Disclaimer: Square Enix owns FFXII and all of the characters. I only wish I owned Balthier.

Chapter 4

Balthier motioned to the bar wench, beckoning for her to come over to their table. She gladly obliged, sauntering her way over as she eyed the sky pirate up and down.

"What can I do for you?" she asked as she smiled and not-so-subtly licked her lips.

"My friend and I would like another round," he said with an amused look on his face.

The woman turned and walked off heading towards the bar. Balthier watched her as she poured two mugs full of ale. "Women," he thought to himself, "are by far the most dangerous creatures in all of Ivalice." He also could not help but notice that this particular barmaid had gorgeous, ash-blonde hair and a pout that reminded him of a certain royal person he knew. His thoughts were interrupted as the girl returned with their drinks. He gave her a wink, and handed her more than enough gil to cover the tab.

"Did you find out anything new today?" Fran asked with an edge of impatience in her voice.

"No, I did not," he sighed, "it seems that it may have been nothing more than a rumor."

"Balthier admitting he was wrong, a new one that."

"I didn't say I was wrong, my dear—just misinformed—but, I am not quite ready to give up yet on this particular rumor," he stated as he grinned from ear to ear. "Besides, we have not yet seen or heard from the young apprentices, who should be arriving very soon."

"They will not come until after the ceremony," she said as she watched his face closely. "They will be there to celebrate with their friend—why will we not?"

Balthier tried to hide the sadness in his voice by making a silly joke. "We cannot attend, sweet Fran. They do not invite ghosts to coronations!"

"We are not ghosts, Balthier, and we did not need invitations. I have a feeling, that you in particular, would have been more than welcomed."

"Fran, please…enough," he could no longer keep the hurt from his voice. "There is no reason to discuss this. I made my decision on the matter." He attempted to hide his face from her searching eyes, knowing that she would see all too easily what was written all over it.

Fran began, "One more thing, Balthier, and then I will leave you alone to your thoughts." She paused and Balthier could feel her stare, "You can not run away from this. You have been able to run from everything else in your life, but this will not let you escape. It will chase you, and haunt you, and you will never get away from it. You may avoid succumbing to it, but you will never be free of it. Your love for her…it has bound you. Your thoughts, your actions, everything you do—it will eventually lead back to her. Go to her, before it is too late."

With that, Fran stood and left him at the table alone. He sat there, mulling over her words. Unfortunately, she was, as always, right. He was not sure what to do, and it seemed as though there was a battle waging inside of him. Part of him wanted to be there tomorrow, to watch her become Queen of Dalmasca. This was the side of him that wanted to make Ashelia his, and to hell with the consequences of her being regal and him being rogue. The other part of him, though, questioned whether or not they could overcome their differences. Sky pirates and Queens did not consort with one another.

He quickly finished his drink, and stood up to walk away from the table. "A little sleep will do wonders to clear my head," he thought to himself. He walked toward the room that he had rented, and he turned to look back at the barmaid. She was smiling at him, and her pleasant expression reminded him again of his Princess. "My Princess…" he mumbled quietly as realization hit him. He stormed down the hall, and lifted his hand to knock on the door. Before his knuckles could strike the wood, it creaked open.

"I knew you would make the right decision," Fran said with a slight grin.

He smiled back at his partner, "You know me too well for your own good. Come, we leave for Rabanastre."