthier would have told her the story. They had shared close moments, but she didn't recall the tale ever coming up in the journey a few years ago.

"Think back further," Balthier instructed her, as if he were reading her mind.

"But I never met you before…" Ashe trailed off. She then frowned. "Stop trying to confuse me," she ordered, clearly frustrated

"We met when we were children," Balthier told her, which caused her to be even more puzzled. "It was when I was seven, so you must have been about four or so. My father came here to share a new water system with Dalmasca, and took my mother and I along. You and I sat together in that courtyard behind the cherry tree while Cylia watched us and a couple knights stood guard. You told me a Dalmascan story, which I apparently told my mother over and over, so I shared the tale to you."

"But then how did Cylia know it so well?" Ashe asked, slightly in shock from the new revelation.

"She must have scribbled it down when I told you it," Balthier mused, waiting to see what her reaction would be once everything sank in.

"Why did you never tell me of this?" Ashe questioned.

Balthier shrugged. "Truth is, I had forgotten. I found it in my father's journals when Basch wrote to me that while cleaning out Draklor they stumbled on some things they thought I might want to read."

Ashe took a few moments to absorb everything as she looked off to the right where the courtyard Balthier had mentioned rested with a few guests now lounged and chatted. She tried to recall, but only faint memories came to her mind. Once her father and husband had been killed, she found she had tried to block most of her earlier memories out.

Nothing was said, but there was a difference in the air between them now. Balthier closed the distance between them by gently putting his hand over hers. Upon feeling the soft touch, Ashe turned her head and found that they were caught in a gaze again. Her heart began pounding the same as it had during their dance, and neither could look away.

Balthier was somewhat relieved. Even though he and Ashe had danced together and had a close moment, he still was unsure to how she would react to his touch now. There was silence, a fairly comfortable one, that settled between them now. He was slightly surprised at himself, but always had a feeling that the day would come where he would find a woman worth his troubles, and now he could only hope that she would accept it.

He looked puzzled as a smile slowly crossed her face. Her eyes met up with his again after looking around the area. "What would you do," she began slowly. "if right now I told you to kiss me?"

Balthier felt as if his lungs refused to release the breath of air it had just drawn in. He blinked for a moment, wondering if the Queen of Dalmasca was really asking him for a kiss, or if this would be a trap of some sort. "And am I, by chance, going to get slapped for said action?"

Her smile grew wider and a sparkle was now found in her eyes. Her voice was nearly a whisper as she answered him. "I believe you have to answer my question first…"

Balthier closed his eyes for a moment, and when he reopened them he found Ashe smiling broadly. He was proud of her and had to give her props for using a game against him that he had only taught her earlier in the day. It could still be a trap, he mused, but he there could be worse things then stealing a kiss from her. Balthier fully turned towards her, and as he did his hand rested gently on her cheek. Taking his time, he slowly leaned in and connected their lips. Much to his relief, she leaned in and returned the kiss.

And when their lips connected, the intense feelings from the dance rushed right through them all over again.