Disclaimer: I do not own ffx nor ffxii.
Author's Notes: I am so excited and nervous at the same time for posting this chapter because I am certain you all have high expectations for this scene, which I do to. So I've been re-reading and re-working this ever since I first wrote it (which I did after right after finishing the last chapter) but I really wanted this chapter to be as good as I can make it!
Chapter 38: Isn't it Wonderful?
Fran, Vaan, Penelo, and Balthier sat in a small clearing in Macalania woods. Everyone was quiet, tired, and shaken. Ashe seemed to be the most effected of all, and she was near a spring, a little ways off with Basch watching over her. They had only been chased to the outskirts of Bevelle, and even though there were some guards in the woods, it was only near the entrance to Bevelle, Auron was off making sure that they were safe where they were. Balthier looked up when he heard footsteps and saw Auron walking towards them.
"Well?" Vaan asked quietly.
"We're clear. We'll have to avoid Bevelle in the future." He looked at each of them. "Ashe?"
"She said she wanted to be alone." Penelo said quietly.
"Of course." Auron walked over to a nearby tree and leant against it.
They all sat in silence a moment longer, and Balthier stood up, everyone looking at him.
"I'm going to see Ashe." He informed them, and walked off towards the spring before they could say anything.
He walked along a path, with glowing tress on either side, soon he could see Basch, he was staring straight ahead with his arms crossed. Balthier looked in the same direction he was and could see Ashe, standing waist deep in the spring, which reflected the night sky, and the cresent moon in the sky. On an island in the middle stood a tree with large glowing orbs in it, it sparkled like everything else around them. Basch smirked as Balthier walked by, and only continued to stand watch. Balthier stopped at the edge of the water and looked at her, she was staring at the tree.
"I always thought this would be easier." She said quietly. "I thought everyone would help me, with all my friends together beside me… I've been trying so hard." She looked down slightly and moved her right hand absently along the water's surface.
Balthier walked into the water, it was warm and comfortable, and walked over to her.
"Why did you start your pilgrimage?" Balthier asked her gently, standing beside her.
Ashe looked at him, then back to the tree. "I wanted to defeat Sin… Bring calm to the people of Spira… Forever if I could…" She said quietly.
"Do you still think it worth it? No matter how the temples treat you?" Balthier looked at her.
Ashe thought for a while, staring at the tree and the blue orbs that slowly drifted upwards in the trees all around the spring.
"It is…" She said quietly.
"Even…" He took a deep breath. "If it means your life?" He asked, looking into her face.
She turned, a look of surprise on her face, then she looked sad.
"You know?" She asked quietly.
He nodded. "Everything." He said quietly.
Ashe nodded slowly and turned her attention back to the water. She took a deep, calming breath.
"Ever since I was a child… Especially after my father defeated Sin… I knew what I wanted to do… What I must do. Even if it meant, that I would die… I knew that I had to defeat Sin, and try to defeat it for good." She sighed. "I should've told you, but I…"
"Didn't know how?" Balthier finished.
She nodded. "I'm very glad to have met you." She said quietly, looking into his eyes, she looked away and at the water she was standing in. "I only wish…. That I had met you sooner." She added quietly.
Balthier could see small drops falling into the water and knew that she was crying. He stepped closer to her and turned to stand in front of her, placing a hand gently on her shoulder.
"Ashe." He said gently, looked at her softly.
She looked up at his touch, tears running down her face. Balthier took a step closer to her and brought his lips onto hers, closing his eyes, he slowly wrapped his arms around her.
Ashe was shocked at first, but soon she too closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around him, she had never felt anything like it before, and she couldn't describe it. She felt calm and secure in his arms, and she would have gladly stayed like that forever, she felt happy like this. Gently they fell into the water, barely making a splash and started to drift downwards, still embracing and kissing each other.
Their kiss and being in the water gave them a feeling of weightlessness, and they would have both been happy to stay like that forever. They parted lips briefly, only to look deep into each others eyes, and Ashe placed a hand on his cheek and smiled at him, Balthier smiled back, and stroked her hair affectionately. The water all around them glowed, but neither truly noticed, at that moment, they only noticed each other, and that was all they needed to know of. They kissed once again and held each other, floating in the water.
It was truly wonderful.
---
They sat by the edge of the water, Ashe with her hand on Balthier's, both gazing at the tree in front of them. The water gently lapping at their feet.
"I won't let you die." Balthier said, looking at Ashe. "I'll find a way."
Ashe looked at him and smiled.
"Trust me?" He asked.
"I trust you." Her smile grew.
Balthier leaned in close and kissed her gently.
Basch smiled as he looked at the two together, and turned around, walking back towards the others, still smiling.
Balthier and Ashe looked into each other's eyes once again, both happier than they had been their entire journey, and perhaps even, their entire lives.
"We should get back to the others." Ashe said quietly.
"I agree."
Balthier stood up and held his hand out for her, she took it and he pulled her up. They walked back to camp, holding hands.
---
Fran had a knowing smile on her face when Balthier and Ashe walked into the clearing, holding hands, as did Basch and Auron. Vaan and Penelo on the other hand, looked thoroughly bewildered.
"Everyone?" Ashe said, and they all paid attention. "We leave at dawn… And… I'm sorry for putting you through all this." She said quietly. "And umm…"
"Enough." Auron said gently. "You need your rest."
"Right… Goodnight everyone."
They all said goodnight, and her and Balthier walked a little away from the others, and lay down under one of the trees together.
---
The next morning, they all packed their gear, and began walking towards the exit that would lead them to the Calm Lands, they were nearing Zanarkand, and Balthier hadn't managed to come up with anything that could help, though truthfully, he hadn't tried yet, he couldn't think last night, and was shocked he had even managed to fall asleep.
They didn't have long to travel through the woods, and encountered very few fiends, it was a cool morning, and the woods were quiet. They began to climb up a steep hill, and the trees soon turned into high cliff walls on either side, and the dirt path, turned into lush green grass. At the top of the hill, was a magnificent view of a very large grassy plain, part of the land was scarred, but it only added to its beauty. Beyond the plain was a large mountain, and beyond that, Balthier guessed, were the Zanarkand ruins. They stopped at the top of the hill and admired the view.
"The calm lands." Fran began. "Long ago, the high summoners fought Sin here. The road ends here, and beyond, there are no towns or villages."
"Many summoners stray from the path and loose their way here." Auron added.
Ashe took a deep breath and fell onto her back into the grass, and looked up at the sky, a small smile on her face.
"I've always known where to go." She said quietly, looking at the clouds, she sat up and looked across the plains, then at Balthier, still smiling. "Let's go." She said happily and sprung to her feet.
They began to walk down a long slope which would bring them onto the vast plains that were the Calm Lands.
Author's Notes: It's kind of shorter than the last few chapters, but I did want to dedicate this whole chapter to this scene, and I didn't want to risk ruining it by being overly descriptive or something like that. I really hope you enjoyed it!