It was still night when Ashe woke up. She hadn't woken up because of the cold, or for a danger lurking in the shadows of her mind, but the images of war. She'd seen fighting before, but the images she had seen shook her to her core and the only way out was to wake up. Her eyes opened to see Vaan's sleeping face in front of her. She found herself surprisingly warm, thanks to Vaan, who was now holding her in his arms. This was almost like the first night they had slept in the tower. Ashe had told him off and refused his company then, but as strange as it seemed she didn't mind it now.

She gave a quick exhale and closed her eyes again, trying to get more sleep before dawn could roll around.

"Another bad dream, Ashe?"

It was Vaan's voice. The princess opened her eyes, slowly this time, and answered, "Something like that." She could feel the thief's hand slowly going up and down her lower back, almost like giving a tender gesture.

Vaan's eyes opened, "Care to talk about it?"

The princess put her hand on his arm, stopping his caress of her back; it was too intimate for her coming from him. Still, she felt compelled to share her nightmare. "Swords clashing, arrows flying, blood being spilled, and the countless bodies of fallen Dalmascans. In the center of it all was..."

"Lord Rasler."

She looked up at him, "How'd you know?"

Vaan lowered his arm again, "You whispered his name many times in the past hour."

Cursing her grief, she failed to keep it inside, and Ashe hated herself for it. She hated when her emotions got the better of her, especially when she couldn't control them. Still, she tried to hide behind her strong facade, "You better not tell anyone."

"Or what? You'll slap me again? I'm already used to that, Princess."

"I'll-"

"It's alright if you're still grieving."

Ashe stopped, "One can't grieve forever. Not even for my first love. I've tried to move on, thinking solely of revenge on the Empire, but at night it still comes back to haunt me. Like a predator in the shadows, it stares me down, reminding me of what I lost and then kills my heart. It's happened so many times that I fear that one day I die emotionally."

Vaan watched as the princess sat up, bringing her knees to her chest yet remaining under the blanket. She put her forehead to her knees.

The thief sat up as well, "Can't grieve forever...now that's something that I know about almost more than anyone." He sat down next to her, and Ashe raised her head. "I know that you've lost more than you could bear. Your father, your husband, your kingdom...but I also lost my brother in a similar fashion. I grieved, I cried, but I kept remembering him and what I lived for. I thought revenge was the best way to go, but it was not. I fight to live. I fight for freedom. That's what you are doing as well. That puts us pretty much in the same boat, right?"

Ashe looked down, trying to hide her face. Vaan was right. She wasn't the only one who was still grieving, and she had been blind to that for quite some time. The world didn't revolve around the Princess and her mission of revenge. More than she belonged in that circle.

"How'd you get over his death?"

Vaan leaned back, laying his legs flat on the ground, "I sought out Penelo and my other friends. It may seem small when you think about it, but your friends can be a major help in helping mend an aching heart. They can help make you feel something again. It always worked for me."

As Vaan lie back down and lay on his side, Ashe remained sitting up. Could it really be that simple? To seek out comfort from others close to you and you'll be alright? "I might have to try something else if it fails," she said, getting comfortable with what blanket she had.

Vaan opened his eyes again, "In that case, if you need me for anything. Anything at all, just let me know. Okay?"

Ashe looked into his eyes, saw that he meant what he said, and he closed his eyes before she could ask anything more. Anything…did he really mean that? That and other thoughts went through the Princess' mind as she lay down. She tried to figure it out but she lost track and fell asleep.

Vaan remained close to her up until the sun rose.

When Ashe woke up soon after dawn, she found Vaan was standing outside the entrance to their tower, looking up at the sky. Ashe went and looked at the sky too; it was dark and cloudy yet again. And the rumbling of thunder signaled the oncoming storm.

"Not again!"

Vaan jumped a little, seeing Ashe was up again, and he immediately sensed her disappointment. Stuck out in the prairie for the last few days because of monsters and weather and when it looked as if they could finally return to Gilmore they were forced back again. Was nothing good going to happen to them ever?

"Good morning," Vaan said with a small smile, trying to be optimistic.

