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Chapter 48: Ennui
When Yvelle next opened her eyes, she was surprised to find that she wrapped up in a blanket and the roof over her was a duller much more somber blue rather than any part of the mines. It took her a few minutes to get oriented and the first thing she noticed was that she smelled a fire.
The next thing she noticed were hushed words and people conversing. Yvelle could not remember what happened after the ceiling fell, all she remembered was trying to stop as many rocks as she could from falling to any of her companions and as a result she did not notice the rather large boulder headed towards her. She must have blacked out after that.
Biting back a groan, Yvelle pushed herself up. Somewhere around her, someone noticed and went towards her.
"Good, you are awake." The rough voice of Judge Majister Basch came and Yvelle was surprised she could hardly see him. At first she thought she had gone blind from the accident, but then she noticed that the fire that was lit was not enough to light the whole of wherever they were.
"I.." she tried to speak only to find her throat sore and scratchy.
"Here," the Judge Majister said not unkindly, offering her her water skin from which she drank fitfully.
"Thank you," she managed to whisper gratefully, and the older man just nodded.
"Where are--?" she started to ask, but the older man anticipated the question and he interrupted.
"Vaan and Penelo were knocked out with the rest of the rocks you did not manage to stop. Do not worry," Basch added at the look of horror on her face. " They are quite alright."
"The Emperor?" she whispered with a little difficulty.
"Is safe." Basch turned towards her and his green eyes held more than a little compassion. "You should rest. We are in your debt for your attempts to stop the ceiling cave in, but you will be in no position to travel, if you do not rest and recuperate." He made to stand and move away from her side, but Yvelle's soft touch made the Judge Majister halt.
"Who stopped the rest of the rocks?" she asked before her wearied body took its toll on her.
This time a small yet visible smile formed on Basch's lips. With a gesture towards the fire, he whispered the words, "Old allies," and when Yvelle looked to where he gestured, she saw, to her amazement two new people standing around the fire with the Emperor. A young man and a woman who had long black-tipped rabbit ears. A Viera.
Yvelle let her jaw drop at the sight of those two, knowing full well who they were. The man had his hands on hips and a sort of sardonic smile played about his lips as he listened to the Emperor's hushed tones. The woman, the Viera, stood a little behind the man, one hand on her waist and occasionally throwing her head back, allowing her voluminous white hair to follow her movements.
"Fran and Balthier," she whispered and seemed not to notice Basch's look of surprise, for at that moment, Yvelle suddenly felt very sleepy and her eyes shut.
XOXOXOX
"It's amazing how much trouble the lot of you get into without the two of us around," Balthier said with just a little hint of sarcasm, looking at the assembled group.
Basch just let out a sigh and was silent while Larsa dipped his head. Beside Larsa, sat Penelo, whose arm was bandaged and Vaan who, despite the bandage on his head, was looking excitedly at the two newcomers.
"It's not like we wanted to be attacked by the ceiling," Penelo said but there was a smile on her face. She had hoped they would meet with Balthier and Fran during their travels, but she honestly didn't expect it to be this soon.
"Naturally," Balthier said with a nod of his head. Fran meanwhile just stared at them with her ruby-red eyes, silent as ever.
"So what brings you two here?" Vaan asked, finally finding his voice. Balthier smiled and folded his arms.
"Aside from saving your lives you mean?" the older sky pirate asked hiding his Archadian accent better than Larsa. The man gave an elegant shrug of his shoulders and waved a hand in the air.
"What else, but doing what sky pirates do best. Hunting for treasure." He refused to elaborate, but it was not out of Balthier's character to say what needed be said in a conversation, offering no information unless need be. That did not stop Vaan however, and the younger sky pirate just nodded.
"So have you found any good stuff?"
Balthier and Fran exchanged the briefest of glances before Fran answered. "The treasure we seek has eluded us again. Very much like our first encounter with you Vaan, at Princess' Ashe palace."
"Speaking of the princess," Balthier spoke, his eyes scanning the crowd again, why is she not with you in this little excursion? It would be an interesting to hear how Basch finally let go of that tin can you call armor to go trekking across the world again."
