CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Once they had crossed into Rozarria it took a further two weeks before the Caravan reached the town of Allaquoia. It couldn't come a moment too soon for Balthier.
The Sky Pirate had slept for a lot of the journey to the town, allowing his body to recuperate and his bones to mend. Much to Camille's dismay, he had also developed an infection around his stomach wound and they had to put him out with Sleep spells for three days straight in order to cure it properly. Balthier knew he didn't have to strength to move very far (though he had progressed to sitting up) but he had never been a patient man and he hated being stuck in one place. He was also desperate to see Fran who had woken up two days after he did.
He had never been to Allaquoia but it seemed like a pleasant enough place and a decent size to hide away in while he licked his wounds. As desperate as he was to get to Rabanastre, he was also realistic and knew he wouldn't be able to travel for at least another month, and even he could, Fran couldn't. He would not abandon Fran. He hoped Ashe could understand that.
He considered asking Camille to write to the new Queen. He wasn't able to due to his broken arm and hand but while he was sure Camille would be willing he just didn't know what to say. "Dear Ashe, I'm alive. I'm sorry if I scared you, please don't be mad at me"? She deserved more. Besides, the idea of dictating his feelings to somebody just felt a bit too uncomfortable.
Like Camille had said, when they reached Allaquoia she and Moes separated from the other travellers. Moes was an amiable man, similar in age to Balthier, and after talking with him the Pirate decided to trust him enough to let him continue taking care of his best friend. The Merchants set up their stalls in the town's marketplace, (Camille dealt with accessories while Moes sold Magicks) and rented a small house for the four of them. 'Quaint' was the word Balthier chose to describe it. 'I suppose this is how the ordinary live.' He thought upon seeing his new home for the next few months. 'And people wonder why I choose the skies.'
By the time they had gotten themselves established, Balthier had gotten fed up of simply sitting and had become vocal about it. It was driving him crazy and he was so grateful to Moes the day the Merchant came home one day with a pair crutches for the Sky Pirate so that he could, at last, start to move around. Because of his broken arm however, he was only able to use the one, giving him a comical gait. Balthier joked that all he needed was a colourful bird on his shoulder and an eye patch and he could take to the seas as a proper pirate. For several days Fran became 'Aar, Jim Lad' for his own amusement, until she gave him the look she saved for him when he was seriously getting on her nerves.
She had been hurt badly and it broke Balthier's heart to see his beautiful and serene partner incapacitated in such a way. Both her legs had been broken and the graceful Viera would have to learn to walk again when she was healed. Everyday, when Camille and Moes were at the markets, Balthier would hobble into the room she shared with Camille and sit with her - sometime read to her - until she either fell asleep or she got annoyed with him, whichever came first (though Balthier suspected on more than one occasion Fran was feigning sleep because he was annoying her). She never asked about Ashe but then she didn't need to. Fran had always known Balthier's mind better than he did himself.
His sleep gave everything away however. Both Pirates suffered from nightmares after The Bahamut, but where Fran's nightmares were conveyed by the twitching of her ears and the occasional whimper, Balthier's involved violent thrashing and would end with him drenched in sweat and screaming for one of his friends. Usually Ashe. At one point Balthier actually started sleeping during the day just so Moes, who shared a room with him, could get some sleep at night without being interrupted. Everyone was worried about him but in typical Balthier fashion, he brushed off their concerns with a smile and a quick line, though he knew Fran at least, could see right through him.
After two months of hard work, of sometimes painful stretching and exercising, Balthier finally felt healed. His leg and arm casts had been removed (Balthier had revelled in having full use of his limbs again by dancing around the house for a good twenty minutes) and with some more exercise he would be in a similar physical condition as he was a few months ago. He could travel if he wished too.
