Other Character Counter: 1
Chapter 52: Aftershock
"Vaan?" a faint but familiar voice whispered in Vaan's closed off mind, trying to coax him out of the stupor that had wrapped around him. Vaan's eyes remained closed. Where was he? What happened? Was he dead? Was it all a dream? Was he lying dead somewhere and this was some sort of after life? If it was, why did he feel his lungs move, his heart beat?
A soft and cool touch lingered in what he thought was his forehead. "Vaan?" the familiar voice whispered, closer this time, and with gentler tones. "Wake up."
I don't wanna. Vaan thought to himself as the memories of what happened before this unknown came rushing back. Fighting off those monsters at Henne, Larsa getting that Stone, Balthier and Fran betraying them, Basch getting injured, Penelo frightened, Balthier and Fran betraying them, Larsa giving up the Stone, the ceiling caving in for the nth time, Balthier and Fran betraying them.
Balthier and Fran betraying…Balthier…Fran…betray…The words echoed across Vaan's head as the images of Balthier and Fran flashed across his mind over and over again. Balthier and Fran betraying….Balthier betrayed…Fran betrayed…betrayed…betrayed…betrayed! Red hot anger surged through Vaan's veins and even then in his semi-conscious state feel his limbs trembling as he slowly spun out of control. Dimly, he could hear other voices above him, voice high in panic and several more touches across his skin. The cool touch was no longer there.
"What's happening to him!?!"
"Vaan! Wake up!" Betrayed…betrayed…Balthier and Fran…
"He's going into shock! Wake him up quickly!!" Fran…Balthier…betrayed!
"Vaan open your eyes!"Traitors…Traitors…! Traitors!!
"Vaan!"
"Vaan!"
"TRAITORS!!" Vaan jolted awake, eyes widen in shock at the sudden pressure in chest. Deep ragged breaths tore through his lungs and he choked back coughs when he breathed in too much too fast. Around him, he felt more than heard and saw the relief of the others at seeing him awake. Somebody or something relatively heavy constricted his breathing.
"Vaan!" Vaan recognized the voice of Penelo who sounded muffled despite the relief in her tones. The heavy pressure he felt the moment he woke up disappeared when Penelo spoke. He looked down and saw his partner, on her knees and hugging his chest, tears streaming down from her amber eyes. Penelo's tears were cold against his skin, which only now did Vaan notice was hot all over. Did he have some kind of fever? Everything was hazy. Where was the cool touch that had comforted him earlier?
"P-Penelo?" his voice was raspy from disuse. Penelo looked up, tears still streaming down her face but no longer sobbing. "W-What? W-where?"
"Oh Vaan." Penelo whispered fearfully, her amber eyes shiny with tears. "We thought you weren't going to wake. We tried so hard and everybody was so worried." She looked up to the person standing next to whatever Vaan was laying above on.
"Ashe?"
Sure enough, the Queen of Dalmasca stood on his bedside, a heavy cloak hiding most of her clothes though her hood was down. Her face betrayed no emotion, but her usually dark and stormy grey eyes were shiny and silver in colour and her lips were white. Her hands were clasped tightly in front of her and through Vaan's confusion he saw that they were shaking.
"Vaan." Ashe's voice was strained, as if she was struggling suppressing some emotion. She blinked slowly as if to regain her control and opened them again to look at Vaan, lying prostate in whatever bed this place had to offer.
"H-how?" Vaan just managed to whisper. Now that he was awake, he suddenly felt the fatigue that had eluded him. Just opening his mouth to speak was taking a toll on his body. Wearily he closed his eyes as they seemed to be too heavy to keep open.
Penelo touched a piece of cold cloth onto his forehead. It was cold and somewhat helpful, but it was not the cool, soothing touch he felt even before he woke up. Who was that?
"Just take it easy, okay Vaan?" Penelo murmured, fussing over him with gentle hands. "You don't have to worry, everything's okay now. Just rest for now. There will be time for explanations later. I promise." She wiped the cold cloth down his feverish skin then dipped it again in a bowl of water before placing it back on his forehead. Vaan closed his eyes, glad to fall asleep once more if only to rest.
