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Chapter 6: Reminisces

Rabanastre. The capital of the kingdom one woman fought so hard to protect. She lost it once, back when the world shrunk around her, enveloping her in a darkness that only she could possibly see. She was alone in that darkness for so long; her father and her beloved had died way before their time and she had suffered a loss so hard to bear. Then… She found friends…in creatures most unlikely. She did not trust them at first, her pride and her will had told her she could fight that battle on her own. But she was human, and humans often find strength in their weaknesses. She sought their help, and in their own way, aided her cause. Without these people, without her "friends", Her Majesty Ashelia B 'nargin Dalmasca she would still be in that darkness, responsible for letting her kingdom to ruin and her people to shadow.

Three years has passed, but it feels like it has been longer. Queen Ashelia thought to herself. What have I done since then?

She looked towards her beloved Rabanastre, towards the enormous monument just outside the city limits. It was surprising to learn that this monument, though towering and gigantic in scale, stood at a great distance from the royal palace.

The queen remembered that just a few years back, she was standing on top of that tower, was known as the dreaded Archadian sky fortress Bahamut and fought for the freedom of her homeland. She remembered the fear that gripped her heart, the dread that filled her when the enemy seemed too great to defeat, but she also remembered her strength and her will, and that along with her allies, did she succeed.

Ashe often wondered where those allies were now. She had lost track of them a year after the Restoration. It was strange. Two of those allies called her capital home, yet she could not find them. Could not, or would not, she did not know.

For in her heart, Queen Ashelia feared that her brash actions to lead her people to safety would come back to haunt her. She admitted that the path she took to victory was not one her family was familiar with. She had chosen to bear shame to give hope to Dalmasca. She was simply herself.

I am queen now. Ashe told herself. Surely, they would understand that? She repeated the question whenever the guilt of ignoring the once she called friends haunted her. Arguments of her neglect would often come to her whenever these thoughts occur.

I do not ignore them completely. She would say firmly. I correspond to Emperor Larsa frequently enough. True, a week does not go by without the two rulers taking advice from each other.

But another voice would firmly argue to her argument: What about the others? What about Vaan, Penelo, Fran, Basch and Balthier? What about them? Larsa was not with you all throughout your journey. They were. They remained by your side.

Ashe would frown in these thoughts and therefore created a disposition of anger and annoyance to those people who served her.

These thoughts were the ones that stumbled upon her mind as she stared out towards Bahamut. And sure enough, a messenger who bore a missive was a little hesitant to hand out the message to her when he saw her visage.

"Y-your Majesty." The messenger spoke uncertainly.

Ashe spun, her sandy brown hair following her movements. "Yes, what is it?"

"I bring a message from the Marquis Ondore."

"From the Marquis?" Ashe could not hide her surprise. "I hope these are not tidings of ill-fate." She accepted the tightly furled scroll bearing the seal of Bhujerba and exhibited her uncle's slanted writing.

"I believe it is not, your Majesty." The messenger spoke with more confidence seeing that the Queen was not as hot-tempered as she looked. "I believe he sent me to remind you of the coming fete with all the representatives of Ivalice present."

"Ahh, yes…I have seemed to forgotten it." She deigned indifference, but for true, if the messenger had not arrived she would not have remembered the fete at all. "Thank you squire, tell Marquis Ondore that I shall arrive within the fortnight."

"As the Queen commands." The messenger bowed and left.

The Queen stared at the message as the squire left her office. She unfurled the message, smiling at the handwriting of the uncle that had helped her in more ways than one to regain all that was lost by her family.

My beloved niece,

Kvastam!

You know as well as I, that I am not fond of letter writing.

However, you must commend that an old man has decided to make his presence known to a young woman of power.

I am writing not only as your uncle, but as the Marquis of Ondore as well. For knowing you, you have already forgotten that a fete to celebrate the peace that has blanketed our dear land Ivalice will be celebrated in wondrous Bhujerba.

I hope that you accept this invitation, not only as a relative but as the Queen of Dalmasca. For I need not remind you, any strife between our lands would no less destroy the peace. I would like you also to attend for I have news that you have toiled greatly for the previous years and I think it is time for you to acquire a bit of rest.

You need not worry that you shall be stuck in boring ceremonies full of "stuffy old people" as you once said to your father of these fetes, for I have reason to believe that Emperor Larsa shall come too and that you are friends.

Come to Bhujerba, my niece. You shall not be disappointed. Your family would not like it if you locked yourself up too long.

May Galtea watch over you. Faram.

Ashe could not help but laugh as she finished her letter. Indeed, it was quite a surprise to discover that her uncle had a sense of humor, judging by the way he wrote his letter.

She looked out the window again. Should she go?

"Why not?" she asked out loud. "Surely, I can not lose anything if I go."

Yes, this trip should do me some good. She added to herself now. In fact, I believe it is time that I invited a couple of "friends" along. To repay them for all the good they have done for me and for Dalmasca. I am sure Uncle Harim would not mind.

And with that resolution, she called for her handmaiden, Ada.

"I make for Bhujerba." She declared a matter-of-factly. "Inform the Knights of my plans, and please get me General Artorio."

Minutes later, the Commander of the Dalmascan Knights stood before her Majesty Queen.

"Lord Artorio, make ready, for we leave Rabanastre in two days, for Bhujerba."

"Will we travel alone, my queen?"

Queen Ashelia smiled brightly this time, a sight to the commander. "As a matter of fact, no, Commander. For along with your preparations, I need you to find two friends of mine. A hunter and his partner. They go by the names Vaan and Penelo."