THE PRICE OF HONOR
Disclaimers: Final Fantasy XII and all other related characters, events, etc. do not belong to me.
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. :)
Chapter Notes: Chapter 7 takes place after the commotion at the Lhusu Mines in Bhujerba.
VERY IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I just came back from a three-year hiatus and decided that I will try to continue this story, since it is very close to my heart. :) I have just started refreshing my memory by reading the game script and I have some fresh new ideas to put in. I will revise the main timeline which was supposed to take place 5 years after the game, because I realized that the in-game relationship between Gabranth and Larsa is much more interesting to write about.
Needless to say, I think that my writing has somehow changed over the years—and hopefully, you will enjoy my slightly more mature take on this pairing. Without much further ado, please enjoy my resurrection of The Price of Honor.
Much love, Seph. :)
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Larsa winced as his torn glove was removed, revealing the raw skin beneath—a result of the mad rush they had through the Lhusu Mines with the Bangaa gang at their heels. "This may sting a bit, but it will get better." Basch's low voice whispered comfortingly as he ran cold water from his canteen over the small hand which he held in his much larger one. Larsa nodded though he did his best to stifle a soft whimper. "It is alright, I am grateful for your Basch."
The young lord looked up shyly as the older man began to bandage his hand with strips he had taken from his own clothes. Basch had a strong face, high cheekbones and a square jaw. There was a striking resemblance between this man and Gabranth, even if the former grew his blonde hair longer and left it looking rather dishevelled. There was also the way Basch looked and talked to him; the older man's eyes, tone, and general manner about him seemed very warm and gentle, though still tough—Gabranth was often cold and unyielding in his ways and Larsa secretly wished that his Judge Protector could be more like Basch.
"Is that better Lamont?" Basch asked as he ran callous fingers over the boy's newly bandaged hand. Larsa's head shot up, suddenly embarrassed for having entertained such thoughts about this man he had just met—his pale cheeks suddenly flushed with colour. "I-It is much better Basch. Th-thank you." Larsa stuttered uncharacteristically as he withdrew his bandaged hand, although it was done almost half-heartedly. "Are you alright? You seem a little flushed." The blonde tried to rest a hand on the young lord's forehead, but Larsa quickly moved away in a slight panic, his back hitting Balthier who was leaning casually against the cave wall.
"If you are done pampering the boy, I believe it is best we leave these mines. There is no telling when Ba'gamnan and the rest of his gang will come running after us again." The sky pirate moved dangerously close to Larsa, circling him before he pinned the young lord against the cave wall. "Tell me again, boy, who are you and why is it that you are so well informed of this Nethicite?"
Blue eyes went wide in surprise at the inappropriate closeness of the sky pirate and he shook his head almost in a panic. "I have said it once, I will say it again. My name is Lamont and my errand is my own—as is yours. Leave me be Balthier, I will go and say not further." Larsa tried his best to avoid Balthier's piercing gaze, but was soon saved from the predicament when Basch interrupted the latter. "Let the boy go Balthier, we have done what we came for in these mines—his business is his own." The captain laid a hand on the sky pirate's shoulder, and the former released Larsa from his hold. "Go before I change my mind about you." Balthier waved his hand dismissively before turning his back to the young lord.
Larsa nodded in thanks to Basch as he began to walk out of the mouth of the Lhusu Mines, his bandaged hand cradled in his better one. The older man smiled at him, "may we meet again Lamont."
When Lamont was out of sight, Fran looked around and gave a small sigh of relief. "It would not seem they follow. We've lost them." Balthier shouldered his gun and gave a laugh, "Much more running about with Bangaa at my heels... and I'm apt to give up sky pirating altogether." The rest of the group straightened themselves before beginning their walk back to Bhujerba.
They were almost out of the Lhusu Mines, but Balthier stopped the group from proceeding further—pointing cautiously at a Judge Magister in the vicinity who seemed to be talking to Lamont. Vaan and Balthier moved closer to watch the situation more closely, in case the boy needed to be rescued—again.
"I see you've been out walking without the company of your cortege Lord Larsa." The Judge shook his head in disapproval at the young lord as he motioned for his soldiers to bring forward a young girl whom they had restrained. "We caught her wandering out of the mines. You must take care with such undesirables about."
