Author's Note: I am so, so sorry for the long update! Finally I finished and delivered my essay and so, I am now working on this, among other stuff related to my work :) I have just a few notes to add. As this chapter had initially more than +10.000 words, I had to split it in two and I will post the next chapter still this week. Again, I apologise for the errors in my writing (I hope I am improving). For the record, this and the next chapter were the most difficult ones to plot and write. As was always asking to myself if this could possibly happen, if I wasn't going against the original story of Final Fantasy XII, as I don't want to change it. This and next chapter are rated M, just to play safe. And have a HUGE spoiler.

I want to thank everyone who has been patiently waiting for my updates, everyone who review this story, alerted it or favourited it. You are my fuel:) A special thanks to Aorin who has a wonderful LiveJournal community with a huge collection of BaschxAshe fanart that inspired me, and Landis Icelilly, who supported me since the beginning :)

By the way, I am now dwelling on making and upload AMVs about Basch and Ashe on YouTube. If you want to take a peek, the link is on my profile (you might want to check and vote on the Poll there as well) XD

Disclaimer: I do not own anything, except a few unfamiliar names that can pop up here and there. And, by the way Ljnn is a viera who appears on Final Fantasy XII prologue. Remember, right before the Nalbina war, when Rasler and Ashe exchange glances before he raise up his sword and lauch a war cry? Behind Ashe, on the left, is a viera woman. I "adopted" her for this chapter and called Ljnn :) A pair of familiar names will also appear here XD

So, as I usually say, Read and Review :D

X. White Hawk

Inside the wide tent Ashe made her way for her bead, neatly placed below an opening in the canvas where she could see the night sky, and began to take off her leg garments and her boots. She lay down in the improvised bed and covered herself with one of the dusty blankets left there by Penelo. Ashe gazed beyond the hole in the canvas, seeing the dark sky slowly becoming cloudy and hiding the full moon, and she remembered the starry sky at Salikawood as she cried alone, while Basch was sleeping – or trying to sleep - outside, at the cold breeze of the forest. Now, as she was capturing the sounds he was making while he unfastened the buckles of his jacket and his boots, she realized how much had to happen for him to stay with her now.

It was so sad that such an honourable concept as "duty" had to make everything seem awkward between them both.

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, without him noticing, and he saw him exactly in the same position as her, covered till his bare chest, lying on his back. Oddly, she remembered that morning, when she rushed into the wagon to see him unconscious and leaning exactly in that position he was now, with his pendant resting in his chest.

Although they were both so awake as if it was early morning, no one seemed eager to take the word. Ashe felt that if she dared to say one simple thing such as "goodnight, Basch", he would jump of fright from his stiff and concentrated position. He seemed determined not to look at her for the entire night, as if she was completely naked or something as improper as that. Well, after all, they were sleeping on a tent together, practically side by side – that was improper. Ashe couldn't imagine how things could be more uncomfortable than that, for Basch. She really didn't mind, after all, her life and position as a royal princess was, little by little, being forgotten, sulking on a faraway past that she sometimes doubt she would ever recover. She was getting used to this new life, and the familiarity with new friends. But Basch, she knew, Basch would always see her as a princess, in a far superior rank than his, despite the loss of her home, her kingdom and her throne. She closed her eyes and smiled slightly, being bathed by the few moonlight rays that passed through the cloudy sky, trying to realise the sort of new feelings that were rushing to her heart, all related to the man that was lying only two meters away from her. But she was sure that, one of her feeling was guilt. And that guilt intensified when she visualized the image of a white hawk. A hawk that she failed to recognise, back then. Truth be told, she failed to recognise many things.

Carefully, Basch risked taking a glance at the princess form. He caught the side of her face and her closed eyes, illuminated by the moonlight. He couldn't dare to imagine how uncomfortable and disheartened she should be, sleeping in a tent, side by side with him, instead of being in the soft bed of her room, in her home, in her kingdom, guarded by him, troops of soldiers and the sands of Dalmasca. Surprisingly, he caught the glimpse of a smile adorning her face. And for once, he forgot about his position and gazed endearingly to her form, with all his senses in alert to quickly divert his gaze before she notices anything and caught him in the act. However, he knew something was troubling her – besides the obvious issue of being a deposed princess from a lost kingdom – and he began to be sure of it, when he saw a lone tear sparkling and descending from her right eye. He had already caught her distress, more than once during their journey, and since they went out Bhujerba. He had the clear feeling that she wanted to say something back then… and right now.

