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Cutting Bonds, Part I

Captain Ronsenberg is silent as we walk through Uncle Halim's estate.  I still do not trust the man, despite Vossler's assurances. I suppress a shudder at the realization that, with Vossler gone, I am surrounded by strangers, most of whom are thieves, accused traitors, or some combination thereof.

The familiar surroundings of Halim's mansion are somewhat reassuring, even though I know I cannot trust him entirely either. I spent many summers here, when the heat in Rabanastre was nigh unbearable and most citizens left for Nabradia or Bhujerba. A slight smile crosses my face as I recall days spent running from balcony to balcony, convinced that I could see the Royal Palace from this height.

Halim's guards greet us at the doors to his private study, and allow us to enter. He is seated at his desk, obviously waiting for us. A smile passes over his features as he sees me; I nod politely, but otherwise do not return the gesture.

"Your Majesty," Halim greets me, glancing over the group assembled behind me and raising an eyebrow in my direction.

"Halim," I reply.

He leans back in his chair. "To see you alive is a blessing from the gods themselves. Tell me, how did you escape?"

I nod and begin to explain. "When Vossler learned my father had been killed the night of the treaty-signing, he returned to Rabanastre to aid my escape. There was still time before Vayne's reach extended too far..." I trail off and meet Halim's eyes. "We thought you could protect me."

Halim sighs and picks up the tale. "However, when I then made the announcement that you had taken your own life... I must have seemed a model citizen of the Empire." I bow my head in silent agreement. It was exactly what Vossler and I had feared, so long ago. "The announcement, you see, was Vayne's suggestion. Of course, at the time I was reluctant, but I could not perceive his reasons. Now it is clear: he meant to drive a wedge between us."

And it worked, all too well. But nothing will be solved by dwelling on past mistakes. "Halim, we are past all this," I say. "Bhujerba must stand with us. We can stop Vayne!"

Halim regards me silently for a long moment, then looks down at his desk and sighs heavily. With a slight groan, he pushes himself to his feet. "I once knew a girl whose only wish was to be carried in her uncle's arms," he says, still studying me. Does he miss those days, I wonder, when I was a child so easily pleased? "Your Majesty is a woman grown now."

"Then Bhujerba will aid me?" I ask.

Halim begins answering the question almost before I have finished asking it. "Suppose for a moment you were to defeat Vayne. What then? You cannot simply rebuild your kingdom with the only proof of your birthright stolen. Without that, the Gran-Kilitas on Bur-Omisace cannot and will not recognize you as the rightful heir." He turns away from the wall and faces me, regret in his eyes. "You may yet be a Princess, but without proof of your identity, you are powerless."

My hands clench into fists. Powerless-- I have always been powerless, all these years, helpless and powerless to save my kingdom and my people.

"You will remain with me. We do nothing until the time is right," Halim decrees.

"I just cannot wait!" I protest.

Halim looks at me, obviously irritated. "Then what does your Majesty propose we do?"

"Uncle Halim..." I say desperately, appealing to the old bonds, hoping to change his mind. Before I can continue, Balthier cuts in.

"Incidentally, what is the going rate for rescuing princesses these days?" he asks nonchalantly. I turn away from Halim. "Food would be a start-- the good stuff, mind you," Balthier continues.

"That can be arranged-- though, it will take some time," Halim replies. I walk away as Balthier barters for further favors. Nothing but another road to profit; that's all he sees in this endeavor. I look at the rest of my companions as I walk past. Fran will obviously go along with the pirate. The children will probably want nothing more than to return to Rabanastre, content with their adventure. Captain Ronsenberg... I cannot trust him. I can trust none of them to do what is best for Dalmasca.

"My servants will escort you to the guest quarters," Halim says. "All but the Princess and Captain Ronsenberg may leave on the morrow."

"Thank you, Marquis," Balthier says. "It has been a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

The Captain falls in step beside me as we walk through the halls. "Majesty, I know it is difficult, but perhaps 'tis best we wait here," he says hesitantly. "Vossler did instruct you to wait for him here. Upon his return, he will have new counsel. Together with the Marquis, we will be able to strengthen the Resistance and free Dalmasca." He does not seem entirely convinced of his own words.

I nod absently, turning my attention to the other conversations. "I want to check on the Strahl later this evening," Balthier tells Fran. She nods as he continues. "After the meal the Marquis promised us."

"Can I help?" Vaan asks eagerly.

"You may watch," Fran says evenly. "If you behave, I may permit you to touch the hull."

The servants direct us to our rooms. Halim has given me the room I used to stay in during those long-ago summer visits. An attempt to pacify me, to keep me as an easily-controlled child. I close the door behind me and shake my head.  No... it will take more than vague promises and old memories to please this Princess.

