Author's Note:
Previously on Calamity of the Serene It is decided that the group should split up. Larsa and Ashe are to remain in Dalmasca and form an army. Basch, Penelo, and Vaan are to hide in the Phon Coast. The trio will leave the following day. Basch and Ashe flirt giddily for a good amount of time, and then she requests he comes to her room that night. Meanwhile, Vaan selfishly tells Penelo to hang out with Larsa alone, for it may be her last chance. Larsa tells her to meet him at midnight in the gardens, for he has a surprise planned out for her.
AUTHOR'S NOTE, PLEASE READ:
So, I listen to very specific music while writing. I always thought it would be fun to place such music into my writing so you guys can listen to it, but then I thought it would be stupid. Recently, the talented and lovely author Earisu did what I always wanted! So, I decided to do the same. I have provided songs from youtube (please ignore the videos) for you to listen to as you read. Enjoy!
Section One: Go to YouTube and search this exact phrase: "Willow Remembering Tara". Click the first link.
Section Two: Search this exact phrase: "The Village Soundtrack: Noah Visits". Click the first link.
Section Three: "Des'ree - Kissing you Karaoke/Instrumental". First link.
Section Four and Five:"Cast Away- Cast Away". First link.
( C A L A M I T Y-of the-S E R E N E )
Chapter Twenty-Five: The Midnight Hour
The clocks all across Rabanastre chimed together as midnight struck. Basch was in his bedroom when he heard the deep bell sound, packing his few belongings as he prepared for his journey to Phon Coast. Upon hearing the bells, he instantly dropped the clothes in his hands. It was time to go and see Ashe, and his heart pounded at the thought. As he opened the door to his bedroom and moved down the large hall, he smiled to himself, realizing how hard he was falling for the younger woman.
The guards outside Ashe's room had been informed that he was was coming, and they stepped aside to let him in.
Ashe was waiting for him, sitting alone in a chair by one of the windows, and Basch nearly recoiled at the sight of her. She looked lovely, dressed in her black-laced nightgown that brought out the color of her hair and eyes. Her blonde hair had been pulled up into a loose bun, and several tendrils of hair fell down to frame her pale face. She turned her head at him when he entered, and her thin lips immediately flew into a loving smile.
I must be dreaming; no man could ever be so lucky.
He closed the door and locked it behind him. There would be no interruptions that night. He waited as she rose slowly, the light of the moon from the window illuminating her pretty face and smooth skin.
He couldn't wait. He moved toward her quickly, and she allowed herself to be pulled into his strong, muscular arms, and didn't say anything to him.
"Ashe," he whispered, taking her mouth with his and kissing her tenderly.
Under the watchful light of the moon, Ashe led him to her plush bed, and pulled him down on top of her. As she slowly wrapped her arms around him, he heard her sigh with such desire and passion that he couldn't hold himself back. Kissing her hard, he moved to pull off her clothes and then take her.
The clocks all across Rabanastre chimed together as midnight struck. Penelo was pacing by the back entryway to the castle when she heard the deep bell sound, eagerly awaiting to see Larsa and what surprise he had for her. The bell hadn't even finished ringing before she forced her way outside and headed quickly into the gardens.
She spotted the illumination of light before she saw him. There was, she quickly noticed, quite literally hundreds of candles that led from the garden walkway all the up to a candlelit gazebo. In the middle of the gazebo stood Larsa, his hands folded neatly behind his back, and he was facing away from her. No wonder Larsa needed so much time to prepare; lighting all these candles would take hours.
She moved down the cobblestone path and then began to climb the wooden steps up to the gazebo. He turned when he heard her approach, and a suave smile lit up his face brighter than the candles did.
"What is all this?" Penelo questioned, eying the lovely sight before her.
Larsa shook his head faintly, and then held out his white-gloved hand to her. "I wanted this night to be special for you."
"Special?" She inquired, accepting his hand.
"It is the last night we can be together, after all."
She giggled. "You make it sound like I may never see you again."
He shrugged faintly. "You never know."
