12
The rest of the Coronation ceremony took place without a single mishap, though there were some wary guests in attendance. Ashe took the throne in a quite official manner. It only seemed appropriate, now that she had brought order to Ivalice not once, but twice. The newest addition to her resume was that all four traitors—Farbner, Felisa, Novari, and even Halem Ondore—had been brought to justice. The last of the living, Farbner, had been escorted to Archades by Judge Zargabaath to await his trial. Ashe had hidden nothing from her people, but spoke frankly about Marquis Ondore's fears and Archades' complaints. "This hate must subside," she had said, "Lest we desecrate all that we have striven for! As the Queen of Dalmasca, I will put every effort into suffering such hatred. We are all one Ivalice."
The room had thundered with applause.
Basch, watching on the sidelines, had felt as if his heart would burst, as it could not contain his pride and admiration.
At the end of the several-minute-long applause, Ashe raised her right hand to silence the crowd. "My ally in such a movement is the last member of House Solidor, a young man who but nearly died for peace….Larsa Soldior."
Larsa then assumed his position at the platform. He was limping badly, and he had to take short, shallow breaths, but the healers had promised a full recovery. "Everyone has been harmed greatly by my former relatives' attempts to push for power. Therefore, I am left with the responsibility of healing such wounds." There was a pause. In the distance, a sneeze echoed off the walls. The crowd seemed one solidified, solemn body of people. They each awaited the rest of his words. "To begin such healing, I must draw your attention to a small city we conquered very early in our advance. The people there were strong-willed, determined not to lose their beautiful flower-laden home. However, in the end they fell, as they always did under my father's tyranny."
If anyone could have honed in on Basch, Noah, or Nadia, they would have never forgotten their expressions. They knew immediately which city he was referring to: The place of their dwelling before the war, the place of beauty and tranquility, the place they grew up together….Landis.
"There were three important dramatis personae in this saga. They were conquered. One brother fled to the homeland of Dalmasca. The other resided in Archades, where he eventually married. Two brothers, three friends—torn apart by the war that destroyed their city. Nevertheless, they continued on to play a major role in bringing about peace to Ivalice. These are, as you know: Captain Basch, Lord Noah, Lady Nadia of the Fon Ronsenburg family; Lady Ashe and I feel as if nothing would have been accomplished without their efforts. May I honor them now by announcing my decision to fund the rebuilding of their homeland, Landis."
Nadia's mouth went wide, Basch's eyes narrowed as he visibly jolted, Noah's jaw and knees both went slack in disbelief. Nadia grabbed Noah's arm in excitement, tears springing to her eyes. Basch thought he was left to fend for himself before he caught Ashe smiling at him knowingly. The applause was deafening.
"They are to rebuild and govern it in any way they seem fit." The applause died down so that all might hear his words. "Archades has been made very prosperous by the spoils we took in war. I give it all back to the people, little by little. Shortly after Landis shall be Armastant, and then Nabudis….so forth, until each territory is rebuilt. It is my hope that this attempt will unite us all as one peaceful Ivalice. May it forever stand upon those who favor peace."
People went wild with cheering. Basch trembled all over as he laughed in exhilarated disbelief. Meanwhile, his sister Nadia had her head buried in her husband's chest. There were tears in Noah's eyes as well. After he took note of the pair his eyes swept over the crowd. "If there is to be a peaceful Ivalice," he said aloud to himself, "than this is a most glorious beginning."
The cheering continued for a while still. The rejoicing would last forever.
--- ---
Noah was standing on the balcony overlooking Rabanastre alone, drinking his bottle of spirits. Inside, there was the sound of laughter, loud music, and clapping hands. He should have been inside getting wonderfully tipsy and dancing with his wife, but he found himself instead musing over the events of the last week. He found he had much to think about. For instance, he had always thought of his decisions during his life in Archades as very necessary and somewhat just. However, now that he had seen his life from both angles, he felt somewhat inadequate as either Judge Magister, Father, or Brother. During his lapse in memory, he could have never imagined himself being so cruel or manipulative. Now, he realized that every word spoken had been true. It was disturbing.
