CHAPTER THREE

Ashe was taking some time out.

It was their second day passing through the Tchita Uplands and, although they believed they were only an hour or so from the entrance to the Sochen Cave Palace, the sun had begun to hang low in the sky and it was wisely suggested they stop for the day.

It had been hard going in the Uplands, for while, strength-wise, they were more than a match for the fiends they found there, the creatures were relentless with their attacks. Yesterday, Fran in particular as she had been leading that day, had been poisoned so many times she had actually begun to shake, due to the continuous combination of venoms and antidotes in her system. Balthier had absolutely refused to take another step forward until she had completely recovered and he had found her a Tourmaline Ring to make her immune to the stuff, even if that meant having to trek all the way back to the Hunter's Camp by himself. Basch immediately offered her the one he had been wearing, an act that compounded Ashe's suspicion further that her loyal Knight had developed a soft spot for the Viera. She would have mentioned this to Balthier, to joke over, but the last thing she needed was the Sky Pirate to start getting territorial over his partner.

This notion had sparked a twinge of jealousy within Ashe but she couldn't quite understand why. She knew there was no romantic feelings or history between the two pirates. They were just best friends and partners. They understood each other. They completed each other.

Ashe rationalised her feelings of envy to the closeness they shared. It had been so long since she had felt such a closeness, since she had let anyone in. It hurt. Though she did realise that her five travelling companions were slowly chipping away at her walls and that helped ease her ache.

So they made their camp that second night and Ashe, having finished all her tasks quickly, had decided to sit away from the others - though still in sight of them, lest Basch start to panic - to take some time to herself and clear her head.

It was humid in the Tchita Uplands and so she had taken off her boots and her leg guards and sat on the grass, relishing the feel of the cool ground on her bare legs. After a time she stood and walked about, enjoying the simple sensations caused from feeling the grass between her toes. She glanced back towards the camp, and that's when she caught Balthier watching her.

He was sitting with Fran - the Viera overlooking a map in the dying day's light - and he didn't look away when she found his stare. Instead, he merely smiled at her, happy he had her attention at last, and raised his hand in a wave. Ashe looked back at him in confusion and then at her surroundings. What was he staring at? It couldn't be her, could it? 'Not even Balthier would be that brazen.' She thought to herself.

"See something that interests you, Pirate?" She asked and instantly berated herself. They were the wrong words to choose and Balthier knew it. He grinned at her suggestively but left the innuendos hanging in the air and decided to answer with the truth.

"I was actually just wondering how it could be that such a tiny person, such as yourself, could have such long legs, Princess." He said, giving her a winning smile. "They're really quite lovely."

Ashe felt like she had just been covered in water. She couldn't believe him! He was ogling her? And then he told her about it?! She thought he respected her, saw her as more than just body parts like he might a stranger or some tavern wench he might have had an interest in for one night only. She was outraged. She opened her mouth to tell him all this but instead she found herself saying;

"What do you mean 'tiny person'?"

Balthier's smile stayed firmly on his face but his eyebrows lifted. Whatever response he was expecting it clearly wasn't that. Instead of replying, however, he stood up and walked to her, hands in his pockets until he stood over her. He was wearing an almost apologetic but amused smile as he physically demonstrated their difference in height.

Ashe, abashed, tried to look anywhere but his smug face but her eyes kept flicking up to meet his.

"How tall are you?" She asked nonchalantly.

"6ft." Was the immediate reply. She could hear the smile in his voice as she refused to look up again. "And you're, what? 5ft.3?"

"5ft.5!" Her head flew up and glared at him, defiant. His smile simply got wider.

"Two extra inches. Are they really that important?"

"I'm sure you know all about the importance of adding extra inches, Pirate!" The words had shot out of her mouth before she was even aware and she bit her lip in surprise. Her eyes wide at what she had said and it's implications. Balthier's face mirrored her own, a mixture of shock and joy. 'So, Ashe does know how to play.' He thought as he leaned in close to her ear.

"Do you really think I need to add 'extra inches', Princess?" He asked seductively. Ashe's face began to catch on fire.

"I…didn't…" She fumbled her words. Laughing to himself, he changed tack, stepping back and crossing his arms.