"I was kidnapped-!" The blonde girl started but was quickly silenced by the Judge Magister. Larsa's eyes widened in recognition at the braided, blonde girl—Penelo! The servant girl at his brother's welcoming feast, of course! She must also be Vaan's friend who had been captured by Ba'gamnan and his gang. All the pieces fit together and a small smiled played on the boy's lips.
"If it is a crime to wander on one's own... then I, too, am guilty. Marquis, I trust that your estate can accommodate another guest?" Larsa asked Marquis Ondore politely and the latter was happy to oblige. "Judge Ghis, I shall heed your counsel. I will not travel unaccompanied any longer." With that said, the young lord took Penelo's hand and led her away.
Vahn looked at Balthier with an incredulous look on his face, "What's Penelo doing? And what's the deal with that Lamont?" Balthier shook his head, "That's no "Lamont". Larsa Ferrinas Solidor. Fourth son to Emperor Gramis... and brother to Vayne."
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Penelo stretched her legs as she sat on the couch in the Ondore Estate's drawing room. "So Vaan really is all right. I didn't think I'd ever get to see him again." A small smile played on her lips, but she sighed ruefully. Larsa walked over to the couch and rested his bandaged hand on one of its arms, "You will join him soon. Until then, I shall see that you're kept from harm."
"Thank you." Penelo whispered, but kept her head bowed low.
"I am troubled. The Rabanastre Imperial Guard appears to have overstepped their bounds. I intend to speak with the Consul." Larsa said thoughtfully, more to himself than Penelo.
Penelo looked wide-eyed at the young lord. "What?"
"Vayne Solidor, the Consul, is my brother. I believe Gabranth told you that during his welcoming feast." The young lord stifled a laugh as Penelo looked a little more flustered than she already was. "The first duty of the Consul is to maintain order in Dalmasca. My brother—my brother is not one given to failure. Perhaps things aren't going as well as they might be... but give him a little time, and he will put things to right. Be not troubled. My brother is a remarkable man."
"But he frightens me." Penelo said in a soft voice.
"Why?"
Penelo looked uncertain but was determined to engage the young lord in conversation. "I'm sorry. He is your brother. It's just—you don't understand how much we lost to the war. My friends, my parents." The girl looked back down on her lap, tears welling up in her eyes. No matter how strong a front she put up for Vaan and the other orphans, there was still that void in her chest that ached every time she was reminded of what the war took from her—what her life should have been like.
"So you fear the empire?" Larsa walked over to Penelo and knelt before her. "Listen to me. The men of my family, we are taught to place the needs of others before those of our own. I will see that you are kept from harm. It is my duty to House Solidor."
"But how—how can I trust you?"
"Because I give you my word. My brother would do no less." Larsa got up and offered Penelo a genuine smile. The girl smiled back, perhaps she could bring herself to trust Larsa—he was not so bad, at least for an Imperial.
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"So you would kill even your own brother for the empire. Be that as it may, Gabranth, your ruthlessness is not without merit. But it must not become this way with Larsa. You must ensure that it does not." The Emperor Gramis felt weak because of his illness, but his words were firm. He trusted Gabranth as a Judge Magister and as his youngest son's Judge Protector, but the man's coldness frightened him slightly—Larsa must not grow up so cold.
Gabranth felt a strange feeling well up in his chest at the mention of his young ward, but he chose to ignore it for the time being. "So then, you ask me to be his sword, to strike where he might not?"
The Emperor shook his head, "Rather be his shield. Gabranth, keep a close watch on Vayne. His is the keenest blade of all."
"My lord—"
"Do this for me, Gabranth. I could not—I could not bear... to see my sons war with each other again." The Emperor began to cough again, but he did his best to keep his head high. If he were to die soon, he felt relieved that he had given his last orders to the one man he trusted with his youngest son's life.
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Gabranth clenched and unclenched his fists, the only sign of his growing agitation as he waited at the airship dock. He had been ordered to await the arrival of Lord Larsa from Bhujerba, and though the young lord did not return alone, Gabranth still felt ill at ease in knowing that the boy had left without telling him—and returned with Judge Ghis of all people!
At last, the airship landed with a soft thud on the dock, and Larsa was more than happy to be back on solid ground. He really did have a strong dislike for airship travel—it made him feel nauseous and his stomach felt very disagreeable most of the time. Before Judge Ghis or any of the other Imperials could accompany him, Larsa had already made his way down the lowered gang plank.
