CHAPTER FIVE

It didn't take Ashe long to decide she did not like the Feywood.

The party had just entered the forest on their journey to Giruvegan, the ancient city where Ashe was praying she would finally find some answers. However, as they were heading there on the words of a madman, Doctor Cid, Ashe had a horrible feeling the quest would only result in even more questions.

And so here they were, sitting in this incredibly beautiful but oh, so unsettling, wood.

At Basch's insistence they had made camp early while still in the outskirts of the Feywood before night fell and before they could truly assess the beasts they would face in it. Though, as Balthier pointed out, at least they couldn't get surprised by the Hellhounds. They glowed in the dark.

Setting up camp had become second nature by now. Basch had gone to scout the perimeter, Fran was finishing putting up the group's three tents and Ashe was in charge of the night's dinner.

The other three members of the party were not being quite so productive.

Ashe missed exactly how it happened but Penelo had recently discovered that both Vaan and Balthier knew how to juggle and as result the two boys had spent the day's travel, not keeping their focus on any possible attacking fiends, but throwing the group's supply of apples that they just had stocked up on, to each other in increasingly elaborate ways. It was only when Basch threatened to throw his axe at them to determine exactly how well they could catch that they ceased their foolery.

But now they had stopped for the day and, as Basch was out of sight, the games had continued for Penelo's entertainment. Ashe sat watching them, torn between being furious with them for not pulling their weight and feeling slightly jealous for not being included. She couldn't help but smile in amusement though as Balthier decided to really show off and start eating one the apples he was juggling with whilst he was juggling with it. Penelo applauded, Ashe decided to see that he got a smaller portion at dinner then everyone else for that.

Watching him, she reflected on the last few days travel since Balfonheim. Ashe and Balthier had continued their game of First and Favourites while on the road and occasionally included the others if they were walking with them. It was that way that she had discovered that Basch's favourite colour was orange, - "I like to be unpredictable." The knight had stated wearing a wry smile - that Penelo's favourite creatures were Moogles, a fact that lead Balthier to cry "Mine too!" and had begun a long discussion between them about the brilliance of the furry little creatures. Ashe had left them to it.

And they had also learnt that Vaan had shared his first kiss with Penelo, aged eight during a game of Dare. "It was weird." Penelo had confirmed.

As the game went on however, Balthier had decided it would be hilarious to start asking increasingly risqué questions in an endeavour to embarrass Ashe, particularly when the others were within earshot. At one point she had actually had to clasp her hand over his mouth - not easy to do considering how much taller than her he was - when he asked loudly who her first time was with only a few feet from Fran. "The answer should be bloody obvious!" She had hissed, waving her wedding ring at him whilst struggling to hold him and trying not to laugh. He had licked her hand to free his mouth and then started to go on about how he had to check knowing her fondness for random page boys about the palace.

Another attempt to silence him had resulted in mad giggling and Balthier practically picking Ashe up to hold her away from him. Fran had witnessed all of this with a quirked eyebrow and intrigued expression.

Coming back to present, Ashe turned her attention to the Viera and thought on the conversation she had had with Ashe not long after that event.

"He trusts you." Fran had said out of nowhere as the two ladies walked together. Vaan and Penelo had hurried far in front and Balthier and Basch were ahead, engaged in banter, Balthier laughing easily at the anecdote Basch had chosen to share with him. Ashe didn't know how to react to the Viera's words.

"What do you mean?" She had asked, almost rhetorically. Fran just glanced at her, a small smile tugging at her lips. You know to what I'm referring, she seemed to say. Ashe shifted, a little uncomfortable.

"What of the others?" She questioned. Vaan and Penelo had run back to Basch and Balthier at this time and the ladies watched as Balthier swung an arm fondly around Penelo's shoulders. "He trust them also surely?"

Fran gave a tiny nod before turning back to the Princess. "It is a different kind of trust." She said after a moment. "He trusts them with his life. You, he trusts with something more." Ashe didn't know how to respond to Fran's words but she was suddenly terrified. Fran placed a reassuring hand on her arm.

"Do not fear this." She had said, somehow knowing Ashe's thoughts. Ashe took a deep breath, looked into the tall Viera's eyes and nodded as they walked to join the rest of the group.

Ashe had run that conversation over and over in her mind and was still no closer to defining her feelings on it. It would drive her mad if she continued to linger on it and so she pushed it from her thoughts as she heard Balthier's deep laughter, calling her back to the trio in front of her. She didn't catch what had prompted him to laugh so hard but she could guess it was Penelo who had made the joke.

