A/N: This is another epic chapter. It half near killed me X-X but I think it had to be this length for the sake of ending the tale in Dalmasca and for the sake of the word that would best describe the chapter. I just hope that it isn't too much (it's already nearly 7000 words long if you don't include this Author's Note).

I'd like to apologise too. I've just hit a point in my life where it's slammed me against the wall with a tonne of workload with the strength of an elephant's trunk and then some. So...next chapter(s) may come slower than average. It also means I have very little time to actually right a decent Author's Note right now so I'm just going to quickly thank everyone for reading and reviewing:

THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN READING AND REVIEWING! YOU ARE ALL SPECIAL AND GET THE SPECIAL-PEOPLE-COOKIES! (P.S. The story has gone over 105,000 hits!)

Please read and review! For reviews are my hi-fi bars (I am once again dieting! Wish me luck!)

Grief. Like many things, it came in different forms. It could be as small as the loss of a favourite toy or ornament, or as large as the death of a loved one. For Ashe, her life had been one great tragedy followed by another.

This time was no different as she trailed behind the funeral parade, clothed in black traditional royal mourning robes.

This is the story of how her husband died.

The day leading up to the treaty signing had been torturous, and murderous, with many more innocent servants and soldiers being injured, or worse, killed, by a mysterious assassin. All that was known of the silent killer was that he struck when people of importance –whose deaths' would affect any and all of the courts that had congregated in Rabanastre–, were around and that he was clearly a skilled archer, or a lousy shot.

Basch fon Ronsenburg had been the first to be hit that day. He was talking to a young soldier called Reks about security around the Dalmascan royal couple when he was hit in the shoulder by a solitary arrow. Any lower, and it might have pierced the soft skin of his back and the precious organ that pumped life around his matured and battle-weary body. With Basch now being cared for in the palace infirmary, the lead of command was passed onto Vossler York Azelas.

The next attack had happened after the commotion surrounding Captain Ronsenburg's attempted assassination. Cloud had been brooding in King Leon's room, muttering curses and oaths of the many ways he was going to kill his master as he leaned against the balcony when, just as he turned to greet a servant who had brought up a meal for him, an arrow clattered on the exact spot he had been only a moment ago. Needless to say, the moorland king was in uproar about it once he heard, changing his plans of locking his concubine away for his safety to having him guarded all hours of the day seeing as now their room was no longer deemed safe.

Moments before Leon had ordered that, just as he appeared to make sure that his concubine was safe, the archer made another attempt, this time the arrow grazing the king's neck as it flew like a swallow, piercing the bed that was still in disarray from the subsequent wrestle the two men had had the previous night about Cloud's protection. To this, Leon had become ever more wary, now carrying his exotic blade around wherever he went as a means of his own safety.

"Two attempts of importance in one day," Vossler bemoaned, sitting on one side of his superior as he pressed his clasped fingers to his lips in thought. "And many more that seem to act as target practice."

"How many more?" Basch gruffly asked, staring up at the ceiling as he heard how the worst possible thing he could have thought to happen came true.

"Eight in all," Axel replied, seated on the other's side. "Three of them were murders. The other five are either injured or unharmed."

"How many unharmed?"

"Only two. The king of Radiant Garden's concubine and a servant that happened to get behind a pillar in time," Vossler reported. Basch only sighed in exasperation, not sure what else could be done.

"Here's something of interest," Axel added. "All of the attacks were on Dalmascans or citizens of Radiant Garden."

"Which means that it's entirely possible that the killer is an Archadian, or an ally of the Archadian Empire," Vossler continued.

"If you ask me though, the whole thing reeks of Archadian plotting."

"But we've nothing to prove that it is just that."

"Then let's find a way to prove it is them!"

"Axel," Basch rumbled, looking over to the flame-haired moorland warrior. "I hope your concerns and feelings about the possibility of your squire's demise isn't affecting your judgement."