As vividly as they could, the group told the whole situation to Balthier and Fran, starting with the fete to their following of Selena to the pithead junction. After the tale, Balthier merely shook his head in disbelief.
"So, even after all your efforts, Archadia still remains as it is, corrupt and spoilt to the core." Balthier said in an unusually grave tone. It was that comment were Larsa raised his head.
"It is not Archadia who is corrupt, but the people in her." He stated calmly, but there was an edge in his voice that the group heard only once before. During another argument with Balthier when they climbed Mt. Bur-Omisace, and the argument had been about the Empire.
Balthier just cocked his head, a piercing look in his eyes. "And you still believe in the good of your country,"
Silence blanketed the group as eyes flickered back and forth between Larsa and Balthier. It seemed that neither the two of them were willing to let go of their beliefs despite them being centered on the very same place.
Finally Balthier did an elegant shrug of his shoulders and raised his palms outwards. "If you hold firm to your beliefs, then I cannot stop you. This is why I am not the Emperor." There was a resigned smile on his face and Larsa did not know if he should take that as a compliment or not.
Before anybody else could say anything, there was a rustle where the injured Yvelle had been resting. Surprisingly, it was Basch who made his way to her and a few moments later, was aiding the young woman to sit by the fire.
"Ah," Balthier remarked with a little more interest, noticing Yvelle's azure locks and amethyst eyes. "It seems that whenever we meet you, you always have an interesting female in your group. Aside from you Penelo, of course," Balthier added with a smile towards Penelo and the latter just returned it, knowing full well that Balthier was merely being his usual charming self.
"That was a nasty knock on the head you sustained," Balthier added with a small smile towards Yvelle who merely dipped her head in embarrassment. "You should be more careful."
To their surprise, Fran added her own advice. "Dealing with that much Mist you handled is very dangerous to a hume,"
"I did what I can to help my companions," Yvelle muttered, and for once there was no hint of shyness in her tone but a resolve that the rest of the group had never heard before.
"So am I to understand you are looking for nethicite once again?" Balthier asked the group at hand, after smiling once more at Yvelle.
Larsa nodded, finally glad that they came to the topic of most importance. "The Shadow Nethicite." He said in an undertone. "We have information that it is more dangerous than any nethicite we have encountered so far."
Silence greeted his statement, and even Fran looked a bit alarmed after Larsa spoke.
"Nethicite more dangerous than the Sun Cryst eh?" Balthier murmured, arms crossed, thoughtful. "That does not bode well."
"Indeed," Fran added. Balthier looked at Larsa. "Seeing as how you are here with only Basch as a guard, then I am guessing that this information is not common among the vulgars."
The young emperor nodded, choosing to ignore the comment about the social classes.
Balthier exchanged a look with Fran as if to ask what her opinion in this was was. Fran merely returned Balthier's gaze and said nothing, but Balthier understood.
"So, Archadia is in chaos, nethicite is behind it, seems as if nothing has changed." Balthier murmured, watching the flickering of the fire. The sky pirate looked at Vaan and Penelo.
"I suppose you two are here for the ride as well," there was a hint of amusement in his voice as the two hunters nodded eagerly. "I supposed I am not really surprised." Balthier looked at Basch. "Neither am I surprised to see you here too." A smirk now appeared on his face. " "Fulfilling your knightly vows" and all that I presume?"
"It is more like "fulfilling my duty as Judge Majister"," Basch replied just as easily, the only hint that he was jesting was the slight twinkle in his green eyes. Balthier merely made a noise and unfolded his arms.
"So how about it Fran?" He asked over his shoulder to Fran who tossed her head again.
"Shall we partake in such perilous undertakings to divest ourselves of ennui?"
Fran nodded and smiled. "If we must."
Vaan brightened and exchanged a look with Penelo. "So you're coming with us?" he asked Balthier and the older man could not help give a look of exasperation.