"And exactly why were you thinking about these apparent 'extra inches'? Hmm?" He jokingly accused her. Ashe's confusion showed.

"I would never…"

"I'm beginning to think…" He began to circle her. "…That all this self-righteousness is all just an act to cover up some base perversity. One you just can't contain any longer." His grin was so wide now it was beginning to hurt but he was having fun watching the Princess squirm. Ashe, however, had quickly gathered her wits and whipped round to face him, her eyes dancing with challenge.

"Or maybe it's just what I hear from your 'reputation'!" She threw back. She couldn't believe she was participating in such a conversation but she couldn't help but feel that she had won one back as she watched him stagger backwards, clutching his stomach in fictitious agony.

"Ouch! Princess, low blow!" He exclaimed in mock indignation. "And completely false." He quickly added. Ashe laughed out loud at his protest. Boldly, she stepped over to him and patted his cheek.

"You keep telling yourself that, Balthier." And she strolled away towards Vaan and Penelo on the other side of camp feeling pleased with herself. Balthier watched her with awe before heading back to Fran.

He was still chuckling to himself as he sat back down with his best friend. Fran simply surveyed him, one eyebrow quirked and the side of her mouth piqued upwards. Balthier knew that she would have heard their conversation, thanks to those ears of hers, and she had something to say. After sitting with her in this manner for a time, he turned to her.

"What?" He asked pointedly. Of course, she said nothing but her lip twitched higher at his question. Balthier knew where her mind was but he wanted to hear it.

"What is it?" He demanded again. Fran glanced at him.

"There has been a change." Balthier rolled his eyes. She was going to be typically cryptic, so he decided to be typically stubborn. He waited for her to continue, eyebrows raised in question. Eventually she spoke again.

"It is the Princess. You flirt with her." As he thought, it was about Ashe. Flirting with her was nothing new though. Fran did like to confuse him.

"Fran, my dear, you of all people should know, I flirt with everyone." He declared. "I'd flirt with Basch if it got a rise out of him."

"You do flirt with Basch."

"Only when I think it's funny." He interjected. "Besides, that makes two of us now doesn't it." He tried to bate her but Fran said nothing. Balthier just sighed, frustrated.

"So I flirt with Ashe. What's changed there?" He asked. He wasn't quite sure what the problem was.

"It has increased." Fran told him. Had it? He frowned, puzzled. Fran had not finished yet and looked straight at him.

"And it is not just your flirting that has changed."

Balthier sat back in surprise. No. Fran was rarely wrong about this sort of thing but she must be mistaken this time. The Princess was just fighting back that's all. And she was giving as good as she got. No, Fran had simply misread the situation that's all. Putting a hand on her shoulder, Balthier gave her a sympathetic smile.

"Fran, my friend, I do believe your senses are going a little off." He said, patronisingly. "I think it's your old age." That got the desired response as Fran shrugged off his hand and glared at him.

"Oh, and exactly where did you sleep in the Hunter's Camp again?" That wiped the smirk off his face as Balthier recoiled like a child caught taking sweets before dinner. 'So, she did know.' He cursed to himself.

"It wasn't like that." He told her.

"I know." She said. "You would be much more pleased with yourself if it was." Balthier clenched his jaw.

"No, Fran, seriously, it's not like that." He wanted to get his point across. He had no ill designs on the Princess. He respected her too much.

He liked her too much.

"It's just Ashe." He finished, rather pathetically. Fran cocked her head to look at her friend and smiled. He really wasn't aware yet, was he? She nodded in understanding and Balthier relaxed. Just then however, Ashe crossed over the camp, past them to get to her tent, and drawing Balthier's gaze. She stopped dead, shoulders down and head back, she turned to him sharply, knowing he was staring.

"Will you stop looking at them!" She demanded, referring to her legs. Balthier's grin was back on his face instantly and he threw out his arms in protest.

"Well, stop parading about then!" He countered. He couldn't help but notice her reluctant smile and laughed. "I'm only a man, Ashe."

"The jury's still out on that one, Balthier." Came the reply and she disappeared into her tent. Balthier, still grinning, turned and caught Fran's own amused expression. He dropped his immediately.

"Oh, shut up!" Was the best he could muster.