Father and Son

Two days passed uneventfully as the party of eight soldiers, one general, one king, and two pirates, trecked across many hills and valleys to find the weapon that could destroy entire planets. During those two days hardly anyone spoke. But on the third day, Balthier approached Marina.

"Marina will you let me explain myself?"

Marina looked at him as if he were the most stupid person in the galaxy but Balthier held his ground. "Balthier you betrayed me. You've been working for your father this entire time. Who knows, you could've been working for him since the day we ran away together. Now what makes you think that I would believe a word you say to me?" She turned her back to him and began walking away.

"Because..." this was the most difficult thing for Balthier to say "I love you." Marina stopped in her tracks as she heard those three little words she had been dying to hear but never thought she would. Balthier continued. "And yes I may have kept things from you but I have never lied to you. And now I am asking for the chance to explain what happened."

Marina turned back around to look at him. She couldn't find the strength to speak so she just nodded. Balthier motioned for her to sit, which they did. "A few years ago my father contacted me and tried to make amends. I didn't want to listen. We didn't speak again until he found out about this damn weapon. He said that if I found the location of the planet for him he wouldn't finish what he started with your family."

"So your saying you've been working for your father because he threatened to kill me?" Balthier nodded. Marina smiled and kissed him softly. "I'm sorry for being so stubborn." Balthier just smiled at her. One of his favorite qualities about her was her stubbornness.

"All right children your make-out session is over. Time to get moving." Mattis told them.

Marina stood up and punched Mattis square in the jaw. Many started to chuckle quietly. Marina swirled around and kicked Mattis backwards. "I am NOT a child" she spat.

The general looked at her, appalled. She ignored him and walked on. Balthier stood up and followed her. The company started back on their trail. Balthier left Marina's side to walk beside his father. "How do you know where you're going?"

Cid smiled and handed Balthier a rolled up map. "I thought you might ask that."

Balthier unrolled the map to find a map of the hills they were traveling across. A river lay ahead of them and then, in the side of the mountains behind a waterfall, a cave was circled. "How did you come to possess this?"

Cid smiled sadly. "Your grandfather gave it to me. A long time ago." Balthier sighed and rolled the map back up. "Son, I want you to consider naming yourself prince again."

"You mean you want me to forgive you" Balthier clarified.

Cid shook his head. "No. I would never ask that of you. I just want to die knowing that my worlds are going to be left in good hands. Your hands."

Balthier shook his head. "What happened to you? All you care about now is your damned country."

"Is that such a bad thing? For a king to care about his country and it's people?"

"No its not a bad thing but it doesn't mean you have to forget all about your family! Your family should be the most important thing to you."

Cid grabbed Balthier's shirt collar in his fists. "Don't you dare say that you and your mother were not the most important things in the galaxy to me because you were! And you still are!"

"Then why weren't you there when she died?!" Balthier shoved his hands away and went back to Marina's side. She took his hand and held it gently in her own.

Cid turned away stubbornly and continued to lead the party. They camped at sunset about a few miles from the river. They would reach it by lunch break tomorrow and the cave by sunset.

Marina knew Balthier didn't want to talk about it so she just held him through the night far away from his father.