The young lord's heart sank as he saw a familiar armoured figure standing almost motionlessly at the end of the plank. Gabranth. Larsa felt guilty for having left Archades without telling his Judge Protector, but he knew that Gabranth would have absolutely prohibited him from going—or would have shadowed him wherever he went, it just couldn't be helped. Larsa slowed his pace down the plank and stopped right in front of his Judge Protector, expecting a greeting of some sort or anything to show that the older man harboured no bad feelings for not being informed. However, Gabranth merely nodded without a word and led the young lord to where a transport was waiting.
The trip home was deathly quiet. The silence between Larsa and Gabranth was suffocating and the obvious tension, almost palpable—yet neither said a word. Larsa wanted to say something—anything that would make things alright, but he knew that his Judge Protector was very upset with him and so he stayed his tongue, choosing to cradle his bandaged hand instead since it had begun throbbing again.
Back at the castle in the Imperial City of Archades, Larsa began to wonder when Gabranth was going to speak to him again. The Judge Magister walked unusually fast and without any effort to reduce his long strides so that the young lord could keep up with him. There was no other sound in the castle hallways except for the grating of the armour of the Judges and the other soldiers who accompanied them.
At a fork in the corridor, Judge Ghis motioned to Gabranth. "My duty is to bring Lord Larsa home safely, as he is in your care now, I believe that your presence will be sufficient as my presence is needed elsewhere." Gabranth nodded his acquiesce before Ghis and the other Imperial soldiers took their leave, leaving the young lord and his Judge Protector awkwardly alone. Larsa looked up at Gabranth, but was only met with the blank stare of the Judge's helmet—he frowned.
"The Emperor wishes to see that you have arrived safely." The Judge involuntarily placed an armoured hand lightly on the young lord's back as if to lead him to the Emperor's receiving chambers. Larsa nearly jumped at the sudden contact, too lost in thought at why Gabranth could be so upset over something so little... well, given the state of his bandaged hand, he could not really say that it was a small matter. He nodded and let himself be guided to where his father waited for him.
Gabranth chose to stay outside, believing he had no business in a talk between father and son. He leant against one of the heavy oak double doors of the chambers, his armour suddenly feeling thrice as heavy. The Judge Magister sighed as he closed his eyes, he had been so worried and he could not help but feel a little angry at not having been informed. Did the young lord not trust him? Did he not want him to be at his side? Was Larsa avoiding him? His thoughts ran and crashed against each other and he felt a headache coming on.
Suddenly, one of the double doors creaked open and Larsa slipped out of the room, looking at the Judge Magister expectantly. Gabranth did not say a word but only straightened himself from his leaning position and nodded. The young lord sighed as he began to walk back to his chambers, was Gabranth intent on not speaking to him at all? He just couldn't bear it.
When they reached a fork, one corridor leading to the Judge's quarters and the other leading to his chambers, Larsa made a drastic decision and took the former. Gabranth felt his body turn rigid under his armour, why would the young lord take this corridor—it only meant... "By the gods, no..." The Judge Magister whispered to himself as he hastened his pace to catch up with Larsa who seemed intent to reach his destination.
The young lord balled his hands into fists as he made walked briskly, stopping only before the only familiar door in the corridor, though he had only been there once before. Gabranth grabbed Larsa's uninjured hand and tried to pull him back, "I will take you to your chambers my lord." The onyx-haired youth shook his head, "No. I wish to stay here. Open this door."
"We should—I cannot Lord Larsa." The Judge Magister bit his lip, grateful that the helm he wore hid his apparent distress.
"I order you Judge Magister Gabranth, to open this door." Larsa's tone left no room for discussion and the older man did what he was told. He turned the knob and opened the door, cautiously looking about to make sure that no one was around. When the young lord had stepped into his chambers, Gabranth followed inside quickly before he locked the door behind them.
Larsa looked at his hand which the Judge Magister still held in his and allowed himself a small smile. "Gabranth, I truly am sorry. I apologize for not telling you where I was going—I was absolutely certain you would not have approved."
The Judge Magister sighed, there was no way out of this now. Gabranth reached for his helm and unhinged it from his armour, suddenly feeling vulnerable. "You could have gotten hurt and the duty falls on me to prevent that from happening." The blonde turned his back on the young lord as he rested his helm on the armour stand.