"Only my gut instinct affects my judgement," Axel retorted, remembering full well what happened last time he allowed his emotions to get the better of him.

"I doubt it," Vossler muttered under his breath, but Axel had the hearing of a bat.

"Like to say it to my face?"

"Stop the pair of you!" Basch spoke over the both of them before they escalated into one of their heated arguments. "Axel, remember our position. We are on the verge of a possible end to this war. Any accusations could threaten it. So please, whatever opinions you may have, keep a lid on them until the Archadians are well out of our borders."

Grudgingly, they complied, though Vossler rather spitefully coughed in the ancient Dalmascan tongue, "Oversensitive git." Basch gave him a warning look, before addressing them both.

"Keep a good eye on the place, and if you're going to sniff out some evidence pointing to someone, make sure Lord Vayne doesn't pick up on it." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Take special care around his new bulldog."

"Bulldog?" Axel asked curiously.

"You haven't seen Lord Kadaj yet?"

If there was one person Cloud wouldn't have minded seeing the last of, it was Kadaj of House Jenova. While Yazoo was a silver-tongued charmer, and Loz a likeable character, Kadaj was someone that came across as a person to fear for his tyrant like temper. Some said that he got this trait from his older brother Sephiroth's rare bursts of terrifying anger, but Cloud had never seen Sephiroth angry. Or at least, he was lucky enough not to see what he was like when he did lose his temper. Kadaj had, once or twice, provided a small preview of what it could be like back in Cloud's childhood. It was this temper that made Cloud and Riku wary of him, and also made them do their utmost to shield Roxas from seeing it. Hence, Roxas had never seen Kadaj and was therefore more disturbed by the almost unreal Yazoo.

So for Cloud to see Kadaj, standing there on a balcony looking into the throne room where the treaty would be signed, as he was just about to come around the corner, it had startled him greatly. And he was immediately thankful that he had decided to put that headscarf on to conceal his identity while being shepherded around by willing guards.

On the other hand, this only made him more wary, and it also gave him a bit of glee to know that, for once, Leon would have to admit he was wrong if three people had seen the House Jenova member in the flesh. However, this didn't mean he wanted to speak with him. If anything, he wanted to find Leon and tell him what had happened.

"Ah, Kadaj, there you are."

Cloud blinked as he saw Lord Vayne appear from around the corner, patting the young silver-haired Jenova on the shoulder as he looked out to the same view. Although he knew he should leave and report to Leon, he found himself oddly drawn, hushing the guards with a simple hand movement as he peered around the corner.

"My lord," Kadaj greeted solemnly, his eyes fixed on the throne still. "How goes your day?"

"Perfectly well," Vayne smirked, leaning against the balustrade. "Better than either the Dalmascan court's or those of Radiant Garden's."

"That's good."

Cloud could only wonder why Kadaj was eyeing the room so intently. Though it was certainly sounding an alarm in his mind at just how intent Kadaj's posture was.

"Preparing yourself for tomorrow then?"

"I'm not going to miss this time, I assure you."

Miss what, Cloud had thought, leaning a little more around the corner.

"I have every confidence in you. Besides, weren't all the times before just practice?"

Cloud almost gasped, the final pieces in the puzzle sliding into place in his mind. As he took steps back to make a soundless getaway, he forgot about his escorts were behind him, causing their armour and spears to clang lightly. Kadaj had the hearing of a bat; Cloud was in no doubt that he would've heard something.

"Is someone there?"

"It might just be some guards patrolling Kadaj. Don't bother them."

"Lord Vayne, being lax is probably your biggest fault," Kadaj said rather bluntly. It was amazing he wasn't suffering repercussions for it, considering his lower status.

"And you being obsessive over small details is yours," Vayne countered. "Besides, all we're talking about is whether you're going to best me in hunting or not, correct?"

If Cloud were gullible, he would've heaved a sigh of relief and leave it at that. But he wasn't. Far from it. And Kadaj's delayed response had made him even more suspicious.

"Yes…my lord."

