CHARACTER COUNTER: 2
Chapter 30: In the Presence of the Queen
Dalmasca. 'Tis a small kingdom comprising the lands around the city of Rabanastre governing a portion of the Galtean Peninsula.
While its territories are small, its situation at the crossroads of three continents has enable it to prosper as a center for trade.
More than 700 years marked in the charts of history since her founding, yet many are the armies that have sought to claim her for her cultural richness and strategic importance.
Upon her defeat to Archadia in the invasion of 704, her lands were placed under the direct control of the Empire. It has only been 3 years after the two-year war to regain Dalmasca for its proper heir, Ashelia B'nargin and only under her reign did Dalmasca flourish once more back to the magnificent kingdom it has long been reputed to be.
The capital of this kingdom is Rabanastre, and also had been the capital of other kingdoms stretching back into the storied history of the Galtean Peninsula.
Rule by the Dalmascan royal family lasted several hundred years before the city's fall to the Archadian Empire 5 years past.
The story of its city's peoples is the story of three cultures: those of Valendia, Ordalia and Kerwon, who bore trade goods along the many well-frequented routes leading to her welcoming gates.
The town proper of Rabanastre is divided into four sections by the cardinal directions of the compass. The East and West are merchant districts, the streets lined with shops and stall of every description. In the north, the streets widen into a large piazza facing the palace, and to the south can be found three gates leading beyond the city wall to the Dalmascan desert and Giza Plains.
A short walk north from the center of Rabanastre will lead you to the gates of the royal palace.
Before the war with Archadia, and also now after Dalmascan restoration, this magnificent structure was home to the Dalmascan royal family and barracks to the Order of Knights that served them.
The palace itself was built several centuries ago, and has since been the home of many Dalmascan monarchs.
Numerous additions have been made to the palace over the course of its long history (the Royal City of Rabanastre having several times fallen under control of foreign powers through invasion), but overall bearing of its architecture is true to the original Galtean design.
Within the palace are secret chambers containing documents and treasure belonging to the royal family. Few who live beyond the palace walls know how they may be found and even fewer know that since Queen Ashelia's ascend to power, these hiding places had long been closed both in fear of future burglaries or her own preferences to not keep the same hiding places as her previous ancestors did.
Right now, as she sat in her office, pouring over old maps of these hiding places that her grandfather had made for her father and which her father had enhanced for her perusal, Queen Ashe would not have paid any attention to the people in her office until one of them cautiously placed a hand on her shoulder and she looked startlingly up at its owner.
'Oh my!' she exclaimed uncharacteristically standing up in surprise, wondering how on Ivalice did she not sense their approach. She stared at them with her silver-grey eyes and wondered if her expression displayed the feelings she felt right now.
'There is no reason to look so surprised,' Vaan commented dryly from behind Larsa, folding his arms characteristically and leaning on one of Ashe's several bookcases. He gave Ashe a cold look before Penelo noticed who in turn gave him a withering look.
'Lady Ashe,' Larsa spoke now, he being the one who touched Ashe on the shoulder. Ashe now averted her gaze from Vaan to rest upon Larsa, who, in the queen's opinion, looked rather odd in his Rabanastran clothes.
'General Venitol gave us passage into your office when he saw who we were. I hope that we have not come at a bad time. The moogle Montblanc said that this time was supposed to be our meeting.'
Ashe shook her head, quickly regaining all her lost composure at their arrival as she moved away from her desk to stand before this small party before her. Gazing at them silently through their heavy disguises, the young queen suddenly felt a sudden pang of nostalgia.
The small group before her suddenly reminded her of two years ago, when she had been traveling with them. This group now were alike that of a year ago, yet so different. For one, the absence of Fran and Balthier were quite noticeable, and another, Basch's hair had been long and somewhat unruly, and Penelo and Vaan had the look of naivety about them. This group had none of those things and Ashe felt distant from them, as if she were only an outpost that they needed to reach before they continued on.
"You must be very tired,' were the first things Ashe said after she had studied all of them silently. 'Perhaps you would like to rest first?"
Larsa shook his head. 'Thank you but no.' he replied his Archadian accent more than prominent. 'We have journeyed in haste to warn you of the oncoming danger, Lady Ashe.' He added cutting to the chase.
'Danger?" she asked a bit puzzled. 'What kind of danger might this be that required you to have a secret meeting with me?' she asked her tone quite detached. Even as she said these words, she felt the group exchange glances with each other.
'When we spoke at the fete a month ago, I told you of the possibilities of a strife between the Senate and myself.' Larsa said, adopting the same calm tone that Ashe used. 'I spoke of a new government, to change the Empire so that my people will have the equal rights they deserved. And as we predicted, this did not go well with the Senate. I have come here for fear that the Senate will now move to strike those countries that I have returned their liberty to and gather them once more under the banner of Empire."
Ashe was silent for a while before barely whispering. 'You have abandoned your rule, your people to warn a small kingdom like myself?'
If Larsa felt surprise, he did not show it and even gestured over to Vaan and Penelo to be silent. Larsa chose not to answer Ashe when she asked that question, but it did not matter if he did not for Ashe continued to speak as if she had not asked a question at all.
'A strange thing has happened.' She started, her eyes gazing out once more to the ruins of Bahamut. 'It might interest you.' She turned to face them.