He was still gazing at her, and completely forgot of his silent resolve to stay on alert. Ashe suddenly crooked her neck, and caught his gaze. Basch knew it was too late to turn away his glance and so he locked his gaze on hers instead of diverting it as any respectful knight would do in the same situation.

His heart skipped a beat as he realised he was not gazing to the girl he was in charge to protect. Ashelia B'Nargin Dalmasca, the little spunky and clever girl who wanted to master a sword, read fairytale stories and had taken her time to believe he was, in fact, real, was now the most beautiful woman he ever met.

What was he thinking?

Basch knew better of his place and soon took control of his most deep and dangerous thoughts, carefully kept hidden in the depths of his heart. Not allowing himself to indulge in the beauty of the woman that was gazing fiercely at him, he was able to notice that her beautiful grey eyes had a trail of recent tears. Ashe, the princess who enjoyed to read so much fairytale stories in her youth, inhaled deeply, as she was about to tell one. But it was not a happy-ending story, even less a fairytale. It was more a nightmare. That was why she was crying. The single thought of reliving it all again, frightened her.

"I have to tell you something."

(…)

The sound of their steady footsteps echoed through the dark, damp and filthy corridors, as the party proceeded through the East Waterway Control. She was tired, depressed and somewhat hopeless, but let her be damned if she would allow anyone see her weaknesses. In fact, anyone who laid eyes upon her would see a strong queen, disgraced but nevertheless strong, with a resolve hardly matched by anyone of her companions. For a whole year she lived in there, camouflaged and protected by dirt, rats, bats and the filthy sewer water, having as only company several battle-hardened men and a few women – and her maid Viera - as devoted to Dalmasca as herself and Vossler.

She wasn't wearing any armour, only the clothes she managed to grab from the wardrobe when they made their escape one year ago. Vossler stated she wouldn't need an armour, as it was his intention to protect her from any battle, so she won't need to fight. But she was Ashe, the girl who learned to fight perfectly, thanks to the lessons of… the man who killed her father. So, she demanded to partake in every plan, in every incursion, voicing her opinions with such passion and such wise, that Vossler suspected she would soon demand to be the leader of that small group that formed the Resistance. Vossler then volunteered to find and armour for her, if she was so eager to fight. Surprisingly, she stated that she was perfectly fine. From all the set Vossler and the Viera, Ljnn, managed to get from Panami – another member from the Resistance, running the Rabanastre's armour store – Ashelia B'Nargin Dalmasca, the princess who never allowed anyone to strip her from her royal pride, only accepted a piece of leathered armour for her bare stomach, matching her white coat, and a finely crafted pair of garments for her exposed – and scratched and bruised - legs. For although she was mastering her broadsword, the slippery filthy grounds of Garamsythe Waterway were still taking the best of her. Ljnn also offered to plait her waist length hair or even cut it off, because it would get in the way in her battles. She snapped back coldly, stating "that is quite unnecessary". For since the death of her father – and the loss of her kingdom and the treason of her protector – she refused to let anyone touch her hair with a scissor. Her father loved her glowing light blonde hair and many times showed his disapproval when she appeared again with her hair barely touching her shoulders and so, for once, she decided to comply with his wishes.

Vossler, and everyone else, had her in high regards, allowing her to surprise them with all her strong demeanour and resolve. Although she was sharing her quarters with two other women – and Ljnn – although she was only bathing twice a week, although some days she was starving and shrinking in her attire, she never complained about her new life.

She became a great fighter, a true warrior princess, untamed, unrelenting. Vossler wished that her late father could see her now. And he also wished that Basch could see her know, from his quarters in the fires of Hell, to see that even his high treason never brought her down.

However, Vossler sensed that the Princess – in fact, Amalia – was in one of her bad days. He was leading the way, and from his position, he could hear her sighing in a hardly disguised manner, showing her frustration. He also heard the piercing war cry of a Marlboro nearby.