"Will he be all right now?" Somewhere in the back of his mind, Vaan heard Ashe's calm voice ask Penelo in a gentle whisper.
"I don't know," Penelo replied worryingly, still running the cold cloth all around his exposed skin, before resting it a bit on his forehead. "His fever's broken at last, I'm thankful. But I'm still worried. I still don't have that much Mist Power yet and we're still far away from a crystal." A sound of a sigh came from Penelo, and Vaan, despite his semi-conscious state, felt the blond locks across his forehead move from her released breath.
"Will Yvelle be able to help?" Ashe asked, still keeping her voice low and Vaan couldn't understand the reason behind it.
"It's not fair to her, after everything she did to help the rest of us..." there was hesitation behind Penelo's words and this time Ashe cut her off, sounding more like her old self.
"If disturbing Yvelle is what it takes to help Vaan, should we not do it? Or would you rather let him lie in bed and perspire it out?" there was a hint of challenge behind Ashe's tones that Vaan recognized.
"Of course I want Vaan to get better." Was Penelo's heated reply and the hostility in her voice surprised Vaan. "I'm just saying with everything going around with Basch and Larsa, it would not be fair to Yvelle to drain all her power when we have potions to compensate for Magick healing."
"Potions will not help him this time around Penelo." Was Ashe's oddly soft spoken reply. "Not enough to heal him completely."
Silence followed Ashe's statements and Vaan felt the cloth rubbing across his arms and forehead again. Then another sigh came from Penelo rustling Vaan's hair again.
"I'll go get her." Whispered Penelo and Vaan felt her stand from where she was kneeling beside his bed. "Stay with him." She commanded to Ashe before walking away. There was no retort from the Queen and again that surprised Vaan. He was wondering if he was still awake or half-asleep but something startled him that made him disregard whatever it was he was thinking.
A soft, cool touch rested across his heated forehead. It was the same cool touch he felt earlier; the same cool touch that disappeared when he opened his eyes. The same cool touch that he ached for and comforted him. The cool touch was from Ashe.
He so badly wanted to open his eyes, thank her for bringing him back and also asking her to not move away from him. He needed the cool touch now, needed it to cool his fever and his raging heart. He needed her. But he couldn't open his eyes; his body was far too fatigued to even consider that idea that opening his eyes was a difficulty. No matter, it seemed that Ashe was doing what Penelo told her to do and did not leave him, her cool hand still on his forehead, unknowingly comforting him.
In the dim recesses of his lethargic mind, he heard her speak. "Vaan," it was faint, and it was a whisper, almost like a caress. It was spoken out of pain; Vaan could feel it but could not do anything to ease it.
"Vaan, come back." He felt the cool touch against his cheek now, as if Ashe was cradling his cheek with her palm. "Please. Come back. Come back, for me." Words whispered out of anguish followed by a tear that felt icy cold against his heated skin. He ached to open his eyes, sit up and embrace her again. She was in so much pain, one that he had only seen glimpses of, a long time ago, in a different life it seemed and he had provided comfort to her then. He ached and longed to do so now, in payment of the physical comfort she had somewhat given him. His body would not relent, so he did the only thing he could do given the circumstances.
"Ashe." The word came out with a bit of difficulty through his disused throat and lips, but it came out nonetheless. He heard Ashe gasp out and like with what Penelo did, she rested her forehead, not against his chest, but against his own forehead as well.
"Thank you," the words rustled his hair once more and Vaan slipped back into unconsciousness.
XOXOXOX
When Vaan next opened his eyes, it was because he felt a lurching underneath him, waking him from his stupor. Blinking a few times, he looked at the metallic ceiling above his bed. Where was he? Groaning, he tried to sit up. All he was able to do was to raise himself up slightly with his elbows. The blanket that had been draped across his form up to his shoulders fell to his waist. He looked about him, trying to see anything recognizable, at the same time thinking of what happened before he fell totally asleep.
Did he dream about waking up and the conversation between Penelo and Ashe? Everything had seemed so hazy then, but the voices were so clear, Vaan was unsure. How much of it was real and how much of it was a dream? He had a hard time reconciling the gentle and pained Ashe that sat with him on his bedside with the cold exterior of the Ashe he knew. That as well as the hard and bossy Penelo that commanded Ashe around. Wait. He could believe that last bit. Penelo was bossy, at least to everybody except probably Ashe and Balthier.