Cloud took steps back, trying to act normal but his mind was going a thousand miles per minute with every thought. But it all now made sense. A continued war and a possible Archadian victory over Dalmasca would work well in the Archadian Empire's favour, since they could employ the surrendered Dalmascan army to fight against Radiant Garden's small empire should they ever act upon coming to Dalmasca's rescue. But taking over one country would be easy if you take out the leader while they had no heirs to speak of. And Queen Ashelia definitely fitted into that category.

Another matter to take into account was if said leader had, possibly, a child or sickly heir (or even both). Leon snugly fitted into that group, having only Sora –a child who could be very, very sickly indeed (though to his credit, he had been getting much stronger). Either way, if Kadaj and Vayne were plotting what he thought that they were plotting, both leaders were in danger. And to Cloud, it seemed more likely that Leon would be the target since he had that brush with death earlier that day.

Tifa grimaced a little bit as she opened her eyes, feeling her side sting with the potency of a thousand bee stings.

"Careful," a soft voice whispered. It belonged to a soft-spoken matured man, clearly a doctor from his uniform. He helped her to sit up in the bed. "That arrow went very deep into your side."

"Is that girl…?"

"She's in shock, but is very indebted to you." Tifa looked up to see who the second –and very familiar– voice belonged to. She bowed her head deeply, unable to properly curtsey due to her wound.

"My lord, it's very kind of you to visit me."

"It wouldn't seem right not to see you Tifa." Leon sat down on the bedside, the exotic blade he had taken to carrying around glimmering in the small amount of light in the servant's quarters. "Do you think you can answer a few questions for me? About this incident?"

"I think I can," Tifa murmured, though it still seemed so hazy in her mind. "Though, do forgive me if I cannot give you answers you want."

"Just answer me what you can," Leon said, his voice calm but serious. "Did anything seem out of the ordinary when you were going about your work?"

Tifa shook her head. "Nothing. Everyone was frightened of course but…there was no person acting strangely, or any other thing out of place."

"Your injury happened a little bit after that Dalmascan guard was shot, correct?"

"Yes. The girl I saved was his lover I heard." Leon leaned back a little, as if deep in thought. Tifa very carefully asked, "How does this have anything to do with these shootings…?"

"Maybe it's nothing…or maybe it's something. It could be a cryptic message for all we know." He looked over to her with one storm-coloured eye. "Did you see anyone that looked like they shouldn't have been there?"

"No…" Tifa regretfully answered. Leon sighed, standing up and straightening his back. "Wait…" He turned to face her. "I think…I think I did see someone…"

He leaned over to her, taking her hand very carefully. "Can you tell me anything about this person?"

"I only caught a glimpse of him…or her…but I just saw silver…"

"Silver?"

"An accessory maybe?"

"Or a piece of armour. Or the killer's hair colour."

"Hair colour? You don't mean…"

"If it is who I believe it is, then I don't blame Cloud for hating me even more than he does now." He turned to leave, talking long strides in his step. "Take care of her. She's very valuable to my household."

Cloud's strides were getting longer and faster as he tried to find Leon or someone he could trust; so much so that his armoured minders were finding it hard to keep up. However, Cloud had underestimated just how expansive Rabanastre Palace was.

"This is hardly the time to get yourself lost," Cloud grumbled, more towards Leon than to himself despite the brunet's lack of presence. "Where the hell could you be?"

"Maybe," one guard muttered as he and his partner finally caught up, "If you stayed in the one place the king would go, you'd find him quicker."

Cloud glared at the one who dared to speak, knowing that a glare was his only weapon against men who are equipped with spears and only had a fear of their liege's temper to stop them from killing the blond on the spot. "You two keep up; otherwise it's your heads for wall hangings and your guts for garters." He gave a twisted smirk. "Trust me; I've seen such things done by your king before."

"Th-that's slander!" the guard cried.

"Want to test the theory?"

"No…" the other responded, pulling his partner back. "Go right ahead…sir."

