A/N: Note that in this chapter, it is in Fran's POV.

Chapter Three: The Viera's Gift

Gunshots caught the attention of my sensitive hearing. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Balthier fighting off the Nazgul with a mere hand-gun. "Idiot! You cannot win with a hand-gun alone!" I shouted. Balthier cocked his head in my direction and gave me his trademark smirk. "You doubt my abilities, Fran?"

I frowned. "Balthier, forget them and heed getting your hover to the whispering river!" Pointing to a distant river, ahead.

The leader of the Nazgul passed the gunman and lunged at me. I cursed in Vierian as the Nazgul started tugging the ends of my sliver hair, trying to distract me from entering the borders of my people. It was working but I wasn't going to let the black-rider get the better of me. I averted my eyes to the unconsious halfling that nested in front of me. He was was as pale as a ghost and his eyes were discolorated. "Vaan...you musn't give up on me." I cried as I pressed harder on the pedals, causing the hover's engine to roar even louder. The black-rider grabbed the back of the hover and drew its claws onto my back.

"Fran!" I heard Balthier cry out from behind. He aimed for the Nazgul's head and pressed the trigger. The Nazgul shrieked louder than ever, it released its grip from my hair and fell onto the desert ground. Pain was coursing through my lithe form as I forced all my strength onto making the hover go faster. Vaan was in need of healing and my people were the only ones who could do such a feat. I looked to the sky and prayed to the wood that she spares this halfling's life. "What grace has given me. Let him be spared. Save him." My lips curled to a small smile as a bright light shined through the blackened-sky. The wood heard her prayer.

As I neared the borders of the wood, the same devious shriek that caused me such great pain, echoed inside my ear once again. I glanced over my shoulder and glimsped at the black-riders tailing behind Balthier. "They are nearing! Hurry and pass me while I distract them!" I demanded.

Balthier stared at me in bewilderment. "What?"

"Just do it, damn you!" I screamed as I unseethed my vieran sword.

The Nazgul quickly unseethed their Morgul blades and started circling around me. "Give up the halfling, she-Viera!" One snarled.

"If you want him, come and claim him!"

The Nazgul charged forward. Not knowing that they were crossing the whispering river and into my trap. "Get the halfling!"

I closed my eyes. "Nin o Chilthaeglier, lasto beth daer. Rimmo nin Brunien dan in Ulaer!" I felt a sudden sudder as the water of the whispering river started to rise. The Nazgul stopped dead in their tracks, pondering on why their stallions refused to go any farther. The whispering river's water crashed above them...sweeping the black-riders against its mighty current. Balthier ran to my side and threw Vaan over his shoulders. "We haven't got time to sit about...let us hurry to your aunt." He whispered.

My aunt, Ifalna, was the ruler of the Promise Land. For thousands of years she has guarded and watched over the beautiful mountain realm. She also, possessed one of the rings, the Dynast-King entrusted to her. Lady Ifalna was known to be the wisest of all the Viera. "You have finally arrived, Fran. Did you bring the ring bearer?" Her voice soft as a whisp of wind. I nodded and turned to the body that was settled on Balthier's shoulder. "He has been struck by a Morgul blade. He needs treatment right away." I replied.

When I entered my aunt's chamber, I couldn't help but overhear the conversation between her and Reddas, the room was filled with tension that it burned my senses. Talking about the one ring caused me to be curious of what powers it stored around its band. "Fran, I know you are hiding yourself among the shadows." She narrowed her eyes at me as I appeared from the doorway. "If you wish to join the conversation, you needn't ask." She added, her frown turning into a small smile.

I bowed my head as a sign for apology and turned to the chuckling sky-pirate. "I need to know...what will happen to Ivalice if the ring returned to its master?"

"Ivalice will fall to the brink of destruction. All races will be lost." Lady Ifalna interrupted.

My eyes widened. "Surely we can put a stop to this madness? We can join another alliance with--" I paused as Lady Ifalna gave me a menicing glare.

"With who? Moogles? They cower to their havens...ignoring any contact, whatsoever!"