"Balthier." The name came out of his lips in a hiss. Unknowingly, his fists clenched. The physical pain of the aftermath of the betrayal did not compare to the pain of the betrayal itself. All that time, he thought Balthier was at least an honourable man, despite being a sky pirate. Of all the things they had been through as a team, as comrades, Vaan had thought that Balthier was a friend and that material gain didn't so much as matter to him as he had led others to believe.
How wrong he was. Closing his eyes, Vaan reached and brought his hands to his head, bending over at the intensity of the headache he suddenly had.
"Better stop thinking about them." He muttered under his breath before shaking his head and straightening up again.
He now recognized the room where he was. The bed itself was so familiar Vaan couldn't understand how he was bewildered of his surroundings in the first place.
"Galbana." Vaan said the name of ship out loud, and his tone was more than soft and fond.
He was in his ship, he could tell that now and though he did not know how he got there, he was glad to be in familiar surroundings, despite that this ship may remind him of the loss of one of his friends and mentors.
Shaking his head again, he braced himself to get out of bed. He had no idea where the others were, but taking into consideration of the half-dreams he had, he knew Penelo was here. Maybe even Ashe, he thought hopefully, though he couldn't figure out how she would end up in the Galbana. But Vaan was sure he needed to see if the others were okay, even if Ashe was not present.
With a little bit of difficulty, Vaan got out of bed, gingerly holding onto the bandages around his chest. He was not sure, but maybe a large rock had fallen onto him before he was knocked unconscious by Fran's spell and he was not able to dodge it. Though it still felt tender, Vaan was sure that Penelo had taken care of it so it was less painful than it actually was. Judging by how difficult it was to move and breathe, Vaan guessed it must have been a pretty big boulder.
Bracing himself against the small side table that Penelo had placed in the two available rooms he had in the Galbana, Vaan was able to hobble towards the door and step out. It was time to take the wheel back from whoever was piloting his ship and get rid of the tension in his own body and the anger in his chest.
XOXOXOX
"Vaan! You shouldn't be up yet! You're still healing!" the words of panic were right out of Penelo's mouth the minute he was noticed hobbling towards the bridge. It seemed a couple of people were assembled there, despite that the ship was on auto pilot. Something was going on; Vaan could feel it in the air as Penelo rushed over and helped him to sit in one of the passenger seats.
"What happened?" were the words out of Vaan's mouth as soon as he was seated down. His eyes had taken in the scene quickly even before he was fussed over by Penelo. The people in the bridge had been surprising to be seen at least, as it were not only Ashe (though admittedly, Vaan felt a surge of pleasure more than surprise to see her) but also Captain Sephyr, which meant to Vaan something happened and not just the incident at Henne Mines. What surprised Vaan however were the absences of his other comrades, Basch, Larsa and Yvelle. He would have thought they would be here, Larsa and Basch at the least.
So Vaan looked questioningly at Penelo, choosing her as the safest person to interrogate as he was still a bit hesitant to meet Ashe's eyes at the moment and Captain Sephyr had always made him feel awkward. Penelo was the safest and the easiest.
Penelo sighed at Vaan's questioning look and looked over to the other two. "Your question isn't exactly specific Vaan." She said stalling the explanation.
Vaan frowned at the obvious dodge of the question and glared at Penelo disapprovingly. Penelo just sighed again and shrugged when Captain Sephyr nodded.
"What do you want to know?" she asked the question hesitantly, as if, if she were given a choice she wouldn't even be asking to oblige him his own questions. But Vaan was having none of it. He just frowned again.
"How about let's start with 'how long was I out?' "He said, folding his arms and looking still only at Penelo.
"Three days." She answered after a pause. "You've been out for three days but you woke up and that was two days ago."
He was startled at the number. "Five days has passed since the Mines?" he asked shocked. "What happened to me?"
Penelo looked away now, as if this question was harder and in some respects it was. She didn't know if it was easier or better for Vaan to not know the truth about what transpired down at the Mines. It was Ashe who decided for her though.
