Author's Note: Three parts to this chapter: VosslerxAshe, then slight BaschxAshe, then PeneloxVaan. Strange combination of pairings, yes, but they all focus around the same topic in this chapter: Trust.

M A S Q U E R A D E

Chapter Six: The Betrayal

Part I

The Shiva

Immediately Following Vossler's Betrayal

Five Months Before Vayne's Defeat

Vossler had betrayed her.

His actions had left her feeling more hollow than ever before. She knew that the lack of feeling should frighten her, but fear was not something that she felt anymore. Vossler, after all, had been her last hope- her knight in shining armor- but he had gone and ruined that image. She wanted to cry and wall up in her self-pity, but her eyes remained dry and her face made of cold stone. But more than wanting to break down and sob, she wanted to kick Vossler as hard as she could in the balls. She wanted to drive his own sword deep into his chest and twist the blade. She wanted to make him admit his treason and beg for the forgiveness that she would never grant him. But instead of getting to deliver pain, she found her hands bound in shackles as her lover escorted her and her new friends to the end of the Shiva. Keeping her head low, she knew how expressionless her face appeared, and planned to use this to her advantage.

In a foolish attempt to comfort her, Vossler placed his gloved hand on the crevice of her lower back, just above her butt. She winced loudly; his physical touch felt like needles under her skin. He glanced her way when he heard her displeasure, but she kept her eyes forward. For over a year his touch had brought her relief and gratification, but now she wanted to take back all that she had ever given him.

"If you wish to shame me," she bluntly stated to him, her voice filled with disgust. "Then by all means continue to touch me."

"I meant not to dishonor you," he replied, his face as stern as it had always been. While he did sound a little guilty, his hand remained on her back, which only promoted more anger from Ashe. "My only wish was to alleviate your fear."

Fear, Ashe's thoughts rang darkly in her skull. I do not know fear, but he will know it far too well once I have finished with him.

She paused momentarily, raising her eyes from the floor in order to cast him the coldest glare she could. He stopped with her and tried to meet her eyes, and she granted him this favor. His eyes were filled with regret, as if he knew how badly he had failed her. Still, Ashe refused to give him her sympathy. She was a full believer of loyalty, especially when it came to sworn knights to their lieges. She sucked in a deep breath of air as she glared at him. A betrayal to the future Queen is treason towards all of Dalmasca.

"Do not touch me again," she snapped, the tension of hate building itself inside her. Ashe could be many wonderful things- but crossing her meant certain death. She knew her anger would release itself shortly, and soon the most terrible of demons would wreck havoc on him.

"Your Majesty, 'tis for the good of all Dalmasca, I am honor bound to--"

"Speak not of my kingdom," she spoke crossly, cutting him off mid sentence. "And certainly not of honor. You have no honor, Vossler."

Her words appeared to have stuck him to the bone. She witnessed something that few were able to behold: a look of pure anguish swept over Vossler's chiseled features, and he inhaled his breath sharply as if he had been dealt a blow to his stomach. Ashe watched his change of expression with a mixture of both glee and despair; her most trust friend and longtime lover was finally opening up and showing her emotion, but the intimate gesture had come far too late. They knew that things would never again be the same between them, and the realization left them both with heavy hearts.

Nothing else could be said between them; there was nothing left at all.

Ashe released a long sigh then turned her gaze back before her, where she spotted her friends being pushed along by several Imperial soldiers. Basch, who was the last in line, cast a quick glance over his shoulder back at Ashe and Vossler. She managed to meet his gaze, and the dispirited depths of his eyes astounded her.

Basch, she knew, had no part in this absurd plan that Vossler had created. He was just as innocent as her.

It was then that she fully believed he had done everything in his power to protect her father, her kingdom, and herself.

It seems as though there is a chance for my survival after all, she thought almost peacefully. The Gods have sent me hope; and hope wears a scar across its face.

Part II

Aboard an Escape AirCraft after the Imperial Fleet is Destroyed

Five Months Before Vayne's Defeat

They were all watching her expectantly, Basch included. What they were watching her for, he didn't know. Tears, perhaps; maybe a command or an order. Or maybe they were just curious as to why someone who had just lost a best friend could be so calm and act so normal. Whatever her reason was for acting so ordinary, she didn't seem put off by the fact that she was being so intensely studied. Instead, she casually inquired as to how long it would take to return to Rabanastre. An hour- possibly two, Balthier had replied as he piloted them away from the wreckage that used to be the Imperial Fleet. The sky pirate had decided that they had best fly around major pockets of Imperial areas in order to avoid attention.

And so Ashe was studied by her comrades for the first hour of travel, and Basch found himself bewildered by her levelheaded attitude. Every moment of being with her was like a new discovery for him, and he now fully realized that the dull girl he had once known had been a complete fraud. This was the real Princess of Dalmasca- armed with brilliance, sass, and capability. It would take him quite a while to get used to her.

