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[Revised! The story will take the in-game time line but will continue on to a post-game time line if the story lives that long. :P

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Chapter Notes: Chapter VI takes place the morning after the events of Chapter V.

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Chapter VI

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The sound of heavy knocking on the doors of his chambers made Larsa painfully aware of the headache which had begun pounding in his temples. The fact that he could barely remember any of the events from the night before only added to the young lord's mounting distress. Without bothering to open his eyes, Larsa turned over in his bed and decided to simply ignore the intrusive knocking in the hopes that whoever it was would just let him be. However, the knocking only increased in intensity and the voice which followed made Larsa wish all the more to disappear in the sea of his bed covers.

"My lord, are you awake? May I enter?" Drace's voice sounded as stern as ever and the Solidor heir felt an unfamiliar feeling of dread creep into his stomach. Larsa tried to tell his Judge protector to leave him be, but his mouth felt too parched—as did his throat, so he could scarcely speak. With a frown, the young lord lifted himself to a sitting position just in time to greet Drace weakly as she made her way into his bed chambers.

"Forgive my intrusion my lord, but it is very unlike you to be late for your afternoon studies… and more so to miss them completely—just as you have today." Drace scolded the Solidor heir lightly as she made her way to the heir's bedside. "My afternoon studies? Why? What time of the day is it?" Larsa asked, undeniably flustered as he looked about his dark chambers. "Surely it is much too early for me to have missed my afternoon studies."

"It is already midday young lord and I am as surprised as you are seeing you here at this hour." Drace shook her head disapprovingly as she drew the curtains—sunlight suddenly flooding Larsa's chambers. "The maidservants have not drawn your curtains, nor have they tidied your bed for you are still in it. You have not bathed—nor have you changed into your bed clothes! My young lord… I leave you for one night and I find you in this manner the next morning—I feel rather guilty." The Judge Magister laughed softly at the sight of the young lord looking rather sheepish as he tried to hide under the thick covers.

Drace was about to go on teasing the young lord but something on the bedroom table caught her attention. The Judge Magister found herself taken aback—like she had been caught off-guard. Drace found herself staring at a familiar 'face'—a helmet, staring blankly with its empty gaze much as did her own. "Gabranth." The name fell almost inaudibly from the Judge Magister's lips.

Cobalt eyes grew wide at the sound of his name. His name. Bits and pieces of the night before flashed in Larsa's head in a blur of color and slurred sounds. "Last night…" Larsa whispered to himself as he unconsciously raised his fingers to his lips. "What did I…"

"If I asked it of you Judge Magister, will you kiss me?"

Larsa clutched the covers so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Could I have possibly… Could it have… no… no. The Solidor heir quickly turned his head in Drace's direction and upon seeing what she was transfixed upon, felt his heart plummet to his stomach. "Drace I—" Larsa wanted to speak, to say something in his defense—any explanation to why it was there… to why he had been there; but no words came to him.

"I shall take my leave my lord, I have… much to attend to." Drace was the one who broke the suffocating silence in the room—but her voice was far from comforting to the Solidor heir. Larsa could only look away, purposely avoiding his Judge Protector's eyes. For a moment no other sound was heard except for the heavy footfalls of the Judge as she made her way to the outer chamber. However, she stopped rather abruptly in the middle of the room and in a voice completely unlike her own whispered, "You should go to him… it will not do for the face of a Judge Magister to be seen—by just anyone."

Larsa looked up in surprise. He wanted to talk to Drace, but she had already left hastily without another word. Larsa could only mouth a silent "Thank you" before he buried his face in his hands. Memories of the night before began piecing themselves together and the Solidor heir felt his heart race in his chest as the reality of what he had done dawned on him.

How am I to face you now...?

Larsa took a deep breath before he dragged himself out of bed and into the bath, hoping that the hot bath would relieve him of more than just his unceasing headache.

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After the bath…

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"What am I to say to you? I cannot even bear the thought of looking you in the eye…" Larsa sighed as he traced a finger lightly over the helmet which stared at him with empty eyes. "I want to have an explanation ready for you… but I have none." The young lord carefully wrapped the helmet with the blanket he brought out and secured it tightly before hauling it off the table. Simply lifting the sheer weight of the helmet already posed a challenge to the Solidor heir, and he knew that carrying something so large would definitely grant him much unwanted attention—a fact which bothered him all the more. However, Larsa knew what he wanted to do... what he needed to do. "I need to see you… whatever happens next—I leave it all to you." And with that, the young lord headed out the doors of his chambers with his heavy bundle.