"Tell him Penelo." The Queen of Dalmasca stated with no room to argue. "Tell him, or I will."
Vaan had no doubt that Ashe would tell him, no matter how painful it would be, he just didn't anticipate the look Penelo threw at Ashe at her command. It was more than hostile. Strange, because though Penelo really didn't like Ashe all that much, she always seemed to show respect to her, not only because she was a Queen, but because Penelo had always been kind and respectful to all whom she came in contact with. This hostile behaviour was very strange. But he had time to think about that later. He was still busy trying to get answers.
Penelo looked back at him and held his blue eyes with her own hazel ones. "They cast a Sleepga spell on us." She started and Vaan noticed his partner not saying the name aloud.
"How'd we escape?" he asked in a strained voice trying to shake the negative feelings out.
Penelo looked up again at Captain Sephyr and Ashe and this time, Ashe nodded firmly, her frown prominent. Penelo returned the frown and with a sigh looked back at Vaan.
"We're not really sure," she started hesitantly. "But we think Yvelle saved us."
Now Vaan was more than a bit confused. "Yvelle?" he asked incredulously. "But wasn't she unconscious when we...?" he trailed off and this time, Penelo interrupted.
"Yeah. We thought so too. But she said that she was waking up right before the ceiling collapsed. She cast a Shell spell on herself, because that was what her strength allowed at the moment and dodged the Sleepga spell. At least, that's what she told us."
Vaan met Penelo's amber eyes with his blue ones. "Why the doubtful tone? What's with Yvelle?"
This time Penelo looked up at Ashe and Captain Sephyr and gestured for them to take over this part of the conversation.
"Mistress Celeste Yvelle," Captain Sephyr chose that moment to step in, his cool calm voice exuding the utmost confidence. "Is no ordinary hume."
Vaan just raised his eyebrows at Sephyr's declaration. "What's that supposed to mean?" he demanded.
"It just means there's something very strange about Yvelle, Vaan." Penelo cut in with a placating tone. " And we're guessing that for her to have such power means she's either an extraordinary hume, or not even a hume at all."
"Is that a bad thing for us or a good thing?" Vaan said with a frown trying to figure out if the slowly developing trust he had for Yvelle was being wasted.
Penelo shrugged. "Well, she seems to be loyal to us, because she's helping us a lot. So I don't think there's much to worry about in that area. But the others don't seem to think so." She looked over to Ashe and Captain Sephyr as she spoke.
Captain Sephyr just stared back with an aloof look on his face but Ashe frowned.
"I was merely pointing out the fact that as far as everything goes, Yvelle is a stranger. We must be cautious, therefore you can never just take every situation for granted." Ashe spoke in a firm voice, her eyes glinting a hard silver.
Penelo shrugged as if dismissing whatever it was Ashe said. " Like I said, Yvelle has done nothing but help as so far so there shouldn't be anything we need to worry about. What we really need to talk about is how you are feeling Vaan." She began fussing over him again but Vaan was not done.
"I'm fine." He said waving a hand in dismissal. He looked back at Ashe and Captain Sephyr. "How did you get here and who brought the Galbana?" he asked curiously.
" I brought the Galbana." Ashe spoke calmly, meeting Vaan's blue eyes. Vaan returned her look with a look of confusion but Ashe didn't add anything and Vaan continued to feel confused.
"Captain Sephyr arrived at Rabanastre with the attention of asking for Larsa's whereabouts. I told him that the most likely place you could be was in Henne Mines." Was all she said as an explanation.
"But how'd you get the Galbana?" Vaan asked, eyes going back and forth between Ashe and Sephyr. "I know I left her in Phon Coast, and the keys are with Zirenne..." he trailed off when he realized it.
"Zirenne dropped the Galbana off at Rabanastre?" he asked confirming it from Ashe and the Queen of Dalmasca nodded. Vaan became thoughtful and he shrugged.