Without warning, Larsa raised his free hand high above his head and snapped his fingers several times. Confused, Penelo simply paused to watch. In the matter of seconds, a dozen men stepped out from behind various trimmed bushes in the gardens. They were dressed richly, and each carried a different melodic instrument in their hands. They all formed a line and readied their instruments. Another snap of his fingers, and they began to play a sweet yet almost sad song. Larsa lowered his hand and smiled fondly at Penelo.
"Our last date ended terribly," he informed her. "I thought that perhaps we could continue where we left off."
How very sweet of him. "That's a great idea, Larsa."
Tenderly, Larsa placed his free hand onto her hip, and tightened his hold on her other hand. Slowly, he wove his fingers between hers and confidently met her eyes. Penelo found herself sighing, completely relaxed. Refusing to let their gaze break, Larsa began to gently dance with Penelo across the small, wooden gazebo.
The soft light of the candles made Larsa look even more handsome, and Penelo found herself smiling with pleasure at the experience. True to his word, Larsa didn't try to make a move on her. Instead, he held her away at an arms distance, and suddenly she wanted to curl up inside his warm embrace.
"You look troubled," Larsa quietly said, breaking her free from her trance.
"Hmm?"
"Are you alright," Larsa questioned as they continued in their slow dance.
She nodded dreamily. "I'm fine. It's just that, well, all the candles and the music is making me a bit dizzy, I guess."
"Would you like to go back inside?"
That was the last thing she wanted. "No, please no. This is so nice. And you're right, this is the last night we can be together."
"But if you are dizzy--"
"Just keep dancing." I need to loosen up- no, I need to grow up. I've been such bad company to everyone.
He nodded once, and his smile grew. He squeezed her hand firmly but remained quiet. His eyes drifted shut, but his smile remained present on his lips.
This might be the last time you ever see him.
"Larsa?" she asked suddenly. She drew in a deep breath. "Why aren't you trying to kiss me?"
If the question surprised him, he didn't show it. "You made it clear before that you did not wish for such things."
She held her breath. "I wish for it now."
His eyes shot open and peered deeply into her own. "You do not. You are simply emotional."
"I'm not," she pressed on, not offended by his remark, and edging herself closer to him. "Well, maybe a little. But I'm ready, Larsa. I really am ready."
His face was soft and loving. Moving his hand up and away from her hip, he rested it gently onto her cheek and stroked her soft skin gently. With half closed eyes, he moved his face to hers.
His lips were surprisingly warm, and she kissed back almost nervously. He was gentle with her, understanding that she was scared. His mouth barely was on hers when he pulled away again, just to make sure she was certain.
She was.
Penelo shut her eyes tight once she felt his lips on hers once again. He was still gentle, and for that she was glad. She didn't want anything overly passionate. She didn't want anything else: just his lips on hers, just a sweet, sappy kiss. And then she wanted to go to her room and cry herself to sleep for being so foolish as having never let him truly kiss her before.
Behind them, the hired men continued their romantically tragic song.
They both rested on their stomachs, with Ashe on the right side of the bed and Basch on the left. Completely naked, and their bodies still warm from their spur of passion, they gazed silently at each other. Their feet touched, and Ashe's left hand loosely clutched Basch's left. They were both tired; their after-sex exhaustion still in full effect.
"I was sent by Lord Larsa to ensure that you and Penelo were indeed still safe at the bathhouse," Basch suddenly said to her after he cleared his throat. "And because I did not want to walk in on you bathing, I decided to peek into the window around the side of the building."
Curious as to what Basch was talking about, Ashe raised her head up and rested herself onto her elbows.
He continued quietly, "I saw you inside, and was completely mesmerized by you. I could not pull my eyes away. And as if that wasn't embarrassing enough, Lord Larsa found me. I was so surprised that I fell backward onto the ground."
Ashe felt a little flustered at his story; she had no idea that she was being watched that night. "You were spying on me?"
"Aye," he admitted, then turned his head in order to bury his face shamefully into the pillow. "And worse yet, Lord Larsa said I was like a foolish, lovesick puppy when it came to you."
That caught her attention. With amusement, she asked, "Is that why he and Penelo call you Puppy?"
He turned his head enough to look at her with one eye. "Indeed."
"Why did you tell me this?" She asked, and then laughed loudly at his obvious discomfort.