Cloud shook his head, once more taking his long and fast strides, just annoyed that Leon wasn't just going to appear in front of him and save him the aggravation. Of course, he had thought, saying what he had wouldn't do him any favours either with Leon's proposition concerning Hollow Bastion. He rubbed his face in annoyance. Since when did saving his tormentor become such a task he would be vehemently take to?

"Ah, there he is." The guard pointed towards a small courtyard that was close to the women's quarters. Leon was there, but he wasn't alone. Queen Ashelia was speaking with him, her face a picture of worry and uncertainty. Leon shared the same sentiments. Cloud made his way forward, knowing that whatever it was, both needed to know what he had just seen.

"You're pregnant?" Cloud almost skidded to a halt when he heard the brunet say that, blinking as he watched them converse with each other.

"I am."

"And you failed to mention this to anyone?"

"I don't want people to start panicking about this even more than they are now."

"Ashe, you can't keep this a secret forever. Your husband is bound to notice, as will the doctors and the maids that work with them."

"I know that. But I also know that if I announce it now, it will give our assassin more reason to kill me."

"So you're going to lower the risk of you getting killed then by saying nothing?" Leon quirked an eyebrow, clearly questioning the queen's actions.

"That's not what I meant."

"Then what is it that you do mean?"

Cloud took the moment to come in at that point, realising it wasn't two people that were in any real danger.

It was two adults and an unborn child that were in danger. "Leon!"

The brunet seemed to stiffen at that, as did Ashelia since both their backs were turned to the concubine. Leon turned swiftly, glaring at Cloud for daring to use his name in front of the queen instead of his title. "Cloud, did you just…"

"Overhear what you were saying?" he finished, standing right in front of them, armed escort in tow. "Yes. Which only makes what I've discovered even more unsettling."

"I don't think this is the time to discuss conspiracy theories right now," Leon hissed, grabbing the blond by the arm. Just from his tone and the way Leon's scar had crinkled, Cloud could tell he was already stressed about this whole matter with assassins, secret pregnancies, peace treaties and murder.

"This isn't a theory! I have witnesses!" Cloud pointed to the guards. "They saw him too!"

"Him?" Queen Ashelia asked, tilting her head lightly.

"Who's 'him'?" Leon demanded, his scar starting to smooth over again as he forgot his initial frustrations.

"He's called-"

"Ahh, my lord and lady." All of them turned and saw Vayne making their way over to them, a silver-haired young man following him. Cloud held back the urge to gulp. Leon's eyes seemed to harden at the sight of them. Vayne smiled disarmingly. "Still no word of our most hated enemy's whereabouts and identity?"

"None, Lord Vayne," the queen replied, though it seemed out of forced politeness. "But there has been no more murders or grievous injuries."

"How fortunate. Maybe he has realised that his happy hunting is setting a trail for us to follow."

"How fortunate it is that no others are being hurt," Leon spat back. "How fortunate that none of the killed or injured are any of your people."

"Are you claiming that it could possibly be one of my own people?" Vayne suggested, though he didn't seem to be fazed at all at the subtle accusation. Cloud wasn't falling for it. He had overheard his disguised conversation with the prime suspect standing right beside him.

"The king is just pointing out that the very man who killed four people and injured five more could be standing right next you," Cloud remarked, surprising Leon who just glanced down at him with one eye. Kadaj next to Vayne glared hatefully at the blond. Vayne seemed to falter a little, but it was barely noticeable.

"Well, the dog speaks," he taunted, raising his brows. "But clearly has no manners."

"And what of yours?" It was Cloud's turn to be surprised by the brunet's counter in his defence. Cloud honestly thought that…Leon would just be silent and punish him later for stepping out of line. "His brother certainly wasn't well-mannered when he paid subsequent private visits to my summer home without my knowledge."

"Oh, so you know Sir Kadaj already?" Vayne asked, clearly ignoring the younger brunet's comment. "He arrived from Archadia only just yesterday, and had expressed a keen interest in the peace treaty between our nations."