'Two days ago, an Imperial soldier baring the Solidor crest came to my office to give me a message. I had assumed it came from you, though it struck me as odd that an Imperial came to give it to me rather than the usual way I receive your mail. Nevertheless, I opened it and imagine to my surprise the missive was indeed about you, but in another way that I would have prepared it to be said.'
Without another word, Queen Ashe fished a heavy looking parchment from the pile in her desk and handed it over to the boy Emperor.
Larsa accepted the parchment and read it silently; a slight widening of his eyes was the only indication to tell that he was affected by what was written. The boy Emperor heard Vaan and Penelo whisper hurriedly, trying to see what was written on the parchment. Quietly, Larsa passed the parchment to Basch and the Judge Majister took it.
'What does it say Basch?" Vaan asked, trying to peek over the older man's shoulder. 'Come on, what does it say?'
Basch gave what seemed to be a grunt before reading the parchment aloud in his deep gravel voice.
'It says that Lord Larsa is a traitor to the Empire and has fled Archades to avoid punishment. There is a heavy reward for any who would tell the Senate, the now ruling party of Archadia, of Lord Larsa's whereabouts. "All kingdoms that have affiliations with the renegade Emperor would do well to question their allegiances".' Basch ended and there was a hint of disgust in his voice. The former knight turned to Larsa who had fallen into a shell-shocked silence, ignoring the Queen of Dalmasca who turned once more to her window.
'It's just as we feared, your Excellency.' Basch whispered. 'News must have gotten to the Senate about your escape and that you are alive and well. I fear that we must move quickly.'
'Where?' Larsa asked finally looking up at the older man. The young emperor's voice was shaking. 'We do not know who and what it is we fight for! What good is running when the enemy seems to be always one step ahead of us?' Larsa seemed oblivious to the startled stares of the people in the room, carried away by his words. 'I am like a child, grasping at darkness, trying to grope around for my way! If I continue to run away, a lot more people will be drawn to danger. How stupid was it of me to come to Dalmasca, to drag it with me in this conflict that I alone should be facing! I am no better than my brother!'
Before Basch could reply to Larsa's outburst, Penelo had bounded forward and slapped Larsa on the face so hard, his head snapped to the side. Basch, with a look at Penelo's barely controlled rage, stepped back a bit, knowing full well that a woman's slap deals a heavier blow than that of a man's punch. Ashe had turned around at the sound of Penelo slapping Larsa and surprise was etched on her face, while Vaan muttered a "Whoa," under his breath. Penelo ignored all of this and met Larsa's startled blue eyes with smoldering amber ones.
'Listen to you!' she barely hissed at the boy Emperor. 'How dare you suggest giving up after all you have been through! I would have thought that after all the effort you have mustered to try to bring equality to your country you would not fall at the first obstacle that comes in your way to achieving that goal. If you want to compare yourself to Vayne, who took shortcuts and cut corners in order to achieve his goal, then fine, you're like Vayne! Because the Larsa I know would not reason his age, or his lack of knowledge to keep fighting!!"
A silence greeted these words, Penelo's fist was clenched as she glared at Larsa. The emperor was silent, not bothering to look at Penelo after she had slapped him, and Vaan saw Larsa's shock at Penelo showing any kind of violence that the hunter took pity on him.
"Penelo," Vaan started, trying to calm Penelo down. 'Maybe you're acting…'
"No," Larsa's accented voice interrupted smoothly. He looked up now and there was no trace of emotion left on his deep blue eyes. 'She is right, Vaan. I should not be cowering in the face of my enemies. It is not the Solidor way. It is not the Imperial way. It is not the Archadian way!'
At his words, Penelo felt immediately contrite. 'Larsa, that's not what I meant. I just…'
Larsa held up a hand to silence her. 'I understand perfectly, Penelo.' He said no more to her and turned his attention back at Ashe who had straightened from her position on the window sill.
'Lady Ashe, I fear we have wasted your time by coming here. It seems we shall have to look for a way out on our own. If I could ask but one favor: that you let us leave now without any disturbances before you warn the Empire, I would be grateful.'
There was a collective gasp from Vaan and Penelo and Basch looked alarmed at Larsa. 'Your Excellency..' he started to say but it was Ashe who cut in now.
'It is interesting.' She said, still in that calm and otherwise detached tone. 'I would have gladly given into your request days ago before I received the message of your arrest. However, right now, I cannot say I shall do that.' She folded her own arms and looked at Larsa with clear grey eyes.
This time it was Larsa who looked surprised and Vaan who looked angry.
'What?" he practically yelled. 'You're giving Larsa to the Empire? After what he did to help you get back Dalmasca??"
Ashe however did not looked fazed this time. Instead, she ignored Vaan and met Larsa's eyes.
'You see, the messenger from the Empire is still here. He asked to remain as he had some very important news to share to you.' Ashe turned her eyes to General Venitol who had been standing watch at the door. The young general nodded and left the room.
'You allowed the messenger to stay??" Vaan yelled at Ashe again as Larsa had not bothered to give out his protests. 'You're letting him arrest Larsa??" However, once again, no one bothered to answer nor pacify him as the door opened once more.
'I would think the person who had to arrest the Emperor must first have abandoned their allegiance, Vaan.' A deep voice said behind them and the group turned to meet the messenger who had just come in, following Venitol inside the room.
The shock was evident in all of their faces as the messenger walked over to stand and bow before the boy emperor.
'Captain Sephyr.'
A/N: We are sorry for the long update..it has been a hectic month...