All the same, he at least knew he had redeemed himself at the last. What was more, he would be able to continue his redemption far into the future.
"Noah?" He felt two arms wrap about his waist. The left side of his wife's face rested between his shoulder blades for a moment. "You should be inside celebrating with your brother."
"Mayhap I should be out here thinking of how I plagued my bride," he spoke.
"I should pretend I did not hear that," she replied, stepping away.
He turned to her. "After all that happened, you would choose to bring me back?"
She smiled, almost as if she were harboring secrets inside of herself. She joined him to overlook the city. The wind was blowing softly, tossing her long hair away from her neck and shoulders. "Do you believe that redemption can be found in the absolute, in mystery?" She turned, leaning backward onto the railing with her elbows. Even in the moonlight he could see the bruises and scrapes on her fair skin from the battle with Felisa. He imagined he might even look a bit worse. Despite such brutal markings, she was still the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Her ball-gown was white, long, and slender. "I never thought so. Noah should have never perished within Gabranth's shadow."
He looked past her, troubled. "You still speak of me as if I were two men. In reality, it was I who murdered refugees, I who tried to kill my brother, I who lusted for honor and power."
"I once thought Noah once died in Gabranth's treachery. However, I soon came to realize he had not died. He had been made merely to suffer, locked up inside the shell known as Judge Magister Gabranth. The best way I ought to describe it is that you pretended. Much, in fact, the way you played the charade of your brother." She tilted her head sideways, studying him. "Come, now. I had always been able to tell you and your twin apart. Do you not think me capable of discerning between my husband and a warlord?"
"I was the warlord!" He cried, getting visibly frustrated. "Stop pretending, Nadia!"
"No; you were never the warlord. You killed him."
He paused, blinking at her in harrowed disbelief. Did that even make sense? After all, it was he in Gabranth's garb. Even so, he could fathom her reasoning. After all, inside of him never wavered an ongoing battle of right or wrong. It was as if his persona had indeed been split in twain—one, the young, honorable man in Landis, and the other the heinous warlord who lacked any real pride or honor. However, to place no responsibility on himself would be denying his true nature. The entirety of his life in Archades had roused feelings of bitterness, jealousy, anger, and hatred. He had aided the people who destroyed his homeland, all for the quest of insatiable power. So lost had he become in feelings of duty, obligation, pride, and patriotism that his family had suffered. Could he really claim no fault? He couldn't let her go on believing a lie, living in a fantasy that he did not deserve to possess. Had she only believed what he had done…
And then the answer seemed so clear! All he must do was readily admit what Vayne had spoken to her that tragic day. Any doubt as to his nature would subside in her mind. He could then let her make an educated choice in the matter. Besides, he could no longer live with the guilt of trying to cover over his sin. His conscience would at last be clear. "I have killed," he answered. He reached for her hand. "But not the monster you believe, and all for the sake of duty." He hesitated before he looked her squarely in the eyes. "I have killed Drace."
She tried to keep her face neutral, but it was of no use. Her eyes went wide before she looked away from him. She was obviously hurt. "I…I believed it only to be a falsehood meant to harm us…" She pulled away from him. A short distance away was a stone column, which she wrapped her arms around. The cool concrete felt good against her suddenly feverish face. "I did not wish to believe it."
"Nadia…" he crossed to her; suddenly he abandoned his ideas of telling her the truth and meant only to comfort her. As his son would have put it, it was his job to 'fix it'. "You must believe this as well: I did not wish to do so. It was in Drace's orders alone that I finally carried out the request." When he received no reply, he turned her to face him. He was pained at the solitary tear that slid down her expressionless face. He placed his hands along her jaw and neck, forcing her to look into his eyes. "It was true I followed Vayne's orders. It was not merely so simple, however. What I did, I did out of necessity. She commanded me to do so, only loudly enough for myself alone to hear. She told me to live, to protect Young Lord Larsa. Had I not, I would be dead as well. Had I died, no one could have saved him. However, you know Drace. Her other intentions were no doubt in her mind…She knew I must also live for the sake of my family. For your sake."
