Disclaimer; I do not own Final Fantasy XII, or the characters. They are property of Square Enix and the FFXII crew.
First of all, I am very sorry for the delay, but there has been some things going on the last week and a half... But now, finally, I give to you Chapter 8!
Final Fantasy XII - Fabula Ex Animo
Chapter 8 - Veritas Vos Liberabit
It was dark when the four friends finally arrived in Rabanastre. Most of the inhabitants were probably at home, as there were almost no one outside. Despite the empty streets, the party decided to pay The Sandsea a visit in hopes of meeting Vaan and Penelo, as well as get something to eat.
They went down the streets towards the restaurant, the usual heat being exchanged with pleasant night-air. As they closed in, the sounds of The Sandsea's evening-crowd increased. Many found their way there when darkness fell, mostly because of the well-reputed Dalmascan wine.
The small group went up to the tavern and got inside. There were many people inside, eating, drinking and gossiping. Some of them turned to the door, just to see who entered. Then, most went back to what they were doing, and didn't bother the new guests much. Basch and Ashe were probably recognized, but no one inside spoke up about it.
The friends went on inside but as they did, someone stopped them.
"You're back!"
The Sandsea-owner came up to them, smiling widely.
"Tomaj, my friend!" Balthier smiled. "Do you have a spare table? We've traveled far, and thus some food would not hurt."
The young man smirked.
"Follow me."
They followed him up the stairs, and the party was led to an empty table by the corner. It was fairly quiet in the upstairs, only the low sounds of the crowds downstairs was heard.
"Have a seat, all of you. I'll bring up the best this house has to offer." Tomaj smiled and went back to the stairs, and called while heading down:
"Kytes! Go get Vaan and Penelo! They've been worried sick these last days, so it would probably calm them to know that their friends are safe and sound!"
The young boy from Lowtown smiled, nodded and headed out the door. Kytes' devotion to his much-admired older friend was still at high, despite the passed two years. Though, it could very well be Vaan's successes in getting his own airship and become a sky pirate that influenced the kid.
"Well, are we going to sit down?" Balthier smirked at his friends and took a seat himself.
The others followed his example, and not soon thereafter food was served. For a few moments they ate under silence, but just as things were calming down, Vaan and Penelo barged into the tavern, Kytes by their heels. The young couple ran up the stairs, about to question their friends about the trip when they saw Fran and her new state. For a moment, both Vaan and Penelo were speechless. Then, finally, Vaan asked:
"What has happened to you, Fran?"
"Because it is you, isn't it, Fran?" Penelo asked right after.
Fran nodded smiling and had the teenagers take a seat by the table. And so they were told about Balthier and Fran's wishes to be together, the Vicissitudo and her transformation.
"So, you knew that thing existed all along?" Penelo asked when the others ended the story. "Why didn't you tell us about it? Or Balthier for that matter?"
"The stone was just a legend. I never surely did know it existed until we got there. And not telling the legend at all, well... I didn't want to give Balthier any false hope."
Fran smiled, Vaan and Penelo with her, understanding the once-viera woman fully. Balthier leant closer to Fran, turning her face to his.
"Perchance that is why I come to be so fond of this woman? She takes action rather than words."
He then turned to the others, placing a hand on the table.
"A woman worth celebrating, for she has stolen the heart of a sky pirate."
Balthier rose from his place and turned to the edge, looking over the crowds.
"Tomaj! Bring up another bottle of your best wine! And..." Balthier smiled. "I will treat everyone in here to a drink!"
The last line earned Balthier a great deal of applause, and he bowed for the guests before taking a seat again. The wine was brought up and the friends had very good time together, and not until much later did Basch notice how tired he was.
'I'm getting too old...' he thought, barely listening to the others. 'Or perhaps it just drains my energy to keep appearances up, to hide my true feelings for Ashe.'
He took another sip of his wine.
'Good thing I leave in the morrow.'