But time can be a funny thing. While it mended Balthier's body it also played tricks with his mind, allowing the usually confident Sky Pirate to doubt himself and question his return to Rabanastre. He thought of Ashe constantly, and while he yearned for her he also grew worried. It had been nearly three months since they last saw each other, since that morning that he held her in his arms and vowed he would not let her go. But it had also been three months without word of his and Fran's survival, she probably assumed they had perished in The Bahamut. Had she started to get over him? Perhaps be so angry with him she would throw him in jail or worse, banish him from Dalmasca completely. Had Al-Cid or some other vulture swooped in and stolen her away from him? Even if none of these things had happened it was harder now. Had he been at her side when she first reclaimed her throne things would have been so much simpler, but Ashe herself had planted the seed of doubt in his mind. She spoke of opposition, from her councillors and ministers, from her people. Would she consider him too great a threat to her new reign? Balthier was no coward and he would fight for what was important but he also couldn't deny he was afraid. He had never been in love before and he loved Ashe with all his heart but he was absolutely terrified that she would reject him. He may be able to recover from a few broken ribs but a broken heart was something completely different.
Fran could sense what was troubling him.
"You are healthy now." She said to him one day. "You do not have to stay here."
"I'm not leaving you." Came the expected, immediate reply. Fran studied her partner.
"You need not worry about me." She said calmly. "I am in good hands." Though the caravan was due back into Allaquoia any day now, Camille and Moes had decided to stay in the town for good. Moes had said it was because they had become tired with the nomad lifestyle but, while there probably some truth to that, both Pirates knew they were staying for them. The two Merchant's had grown close to their patients - Camille had practically adopted them both, treating Balthier as a younger brother ("I seem to be collecting siblings just recently." Balthier remarked when this observation was made), and the truth was, the two formally self-sufficient Pirates relied on their carers. Though not enough to leave Fran solely to their care, it would seem.
"That's not the point and you know it." Balthier returned, grumpily. He had had a particularly bad dream the previous night and was grouchy from tiredness. Fran had to tread lightly.
"You have fears. You have let these cloud the truth." Balthier just glared at her, sullenly. He did not want to talk about this.
"As you wish." She relented and Balthier softened a little.
"I'm sorry, Fran." He said with a sigh. "It's just a bad day, that's all. And I'm restless. I miss the sky, Fran." Fran gave him a small smile. She knew exactly how he felt, she felt the same way. With Balthier and Moes's help she was slowly starting to move but it was going to take a long time before she could walk again and she needed patience. Thankfully, five years with Balthier had provided her with plenty.
"Perhaps you need something to occupy your time." She said allowing a rare grin. "Perhaps you should begin to repay Moes and Camille for their kindness and find employment." The look of apprehension he gave her was priceless.
Over the next few months Balthier fell into a routine. Every morning, after he would rise, wash and eat, he would help Fran with her exercises. On bright days he would carry her out to their small garden so she could spend the day outside before collecting his tools, (stolen of course, a man does have to keep his hand in) and head to town's Aerodrome. He had started hiring himself out as a mechanic to anyone passing through. It felt good to be working on ships again, even if they weren't his. It was also the best place to hear any gossip, other than the local tavern, about the outside world. His ears would prick up anytime he caught any word on Rabanastre or it new monarch. There was never very much beyond triviality however.
"I heard Dalmasca's gone and got itself a new queen."
"Oh yeah? Is she hot?"
"Well, I wouldn't kick her out of bed!"
This was a typical conversation regarding his Ashe and Balthier wanted to bash the offender in the head with his spanner, but he knew if he did he would never be allowed in the Aerodrome to work again so with remarkable restrain, he let these comments slide. That said, every now and then he would 'helpfully' point the offending man down to Rammy's Café if they were new in town and were hungry. You could get food poisoning just walking past that place as Moes had discovered one unfortunate lunchtime.
While he preferred being at the Aerodrome the work was inconsistent and so if he found the hanger manager had nothing for him in the morning he would head down to his other job at the Weapons and Armour Store. He had realised, after all his travelling with Vaan and co, he had become something of an expert in such items and the store owner found him invaluable. He was also happy to employ Balthier on a day-to-day basis because the Pirate got such good sales. He would flirt with the ladies and impress the men with his knowledge and simply charm everyone who walked in the store. Even Balthier had to admit, he was a natural at this sort of thing.
