Chapter 14: Masks and Goodbye
Queen Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca stood at the foot of the marble fountain that was the centerpiece of the Marquis of Bhujerba. She had been expecting to enjoy her time at this fete, but it had been two weeks since their arrival and she had to admit, she had not been enjoying herself. Of course, she had not been saying that to most of the other guests of her uncle, she was after all, an expert of wearing a mask that hid her true feelings.
She was oblivious of the beauty of the garden, the different species of flora and the crystal clear water of the fountain. All her thoughts were bent on how was she to talk and face the one person that managed to tell her exactly what she had been doing to all those who helped her, and had managed to tell her how ungrateful she had become.
She was not used to being scolded, that she had to admit. Of course, being of royal blood could have been the reason for that. Her father, the late King Raminas had spoiled her too much and had not so much asked her for anything except her arranged marriage to Prince Rasler, and even that had been met with frowns. Rasler himself was a different matter, He had been frank with her, despite the love between them, and she had been shy towards him, something that she was not known for. Rasler had told her that she should change for her people, and that nothing would come out if she will not.
And she had tried. She had tried desperately to change. She even liked to believe that she did. But remembering the heated words a certain hunter had told her made her consider if she had indeed changed over the years or she was just getting worse as time passed.
'A beautiful woman should not wonder alone without an escort.' a heavily accented voice pierced her thoughts and made her turn around.
Al-Cid Margrace was a man who so exemplified the total opposite of Vaan. He was a man so sure of himself, as he displayed as he sauntered towards her, a nothing sort of conspiratorial grin of his face as the Bhujerban sun caught a glint on his otherwise odd spectacles. Ashe always saw him with one of his Rozzarian women with him, that she was surprised that as he came towards her, he had no one following him around.
Ashe herself knew that despite his otherwise lackadaisical air, the Rozzarian was serious personified whenever politics and his people were involved. His flirtations were harmless enough games, but she was not used to such advances having been widowed at the age of seventeen and had not been looking for anyone to call her husband, and she was not like any other young woman her age who practiced her ways of flirting rather than to rule a country.
Despite her lack of experience however, she had enough experiences with Balthier that she knew debonair men like Al-Cid Margrace greatly enjoyed a woman who could match their wits.
She therefore smiled back at Al-Cid before turning her gaze at the water fountain. "I would sure to remember that if I see any beautiful women around, Sir Margrace."
Al-Cid Margrace flinched slightly at the use of a title. Ashe gave him a sidelong glance, amused by his reaction. "Something ails you my lord?" Ashe asked though quite casually.
Al-Cid on his turn merely shrugged. " Nothing at all, Lady Ashe." he replied. He placed his hands on his hips as he removed his glasses and idly waved it around. "Permit me to ask, what is a lady of such status, doing alone in a lonely garden at a wonderful day like this?" he emphasized his point with several more sweeping gestures with his glasses.
Ashe regarded his movements with a gentle rising of her eyebrows and a speculative look on her silver-gray eyes. "I am used to being alone." she replied, her voice just tinted with a bit of sadness in it.
Al-Cid cocked his head to peer down at her face. Ashe was surprised to find herself reddening as he looked at her a little too shrewdly, as if suspecting a little more meaning than she would let on in her words. As she looked away, Al-Cid promptly sat on the edge of the marble fountain. He smartly crossed his legs and smiled at Ashe in such a mischievous smile that Ashe possibly turned redder and an uncharacteristic "What?" came out of her lips.
"Well, it seems, Ashe," The queen noticed the change of his usage of her name without any title hanging beside it. "You have been much too preoccupied with thoughts of home and business and have not fully realized that here you are not to think of such things. And," Al-Cid raised his voice slightly louder because Ashe had all the intentions of interrupting him. "As such, you have not enjoyed yourself fully and now you fear it is too late and that in just a few hours, you are to depart from Bhujerba and have not managed to relax at all."
Ashe was rendered speechless at the accuracy of Al-Cid's words that she stared at him, all her embarrassment forgotten. "How--?" she managed to stutter and Al-Cid grinned mischievously once again.
"I did not, my delicate desert flower." Al-Cid interrupted. "I merely hunched a guess, and seeing your expression, I would deem I am correct?' He raised his eyebrow to her questioningly that Ashe promptly felt her cheeks redden once more. She tried to nod however, and she did so successfully albeit awkwardly.
The heir to the Rozzarian throne merely smiled again and stood up, promptly placing his glasses once more. "Think not more of the past mistakes you have done Ashe. The gods, I am sure, have their own ways of rewarding and punishing us. You have been brought here, I believe not to mope around for the mistakes you have done, whatever they may be, but to do everything you do for the future, not only yours, but for your kingdom as well." he offered his arm to her and she could do nothing to accept.
"Do you always deal in absolute?" she asked curiously, amazed at this perception of his.
