Finished! YAY! Though if you think the ending could be done slightly differently, please lemme know and I can redo it. I wanted to write some of my ideas, but they didn't seem right. This ending still feels a little unfinished as it were…so comments will be appreciated!

All The Miles, is a song done by a great Scottish group called Runrig, please check it out if you can. It's beautiful.

ALL THE MILES

"Happy Birthday?!"

The tension in the room could have been cut with a knife. Those words he had uttered were so wrong, that if it had been possible, Ashe's anger increased a hundred fold.

With her hands resting on her (damn the thin silky material of her dress!) curvy hips and the livid frown on her red flushed face, the Queen approached Basch in such a rage that he thought she would slap him again. Possibly a lot harder than last time. Her hands remained gripping her sides, though her fingers tapped irritantly on her hips just itching to reach out and release her anger.

"Happy birthday?!" Ashe shook her head making the long ringlets of hair bounce around her shoulders and waist. "It has been far from a happy birthday, Judge Magister."

Oh hell. She was using his title and not his name. This was very serious.

"I'm sorry that it has been so." he murmured, avoiding her incensed gaze as best he could. He looked down at his boots and only saw his saddened gaze looking back at him. The boots were very clean though.

"That still hasn't changed the fact that you ruined this party."

If I could chastise myself right now, I would, thought Basch. That far wall looks good enough to smack my head against.

"I'm sorry, Highness. I make no excuses for my lack of attendance and my shameful beha…"

"Do you know what I had to endure?!" Ashe sharply interrupted Basch. He shook his head.

Was it worse than having to go shopping and being mistaken for Penelo's father? Could it have been as painful as being attacked by frantic escaping Chocobo chicks?

"I wanted you to be there!" Ashe threw her hands up in a furious gesture. "You were the one person I was relying on to be at this party and instead you've been….standing here all night?"

"I can't move."

"Do you know, Magister…what I had to tolerate this evening, whilst you were here?"

Basch shook his head.

"Let me tell you." She began to circle him as she talked of her woeful evening.

He heard of the never ceasing squabbling from the council members, unwanted and sickening proposals of marriage (mainly from stuck up and snobby noble mothers on behalf of their sons.) and tedious conversations with people she didn't know or even want to know. She never got the chance to spend time with Larsa, Balthier or the others, no one let her. They didn't allow her to enjoy herself and Ashe was engulfed by more duties and responsibilities as the night went on. The weight became unbearable, she was suffocating with all their pettiness.

"And do you know, Al-Cid insisted on breathing down my neck every second!! He was like a magnet for he was always latching onto me! When I finally accepted a dance with him, I had to keep his hands from touching my bum all the time!! Why I didn't slap him…I don't know!"

Bastard! Basch never liked Al-Cid. Guy gave him the creeps. Now at last, there was an excuse to maybe challenge him to a duel…the honourable way of kicking the crap out of someone.

The Judge Magister was seething with jealousy, but he knew that he was the cause of all this. Ashe had to fight off the Rozzarian man's affections because he wasn't there. He had been the one person who could have kept all these people away and be allowed to stay close himself.

"You weren't there, Magister. I am so disappointed."

What could he say? That he couldn't move because he was so afraid of seeing her after all these years? That he had been right about those fears as he gazed upon a woman who outshone even his dreams of her?

"I wish I could explain." he said. "I don't know how to…."

Ashe stopped pacing in front of him and once again there was that piercing angry gaze in her blue eyes.

"I felt like such a fool!" she snapped. "I allowed these people to constantly hound me and instead of dealing with it myself…I nodded along, smiled and accepted it with good graces! I've got a splitting headache and I deserve it! Why did I think that you would be any help?"

"I know not, Majesty." Basch cleared his throat, and he hoped that what he would say next, would alleviate some of this wretched tension.

It had been four years, seven months, two weeks, five days, twenty three hours and forty five seconds, that Basch had seen Ashe last.

Now in his forties, this Judge Magister was indeed going a little grey, he was starting feel the weight of his armour getting heavier each day and old wounds were coming back and plaguing him just as much as when he had received them.

Ashe was different. Age had made her exquisite.

"You…you look beautiful, Highness."