Basch continued drinking the last of his wine, now feeling it had taken effect, as he was beginning to feel slightly light-headed. He thought it would be best to stop. The weariness was getting harder to bear and Basch was almost to bid his friends good night and leave when he noticed that Ashe had been watching him for a while, her eyes revealing concern. Before Basch had the chance to say anything, Ashe had risen.
"I apologize, friends, but I am feeling very tired, so I would like to head back to the Palace, if that is alright?"
"Of course it is, Highness!" Balthier smiled, and the others nodded.
The young Queen smiled and crossed her arms.
"Would someone take his or her time to escort me there, then, I ask?"
For a moment, no one said anything. But then Basch realized those words were meant for him and he slowly rose.
"If you allow it, Majesty, I will escort you."
Again, she smiled and nodded.
"Then it is settled. Then, I bid you all good night. And Balthier, Fran..." The young woman bowed to them. "I thank you for this journey. For getting my mind off my royal duties for a couple of days."
Balthier shrugged and smiled at the young woman.
"Nothing to it, your Highness."
Fran rose and turned to Ashe and Basch as he came up to them. An almost shy smile adorned her lips.
"I am glad that you came. Both of you."
Both Ashe and Basch smiled and nodded. Then, the couple left after paying for the food.
At first they walked in silence. Not many were out in the streets, even less the further away they got from The Sandsea. Though it was dark, everything was visible in the pale moonlight. When they got closer to the Palace, Ashe finally broke the silence.
"You are heading back to Archadia tomorrow?"
"Aye. Lord Larsa needs my assistance."
They walked for a few more moments, but as they were to go through the Palace gates, Ashe suddenly stopped. Basch stopped as well and turned back to her.
"What is it, your Highness?"
"Can I... talk personally, of my own thoughts and feelings?"
"If you think of me worthy your thoughts and feeling, I cannot see why you would not?"
Ashe smiled, knowing how important it was to him of all her friends to stick with formalities and class differences. And he never considered himself worthy of anything.
"Well, first of all, I am glad you finally came here. You know..." She swallowed. "I missed you."
Basch just listened, feeling that the young woman in front of him needed it. She probably didn't get to speak up of such matters very often.
"I admit that I hated you, when we met aboard Leviathan. But you know, I changed about it fairly quickly. And as time went, as we traveled all over Ivalice, as unbelievable events occurred, I came to realize I would want no other by my side." She looked up at him. "You were my strength when I felt weak, if I may speak so freely."
Basch didn't really know what to think about this sudden confession. To him it sounded like a declaration of love, but understood full well it was not. Regardless, his pulse rose for a moment, now knowing that Ashe got her strength from him. Of course, he was the only one really left of all the people she knew from her childhood and youth. Basch figured it was that bond between them that strengthened her.
"If you ever feel you have atoned for your sins..." Ashe continued. "Please... Come back then."
"If I do, I will. I promise you that." Basch said, truly intent on coming back.
She smiled shyly, but the smile was also filled with sadness. Seeing how vulnerable she looked, Basch threw formalities aside for a few moments, and went up the young woman, taking her his arms. She buried her face in his chest and made herself comfortable. For a while, they stood there alone in silence.
After a minute, Basch realized they had been standing almost too long, and he released her.
"I apologize, Highness."
"Don't. I needed that."
She smiled at him and headed towards the Palace. Quickly, also smiling, Basch went after her. But he was still concerned. She didn't help much to make his feelings for her go away.
---
Early next morning, someone knocked on the door. Basch was already awake, preparing to go back to Archadia after six days off-duty, and dressed in his armors excluding the helmet. The person who entered after the knocking was a messenger from Archadia.
He bowed and gave the slightly surprised Basch a letter.
"Judge Magister Basch fon Ronsenburg, I am a messenger sent personally by Emperor Larsa Ferrinas Solidor. That letter is proof of my mission, signed and sealed by the Emperor himself."
"Did something happen?" Basch asked.
"Aye, Sir. Lord Larsa requires your immediate assistance."
The messenger cleared his throat.
"You are to escort and defend her Royal Majesty Queen Ashelia B'Nargin Dalmasca to Archedes, for she is of the greatest importance of this matter I cannot speak of as now."
"Escort and defend her?"