Al-Cid gave a slight chuckle but shook his head. "Only when I am dealing with such a despondent yet very beautiful creature."
It was Ashe's turn to cock her head. "And who is that?" she asked innocently, in which Al-Cid did not answer but laughed again, as the two left the garden.
XOXOXO
Balthier left the room where Vladimir Ortal had demanded his services. As soon as he closed the door, he felt his grip upon the doorknob tighten under pressure, pressure he realized he was giving off himself.
"What is the matter?' Fran's voice snapped his thoughts and he looked up to his Viera companion who was walking purposely towards him.
Balthier looked up and a mask suddenly fell over his face, hiding his true emotions from the Viera he trusted the most. He gave a smile that he hoped was his usual light self.
"Are you interested in a job, Fran?" he asked her folding his arms and adopting his old tone.
Fran was silent as she stared at him, wondering if he was serious. It seemed that Fran revealed a little too much in her looks because Balthier smiled and met her stare head on.
"I have just left the Senator, or what's-his-face, and he gave us a job. A very rewarding job. 50 million gil so he says."
"What is this job?' Fran asked speculatively.
"Oh, the usual." Balthier answered waving his hand in the air casually. "Old ruins, Death traps, lots of treasure. Pretty much your ordinary treasure hunt."
Fran placed one of her hands on her hips and tossed her hair over her shoulder thoughtfully. "If it is a usual job, why does this Senator giving us more than usual rates?"
Balthier shrugged. "I have no idea. But you know me, my dear. Adventure, prospects of treasure and lots of danger are all I need for a good day. His reasons are not mine, and my reasons are not his. I accepted the job, if you have any objections, which I hope you do not, for this is a wonderful opportunity to get filthy rich.' A twinkle flashed in his eyes.
Fran merely nodded and tossed her head once more. "Riches and Humes, I see no importance in it."
Balthier gave a soft chuckle as the two of them went back towards where they came, back towards the Strahl, which they saw was no longer strapped behind the Ifrit. "That's exactly what is fun about it Fran. This job has absolutely no importance."
XOXOXOXO
"Come on Vaan!" Penelo cried excitedly, though she managed not to jump up and down, something she used to do back when she was seventeen. "We have to get this stuff in here!" she demanded her partner who was half-obscured by a dozen or so boxes he was carrying towards Ashe's ship. The queen herself was talking to her uncle a little away from the ship and saying her private goodbye.
"I'm coming Penelo!" Vaan managed to yell behind the boxes.
"Here let me get that for you Vaan," Larsa's voice suddenly said in front of him and Vaan was extremely relieved when his load got considerably lighter.
Larsa carried some of the boxes and together they proceeded to go to Penelo who had not seen Larsa offer his help. "Where's Basch?" Vaan asked before they got to Penelo.
"Oh," Larsa looked somewhat uncomfortable. "He had some business to take care of the moment, but I'm sure he would like to say his own goodbyes to you as well." The young emperor did not meet Vaan's eyes however and the older one saw through the guilty expression immediately.
"You mean you escaped from him," Vaan smartly said.
Larsa tried to look scandalized. "I did not do such a thing!" he said though his ears were getting a little red.
"Hmm, yeah right Larsa." Vaan nodded. Unfortunately, his pleasure at catching Larsa was short-lived, because Penelo suddenly spotted the two of them as she turned around to see why Vaan was taking so long.
"Vaan!" she cried aghast, as the two males drew level with her, "I can't believe you bullied Larsa into helping you. You should know better!" she grabbed the boxes from Larsa despite his and Vaan's protests that Larsa did it on his own accord and stuffed them unceremoniously in Vaan's arms again that he staggered under the weight.
Vaan tried to maintain his balance but it was too late; he staggered backwards and he would have fallen completely had it not Basch behind him and supported him to stand back up straight.
"Basch!" Penelo and Larsa said in unison as Basch appeared, yellow beard and all, his Archadian armor back on however.
"Thanks, Basch." Vaan muttered as he stood up straight.
"You should know better than to carry so many boxes, Vaan." a glint of amusement on his solid green eyes.
Vaan did not reply but merely passed on the boxes to a couple of Ashe's escort who were passing by to get into the ship. They took them without complaint, but Vaan detected the otherwise startle look they had.
Vaan turned to look at the other three who were speaking behind him. It had been refreshing, spending the past two weeks with his old friends and not just Penelo. Though Vaan really did appreciate her, he was nevertheless glad that she had someone else to boss around other than him. Especially since one of them was wearing a particular armor that had Archadia written all over it. "Nice armor Basch." Vaan blurted out loud before he could stop himself. "Metallic gray really suits you.'
Basch did not say anything but Vaan was sure he detected a snort that Larsa carefully hid with a clearing of his throat.
"Well, despite that fact that being Judge Majister requires the use of metallic gray, I do agree with Vaan." Larsa spoke next, drowning out Penelo's giggles.