Of course, theoretically, all Larsa had to do was walk right up to his Judge Protector in his chambers, return the helmet, apologize, and perhaps straighten things out before leaving; however, the Solidor heir wanted slap himself as he realized that he did not know where the Judge Magisters' quarters were located. He knew that he could not possibly ask any of the other Judges, it would undoubtedly arouse suspicion so the young lord did the next best thing he could think of—he followed one.

Larsa eyed the Judge who just passed him by the corridor, noting that it was neither Drace nor Zargabath (for either would have made such a fuss over him and his inexplicably large bundle). With as much discretion as he could possibly practice, Larsa followed Ghis (who he figured the Judge must be) as the Magister strolled rather leisurely along the castle's long corridors. On the other hand, Larsa had the most unpleasant experience of lugging around the heavy helmet as well as having to pretend that he was doing nothing out of the ordinary—which was hardly the case.

Too numerous were the maidservants and nobles who had offered to aid the slight boy that he was more than grateful when Ghis turned to a rather far hallway and finally disappeared through one of the doors (which, Larsa assumed had been the Judge's quarters). Larsa took a moment to survey his surroundings—he had lived in the castle all his life, but he could not say that he actually took time to explore it. The young lord had always been busy with either his studies or his fencing lessons so it was no surprise that he found himself wondering why he'd never set foot on this particular corridor before.

Larsa looked around warily, afraid that Drace would just come out of nowhere and appear behind him as she often did. Relieved to find no trace of the elder Judge in the area, the Solidor heir then proceeded to what he had set out to do. The corridor had six doors, three on either side—one of which lead to Judge Ghis' quarters. Larsa frowned, he still had five doors to choose from and opening any other door aside from Gabranth's own would have serious consequences. The idea of opening the door to Judge Drace's quarters made the young lord break into a cold sweat.

As the cruel fates would have it, another door in the hallway opened abruptly and the Judge herself emerged from the room. Larsa was caught completely off-guard that he found himself unable to move; as if his feet were nailed to the very spot he stood on. It did not take long for the older Judge to find him in such a state, but for some reason Drace did not seem the least bit surprised nor did she make a commotion as Larsa feared. Instead, the Judge walked over to the young lord and squeezed his small shoulder gently. "Speak to him… for you are the only one who can."

"Drace, what do you—" Larsa caught hold of the woman's gloved hand before it left his shoulder and he looked up at her—eyes silently pleading for any form of explanation. "Drace please…" The Judge fell on one knee and placed her hands on Larsa's shoulders. "My lord, there is only so much that I can give to you. My sword I shall wield to protect you till death himself pries it from my hands... but what you seek, I do not have it." Drace wanted nothing more than to embrace her charge, to comfort him, to love him as a child, but for now she knew that words would have to do. "In there," She continued, pointing to the room from which she had emerged from "go to him." And with that, Drace left as quickly as she had come.

Larsa followed his Judge Protector with his eyes until she finally disappeared at a junction in the hallways. "What I seek… what do I seek Drace? What is it that you know and understand that I do not?" The young lord shook his head to clear it as he took small, rather shaky steps toward the door Drace had pointed to. He lifted his fist to knock on the wooden door but stopped and let his hand fall limply at his side.

How am I to face you now…

Do you hate me?

Should you hate me for what I have done…

What I have done... is something I do not even understand.

Larsa steeled himself and raised his fist again, but before he could even knock—the door opened brusquely and there stood Judge Gabranth himself.

"M-my lord!" The blonde half-shouted before he could stop himself as he quickly stepped back from the doorway. Larsa was equally surprised, and for the second time that same morning, he felt as if his feet were nailed to the ground. "G-Gabranth… I… I…" The young lord started but his tongue failed him completely that he wordlessly lifted his bundle with both hands with his face turned down in an attempt to hide his apparent embarrassment.

The Judge hastily took the bundled helmet with a slight bow. "I am most grateful my lord. Forgive me for not having retrieved it myself earlier." Gabranth recovered his composure at once but the fact that the Solidor heir was in his doorway caused him a little more than surprise; and not being in his armor added to the Judge Magister's unease.

For a moment both Judge and heir stood as they were, both unmoving, waiting… for something—anything to happen. "I am truly very grateful my lord, but I am afraid that we cannot conduct any business here any longer…" Gabranth trailed off with a rather rueful sigh.

"Why ever not?! If I wish to talk to you, then I shall! I have every right to." Larsa replied as he defiantly looked up at the older man.

"Yes my lord, you are entitled with every right to do what you will. However, it would be best if we were to talk someplace else… it is not proper for royalty to be in the quarters of Judges."

"Gabranth, you are the leader of the Magisters and my own Judge Protector—surely you do not consider yourself a mere Judge now do you?" The Solidor heir pressed, determined to get more out of his protector than mere formalities.