"Amalia?" he turned around.

"Do not mind me, Vossler, I am only expressing my impatience. Because I am sure this is all a waste of time.", she replied without looking at him, as she idly finished said Marlboro, who died with a loud shriek. Vossler turned back and continued to walk, being followed by Ashe.

"I do not think so, Majesty. With all my respect, I have to remind you this man is of dire importance to us. And he is a Captain of the Order and I am sure you know that we can use all help to our cause. If he is not dead already, he would be glad to aid us."

"So, we are to risk our lives – and all Resistance's efforts - just for one man?", she retorted coldly. "We might be captured as well."

"I recall you that I advised you to stay behind with the rest of my men. You are risking your life needlessly. After all, Basch didn't teach you everything one needs to know about fighting. You might not be prepared for what lurks in Nalbina dungeons."

He regretted those words even before they were told. As she seized her arm, she pushed him violently to make him turn around and face her flaring eyes.

"Do not EVER DARE to speak of that man again!!!"

"I am truly sorry, Amalia."

They didn't share another word as they proceeded their way and entered in Terminus No.7 of Barheim Passage, the ancient mine abandoned since the arrival of the new era of airships. It was a dark and claustrophobic place, and Ashe shivered from the cold draught connecting Garamsythe to Barheim.

Suddenly, she heard something or someone, inhale and exhale deeply, and startled. She turned around, as well as Vossler, who heard the same noise. They heard a scream, and the yells of several men.

"Ljnn!!"

"Vossler, it is Ljnn!! She is not right!!!"

"Hold her down!!"

Vossler ran towards the commotion and Ashe followed. They both say Ljnn on the floor, struggling against several men who were restraining her, grabbing her by her arms and legs. Ljnn was muttering something between her greeted teeth and Ashe caught some words from her bewildered speech.

"You are not welcomed here, Death Seraph, let me go!! I am a Shamaness, Zalera!!! Respect me, I cannot go with you!!!

"It is the Mist, Captain, it is driving her mad!!", yelled one of the soldiers.

"Try to carry her out, men! This way!!!", replied Vossler, leading the way again, with Ashe and all men carrying Ljnn. When they reached the West Annex, Ljnn demanded the men to let her go, for she was returning to herself. They made a pause to assure she was recovering.

"I am glad you are fine, Ljnn", said Ashe "do you always react like that in the presence of Mist?"

"Not always… but the Mist here was not cooled, as it usually is. I believe that in Terminus No. 7 an Esper is being kept against his will.", Ljnn replied calmly, and as she sensed the sudden silence of the men and the loud gasp from Ashe, she added "Yes, surely it is one of the Espers that aided Ultima in her quest for eternal supremacy. It was Zalera… the Death Seraph, the one who kidnapped a Shamaness to aid his purposes. I believe I was possessed by her feelings at the time she was kidnapped."

Silence followed Ljnn's story. No one had the will to add something more or ask further questions, but Vossler broke the silence.

"If you are alright, Ljnn, I suggest we move. It would not be wise to stay here much longer, especially considering the presence of this Esper."

Everyone proceeded, but this time, Ashe was walking alongside Ljnn. They were crossing the Zeviah Subterrane when the Princess asked, out of nothing:

"Why did the Gods punished the Shamaness, along with Zalera? Wasn't she innocent? Am I correct to assume that she was under Gods' service?"

A smirk crossed Ljnn's lips when she answered.

"Not even Viera fully understand the Espers and the history behind the Great War. But the Gods would hardly apply the Eternal Punishment unwarily. And there is this belief that the Shamaness always had a strong bond to Zalera, and in the end, she agreed to help his cause and ultimately join him in his punishment."

"What sort of… bond?"

"A bond of blood. She was his twin sister."

Ashe gasped, quite shocked. "And… what about Mateus, the Corrupt? He kidnapped-"

"I do not know the tale behind the bond between Mateus and the Goddess of the Demesne of Ice. Possibly it is beyond our comprehension."

"Love?", Ashe whispered.

"Perhaps", it was Ljnn's only answer.

