We decided taking Balthier's Nedakh would be best. Rosaria had ships you could see for miles around, flashy shades of vibrant electric blue, but Balthier's ship didn't attract much attention, being nothing special. But none of us could be sure whether or not the Organization would remember his ship from previous encounters. But it was a chance we had to take.
Hours flew passed, and I hardly listened as Phathe complained about not being able to come along. After a while I just learned to tune him out; there was just no getting to him. No reason you could instill in his mind why taking him would be bad. So I let him rant.
Eventually I ducked away, finding a moment to escape the wrath of Phathe, and wandered around aimlessly. I walked the castle, thinking of all that had happened in the last two days, and of all that would be happening. I had no time to talk to Phathe about my mistake, more than a mistake, a life altering screw up. Not enough time to fix anything. That, and I didn't think I had the heart to request a divorce. Not when he was all worked up over not accompanying us to the river of life and the enemy's base. But when I got back, I would fix this, everything, so we were all happy, although I wasn't sure how I would go about in doing so. All I could do was hope an idea would come to me.
My legs carried me outside, along the porch that over looked the gardens. I hopped up on the wall and slung my legs over the side. The setting sun sent a pink light spiraling over the skies, and the moon slowly began to wake, her face lighting up in the bright colors. Meadow green grass flecked with small splashes of flowers, heaved a slow yawned, eyes closing as the sun drifted to a safer place. I sigh, letting go of my troubles.
"Impeccable timing, I was just coming to look for you." It was a voice I knew well, and a voice I'd rather not hear right now. I felt my heart tweak a string or two, and I felt the same old panic start to rise and flood its banks. Just as I found a moment of peace, Balthier had to make his entrance. Damn showy pirate.
"Yeah," I say, not daring to turn around; I can already feel my cheeks blazing like the midday sun.
"All I wanted to say," he comes over and leans against the wall next to me, draping his arms over the sides of the wall. I turn my head away a little more, trying to block him out as best as possible. "was that I apologize for leaving you so abruptly last night. That was rather rude of me."
"I wasn't exactly that polite either." I said, referring to my kiss.
"Well, it was not very gentleman of me to just walk away, but you rather surprised me, although I had a hunch."
"You did?" I respond, voice flat. Great, so he already had known?
"Fran told me a while ago you might. But that is beside the point. I should not have pestered you as I did. My apologies." I slowly nod.
"It's fine." It wasn't fine. I wasn't fine, but it wasn't his fault. So he really shouldn't apologize, and I thought about telling him, but never got a chance to.
"I just hope you know what you're doing with Phathe though. I'd hate to see more people hurt, understand?" His voice was light despite the fact that he was warning me. "Do what you have to, Fidel, just this time, make sure it is the right thing."
"You've already warned me, remember? I'm thinking on it." I sigh and let myself relax just a little bit.
"I don't trust you in full. And with good reason, I might through in. Just don't go making a lake out of a pond as they say." Was my problem really pond sized? I thought it was more of an ocean.
"I got it, I got it." I sigh, swinging my feet back and forth half heartedly. I just hope it doesn't rain in my pond.
"I'm just surprised your not yelling at me. I thought I'd find the next Archadian war when I came out here."
"I guess I don't have it in me right now." I chance a glance at him. The dying light bounces of his face in such an amazing way as he too watches the rising moon, the sleeping flowers. He doesn't seem awkward at all talking to me now. I know I would be a mess if I were in his shoes. I look away before he can notice I'm watching him.
"Well," He says after a few minutes of sky watching, "I've said all I needed to. I think it would be best if I left now. Be ready for tomorrow." He pats my shoulder and turns to go.
"Hey," I say, looking over my shoulder.
"Hm?" He turns around.
"I love you." I say, heart clenching in a small ball as I say so. To my surprise he just smiles softly and shakes his head.
"Sorry, but I cannot return your feelings."
"I know." I look away again, cheeks on fire. His footsteps still echoed around the balcony, even when he was long gone. A ghost in my head. His soft pounding ringing in my ears.
Dawn was breaking, moon setting, sun rising. I was awake, on the lawn, and suppressing a wide yawn. Phathe had woken me up at the crack of dawn to help me gather my things for the journey ahead. It was nice, I guess, having someone care enough about me to wake up before the rest of the world.
"Here, take your gun. I reloaded it and there's a spare set of bullets in the pouch here. And take care of that arm, I got a new sling for it and everything, but still, that doesn't mean go crazy. And here's the dagger you like-" It was like having a doddering mother again. He continued to fuss over me until we got outside. As much as it pained me to admit it, in time, a long time, I might actually enjoy being married to Phathe, even if I stayed in love with Balthier forever. Phathe at least knew how to make me smile. But so did Balthier.
I shiver in the morning air, although it wasn't cold. Phathe wraps a tight arm across my shoulders and places a small kiss on the top of my head. Nedakh was being suited up, tested, and readied for the long and dangerous journey, Balthier's mechanic, Nono the moogle, held a clipboard in his paws, checking things off as he went down the list.
"Now," I heard him say to Balthier, "the engines are in order, kupo! Fuel is sufficient, cloaking is ready, although you only have twenty minutes of it at a time, remember that-"
"Yes, yes, I have that in order." Balthier nodded.
"Navigation system is all set, and it will show any other ships coming in from a ten mile radius, kupo!"
"That will not do us much good if they spot us first." Fran says, arms crossed. Nono heaved a small sigh and nodded.
