Title: The Price of Honor
Author: Seph
Series: Final Fantasy XII
Disclaimers: Final Fantasy XII and all other related characters, events, etc. do not belong to me.
Summary: 5 years after the defeat of his brother, Lord Larsa Solidor will finally be crowned as Emperor of Archades—or so he should be. However, the only thing which is preventing him from accepting the crown involves one person... the same person who has sworn to protect him, Lord Larsa, as the rightful heir to the throne of Archades. [Gabranth x Larsa
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Overall Story Notes: (minor spoilers) The story is about Gabranth and Larsa so in my story, Gabranth DID NOT die in the end of the game. :)
Timeline: Story is generally post-game, but there are many instances of flashbacks concerning the in-game events.
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Chapter Notes: Chapter IV takes place during the banquet in honor of Vayne's new position as new Consul of Dalmasca.
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Chapter IV
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"I see you are looking quite splendid this evening Larsa… I do believe that the women present find you more charming than I!" Vayne Solidor mused lightheartedly as he laid a hand on his younger brother's slight shoulder. Larsa looked up at Vayne with a pout in such an uncharacteristically childish manner that the latter could not help but laugh affably at the other.
"Do you think me comical in these garments brother?" The smaller boy frowned as he shifted uncomfortably in the many layers of his royal robes. "I told Drace that I truly detested wearing these—but she would not listen!" Vayne smiled with a rare expression of tenderness towards Larsa. "As I have said earlier, you look splendid this evening Larsa. I am quite certain we will find you a suitable betrothed this evening!"
Larsa's head snapped in Vayne's direction rather quickly that it actually hurt. "Betrothed?! Brother we have not discussed such a thing!"
"Tut-tut. There you go again, carrying on with your impish behavior!" Vayne shook his head in feigned dismay, though he failed to hide the smile of amusement which had formed on his lips. Before Larsa had the chance to reply, Judge Zargabath quickly bowed to both heirs and whispered something to Vayne—interrupting their conversation.
"Aah… it seems that I have to attend to our guests this evening. It is a tiring task—but one which the nobility must learn to accomplish." Vayne sighed as he waved the Judge off. "Speaking of tasks—I trust that Gabranth has done that which I have asked of him?"
At this sudden change of topic, Larsa (who had been quite ready with a series of objections to the mere idea of a betrothal) found himself unable to stop the blush which quickly rose to his cheeks. The younger heir turned his head away from Vayne's direction and simply nodded, afraid that if he opted to speak, his voice would give away his apparent awkwardness.
"I trust that he did his task well—and I believe that you will do yours perfectly." Vayne gently squeezed Larsa's shoulder encouragingly. "Women, dear brother—are one of the most difficult… creatures one will have to learn to deal with. A lesson you will begin to learn tonight!"
"I will not stand for this brother! I have learnt to dance as you have asked and now you ask me to mingle with women!" Larsa did his best to suppress his voice even though he was implausibly exasperated.
"Truly Larsa, I cannot understand your intense dislike towards this whole affair!"
"The dancing is shameful enough—then you speak of women and betrothal! Have I not the right to be upset by all this?"
"Are you not a member of the nobility? Are you not an heir of Solidor? Are you not the son of the Emperor of Archades?" The tone of the older boy's voice hardened considerably.
Larsa suddenly felt ashamed at his childish outburst. "I-I am brother… however, should you not be the one to mingle with the women? After all… you are older and you will certainly marry before me."
At this, Vayne laughed quietly—dispelling his earlier seriousness. "Fortunately for me—and most unfortunately for you, I have the duty to talk of politics and goodwill to the officials present—which leaves you to entertain their lovely wives and daughters."
Larsa shook his head in despair. "I have no interest in amusing old ladies and their daughters…"
"For what reason then did you bother to learn to dance?" Vayne raised a graceful eyebrow at his brother. "If not with these old ladies and their daughters, pray tell dear brother, who are you to dance with? With men? With Judges?"
Larsa frowned—his mind unable to come up with any retort, though he stood his ground indignantly. A tense silence formed between the two brothers—a silence which was soon broken by the arrival of Judge Drace.