"But love is a… let us say, an earthbound feeling."

"An Esper is initially an earthborn being, with unique abilities, summoned later by the Heavens when the time to serve the Gods comes. They are not entirely heavenly creatures. They are no Gods. They are no Mortals either. No book tells their story. And who knows what more we do not know about Espers. The only thing we can assuredly believe is the fact that the Great War took place, why it took place and what happened to the victorious and to the defeated."

Ashe bent down her head and gazed into the ground, while walking. She remembered the books she read when she lived on the Palace, and it was true that not a single mention was made about Espers and the Great War of the Gods. All she learned came from stories she used to hear from her maids, her mother and later, from Basch. And now, Ljnn. Knowledge about Espers was usually whispered between people, never written, as if the issues regarding Gods and Espers were not to be taken lightly enough to be written in books and to be known by everyone.

(…)

Basch shifted his position in his bed, quite impressed. Phon Coast was now completely silent, indicating that all its residents had already withdrew for their lodgings, and only the cooling sounds of the seashore ripples could be heard.

"So, after all, you do have some knowledge about Espers, Majesty."

"I grew too fond of the legends regarding them, as you may know Basch…"

"I know too well, Majesty."

"I've strayed from my point. Let me continue this, please, and do not interrupt."

"I am sorry, Majesty."

(…)

"Everyone, check at your maps. We arrived at The Lightworks. Squad 1 go to the left, Squad 2 go to the right, Squad 3 go to the front. Our purpose here is to find Captain Velkan, free him and bring him with us. If you find him, withdraw immediately to our headquarters. If you do not find, withdraw within three hours. Do not stray from your mission! Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Captain!"

"Very well. Good luck, everyone. Squad 1, with me!"

The three squads parted ways. Squad 1 joined Ashe and Vossler and Ljnn led Squad 3 to a narrow passage, in which they had to crouch on their knees to get inside. Ashe followed Vossler, who had grabbed a burning torch from one of the walls of The Lightworks, through the many dark hollowed tunnels that connected the dungeons with Barheim. For several times Ashe stepped onto a pond of water, crushed something beneath her feet, which was probably animal – or human – bones, touched something limy lurking in the walls, felt two big brown cockroaches strolling on her neck – but never screamed or complained about it. The party crossed two halls, full of small dirty cells on either side of the walls, each with two or three prisoners locked inside, some alive, others already dead, some screaming for help, for food, for water or for forgiveness. Ashe tried all her best to ignore all the yells and the strong smell of dirt, urine and corpses, tried all her best to reason with herself that they were there because they deserved – although, with the Empire at the summit of power, one could never know for sure about their culpability. The yelling intensified, as the sleeping prisoners were being awakened by the uproar of others, and soon, all the squad had to run to avoid the guards that would surely make an appearance to ease the tumult. They soon reached a desert hall. Vossler took the word.

"So much for a quiet incursion… Amalia, you, Biggs and Wedge wait here. The others, come. We will scout the passage ahead. Wait for our signal to follow us."

"Very well, Vossler. Do not dare to delay yourself."

"Of course not, Amalia".

Several minutes passed when Ashe realized that probably Vossler intended not to go on ahead, but go on without her. She sighed, promising to herself that he would have to answer to her when they come back. More time passed, and her impatience was growing fast and she was so tempted to do something. Besides, Biggs and Wedge were good and loyal men but lacked acuteness and intelligence, and they were always replying her in a relaxed way that Vossler would not take long.

Ashe thought, as she quietly sneaked her way out through the same tunnel to follow the squad, that Vossler should know better than to leave her at Biggs and Wedge's care, the very same soldiers in charge of guarding her, always failing to notice her evasions from the library to the training yards. Now she was alone, sword in hand and shaking from the cold – and from a little of fear – swiftly crossing halls and corridors, eyes already adjusted to the darkness, trying to find the rest of the squad, and perhaps finding Velkan in the process. She barely knew him, but vaguely remembered his dark and long hair and the somewhat arrogant behaviour of a noble who climbed ranks too quickly. Ashe made her way through Nalbina dungeons without being noticed and twice she thought she was going on circles. She was feeling tired and the fear was growing stronger within her and she was already considering going back to Biggs and Wedge, when she reached a huge door.