"Kupo, unfortunately it won't do much good, kupo, but there will be enough time to attack first." Nono continued on with his list of things, the other mechanic moogles hurrying to fix up any last problems. I look around at my other companions. Penelo was leaning against Vaan, head on his shoulder, eyes just barely open. Basch was giving the moogles a hand, and Al-Cid was helping to supervise as some of his workers attach better weapons to Nedakh. Jibrel on the other hand was taking stuff inside the ship, preferring to work like a servant than give orders, her own personal protest on how servants are treated. But in my opinion, the servants here were treated very well.
"Got the vial?" Phathe asks me. I pull the small glass instrument out from under my shirt and wave it around a bit.
"Right here." I say, letting it drop back onto my chest.
"Not wearing that dress, I noticed." He smiles gently. I shake my head.
"Where I'm going, a garment like that would be ruined."
"I suppose it would. You'll just have to come back for it then. Although, I hope that's not all you come back for." He presses a cheek against the top of my head and tightens his grip around me. I stare at the ground, not saying anything. "Everything will be fine." He whispers, more to sooth himself than me. Last night he was in a right fit, telling me to be careful and such without him there. It has crossed my mind once or twice that maybe, just maybe, he cares just a tad too much.
"You'll get gray hair at thirty if you continue to worry so much." I say up to him. He grins sheepishly.
"So I've heard." He pecks my cheek. "I just couldn't stand it if anything happened to you."
"Nothing will. I'll be back in two weeks, three tops, and by then everything will be over. Nothing to worry about."
"And then I'll take you away from here. We'll live by the sea, just like I said." His voice began to get a slight dreamy air to it, as though he can really see the ocean, hear the waves, smell the salt.
"Fidel!" Balthier called. While Phathe and I had talked, the ship had finished it's last minute inspection. "We're ready." He beckoned to me and turned to enter the ship. Vaan and Penelo, it seemed, had already boarded. Phathe pulled away slowly. I turned to say my goodbye.
"You-" Phathe said at length, putting a hand on my cheek, "be careful now. I want you intact when you come back."
"It'll be dangerous, but I think I can handle myself." I smile, trying to reassure him.
"I swear, you come back with another arm all messed up, and I'm never letting you out of my sight, you hear me?" He playfully punches, more like taps, my arm, the functioning one.
"You'll have your arm." I can't help but smile a little. "Well, I have to go. They're waiting."
He nods once. "Yeah, don't want to hold them up. Got'ta save the world." And I think more to his surprise than mine, I kiss him on the cheek.
"Later." And without further adieu, I leave, running off to the ship as fast as I can.
Nedakh headed northeast, swerving wide around Dalmasca as it did so. We tried as hard as we could to avoid getting within radar distance of the city, but that required going the long way. Taking no chances, we went around both Archades and Dalmasca, turning east once we were far enough north. It took hours. Nedakh isn't the fastest ship in the world.
The airship swung over the ocean, flying passed the pirate port of Balfonheim, well passed, circling around. We came in over land, waves beating a playhouse sized shore as we passed over the beaches stretching below. I chanced a fast glance at the water below, but quickly leaned away, stomach lurching.
Half an hour it took to reach the wood, and it seemed larger than before, spanning on and on for miles, nestled away, hidden from towns and cities, people, viera, seeq, and all the races of the planet. It slept in wait, waiting for somebody to dare to darken its door. As we drew closer to the center, I could see Fran starting to squirm, the magicks starting to get to her. They seemed stronger than before, choking, and the ship began to rock.
"We're coming down for an abrupt landing. Hold on, this won't be fun, I'll assure you." Balthier called back to the crew.
"Balthier," Fran said, her breathing labored, voice shallow, "I will not be coming with you. I fear if I do, there will be no party left."
Balthier nods. "That would be best I think." He softly spoke to her. "I'll put the ship down back a little bit."
"Do that." She said. I could tell it took all of her strength not to give into the power coursing through her blood. I could almost feel it, the mist in myself resonating with the god's blood in the air.
Balthier back tracked the ship a ways, far enough away that Fran could control her anger better, and close enough that walking to the center wouldn't be too long. The ship still quaked, however, and Balthier struggled to keep control. My legs were tightly pressed to my chest, living hand clutching the fabric of my shorts with a death grip. Keeping my seat, although well strapped in, was easier said than done. I felt choked by the belt, it sank into my skin, holding me tight in place. It felt so tight I thought it would snap, and that didn't help my state of panicked mind.
We touched ground, crushing trees beneath the ship's weight. I listened as bark burst its seams, splinters showering the ground below. I half expected a tree to pop out of the ship floor; Nedakh didn't seem strong enough to hold her own against a mighty and magickal forest, but apparently she was.
By the time we had touched down, at least six or more hours had gone by. If we had cut through Dalmasca, the time would have been cut down exponentially, but that was simply not a risk any of us were willing to take.
"I will keep an eye on the ship while you are gone." Fran said as we turned to leave. "And when you return, do not get the vial too close to me. I fear I may snap if I catch the smell of the god's blood."
"Thank you for the warning." Basch says. "We shall give you and it a wide birth."
"Appreciated." Fran answers.
"Take care, Fran!" Penelo calls over her shoulder in that innocent way. Balthier nodded once to his partner, and she smiled warily back, something on her mind, but I never found out what. And with that, we left the ship, heading out into the deep and dense forest.