There was a slight falter of the anger in her eyes, she was startled by his words, so startled in fact that the hand that had been itching to lash out, did. His face smarted painfully from the slap, but it wasn't him who recoiled with horror at the act.

Ashe had covered her mouth with a trembling hand and her eyes glazed over with stinging tears.

"I'm so sorry!" she cried, as her other hand went to gently touch his cheek where she had slapped him. "I don't know what came over me…"

"It quite all right."

Ow! That one actually hurt this time. OW!

He felt her shiver when her fingers touched his stubbled cheek and he couldn't help but react to her touch as well. If the smack had been hard, this caress through his beard was so full of tenderness that Basch ached to reach up and take hold of it, to press it against his face and keep it there.

Yet he still couldn't move.

"I'm sorry." she said. "I've had a miserable time and blaming it all on you was wrong of me. "

"I would have kept them away, highness. If I had been there…I would have…even Al-Cid."

Ashe scrunched up her face in disgust and shuddered.

"Basch, he was so clingy! I mean really clingy! Arggh!" Ashe pulled her hands away and wrapped her arms around her bare shoulders as she walked over to the window. She was disgusted at the thought.

However it seemed the Queen knew Basch more than he did. Before he could even say anything she had turned round and pointed a finger directly at him.

"Yes, Al-Cid was gross and touchy feely, but under no circumstances are you start any disagreements or confrontations with him. He is now the leader of Rozzaria."

"And if I believe he was wrong in his behaviour? That he disgraced you by such indecent touching and….holding?" Basch asked. "Can I not challenge him to a duel?"

"You would do that?"

"Aye."

"But…duels are only for disputes between suitors or…." Ashe stopped in mid sentence and then smiled. "Judge Magister Fon Ronsenberg….are you implying that you wish to be one of my suitors?"

Shit! She's using my title AND my real name and she's smiling….this is really serious!

"I er…I erm….well….I'm not…." Were his cheeks burning from the slap or the discomfort that he was and had been feeling since Ashe walked into the room? "…to be honest…it's not….I can't say…."

"Basch?!"

"I'll leave Al Cid alone. Besides, I don't think having me as a suitor would be terribly wise."

"Oh."

The disappointment was obvious immediately. Her eyes looked to be on the brink of crying and once again that hand was twitching at her side. Her jaw clenched firmly as her skin flushed red with upset, but instead of lashing out, Ashe stormed away from his field of vision. When the door slammed shut with a bang, Basch's hopes were dashed.

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"You did WHAT?!"

Vaan backed straight into the wall and the glass of home brew ale nearly dropped from his hands. Penelo was furious. She had been all night and that anger had been directed at someone else. Until now.

Vaan was having to feel the brunt of his best friend's full fury plus the alcohol intoxication. It didn't help when Balthier started laughing.

"It was only meant to delay him for an hour." he winced as she began to poke him hard on the chest. "Y'know, be fashionably late as you ladies are so keen to be. Then Ashe would be all swoony when he finally arrived and be 'Oh! My hero!' Right?"

"But he never turned up!" Penelo cried.

"I thought it was only a basic disable potion, Penny! Honest! I had no idea that it would gradually stop him completely! Though it was kinda funny to see him there."

"You did nothing to help? You said nothing?"

"Do you have any Chronos Tears on you? I certainly don't!"

"Well, you buy these new fangled potions on sale in Muthru and this is what you get! You don't know what they put in those bottles!"

"Nor did they reveal themselves." said Fran. "I saw no traces or remnants of a spell…these new potions are devious, even to Viera eyes."

"Did anything else reveal themselves to you, Fran dear?" asked Balthier mischievously. He walked past her and ran a single finger up one her furred ears. Fran shivered and squirmed in her seat, but the smile always told the him she liked it.

"Plenty enough." she replied.

"And? Is he more of a man than I?"

"Considerably more."

"Not the answer I was looking for."

"He's not the man I am looking for either."

"There we go!" Balthier grinned as he finally got the answer he wanted. "Another drink?"

Fran nodded gracefully and the two Sky pirates slowly edged their way towards the small keg of home brew ale near the window.

"Let me get this straight, Vaan." said Larsa, who hair was a little ruffled, his cheeks were rosy and he was having difficulty keeping still. "You doused my Judge Magister's armour with a supposedly harmless but new liquid form of the magic spell Disable, but because of it's questionable origins, it had mutated into a very strong Stop potion…which is why Basch has been standing dead still unable to do a thing in his guest quarters for almost six hours?"