She took a hard breath, her face finally registering something between pain and encouragement. She wanted him to continue. She wished to hear him out completely.
"You see, not two days before the tragedy, she spoke to me of how you seemed distant. I've never had such a lecture, not since before my father's death." He smiled at her. "She told me that she knew I loved you, and that if I were to prove it, I must become something more than Judge Magister Gabranth."
"Were those the words that saved you?" She forced. Another tear fell, this time a bit more quickly.
In other words, she wanted to know if his strength to redeem himself had come from Drace. He wished things could be so simple. In reality, it had come from every experience he had ever had in his life. For instance, despite his hatred for Basch, he actually respected him a great deal. Notwithstanding his fierce hatred for Archades, he greatly revered the Judges. One line did cross his mind, however, the one line that he heard every day of his life in Archades. That simple phrase had kept him going through the years; spurred him on despite hardships. "No. The words that saved me were, 'Even a stray has pride'. You could say Gabranth died with those words on my lips."
A flicker of a smile crossed her face. "I heard tale you redeemed yourself before those words were spoken."
"Redemption implies action. Agreeing to peaceful terms with my brother is nothing noble on my part. Bear this in mind always, those words saved my life." He shook his head, smiling at her. "And they always will."
A full smile spread across her features as he wiped away those silver tears with his thumb. "Congratulations, Noah Fon Ronsenburg. You have redeemed your name."
"And may Gabranth rest in peace."
--- ---
Inside, the music was loud. That along with laughing and cheering, made Fran's tender ears twitch nervously. She could hardly enjoy such revelry. She turned to tell Balthier that she would wait for him at the Strahl, but he had become otherwise occupied.
Leith had arrived and tapped the tall Sky Pirate on the belt. When Balthier looked down, he held out the rings he had been ordered to keep safe.
Balthier kneeled to speak to the boy squarely. "Returning my belongings for once, are we?"
He nodded, stretching out his hand.
A smile twitched at the corner of his mouth, though he tried desperately to conceal it. Somewhere along the way he had developed a fondness for this child. "Ah, but a Sky Pirate never returns what he has rightfully claimed." He replied. No doubt his mother had sent him this way to return them before she made her way out to the balcony. "In fact, I'll let you in on a bit of a secret among we pirates."
Leith grinned a toothy, youthful smile, shyly tucking one arm behind his back.
He leaned in, as if he were about to reveal the most sacred of all furtive knowledge. "I received those when I was scarcely older than you are, now," he lied. "When your hand is as large as mine is now, and can fit those rings, you become an honorary Sky Pirate. I pass this tradition on to you. Will you accept?"
He nodded, giggling. He was, for once, completely quiet in his presence. Not surprising, since he looked up to him so. Some humility was in order in the wake of such enormity.
"Very well. I would have you shake on it, as is also a tradition among we leading men." They shook solemnly. "Now, away to your father."
Leith grinned again. "Thank you!" He shouted in his face, and then ran off through the crowd to find his parents.
Fran raised an eyebrow at her partner as he came to his feet, dusting off the knees of his pants. "Very nicely done."
"I had to do something to redeem myself in your eyes, eh?"
"You did that for I, then?"
Balthier put his hands on his hips, watching the last of the boy skitter through the crowd excitedly. "No, I rather fancy the lad, I suppose." He flashed a look at her. "Perhaps I am father material, after all."
Her head cocked to the side, giving him a very rare smile. She was pleased with that answer. "Perhaps."
He put his arm over her shoulder as they began to leave the party. "That, my dear Fran, I did say for you."
In the opposite corner stood Queen Ashe and her loyal knight, Basch. They had been talking for quite some time, catching up on the events of the past year, but now fell into an awkward silence. For a few moments they merely sipped wine from their glasses, but Ashe finally spoke. "Job well done, captain, as usual."
"My thanks, Majesty." He nodded at an official across the room.
"Would you be staying in Dalmasca now that your brother has been…. recovered?" Her pale blue eyes looked hopeful.
