Chapter Twenty-Seven: A compact between Knight and Viera

Author note: In my view Fran's character changes somewhat after the Great Crystal. Where she was helpful but distant before she actually becomes quite proactive after the Occuria make their presence felt; she is the first to suggest destroying the Sun Cryst in Balfonheim after all. This is my attempt to explain why.

They had pierced the Great Crystal's core and now traversed its glimmering, warm orange centre.

Jagged formations of crystal created walls that appeared almost fibrous as the party crossed one magickal bridge after another, to one isolated platform and then another with no real destination in mind.

The Mist was still heavy in the air inside the Crystal, but for some reason was less a strain on Fran's senses now that she was inside the Crystal.

Fran walked at the back of the group. Ahead the Princess hid her fear of heights as she led Balthier, Vaan and Penelo in a battle against the Ose on one of the magicked bridges.

Basch and Fran herself remained a little distance away from the battle.

The party's battle with the insectoid Tyrant at the entrance Waystone to the Crystal had resulted in both she and Basch being infected with Disease.

Though they had both immediately imbibed Vaccine's against the wasting sickness it took some time to take affect and it was agreed that they would not take part in the random battles with fiends until they were both well.

When all three Ose fell Vaan and Penelo waited for them to catch up, the Princess, perhaps scenting Nethicite, or merely impatient to be on solid ground, took Balthier by the sleeve and pulled him along in her wake.

'Hey how are you both doing?' Vaan asked as they caught up.

' Well enough.' Basch answered for them both, with a quick glance of confirmation from Fran.

'I will be strong enough to fight at your side soon enough.'

Vaan swiped a hand under his nose in habitual gesture, ' No rush. We'd all be dead now if you and Fran hadn't taken down that Tyrant thing, take your time.'

With that he bounded off alongside Penelo after Balthier and Ashe who had reached another waystone and were investigating the mechanism.

Fran heard the strains of one of Balthier and Ashe's continuous arguments as she and Basch made their unhurried way forward.

' It does not bother you?' Basch asked in rumbling aside.

Fran looked at him curiously; then followed his gaze to where Ashe had caught both of Balthier's hands in her own attempting to forcibly restrain him from pulling apart the waystone mechanism to see how it worked; a long standing ambition of his.

' Balthier enjoys mechanisms of this sort. It bothers him that he does not know how it works.'

Fran explained, then seeing the still troubled look on Basch's face,

' He will not damage it.'

Basch shook his head, a wry smile playing upon his lips, ' Yes he strikes me as a man fond of keeping secrets but loath to have them kept from him.'

Fran quirked an eyebrow, 'A trait common place among Humes.'

Basch nodded to Balthier, ' It is only a business partnership you share with him then?'

Something must have shown on Fran's face, though she knew not what, for Basch looked chastened.

' Forgive me, that was rude of me. It is only that you and he are close indeed and I admit myself curious as to how you came to be with him. Certainly he is fortunate to have you as a partner.'

Basch added swiftly. It was not his way to speak over much or over long, or give himself too much to idly curiosity Fran had noted and she could tell he regretted the indulgence now.

Fran kept her amusement hidden on the inside where she could better enjoy it. He is fortunate to have you as a partner. She had heard others say this, or words to its affect, more than once before.

Fran had found that what they meant was that while they could understand why Balthier would want a partner such as she, they could not understand why she deigned accompany him.

This presiding opinion was a source of some amusement to Fran and Balthier both. Most Humes could not understand the nature of their partnership.

' Free birds flock together.' Was all Fran would say.

'Indeed.' Basch sighed; his eyes watching as the argument between Balthier and Ashe increased in intensity and volume.

'Sometimes, I admit,' Basch continued slowly. ' They make me feel old.'

He smiled upon the other four, Vaan having joined in the argument taking Balthier's side while Penelo stood with Ashe.

Fran considered his words. She was, after all, several decades older than Basch. Did she too feel old?

Sometimes yes, but now strangely, after so many months in the company of Vaan and Penelo, and even the Princess' youthful drive and vigour she felt more energetic than she had in months.

'You Humes are all young to me.' Fran admitted.

Basch smiled warmly on her, ' Indeed.'

'I should imagine our relative youth is all that allows any of us to keep up with you.'

Fran blinked in surprise. Basch paid her a compliment, she knew, acknowledging a Viera's longevity without casting aspersions on her advanced years; his own maturity allowing him to do what Vaan, in his youth, could not.

'I thank you.' Was all she would permit herself to say in response.

Fran watched amused as Balthier flirted with the Princess and Penelo both while idly teasing Vaan.

His moods were as changeable as his mind was steady. She liked that fundamental contradiction in him.

The squabbling over the waystone was reaching critical point. Balthier was one of the most single-minded and focused Hume's Fran had ever met, yet that focus could tend towards myopia on occasion.

His determination to pull apart what might be their only means of leaving this place was not sensible yet curiosity had him by the throat.

'Oft times it has seemed to me that you and I are babysitters for them all.'

Basch murmured amusedly as he watched the fall-out from the squabble as Penelo and Ashe forced the two males away from the waystone like female Couerl protecting a fresh kill.

'Perhaps.'

Fran murmured, though in truth she wondered what the Knight's real purpose was.

He was a far shrewder observer and keen thinker than many gave him credit for. She suspected he had deeper purpose in striking up conversation.

'I am troubled by this place and what we shall find here. If we should find the source of Nethicite, or find a stone.' He finally admitted.

Basch shook his head, almost as if he fought the torrent of words that escaped him.

' Ashe is still a girl. A strong and courageous Princess though she is, I find myself worried at the prospect of what the Empire would do should they find Dalmasca has Nethicite also. I fear Ashe has not thought this through.'

Fran quirked an eyebrow, 'You would have her use the Sword of Kings to destroy any stone she would find?'

Basch looked exceedingly uncomfortable.

'It is not my place to command her majesty. Yet I have been a soldier in too many wars. If Dalmasca is to be restored it must be for those like Vaan and Penelo. A smoking ruin with no people is no kingdom at all.'

Fran did not respond, there seemed little point, Basch was most certainly correct. For Fran still remembered Landis before it's fall.

The monarchy of Landis had fought the Empire and now nought was left but a charred ruin, its people, like Basch, scattered to the four winds.

Basch cleared his throat hoarsely, 'I would ask for your support, Fran, should it come to it.'

Fran glanced down at Basch quizzically. ' In what matter?'

Basch still looked uncomfortable yet his eyes held a clear and steadfast light as he met her gaze.

'Balthier follows your judgement in most things, it seems, and Balthier has the ear of the Princess in a way I do not.'

Fran understood his purpose now, the reason for his questioning of the relationship between herself and Balthier.

She did not think less of him for it, she would expect no less of a man with the unenviable task of protecting Dalmasca for and from its Princess' desires.

'You would have me speak with Balthier, so that he may put forward our stance to the Princess.'

Basch was quick to catch the meaning of her words, that she too shared his concerns, the light of relief flared in his pale eyes.

'Or you yourself. The Princess values your wisdom as much as Balthier's decisiveness.'

Fran nodded to the Dalmascan Captain. ' We must first see what lies at the Crystal's heart. I too am troubled by this place.'

'Agreed.' Basch nodded and afforded her a faint smile.

It struck Fran as they finally reached the waystone that had caused so much controversy among the younger members of their party, that with this group of odd companions she had finally found the acceptance she had lacked since leaving Eruyt.

Here she was among friends. Friends who cared not that she was neither true Viera nor Hume; perhaps, Fran mused for the first time, because it simply did not matter anymore?