"But I am a Judge nonetheless. If you would but wait for a moment my lord when I am modestly dressed, perhaps then we may speak in your study." Gabranth tried to reason with the young lord, but Larsa was as persistent as ever.

Just as Larsa was about to mouth another hot retort, the sound of a door opening interrupted him. Gabranth was quick to react; he pulled the young lord inside quite roughly before he narrowed the opening of the door just enough for him to slightly see the corridor outside. Judge Bergan emerged from the newly-opened door, followed by Judge Zargabath—and much to Gabranth's distress, both Judges chose to engage in a serious discussion right in the hallway!

"By the gods… why do the fates play with me so…" The Judge whispered as he pressed his back to the door, shutting it tight.

"Do you detest my presence in your quarters so vehemently Gabranth that you wish to be rid of me at once?" Larsa hissed, though he was angry, it was the pain more than his anger which laced the Solidor heir's words.

"My lord…" Gabranth began, but he was immediately cut short.

"I-if it has anything to do about how I behaved last night—"

"No. Last night was… last night I… you…" The Judge ran his fingers through his golden hair—something which he had not done in a long time, and with good reason. This old habit belied Gabranth's anxiety, and that was something he had learned to keep beneath the surface. He let his eyes rest on Larsa who looked right back at him, sadness and fear painted on his boyish features.

"I… I do not really comprehend what I did last night… but seeing you now, I have to ask… Gabranth, was it so bad?" Larsa's voice nearly broke as he tried to give an explanation, but he knew more than anyone else that he no explanation to give—no real understanding of what he had done… only that it had felt right at that moment. "E-even if I was intoxicated—"

"My lord, what happened last night is no fault of your own. You were intoxicated and whatever action you may have taken because of it has no purpose to be talked about. There is nothing to forgive my lord, you need not apologize for anything." Gabranth wanted nothing more than for the conversation to end. Because of last night he was deprived of a decent night's rest… he was at his wit's end… his self-control was waning considerably and he knew that he was fighting a losing battle.

"Does it make any difference if I was intoxicated or not? My actions were my own and no one else's!" The young lord could only take so much formality. If only Gabranth would react in some way—any way, perhaps he would understand even a little of what was happening to him.

"What is it that you seek from me my lord?" Gabranth felt his temples throb at the Solidor heir's barrage; the last thing he wanted was for Lord Larsa to feel terrible about himself and yet he could say nothing that would ease the escalating tension.

"What I seek…? I don't know… I only want answers—answers which you refuse to give me."

"Answers…" The knight paced restlessly across the room, his bare forearm brushing slightly against the Solidor heir. The boy's skin was cool and yet the Judge pulled his arm away abruptly as if he had been burnt. It was strange he thought, to be clad in only his pants and sleeveless tunic and still feel as if he was on fire.

"Was it bad… was it really?" Larsa urged as he took a step towards his Judge Protector, yet still afraid to meet equally piercing cobalt eyes.

Gabranth turned towards his charge and let out a deep sigh. "No… no it was not."

"Then why… why do you avoid my queries so fervently? Was it because I was intoxicated that you feel it is improper to talk about it?"

"Perhaps… yes. Your actions then were not of your own accord. You were—"

"Would you think of it any different if I was sober?" At this, Larsa looked up to look Gabranth in the eye, his lithe frame slightly quivering with emotion.

"I beg that we not talk of this any longer." Gabranth wished to sound resolute, but his voice sounded doubly uncertain even to his own ears. Should this conversation continue, the knight did not know what would become of him.

As if he did not hear his Judge Protector, Larsa pressed on as he took another step closer. "If I were to ask it of you now… now that you know that I am sober… now that I am to ask it of you right here—"

"Enough. My lord I beg of you—enough of this." The blonde shut his eyes tightly, the civil war inside him raged on as he struggled to maintain control of the situation.

"Gabranth—"

A hand slipped beneath the soft curve of Larsa's chin, and before Gabranth could stop himself—kissed the young lord. The blonde watched as Sapphire eyes grew wide in surprise then slowly slid closed as small fingers curled loosely in the folds of his tunic. For a moment, Gabranth lost himself in the feeling of tender lips pressed softly against his own—but the awareness of what he was doing came swiftly, and the Judge pulled away.

"Enough my lord… we—you and I must have enough of this." Gabranth whispered hoarsely, turning away from the boy lest he forget himself yet again.

Larsa could only gaze up at his Judge Protector, confusion evident in his face as he raised his fingers to brush against his lips. "I… I am not certain if I understand Gabranth. You say enough and yet you… and still we… Gabranth…"

Cobalt and cobalt alike met with such ferocity that even with both parties were unmoving, the tension between them mounted almost uncontrollably. The young lord's cheeks burned crimson, but he did nothing to conceal it for he felt as if his eyes had already completely betrayed him. His whole body seemed to be singing some unknown song, as if it was calling out with some need the boy did not understand—only that it haunted him, made him weak in the knees. And right at that moment as their eyes battled silently, Larsa felt his body ignite with this heated song as if the Judge himself was fanning the flames.