"Oh Penelo, my dear." He said when he finally caught his breath. "I think I might love you." He confessed. Penelo flushed with colour at those words but looked incredibly pleased when he pulled her into a one-armed hug and told her "You really are like the little sister I always wanted and never got."

"Well, hey, what about me?" Vaan interjected, desperate to be part of the family.

"You?!" Balthier cried. "You are the little brother I never wanted and can't seem to get rid of!" Vaan's face dropped immediately but Ashe knew Balthier was only teasing the young man. A notion confirmed when Balthier followed with "Or should that be little sister also considering how you scream like a girl."

"I do not!" Vaan objected but his case was lost when Penelo went to tickle his bare stomach and he squealed as he jumped away causing Balthier to roar with laughter once again. Ashe turned, caught Fran's eye and they shared an exasperated look.

Maybe Balthier had the right way of thinking, considered Ashe. The six of them together were all without family, either through death, or the choices they had made. Perhaps this was the Gods solution, that they had all found each other. Ashe had also occasionally found herself thinking of Vaan as a younger brother. The two of them had shared a bond ever since their talk the night they spent in Jahara and it had grown into real affection. Basch, she had always viewed as an Uncle-like figure, - she had even heard Vaan jokingly refer to him as 'Dad' when Basch was lecturing them on something - and it was impossible to not grow close to Penelo. Whenever she and Ashe tented together they found themselves staying awake, talking late into the night the way girls who have been friends for a long time do. Fran was simply Fran. Ashe felt it would not do her justice to describe her in any other way and was nothing if not grateful for her company. And Balthier…

Ashe had been struggling for days now to define her feelings for the rascally Sky Pirate but they were far from sisterly. She had found herself seeking the Pirate's company more and more over the last couple of weeks and she was almost certain that the crush she had developed was not unrequited. The theory both alarmed and exhilarated her.

She was pulled out her train of thought by Penelo's voice.

"Hey, Basch has been gone a while, do you think he's alright?" She asked, concerned. Balthier, who still had his arm around her, waved his hand dismissively.

"I'm sure the Captain is more than alright, Pen. In fact, he's probably the toughest thing in this forest." When she didn't look convinced he added "But if it will ease your worry, I will go look for him."

Relieved, Penelo hugged him quickly and then let go so he could retrieve his gun. Ashe had to admit she too was a little thankful for his offer to search for Basch. She did not trust this place.

Gun swinging in one hand, Balthier headed in her direction as he made to leave the camp and Ashe looked up, catching his eye as he approached her. As he moved past her though, he did something wholly unexpected and reached out to her with his free hand. Without even thinking, Ashe reached up and took it, squeezing it gently as he walked past and giving him a soft smile which he reciprocated. He then strolled away to locate Basch and she watched him leave before turning back to the task in hand.

It was then that Ashe realised that she was not alone in camp and three other people had just witnessed a very intimate moment between the Princess and the Pirate.

Head jerking up in alarm, her eyes first caught Fran who gave her an almost 'I told you so' expression. Penelo glanced away as soon as Ashe turned to her but she could not disguise her widened eyes, or the bashful smile that had found its way on to her face.

Ashe's own face was burning.

Vaan, in typical fashion, had decided to not be not be quite so subtle and had sat down next to Ashe, leaning over with the biggest grin on his face. After a moment of not saying anything Ashe turned to him.

"Can I help you with something, Vaan?" She asked, pointedly. Vaan just played casually with the apple he was holding. Eventually, not looking at her face, he did speak.

"Ashe and Balthier…" He began in an innocent, sing-song manner. 'Oh he did not!' Ashe thought thunderously. Vaan was not done though.

"…Sitting in a tree…" He turned as grinned slyly at Ashe, undeterred by the daggers she was shooting at him. 'Oh yes, definitely an evil little brother.' Ashe picked up her sword from her side and held it up to him.

"I will use this." She warned him. Vaan refused to wipe that grin off his face but raised his hands in surrender as he tossed her the apple he had been holding and stood up to back away.

He couldn't help himself though. "K.I.S.S.I.N.G!" He finished. Ashe threw the apple at him and he caught it deftly as he walked away cackling.

Ashe decided Balthier wouldn't be the only one getting a smaller portion at dinner.