It was a solid door, beautifully crafted with powerful arcane magic symbols. Ashe knew this was the door to The Black Watch, the high security place Vossler had mentioned in the briefing back on Garamsythe Waterway. Ljnn and Squad 3 were in charge for surveying this area, due to the high knowledge of magicks the viera possessed, which could break the spell on the door. But alas, Ashe didn't know how to open the door, and Ljnn wasn't there. She consulted her map and realised that The Black Watch was a rounded room with a pit on the middle, guarded by four doors. As she was carefully studying the symbols on the door, she was startled by a noise from within and quickly ran, hiding behind a pillar nearby. She drew her sword and readied herself.

The door was slowly opening, and she heard voices. She risked a quick peek and saw two guards leaving the room. One was wielding a club, and the other was carefully wiping out blood stains from his whip.

"You have to practice more with that whip of yours. You almost ripped an eye off him."

"I was, in fact, aiming for his eye. And who are you to judge me? Or you will say that you left him unconscious on purpose?"

Both men laughed and proceeded their way outside the room. Meanwhile, Ashe contoured the pillar to avoid being seen and soon, she was facing the door while the guards slowly withdrew. The door was starting to close. Ashe had to be quick: she took a deep breath, risked another glance at the guards and ran to The Black Watch, unnoticed.

The huge door shut down behind her with a loud and grave noise. She tried not to thing how would she get out of there and how Vossler would react should he found out that the Princess of Dalmasca was locked in The Black Watch of Nalbina Dungeon. Especially without leaving an heir to the throne, he would add, as something could always happen to her. But soon, she forgot all of it as she took a proper glance to the great dungeon in front of her, and saw something that shocked her.

(…)

Ashe made a pause in her tale and glanced at Basch. He had already shifted from his laid down position to a sitting one. He had his eyes wide opened in awe, fully entrapped by her narration and she appreciated a while his features before proceeding.

(…)

A small cage, dangling in the ceiling by a strong chain of steel, suspended above a pit of darkness, guarded a man behind its bars, only wearing a pair of dirty shorts. Ashe knew where she was, she knew she should be prepared for such display of torture like this one, but she was not. Her mouth wide opened in pure horror.

That man's head was bending over his bare chest and his long and dirty blonde hair and beard didn't allow Ashe to see properly the face of this dying man. He was standing in his knees and his hands were cuffed in bars and chains, sustaining him from falling to the ground, as he seemed to be unconscious. Mesmerized, Ashe stepped forward to take a better look, and her attention was captured by his skinned bare chest, bearing countless scars and bruises. Some of them semeed to be recent. Mixed with the smell of sweat and dirt, she captured the strong and ferric scent of blood. Her eyes were wide open, and tears were falling from her eyes, as she could hardly imagine how could someone endure such punishment and torture.

She sheated her broadsword and stepped closer, towards the edge of the pit. She noticed his faint breathing, and although she was not one to show any sign of weakness, especially since last year, she became moved.

He was trying to breathe. What was making him cling onto life like that? What was making him fight, when everything around him was already dead?

Unlike the other areas, The Black Watch was so quiet that Ashe could even perceive the sounds of drops of water falling from a water infiltration, and her own fast heartbeat. Unable to divert her gaze from the unknown prisoner, she stepped closer, until the tip of her feet touched the edge of the tip. But even if she stretched her hand, she could never reach a single bar of the cage. It was far beyond her reach.

As she was closer, she was able to see glimpses of his face, hiding behind his long locks. His eyes were close but he stirred a little, making his chains break the morbid silence, and his cage swayed above the dark pit. She startled, but didn't step back. Drops of blood were trickling from a wound somewhere on his face, but she couldn't tell exactly from where, because the dirty golden locks were hiding it from her. Remembering what she overheard from the guards, Ashe guessed that he was wounded near the eye. She tried to take a better look of his face, but her attention was captured by something dangling in his neck. It was a thin chain, where something small and of pure white gold was glowing.

It was a little white hawk.