The messenger nodded.
"You will get all the details when you meet with the Emperor."
Basch looked down at the letter, then back at the young messenger. He nodded.
"Very well, I shall guard the Queen. Is she informed?"
"She is."
Again, Basch nodded and the messenger left.
Basch had hoped for the Gods to show him some mercy, but they somehow seemed to enjoy tormenting and tempting him by placing Ashe before him over and over. Still, Larsa wouldn't ask him to defend her without reason, so something less pleasant was up. Basch turned to grabbed the helmet of his Judge-armor. With it in hand, he finally left the room. He decided to find Ashe and decide together with her when to leave.
He went down the hallway and into the entrance, which was more crowded than usual. He realized it was Ashe and several of her servants, guards and counselors. The counselors in particular looked upset about Ashe leaving; though she herself seemed more content.
Ashe looked up and saw Basch approaching. She smiled and quickly went up to meet him, counselors and all by her heels.
"Good morning, Judge Basch." She greeted him.
"Your Highness..." he replied with a nod and a smile.
"I guess we're to be in each others company for a while longer."
"So it seems."
One of the counselors found his way up to the young Queen. He was a middle-aged and gray-bearded man with a serious expression stuck in his face. An emblem on his chest proved him to be one of the leading counselors.
"Your Majesty! Are you really to trust the Emperor of Archadia? You have to remember he still is just a child. He might be under the influence of our enemies. This request of his is too sudden."
"Lord Larsa is no such fool." Basch said, angered on his master's behalf.
"I agree with Judge Basch." Ashe said. "Lord Larsa is a proud member of House Solidor and as such he would not allow anyone to take advantage of him."
The middle-aged counselor wanted to say something but found nothing to argument against his Queen with. Ashe smiled and looked over the people around her.
"If that would be all, I shall now leave. Lord Larsa is waiting."
She turned to walk away, but she stopped for a moment and turned back.
"You need not worry about me. Judge Magister Basch will protect me."
With those words, she finally left and Basch followed her as well as a couple of guards, whom were to escort them to the west gate.
"Will they be alright?" Basch asked as the headed out.
"Surely they will. If not, they just have to learn to live with it."
Ashe looked back at Basch with a mischievous smile.
"You are the Queen after all. Of matters such as this, you are the one who ultimately decides what to do." Basch said and put on the large helmet, becoming entirely covered by his armors, and thus becoming unrecognizable.
Ashe nodded and quickened her walking pace, since she really didn't have the time to take it easy. Within minutes they entered the Aerodome, and a ship was readied for them.
The guards of the Palace left, knowing that their Queen would be safe in the care of their former captain. Soon, the couple had found their way inside the airship and they were on their way. It would take some time to get to Archadia, so Basch and Ashe were given a room on the left side of the ship to rest inside until they reached Archades.
The airship lifted and revealed the size of Rabanastre, and the deserts surrounding it, which was the land of Dalmasca. At the side stood the remains of the archadian sky fortress, Bahamut, surrounded by water and verdure, making it an oasis just outside the main capital.
The deserts slowly disappeared behind them when Basch finally felt he was being watched. He looked away from the window and met Ashe's eyes in front of him. She then looked away, out through the window.
"Is something the matter, Highness?" Basch asked.
She looked back at him again, now smiling shyly.
"Well... It feels a little awkward when you wear that helmet."
Basch smiled underneath the helmet in question and replied:
"Very well then. That I can help you with."
He reached up and freed himself from the helmet and placed it by the seat beside him.
"Better?"
The young Queen smiled and nodded.
"Much better."
She looked out again. Basch somehow felt she was avoiding looking into his eyes, though he couldn't imagine why.
"Did you get to tell the others?" He asked to get his mind off things.
"I had a messenger tell Vaan and Penelo." She replied, turning back to him. "Balthier and Fran left Rabanastre early this morning. One of my servants told me. I never had the chance to say good-bye."
Ashe sighed but a slight smile adorned her face as well.
"Not that I blame them." She continued.
"Me neither." Basch replied. "There is nothing holding them back from each other anymore."
