"I'm looking for Balthier."

Ashe's words were whispered in a breath, face covered by cloak as to not be recognized. If it hadn't been for Vaan's information, she never would have found where this man was staying, where he had decided to hide for these past two years since the fall of Bahamut.

The woman at the desk raised a brow, though said nothing. Ashe noticed how the woman regarded her cloak, probably thinking the reason she hid herself was because she was some street wench he called for entertainment. Somehow she wouldn't be surprised to learn he had done that before, not that it mattered to her what he did in his free time or anything. The woman motioned her along, walking quickly.

The room she was guided to was small, secluded from the other guest rooms. Ashe had to hide her surprise at the terrible conditions her once companion was now staying in. She had thought him of all people would have chosen to live a bit more comfortably. Then again, how much did she really know about him?

As the woman who had brought her here left, Ashe pulled back her hood and knocked quietly on the door. She didn't know whether or not he would answer, but she had to try, had to find out why he could not face her to return her ring. Had that which meant so much to her come to mean so little to him that he could leave it in a ship's hanger to be delivered by someone else?

She could hear scuffling and slow footsteps approaching the door.

"Josephine, if you're here about rent I-…" As the door swung open, Balthier's words stopped, and Ashe's eyes grew wide.

He had grown thin, his eyes sunk and tired. He looked scruffy, such a stark difference from his usual kempt appearance that Ashe nearly thought she had been led to the wrong room. She had thought him one to care about his appearance; he had always taken great care of himself while on their travels… What happened to that man?

"Princess? What are you doing here?" His words were filled with shock, hissed out as if he were scolding her. Ashe narrowed her eyes slightly at his tone, crossing her arms.

"It's Queen now, thank you. And I merely came to have a talk I feel is two years overdue." Her tone was controlled as best she could, letting just a bit of the anger and hurt she felt out.

He rubbed his eyes with a quiet sigh. "Alright, come on in." He took a step back, allowing the door to open just enough for her to come in, then closed and locked it with his left hand.

Ashe looked around his room, disgusted by the messy state it was in. Had he not cleaned at all these past two years? Bowls were stacked around the sink, clothes strewn on the floor.

While she had been taking in the room, Balthier had gone farther in, clearing off a chair by pushing the clothes on it to the ground. "Are you planning on standing there all day?" His voice startled her out of her thoughts.

Ashe made her way to the chair he offered, sitting down across from him.

"I would offer you a drink, but all I have right now is water."

"I'm fine, thank you." Ashe was still trying to take in his drastic change from when she had last seen him.

"So, what did you wish to discuss?"

Ashe reached into the pocket of her cloak, pulling out her ring. She set it on the small table between them, then waited for him to speak.

He picked up the ring, an odd look crossing his face. "Ah, you wish to know why I returned it as I did?"

"You had no right to do so! You should have came yourself to let me know you lived and return the ring! I was worried sick about you, and this is all you gave to settle my fears? But no, you could just dump this on Vaan and Penelo and continue on with your merry life of piracy."

"It was not so easy as that-"

Ashe's emotions had gotten the best of her by this time, and she raised her voice. "Then what was so difficult? What could possibly have kept you from taking a few moments out of your life to ease the fears in mine?"

Balthier stood slowly, pushing himself up with the aid of his left hand. He took a few steps away, back towards her.

"Fran and I didn't exactly come out unscathed from that crash, highness, so excuse us for not appearing before you right away." While he spoke softly, there was a clear sting to his words she knew was meant to show her how he felt. "Fran's ankles were crushed pretty badly, though from what I've heard they've finally healed well enough she can walk again, and her hearings been off, not to mention I wasn't exactly in the best condition either, but hey, heaven forbid we do our best to return that damned ring of yours as soon as we can because I knew how much it once meant to you."

He turned around, eyes filled with some emotion she couldn't quite read. Ashe was stunned into silence, not expecting this sort of response and having been prepared for some excuse or another she would be able to call him out on. But this…she had not even imagined something like this.

"I had no idea-"

"Of course you didn't. No one did." He ran his left hand through his hair and Ashe suddenly noticed his favoring of that hand. She had thought him right handed… Wasn't he?

"What… Were you hurt badly after the crash?" Her voice was soft, the anger and hurt she felt diminishing as her own irrationality at the assumed situation hit her. She had though he was being a coward or jerk by hiding behind Vaan and Penelo in the return of her ring. She never once thought there could have been a real reason for him not to.

