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The group approached the Gran-Kiltias Anastasis slowly, quietly. The old man's eyes were closed, and he didn't appear to even notice they were there.

"Is he sleeping?" Vaan asked Penelo.Shh!" she said sharply.

Suddenly, the old man's voice boomed out, seemingly all around them, though he didn't move his lips. "No, my child. I do not sleep. I dream. For reality and illusion are a duality, two parts of a whole. Only the mirror of dreams reflects what is true."

Ashe listened with rapt attention to the Gran-Kiltias. Certainly, he couldn't have known that she had just recently had an epiphany in the form of a dream? Still, his words struck a chord with her. She knew that her dream had been the only truth. She had to stop living the lie.

But now was not the time. Now, she had more urgent matters to attend to.

She stepped toward Anastasis. "Anastasis, Your Grace, I am Ashelia --"

"Lay down your words. Ashelia, daughter of Raminas, I have dreamt your dream. Who better to carry on the Dalmascan line than she who bears the Dawn Shard? Your dream of a kingdom restored is known to me," Anastasis said.

"Gran Kiltias, then give us your blessing," Larsa interceded. "Grant the Lady Ashe her accession—"

"I do not suppose this is something you might…reconsider?" A thickly accented voice interrupted from the back of the room. The group turned to see a tall, stylishly-dressed, dark-haired man. His eyes were covered with dark glasses, and he was accompanied by a woman dressed in dark clothing. He looked at Larsa. "Ah, my little emperor-in-waiting. You called, and I have come."

Larsa held out his hand for the man to shake, but the man instead patted Larsa on the head. Larsa brushed his hand aside in annoyance. He turned to Ashe. "This is the man I wanted you to meet. Believe it or not, he is a member of the noble House Margrace, the ruling family of the Rozarrian Empire."

The man approached Ashe, got a little closer than Ashe was comfortable with. "Hah, I am but one of very very many," he said. "Try as I might, I could not stop this war alone. Thus I've come, seeking Larsa's assistance." He took off his dark glasses, and handed them to his female servant. "Al-Cid Margrace, at your service. To think, I stand before the Lady Ashe. It is truly an honor." He knelt, took Ashe's left hand in his own and attempted to place a kiss upon it.

Ashe pulled her hand away as gracefully as she could muster, and Penelo blanched visibly at the Rozarrian's advances. Balthier stood behind the group, arms crossed in front of his chest, a look of extreme annoyance on his face.

"I see it is true, after all," Al-Cid continued. "Ah, stunning is Dalmasca's desert bloom."

"Is this guy serious?" Balthier muttered to no one in particular. Larsa made an irritated noise that perfectly mirrored Balthier's own feelings on the situation.

Anastasis spoke again. "In Archadia, Larsa. In Rozarria, Al-Cid. They dream not of war. Should empire join with empire, the way will open for a new Ivalice in our time."

"Hah, Gran Kiltias! You speak much of dreams. But in the real world, war is upon us," Al-Cid said with a slight sneer.

Ashe shook her head, unable to bear any more. She looked back at Balthier, hoping to find strength in him, but instead found him to look -- irritated. "Gran Kiltias, I was told my coming here would prevent this war. I was to assume my father’s throne and announce the restoration of Dalmasca…treat with the Empire for peace, and persuade the Resistance to stay their hand. I have not come all this way to be asked to reconsider!" she cried.

"A word from you and the Resistance would stop cold…and Rozarria’s pretext for joining the war…scattered, off to the four winds. This was what we had hoped. Alas, circumstances change. A full two years have passed since your reported death. Were it to become known you were still alive…I fear it could only worsen our current situation," Al-Cid remarked.

"Because I am powerless to help," Ashe said dejectedly.

"Nay! In fact, it has little to do with you," Al-Cid said quickly.

"Then what?" Larsa asked. "If Lady Ashe were to extend her hand in friendship…perhaps I could then persuade the Emperor." He turned to Ashe, imploring her with his eyes. "His Excellency will solve things peacefully—"

"The Emperor Gramis is no more," Al-Cid said suddenly. "His life has been taken."

Larsa's eyes grew wide. "Father!" He stood there, suddenly numb and unable to think or speak.