The young woman in front smiled and looked out through the window again. The ship had just passed the Mosphoran Highwaste, so they were above the Salikawood, still some ways away from Archades.
For a while, they sat in silence. Basch leant back at his seat and closed his eyes to rest the little time he had left before he was to return to his duties. He heard Ashe turning towards him again, but she didn't say anything at first. Though he felt she was watching him, he didn't bother this time. After a moment she took a deep breath.
"Basch?"
He opened his eyes again and looked at Ashe, whom looked nervous somehow.
"What is it, Highness?"
"Well, I... I meant to ask you something. I was not planning on doing it now, but it seems we will have our hands full for a while, so..."
Basch waited patiently, as this question of hers seemed to be difficult to ask.
"Please, do not get angry, but Balthier and Fran broke a promise to you. I guess you know what I mean."
Immediately, Basch felt how his face whitened in shock. For a brief moment, it felt like time stopped. Then Basch rose and went towards the door leading out of the room. There he stopped and didn't say anything.
"So it is true then..." Ashe said silently.
"I... I am truly sorry, your Highness."
He heard how she rose behind him.
"Don't be." She said. "Because I wanted you to know..."
The young woman swallowed and took one step closer to him.
"I wanted you to know that your feelings are not unanswered."
Yet again, Basch was shocked when he realized she was actually revealing her true feelings for him. That she felt for him as much as he felt for her. Basch placed a hand on the wall in front of him as if to stop him from falling.
"That... cannot be." He said at last.
"You doubt my feelings? If they are untrue, why would I speak of this with you?"
He knew she was right about that. Ashe was an honest woman, with no real need of lies. He closed his eyes. If the circumstances had been different, he would be happy to know that his love was answered, but now it only made things more tragic.
"So... now we both know..." Ashe said, awaiting some reaction from Basch.
He sighed deeply.
"Aye... And there are too many things that stops a relationship between people like us."
"I know." She said, and went up to the armor-clad man.
She placed her arms around him and rested her head against his back and whispered:
"I know..."
For some time, they stood like that in silence. Basch only removed his hand from the wall and placed it over hers around his abdomen. The only thing that was heard was the faint sound of airship engines.
"When you held me last night..." Ashe finally said and broke the silence. "I wanted that moment to last forever..."
She held him closer, as if she thought he was to disappear.
"Though the reality is no fairy tale, I will still try and find a way for us to be."
Basch didn't say anything. He just held her hand tighter, knowing that a relation between the two had slim chances to be.
---
A Judge walking through a corridor. The armor making rustling sounds, each step giving off an echo. At the end of the hallway, an open door. The Judge going through. In the middle of the room stood a large desk overwhelmed with paperwork, and behind it, a boy working. The Judge bowed.
"You called, Lord Larsa?"
The boy looked up.
"Judge Vis."
She took off the helmet and revealed her perfect features, placing the helmet on the desk in front of her.
"Is something the matter, my Lord?"
"I have an order for you."
She nodded, and the young Emperor rose.
"Within short, an airship from Rabanastre will arrive here in Archades' Aerodome. Onboard are Judge Basch and Queen Ashelia of Dalmasca. I want you to escort them here safely."
"Is it about...?" She asked without finishing her sentence.
"Yes, about those treats. I do not want anything to happen."
The dark-haired woman bowed.
"I shall do as you say, Lord Larsa. I won't fail."
Larsa smiled and nodded. He placed himself in the seat again and grabbed a feather-pen.
"Then you are dismissed."
Vis grabbed her helmet, put it on and bowed again before heading out through the room and the corridor again. If her face were visible, Larsa would have noticed the content and ill-intentioned smile that adorned it...
End of Chapter 8! Roughly half of the story is now complete. :)
Note; Just to make things clear. I answer all your reviews individually, as I feel it's only fair to take my time to answer. ;) And if you ever feel I take to much time in updating my stories, just check my personal page, since I will try and at least take some time to explain the reason of the delay.
Thank you for all the good reviews so far! I love you all. Chapter 9 will be coming soon so have patience!