For his part, his eyes scoured the room. It was a habit of his. He was always mindful of the events around him. Particularly was this true in regards Her Highness' safety. "I am undecided. There seems to no longer be a place for me in Archades; however, you have many here for your protection, and peace has fallen over the kingdom. There appears to belong no place for me here, either."
"There shall always be a place for you here," Ashe reminded him, as she waved to a Senator's child. "You have been sorely missed. No one could take your position here. I have surrounded myself with guards to do the job you might have done alone. It has been a temporary sustenance in the wake of your absence. Now that your brother is once again in charge of Larsa, I would request for you to remain here, in your home country."
He gave a single nod, a slight smile etching on his features. If he had known how brightly the admiration for her was shining in his eyes, he might have looked away, lest he betray his true feelings. He did not know, nevertheless, and so he stared at her a while still. "Your Majesty…"
"Besides," she continued, "You must coordinate the rebuilding effort for your homeland. It might be difficult from the vicinity of Archades."
He smiled a bit more, but to himself. "Something yet for my brother and I to quarrel about, no doubt."
She tapped her nose thoughtfully, as was her fashion. "I would be pleased to address your brother. I must thank him for saving my life."
"He is currently on the balcony. May I?" He held out his elbow to her, which she gladly accepted. After all, no proper Queen would ever go without her personal escort.
As they walked, they nodded to guests along the way.
"And how are you faring with Ondore's death?" Basch finally put in.
She paused, somewhat distressed by the question. Had he asked her any earlier, she might not have been able to answer it at all. "It is confusing," she stated honestly. "I mourn him ever in my heart, yet I can never justify his actions. Sometimes there is guilt, facing the facts that I am mourning a traitor. Even so, it seems only proper to grieve."
She frowned at her feet. "I wished to be angry with him. I forced my anger, hoping it would drown out my sorrow. When he saved my life by sacrificing his own, it sealed away all that hatred, and all it left was a wake of defeat. Does that make any sense at all?"
Basch nodded kindly as they approached the outside doorway. His hand rested just on the paneled facing. "It makes every amount of sense. When my brother died, I felt much the same way."
"There will be no bringing Halem back," Ashe added thoughtfully. "At least his treachery was carried out in secret. His redemption meant something to those that saw it. Your brother, however, deserves a better chance. He sinned in the eyes of all, and he should make recompense in the eyes of all. Nadia was justified in her actions."
He nodded for a moment. "Majesty. She is not the only one who faced such grievous loss. Had you the power…?" He stopped dead in his tracks at that. He dared not ask her! He was taking too many liberties suddenly, and he knew it. If Queen Ashe had known he had strayed to such a delicate subject, the strain would be unbearable.
Her face turned away. "You are asking of Rasler?" She didn't wait for him to respond. "I made my peace at Ridorana. Hate, prejudice, fear…they can all spur on many emotions. I spent so much time seeking my revenge for his death that I could never move on to peace inside of myself. This peace, this contentment that I hoped for Ivalice—he would have hoped for me as well." She looked at him squarely. "I intend to be a joyful Queen. A sad and lonely one would serve only to burden Ivalice."
Basch's jaw went a bit slack at that comment, though his mouth remained closed, for the most part. His heart dropped for a wild dive and then back up in a dizzying pace. Had her father only seen her now! He felt as if he would burst with pride, as often before. But now it seemed it was bursting with a new emotion, as well.
--- ---
"Mommy!"
Nadia's eyes rolled heavenward at the tiny voice. Though she loved her son dearly, sometimes she just wished to have a moment or two to herself. 'I don't even want to move,' she thought to herself. She was wrapped up snugly in Noah's arms. The breeze was blowing softly. She could hear his heart beat under her right ear. She felt warm and safe and totally uninterrupted—until now. She sighed as she pulled away, greeting Leith. "What is it, love?"
He opened his hand proudly, showing her the rings.
"I thought I told you to give those back to Balthier," she scolded him. She thought with some pride that she somehow remembered to use his new name.
"He wet me hab 'em!" He cried, hiding them behind his back. "He sed I cood be a Sky Piwate when my hand is his big!"