Surprisingly, it was not stripped from him, like his clothes. She whispered to him, almost certain that he was already lost, that she had not the ability to save him. But she had to try.

"I do know not who you are or what you have done. If you are being kept here and alive, then you are probably representing not only a threat, but also a great value to the Empire.", she stated, but he didn't move an inch. Nonetheless, she continued: "Only that justifies why you were not murdered, and are being kept here instead."

She saw his eyelids stir, peeking between his locks, as if he was regaining consciousness. She continued to look at him, badly trying to see his face, but his hair wasn't granting her wish. Tears fell from her eyes. She was prepared for war, she was tempered by all her loss and suffering, she had seen too much for her age, but something about this man made her weaken.

His place was not in there. She felt it. And she hated herself for not having the strength of several men or one Seeq to break up the chains and free him. She felt impotent. And she hated herself so much, because the only thing she could for him…

"I wish to ask if you want me to take up your life and put an end to your misery. I will do it, if you wish. I cannot free you…death it is the only thing I can grant you. I cannot reach you but I do have some magick skills. Just… let me know. But I will also tell you this. If it is your will to survive, if hope still warms your heart, then you are unquestionably one of the bravest men I've ever known, that was certainly fighting for freedom before being arrested. Therefore, I beg of you… keep fighting. Do not give up on yourself and your beliefs, as I will never give up either, t'is a promise. Remember my words… be strong, be brave and believe."

She could tell that he listened. He moved a little, but his movements were restrained by the chains. His eyelids stirred more. His breathing fastened. He was awakening, maybe because of her voice that shattered the surrounding silence and echoed in the walls of the dungeon. After all, the only sound he probably heard during his captivity was screams, yells and chains. She wanted to believe that her voice and her words of encouragement reached his heart.

And for that, she would acknowledge that her incursion to Nalbina dungeons had not been a waste of time.

"Please, let me see you face. Let me see what they have done to you."

Suddenly, the silence was broken by the sounds of quick footsteps becoming closer. Instinctively, she turned around, but the arcane door remained closed. She hadn't much time left. She had to hide somewhere near the door to seize the opportunity to make her escape without having to start a commotion, but she wanted to know that man. She wanted to remember, although she couldn't tell why she was caring so much about this prisoner.

"Raise you head. Look at me.", she pleaded.

She heard someone punching the door several times and startled. She also heard the muffled voice of a woman uttering ancient words. But she never diverted her gaze from the prisoner.

As he was opening his eyes and raising his head, his locks were slowly deviating from his face. But it was too late: she never saw his face, or even glanced into the colour of his eyes, for she felt an acute pain in her head and everything went white… and then, dark. And her last thought was for him.

And in the darkness, the man opened his deep blue eyes, glimmering in the dark in a ill-looking way, and saw Vossler, who had casted Sleep upon Ashe, and gently but quickly carrying her unconsciousness form from the ground.

Vossler gazed into the prisoner's eyes while holding her, recognising the ghost that once was his former best friend, comrade, and partner. And if he hadn't to be silent and discrete in the dungeon, if he hadn't an unprotected princess in his arms, he would have yelled in rage and anguish, break the bars and chains with his bare hands and attack and torture that man, stab every inch of him with his Bloodsword and make him wish for an eternity in Hell. For the King. For Dalmasca. And for the Princess.

But he could not. Said princess needed him.

He just chose not to believe, and forget. Forget.

"Let us be on our way, Vossler! I cannot hold on much longer!!", yelled Ljnn as she tried to maintain the magic spell that kept the door, from where they got in, opened.

And Vossler ran, along with Ljnn and carrying a sleeping Ashe, ran away, ran fast from that place, never daring to look back and trying hard to ignore his hopeless yells for help, his violent shoves to break the chains, his vain attempts to catch their attention.

"Vossler!!! Vossler!!! VOSSLER!!!", he cried.

And although Basch saw the party running from him, taking the possibility of freedom with them – if they ever believed in him – her words, her strength, and especially the fact that she was alive, made him keep clinging onto his life and dare to hope. For Ashelia and for Dalmasca.

Another year has passed.