"Forgive my interruption Lord Vayne, Lord Larsa… however, the guests have asked for your presence at the table Lord Vayne" Drace bowed to both heirs before she stepped behind Lord Larsa to make way to the latter. "Thank you Drace. I'm afraid I must excuse myself, I have guests to entertain." Vayne nodded nonchalantly at the Judge before he walked off to the banquet table where quite a number of nobles and visitors had already seated themselves.
Larsa unconsciously heaved a deep sigh of relief once his brother had disappeared amongst the guests.
"You seem quite distressed my lord—is there anything the matter?" Even through the metal of her helmet, Drace's voice still held a note of gentleness which was reserved for the young lord alone.
"Oh… no, no—I'm quite alright Drace. Thank you." Larsa offered a small smile though it was perceptibly tense. "I'm just hungry perhaps." Of course Drace did not believe Larsa, but opted not to pry lest the young lord became more troubled.
"Aa, then if my lord would kindly follow me—I shall accompany you to your table." With a slight bow, Drace led Lord Larsa to a table apart from where Vayne and the other nobles were. Once seated, Larsa knitted his brows as he looked at the people seated with him on this particular table. Not only were there too few men and too many women—there were also an abundance of children… something which displeased the young lord greatly.
"Drace… I do think there has been some mistake. Should I not take my place at the right hand of my brother along with the other nobility—and not with these… children and their mothers?" Larsa hissed quietly to Drace who was standing behind his chair. "Forgive me my lord, but your lord brother Vayne has explicitly instructed me to have you sit here… in this table." The Judge replied in a hushed voice as she bowed apologetically to the young heir.
Undoubtedly harassed, Larsa had half a mind to walk over to his brother to contest the whole affair—however, Vayne's earlier words kept the younger heir's temper at bay. With a resigned sigh, the onyx-haired boy settled in his chair and instead, attempted to engage the guests in his table in conversation while he dined.
That affair however, did not work out either—much to Larsa's dismay. The elderly ladies did not seem the least bit interested in what he was saying but contented themselves in showering him with artificial praises that were quite uncalled for and only succeeded in either embarrassing or annoying the young lord. "Drace, this whole affair is turning out most dreadfully for me… I am compelled to sit here and listen to old ladies prattle on about things which do not interest me in the slightest!" Larsa sank in his chair dejectedly with another rueful sigh. "Would you think less of me if I left inconspicuously and not participate in this banquet any further?"
The Judge lowered her head to whisper into the Solidor heir's ear, "I would think no less of you even if you left openly my lord—however, these young ladies and their mothers might think otherwise."
"What ladies? These ladies?" Larsa frowned as he made a slight gesture to point out the women seated at his table.
"No my lord… I'm afraid I was speaking of these ladies." Drace produced a scroll on which was written a list of no less than ten names.
"By the gods Drace—what is this?!" Cobalt eyes went wide as the young lord took a closer look at the scroll.
"A list of all the ladies the young lord will have to dance with this evening."
"What?!" Larsa's cheeks burned crimson either from embarrassment, anger, or both. "Where did you get this cursed thing?!"
Drace laid an armored hand gently on the young lord's shoulder to remind him that he was still in the presence of fellow nobility. "Your lord brother Vayne has asked it of me my lord." Though Larsa was able to lower his voice to a whisper, Drace could clearly decipher the tone of resentment in the younger heir's voice. "I see… but you are my Judge Protector Drace—and it is against my will to be subjected to this! Will you comply with this order… will you watch me suffer this shame?!"
The Judge shook her head disapprovingly at the young lord's behavior. "I am bound by oath to protect you Lord Larsa. However, there is but one duty which stands above that… and that is my duty to protect the State; thus, I am bound by this same oath to ensure that the House of Solidor has heirs that will inherit the throne."
"This is preposterous Drace! Do you not think this absurd?! Father is still Emperor of Archades and my brother and I are still heirs ourselves! Surely there is no need to hurry with such matters at this moment." The young lord hissed at his Judge Protector, obviously upset by the whole event. But before the soldier could reply, another familiar Judge Magister walked over and bowed to the young lord. "Good evening my lord, forgive my lateness—I was delayed."