His perplexed thoughts were shattered when she suddenly climbed to her feet and gently touched the shoulder of Balthier. He glanced up at her, obviously surprised to feel her fingers on him.

"I need to clear my thoughts for a bit," she explained, removing her hand from him and turning to exit the cockpit. "I will be out on the deck if anyone needs me."

She left the cockpit, and Basch allowed himself to relax into his seat. He noticed that the intensity in the room had faded in the seconds after she left, and he wondered how Ashe could effect them all so much. It was almost a relief to be away from her.

Yet the youngest and newest member of the group- the cute blonde girl whose name occasionally escaped Basch's mind- had other speculations about Ashe leaving. She didn't see it as an opportunity to unwind.

"Do you think someone should go talk to her?" she asked, her face etched with gentle concern. When nobody answered her question, she continued: "She seemed so displaced. I think she's really upset about Captain Azelas and just doesn't want to show it. Someone should go talk to her."

"If you're so concerned," Balthier chimed in, witty and cocky as he usually was. "Why don't you take it upon yourself to follow her?"

A small frown formed across the girl's innocent face. Her head drooped with embarrassment. "I don't know her well enough."

"None of us do," Vaan agreed, wiping at his nose with the back of his hand.

No one, except for me. "I do," Basch spoke up, sitting forward in his uncomfortable seat. "I have known her for her entire life, and so I will go to her side and see if I can help."

A look of relief washed over the face of- at last, Basch could remember her name!- Penelo, and she gave him an encouraging smile. "Thanks. I'm worried about her."

I have a feeling she is more capable than any of us realize, Basch knew, yet he granted Penelo's wishes, stood, and followed the already departed Ashe out of the cockpit and up onto the deck.

The air outside was soft and warm compared to the inner frigid depths, and instantly Basch felt a shiver run down his spine from the intense change of temperature. He raised a hand to his face, shielding his eyes from the sun and allowing him to see her. She stood with her back to him, leaning against one of the guard rails, her blonde hair nearly appearing white from the harsh light of the sun. He approached her, trying to be loud as to not startle her, but the sound of his clunky footsteps were lost to the roar of the airship's engines. He stood by her side, leaning down onto his arms against the railing, and joined her stare out into the clouds. Surprised that she didn't immediately turn to give him a hate filled glare, he decided that he wanted her to be the first to speak, for he didn't want to interrupt any important thoughts she could be potentially having.

She sighed after a few minutes of silence, narrowing her eyes from either the bright sun or the realization that he was beside her. "Did you need something?"

Turning to look at her, he left his face unemotional. "They are concerned for your mental well-being, your Majesty."

A look of pure amusement passed over her features as she cocked her head in his direction. "They are, are they? And what of you, do you fear for my mental health as well? Is that why you're here?"

The question was laced full of traps. Basch thought for a long moment about the answer, then decided that whatever response he gave her, she would not be happy. She was the kind of person who could turn anything positive into something negative, and he hoped that the opposite was also true.

"I am your sworn knight, am I not?"

The corners of her mouth dipped downward as he knew they would. There was no pleasing her, lest of all from him. Yet Basch was surprised when the words that came out of her mouth sounded delighted. "So you would take up your oath once more and protect me?"

"Once more, nay," he explained with a shake of his head. "I never broke my oath, only had it delayed for a time. Lady Ashe, I will follow in whatever coarse you decide to take, even if it leads us both to death."

She hesitated, looking pleased by his words but trying not to show her feelings. She turned back to face the clouds again. "...Thank you... I will put my trust in you once more. Do not make me regret my decision."

Nodding, Basch leaned forward onto the railing again. Vossler's face formed in his mind, and he remembered how his old friend had told him of his passions with Ashe. He sighed, wondering if it had all been false, in an attempt to throw Basch off his scent. If it was false, he wanted Ashe to confirm it so he could realize that Ashe was still pure. Purity and the Lady Ashe went hand-in-hand, and if her purity had died, then the Ashe he once knew was truly gone.

"Before he died, Vossler told me about you and him." He didn't know how else to put it.

Ashe gasped sharply, her eyes widening, and she spun her entire body in his direction. He glanced at her- met her eyes- and then realized that Vossler had been speaking the truth all along. And he felt terrible for bringing up such a personal past.

"He told you that?" She sounded almost heartbroken, but then her face turned to bitterness and her voice was filled with disgust. She averted her eyes. "He manages to shame me and commit treason even from beyond the grave."

"Forgive me," Basch uttered, feeling his cheeks flush from the pain he knew he had caused her. "I spoke too soon, I--"

She quickly interrupted him. "You thought he was lying. No, it's true. But I do not need to explain my actions or feelings to you."