(…)

"I am sorry, Lady Ashe. I will not interrupt again.", it was all that Basch could say to try to answer to Ashe's gaze. She was still lying down in her bed, while he was still sitted up on his. Basch had interrupted her and continued her tale, right after the part she had been left unconscious by Vossler's Sleep spell. But he misunderstood this time, for she was not indignated, as she usually becomes when she is interrupted, especially by Vaan. Instead, she was completely mystified. She watched him as he laid down on his back again, and then she asked:

"Did you… hear my voice on The Black Watch?"

"Yes."

"Did you… see me, back then?"

"Yes."

"So you became aware that I was alive…"

"… Yes."

"But if you had shown to me your face back then, I would…"

He finally glanced back at her. "That was why I prayed for you to not recognise me. And allow me to say, I also prayed for you to forget that day. I thought I was correct to assume that you indeed had forgotten, as you never mentioned the subject during our journey."

"But I remembered on Leviathan. In my cell, I realised that you were that prisoner."

"How?"

Ashe didn't reply. Instead, she stole a glance at his bare chest, where the white golden hawk was glowing, and Basch understood. She was still gazing at the hawk, when she sadly whispered:

"I wondered how I never noticed it before."

"I always kept it under the chest plate of my Dalmascan armour. And…", Basch hesitated.

"I've never seen you without your armour and wearing casual clothes.", she smirked. "But, please, let me finish the story."

"Wait. What happened to Ljnn? She seemed to be an experienced fighter and a valuable hand. Would she not be glad to aid us and join our cause?"

Ashe sighed. "She died… in our raid to my Palace, during the royal banquet hosted by Vayne. She was killed by a shot launched from Ifrit."

"I am sorry… I wasn't aware of it.", said Basch, truthfully. Ashe shook her head.

"That is alright. She fought bravely, for Dalmasca. She will be honoured, and her name remembered."

(…)

She cried, yelled, shouted. She grabbed in a random cup from the table and smashed it against the wall, she kicked the furniture. She imagined that Nalbina was full of prisoners like that man, probably many Dalmascan and Nalbinan citizens craving for independence, all under the oppression of Vayne and his Empire. Standing straight and stern, near a corner of her room, Vossler was enduring her wrath, his senses alerted to dodge any piece of anything she might throw at him.

"Why, Vossler?! Pray tell me!!! What was that for?!!!

"Amalia, you were alone chatting to a potentially dangerous criminal. I could never allow such preposterously behaviour, even less from you."

"By all means, remind me: did I order you to put me to Sleep?!"

"I am responsible for your safety, Amalia. For that, I have the right to take the best action possible to assure you are kept from harm, even if I go against your wishes.

Ashe's irises flared. She quickly strode to Vossler, who did not move an inch. Without flinching, he beared her growing wrath, as she yelled to him:

"Vossler, I am a queen! A QUEEN!!! And YOU are ONLY a Knight under my service!! You are to pay allegiance to me, not discuss, NEVER discuss my authority!!!"

"A queen from a falling kingdom?"

Her right hand flew across his face, firm and strong. He tasted his own blood, as he involuntarily bitten his own left cheek and glared at her, clenching his hands. Ashe felt his fury and she straightened herself, glaring back at him, as if she was defying him to punch her.

"Get out."

"Amalia…"

"GET OUT!!!"

He obeyed, strolling out of her room and slamming the door behind him. She sighed and went to the poor imitation of a mirror that she and her room mates managed to savage from one of the trips to her Royal Palace. She gazed into her swollen face of all the crying, her reflected misery and anger. She looked slightly mad. She slowly stroked her long graceful hair, enjoying its silkiness. She took her brush in her hands and she slowly brushed it, untying the knots and curling the locks on her fingers. She caressed it again. She brushed it again.

Several minutes passed until she put her brush aside. Her hair looked so beautiful, shiny, wonderfully adorning her face, covering her breasts and stomach. She took off her white coat and the dark armour around her stomach, to fully feel the hair against her skin.

She cried again.

She grabbed all her strands of hair, pulling them behind her head, as if she was preparing to do a ponytail. She seized her sword. She slided the blade between her neck and the locks she was grabbing. As she leaned the tip of the blade to the locks, feeling the cold blade against her neck, she looked at her reflection and, hesitating just for one second, she cut off her hair with only one strike.