"Must you repeat every sentence I utter Vaan?" he asked though hazel were sparkling. "I just said that."
Vaan merely shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck, a gesture the party was familiar with whenever he was embarrassed. "Oh right, " he mumbled and looked at Penelo who just rolled her eyes at him good-naturedly.
"It will be good to be travelling together again," Penelo murmured, looking at her hands, smiling a bit at the familiarity. "You know, despite the whole trouble going on."
Balthier nodded, agreeing. "Yes, I admit I have been very bored lately. This should stretch some muscles."
XOXOXO
Queen Ashelia looked up from the fifth twenty-page document she was reading for the day, rubbing the bridge of her nose tiredly. It was just two days since she returned from Jahara and already she seemed to be neck-deep in paper work, that ranged from very important to seemingly useless and trivial.
Leaning against the high backed chair that all her predecessors used, she let a sigh escape her, allowing herself a little bit of exhaustion to escape. As she rested for a few moments, her thoughts wandered towards Vaan and his companions and she wondered if they were all right.
She was no fool, she knew she worried more of Vaan than anyone else. The big question was since when had she felt that way?
No matter how hard she dug into her mind, she could not find an answer. Truthfully, she did not know if she would be that all delighted in discovering the answer. Resting her hand against her forehead, a gesture she had not done for the longest time, Queen Ashe sighed. She should be out there, helping Larsa, but she knew she had her own duties to fulfill. If it were as easy as dropping everything, picking up her weapon and go gallivanting with the others, Ashe knew she would do it in a heartbeat. In this restriction, she envied Penelo and Fran in their freedom. She remembered the years when she was just Amalia, a leader of the Insurgence, Resistance, she corrected herself after a rueful smile and missed the days in which she could be somebody else aside from the heir to the throne. Nevertheless, she knew that taking the throne would be inevitable, and when she finally took it, she knew this was the place where she belonged.
Ashe sighed again, tugging on one of her locks that had begun to grow far longer than she would like and made a mental note to have her hair trimmed. Ashe knew that between all the work she was doing, even a simple haircut would be difficult to fit into her schedule.
Rolling her shoulders now, Ashe stood from her chair as well as getting rid of the crick in her neck. There was news of the state of Archadia from the Judge Majister Zargabath, and Ashe did not need to read its entirety to know that Archades did not bode well. Sighing this time for Larsa, she wondered if his group had managed to find the Shadow Nethicite before their enemy now, and if it would be but a short time before the young Emperor's name is cleared. Picking up the missive now, Ashe knew that was far from happening at the moment, and all she could do was to help anyway she could. She had already sent for messengers to fetch Vaan's ship at Phon Coast, as not to arouse suspicion, she had asked Montblanc to send his most trusted men to handle the ship. Ashe had not seen it herself but she was sure Vaan would have it guarded most carefully if he was any of the pirate he really wanted to be. She was not really sure what to do with the ship when it arrived, but the queen was sure the airship would be safer in Rabanastran docks rather than a foreign beach. Ashe was also not sure if one of the reasons why she wanted the airship close to her was to have something of Vaan's near. The group did promise that they would stop at Rabanastre before they go anywhere else after Henne Mines. She was foolish to deny that she was not waiting for that day to come.
Ashe looked at the letter again, not really reading but finding an apt distraction. She knew that if she did not hear from them soon, she would no doubt disguise herself and rush off to Henne Mines. No matter how foolish the idea was, Ashe could not stop herself from planning it. It seemed like a compulsion and that all reason emptied her mind when she thought of Vaan and danger. Foolish and dangerous, she berated herself for the feelings and she sighed again.
Only when a knock on the door and General Venitol entered did Ashe put on the mask of impassiveness once more.
"The Galbana has been docked, your Majesty," Venitol announced after bowing to the queen.
Ashe nodded with satisfaction. "Who brought it in?"
Venitol's eyes widened slightly in surprise but otherwise he did not comment. "It seemed that a hunter from the Phon Coast decided to pilot the airship herself when the messengers arrived at beach delivering your missive. She had the spare keys to the airship so we assumed she was trustworthy." Ashe had raised her eyebrows but said nothing. Venitol was quick to finish his narrative.
