Ashe closed her door tightly behind her. Her hands shook as she threw herself onto her bed, finally allowing the tears to flow, the same tears that had slowly leaked from her eyes all day.

They were gone. She was gone…He was gone. They said they had found the bodies this morning and would be bringing them back tomorrow, to give them a hero's funeral.

Her friends… Fran… Balthier… both lost to the crash, to her cause.

The sobs racked her body for gods know how many hours when she heard a soft intake of breath. "Is everything alright, Princess?"

She knew that voice; It had been haunting her all day, the words 'Never dies' playing on loop as if to taunt her with their existence. Yet…

"Balthier?" Her voice was hoarse, and she had to wipe her eyes before she could actually get a good look at the man. It was him, that was for sure. There was no mistaking that frame, arms crossed as he leaned against her doorway with his usual expression on his face. "But they said…"

"Surely you did not believe that. I told you that the leading man never dies." Balthier moved towards her and sat at the foot of her bed, his footsteps quieter than she would've thought humanly possible.

Ashe moved towards him, leaning her head on his shoulder in comfort. A friend's arms wrapped around one in a tight in embrace were most reassuring when the world was crashing around you. "How did you… Was it… Never mind, I don't need to know."

Balthier brushed aside a strand of her hair, then sighed. "Ashe… I came to return this."

The silver wedding band of her late husband was pressed gently into her hand. Instinctively, her fingers curled around it, keeping it safe.

"Thank you," she breathed lightly, giving him a soft smile. There was pain in his eyes, however, when her's met his.

"I must be going," He said softly, though a bit abruptly. He stood, and kissed her forehead gently. "I am sorry I cannot stay Princess. I do doubt we shall cross paths for a long time, but I want you to remember that I shall always be there for you when you need someone to listen."

His words confused her-why would they not see each other if he would be there-, but she nodded as if she understood, feeling her eyelids droop as her exhausted body began to shut down.

"Sleep peacefully now, Ashe."

Her eyelids snapped open to the sun's rays peeking in over the windowsill, the colors of dawn filling her room. A smile crept to her face as she thought of Balthier's visit last night, her dear friend's reassuring words. He was alive, and would be there for her.

"Lady Ashe?" A voice spoke quietly from the other side of her door, bringing her from her thoughts. "It is time for you to meet with Judge Gabranth and your companions to begin the preparations for the funeral. They… The Judge has confirmed the bodies, m'lady. He said… it was for the best you not see…"

At that moment, her heart froze. It had been a dream then… the wishes of a heart hurt one too many times. She sighed, the tears creeping back into her eyes, yet when she went to brush them away, she realized her hand was still clenched around something. Something that had been given to her the night before….

She held the ring up, a small expression one could call a smile on her face while the tears continued to trickle out. Perhaps he would be with her, in spirit… had that been what he meant as he told he would be there? Was this why he said their paths would not cross for a while yet?

'Thank you for returning this,' she thought quietly.

In the back of her mind she swore she could here a faint 'It was no trouble at all, Princess.'