Chapter 11 Betrayal and Romance

Auda and everyone else were on the bridge of the Leviathan. Judge Ghis had his helmet off, and looked at Ashe. They were once again in handcuffs. "Such a tremendous honor to again be graced with your presence, Majesty. You left us with such great dispatch upon our last encounter that I must confess... I had begun to worry that we may have give some cause for offense."

Ashe didn't buy it. "Such a heartfelt display of remorse. Now what is it you want?"

"My family, and I want you to give me the nethicite."

Penelo held the stone Larsa have her. "The nethicite?"

"That is a base imitation!" Ghis yelled. "We seek Raithwall's legacy... the ancient relics of the Dynast-King: deifacted nethicite. Did you not tell them, captain Azelas?"

Ashe gave a gasp. Auda looked over at him. Vossler was the spy? No. He couldn't have been. Vossler walked closer to Ashe. "Majesty, he speaks of the Dawn Shard. That is the nethicite."

Basch was shocked as well. "Are you mad, Vossler?"

Vossler looked at him. "If we are to save Dalmasca, we must accept the truth. I will fight this profitless battle no more! And Auda he is your uncle, if you want your shame to be gone, then you must reunite with him. That's what you are ashamed of is it not?"

Ghis looked over at Auda, "Captain Azelas has struck a wise bargain. If my niece is wise, she will do the same." He then looked over at Ashe. "In return for the Dawn Shard the Empire will... permit Lady Ashe to reclaim her throne, and the Kingdom of Dalmasca will be restored. Think on it. An entire kingdom for a stone. You must admit, 'tis more than a fair exchange. Heck, I will even allow your friendship with my niece."

Balthier opened his mouth. "And when all is said and done, your master will have another pet."

Ghis ignored him. "Lady Ashe, let us take him for the people of Dalmasca. Your Majesty wallows in indecision on peril of their heads!" He then held out his sword to Balthier's neck. "And his shall be the first to fall."

Balthier didn't even blink. "Well at least your sword is to the point."

Ashe gave a heavy breath, and hand him the stone.

Ghis looked at it. "To think the relics of the Dynast-King were deifacted nethicite. Doctor Cid will be beside himself."

Balthier took a step forward. "What did you say?"

Ghis looked at his niece once more. "Auda, it's time for you to return home."

Auda looked at him, he noted the sadness in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Uncle Ghis for everything… Dalmasca became my home."

"Auda, this is your last chance." He held out his hand. "You have a family."

She shook her head, "Uncle I… I cannot. Please forgive me."

Ghis sighed, "Captain Azelas, take them to Shiva. They should have leave to return to Rabanastre soon."

Vossler lead them out, they entered the Shiva. Auda walked next to Basch, somewhere in the middle, and Ashe and Vossler were in the back. "Auda?" Basch asked.

"Vossler, he was the spy… We didn't see this coming. Why?"

"I think he is thinking of Dalmasca as well, more on the survival than the independence in which we are fighting for."

Auda looked back. Vossler had his head down. "Perhaps you are right… but… he broke our trust, and he knows it."

Fran bent over, and her breathing became labored. She fell to her knees, moaning out in pain. The fur on her ears was starting to stand on end.

"Fran?" Vaan asked.

"Such heat. The Mist – it's burning!" She cried out.

Both Vaan and Penelo went to her. A soldier walked to her, "You, Stand!" He reached down to pull her up, only a burst of energy sent him away.

Vossler looked at the soldiers. "Hold her down!"

Fran jerked up, giving a scream. She broke the handcuffs. She jumped into the air, kicking a soldier away from her, and jumped to attack another. The rage was over whelming her.

Penelo looked worried. "What's wrong with her?"

Balthier started to free him. "I always knew Fran didn't take well to being tied up. I just never knew how much."

"Such a shame, I always enjoyed it." Auda joked. Balthier freed her from the handcuffs.

Balthier looked over at Ashe. "How about you?"

Ashe ignored his question. "I like Fran's idea. Let's get out of here!"

He removed hers as well. Soon Vaan was freed as well, along with Basch and Penelo.

Vossler ran to the airship, having his sword ready to fight. "No farther! Sky pirates! The future of Dalmasca will not be stolen!" Basch walked in front of the group. "Why do this, Basch? This struggle is futile. You must know where it leads!"

Basch nodded his head, drawing his sword. "I do know. All too well."

Auda couldn't bring herself to fight Vossler, so she focused on fighting the other guards. Basch and Vossler were fighting however, along with Ashe. Fran was in such a rage that she didn't really care who she fought. Auda released a blizzardja spell, where ice attacked everyone. She looked around, Vaan and Penelo were helping her out, and Balthier was attacking Vossler as well.

Soon enough the soldiers fell. And Vossler was on the ground. Everyone was ready to move, but Basch was over him. Auda looked over, Vossler really betrayed them. Balthier had Fran leaning on him as she was still in somewhat on a rage. "Ashe, let's go." He said.

Ashe looked back, Basch hasn't moved. Auda walked closer to Ashe. "All I have done - I've ever thought of Dalmasca first." Vossler said.

Basch nodded his head. "I know you do. I would ne'er gainsay your loyalty."

"Look on what my haste has wrought. Did I act too quick? Or was your return too late? I can serve her no more. You must take up my charge." Vossler slumped down.

Basch turned around and joined the group once more. They ran into an Atomos, and took off. An explosion of mist started from Ghis's airship. Auda watched it, her eyes were wide. The fleet was annihilated, and the Atomos was barely ahead.

