"Balthier."

"Princess."

The tension between the two of them could be felt throughout the entire room. Balthier stood, leaning against the entryway to the ballroom of the palace, and Ashe was seated at her place at head of the table, surrounded by lords and ladies of Ivalice. Ashe's face was a blank slate while his was covered with a smirk.

Balthier began to make his way towards her when Ashe's guards stepped to stop him.

"No, let him pass." Ashe spoke, waving away her guards. "He's an old friend."

Balthier huffed at the guards as they stepped back, acting offended. "I could have your heads for the actions you took towards me. Don't you know who I am?"

The guards looked to Ashe and she shook her head. "He's dramatic, ignore his remarks. Though he is right, I did grant him, the hero of Bahamut, diplomatic immunity after the crash and have him employed to…share information he learns with me." Ashe stood and walked towards where Balthier now stood, motioning him to follow her. "I will take a few words with him in the library. I'll return shortly."

"Are you sure that is a good idea?" One of the men seated at the table stood and started towards Ashe, hand on the hilt of his sword. "What if he tries something to harm you? I could test his honor in a fight…"

"Rowan, I will be fine." Ashe assured the man. "Now, just give us a moment, I need to see what information he's brought me."

Balthier dipped his head at the man and followed Ashe to the adjacent room. Closing the door behind him, he grinned as he felt Ashe's arms wrap around his waist.

"Old friend?" Balthier laughed, turning around and kissing her. "I do suppose that's better than announcing 'lover' or 'roguish paramour' to the crowds."

Ashe laughed with him, though her eyes grew sad. Balthier notice this, and he too seemed to grow a bit more serious.

"So that's him?" He asked, his voice neutral with a tad bit of feigned curiosity thrown in.

Ashe nodded. "That's him. Is that why you came here?" Her hands were fidgeting with the sleeves of her dress, uncertainty in her eyes.

Balthier sat by the table on one of the long benches that ran around its sides and merely smiled sadly at her. "Well, I did have to see the man who will be stealing you from me."

Ashe sighed and sat next to him. When she did so, Balthier took one of her hands into his and rubbed circles on it with his thumb. Ashe rested her head on his shoulder. "I suppose this will have to be goodbye soon…"

"We can still make things work somehow. I could still steal into your room…" Balthier tried to get her to smile but it only seemed to deepen her mood.

"Fornication outside of marriage is a big deal if you're a woman, Balthier. Men can cheat on their wives with anyone they please and are praised for it, but a woman who wishes to satisfy her needs outside of the marriage bed…"

"…Is punished for it. Kind of a nasty double standard," Balthier finished, his face grim now as well. He would never wish for Ashe to go through any sort of shame because he desired and loved her.

Ashe's eyes were sad. "I don't want to give you up…"

"Then don't. Marry me instead of him. It's as simple as that."

"Balthier," Ashe started. "You know I can't…"

Balthier began to run his fingers through her hair. "You're the queen, the most powerful being in Ivalice. No one should be able to tell you that you can't do something."

"I'm a figurehead. At this point, my council rarely asks me about anything before putting it on my desk for me to sign off on. If I were a king instead of queen I feel they would respect me more, but a woman in power? They think it preposterous… It seems they like so many have decided to push aside the struggle we went through to restore Dalmasca…" She leaned into his hand, closing her eyes to try and hold back tears she hadn't realized were there. Her voice broke as she continued. "I just have look pretty and make the people happy now, and the worst part is I didn't realize it was happening until it was too late, and now I fear the little power I do have will be taken from me when I wed Rowan."

Balthier kissed the top of her head, wiping away her tears with his thumb. "Why didn't you tell me this sooner, Ashe?"

"I didn't want to trouble you with my problems…"

"Ashe, I love you. Your problems are my problems, and I for one am not happy with what's going-"

"Ashe, darling, are you almost done in there?" A voice called from outside the door, causing Ashe to startle and sit up. Taking a deep breath, she regained her composure.

"Just about, Rowan. The hero of Bahamut is just finishing telling me of the goings-on in Lowtown. I'll be out shortly."

"Can't wait, dear!" The voice called from outside the door, almost a bit too cheerfully. "Don't forget we have to ride through town together later so I can show off my soon-to-be bride!"

"I haven't forgotten." Ashe called, then waited until she couldn't hear his footsteps before sinking back down onto Balthier's shoulder.

"See, he treats me like a prize he's just won…"

Balthier scowled. "You're a woman, not an object one can possess or hold claim over." He suddenly changed mood. "Ashe, come with me! We can steal out of here, and with Rowan as good as king already, I doubt they'd give much chase after us."

"I cannot abandon my kingdom, Balthier. You know how much blood was shed and battles fought to get Dalmasca to where it is. The kingdom is mine by right and I won't just give it up."

"Then take it back!" Balthier suggested. "Get rid of the council and call off the marriage. Take power back into your hands and marry whomever you want."

Ashe shook her head slightly. "And how do you suppose I go about doing this? Let's face it, Balthier. You know as well as I that I'm trapped, and that we were doomed from the start… We can't change fate."

"I don't care for these fates of yours. I enjoy giving them a fight." Balthier stated.

"Balthier…"

"Princess…"

Neither was willing to give up their stance. Finally, Ashe caved slightly.

"I suppose I can at least postpone the marriage, and in the meantime try to eliminate the council, though many of them served my father… But then there's still us."

Balthier's hand entwined with hers again. "Like I said before. It's simple. You marry me, and we can still be together."

"I love you Balthier but…"

"I know, your country comes first, no matter if you are just a pretty figurehead or a ruling queen." He sighed. "I suppose I'll have to be content to just be with you while I still can."

Ashe sighed as well. "You know I would marry you in heartbeat if I could, but Dalmasca needs political allies, and Rowan can bring Rozarrian ones. But know that I will always love you, even if we are separated. And if I can change fate, I will try and change it so that we can be together."

"Fancy words…" Ashe could tell he was still upset about her constant refusal.

"True words." She shifted so she could kiss him lightly. "Now, I should be getting back out there… Will I see you tonight?"

"We'll see." Balthier stood and helped her to her feet, his thoughts still swimming from everything.

"I love you, Balthier."

"I love you too, Ashe…"

As he disappeared down the hall, Ashe's eyes followed his shadow until it was out of sight. She shook her head lightly and sighed, knowing that today would probably end up being the last day she would get to share with him. She could see it in his eyes the hurt she caused by her rejecting his offer to run off and marrying him, or stay here and marrying him. As her eyes filled with tears yet again, she prayed to the gods that he would understand she needed to be here and have political allies. He had to after all…

Right?