Cloud wanted to gag. Kadaj was about as interested in them as he was interested in climbing the ranks as quickly as possible by using all means necessary. Even murder. He held his tongue though. Although he had overheard them talking about something that had a deeper meaning to it, he had no proof that Kadaj was indeed the killer everyone was so fearing of.

"Not personally," Leon replied, one eye on Vayne and the other on the Jenova brother. "But I know him well enough."

"Excellent. Then there is no need for introductions then."

"If you would excuse me my lords," the queen started, at long last finding her tongue in this matter. "I agreed with my husband that I would meet him in a small while." She took her leave, suddenly flanked by group of ten of her guards as she went deeper into the palace. Cloud wondered if she and Leon had been overheard by Vayne and Kadaj too. It certainly would make her seem more of a desirable target.

"I'm afraid I have to take my leave as well," Leon stated, grabbing Cloud by the wrist. "Matters to be attended to."

"Go, go. Let me not be the cause of your delay," Vayne waved him off, smirking very lightly. Leon needed no second bidding, dragging the concubine along with him, guards struggling to follow in his wake.

And Cloud knew that Leon had figured out who the culprit was.

The night had been a restless one for all who dwelled in Rabanastre palace as the threat of more deaths loomed in a shadowy cloak. Many found it hard to sleep easily since the assassin-archer had proved to not be at all discriminate with who he targeted. None found it more hard though then Roxas, who hadn't left Axel's chambers all day, too scared to leave the sanctuary that Axel had offered to him.

He had seen death before. He had seen soldiers die right before his eyes in that long ago battle at Hollow Bastion. He had seen people executed before. He had even seen Axel kill before, both in the heat of battle and also when he was trying to protect Roxas. But Roxas had never –never– seen someone die so close to him, or seen their eyes as they glazed over in death like marbles. Every time he closed his eyes, he could see her eyes glowing in the Dalmascan moonlight, void of life, filled to the brim with cold demise. And what gave him most horror was when those eyes were multiplied and given to people he had grown close to, Death standing amongst them in his dark billowing shroud of inky night, wielding a bow and arrow made from the bones of human man and child and aiming for his small vulnerable heart.

Such an image had made Roxas ever suspicious and paranoid, barely trusting any who came to console him or make sure he was well fed. He appreciated their sympathy though, even if he second-guessed them.

"You're still awake?" Axel had asked as he came through the door, his watch now over.

"I can't sleep…" He was looking up at the window, bed covers over his knees, fresh night tunic hanging loosely over his shoulders that revealed the pale flesh of his neck and collarbones. The bed creaked a little as Axel's weight pressed against it, pulling the young boy close to him.

"Try not to think too much about it. It'll do you no good."

"Easier said then done Axel…"

"I know. But I also know that thinking too much on something you couldn't prevent makes people go insane."

"What makes you so sure of that?"

"I've been there before." His voice was soft, almost inaudible, while Axel's grip had tightened just a small bit around Roxas' small frame. "I don't want to see you sinking into that hellhole too."

Roxas remained silent. Although his body was flushing red from the closeness, and his heart was thumping like a war drum in his ears, he was unable to think about anything other than that awful night. Having Axel close by was comforting though, Roxas had thought.

"…I…can I stay here again?" Roxas asked quietly, too afraid to leave the room in fear of seeing more deaths, and too scared of seeing more soulless eyes that looked into an empty shell. He couldn't. He just couldn't leave this place. He turned to look over his shoulder, his piteous sapphire hued eyes locking with Axel's emerald ones. He had a kind smile on his face.

"Of course."

As dawn arose in the desert arid sky, all who were involved with all parties of the treaty signing were tense, never sure when their silent and faceless assassin would strike, or who. Fortunately, that morning he was quiet and absent. But so were the usual normalities such as happy banter or one of Axel and Vossler's legendary duels of sharp words and even sharper weapons.