He let out a deep sigh, eyes shut. "My shoulder was pretty messed up which left me in a sling for a while, and my spine's still not quite right… I don't think my right knee will ever be good as new either." His eyes opened and he looked at his hand resting on the table. "I… I also lost use of the fingers on my right hand." He lifted his arm to show her, his thumb twitching only slightly when he tried to control it. "I've been teaching myself to be left handed but my occupation requires two good hands and…" He trailed off, growing quiet.

"My gods…"Ashe breathed as her hand rested in front of her mouth. "Is there nothing they can do?"

Guilt hit her hard, knowing it was for her cause, no, for her that he was injured so badly. Here she had grown to feel anger towards the man she should be thanking and it was all over her, as he had put it, damned ring. How selfish was she that she felt entitled enough to expect him returning it face to face? He had never promised such nor had she requested it yet here she came to demand why he had not done so.

"My nerves are shot there, Ashe, and they're just going to get worse."

"Worse?" the word barely left her lips, hopes that if it was not uttered it wouldn't be true.

Balthier sighed, the words not able to come out until he had thought through the best way to phrase it. "It'll start in my fingers and work its way up my arm. That, with my spine being how it is and my knee being jarred, my mobility will just grow more and more limited. I won't be able to work… I… I've already had to sell the Strahl to pay rent." He stopped, his voice becoming quiet when he spoke again. "But I'd rather not discuss that."

Her eyes grew wide, surprise coloring her features. Slowly she reached out and laid her hand over his, squeezing it slightly. He gave her the smallest hint of a sad smile in return.

"I never meant for all this to happen…"

Ashe could never have imagined… He hadn't really sold the Strahl, one possession he treasured above anything, due to something caused… well, caused by her, had he? He lost his hand, his ship, his lifestyle, and she had no idea that that would be the repercussions of her becoming queen, that her friend would suffer like this by himself. Wait, by himself... Where had Fran gone off to?

"Don't blame yourself. It was I that chose to go be the hero after all." There was anger in his voice, anger at himself.

"You are a hero." She said quietly, perhaps too quietly for it seemed he had not heard her. "After you… you sold the stra- it, where did Fran go?"

Balthier looked slightly surprised by her words. "You mean you haven't heard from the little Lord she's been residing with him in the palace? The physicians there patched her up nicely but until she has full mobility again Basch and Larsa aren't going to let her leave. I wasn't supposed to either," Balthier had a small smile while remembering the tale, "but I still managed to sneak out of a third story room. Perhaps Fran told the two not to disclose we were there, or perhaps they chose to of their own accord, I cannot say. On a similar topic, how did you manage to find me, Princess?"

"I doubt you'd be surprised to learn Vaan told me you were staying here."

"Vaan…" Balthier shook his head slightly as he trailed off. "I called the boy in for a favor and he repays me by alerting you to where I am. Some skypirate he is…"

Ashe looked away slightly. "I… I may have hired him to gather information on where you resided."

"Oh?" He raised his brow. "While I know it was so that you could throw your ring at me, am I allowed to at least pretend you truly cared for my wellbeing?"

"I do care! I just-" She cut her words off as he chuckled softly, a genuine smile on his face.

"I was jesting, Ashe."

"Oh…" Her face flushed slightly.

They sat in silence until Ashe spoke quietly. "Why didn't you just let me know what happened? I could have seen to your and Fran's care…"

"I didn't want you to see-… you're queen now, Ashe. Meeting with pirates isn't exactly the best thing for a Queen to do." His words were as quietly as hers, shifted abruptly to keep his thoughts from actually spilling forth.

"You are… you are my friend, even if my recent anger may have made it seem otherwise." She gave his hand another squeeze. "And anyone who thinks you less than worthy of my time is incorrect in doing so."

He smiled again, the ghost of his old self shining through. "I'm glad to hear you say that, princess."

The clock chimed, and Ashe turned towards the door. "I should be going now..."

Balthier stood, making his way towards the door to open it for her. "It was nice to see you again."

Ashe took a step out the door, and then turned back. "Balthier… would you like to come stay with me?"

He blinked, surprised by her offer. "What was that?"

"You…can come stay with me, if you'd like. I'd… I've missed you, and I'd enjoy your company."

He gave her the smallest of smiles. "Thank you, but I'm fine…"

"Balthier…"

"I'll be fine, Ashe. I've managed so far, I'll keep on managing."

She paused. "If…if you're sure."

"I am. Goodbye, Princess."

Ashe pulled up her hood. "Goodbye…"

He closed the door, but not before she saw him wipe away the tears that had formed in the corners of his eyes.