Al-Cid turned back to Ashe. "Let us suppose you approach the Empire with a peaceful resolution," he began. "The late Emperor Gramis would have lent you his ear, that much is certain. But we are dealing with Vayne Solidor. Should the Princess return, he would claim her an imposter. All to tempt the Resistance into battle. Vayne wants this war, that much is certain. As our ill luck would have it, the man is a military genius."

Anastasis nodded his concurrence. "The dreams have told me thus," he said. "To reveal yourself would imperil us all. I see war, and Vayne's name writ bold on history's page."

"Archadia’s banners fly high. They are making ready for the coming war." Al-Cid's female servant handed him a scroll, which he unrolled and began to read. "According to our latest reports ... The Western Armada prepares for war, under Vayne’s command no less. The newly formed 12th Fleet has already been deployed. Oh yes! The Imperial 1st Fleet stands ready. They’ll be under way as the Odin’s refit is complete. And there is more: the 2nd Kerwon Expeditionary Force is being called in…to replace the missing 8th, so there will be no gaps. The largest force ever seen!"

Ashe sighed heavily. "And the Nethicite is the coup de grace." Al-Cid nodded sagely, and Ashe turned back to the Gran-Kiltias. "Gran Kiltias, Your Grace. I spoke to you of my succession. Let us put that aside. Should I become Queen of Dalmasca now, powerless as I am, I can protect nothing. With a greater power at my disposal, perhaps then."

"You seek the Nethicite?" Al-Cid asked her.

She shook her head. "No, something far greater," she said firmly.

"To wield power against power. Truly the words of a Hume-child," the Gran-Kiltias remarked.

Ashe held her head high. "I am a descendent of the Dynast-King."

"Indeed. You have one choice," Anastasis said. "Seek you the other power that Raithwall left."

"Such a thing exists?" Ashe asked incredulously.

"Cross the Paramina Rift to the Stilshrine of Miriam. There rests the power you seek. The Sword of Kings ... can cut through Nethicite," Anastasis said. "Awaken Ashelia B’Nargin and take up your sword, or your dream will remain but a dream."

Ashe glanced at Larsa, eyes full of sympathy. He didn't appear to see them. He didn't appear as though he'd heard anything at all after learning of his father's murder. Penelo placed a gentle hand on his shoulder as the group left the Temple, and left Larsa behind.

**********************************************************************

"I'm simply saying I didn't like him," Balthier commented to Fran as the group made their way down the mountain to the Paramina Rift.

"And why would that be?" Fran asked innocently. "Could it be due to his interest in the Lady Ashe?" She cast a knowing look in Balthier's direction.

"That has nothing to do with it," Balthier contested. "He was far too over-the-top for my liking. And I didn't appreciate the way he came in and took over the meeting." He sighed. Fran was right though. He hadn't appreciated the way the smarmy Rozarrian had just swooped in and taken to fawning all over his Ashe.

Wait a moment. His Ashe? Balthier shook his head in disgust. It had simply been too long a day for him to think straight any longer.

After several hours of trekking through the snow-covered fields, Basch suggested that they rest for the night. "Lady Ashe's strength has not yet completely returned, and it has been a trying day for us all."

"Agreed," Fran said.

They began setting up the tents and starting a fire. Ashe was ordered to sit and not exert herself. Ashe wouldn't have minded some exertion. She had so much pent-up frustration from the meeting earlier. Never in her life had she felt so powerless as she did at that moment. Nothing seemed to be going according to the original plan, and it was terribly frustrating. She needed something to take her mind off of the insanity that had become this day.

Sighing, she spotted Balthier's gun lying on the ground not far from her feet. She picked it up and turned it over in her hand. She held it up and aimed it at a lone tree far in the distance. Her hand shook so badly, though that she had to bring her arm down. She marveled that Balthier's aim was always steady and true.

"Princess, if you wanted to play with my gun, all you had to do was ask," Balthier said teasingly, coming up behind her.

"I was just looking," she said.

"Look all you like. Feel free to fondle as well." He winked.

She rolled her eyes. "Balthier." She looked back down at the gun and suddenly knew what she wanted to do. "Would you teach me to shoot this?" she asked him, eyes sparkling hopefully.

"You want to learn how to fire my weapon? I thought you'd never ask," Balthier quipped. "Come on, get up. Follow me. Better to get you away from the innocent bystanders." Ashe followed him across the path. He finally stopped when they were out of both earshot and eyesight of the rest of the group.