Ashe acknowledged his smile, but couldn't bring herself to do the same, "We'll be spending another day out here, won't we?"

The thief nodded slowly, "Seems like it."

The princess didn't bother putting her boots on, she climbed over the window edge and went outside. She stood next to Vaan, and saw nothing but dark grey clouds that appeared to go on for miles.

"Well, least this time our clothes are dry, huh?"

Her attempt at being humorous astounded Vaan, and he smiled. "Yup."

That's when Ashe noticed he was holding something. "What are those?"

In Vaan's right hand he held at least seven small white flowers tied together by a string. He had found when he had gone outside that morning. He held them up in front of Ashe, "I think they're called moon lilies. Didn't think much about them before, but I uh thought you'd like them, especially after last night."

Ashe stared at the flowers for a few seconds, her mouth was open by a bit, but the look on her face said she wasn't expecting this. Vaan had brought her flowers? "For me?"

As she took them in her hands, Vaan scratched the back of his head nervously, "Thought you needed something to cheer you up. Didn't know if words were enough, so...yeah..."

Ashe's eyes began to slowly tear up, but before Vaan could fully notice he felt something cold hit the top of his head.

It had started to rain!

Ashe had already started to high tail it by the time she felt the first drop. More and more ice cold drops began to fall, and Vaan started to laugh as he ran back toward the tower.

Climbing in with haste, Ashe quickly grabbed the blanket and dried her face, and her tears, away before Vaan could see them.

"That was a surprise," Vaan said aloud, running his hand through his hair. "Least we didn't get totally soaked, right Ashe?"

She didn't answer. Vaan saw the princess with her back to him. Figuring something was off; Vaan went around and saw she appeared fine. Physically it seemed. She was clutching her white flowers tightly in her hands and holding them to her chest. Her face appeared to be serene, her eyes shining because of the tears welling up in them again.

"Ashe?"

The princess brought one of her hands and placed it on Vaan's chest. She didn't push him back, she just placed it there. "I never did get to thank you."

"For those? It wasn't a big deal in getting them if that's what you mean-"

"I'm not talking about the flowers."

Vaan's eyebrows went up.

"I meant for helping me last night. That was the first night in a long while, in two years it seems, that I had a good dream instead of a nightmare."

Vaan saw Ashe lower the hand that was on his chest, it didn't leave his body, and he felt it go to his midsection. "Ashe?"

"It was all because of your words, I never thought I'd get through this with anything but a sword, but you proved me wrong Vaan. Thank you."

The thief felt his cheeks go hot, and he lost track of time in the few moments after the princess had finished her sentence. Ashe lowered her head and leap into Vaan, putting her arms around his waist and burying her face in his shoulder, and she finally let her tears flow.

The heavy hitting of the rain outside was drowned out by the sounds of Ashe's sobbing, and Vaan couldn't help but notice that even the thunder had gone silent.

Consoling a woman was something Vaan knew very little about, but an emotionally distraught woman he felt was out of his league.

Still, he tried to help her. He put his arms around her, holding her securely with him until her crying calmed down considerably. As she began to slow down, Vaan released his hold on her, and Ashe backed away.

"I'm sorry you had to see that," Ashe said, clearing her cheeks of the trails her tears had made.

Vaan wiped away where her tears had fallen on his chest, "It's alright, Ashe." If you need anything from me, just ask, okay?"

Just like he had said last night. 'If you need me for anything, just let me know.' Those words were now etched firmly in her mind. What she needed now was something she had been seeking for nearly two years, but it wasn't until now that Ashe, the princess of Dalmasca had to ask for it.

"Comfort..."

Vaan looked into her eyes, his smile fading fast. "What?"

Ashe raised both of her hands, this time placing them both on Vaan's chest. Her hands were colder than he was, but they were scorching against his skin. This caused the thief to turn a bit redder in the cheeks than before.

"A-Ashe?"

Vaan was pushed backwards and didn't stop until his back was planted firmly against the wall. "Please Vaan..."

Ashe looked up at him, her eyes sparkling and her expression innocent, "Comfort me."