I shook my head. "No, I meant another alliance with humes." I whispered, lowering my head to the floor. I wanted to ignore the hard glares that my Vierian aunt was giving me.

"Humes are weak, Fran. It was thanks to their greed for power...that the ring survived."

Flashback

After defeating Venat, Lady Ifalna grabbed Ghis and led him deep within the Draklor Labratory. She demanded him to place the ring on the floor so she could destroy it with the Sword of Kings. He hesitated for a moment then looked at her with crazed eyes. "No..." He whispered hoarsely. Lady Iflana's eyes burned with fury. "Ghis!" She screamed but he was already turning towards the exit. "You power-hungry fool..."

End of Flashback

"Ghis kept the ring. It should of ended that day, but evil was allowed to endure. There is no strength left in the world of humes. They are scattered, divided, leaderless."

Reddas placed a hand on Lady Ifalna's shoulder. "There is one who could unite them. One who could reclaim the throne of Nabradia."

Ifalna stared at the sky-pirate then to me. "He turned from that path a long time ago. He has chosen exile." She said with a long sigh.

I watched Balthier as he stared at the broken blade of Ghis. A moment ago another hume was inside the shrine of Cetra, also examining the broken sword. The sword made a loud clamour on the floor as blood seeped his finger. "It is still sharp." He muttered then turned to the exit of the shrine. Balthier picked up the sword and placed it back on the alter. "Why do you fear your past? You are Ghis' heir, not Ghis himself. You are not bound to his fate." I said, placing my hand ontop his shoulder.

Balthier sighed. "His blood flows in my veins, Fran. The same weakness as well." He turned to face me, gazing into my eyes.

"Your time will come. You will face the same evil, and you will defeat it."

As we reached the outside of the shrine, the sun was about to set. Making the surrounding glisten with beautiful mists. The water made a soothing rythem as it crashed along the small rocks below its waterfall and crickets sang their romantic lullaby. I looked at Balthier, his face glowing from the sun's final rays. He looked more handsome than ever and his smile didn't hold amusement...just a mixture of happiness and sadness. I placed a hand on his cheek and carrassed it with my fingers.

"Renich i lu' i erui' govannem? (Do you remember the time when we first met?)"

"Nauthannen i' ned ol' reniannen. (I thought I had wandered into a dream.)" He smiled.

Tears started forming from the corners of my eyes. "Long years have passed. You do not wear the trouble you carry now. Do you remember what I told you?"

Balthier didn't give me any eye-contact, instead it was focused on the pendent that I wore around my neck. It was Lente's tear...the Viera's treasured star which held our mortality. It glowed a light blue from his soft touch. "You said you'd bind yourself to me. Forsaking the immortal life of your people."

I nodded and gestured him to engulf the pendent in his hands. "And to that I hold. I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone.

"Fran...you're talking crazy."

I smiled as the pendent dropped into his hands. "I choose a mortal life."

Balthier's eyes gazed at me as if I lost my mind. "You can't give me this." He said, handing it back to me.

"It is mine to give to whom I will." I grabbed his hand and placed it in the middle of my two bosoms. "Like my heart." I leaned forward and brushed my lips against his.

It took a moment for him to response but he kissed back. He wrapped his strong arms around my waist and pulled me closer to him, afraid to let me go.
Though I haven't lived long enough like most Viera, I still decided that I would rather die young with my hume lover than to live with regrets that our love was perilious. Dreams often came to me about our future together...and at times I even saw the face of our son. I wanted to live that life even if it would be a short one...I pray to the wood that she forgave me. I am no longer a Viera for I have fallen for this man.

A/N: Whoo...a romantic scene finally appears. I just love this couple...lol but it saddens me that more people prefer Balthier with Ashe. When I played the game, I didn't see anything but a slight attraction. I believe that the connection between Balthier and Ashe ended when he returned her ring. I love the princess too but I thought her and Basch are better off. :) Yeah...can you see Ifalna as a Viera? Lmfao. Then that would mean that Aerith has bunny ears too. :D Can you imagine that? The fellowship will join in the next chapter and I can't wait to reveal who Legolas will be. You can take a wild guess if you want...