Larsa suddenly felt a lump form in his throat as an unfamiliar feeling began to churn in his stomach. "It is alright… Drace and I were simply discussing—trivial matters…"
"My lord I assure you these matters are nothing trivial!" Drace started up at once but Gabranth stopped her by laying a hand firmly on her armored shoulder.
"Oh Drace why do you vex me so?! Now I have lost my appetite completely!" Larsa was overcome by an impulsive shift into a childish mood that he had already walked out into the palace garden before he could stop himself.
The ladies at the young lord's table could not help but voice out their concern at Larsa's sudden departure, but Drace was quick to remedy the situation. She bowed courteously as she excused the Solidor heir. "Forgive the young lord's hasty departure—he has not been feeling well and he wished to have some fresh air. I am certain he will return promptly." She was greeted by silent murmurs of agreement and Larsa's outburst was quickly forgotten by the guests.
"I did not know that such a thing aggravated the young lord as much as it did… but it is important nonetheless if Lord Vayne had asked it. I must talk to Lord Larsa at once!" Drace was about to go in search for the young lord but Gabranth stopped her again.
"It is best that I go and speak to the young lord in your stead Drace… as we have seen he is most upset about what you have said." The Judge spoke calmly in his baritone voice which seemed to put the other knight at ease.
With a resigned sigh, Drace nodded. "You are right Gabranth… the young lord will certainly listen to you." Drace handed the scroll to the blonde as she proceeded to walk towards the other Judges. "Be firm—you spoil the young lord greatly."
Gabranth broke into a small grin behind his metal helmet. "Aa… and I had always thought that that was your duty Drace and not mine."
If ever Drace heard him, Gabranth did not know—but it did not matter. With a respectful bow to the nobles at the table, the Judge quickly sought Larsa in the palace garden.
It did not take long for Gabranth to find the Solidor heir who had been brooding on a bench in a rather solitary corner of the garden—partially hidden by some tall hedges. Larsa on the other hand had no inkling that his Judge Protector was right behind him as he ruminated over everything that upset him that night. First there was his brother Vayne—the older heir's words struck him though he did not know exactly why.
With men? With Judges?
The young lord's frown deepened even more. What could his brother have been thinking?!
"May I take a seat beside you my lord?"
Larsa was quite lost in his thoughts that he nearly leapt off the bench when Gabranth's voice broke though the silence which surrounded him. Though he did his best to look displeased, Larsa only succeeded in looking flustered with his blue eyes wide and unsure, and an unmistakable blush threatening to rise in his cheeks. Embarrassed enough and unable to trust his voice, the young lord merely nodded as he purposely bent his head slightly to avoid looking at the knight face to face.
The blonde made a slight bow before sitting beside Lord Larsa—mindful to keep an unassuming distance. The Judge Magister mused at how vulnerable the young lord looked as he put on a rather childish pout—something which Larsa rarely did. However, Gabranth immediately stopped himself from continuing that train of thought, ashamed for indulging in the Solidor heir's presence.
"What troubles you so greatly my lord that you have opted to leave the company of your lovely guests?"
"Have you the slightest idea what Drace—what my brother has imposed upon me Gabranth?!" Larsa started, his voice slightly quivering with emotion as he looked up at the Judge.
"If it concerns this scroll… then perhaps I do know what Lord Vayne has asked of you my lord." Gabranth presented the scroll Drace had handed to him.
"Forgive me my lord, I did not think that—"
"Exactly! You did not think! Did all of you assume that I would consent to this?!" Larsa interrupted Gabranth more brusquely than he had intended that he actually felt himself flinch slightly at his own words.
The Judge felt the sting of the young lord's words but steeled himself to accomplish the task at hand. "Forgive me, but this task has been entrusted to us and I have every intention to accomplish it my lord." Gabranth's voice was cold and unyielding as he said this—and more so through the metal helmet which he wore.
Larsa looked at his Judge Protector, silently imploring the blonde with his eyes. "Then you approve of it… this whole affair?"
