Chapter Four

Over the next couple of days Vayne took Ashelynn on a tour of Archades. While the magnificent height of the buildings was interesting, it was the Archadian citizens who intrigued Ashelynn. While impressed with their enthusiasm to seek out information, she couldn't understand why they determined social status the way they did. The amount of information one knew determined the amount of chops one had; and the amount of chops one had determined one's social status. Or something like that. She wasn't quite sure how to take that, part of her wanted to roll her eyes at how stupid it sounded, and she also wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it. But to do either of those would cause the citizens to dislike her so she just smiled and pretended that it was the normal way a society functioned.

A few days after arriving, Vayne informed her that he had business to attend to in Dalmasca and invited her to join him. She went with him but was surprised to find that they did not go Rabanastre as she had expected. Instead the airship landed in the Estersand, in the Sand-Swept Naze area. As she walked off the airship, a desert wolf came running up. Ashelynn quickly turned her back to it and into Vayne's arms.

"Do not worry, I will protect you." He said reassuringly. "But in order to do so you need to be behind me not in front."

"Oh right!" She replied sheepishly getting behind him. One hit with a sword and the wolf was dead. They started walking toward the Barheim Passage entrance. Ashelynn took a wrong step and suddenly fell down and found herself sliding down a sand bank.

"Lady Ashelynn!"

When she finally came to a stop she wasn't sure how to react. But she was not given much time as a cockatrice that was nearby spotted her. It came up to her and got ready to peck.

"Don't even think about pecking me you stupid bird." She said, irritated. A sword came swinging down and the cockatrice was gone.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" Vayne stood over her and offered his hand to help her up. She stood up and tried to brush as much sand off of herself as she could.

"Well that was graceful. You don't happen to have a potion or remedy for my wounded pride do you?" She asked in mock sarcasm. But her eyes twinkled and she grinned. "Seriously though, I am fine. Thank you." They started walking again. As they walked Ashelynn could feel the very uncomfortable sensation of dry sand in her undergarments. She excused herself and with a couple guards walking with her she returned to the airship to clean the sand off.

After he finished with his business at Barheim and she had cleaned herself up the airship returned to Archades. The rest of the days flew by and it was the evening before they were to return to Bhujerba. Vayne found her in the palace gardens. The moon was out and it cast it's glow on her. He just stood there and stared. If he thought she was beautiful during the day, it was nothing compared to how she looked in moonlight. Her dark hair framed her face and her skin glowed under the light of the moon. The reflected moonlight in her eyes made them glow almost iridescently. The full effect was breathtaking and he struggled to think. He walked over to her and offered his arm. He guided her along the paths and neither of them spoke for a little bit.

"Well I guess this is it for now. Tomorrow I return to Bhujerba." She said. He nodded. "Will you write?"

"Of course. And I plan on visiting Bhujerba soon." They continued on in silence for a while.

"I apologize again for what happened in the Estersand." He said looking at her. She just laughed.

"You don't have to keep apologizing. It wasn't your fault and no harm came out of it. As it is, I'm just honored that you would include me in your affairs." She said.

"I wanted to spend as much time as possible with you. And I may have had ulterior motives."

"Oh?" She questioned, eyebrow raised.

"I may have wanted to show off my protection skills." He grinned, something she noticed did not happen often as he seemed to be the fairly serious type. She laughed.

"Well it's getting late. I think I will retire for the night." she said, turning towards him. His hand gently cupped her chin as he lifted her face up. He looked into her eyes for a minute then leaning down he gently placed his lips on hers. Her heart fluttered. As he pulled away he said,

"Until next time."

Please review. Next Chapter will be coming out in the next day or so. Enjoy! Warning: The next chapter involves some adult content including a rape scene. If you do not wish to read it please continue with Chapter Six where I will summarize what happened before continuing with the story.