"I told her to drop her off at Rabanastre if we weren't back in a week to pick her up. Hmm, good to know Zirenner keeps her word." He shook his head as if suddenly distracted. "But that tell me why you decided to take the Galbana anyway and come looking for us. It's not like we sent a message we needed help or anything. And aren't things a little busy at Rabanastre for you to leave it Ashe?" he asked curiously at Ashe.
Ashe, surprisingly looked away. " Captain Sephyr expressed his desire to get in touch with Emperor Larsa as quickly as possible and since all my ships are indisposed, I thought it best to volunteer your ship Vaan. However since I have no trust in Archadian pilots, I resigned to fly to Henne Mines myself."
There was something very strange with Ashe's statement, and Vaan could tell he wasn't the only one confused. But there was something, how could say this, ominous? , in Ashe's gaze which warned Vaan to keep his opinions to himself, and since he knew he was particularly fully healed, he decided to go with his gut feeling.
"Okay," he said in a tone that told everybody he was dropping his own confusion. "How did you know where to look?" he addressed the question instead to Captain Sephyr, knowing at that moment, Vaan was safer with the Head of the Order of the Tournesol. The look in the Captain's own green eyes suggested the opposite however, but Vaan was determined to stick to his choice.
"We saw another ship leaving from the Mines when we arrived," the Captain said in a steady voice and with an eerie calm. Vaan himself felt his insides turn cold at those words. Balthier and Fran. The words felt like acid down his throat and he felt Penelo grip his arm as if in warning. Vaan forced himself to calm down. There was time to lash out later. He needed answers first.
"Then a blast caught our attention." Ashe interrupted, Vaan looked towards her reluctantly, but there was no antagonism in her eyes. " It seemed the blast was from your new hunter, Yvelle, when she created a Shellga spell to protect you from the cave-in. I managed to steer your ship to that area."
"That's when I saw them, Vaan." Penelo interjected now. "We managed to get out when they lowered some rope and pulled us out of that collapsing place. I don't think Henne Mines would be open to the public anytime soon. It's become much too dangerous." She finished with a sigh.
The mood was brooding, after Penelo finished recapping the events that happened and a silence fell over the group. Then Vaan realized something.
"Where are we going now?" he asked the group at large. " Are we going back to Dalmasca?"
This time there was no hesitation and Penelo answered immediately. "We're headed for Paramina Rift."
"To Mt. Bur-Omisace?" Vaan asked curiously again. "Why?"
"Now that the nethicite is stolen," Ashe paused when Penelo and Vaan flinched. " We need to carefully plan our next moves. Everything has been thrown out of balance and our next step is much to be deliberated. We have decided to consult with the new Gran Kiltias in Mt. Bur-Omisace for the best course. At least, this is what Larsa has decided."
"Larsa?" hearing his friend's name, Vaan remembered and noticed again that Larsa and Basch weren't with them in this little meeting. "Where is he by the way? And Basch? Are they all right? Were they badly hurt?"
A sad look passed in front of Penelo's face and even Ashe looked pained.
"That's the thing Vaan. The other reason why we're going to Bur-Omisace is to seek Kiltia healing. Yvelle's still not feeling well and my own Mist is seriously low to heal everybody's injuries. It was a good thing you are on the mend, at least that's one less injured we don't need to worry too much about. Basch on the other hand..." Penelo trailed off, biting her lip, and Vaan knew that she only did that when she was distressed.
"What about Basch?" Vaan demanded again in a loud voice. "Is he all right? What happened to him?" he looked from Penelo to Ashe and back quickly, trying to get some answers.
Ashe sighed and refused to meet his gaze, Vaan therefore was forced to look over at Penelo who had been trying to avoid his gaze as well.
"What's happened to Basch?" Vaan demanded in a soft tone, almost scaring Penelo on how serious it was.
She sighed now, her fist clenching and unclenching before her lap before choosing to answer Vaan.
"He's not well." She started in a whisper. She took a deep breath before continuing. "During the collapse of the celing, he broke his injured leg and since we left Henne, it caught an infection. My skills are not enough to heal it, and Yvelle admits she cannot heal him quickly enough with her little strength. She refuses to give up though," Penelo quickly added in defense to her pupil. "She's still there, refusing to give up, though she's very tired."