At the end of each day he would head back to the house (it was never 'home'), help Camille with dinner and then work with Fran again. Every once in a while he and Moes would go to the tavern where he taught Moes how to play poker and they would stagger back to the house at closing time. It was a life, unexciting but easy. It allowed the days to pass.
Six months in to their time in Rozarria and Fran was able to walk again. She was still not perfect but she did not care. She could walk far enough to get to the Aerodrome and that was all that mattered. One evening she and Balthier sat and had a long discussion about what to do next. Much to Fran's irritation, he was still reluctant to go to Rabanastre, even though Vaan still had The Strahl, his baby, and instead was proposing a different destination.
"Archades?" Fran repeated, unable to keep her usual cool exterior. "You wish to go to Archades?"
"'Wish' is putting it a little inaccurately, my dear." Her partner replied. "More 'obligated'. I really should find out what's happening to the old estate, take care of the old man's will. I may have discarded him years ago but there will still be some people who relied upon him, or at least upon the house. I need to go back and see to it. I need…closure." Fran said nothing but understood.
"Besides, you still need time before we can go back to doing the fun stuff and if the estate has been left to me then at least we should have some money to tie us over while you heal properly. Can't have your legs giving way when we're in the middle of a daring escape now can we?" He smiled as he teased her and she pursed her lips to show her good faith. If he felt he had to go back to Archades then of course she would go with him.
Telling Camille and Moes they were leaving was horrible. Though they had both expected it, the two Merchants were still upset by the news. Balthier even tried to convince them to go with the Sky Pirates to Archades but they politely declined. They were happy in Allaquoia. Moes had even found a sweetheart and they felt at home there. They accompanied the Pirates to the Aerodrome where they vowed to keep in touch, and as they exchanged hugs and waved goodbye, Balthier found himself feeling genuine sorrow at leaving Allaquoia, and his friends who had saved his life. A quick glance at Fran affirmed she felt the same way.
"Balthier?"
Fran had been searching for her friend through the numerous rooms and halls that made up the Bunansa mansion. They had arrived in Archades almost two months ago and on returning to Balthier's former home, they were relieved to discover that the few servants who lived there to retain it's upkeep had still remained there, even after Cid's death. They had all been there throughout Balthier's life and had helped raise the young man, especially after his mother's death. Balthier may not have told his father when he fled the city but he did leave a note for Malladay, the housekeeper, to explain himself. When he nervously approached the house for the first time in nearly seven years, it Malladay who answered the door. She recognised him instantly and after pulling him into an embrace that Balthier was sure would damage his newly repaired ribs, the elderly woman gave him the scolding of a lifetime for running away. Fran could barely contain her laughter at the scene.
It was a strange sort of blessing to learn that Cid had been equally neglectful in all aspects of his life after his return from Giruvegan. He had left the running of the estate to the few servants who remained there, allowing it to become more their home then his. He had also not thought to change his will after his only child had run from him and his home, and so in the event of the Doctor's death, everything had been left to one Ffamran Bunansa; the family's wealth and titles, the house and grounds, everything. Balthier didn't know whether to feel pleased about this or disgusted with it. He was half tempted to burn the whole place down as one last act of defiance.
After spending time in the house again, he was comforted to find the good memories had started to overtake the bad. He had been happy here as a child and he realised that this wasn't just his father's home, it was his mother's too and she had made it a warm and loving place, despite its size. His mother had the ability to make a mansion feel like a cottage. When Balthier first came across her picture in his old room, his shed his first tears in years.
The grounds where both enormous and spectacular, impeccably kept by the gardeners. Fran's face lit up when she saw them, and she spent more time out there then she did in the house. Not that Balthier could blame her when he was trapped inside Cid's rooms, destroying any evidence of the nethicite and everything the Doctor had become after he uncovered it that Balthier could find. It was strangely cathartic.
