CHAPTER 8

-Explendid night you have orchestrated Queen Ashelia… but I haven't had a chance to talk you about some matters, which in fact are related to the pleasure it represents to me, to confer to you, my beautiful dessert bloom, such declaration.

As soon as Ashelia took her place in the long table, Al Cid appeared and placed himself right there behind her, standing straight, and putting his hands over her shoulders before saying that sentence. Ashelia flushed a little, after all she was sharing a table with the rulers of Dalmasca, and even though her relationship with the Rozzarian Prince was of the knowledge of all, this time it seemed to have reached an upper level.

-I… I'm Sorry; now i give you all my attention.

Ashelia didn't move, and the Rozzarian kept his touch over her shoulders and continued:

-As you know my Queen, I am very fond of your invaluable presence and your friendship is of my absolute appreciation. Is this friendship I believe we have developed, we are not only allies anymore… but true confidents.

As soon as the man finished saying this, Ashelia shifted to the side so she could see his eyes and touched his hand placed on her shoulder smoothly. Then she whispered:

-Stop please, this is not the time.

She was nervous, she didn't see this coming, she was too worried about the pirate and in consequence blind to Al Cids intentions. A million ideas started running inside her head as everybody in the table started to pay attention towards them.

-It is not hard for me to say I admire your beauty; your perfect form was indeed a gift from the gods, and I'm thankful for being witness of your existence… I might be an ignorant for making such a statement as the one I am about to pronounce… But you are a master piece; the perfect feminine beauty you possess must be superior to the one of the muse that inspired your creation!

Saying this, he let out all the rozzarian passion of his lineage, and through his hands he painted a perfect picture of a sign of admiration. Al Cid was not a shallow man, he was passionate and he expressed this at all times.

-Saying this, I request a moment alone with the Queen, in the balcony of course, the night is perfect and the dalmascan desert is my ally when it grants us with this beautiful scenery that will decorate our meeting. I seek tranquility for the subject of my request.

The Queen froze, everybody was looking at them. It was pretty obvious what Al Cids request was going to be, she turned more nervous and confused; she felt an infinite pressure, it was Al Cid, it was the eyes of the rulers, it was the request of marriage she was going to reject.

So she snapped and took off as fast as she could. She said:

-I... I'm sorry, I can't.

She stood up and leaving the room behind she ran away through the hall, trying to hide from the hunting eyes of Ivalice. Although her guards followed her, she was lost from sight.

Everybody in the room started to whisper, they all looked at Al Cid, which just decided to raise his voice and comment:

-Everybody has its own appointments. As the Queen needs to attend important matters, we must continue our dinner.

He moved away from the long table and followed his way to the place he wanted to go with the Queen; the balcony, only to think. He was indeed confused and had to consider that her strategic talks about creating that certain unity were not what he thought they were.

Ashelia didn't come back to the event; in fact, she sent a message excusing her and asking them to continue with the activities. She also asked her guards to leave her alone which was impossible while having all the guests. Ashelia didn't know what to do, the only thing she could think of doing was to calm down, so she went to her room, closed it hermetically and decided to wait for her to calm down.

During the rest of the event the guests were confused, only a few heard what happened and the word started to spread, and since there was no official announcement clarifying the nature of the Queens absence, there were many versions running through Ivalice most powerful minds. Balthier heard of what had happened through Basch and worried decided to sneak into the Queens chamber, which wasn't going to be easy, but for an experimented Sky Pirate like him, it was only a challenge he had already accepted and found himself exited with the idea.

-Well Basch, I am a man of action, and for actions, time is not to waste. Will you help me get to the Queen?

Baschs intentions were not to incite the pirate to continue with this game. A game; that was how he thought Balthier priced the delicate heart of the Queen, as the winning trophy of a game. So Basch decided to test the pirate:

-Don't you get it? Ashe is vulnerable; she's a novice to your game.

Basch expressed with strength but temple, but then attacked Balthier:

- We both know you can't bring good to Dalmasca. What are your intentions, Pirate?

Balthier then looked Basch in the eyes and faintly said:

-I intend to give her what no kingdom can… you, like the others, had caged Ashes young beautiful heart and chained it to her throne.

Balthier walked towards the door of the hangar and raised his voice:

-She has the right to love again!