Vaan grit his teeth in anger. It wouldn't have happened to Basch if they weren't betrayed in the first place, Vaan knew that, and he continued to blame Balthier and Fran for this situation they were currently stuck in. What use did they have for the nethicite, he didn't know, and he vowed now that he's not going to stop until he stopped them.
"What about Larsa?" Vaan now asked through clenched teeth. Penelo sighed again.
"Larsa's not injured." She said in a soft voice. She looked away when she spoke. Vaan's eyebrows shot up at this sudden withdrawal again.
"Then what's wrong with him?" he asked, suddenly very worried at Penelo's tone.
" He's just in shock." Penelo offered as an explanation.
"He's catatonic." Ashe interjected and Penelo went back to glaring at the Queen of Dalmasca again.
"He's not 'catatonic'." Penelo argued. "He's just worried because of what happened to Basch and Vaan and now he has to worry about what he's going to do next. Of course he wouldn't want to talk at all at the moment. Leave him alone Ashe, it's not as if you were there when it happened." Her voice had become bitter and hard that Vaan's eyes went wide at the tone used.
"Penelo..." he started, his eyes going back and forth from Penelo, who was rather red-faced to Ashe who had folded her arms and was glaring back at his partner. There was no mistaking the tension between the two women that even Captain Sephyr stepped away from their argument to look at their destination. Vaan brought his palms forward, as if trying to placate them both.
"Enough guys." He said in a serious tone and the two girls turned to look at him, breaking their glaring contest. "We won't be able to decide what to do if we keep fighting within ourselves like this. We just need to help each other out okay?" he gazed from one woman to another and received the same curt response. Ashe just gave him a hard look before turning away with a whip of her cloak back to the pilot's chair. Penelo just sighed and offered to help Vaan back to his room, but Vaan just shook his head.
"Can I take over my ship now?" he asked Penelo loud enough for Ashe to hear. "I kind of miss the feel of the wheel." He looked wistfully over to where Ashe was at the wheel, only to be surprised to see Ashe walk back towards them, back as rigid as any spear.
"Take the wheel then, if your strength allows you." She said coldly before disappearing down the ship.
Vaan and Penelo just stared after her, before Penelo gave another rough sigh but asked Vaan if he really wanted to pilot the Galbana now. Vaan had no choice but to nod. He really did miss the feel of his ship and he was in no mood to do any talking. At least not for this time. Sighing and thanking Penelo when she helped him to his chair, he focused his thoughts back to their apparent destination.
XOXOXOX
Yvelle felt the cold sweat bead along her forehead as she gathered what remaining reserves of energy she still had left and focused them towards healing the injury in front of her. She refused to look at the Judge Majister's face, because she knew it would be contorted in pain and she wouldn't be able to handle that. Not when she was trying so hard to heal him.
What she had told Penelo had been true; she had been waking up just when Fran had released her spell and she was thankful she had developed and learned quick thinking from Penelo for her to be able to act quickly to save all of them. It just wasn't enough to get the party out unscathed. Vaan had suffered back-breaking injuries and Basch had infected his previous one. Yvelle didn't know if she could take the stress much longer. Not if she didn't know where to get more Mist Power.
"Yvelle?" a soft female voice behind her said and Yvelle just managed to look up to see Penelo enter with a tray in her hands. It seemed that the meeting was over if Penelo had decided to come back to the sleeping quarters to check out Basch and Larsa. Judging at Penelo's knitted brow, the meeting did not go so well.
"How is he?" Penelo said in a hushed tone as she set the tray down on one of the bedside drawers and came to kneel beside Yvelle where the novice hunter was on her knees, palms over the still gaping gash on Basch's leg.
Yvelle just shook her head to prevent the tears to spill forth. She was near tears because she never had the case that she was unable to heal anybody before because of her lack of strength. She had always been to heal injuries, always. What sort of irony did the Fates give her to give her a task she knew she should be able to handle had she but the strength.
"The wound does not close." Yvelle whispered in a pained voice. "The infection is spreading and the Judge Majister is burning up. I need more Mist." She whispered almost to herself in pure frustration.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and she saw Penelo look at her with sympathy in her eyes. "You should rest. It would be quicker for you to regain Mist that way." Yvelle was shaking her head even before Penelo had finished speaking.