Vaan nodded.

"But don't tell Ashe that." said the young man pressing a finger to his lips. "She'll kill me."

"That would be a definite. "

Penelo stepped aside and Vaan eventually saw that the Queen herself had returned. She was standing in the huge doorway and she looked extremely pissed off. Her arms were folded across her (lovely) chest and each slow step she took to approach Vaan echoed on the polished floor.

There was an uneasy smile on the face of the Queen and all Vaan could do was smile nervously back. Vaan had been at the receiving end of more than one of Ashe's retorts but he knew that he had definitely gone too far. After all the Queen had repeatedly told them these past years not to mention the "B" word. The twenty one year old was waiting for the lecture and berating, but instead Ashe rested her hand delicately on his shoulder.

"So this is your doing." Ashe shook her head with dismay. "And Basch thought it was because of him. Well, you are going to supplies to get a few Chronos tears and release him. You will also explain to the Magister why you ruined the party. I'm sure he will understand."

"But…but…"

"He'll kill you." Penelo cheered up immensely. "Serves you right for interfering!"

"But you do it all the time!"

"I'm a lady." Penelo did a little spin in the air and then downed the rest of her own drink. "We're allowed."

"Thank you so much, Vaan for making my evening so enjoyable." The queen's voice dripped with sarcasm, however she turned round and focused a warning glare towards Balthier. "I hope no one else has tried to do anything insane."

"We don't try, princess." Balthier gave a courtly bow. "We do! The insane is what makes life fun!"

Gods! Why does Balthier still call her that?!

"Fun. We shall see if it is when I find out what you've done." Ashe sighed. "I am tired and worn. I am retiring for the night. This has been a truly awful birthday."

"It might improve." said Larsa, approaching Ashe and gently taking hold of her hand. "I too regret not spending time with you thish…this evening. But I have a belief that events will take a turn for the best. Good night, your majesty."

"Good night, Larsa." Ashe bowed her head in gratitude. "Please don't drink any more. You're still not the right age yet."

"I not pished…I've barely touched a drop."

In a blink of an eye Penelo's hand whipped Larsa's mug from his hold, much to the emperor's dismay.

As suddenly as she had appeared, the twenty three year old Queen of Dalmasca left her friends in the ball room, unknowing and unprepared for what awaited her.

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It was at least two in the morning, no longer Asheila's birthday, but Basch was determined to present to her his gift. After frightening young Vaan to a quivering mess (which was fun), Basch felt so relieved that he could move and that it wasn't his own stupid emotions that paralysed him. He got out of his armour that felt so uncomfortable and slipped in to the suit of clothes that he had picked out before. Showered (once again) and with his hair slicked back, Basch plucked up the courage to seek out the Queen. Yes, he thought that she would be asleep by now, but would it be so terrible to wake her at this hour?

Basch was not expecting Ashe's lady in waiting to be frantically rushing other maids around in the corridor that lead to the Queen's bedroom. It was the old woman's chaotic squealing and the panic in the younger maid's faces that told Basch something was wrong. He approached the lady in waiting, clutching the paper wrapped gift.

"Is something wrong, Ma'am?" asked Basch. The old woman's panic calmed at the sight of him.

"Magister Fon Ronsenberg…I'm glad you're here. Her majesty is still up and is fraught with anger! I have never known her to be so incensed! I know that seeing you would help!"

Basch was extremely weary. This woman, in all the years of service with Ashe, never allowed men to go near her room. Not even Knights. Yet she was willing to allow Basch to do so now?

"I shall do my best."

His hand rapped against the door and within seconds there was a reply for him to enter.

When he did, Basch was not expecting to see Ashe in the way she was.

Out of her dress, Ashe was now wearing a long silk dressing gown and pacing up and down her room, infuriated. Once again, Basch found himself stifled at her presence, as her gown, though tightly tied around her body, accentuated her goddess like form. Her hair fluttered like feathers by her waist, her hips swayed seductively with each step she took and although her face was a picture of rage, Basch noticed the frailty and anguish she was truly feeling. His heart went out for this woman, it was supposed to have been a celebration of her birth and all she had received was angst. Though, when she saw him enter, Ashe's pain seemed to lessen. The sparkle returned in her blue eyes and a small curl appeared at the side of her lips.