Basch answered immediately:

-What is love for a pirate, just another way to win power over the crown for manipulation?

Balthier turned around and said:

-I do not seek power. You only see her as another puppet of the kingdom, she's a woman and i for her sake seek happiness.

Balthier then left the room leaving Basch looking at the floor and pondering about if he had done good by confronting Balthier that way. He felt relief.

Balthier was an expert at infiltrating unnoticed, and he knew the best way to go around looking for the Queens chamber without losing style was to disguise. He noticed Basch was off duty and didn't wear his armor, so he went out of the hangar and hid right outside the door and waited for Basch, after a brief conversation with Fran, Basch exit the hangar and Balthier followed him to his chamber, where he hoped Basch had left his armor.

Basch just spend a couple of minutes inside his room, so Balthier was lucky, he had located Baschs room and now it was empty, so he could steal, or as he liked to see it; borrow Baschs Judge armor.

Now looking like Basch, Balthier could walk around and rapidly located the hall fully guarded that conduced to the Queens chamber. But here was only one way in; talk his way through the guards.

Basch was a known judge, hes name was written in books as one of the Dalmascan throne saviors, Balthier did get recognition too, but due his reputation people tainted his support and many believed he only helped the Queen as an opportunity to get his hands around the Sun-Cryst. For Balthier, the risk of presenting himself as Basch was to be recognized, so he put on the helmet and decided he could just make the guards think there was a message for the Queen from emperor Larsa, that was intended to be delivered only to her ears, and it was of extreme importance and haste.

Balthiers words were very persuasive and the guards had no choice but to call one of the Queens maidens, and she could bother the Queen and ask her about her will to complete this delivery. Ashe thought it was another sermon from Basch or that he had told Larsa about their conversation in the terrace and now he wanted to interfere. But she had no choice and went out to the hall to receive the fake Judge.

With authority, Ashe said to the guards:

-Let him in.

Before the guards could clear the way, they had to demand to take off his helmet and leave it in there. Balthier didn't expect this request and hesitated, he thought the guards will find out he was an impostor and attack him in order to protect the Queen from any harm he could do. So he had to think fast, he was in a dangerous position.

He thought about the possibilities and there was no way back, he had to take his helmet off and expect the fast judgment of the Queen to save him right before the guards could take action, she had to demand them to let him in right away. So he looked at Ashelias eyes, she looked calm, and he slowly started to take off the helmet, which was his only strategy, and before he could show his nose the Queen rapidly and nervously said:

-No! He can keep the helmet!

To which, one of the guards replied:

-Our duty is to follow protocol, we are making an exception by letting him, it is only our Queen that can shape our actions. We understand Emperor Larsa is your ally and Judge Basch is trustworthy, but we suggest as a matter of security, the removal of the helmet.

Ashelia had great abilities and instead of arguing about it she completed the guard's duties:

-You have done enough, thank you for your loyalty. Come in Judge Basch.

Balthier kept on the helmet and walked through the guards and followed the hall until getting in front of Ashe, which stood behind the door frame of her Chamber. He stopped in front of her and the doors closed behind him.

Balthier walked around the Queen, took off the shiny helmet, kept going and sat on the Queens bed, placing the heavy helmet over the bed right next to him.

-Hmm, nice, this is confty.

Ashelia was surprised and didn't know what to do or say, but admire how the handsome man looked in that shiny and imposing Judge armor. It made him look bigger and manly.

-How did you get Baschs Judge Armor?

Balthier countered her question:

-Judging the way you are looking at me; one would think you were going to compliment how good I look in this armor, not accuse me of thievery.

Ashelia inferred that he had said that in order to imply his will to get to the point, and getting closer to him, said:

-I'm sorry, you're right; there are most important matters to discuss.

Balthier then stood up in front of her and surrounded Ashes waist with his right arm in a delicate but seductive movement, with precision he took her right hand with his left hand and posed it over his shoulder. Ashelia didn't expect it but didn't reject it, flushed; she relaxed inside his arms and made a perfect bond with him that created an exquisite sculpture worthy of the best collection.

-Matters like this my Queen?

The Sky Pirate asked looking down to her. Ashelia looked up to his eyes, she looked nervous and her eyes shined, everybody could tell she was in love, but Balthier was the only witness of this silent declaration.