"He still has a lisp," Noah whispered in her ear.
"So did you," she said back.
Leith grinned cutely. "No wispawing!" He then screamed in delight as his father picked him up and threw him over his shoulder.
About that time Basch and Ashe came outside.
"Your Majesty!" Noah fell into a somewhat rushed bow as he set his son to the floor again.
"No need," Ashe replied. "It is pleasant to behold what will be the new face of Ivalice. Families have gone too long suffering in times past."
"Indeed," Nadia answered, giving a quick curtsey as well.
Ashe glanced at her before fixing her gaze on Noah. "I wish to apologize to you, Lord Gabranth," she spoke calmly. "Too long now have I gone with thoughts of mistrust and retribution. I see now I was only hating the man who would be Ivalice's savior."
Noah shook his head quickly. "No, your Majesty; for I believe I deserved every bit of mistrust. I did murder your father, after all. I can never forgive myself for the sins I have committed against my family and against this world."
She smiled softly to herself. "Can we forgive ourselves for the fallen? As it is, forgiveness is mine to grant, and grant it I have. Thank you, Lord Gabranth."
There was a long pause as everyone sat pleasantly musing over that thought. "If you would not object, I prefer to go by Noah, now."
"Sir Noah." She extended her hand in a gesture of friendship. "You shall always be welcomed within our borders." They nodded in recognition as Vaan and Penelo exited. They looked surprised to see the rest gathered there. Obviously they had been seeking some privacy. Now that they were in yet another crowd, however, they decided to take part in the conversation.
"It must have been interesting," Basch acknowledged, staying to Ashe's side habitually. "You have had a rare experience no one else in history has ever had. I must admit there were times when I felt you were constantly at my shoulder, looking over my progress to see if I was performing my duties to your satisfaction. Tell me: What was it like there on the side of the unknown?"
Penelo nodded. Her hand was in Vaan's comfortably. "Yeah. I've often wondered that, too. I mean, we've all lost so many in the war. I guess it would be a comfort to know what it was like for my brothers."
"And Reks," Vaan added.
Ashe gave a faint sound. "Or Rasler, father…Vossler…"
There was an extended hesitation in Noah's features. "You wish to know what death was like?" Nadia put a hand on his arm, snuggling into him. Even she wasn't immune from the inquisition. "Have any of you ever fallen into so deep a slumber that you remembered nothing until the next morning? No dreams, no interruptions….just—one moment closing your eyes and the next opening them?" Each of them nodded in turn. "I suppose that's very much what death is like."
"What?" Vaan blinked at him. "Nothing at all?"
"Well, if there would be anything else, I certainly never remembered it."
Everyone fell into complete silence, musing on this. Was that what death was truly like? No eternal torture, no eternal salvation? Perhaps it was as he said…if life was a state of consciousness, perhaps death was nothing more than a state of absolute unconsciousness. Many wanted to be troubled at the thought, but found nothing to be troubled about at all. Sleeping was not an unpleasant concept. In sleep, the lost would feel no pain, no loneliness, no anger. "Most interesting…" Ashe murmured to herself, walking a few paces away.
Vaan finally broke the silence in an attempt to change the subject. "Where's Balthier?"
"You know that Sky Pirate," Basch replied. "No doubt halfway to his destination by now, without nary a word to any soul." While he talked, he picked up Leith, who was waving his rings about proudly at the mention of his friend's name.
Noah nudged his arm. "Might I speak with you, brother?"
"Of course." They walked off a pace from the rest, Leith still in tow.
"I suppose I owe you an apology more than anyone," Noah began. "It was a heavy burden I placed upon you. Not only that, you never knew about her. I just…. couldn't bring myself….I knew I was dying. To tell you about her would have been as if to easily hand her over. I was not ready to say my farewells."
Basch smiled warmly. "Then I am most glad you never had to."
"I should be adjusting to the thought for quite some time," he added. "Am I a year younger, now? Would that make you even older than you were before?"
"You would like that, would you not? I to be even older than the eldest twin?"