"Yes I do my lord."
"Why?! Because you are bound by oath to protect the Empire? To ensure that the Empire has enough heirs to run it? " The young lord scoffed indignantly at the Judge Magister as he bowed his head to hide his eyes which now felt as if they were brimmed with unshed tears.
"No… I approve of it because I think it a great waste if no one is to marvel at our young lord… especially tonight when he has gone through all the trouble of looking more charming than usual." Gabranth surprised himself by speaking so daringly to the Solidor heir but found himself unable to look away. Drace had certainly outdone herself this time; Lord Larsa looked absolutely enthralling in his royal robes.
"Flattery will get you nowhere this evening Gabranth…" Larsa tried to sound jovial but there was an unmistakable quiver in his voice which the Judge did not fail to hear. The blonde tilted his head to one side so that he might see the onyx-haired boy's face, but he couldn't for Larsa had bowed his head quite low and refused to look up at him. With a sudden surge of boldness, Gabranth lifted a gloved hand and reached out to cup the young lord's chin—something which startled the latter greatly.
Larsa opened his mouth to protest as he felt a gentle but firm hand nudge his chin upward, but no words came out of him. He did not fight against it though he purposely avoided the Judge's gaze. Even through the leather of his glove, Gabranth could feel the warmth from the young lord's pink cheek as he brushed his thumb slowly over it… and he could not help but smile. No matter how perplexed he was, Lord Larsa had always been so—yielding… so open to him, sometimes to the point that Gabranth had to restrain himself lest he do something he would surely regret.
What you do to me…
"I have spoken nothing but the truth my lord… the truth and no less. Will you not grace the lovely ladies with your presence?"
Larsa unconsciously pressed his cheek against the gloved hand which held his face as he sighed softly. "I want to Gabranth… I want to please my brother and the court. To dance with one or two ladies would have been alright, but to dance with so many—I do not think I can do such a thing. I would surely flounder… I know I shall. And my brother spoke of betrothal—it bothers me greatly Gabranth!"
The Judge coaxed the slighter boy to move closer to him as he whispered, "Tonight think of nothing else but last night… just dancing—think of nothing more. Think not of how many ladies you must dance with; think not of those who will be watching, think not of what your lord brother has asked of you. There is only you my lord… only you."
Larsa felt his toes curl in his shoes and his stomach tighten into knots as he looked up at his Judge Protector who looked back at him with such intensity that he turned a deep shade of scarlet all at once.
Gabranth reluctantly let his hand slip away from the young lord's face and offered it again as he stood up from the bench. "Now, shall we go inside? It is impolite to keep your guests waiting my lord."
The Solidor heir took Gabranth's much larger hand in his own as he smiled up at his Judge Protector. "You do have a way of tricking me into these things don't you Gabranth? I shall have your head if I flounder!"
"Aa, and I shall offer it freely if you do less than perfectly my lord."
The two shared a short moment of quiet laughter between them before they reached the doors which led back into the palace. Gabranth squeezed the small hand in his own before he let it go as he pushed open one of the massive doors and bowed respectfully. The sound of lively conversation over the quartet's music quick flooded the young lord's ears and Larsa wished greatly that he was back in the solace of the garden.
Larsa took a deep breath and with a fleeting touch on Gabranth's armored arm, he stepped inside the palace—more determined to do what must be done.
TBC
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Another big THANK YOU to all those who reviewed and especially to those who have been following my story. :) Reviews make a happy writer:D
Anyway, this chapter focuses on the more serious side of palace affairs for both Larsa and Gabranth. They both have their duties to the Empire—and they are bound by blood and oath to those duties. Oh—but they find ways don't they:P Hee! More conversation this time… and breeding tension!
Rest assured—something is definitely going to happen in the next chapter! (This chapter actually took a lot longer than expected because I was already thinking of what was going to happen in the next chapter so I had to make this chapter a fitting introduction for that. Ok, ok… I'll stop here before I give myself away. :P) All I can say for the next chapter is… poor, poor Gabranth.
I hope you guys continue reading my story! Comment and suggestions are still very welcome:)
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Seph