He flinched at her laugh. "I promised you an embarrassing tale about myself."
"Surely you could have thought of something a little less recent," she quipped as she continued her laugh. Then she paused and thought to herself for a long second. "Is that when you realized you wanted me?"
The question caught him off guard, and he raised his head as well. "What?"
"That night, is that when you realized you wanted me?" I've wanted you since I was but a child.
He hesitated, and Ashe swore that she saw a deep red begin to spread across his cheeks, but she couldn't be sure since they were shrouded in nothing but the light of the moon. She didn't think Basch was possible of blushing.
"Nay," he admitted slowly. "I suppose it has been going on for quite some time. But I never truly admitted it to myself until I saw you in your parlor before your wedding to Ayon."
She grinned foolishly at him, like a young woman in love. "You were practically drooling."
He flinched again. "You noticed?"
"I did," Ashe continued to grin. "So that really the first time you realized you wanted me?"
"I suppose earlier," he admitted. "When I was carrying you while you were wounded through the Kru-Borma forest." Then he quickly corrected himself. "No, before that. I knew I wanted you when I held you in my arms. You were unconscious, dying from the Varran Plague, and I hand fed you the cure. That is when I knew."
Ashe made a face. "I must have looked awful."
"You looked beautiful," he replied, sounding sickeningly sweet yet serious.
Ashe sighed as she looked at him. "How far we have come..."
"Indeed..."
The young Queen paused, biting down onto her lower lip. She was very caught up in the moment, her heart still pounding with lust for him. The words 'I love you' wanted to desperately tumble from her lips, but she wisely kept them inside. He doesn't need to know such things, she decided. Instead, she pulled her nude body across the bed and towards him. Basch rolled onto his back as she approached, and slipped his powerful arms around her lower back when she nuzzled her face against his.
"You are not allowed to leave tomorrow," Ashe commanded him in a deep whisper, her mouth pushed near his. "I forbid it."
He closed his eyes and caught her lips gently with his. "You know I must."
"And leave this behind?" Ashe asked slyly, drawing her legs over his and rolling up onto his body. She quickly sat up and straddled him, grinning wickedly down at him as he moaned softly. "Could you really leave this behind?"
"I cannot leave you behind," he corrected her, his hands finding her hips as he could not resist being in-between the strong thighs of his new lover.
"Good," she whispered in return, and then set about rewarding him for his words.
Ashe woke Basch by gently laying a bundle of soft, fluttery kisses across the length of his face. It took him a long while to stir, and Ashe wondered if he was actually awake and simply feigning sleep in order to feel her lips on his skin. She briefly wondered if she should rid of her clothes and have him once more, but then decided that the three times they had lain together last night would be enough.
When he finally opened his eyes to look at her, he looked disappointed to see her fully dressed. He groaned softly, sitting up and rubbing at his sleepy eyes.
"What time is it?"
Her lips pressed themselves against the long scar across his handsome face. "Nine in the morning. We overslept, and I bet that the others are waiting for us."
Basch groggily pulled himself out of bed and reached for his clothes. "I suppose it is time to make for the Phon Coast."
"Yes," Ashe responded, fixing her hair as Basch quickly dressed. As he finished, she called out timidly, "Thank you for spending the night with me. If I am fortunate, it will have worked."
He gave her a look of confusion as he laced up his boots. "What will have worked?"
"Hopefully I will be with child," Ashe said bluntly.
When Basch's face went cold, Ashe narrowed her eyes in confusion. Why does he look upset?
With a low, almost bitter voice, Basch turned his back to her. "Last night was to conceive a child."
"Of course," Ashe responded, and then realized immediately why he seemed upset. He thinks I have used him to produce an heir! He doesn't believe I want him at all. Of course I want him.
Quickly, she added, "A child would be an added benefit to our affair."
He turned back to her, and his face was completely emotionless. He had heard the haste and nervousness in her voice. "So you say, but is that true, Majesty?"
She winced, hurt by his sudden formality towards her. "You truly think that I have used you?"
He looked away again. "Perhaps."
His honesty angered her. "You think me so shallow and heartless to use you for the benefit of my kingdom and nothing more?"