"I cannot. If I do not close this wound, the Judge Majister will die. I cannot have that on my conscience. I cannot have his blood on my hands. Not ever. " she looked back towards the Judge Majister and began gathering her Mist again.
"Yvelle." Penelo said firmly from beside her, almost pulling her hands away from where they hovered over Basch's leg. "You need to rest. You still haven't recovered from those Tyrannox attacks and you're wounds are starting to reopen. I know how you feel. I want Basch back just as much as you do. But we can't have you collapsing out of sheer exhaustion. We cannot afford that." Her voice was firm but her eyes were gentle.
"But..." Yvelle started, throwing another worried glance back towards Basch.
"I will take your place for the time being." Penelo said, knowing what she was about to say. "I will do what I can to close that wound and after you have rested; you can come back and help me. But not before you have regained all that you can. Please." This time the plead in her eyes was accompanied by Penelo squeezing Yvelle's hand in earnest.
Yvelle stared back, not knowing what to do. She loathed to leave a job unfinished not when she learned that the Judge Majister had done everything possible when she was injured during their battle. She owed him that much to see he was saved. But, she also knew she needed to something about her fluctuating strength. That much was clear. Especially since her vision was starting to blur, but she was not about to tell Penelo that and make herself look weak before her Master.
"Please Yvelle." Penelo pleaded again when Yvelle was silent, torn between her decision. "Please rest. Please do not make me order this upon you as your Master. Please, rest, for me. You have done so much already. Please rest." Her amber eyes were also starting to fill with tears and Yvelle had no choice but to nod. She would not be a burden to Penelo.
Penelo smiled. "Thank you. It helps me breathe a lot easier when I have you resting after everthying you have done. Vaan is also better after you've healed him and I couldn't be any more indebted. I will do what I can to help ease your burden." She embraced Yvelle. "You are my friend too you know."
Yvelle was silent, not understanding this sudden strange emotion that coursed through her at Penelo's thankfulness. She never thought she would feel wanted anywhere, after travelling alone for so long. She never thought she would have friends.
"Thank you," Yvelle hesitated and gave a small smile. "Penelo."
Penelo released her then and the smile was brighter. Yvelle did not know how much those three words meant to Penelo after what happened at the Mines, but Yvelle was glad she did manage to help in some other way.
Penelo now then began ushering Yvelle to one of the spare rooms to rest. "There are still some vacant beds Yvelle, please use any of them to rest. I will do what I can here."
Yvelle nodded and she made to go out of the door but hesitated when she was at threshold. "Penelo?" her voice was only a little above a whisper, but it was still heard by her master. Penelo looked up, her usually bright amber eyes more than a bit worried?
"Yes Yvelle?" she asked in a kind tone. Yvelle hesitated again and her amethyst colored eyes strayed back towards Basch. That somehow gave her enough to ask her question.
"Will it be all right if I rest here?" Yvelle whispered, her cheeks flushed red at her own audacity. "But if it isn't all right I don't mind. I just feel better that I am closer. In case something happens." Her voice became softer and softer until it was inaudible.
Penelo smiled again and nodded. "Of course Yvelle. If that makes you feel better, you could stay here. There's a spare cot in one of the closets. If this is the way you would take rest, then I can hardly complain."
Yvelle felt her own smile brighten her face and she thanked Penelo profusely before searching and setting the cot up right beside Basch's beside.
"Wake me up as soon as you need my help." She whispered firmly to Penelo, who just nodded helplessly at Yvelle's slowly closing eyes. It didn't take long for the azure-locked novice huntress to fall asleep.
A/N: Here you go, this is almost a filler chapter, but I personally wanted to get the reactions done fast to be able to move this story up a few notches...Please review afterwords...Yes, this is a Vaan-Ashe pairing as well as Penelo-Larsa....just thought I'd warn you...
We have all these chapters conceptualized already, so please don't worry that this story is not going anywhere...Just a fair warning though, Ivalice Storm is almost at an end...We're predicting only a few more chapters to go...Hope you stay with us...!!
Cheers!
Comet Wong/ Scipio