"Okay, here is good." He handed her the gun, helped her get her arms into the correct position and showed her how to get a target in her sites. "You've got to get a firmer grip on it than that, Princess, or it'll just slip right through your fingers."

Ashe grinned a little to herself at the double-entendre. Had someone walked by and heard but not seen them, she was certain they would think something untoward was going on. That gave her an idea. She tightened her hold on the gun, but not before letting her hand slide down the barrel slightly suggestively. "Like this?" she asked, feigning innocence.

Balthier eyed her suspiciously. What exactly was she trying to do to him? "Perfect," he managed to croak.

"Now what?" she asked him.

"Now you need to ... uh, pump the slide," Balthier said, clearing his throat.

"Hmm, okay. Like this, then, right?" Ashe asked, looking at him while she pumped the slide. "Again?"

"No!" he cried out. "Um, no, just once will be fine for now."

"Are you all right?" she asked him sweetly.

"Princess," Balthier said warning. "What exactly are you playing at here?"

Ashe lowered the gun, bit her lip. "Trying to gain control," she finally said. "I've felt powerless all day, and it's not a feeling I'm accustomed to. I thought maybe I would feel better if I spent some time alone with you. You -- you soothe me, Balthier."

Balthier took the gun from Ashe, fired the loaded bullet at a tree stump in the distance, and clicked the safety on. He set it down on the ground and walked over to her. "I hope you realize, Princess, that by trying to gain control over me, you've nearly made me lose all of mine."

She looked up at him, her eyes a stormy gray. "Would that be so bad?" she asked him.

"What's come over you?" he asked her, his expression serious.

"I don't quite know," she said honestly. "I just needed to be alone with you."

He didn't know what to say to that, so he just took her in his arms, rested his chin on top of her head. "What do you think this all means, Ashelia?" he said quietly.

At the sound of her name on his lips, she stepped back. "You just called me Ashelia," she whispered.

"My apologies," he said quickly, afraid he'd offended her in some way.

"No, no. Call me Ashelia again," she said breathily. "Balthier, I'm asking you."

"Asking me?" he said, not quite sure if he understood her correctly.

She nodded. "I'm asking you. Call me Ashelia ... and ..." She didn't get to finish her sentence, for he placed one hand at the small of her back and one at the nape of her neck and drew her to him in one quick motion.

His lips found hers, and there was no sweetness in this kiss. This kiss was hungry and heady. Their tongues danced and mated with each other. Ashe tried to pull him closer, found that he could be no closer without being inside of her, and groaned in frustration. She felt the knot that had been in the bottom of her stomach for two years begin to untie itself and fan flames throughout her body.

She found herself undoing the buckle of his belt without even realizing it. He removed her panties in one fluid movement and pushed her back against a large boulder. Wordlessly, he entered her, and she moved her hips to accomodate him. She pulled him closer to her as he thrust, refusing to let him go. She needed this right now. Needed the simplicity, the rawness of it all. It felt so good to be wanted again, and Balthier filled her in a way she never thought be possible again.

Balthier's hands were in her hair, he placed featherlight kisses all over her face and shoulders and the exposed swell of her breasts. "Ashelia," he murmured.

The sound of his voice saying her name brought her to the edge. She wrapped her legs around his waist and urged him on -- harder, faster, gods please -- until finally she came, crying out his name. He felt her spasms, squeezing him until he reached his own release.

They stayed like that for a moment, staring at each other in wonderment. "It's cold," she finally murmured. "It wasn't this cold before." She rested her head on his chest and he ran his fingers through her hair.

"I must say, I never imagined I'd be doing that in this ice field," Balthier said lightly. "It wasn't quite how I envisioned our first time."

She smiled softly into his chest. "Me neither," she whispered. "But I'll take it." She paused. "I haven't felt this way in a long time. Too long."

Balthier kissed her long and hard. "Come, let's head back to camp. I'm sure the others are wondering where we've gotten off to by now," Balthier said, taking her by the hand. "I do hope you'll let me make this up to you. Somewhere more civilized."

"I would like that very much," Ashe told him as they walked back to camp. "Somewhere with a bit more sun, next time," she joked.

"Deal," he told her. "Ashe, I ..." he began, then thought better of it. . "Never mind," he said. Luckily, she didn't press the subject.Now was not the time nor the place to be burdening her with his darkest secrets. Not in the afterglow.

But soon, he'd tell her. He only hoped she wouldn't think less of him for it ..