1.) Strangers

The first time Balthier found Ashe in his bed they were strangers.

He knew little of the woman who he found himself traveling with besides the fact that she was the deposed princess of Dalmasca, and that he was now involved in something much too political for his taste. Yet, he had found the whole thing intriguing, and decided he would see where the tale would lead them, as any good leading man would do.

On that day in which he first discovered the princess in his room, Fran had told Ashe she could rest in his bed that night. It would have been nice of Fran to let him know of this fact before he entered his room on the Strahl and gotten prepared to climb into his bed but that hadn't happened. Instead, Fran told him of this after he came storming out, demanding to know just why her royal highness was fast asleep in his room. She explained softly that she felt the princess was not sleeping well enough and that a warm bed might let the woman sleep through the night.

"She has not slept well at all since the Leviathan. I fear her dreams plague her, playing over and over all the things that have hurt her." Fran had said, and Balthier had merely grumbled and reclined in one of the seats of the Strahl's cockpit.

"Yeah, well, once she's woken up you'll have to let her know that I intend that to be my bed so long as she requires a pilot. She'll have to make due with a sleeping bag like the rest of her merry group."

He was none too pleased the next morning when the princess admitted she had barely slept at all the night before and, yet he simply told her they had best get ready to travel.

"Thank you, by the way. It was… nice to sleep in a real bed. It's been quite a while since I've had that luxury."

"It was no problem, princess." He brushed aside her comment and continued getting ready for travel, not realizing that it had been two years since the princess had been able to sleep on a real bed and not just a cot or makeshift thing the resistance had thrown together.

2.) Acquaintances

The second time Balthier found Ashe in his bed they were better acquainted.

A storm prevented the group from traveling any farther, so they had set up a campsite. Fran and Basch had drawn for first watch, Vaan and Penelo second, and Ashe and Balthier last. Sleeping arrangements were based on such, with the two tents they had along being pitched and the second and third watch pairs setting up for the night in them.

Ashe's sleeping bag had gotten soaked, and the woman was shivering from her own dampness, having been caught out in the rain far longer than the other had. She had gone chasing after something-or-another of hers that had blown off into the wind, and in doing so had gotten herself and most of her things completed drenched. With a pleading look shot to Balthier, the man had sighed and spread his blankets out to accommodate the princess.

She was still not very open with anyone, thought he felt he learned more about her each time she spoke. Listening to her and Basch reminisce, he felt as if he was building base knowledge of this woman, who tried so hard to appear as if she were perfect, yet he knew was far from—as all humes were. He had not realized her to be younger than him, thinking from her demeanor that she was at least a year or so his elder. But no, she was but nineteen, and already had faced much more hardship than one person should have to in a lifetime. He knew he should have known her age, but Archadian politics were so separate from Dalmasca's he had never paid much attention to the smaller country's reigning monarchs when he was involved in such things.

"I hope you're not someone who cuddles when they sleep." Balthier teased dryly as Ashe settled herself into the blankets.

"Well, I'm not normally, I think, but perhaps I'll make an exception since it is rather chilly out."

Balthier couldn't tell if she was kidding or not, so he had simply chuckled slightly and hoped the storm would pass before he and his sleeping companion had to take watch.

3.) Friends

The next time Balthier found Ashe in his bed, they were friends.

It was strange to think of how quickly they had gone from strangers, to acquaintances, to friends. If he looked back on things he could have seen this coming—they always shared conversations, discussed things, and often disagreed on issues. And now he had shared his biggest secret with her, and felt closer to her than ever.

He had learned so much about Ashe, from what she enjoyed and what she loathed, to her favorite foods and colors. In turn he shared the same things, and that base knowledge he had of her grew each day. They had both talked of their siblings, a late night conversation while on watch that was difficult for them both, but had come out of it feeling the weight of their losses lifted slightly. He would never have imagined enjoying Ashe's company as much as he did, yet he found himself turning to her more and more when he wished to converse.

That next time, the group had decided to stay at an inn on the coast, hoping to get a much needed break and a good night's sleep. After baths and meals, Balthier had retired to his room only to find Ashe sitting on his bed cross-legged, blanket draped across her lap. She was smiling, an occurrence still so rare Balthier had thought he may have imagined it, and she quickly apologized for imposing.