The mirror was now showing a crying Ashe with neck-length hair, still grabbing the strands of her hair in one hand and the sword in another.

She dressed her coat again, as well as the black armour.

And then, the mirror showed her not only her reflection, but also the image of the man with his own strands of hair covering his face. She wasn't understanding why he was haunting her. She screamed loudly at him, pacing backwards, with the broadsword in her hand.

"Who are you???!!! I am sorry!!!!!!!"

She steadied her sword, and dived forward.

I AM SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

As soon as she shattered the mirror and the man to several pieces with only one strike, she falled to the floor. At that same time, Vossler broke into the room, running to her aid. He kneeled next to her and, lifting up her head, he tenderly shove her newly cutted hair off her face. Ashe looked at him, with her eyes wide open, oddly remembering a time when she was eleven years old, when she fell from the chocobo Cloud and Basch rushed to her, carefully held her and removed some locks of her dirty hair from her face to see if she was fine. She clearly remembered his concerned face that made her laugh heartily – and childishly – back then.

Ashe gazed into Vossler's eyes, and as she placed her hand on his recently slapped cheek, she only whispered:

"It was not him…it can't be him... he is dead…he is a traitor…"

As soon as her last word came from her mouth, she fainted in his arms. She lifted her up from the floor, laid her on her bed, and got out without another word.

For six days she went through a fever, surely caused by the trip to Nalbina, that was infested with all sort of diseases and, truth be told, she was physically weakened by her new harsh life, and probably some virus went through her defences. Even Ljnn couldn't tell if she would survive. Everyone was losing their hopes on a bright future, but Vossler and some of the Healers of the Palace who were secretly aiding the Resistance, assure them all they were taking good care of her. However, Vossler took the extra care of not telling a soul about Basch, forgot the matter and swore to never allow Ashe return to that place, even if he had to keep her in chains himself and lose his position - and some of his teeth - for such boldness.

If she lived. And she did.

As the morning of the seventh day came, Ashe rose up for the first time, still shaking and pale as white marble, but not losing one minute in asking what had happened to him and the other squads, back in Nalbina. Vossler kept his promise to himself not to speak a word about the tale at The Black Watch, hoping she eventually forgets about it. As for the mission, everything went wrong in all the possible ways. The former Captain they were supposed to free was dead in his cell, two soldiers from Squad 2 were captured and five from Squad 3 were killed. All the men were disheartened, mourning for their recent losses but her recovery surely would put everyone in high spirits.

In her room, Ashe glanced around and saw that someone had cleaned the shattered pieces of the mirror and the locks of her hair that were scattered here and there. She dressed her usual outfit, placed her broadsword in its sheat, left the room and she summoned all of her people to gather on Overflow Cloaca of Garamsythe Waterway, to discuss newly formed plans to restore Dalmasca. Vossler looked proudly at her. She could be an untamed, barely adult woman, but she was his queen and he would always be loyal to her and Dalmasca.

Ashelia B'Nargin Dalmasca was soon reclaiming a leadership position in the Resistance. And although she found herself thinking about the prisoner of The Black Watch several times a day, she never again thought of him as Basch fon Rosenburg, because she realised that it was the most preposterous idea.

Nevertheless, she kept the new length of her hair.

.: To Be Continued :.

So, how was this chapter? Do tell me :) no flaming, of course. I think I can update until Sunday! Meanwhile, Read and Let Me Know What You Think, meaning, Review! XD

I have only to explain that this chapter shifted between Ashe and Basch conversations and Ashe's flashbacks. I don't know if, by reading, you could understand, but the flasbacks are actually the story that Ashe is telling to Basch. But instead of writing as the first person, I decided to write it normally in the third person and transform it into flashbacks. I think it looks better this way. I was to write this at the beginning, but I was afraid to spoil the chapter.

On the second part: Basch and Ashe conversations about these flashbacks. Yes, the night at Phon Coast is not over yet! ;) It really couldn't end like this... but the next one will not be the last (it is a little far from it, actually).

And I hope you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!! (yeah, I know, I am already late) XD