It took a long time for the estate to become legally his. He had to prove that he was who he said he was, not easy after being gone for so long, and that his father was actually deceased. There was no body and it was a difficult story to explain. There was also the little matter that Balthier was trying to do all this without drawing any attention from the new Emperor or his protector, 'Judge Gabranth'. One day, the Pirates had been in the city only to see Basch patrolling the streets. They were several feet away and he was in full amour but Fran knew him instantly. Upon seeing the look on her face when she saw Basch, Balthier felt instant guilt. He didn't want word getting back to Ashe before he was ready but he also didn't want Fran to suffer for his selfishness. He knew she cared for the Knight (he and Ashe had spent ages gossiping about it when they tented together on their journey), and Basch for her. Apparently he was not the only one who was not ready to make themselves known however, as he watched Fran walk in the opposite direction to the Captain.
Two long months in Archades had brought them to this night, with Fran on the hunt for her hiding partner. She spotted a light from underneath a door that she knew lead to Cid's study and frowned. Only Balthier would go in there but he usually avoided the room. She then heard singing and knew it could only be him.
Walking into the room, she found him lying across a couch holding a glass of something, a bottle on the floor by his side. He had been drinking and this not the first time Fran had found him in such a manner since their return to the mansion. He looked round when he heard the door open and beamed at her.
"Fran!" He exclaimed happily and held up his glass. "Care to join me? Say what you will about the old man but he always knew to get the good stuff. He always knew what was important." The last sentence came out bitter. Fran reached over and took his glass from him, sniffed the contents and took a small sip. She met his waiting eyes and gave him a look of approval before taking the bottle and topping off the glass. She settled into a well-worn leather chair across from him, waiting for him to speak.
"It's official." He said eventually, staring up at the ceiling. "It was all completed today. Everything is officially mine." Fran raised the glass in a toast.
"Congratulations." She said. Balthier raised his arms above his head in mock triumph.
"Woo." He returned, flatly. He then turned quickly on to his side so he could look directly at her and smiled again. "There is one good thing from all this. We, my dear, are rich."
"You are rich." She corrected.
"We are rich." Balthier reiterated. "You and me. We're partners, Fran. What's mine is yours. I wouldn't be anywhere without you."
"You'd be in jail without me." Balthier shrugged this off with a snort of amusement and reached for his drink back. Fran obliged and a silence fell between the two Pirates, the only noise coming from where Balthier was tapping a ring on the glass. Fran gave him a calculating look.
"So, we need not stay here?" She asked after a moment. Balthier shook his head. "What do you propose we do next?"
"I think…" He began slowly "…it's about time we went to Rabanastre. I think it's time I went to fetch my girl back. I miss her." Fran knew exactly what he meant by these words but she could not help herself.
"By 'your girl', do you refer to The Strahl or the Queen." Balthier shot a sharp look at her. This was an argument he had many times before, and not just with Fran.
"Are we really going to do this again?" Balthier asked her, a hint of danger in his voice but Fran was getting tired of his immaturity on the subject.
"You cannot lie to me, Balthier. She weighs on your mind and your heart. Even now. Your actions betray your thoughts." She pointed to his right hand, the one that bore the ring that was tapping against the glass. It was Ashe's ring, the one he took from her after Raithwall's Tomb. Fran had noticed he had been wearing it ever since his hand had been healed.
Balthier turned away from her and muttered something about 'blasted Viera and their superpowers'. Fran waited patiently for him to finish. Finally, he returned to her.
"Well, what about you?" He threw back at her. "Aren't you being a tad hypocritical?" A raised eyebrow asked him to explain himself. "I haven't stopped you from going to see Basch. I said if you wanted to see him, then go see him."
Fran considered her next words carefully. She hate to say it but he had a point. She opted for simplicity in her answer.
"You love her, Balthier." Her friend had no response but she saw the struggle in his face before he rubbed it away with his hand. "Besides," she continued, "you have something that belongs to her. It is only fair you return it."
Fran watched Balthier as he stared at the ring, feeling it with his thumb. He looked so sad at that moment.
"I suppose you're right." He said softly before snapping out of his mood and looking at her. "I'll figure it out once we reach Rabanastre. I want to know exactly what Vaan has done to my ship!"