"Her name is Zirenne and she asked to have an audience with you, your Majesty. Shall I send for her?"
Ashe gave a dismissing wave of her had, suddenly curious at the thought of this female hunter holding the spare keys of Vaan's airship. "I shall be glad to give my thanks personally" the queen said, her voice clipped and icy, but the young General seemed not to notice, but merely bowed and exited the room.
XOXOXOX
"So Vaan," Balthier's smooth voice said from the front of the group. The party had decided to move on as soon as the injured were well enough to travel. To nobody's surprise, all three of them, Vaan, Yvelle and Penelo had declared themselves well enough and despite Basch's obvious protests, and they refused to rest until they were sure their trip to Henne had been worthwhile.
"Where is the princess--pardon, Queen?" Balthier asked over his shoulder to Vaan who was rubbing his head where the bandage had been removed at his request. Vaan looked up at Balthier's question.
"At Dalmasca, where else?" Vaan said shrugging. "I mean Ashe's a queen now, so she can't really leave the palace right?" the hunter ignored Penelo's look of surprise at his direction and met Balthier's gaze head-on.
Balthier on the other hand just smiled that knowing smile of his and shrugged as well. "You'd be surprised," he said and turned once more to talk with Fran. When Balthier wasn't looking, Penelo nudged Vaan in the ribs.
"Why didn't you tell him Ashe was with us at Jahara?" Penelo hissed at Vaan. Vaan looked at Penelo as if she was crazy.
"Why?" Vaan countered. "It's not as if it makes any difference."
Penelo continued to look at him with narrowed eyes, then just as suddenly her eyes widened and her jaw dropped as if she just realized something. Sure enough she looked at Vaan as if seeing him for the first time.
"What's wrong with you?" Vaan asked Penelo not really sure if the rocks that hit her had really missed hitting anything crucial. Penelo looked like she really was touched in the head.
Penelo, ignored Vaan's incredulous looks and practically jumped up and down in front of him. "Oh Ahnas, you're jealous!" she squealed in a very Penelo-like manner and Vaan felt his face turn red.
"You're actually jealous!!" Penelo continued to squeal and before she could draw attention from the rest of the gang, Vaan lunged for Penelo, effectively clamping a hand over her mouth.
"Stop it!" Vaan hissed as Penelo struggled and Yvelle gave them curious looks.
Penelo, with much effort, pushed Vaan away from her. "You just won't admit if won't you?" she placed her hands on her hips and peered at Vaan who was determined not to meet her eyes.
"I never said I didn't," Vaan murmured and Penelo's face lit up in triumph. In fact she had such a smug look that Vaan felt his cheeks burn again.
"Penelo!" he cried out in distress. "Will you cut it out? You really did get bonked in the head!"
Penelo merely gave him a large beam and walked ahead of him. "I'm not the only one," she said in a sing-song voice and ran off, not waiting for Vaan to understand what she just said.
XOXOXOX
"You know this is why I hate mines!" Vaan found himself yelling a few hours later. His Ultima sword was unsheathed, flashing dully under the dim glow of the mines, trying to kill several Etem with a few strokes. Around him were several other fiends, native of Henne mines trying to do them damage. At the corner of his eye he could see Penelo slashing with her ninja blades, Basch poking with his Zodiac spear, Larsa parrying and blocking with his Royal Edge, Yvelle trying her best to cast Protect and Shell over the rest of the party and Fran and Balthier look distinctly calm through the assault.
"Really Vaan?" Vaan heard Balthier's voice somewhere behind him, followed by gunshots. "I would have thought you enjoyed all those times down here." Balthier added followed by more gunshots.
"Are you kidding?" Vaan scoffed, a grin playing about his face. " I do this for a living!"
Vaan heard Balthier give a chuckle. " Well if it is, you are doing poorly."
"Hey!"