"But I am alright, and I am home now—I returned did I not? I have come back to you safely..." Larsa sounded sheepish, but he could not help being stubborn at times. He disliked being treated as a helpless child, and Gabranth knew perfectly well how to make him feel like he was one.
The Judge Magister turned and took the young lord's bandaged hand in his gauntleted one. "This could have been worse—what if the next time, it was not just your hand? What if I was not there again to protect you? What if you do not come back to me?" The blonde could not stop himself, all the anxiety spilling into this uncharacteristic monologue.
"But I am home... I am with you now, I shall not run from you again Gabranth." Larsa whispered apologetically as he pressed a warm cheek against the cold Magister plate which protected Gabranth's chest. Gabranth's anger crumbled in his chest and he knelt in front of his young lord before gathering him in strong arms. "Do not do this to me again my lord..." The blonde's lips ghosted over flushed cheeks, almost touching but not quite.
Gabranth became acutely aware of the situation—with the exception of a few chaste kisses in dark corners of the castle when no one was around to watch, they had not gone further after their heated encounter in this same room a few weeks prior. The Judge Magister could not trust himself around the young lord—not alone inside his chambers, and especially not in his arms, so open and willing.
Soft lips met his in a chaste kiss, but Gabranth quickly moved away—or tried to. However, small hands cupped his face and blue eyes begged him to stay. "Do not run away from me..."
Whatever was left of the Magister's resolve left him as Larsa pressed his lips against the blonde's—a little awkward, innocent, and unassuming. Gabranth responded, easily taking control of the kiss, he felt as if he was treading on thin ice—the dull burning in his chest suddenly bursting to life as he claimed petal-soft lips with his own. A few closed-mouth kisses did nothing to deter the desire that now burned through Gabranth's veins.
Gauntleted fingers tangled themselves in Larsa's black hair as their owner pulled the young lord closer to him. Larsa pressed his bare hands against the cold metal of the Magister's plate as he did his best to mimic the movement of Gabranth's lips against his own. A soft moan escaped the boy's lips and Gabranth delved his tongue into the welcoming heat. Larsa's fingers clutched tightly at armoured arms that held him as he tried to remain upright, his knees buckling from the strange sensation that ran up his spine.
Gabranth gently pushed the young lord down on his bed, drawing a deep breath as ebony locks spilled around Larsa's young face like a dark halo. The sight was too enticing and too sinful all at once that the Judge had to hold back—he just didn't trust himself around the young Solidor, and the pain in the most uncompromising places reminded him of his limitations. Gabranth pulled himself to a sitting position on the edge of his bed, elbows resting on his knees as he cradles his head in his hands. He tried to clear his head of the unbridled desire that now seemed to govern it.
Larsa bit his lip at Gabranth's sudden withdrawal, and he sat up, slowly wrapping his arms best he could around the older man's torso. "Do you not want this Gabranth... because I—I do not understand what I am feeling, but I know I w-want this..." The Solidor did not know what he was asking for, but each time they kissed, it felt right—and he did not understand why Gabranth seemed to both want it and not want it.
The Magister ran his hands through his short blonde hair before trailing his fingers down a flushed cheek. "Do you trust me my lord, beyond the proprieties of your position and mine?" Gabranth's voice sounded hoarse, even to his own ears, his fingers suddenly shaking at the realization of the gravity of what he was asking for.
"I do Gabranth, with my life."
The Judge Magister stood up and unhinged the plate from his chest and hung it on the armour stand where his helm rested. He fumbled with uncharacteristic clumsiness with the locks of his gauntlets before he finally succeeded in removing them. He took a deep breath as he laid the rest of his armour on the stand before he returned to Larsa who looked back at him with a small smile.
The bed shifted as Gabranth rested his weight on it, pulling the young lord down gently with him. The older man pressed the boys back against his chest, pulling Larsa close to him with one arm while the boy's head rested on the other. They laid there silently for a while, an awkward silence hanging in the air until Gabranth's fingers began to ghost lightly over blushing cheeks, slightly parted-lips, a racing heart-beat beneath thin fabric, until they rested on the hem of Larsa's now rumpled tunic.
"Gabranth... I—" Larsa began but was cut short as lips descended upon his. However, this kiss was unlike their first—the Judge's lips pressed a bit harder, tongue slipping between slightly parted lips as Larsa moaned into the kiss. The blonde sucked the boy's lower lip gently, earning him another whimper, small fingers tangling in his golden hair.