+++

It's almost surprisingly easy to sneak down to the aerodome and locate the Strahl. Halim apparently failed to inform the guards to prevent my departure, and the staff at the aerodome pays little attention to me. The hatch is already open, and I quietly creep inside, listening intently. The airship is silent. I walk to the cockpit and sit down in the pilot's chair. There's a faint smell of leather in the air. I shake my head to clear it and lean back, regarding the console. It can't be too terribly difficult to learn how to fly.

Several frustrating minutes later, I've made no progress in starting the airship, much less flying her away from Bhujerba.

"What are you doing?" Vaan asks incredulously behind me.

I gasp and half-turn towards him. If he's here, that means that Balthier and Fran aren't far behind. Damn it all...

"This is Balthier's ship," he continues, as though I am unaware of this fact.

With an irritated sigh, I turn back to the console. "I'm going to retrieve the Dawn Shard. It's the proof that I need. I know where it's hidden," I explain. "I'll return his airship later."

"Are you crazy?" Vaan asks.

I close my eyes for a moment, gathering my patience, then look back at Vaan. "This is something that I have to do! No only for myself, but for all those who have fallen! I will not be made to hide!" With an irritated sigh, I turn away. "I'll fight alone, if I must."

"You still have Basch, right?" Vaan says, sounding concerned. "Besides, you can't just go around stealing people's ships. What are you trying to do?"

My patience finally snaps. I jump to my feet and glower at Vaan. "I'm trying to concentrate!"

"That's quite enough, Your Majesty," Basch says, though his voice sounds... odd...

I look up to see Balthier leaning in the doorway, holding a mechanical device to his mouth. He smirks and continues, speaking in both his voice and Basch's. "What do you think? A bit over the top?" He lowers the device and looks at it thoughtfully. "In my line of work, you never know when something like this might come in handy." With a decidedly wicked smirk, he clicks the side and raises the device again. "I'm trying to concentrate!" he repeats in my voice.

I glare at him; he stares back blithely, as he always does. Finally, I look away, realizing how foolish this whole attempt was.

"I'm leaving you with the Marquis," Balthier says decisively.

"You can't!" I plead.

Balthier raises an eyebrow. "Trust me, you're better off staying here."

My mind races, struggling to come up with something I can offer him, anything to get me away from here. "What if you were to kidnap me instead?" I offer. Balthier stops walking and tilts his head towards me. Having captured his attention, I continue. "You're a sky pirate, aren't you? Then steal me! Is that so much to ask?"

Balthier pauses, obviously considering the offer. "What do you have that I would want?" he asks.

Profit. Offer him enough money, and he will follow wherever I lead... "The Dynast-King's treasure," I say. "The Dawn Shard is but one of the riches that lie waiting in King Raithwall's tomb." This is something of a lie; I'm not sure what, if any, treasures are buried with the King. But the lure of money is enough to get me there. That's all I need.

Balthier turns around and whistles admiringly. "King Raithwall, you say?"

"Kidnapping royalty is a serious offense," Basch says, walking into the cockpit. I brace myself, preparing for another round of argument and debate. He stops near Balthier and regards the pirate. "It won't do much to lower the bounty on your head."

"How much is the price on your head these days, I wonder?" Balthier retorts as Basch approaches me.

Basch meets my eyes, ever serious. "Allow me to escort you in Vossler's place," he says.

I nod, surprised by his willingness to follow.

"Will you be joining us?" Fran asks as she and Penelo walk in from the hallway.

Vaan replies. "What, are you kidding? I don't wanna stick around this place."

Penelo dashes for the seat behind Vaan and throws herself in it. "Then I'm coming too!" she says, clinging to the armrests.

"Penelo!" Vaan protests.

The young girl shakes her head. "Don't leave me here!"

Vaan sighs and shakes his head. "Of course not."

Fran walks to the doorway and stops, the barest hint of a smile on her face. "Then it's settled. We should leave before the Marquis realizes she's missing." She pauses a moment, then continues. "Like proper kidnappers."

Balthier grins and nods, then eases past me to get to the pilot's seat. The smell of leather gets stronger, briefly, and I realize it's from his vest. He settles into the chair, then glances up at me and adjusts the height. I flush slightly as he smirks and easily flicks the console to life.

"If you want to learn to fly airships, Princess, I'll be more than happy to teach you... after we've gotten that treasure." The engines hum to life, and Balthier glances around. "Strap in. We'll be in the Westersand by dawn."

Voluntarily kidnapped by pirates, protected by a kingslayer, and accompanied by thieves. This was far from how I had planned to reclaim my kingdom... but fate, it seems, has other plans. With a resigned sigh, I lean back in my chair. The Strahl leaves Bhujerban airspace and rockets into the night.