She had put him in his place and made sure he realized his position in the hierarchy. He took a small step backwards and away from her. "Of course not."

Another sigh escaped her throat and she waved him aside with her left hand. "I need to do some thinking. Leave me."

He did as she commanded, heading back into the depths of the airship, his thoughts contaminated with images of Vossler and her.

Part III

Aboard an Escape AirCraft after the Imperial Fleet is Destroyed

Five Months Before Vayne's Defeat

As relieved as she was that Basch had gone to check on Ashe, she was ecstatic that Vaan hadn't volunteered himself to be the one to check on the Princess. It wasn't that she was worried for Vaan but more that she was worried about Vaan. Penelo knew all too well how beautiful the Dalmascan heiress was, and she also knew how fascinating she seemed. On several occasions she had caught Balthier, Vaan, and even Basch ogling at the mature nineteen-year-old woman. Ashe was as alluring and intriguing as they came, and Penelo wasn't surprised to see desire floating in the eyes of any of the three men. However, that didn't mean that Penelo enjoyed seeing it- especially from Vaan.

Penelo was not one to be jealous, but when Ashe was in the same room as Vaan, Penelo became completely apprehensive and envious. After all, Vaan was hers and hers alone. No fallen Princess- even ones as stunning as Ashe- would ever come between her and Vaan.

Penelo knew that Vaan indeed felt something between himself and Ashe, for his infatuation with her was obvious, even though he denied it and called her bitchy. There was some kind of commonality between them, and Penelo had no idea what it could be. After all, they seemed to be as opposite as possible, and the old saying that opposites attract left Penelo with a bitter taste in her mouth.

Vaan had watched Ashe flee from the cockpit with a worried look on his face, and while Penelo looked bubbly and happy on the outside, she seethed inside. Why doesn't Vaan look at me the way he looks at her, she wondered. Why can't he see me like he sees her?

Penelo loved Vaan more than anything else in the world, and she hated him for not realizing her feelings.

"Vaan, can I talk to you for a minute?" She asked him, folding her hands neatly on her lap. "It's important."

A confused look swept over his delicate features and he nodded. "Sure."

Ignoring the suspicious look from Balthier, Penelo rose from her seat and headed into the hallway just outside the cockpit. Her best friend followed her, the confusion lingering on his face. He placed his hands on the back of his head, leaning his weight onto one foot.

"What's up?"

"The whole thing with Captain Azelas made me do some thinking," Penelo explained, clasping her hands tightly before her. "The Princess seemed like she really trusted him, and he completely betrayed her."

"Yeah, so?" He was clueless, like he always was. Penelo had always found his naiveness to be adorable. She enjoyed taking care of Vaan; it made her feel important and needed.

"You'd... you'd never break my trust like that, would you?" She glanced up at him, her pale blue eyes filled with worry. It was a general concern she had: the idea that Vaan didn't care for her the way she cared for him frightened her deeply. Should he leave her, she didn't know what she would do.

His arms dropped down to his sides and his face filled with gloom. He took a small step towards his younger friend, and despite the space between them he reached his arms out for her. "You really think I could hurt you like that?"

"No, I... I don't know," she shook her head, suddenly feeling foolish for making him believe she didn't trust him. "I just see all this horrible stuff happening to other people. I figure that if it could happen to a Princess than it could certainly happen to me."

"Penelo, I--"

"You're all I have, Vaan," she told him, stepping forward and entering his embrace. He placed his hands gently on the middle of her back, and she buried her tired face deeply into his chest. She could feel his heart beating steadily inside of him, and the feeling brought her a wave of comfort. "Without you, I'm all alone. Please, take care of me."

"Take care of you?" There was amusement in his voice. "I guess our roles have reversed, huh?"

She moved her head up out of his chest and smiled broadly at him. She was already feeling better, though she still felt foolish in her concern. "Not quite. I'll always be your caregiver, whether you like it or not."

His eyes were gentle as they looked down at her, and as he went to respond, the cockpit door opened and out stepped the towering Viera. Penelo slowly and reluctantly pulled herself out of Vaan's embrace.

"We arrive in Rabanastre shortly," Fran explained, eyeing them both. "It is better you retake your seats now."

"I'll go get Ashe and Basch," Vaan quipped, his face livening up. He turned and dashed off for the roof. Penelo watched him go, a little disappointed in his eagerness to fetch the Princess. Still, she put a look of pleasure on her face and turned to enter the cockpit. Fran, however, was inquisitive, and noted Penelo's inner turmoil.

"Do not worry," she told Penelo in her unique, singsong voice. "He cares for you deeply."

Penelo didn't know what to say to that. She watched as Fran smirked at her, then followed her back into the cockpit.