"Oh, that's right." Penelo sobered up at once. "I quite forgot that you are a Judge Majister now Basch. I can't seem to get that image of you as Ashe's bodyguard out of my mind." She gave Basch an apologetic grin. "Sorry."
Basch merely nodded in reply. The Judge Majister turned to look at Larsa. "We should be returning to the Alexander, your Excellency. Judge Majister Zargabath, I confess is impatient to begin ordering Imperials about once more."
Larsa regarded this remark incredulously as if he was trying to see if he was kidding, but Basch's face was straight. Larsa sighed and nodded, and turned once more to the two hunters.
"Well, here at last, at the shores of Bhujerba do we part." Larsa began, hardly keeping his voice from becoming too heavy with regret at departing.
Larsa felt a hand on his shoulder and he looked up, without actually realizing that he did bend his head down at his words. Vaan was looking at him sympathetically, with Penelo smiling at him encouragingly.
"Don't sweat it, Larsa." Vaan smiled at him. "All you need to do when you're in a fix is call on Penelo and me. We'll be there in a snap."
Penelo nodded her agreement.
"I appreciate it, Vaan, Penelo, really I do." Larsa said gratefully. "It is just, that there are times when I honestly wish that goodbyes are much easier." Larsa sighed and a much older look came upon his steady blue eyes as he looked away. "Though experience has taught me nothing ever comes easy. However it seems I will never get used to It." he attempted to give a smile, but he feared that it just came out as a grimace.
Penelo reached out and embraced him tight, much to Larsa's astonishment. "Then we won't say goodbye," she whispered somewhere in his ear and a strange prickling sensation spread throughout the young Emperor's body. "We'll say 'see you later' instead." She hugged him, if it was possible, tighter. " And "don't worry'," she released him what seemed like eons after.
Larsa tried to stop himself blushing as Penelo released him. It was quite impossible however because after the hug, Penelo gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you, Penelo." Larsa managed to blurt out. Vaan was polite enough not to mention the beet red complexion Larsa was suddenly sporting and Basch was behind Larsa, so he could not see his face.
"If things do not come out as you would hope, though I really hope it would, you could count on us." Vaan said as Ashe finished her conversation with Marquis Ondore, whom Larsa had said his appropriate goodbye, and was coming towards them. " There would be hunters all over Ivalice but the closest to Archades would be in Tchita Uplands." Vaan motioned over to Basch. " Basch knows the place. If you guys ever need us, just talk to any of the hunters there, but make sure they have a Phon Coast insignia." He showed the Hunters' Emblem etched on his armguard. "All Hunters who bear this emblem use Phon Coast as Headquarters. If anything happens and you need to contact us, we will meet you there."
"But there is no need to worry, since I'm sure you can handle anything that comes in your way." Penelo quickly hastened to add. "This is just in case."
Larsa nodded again, gratefully, but it was Basch who answered for them. "We appreciate what you are giving us, Vaan, Penelo and I thank you."
"You have my thanks as well Vaan, Penelo." Larsa quickly added looking at the two of them. "You are true friends."
Vaan and Penelo smiled at his words, but it was only Vaan's smile that dropped when Ashe approached them. He turned abruptly and entered the ship after a quick goodbye and 'see you' to Basch and Larsa before the rest them realized that he had disappeared.
"Ashe!" Penelo cried a little too cheerfully at her queen as she arrived and stopped just beside Basch and Larsa, a sad little smile on her face. She had not obviously seen Vaan run up the ship because she gave Basch and Emperor Larsa a friendly smile.
"It seems that it was just yesterday when we were greeting each other now we have to leave." The Queen of Dalmasca said her voice not tinted with the sadness Larsa expressed though she did speak of it with sincerity.
Larsa nodded, and Penelo saw him adopt the Emperor role once more. "But we will see each other again, I am sure. It is only a matter of time, Queen Ashe."
Ashe nodded absently, her eyes flickering here and there and Penelo wondered if she was looking for Vaan. Before Penelo could smile at the thought, Ashe had bidden Basch and Larsa goodbye and was boarding the ship.
Penelo sighed and looked back at Ashe's retreating back, hoping that the queen would notice she was still there. Ashe didn't.
"Take care of her, Penelo." it was not Larsa but Basch who said it. Penelo gave Basch a curious look but the Judge Majister refused to say anymore and merely shook his head.
Penelo sighed again. "Well," she looked at Larsa who was smiling sadly again at her. "See you later,' she said with a soft smile at Larsa.
Larsa nodded and smiled back. "Do not worry." he replied.
Penelo walked up to the ship and watched Larsa and Basch through the windows, even when the ship started rev up for take off. She raised one of her hands in reply to Larsa's raised hand and watched as Larsa became smaller and smaller on Bhujerba's port until he was nothing more than a speck.
She couldn't help it. The words were out of her mouth before she could stop herself 'Goodbye.'
We are sorry for the long update...hope you are still with us...(",)