No words were spoken before satin descended upon silk lips for another kiss. Gabranth held the young lord tight—the boy's skin flush against his own as he continued to claim the petal-soft lips. This time, it was Larsa who pulled away—but a hand on his nape stopped him, and pulled him back into the kiss.

This has gone far enough Gabranth… restrain yourself.

No.

Without another thought, Gabranth slowly swept the seam of Larsa's lips with his tongue. A wide-eyed gasp from the young lord grants the Judge entrance and he obliges by delving this tongue deep into the boy's cavern. The fire in Gabranth's veins almost consumed him as he tasted his young lord for the first time—he was sweet, so sweet that it was addicting—almost intoxicating; and intoxicated he was.

Larsa's fingers clutched tightly at his Judge Protector's tunic as his body unconsciously arched against the older man. Everything seemed to be in a heated rush as Gabranth claimed the boy's mouth with his tongue which continued its languid exploration.

Soft… for Gabranth, everything about the young lord was soft—his voice especially… and now that the boy called him…

"m—G-g-abranth…" Larsa gasped as he turned his head slightly away—just enough so that he could speak. "Yes my lord…" Gabranth trailed off as he nipped an exposed earlobe lightly earning him an unrestrained moan from the boy—a soft cry which teetered at the brink of obscenity. And again, words were lost as lips met once more in a blur of sensations.

Neither heard the voices from outside over the ringing in their ears until a sharp knock on the door succeeded in bringing Gabranth back to his senses. He hastily broke off the kiss and smoothened out Larsa's hair with a slight nod, grateful that the young lord quickly understood the situation that they were in. Both took long deep breaths as they straightened themselves out, consciously averting their eyes from one another. Mutual embarrassment? Perhaps.

Gabranth pulled Larsa behind him as he opened the door slightly, cursing silently at the sight of Judge Ghis peering inquiringly at him.

"What is it you want Ghis? The blonde barked more harshly than he had intended.

"Believe me, if it had not come from the Emperor himself I would not bother you in your quarters Sir, but as it is... it cannot be helped. The emperor is looking for young Lord Larsa. It is strange that the young lord is not in his study, and moreso that he is not within your company or that of Drace. Well, it is only right that I inform you sir, I take my leave."

Gabranth closed the door and took a deep breath before he turned towards the young lord in question. Larsa was looking at his shoes, like a child who had done something wrong; though his gloved hand hung loosely in Gabranth's grip.

"Are you afraid my lord?" For what purpose he asked it, the Judge did not bother to ponder it.

A slight shake of the head. "No."

"Then—"

"You are… the first—"

"Forgi—"

"…and only one."

The Judge fell silent, unsure of what to say… even as the small hand slipped free from his own.

"My father is looking for me… I shall go see him, then perhaps…"

"I shall see you as soon as you are done my lord."

"Mm… yes, as soon as I am done. Thank you Gabranth." Larsa nodded as he headed for the door which the knight opened for him.

Larsa turned and smiled at his Judge Protector before he finally stepped out and walked away until he disappeared at the juncture… and for the first time since everything started, Gabranth was the one left to mull over his thoughts.

"...and only one."

A promise of faithfulness over something which had no name… something which had not been discussed in any form?

A small smile formed on the Judge Magister's lips.

Addicting, yet utterly complicated.

Undoubtedly difficult, at other times—obstinate.

Enough… but never really enough.

Bittersweet.

Perhaps that is just the kind of person Lord Larsa is.

"And he will be the death of me…" Gabranth mused to himself as he collapsed almost bonelessly unto his bed with a quiet, almost inaudible chuckle.

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First of all, I would like to apologize profusely for not updating for so long. I actually had this idea brewing for a while, but it's only now that I actually had time to type it.

I got too caught up in my studies to actually get back to writing last semester, but I'm hoping to change that now. :) So that means… more chapters to come! Yay:)

A big thank you to all those who left comments/reviews/suggestions—I really, really appreciate them! Plus, they keep me writing:) Please continue to read my story… and please keep the reviews and suggestions coming. :P

Anyway, as for the story... O.O Uhm…. I didn't mean for Gabranth to go that far… but he did! X.x So I suppose the rating is going to go up (though not anytime soon… I hope! X.x)!! This chapter makes way for the initial conflict (and it's going to be a cruel one). Ok, I won't say anymore lest I give myself away again. :x

Please continue reading my story please! I hope you enjoyed Chapter VI:)

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Seph