Upon hearing the hurt and frustration in her tone, he looked back to her. His expression was far softer this time, and he obviously realized he had overstepped his bounds and had been wrong. He opened his mouth to say something- perhaps to apologize- but Ashe wouldn't hear of it. She had never allowed anyone to second guess her actions, and that wouldn't change now. Ashe had always been bad at holding in her anger towards others.
"I cannot believe you think me so selfish," she seethed, folding her arms unforgivingly across her chest. "After all we have been through, Basch, do you really know and think so little of me? How dare you."
"Ashe, I--"
"Don't bother," she snapped. Turning sharply, she walked swiftly to the door to her bedroom and flung it open. Without looking back, she called out bitterly, "I will no longer be there to see you off, and so I will wish you safety in your travels now."
"Wait," Basch called out to her.
But she had already moved out the door and slammed it shut behind her. Her blood boiled, and she had tears in her eyes. But she had spent her entire life of people thinking little of her, and the idea of her best friend doing the same upset her more than either of them had realized.
It was nearly noon as Larsa helped Penelo onto the patient, golden chocobo. The bird released a quiet whine of protest at the sudden extra weight, and Penelo quickly soothed it by gently stroking its head. She turned to look back down at Larsa, who was eying her with silence.
She was going to miss him.
"Take care of the Lady Ashe for us, will you?" Penelo asked Larsa as he stuffed an extra canteen of water into the storage pouch on the side of her chocobo.
"I will," he responded quietly.
Vaan, who was on his chocobo and ready to lead them out, turned back. "Where is Ashe, anyways? I thought she'd come say goodbye or something."
Penelo shrugged and went to respond that she had no idea where Ashe was, but Basch beat her to it.
"She won't be coming," he said firmly as he pulled himself onto his chocobo. His face was a mask of cold steel, but Penelo could detect the slightest hint of anguish in his voice. She wondered what had happened to him.
"Then I guess we should go," Vaan said reluctantly, looking back at Penelo and Basch for approval.
"Yeah," Penelo agreed, casting a long, last look down at Larsa. He had backed away from her, and he looked very solemn, as if he was already mourning the loss of her. To signify that she would be thinking of him during her travel, Penelo reached up and touched two of her fingers to her lips and smiled faintly.
Thanks for the kiss, she told him with her eyes. I won't forget it.
He nodded, returning her smile. He would miss her, too.
As the three prepared to move off, they heard the sound of footsteps crunching loudly across the gravel path. Penelo quickly turned her head- they all did- in order to see who approached.
It was Ashe.
She walked with a purpose, proud and tall like she always did. Yet when she was close, Penelo could see the slight puffiness of her eyes and briefly wondered if she had been crying. Penelo dismissed the thought quickly: Queens, she believed, didn't cry.
Ashe nodded quickly in the direction of Penelo and Vaan before immediately moving to Basch's side. He glanced down at her neutrally from the corner of his eye, as if he wanted to pretend like she wasn't there at all.
What the hell happened to them today?
Silently, Ashe reached into her pocket and withdrew a small, folded envelope. Locking her eyes onto Basch's face, she reached the letter up for him to take. Without hesitation, the Judge slipped his hand down and retrieved it from her. Their fingers touched, and Penelo saw Ashe's face fill with emotion. Then, quickly, the Queen turned away and headed swiftly back in the direction of her castle.
Basch stuffed the envelope- a letter, perhaps?- into the storage pouch on the chocobo's side and glanced towards his allies. Naturally, they were all watching him with interest. Ignoring their curious looks, he kicked at the sides of the chocobo, and he and the bird dashed forward.
Vaan quickly followed, as did Penelo. Yet as they rode on, Penelo cast one final glance over her shoulder at Larsa. He stood, in the distance, and watched them go.
With a sigh, Penelo turned back around and followed her friends on their long journey to the Phon Coast.
Author's Note:
This is my longest story yet:)
I hope you enjoyed the music selections as well.
On the next episode of Calamity of the Serene: Penelo sneaks a peek at the contents of the envelope. Ashe and Larsa form their army, and Vaan enjoys some alone time with Penelo.