As far as all were concerned, the sooner this peace treaty was over and the Archadians leave, the better.

Leon had to admit that there seemed no peaceable person with the Archadian party, since the little Lord Larsa had suddenly been taken ill and was disallowed from tagging along with his older brother. The few times Leon and Ashe had met him they had found him to be a quiet yet charming envoy for peace, hating warfare and its unnecessary deaths. However, Vayne always was close by to make sure the little lord didn't speak out of line of the Archadian ideal of warring for land and fortune. Without Larsa and his words of peace, Archadians were far more atrocious than ever.

And it was very clear to him and to the queen of Dalmasca that Vayne had no intention of keeping to what was truly on the peace treaty as he rambled on how it would benefit all –all which he was concerned with of course. These words of integrating Archadians, Dalmascans and Gardenians were utter twaddle. Archadians wouldn't come close to Radiant Garden with a barge pole since Leon's people were unwelcoming to those that dared to rival them. Dalmascans hated Archadians with venomous ardour for the sheer amount of Dalmascan blood that had been spilled by them. If anything, Vayne sounded like he was suggesting that Archadia take over all the affairs of all three kingdoms and slowly place his hand into his rivals' courts and pull the strings of their decision making.

Leon was loath to sign such an agreement if it was the case, but he knew Ashe and her people could war no longer with such large dents in their armour. They needed time to recover and repair the damage. This peace treaty would give them just that.

Cloud had found himself watching the proceedings from the door leading into the throne room, appalled that Lord Vayne was suggesting that Archadia would take care of them all. Cloud could tell that, if Vayne waited patiently, sooner or later both the kingdom of Dalmasca and the empire of Radiant Garden would fall into the Archadian Empire.

Cloud also knew that Kadaj was absent, and hence he was truly patrolling around the area in search of the silver-haired one. If he was meaning to kill one of the royals, then the treaty signing would fall apart. Of course, he had to lose the guards to do it. He was thankful that one of the Dalmascan servants he had befriended had decided to help him by drugging his usual escorts with a heavy musk that was used in the old king's harem. A small dose would relax a concubine; a large amount could knock a heavily armed guard out.

He silently moved away, keeping the long billowing navy cloak around his body, making sure the hood hid his face as he moved around the hallways that surrounded the throne room. The first floor had been secured, with guards posted at every nook, cranny and corner. He was making his way up to the second floor, carefully keeping note of his surroundings. If Kadaj was up here, then he'd be at that balcony he had seen him the yesterday. Otherwise…Kadaj could be at any open space.

Rasler could only watch as his wife and the king of the moorland kingdom argued hotly with the Archadian Empire's spokesman, having to restrain himself from rolling his eyes with annoyance.

Fighting did very little to solve problems. But strong egos would always clash and collide. It was a given. As the queen's consort however, he had very little power in the dealings of foreign policy, but he did have some influence. He had told Ashe to be wary of any notion of Archadia trying to take over the proceedings, and to act as the medium between the two men that had found no form of friendship with each other. In the end, Dalmasca would be in the midst of it and, although he knew his wife would gladly take up the sword and aid her close friend and ally, Dalmasca was in no shape to fight after a plague and a war.

What was important for now was independent peace, until Dalmasca was fully recovered. The kingdom needed to be safe for the sake of the people. And for their small but slowly growing family. Rasler smiled a little at that thought.

And Ashe thought that he hadn't noticed the difference in her. What kind of husband would he be if he hadn't realised?

Cloud saw him. Concealing himself around the corner, he saw the hooded archer, short bow in hand, peering into the throne room from a small slitted window. This meant that, while the guards were quite satisfied that no one would pass them without being seen, it meant that if a clever person were to get here early and conceal themselves from view, they had clear shots of everyone inside the throne room and no one to disturb them.

How on earth could guards be so blind and so stupid to not realise this?!

He saw the arrow being notched into the bow string, and the string being pulled back. Without a second thought, Cloud tackled the archer, screaming at the top of his voice, "Assassin!"