"I had thought we might get to speak some more."

Balthier sat down next to her and grinned. "Of course, princess. What's on your mind? And please, do not say you wish to run off and join Al-Cid in Rozarria and need a pilot to get you there, because if you wish to do so I will have to question your sanity."

Ashe laughed, a bright tinkling laugh that Balthier knew he would not forget. "He's really not that awful, Balthier. Are you just jealous of the fact he was so openly flirting with me?"

Balthier simply shook his head, neither confirming nor denying her words, and let Ashe rest her head on his shoulder as she continued to speak. "I thought you might want to talk more about your father. I know it had to be tough to tell me what you did, and I think sharing more would be good for you."

Balthier was reluctant at first but spoke more freely as the night went on, sharing thing with her not even Fran knew. And by the end of the night, the two had shared all they could and were fast asleep, Ashe curled up beside him with her head rested on his chest.

4.) Lovers

When Ashe and Balthier next shared a bed, they were lovers.

Desire sparked in both their eyes a few weeks after the inn as they grew closer and closer, though Balthier had not thought of what to make of that. He had not expected to find himself craving the touch of the woman he now trusted above all others, yet he was caught up in her. How had he never realized how truly lovely she was before now? Had their friendship caused his eyes to be opened and to see her in another light?

Ashe was truly a remarkable woman. He had never felt anything like this before, and it frightened him. He had not known if Ashe wished to take a farther step in this friendship that they had and turn it intimate. He had not even thought of what he would do if he found himself falling for Ashe. Yes, when they had first set out on this quest he had thought her attractive, but now he saw beyond her exterior and to all that lay below the surface.

The others were all camping outside that night, the weather fair and stars shining bright. Looking back on it, Balthier realized Fran must have played some role in getting the others off the ship and allowing him a private moment with Ashe.

The woman was waiting for him in his room, her eyes lit with passion. It was not long before the two became familiar with every inch of the other, every scar and freckle. It was a slow and cautious lovemaking, wanting to savor each moment, but both nervous about what this would mean for the friendship that had grown between them.

"Where does this leave us now?" Ashe asked with a soft kiss.

Balthier tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Where do you think it leaves us?"

"As lovers, as friends, as… Well, I feel a title doesn't matter so long as you know I love you." Ashe said quietly, the words Balthier longed to hear now spoken.

"And I love you as well."

Stolen moments were shared between the two after that night, both knowing the time they shared may be limited, but that they would treasure each kiss, each touch, even more for it.

5.) Separated

They had yet to share a bed again.

Perhaps it was a cruel fate to leave Ashe thinking him dead until now. Perhaps it was a selfish fate to not return her ring himself. He could not say.

What he could say was that his room on the Strahl reminded him of her. His pillows still smelled like her, his bed felt empty without her next to him. He had grown so accustomed to her being near that even now, a year after they had defeated Vayne, he still expected her to show up at any moment. Sometimes he thought he'd catch a glimpse of her in the market, but it was all in his mind. He was the one who had decided to stay away so long anyways…

He missed the conversations they shared, the connection they had. He missed having someone who knew every little things about him around, and who he knew every little thing about. He still loved her dearly, and perhaps that was why he had such a hard time when he would try to convince himself to go see her. He did not want to hear she no longer loved him, a fear that he had developed as he recovered from the accident without sending word to her.

"You fear something you should not." Fran had said. "Letting her know we live will not damage anything, but instead perhaps strengthen it."

"And what if she's been swept up in politics so quickly that she's set aside everything that we had, thinking me dead and wanting it to remain that way so she can rule without her thoughts plagued by me?" It was a foolish argument, and truth be told not knowing he lived probably ate away at her more than knowing he did would, but he had still said it in hopes of Fran not pressing the issue.

Honestly, a part of him feared how things would have to change now that she was queen. There was no way that he could see them ever returning to what they had before they won back her throne, and while he had known that moment would come, that it had now happened caused him to not act instead of doing what he knew he should and share knowledge of his survival with her. Yet he loved her so much still, and he should have at least tried something… was it too late to do so now?

'Once you've held a treasure in your hand, you can't sit by and watch it slip away.' He had once heard an old pirate say those words, and now with his thoughts plagued with Ashe, this saying came to mind more and more frequently.

Perhaps there was still time for them…