"Vaan!" interrupted Penelo's shrill voice and Vaan turned just in time to see one of the Etem charge towards him. Before he could defend himself, the Etem suddenly caught on fire, shrivled and died, landing with an ugly thud at Vaan's feet.
Caught momentarily by surprise, Vaan looked about, half-expecting Penelo to have cast the ardor spell, but to his surprise Penelo was poised in mid-run, as if she had intended to run towards him. With another sweeping gaze, Vaan saw Yvelle retract her hand from its palm outward pose and return to trying to whack everything with her staff as if nothing happened. Before Vaan could thank her, Balthier's voice interrupted.
"Step lively Vaan!"
The younger sky pirate had no choice but to return his focus on the battle, thinking of thanking Yvelle later.
XOXOXOX
"Is anybody dead?" Vaan found himself asking after a few minutes of respite after the assault of the more dangerous monstrosities of Henne Mines. The party had successfully pushed through and found a new passage that lead nonetheless, deeper into the mines and found a bit of refuge in a large alcove that was miraculously empty.
"You do know if anybody is dead they would not be able to answer you Vaan," Balthier's smoot voice cut in, that grin on his face and a shake of his head.
Vaan shrugged ruefully. "Yeah, I know, but you never know right?"
Somehow Balthier's look suggested amusement. "Glad to know you are as articulate as ever." The sky pirate turned to look around not noticing Vaan's blush of embarrassment at his words.
"Is everybody all right then?" Balthier asked the group at large. His hazel eyes scanned the party. He was not surprised to find Penelo resting upon a rock, head bent in trying to catch her breath; the young Emperor distributing X-potions from his still mysterious source to who ever in the party needed it; Basch a little away from them, keeping guard; Fran composed as ever and Vaan surreptitiously wiping his Ultima blade against the wall. Only the newest member of their group struck Balthier as acting strange. For unlike the rest of the group, Yvelle was just standing straight, not looking at anybody in particular. Even when Penelo walked up to her to see if she was all right, Yvelle was hardly responsive. Narrowing his eyes, Balthier thought that perhaps he should be wary of the girl, given that she was untested and very secretive.
"Are you unwell?" Fran's Viera accent was easily discernible and Balthier turned his eyes towards his Viera partner, half-expecting her to be looking and directing her question at Yvelle herself, as if she had read his mind.
To his slight surprise, Fran's ruby eyes were directed towards him, her face save her eyes betraying nothing. Balthier, without a second thought, slipped the mask of indifference back on and gave a slight shake of his head. Without another explanation, the sky pirate turned his sights back to the group.
"Hey Larsa," Vaan's voice provided the right distraction and almost everyone broke of their private thoughts to focus on Vaan."Are you sure you still want to go through with this?" Vaan straightened up, stretching his arms, but his blue eyes were serious. "Unless I'm mistaken, I don't think we still haven't reached the depth of the mines we visited before. It's gonna get rougher, I tell you that."
"Vaan's right, Larsa," Penelo's soft voice held a little more assurance. "It's all right if you want to look somewhere else."
Larsa, to everybody's surprise, straightened abruptly, his blue eyes flashing silver. "I am sure in this course. I intend to leave no rock unturned in my search. If nethicite is what my opponents intend to use, then I mean to rob them of that advantage. I will not let my people suffer needlessly for some power-thirsty, war-mongering, noble." His voice was harsh and cold, very unfitting for a boy his age. The air was almost still after his declaration as if not even the environment dared to challenge the Emperor's words. Only Balthier chose to break the uneasy silence.
"Well, I'm good with that." He folded his arms and met Larsa's eyes. "Shall we advance with this route then, or are you resolute to persuade us that you are certain about it?"
Larsa's frown told them exactly what the young Emperor's answer was to Balthier's question.
A/N: Our DEEPEST, MOST SINCERE, apologies for the LONGEST update!! I (comet) have particularly been caught up with affairs at college and its only now that I have managed to update!! We are approaching our 50th chapter!! Time for a bit of celebration I think...! Hope you guys are still with us!!
Cheers!
Comet