"Basch." Her voice sounded so hopeful and relieved. "What brings you here?"

"You." his voice breathed. "There is something…worrying you?"

The hope was replaced by seething anger.

"Balthier." The name was uttered with such loathing.

"Ah."

"He's stolen all my night wear."

"Oh."

"It's been replaced by a single…..erm….well…let's just say this item of clothing doesn't cover much."

"I see."

"He's been shopping at Madame Nola's again. When I find him, there will be trouble."

The "shopping" trip with Balthier haunted Basch's mind once again. Though instead of becoming perspired by fear, a hot sticky sweating film of arousal slid down his back. He had seen the termed "night wear" in that shop and most of them were made up of extremely little material.

"I shall go and…."

"No!" Ashe walked over to him and her hand delicately pressed on his own. "I shall deal with him in my own way. But…you….you have…"

She had eyed the package in Basch's other hand. Her fingers caressed the crinkling paper and an endearing smile appeared on her face. The first genuine show of pleasure she had shown in a long while.

"What is this?" she asked.

"It's a…it's a gift, highness." Basch felt his hands trembling. "For you. For your birthday."

"My birthday was yesterday…."

"It is still for you."

Her fingers moved slowly over his to release his hold on the package. The connection of their skin tingled, they felt the denials they had both held and the restrictions placed by the council on relations between classes. They wanted to embrace, they wanted to tear away in fear. But Ashe eventually took the present from her Knight and clutched it tightly to her chest.

"Can you tell me what it is?" Ashe sounded like a child again, giddy at the prospect of an exciting gift. "I've not received anything like this…can you give me a clue?"

"Only that there is a story behind it." Basch found his voice confident as he spoke. "One you know too well."

Ashe didn't ask any more questions. Her worries disappeared completely as her fingers gently tore at the paper surrounding her new birthday present. When the last shreds fell to the floor, she was left holding a long coiling brown strip of leather. It was only the age of the leather and the ancient inscription from Nalbina that was embedded on to it, which made the tears finally fall down her cheeks. Ashe nearly fell to the floor as her mouth whispered the words etched on the strip. She could barely breathe.

"Where the fire meets the sky. I still dream you by my side. I feel I always will. And it makes a poor man strong, to have a sense of home and the ground upon which I stand knows no distance to me. You never left me all the miles. You were with me all the way."

Basch forgot all his fears. He couldn't be merely a servant or Knight in her service any more. He was a man who loved her with every inch of his being and so he wrapped his arms around her and began to retell the story he had spoken to Ashe in her childhood.

"A gift of a pair of creatures were offered for the princess of Nalbina. Beings revered and blessed. The Leynir. They were honour bound to their owners and connected with their mates through minds and souls. They could never be parted by distance, always sensing their presence and connection through the miles of Ivalice. The princess cared deeply for this gift, she loved nothing more…except for the man who was the beating of her heart. A man she was not betrothed to.

In the times of war, she offered her love the male Leynir, as a token of her passionate and violent affection. He took his charge to battle, dressing it in armour and wrapped around it's head blade a vow of his parting words to the princess. Little had either of them known, that the Leynir had felt their ardour and connected them all. So when he fell in bloody death, the scream of the Leynir male reverberated in it's mate's mind. The princess felt her love's death. She heard his last thoughts of her. So empty were her years after and so mournful was the female creature, that their lives gave up and ended in misery in the grounds of Nabudis."

She was crying. She couldn't stop. Her whole body was shaking as he held her and it seemed she wouldn't end. Ashe clung onto him, the Wargod's Band wrapped around her arm and she squeezed him with all her strength. Then with a shaking touch, Ashe took hold of Basch's chin and pointed it down towards her. Her lips quivered, her mouth gasped as after all these years, they locked together and merged in an aching clinch.

The silk belt of her dressing robe slipped to the floor. The rest of the gown sank off her shoulders. Basch was left with a naked Queen in his arms, her skin felt so smooth and warm but his doubts were screaming out to him. Pull away. This is not right.

"Basch. Don't stop touching me."

His fingers stroked through her long hair and he placed a kiss once more on her lips before enveloping his aching body to hers.