They laughed for a moment. It felt a bit unnatural, for they hadn't laughed together in well over ten years. Even while growing up they hadn't laughed much. They were always in constant competition over one thing or another. Truthfully, they had always envied one another. Now there was nothing left to envy. While it felt pleasant, it was decidedly strange. "What will you do now that I've returned?"
"I've been asked by Her Majesty to reside in Dalmasca. I suppose I'll assume my position as head of the Royal Guard once more." He shifted Leith's weight on his arm. The boy paid him no heed, as he was interested in studying the rings in his hand.
"And you'll settle down and get old and fat with the woman of your choosing?"
Basch smiled to himself ironically. "Men of my station learn long in advance that their family is their kingdom; their wives are their rulers; their children the armies underneath them. We die and are buried in our mother homeland, within the arms of our true love. So it must be so with myself."
His brother shook his head. "Why so? Because you believe it impossible for a Captain to wed royalty?"
Basch shot him a look of alarm.
"Do not deny it, brother; I've seen the way you look at her. Believe me, I've been in such a position before—deciding between duty and happiness. You saw what duty rewarded me with." He stepped forward, offering his hand in a gentleman's shake. "I say we seal an oath now. Starting today, we put aside the past, and live only to make ourselves as happy as possible before we die…" he paused, a look of irony on his face. "…and never come back."
The captain shook his head in awe. "You have changed, Noah." He shook his hand heartily.
"Don't misunderstand. I still find you utterly repulsive." They laughed again, and it was more natural this time. "Keep in touch. We've our country to rebuild."
---
Perhaps it was not Noah's consciousness that kept looking over my shoulder. Maybe it was my own sense of right and wrong, of obligation. More than that, mayhap it was my regret over the grievances with my brother, a way to make up for past sins.
In all sincerity, we both had to pay for our mistakes. We lived hard lives, full of regret and pain. In the end, we got the reward for our endurance.
They say brothers—in particular, twin brothers—share a bond that is unbreakable. We spent many a year trying to prove such rumors false. Despite such attempts and all that has happened these last ten years…even especially what's happened in this last one alone…the conclusion of the whole story is this:
I would not want to be an only son. I am glad for my brother.
--- --- ---
Well, that's it folks! I thought that was an appropriate way to end it. If you remember back a long, long time ago, when the story first started, it was Basch telling the story. The last words were Basch's as well.
Final thoughts:
I'll let you figure out what I meant by redemption, but I'll put it this way: It's not as simple as merely Gabranth needing redemption for his mistakes. The theme of redemption runs much deeper than that.
As for what happens between Basch and Ashe, I'll let the reader decide. Some may feel that it would simply be impossible for a relationship spanning a sixteen-year difference and totally unbalanced social standing to work. Others may feel that they were perfect for each other, that they both enjoyed the love of the people, that age makes no difference…all that good stuff. Basically that particular pairing ends the way you want it to end. (For example, FFVII never—not even in Advent Children or KH2—says that Tifa and Cloud get together. It ends the way you want it to end. I myself think it is borderline crazy to hang on to a dead woman the rest of your life when you have a perfectly nice, attractive, tough little bartender there who totally digs you. I think Cloud and Tifa live happily ever after. If anyone has ever read my other fic they probably have already figured that out. ) Anyway, basically the same principle follows this pairing as well.
As for Balthier/Fran... ) ) Hmm…what would a child that is half-Viera, half-hume look like, exactly?
On a personal note, I loved Gabranth and Basch's story and that's why I chose to write about it. Blood thicker than water theory it is not, but it does have a definite familial bond that runs throughout the whole of the story. It was the most touching, emotionally polarizing plot of the whole FFXII script to me. My personal opinion, I know, but…
Sorry it's taken me so long to update this one. I've been going to the local Renaissance Faire in town. Many of the people that work there are very into Final Fantasy there, however, so don't worry…my heart was in it the whole time. I was on the typewriter in spirit. )
Thank everyone for your support, suggestions, and comments. You've been great. I hope this story has met all of your expectations.
Long live Final Fantasy!
--Rival Turk