The taste of the young lord filled Gabranth's senses, he felt like a beast driven by instinct as he delved his tongue deeper into the Solidor's sweet cavern. Larsa tried his best to mimic what Gabranth was doing, tongue shyly meeting the older man's own, and the contact made him press closer against the Magister's chest.
Calloused fingers slipped underneath the thin fabric of the Solidor heir's tunic and the boy inhaled sharply, breaking the kiss. Larsa bit his lip as he arched involuntarily into the touch, head turning to one side, his hair spilling unto the immaculate white of the Judge's sheets. Gabranth planted a soft kiss on Larsa's ear before he used his tongue to trace the sensitive shell making Larsa cry out, his cheeks flushed with an even deeper shade of pink.
Gabranth ran his palms over the unblemished skin of Larsa's stomach up to his chest, stopping only above the young lord's heart which was frantically beating under his touch. "My lord—I do not know how far I can take this without losing what little control I have left..." Gabranth breathed huskily into Larsa's ear, teeth gently nipping at the exposed lobe. Half-lidded blue eyes looked up at the blonde and Larsa took one of Gabranth's hands in his. "Then show me, Gabranth, that I am enough for you to relinquish that control."
The Judge slowly traced small kisses along the side of Larsa's face down to his neck, teeth barely grazing the smooth skin beneath his lips. Clumsy, inexperienced hands tugged at his tunic insistently and the Judge removed the offending clothing, casting it off haphazardly. Gabranth pushed up the thin tunic, revealing the pale skin of the young lord's stomach and chest. Larsa shyly turned slightly to his side, as if to hide his sudden partial nakedness.
Gabranth smiled against the blushing skin as he trailed his fingers over it, lips not leaving the boy's neck. The Judge's lips rested on a particular spot which made Larsa stifle a gasp and writhe slightly under Gabranth's body. Gabranth dipped his tongue on the sensitive spot between neck and shoulder and Larsa whimpered, lying on his back, forgetting his earlier shyness. Larsa wrapped arms around his Judge Protector's neck, pulling him down and the blonde braced himself on both arms to keep himself from crushing the fragile body beneath him.
Gabranth laid a hand on the crest which held part of the tunic together and paused for a moment, but Larsa pulled it off for him, sensing his guardian's hesitation. The blonde licked down to the young lord's collar bone making Larsa arch up beneath him, lips quivering in a tirade of nonsensical whispers. Gabranth pulled himself up back to eye level with Larsa, his cobalt eyes searching equally cobalt ones. "My lord... how do you feel...?"
The Solidor heir opened half-lidded eyes and let a smile play on his lips before he sat up and pulled himself tight against his guardian's chest. He closed his eyes and listened to the strong heart beneath the bare chest—comforted by the steady beat. Gabranth held Larsa in his arms, neither speaking, their breath being the only sound between them. "I am glad to be here with you now..." The boy traced a rather large battle scar than ran across the Judge's chest lightly with a finger tip before pressing a light kiss on a tan shoulder.
"As am I, my lord, as am I." The Judge gently spooned the Solidor heir, pulling the covers around them. Gabranth watched as patches of sunlight played on the white coverlet as he steadied his breathing, one arm draped over Larsa while the other supported his head.
"Gabranth... do you think that what we're doing—that we're doing something wrong?" Larsa looked up at his Judge Protector, lower lip caught between his lips in earnest worry. The Magister looked down and kissed the boy's forehead affectionately. "We have a few more hours before dusk, you may rest here till then."
Larsa frowned at the Judge's evasive answer, but the exhaustion from his trip to the Lhusu Mines as well as the nauseating airship voyage back to Archades caught up with him and the boy's eyes suddenly felt heavy. He stifled a yawn with the back of his hand before curling up against Gabranth's strong chest. "Perhaps I will rest a while."
The Judge Magister moved to get up but Larsa stopped him. "Stay?"
And Gabranth was more than happy to oblige.
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My apologies for the overly long chapter, but it just kept lengthening and lengthening itself, I couldn't find a decent place to cut it. :/ Also, I inserted portions of the game story line to give this story more background and to give the readers an idea of what point in the game the events are taking place. :)
Well, if ever anyone is still reading this... comment and suggestions are still highly appreciated. Constructive criticism is also welcome, given that my writing has changed over the past three years—but please be nice. :p
Thank you for reading this chapter and I hope you enjoyed it. :)
Much love,
Seph