They fell and together they gave in to what couldn't be denied.

The world around and beyond them didn't seem to matter any more.

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She had been lying next to him, watching him sleep, for two whole hours. Ashe had never felt more content and happy as she was earlier, but just seeing Basch dreaming came very close. He barely moved, he didn't even snore, though occasionally there would be a deep growl or sigh from his lips, he was so peaceful she didn't want to disturb him.

For four years she had waited to see Basch Fon Ronsenberg, though she never expected to see this much. His body was a map of scars, there didn't seem to be a single place on him that was wasn't marked. Though when Ashe first saw him naked, she saw that Basch was not shamed of any of them.

She briefly ran a finger across the one scar that marked over the corner of his eye and she brushed some of his sweat drenched hair off his face. Planting a brief yet tender kiss on his lips, she slipped out from under the covers and having found her gown, placed it around her own pleasured and aching body.

Earlier was the moment of her life that she would always treasure. But now, Ashe feared that once again, Basch would leave with Larsa to go back to Archades. How long would it be for him to return?

She couldn't bare waiting four years or four hours to see him again.

Ashe found the Wargod's Band on the sill by her window and as the leather wrapped around her hands, Ashe felt the tears beginning to pool in her eyes. She didn't want Basch to leave.

Then she noticed the envelope. It had been there on her dresser last night as she had prepared for the party, but Ashe hadn't opened it or even wanted to. Strangely enough, she hadn't noticed that Larsa's own personal seal was on the back. Larsa had written a note to her?

The queen opened it with her own fingers, cussing as the sharp edge of the paper cut her skin, and then she began to read.

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Queen Asheila B'nargin Dalmasca.

I am sixteen years old now. I've have learnt so much and I know that I will always continue to learn and grow. At this age, I know what it is like when the pressure from the senate or council continues to hound you about marriage and future heirs. I get it all the time, they won't leave me alone. Yet, I am fortunate to have in my service a man who supports me and gives me advice.

But I confess to you that every day I feel guilt. Guilt for taking this man away from you. He was your protector first, your Knight and I know that you love him. He in turn has never forgotten the vows he took in the Order.

His disgrace and torture at Vayne's command had almost lost Dalmasca a true hero. The truth is known now to all in Ivalice (how we avoided a war on that issue, I'll never know!) and his honour was restored. The people of Dalmasca still love him and respect him.

Yet, the rules of marrying royalty do clearly state that the suitor has to be of noble blood. It is a rule that those bureaucrats have always insisted upon! Yet, I have talked to my senate and sent letters to the Rozzarian council and your own. Being as Basch is a hero in Dalmasca, I proposed that there cannot be a more noble suitor for their Queen. They didn't agree at first, but I managed to change their minds.

So, Asheila…I am pleased to inform you that you have the blessings of all the leaders of Ivalice, the council and senates…you have the blessings of your people to marry Captain Basch Fon Ronsenberg.

I'll just have to start interviewing for a new Judge.

Hope this makes you happy.

Your pal….Larsa.

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Hope this makes you happy?

Ashe smiled and walked back to the bed. She took off her gown and ripped the covers off her sleeping lover.

Hope this makes you happy?

She rested herself gently on top of him and she instantly felt his hands stroking at her back.

His eyes eventually opened and a smile spread across his face.

Hope this makes you happy?

Ashe bent down, feeling Basch become fully awake beneath her and she kissed him with all the love she had.

Hope this makes you happy?

That comment was an understatement.

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It was mid day when the strange sight caught the attention of all those in the palace. People actually had to stop and stare, just to make sure they weren't going crazy. Some curious maids even followed the creature all the way through the maze like corridors to the bedrooms. They tried not to laugh as it staggered, swayed and fell over more than once during this epic journey, but they couldn't help it as the expletives ran continuously from it's little lips.

At last the Moogle propped up against the door, a long silver and polished spear.

"You ladies make sure that Fon Ronsenberg gets this…kupo? I found that some snot nosed kid had nicked it from my lost property box in the Sandsea."

The two maids nodded. The Moogle seemed pleased about this and then proudly trundled away, swinging his arms and muttering under his breath.

"Zodiac spear. Pah! Ivalice's Weapon of the Year award ten years in a row? Pah! It's way overrated!"