"This might get a little dicey!" Balthier spoke.

Fran was regaining her composer. "The Mist, it manifests now."

Vaan was watching the mist. "Is that what you call this?" He mentioned to the ball of mist.

"What's that?" Penelo asked, looking at someone moving close to them.

Ashe saw it. "I think it's the Dawn Shard!"

Balthier looked at it with a smirk. "Then what are we waiting for?" He flew to pick it up.

Auda and the party stayed at a house that was in the bazzar. Auda felt alone again. She closed her eyes, not only did she saw Rek's ghost, but know her uncle was gone. She sighed, she was tired of being alone. She got up, and walked to the Sunsea. It was day 1 since they returned. Everyone was busy regrouping and recovering from the events.

Auda spotted Tomaj in the bar, and she walked to him. "Guess who is back in town." She spoke.

"Oh Auda." He faced her. "I thought you were rejecting me."

Auda rolled her eyes, "I spoke the truth. Penelo really was kidnapped. Didn't you ask Migelo?"

"Yes," Tomaj nodded his head, "Though there are rumors out and about. Perhaps it's for the best. I wouldn't be able to compete with you. I'm a street ear, not a fighter, and you will need another fighter."

Auda blinked at his words. "You are rejecting me now?"

"I guess I am, never thought I would actually." He sighed, "I see how any man will fall for you, though we would never work out. We are just too deferent."

She looked away. "I see, well, I guess I should leave." She left as soon as could. She felt like an idiot now. She bumped her head against the wall. Of course he was right though, they never would have made it. But she was expecting some meaningless sex, nothing serious, but that's what he wanted, something serious.

Auda walked back to the house, and she stepped outside of Basch's door. She didn't know why Basch. Ashe was right, she had to be, that there was some attraction between the two. After all, Basch did ask about her tattoo, and was so honest with her, and she flirted with him right? Besides she opened to him many times before. She bit her lip, and then let out the breath she was holding in. She knocked on the door. "Come in." He said.

She opened the door, and closed it behind her. "Are you busy?"

He looked at her; his hair was still wet at least he was dressed. He noticed the emotional distress. "Auda are you alright?"

"At the tomb, when Ashe grabbed the Dawn Shard, I saw Reks. I saw his ghost. Vaan saw him too. And I just lost my uncle, without even making amends… of course I'm not alright." She bit her lip, and her head hung low. "I try to be strong, but nothing works anymore. I'm having more dreams, more flashbacks of Reks. I'm ready for them to stop, and I don't know how to stop them."

Basch didn't think, he just acted. He saw that she was broken, and she needed help. He pulled her into his arms. "It's okay, calm down."

She felt his warmth, it was overwhelming. She took a breath with her nose. He smelt nice. She put her hands on his chest, holding onto the open belts. It's been to long since she felt this type of warmth. It was easy to get lost in. "It's not fair. I fell hard for him, you know… And my uncle… he died thinking that I hated him… I never hated him, I feared him, and his title, but I never hated him…"

"Life isn't fair." Basch spoke, "You know this. To move on, you have to be ready to, and it sounds like you are ready. I have my regrets as well. I regret leaving my brother at Landis with our sick mother. I thought if I left and join the Dalmascan army then Landis would be spared, that didn't happened. And now, my brother is Judge Gabranth. He disowned his real name, Noah."

"Why is it so hard?" She looked up at him.

"Because you given Reks your heart; you have yet found peace within yourself. You lost your uncle, your last family member. It's going to take time." He wiped away her tears. She didn't know what she was doing, but she leaned in for a kiss. His lips were soft on hers. His arms went around her waist, and her arms around his neck. He licked her lip, and she opened up. She lost herself in the kiss, and soon she gave out a soft moan. He pulled away quickly. "What are we doing?"

"Basch…" She spoke softly catching her breath.

"You are emotional vulnerable, and that's why you are here…" He pulled away.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"Preventing you from doing something you will regret. I do not wish to take advantage…"

"I'm giving you the advantage…" She looked away. "But… you are really honorable Basch. Gotta respect that at least…" She gave a soft smile, "Not many are like you." She opened the door.

"Auda," Basch called out, "If you want to do this tomorrow, then I can fully, knowing that it is something you won't regret."

She looked back at him, "You are sweet."

Day 2, Ashe was still thinking on what she should do, and she kept herself locked up. Auda knew she needed space, seeing Rasler must have been too much. She and Auda were so different. Auda knew Ashe was no were near ready to move on from him. Auda walked out of the house and got some food.

Basch stepped outside with her. "Auda, shall I join you?"

She looked up at him, "Yeah." She nodded her head with a smile. "Are you going to hide your face?"

"My face isn't well known," Basch spoke, "As long as we don't go into Lowtown, we should be fine."

"Okay." They started to walk to the food market. "So… uh…" She looked away, feeling some awkwardness. "I'm sorry for yesterday. I'm in a bad place right now… And uh, you were right… though I don't regret going to you… and the events that followed… just kinda regret why I went there… If that makes since."

Basch gave a light laugh.

"It's not funny…" She looked away pouting.

"You are right." He said with a smile, "It's adorable." His smiles were small on the lips, he was one of those that smiles with his eyes.

"A… Adorable?" She looked down; he saw the blush on her face.

"Let's get the shopping done, shall we. We do not want the others to wait."

"No…" Auda sighed. "Does this mean we are together?"

"If you will have me."

Auda smiled, and he smiled back. "So… Basch…" It was unreal, she felt like they were on a first date or something. "Tell me, what was Landis like?"