Leon had flinched when he heard the familiar voice screeching the warning, immediately grabbing the sword hilt and looking around wildly for wherever they were. Vossler and Axel sprung into action, as had Rasler who moved Ashe behind him.

A move that proved to be fatal as an arrow struck the soft flesh of his neck in the small opening of his armour.

"Rasler!" the queen screamed.

"My liege?" Axel awaited for orders, chakrams dancing lightly in his fingers.

"Take some men and find Cloud. He could be in danger," Leon said quietly, fully drawing his exotic blade out and holding it straight out at Vayne. The onyx-haired man looked speechless, almost perplexed.

"Lord Leon?"

"You stay where you are," Leon growled, one eye on the Archadians that were edging ever closer to him. Axel, although unhappy with leaving his liege behind, obeyed, speeding off to find Cloud and the assassin. Vossler came forward, standing above Rasler and the queen protectively, holding his own sword out. "Where," Leon started, "is Kadaj?"

Cloud was looking into the eyes of Kadaj, hissing as he tried to stop the blood on his shoulder from pouring out of his body. Kadaj had used a knife on him. Cloud had been fortunately enough that it hadn't been fatal.

"You're too persistent," Kadaj smirked, though his eyes harboured only hatred for the ex-prince. "Why did you suddenly protect the very man who captured you, raped you of your dignity?"

"Because I don't agree with regicide, nor can I perform the act," Cloud growled, glaring at him. "Something you and your brother Sephiroth could do easily as it seems."

"The old fool was in the way. Much like you are now."

"Just what are your plans with Hollow Bastion?" Cloud snarled. He was sick of the lies and the fact that he didn't know a thing of what had really happened in that war between Radiant Garden and Hollow Bastion. Kadaj had the answers he wanted. Or at least part of it.

"Wouldn't you like to know? But, I think you should ask your father that when you reach Hell." He edged closer to Cloud. The blond shuffled back, wishing to the heavens that he had a weapon. Even a small dagger would have sufficed. Just as he thought that there was going to be no escape for him, he heard a woosh go past his ear as a chakram planted itself on Kadaj's shoulder, forcing him back with a terrible scream. The crimson blood of Kadaj splashed against the silver and fiery red of the chakrams.

"Well, King Leon's going to be ample pleased with this little development."

Axel. Cloud had never felt so relieved to hear his voice in his life. And he came with reinforcements. One guard bent down to check on the concubine as Axel and the rest loomed over to Kadaj.

"I'm untouchable," Kadaj hissed at Axel, yanking the chakram out of his arm and tossing it to the floor. "You kill me now, and the Archadian Empire will crush Dalmasca like a bug, and then Radiant Garden will follow."

"You're right. I can't touch you. However…" Axel had a devious smirk on his face. "You killed Lord Rasler. Hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn. Especially if she wields a sword."

Kadaj only smirked back. "You'll find that I have my ways of slipping out of a cage like a snake." With that, Kadaj made a run for it. The guards went chasing after him, their armour and spears clanging against each other like ferocious war beasts. Axel had stayed behind, going over to Cloud.

"Are you alright?" he asked, eyeing the heavy bleeding.

"I…I think I'll be fine," Cloud said faintly, the pain now only searing through his body. Axel smiled a bit, helping the concubine up with aid of the guard that stayed behind to help.

"You'll be hailed as a hero once we get back, you know."

"I'm no hero. I couldn't save Lord Rasler."

"Well, the doctors might. He was still breathing when I left him to come find you."

"I pray…that they do save him…" Cloud closed his eyes, slumping a little. "I'm just glad…that I could play some part in this…"

Rasler lived for a small while, though the doctors could do nothing to save him once they arrived on the scene. He could no longer breathe properly and he drowned in his own blood, holding onto his wife's hand the whole time as if to comfort her as she cried over him. His death had been quiet, dignified, and serene, amongst all the chaos of Archadians being forced out once it became clear that the killer was indeed on the Archadian side.

It was needless to say but, although many had wanted to kill all the Archadians that were in Rabanastre, Queen Ashelia's advisors knew that this would be the reaction the Archadian Empire would need to declare war on Dalmasca again. They had ordered for the Archadians to leave swiftly and with nary a scratch on them. Any that dared to harm them would be executed. This, however, did not stop people from showing their anger once word spread of Lord Rasler's death. They threw rotten fruit, vegetables, old bird carcasses and anything vile to hand at them, until the Archadians became the laughing stock of their Empire once they left the city walls almost covered in all manner of garbage and waste.

Kadaj was never found. The guards lost him in the palace walls as he jumped over into the city. And though all guards were on the lookout for the silver-haired man, he had disappeared like a snake into the long grass.

Mourning had soon gripped the kingdom of Dalmasca. A week later, Rasler's funeral party had been held. Leon had stayed behind a little longer, having sent news to Borealis of Rasler's tragic end. The service had been brief and solemn, but heartfelt as moments of his life were recounted, including the first time that he and the queen met. The queen had been reduced to silent tears beneath her mourning veil, clutching to her skirts. A widow and a mother of a dead man's child. How could she ever tell anyone of this when the child's father's life had been cut short so suddenly?

And so here they were now, two old friends in the queen's study. Ashe was looking out over the gardens. She hadn't gone to the burial, the burden of saying goodbye being too much on her fragile soul. Her hands were placed over her stomach. In a few months, it would bulge in the telltale sign of pregnancy.

"What will you tell them?" Leon asked quietly, dressed in black to respect his friend's husband.

"I'll tell them…that I am mothering the child of a hero that all Dalmasca should be proud of," she said, drawing in a huge breath to calm her down from the onslaught of tears. "And that we will continue to try to be peaceful with Archadia, though we will not allow them to come into our kingdom again." She sighed heavily, looking into the garden with glistening wet eyes. "He had so many hopes and dreams for this kingdom. And now…gone. All of it."

"Gone, but not forgotten," Leon whispered, squeezing her shoulder gently. "He told you of them all, shared all that he hoped and wished for with you. He would've told you everything."

"He has. He bared his whole soul out to me. And now…" She took another deep breath, trying to stop more tears from falling. "Now he's gone. And he never knew about…about the child."

"I think he did." Ashe looked up at Leon. "He was smiling more. Did you never notice how he acted around you?" He smiled gently, before falling back to his more familiar stoic expression. "I'm not sure if I'm the one to give out advice but…I'm sure Rasler would be happy if you gave him all those hopes and dreams life."

"…I plan to."

"And Ashe," Leon whispered, his voice getting lower and lower. "Promise me one thing."

"What is it?"

"Don't ever act out of vengeance." He sighed, looking up at the sky. "You end up wondering if it was all worth it." Ashe looked at him with a quizzical look, never having seen such a remorseful expression of the scarred brunet's face.

"Leon…thank you, for being here."

"You're welcome." He let go of her shoulder. "I leave for Radiant Garden tomorrow. I can't delay the journey any further." He turned to her briefly. "But remember, if you need anything, anything at all, you'll always be welcomed in Radiant Garden."

"I know that," Ashe smiled weakly. "Just as you are here." She then came up to Leon, closing the distance. "I…I know this will sound unlike me but…hold me…"

Leon would have backed off. As a king with a foreign queen who was only newly widowed, it would have kicked off rumours of an affair or some form of engagement or even give Ashe or himself a bad image of themselves. But as a friend, Leon did the only thing that any good friend would do when they needed some form of comfort, no matter how awkward it might seem.

With the awkwardness of an adolescent youth around a girl who was crying over a sad event, Leon embraced Ashe and allowed her to let go of her tears onto his shoulder, helping to carry the burden of the immense sadness and grief she felt.

Grief. It was horrible. But with the passing of grief, came the coming of joy. And Leon knew that joy was definitely on Ashe's way.