"Al-Cid, it's a pleasure to see you here," Basch spoke to the Rozarrian king sitting at the round table.

Two nights had passed since Al-Cid visited Queen Ashe.

"I'm happy you're alive, but dismayed to see the extent of your injuries," Zargabaath added, sitting adjacent to Judge Gabranth.

"Thank you both for accepting me here. I do not know why you all seem to trust me, but I'm thankful for it," Al-Cid added.

"The two of us are hoping that you are willing to put one hundred percent effort into this, now that you have no other obligations," Zargabaath said. "Judge Gabranth is busy back in Archadia, Queen Ashelia has her own nation to run as does the Marquis, and Balthier is busy getting acquainted with his new power. Will you be able to do that? Because if you can, then the two of us are willing to make you one of the project administrators. You know what kind of resources Rozarria has and what we can expect, you'll be a valuable ally."

"Absolutely. There is no doubt in my mind I will strive to accomplish you goal so that there can be future peace in Ivalice," Al-Cid replied.

"Excellent, with that settled," Zargabaath started, "Vaan! Bring Fran in!"

Vaan walked into the room with Fran following behind him.

"Thank you, Vaan," Zargabaath said. "You are now dismissed from the encampment to finish our tasks."

Vaan nodded and replied, "Of course. I'll see you both again soon."

Fran walked over to the table and sat down next to Al-Cid.

"So, what did they say?" Basch asked.

"What do you think they said?" Fran stated bluntly. "They refused our offer and told us not to come back with the same request."

"Would you mind cluing me in with what's happened?" Al-Cid asked.

"Certainly," Zargabaath answered. "We sent Fran here back to Eruyt Village to convince the other viera to create diplomatic ties with the other city-states. They are a part of Ivalice and will be influenced by what happens outside the village, yet they remain isolated. Fran has told us that the viera have no adopted the use of modern weaponry, but that they are extremely capable of fighting just as expertly as Fran does."

"Our efforts will be hopeless," Fran added.

Al-Cid cocked his head to the side, and then said, "Well how badly do we need their resources?"

"More than we'd like to admit. Nabradia will take a while to bring back to its original standing, and although Bhujerba and Landis are shaping up to be strong nations, they're still no match for Rozarria. Balfonheim itself is also a small port region that does not offer much power, but is an economic gold mine. The viera would add a great threat militarily and geographically," Basch answered.

"Well, I think I already have a solution," Al-Cid stated. "And you already implied it in your report to me, Judge Gabranth."

"What do you have in mind?" Zargabaath asked, very interested.

"Well, although the viera want to remain isolated, the events in Ivalice will affect the Wood and those in it," Al-Cid started. "If we were to carry out a small guerilla attack, or terrorist-like act, on the Wood and then blame it on the Rozarrians. It might help the viera decide that they cannot stand idly by."

Zargabaath glanced at Basch, then at Fran, then commented, "Do you all think that could work?"

"I will not allow it," Fran stated.

"Fran, please now," Zargabaath urged. "You want the viera to be safe from dangers, right?"

"Enemies, yes. Allies, like myself, no. I refuse to attack the viera," Fran answered sternly.

"But, if it's not now, it will be someday, and it will be much more devastating than what we're planning," Al-Cid assured.

"Al-Cid is right," Basch added.

Fran sat there for a moment in silence and then said, "Okay. But it must not be a devastating attack by any means."

"Of course not," Al-Cid replied. "But it must be a blow to the Wood, or else it will be enough to bring them to their senses. If you're willing to lead me to Eruyt Village, I'd be happy to help you go through with it."

"Who said I was going to do it?" Fran asked.

"Well, you're a viera, and you can expose the pathway there," Judge Gabranth stated.

Fran paused for another moment and then said, "Very well. I shall lead you there Al-Cid. We will carry out our plan and them come back in a day or two afterward. When shall we leave?"

"Tonight? Tomorrow?" Al-Cid asked. "It doesn't matter to me."

"No, Al-Cid you won't go. You must go to Nabradia and get things going," Zargabaath said. You've had a long couple of days, I don't want you running a dangerous military operation. I know just the cadet that I'll send. You can leave tomorrow, Fran."

The Rozarrian nodded and replied, "Sure."

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"Ashe, come, quick!" Balthier hissed in a loud whisper.

"Balthier! Where are we going?" Ashe whispered back.

Ashe and Balthier had been in Balthier's office talking about spending the day together, when Balthier had suddenly moved his desk, pulled up a part of the carpet, and exposed a secret shaft with a ladder downward. He had motioned to Ashe to follow him down, and she did as he said, but now they were in an underground passageway made out of brick.

"Where are we, Balthier?" Ashe asked again.

Balthier just turned, smiled, and held his finger to his lips and kept on walking. They continued down the passageway for another couple of minutes until they came to an apparent dead end.

"Very funny, Balthier," Ashe commented, putting her hands on her hips.

"I don't see the humor," Balthier smiled.

He walked forward and pushed forward on the wall. The wall actually swung open as if it were on a hinge. Ashe's jaw dropped as she she witnessed this, and Balthier kept on walking forward, leaving Ashe to scurry behind. Balthier shut the wall behind him, and before them was an empty room with a door. Balthier walked to the door and took out his set of keys and unlocked it and pushed it open.

And before them lay the entire bay of Balfonheim. The port was bustling this afternoon and the chatter of the crowds filled Ashe's ears. The smell of the salt water perked Ashe up as she looked out to the cloudless, blue sky and the bright sun.

"Balthier! Isn't this passageway dangerous? It leads right to your office, what if someone found out about this?" Ashe said.

"It can only be opened from the inside. So when we go back, we'll have to find another way into the castle. But I got bored just sitting around in my office, and so I started to explore. I was knocking on the walls and floor, and when I moved my desk and knocked I heard a hollow echo down the shaft. Reddas was a sky pirate, I'm not surprised at all he had secret passage ways. I know another couple into the castle as well that I've found," Balthier replied.

"So what are we doing?" Ashe asked.

"Taking you out for a wonderful day on the water," Balthier smiled.

He grabbed Ashe's hand and rushed forward toward the docks and the bay. They ran past the larger docks that housed the enormous boats and jogged for a little bit toward the small docks near the jetties and the beach. At the end of one dock was a twenty foot sailboat. Balthier brought Ashe to his boat.

Balthier stepped down from the dock into the sailboat and offered his hand to Ashe.

"You're crazy! We can't do this!" Ashe cried, refusing to take his hand. "You're a sky pirate, not a sea-goer! And what if anything happens?"

"That's part of the fun in doing dangerous things, my lady," Balthier smirked. "And I know how to navigate a small sailboat just as well a large airship. Please, come. I've already prepared lunch for us."

"So you were planning this?" Ashe asked.

"Of course. I do great things when I'm spontaneous, but the truly incredible acts of mine come when I've planned ahead," He winked back.

Ashe took Balthier's hand and stepped down into the sailboat. In a matter of minutes Balthier had set up the mast, rigged the sail, and turned the bow around to get the boat sailing. He got out to the edge of the bay. They had sailed out in silence, just enjoying the scenery. Balthier finally let the sail down so that the boat wouldn't move that much anymore.

He moved to the back of the boat where Ashe was sitting and sat down next to her, just moving as the boat rocked back and forth on the waves like a cradle.

"This is nice," Ashe smiled, looking up into the sky, soaking up the sun.

"The skies are beautiful, but the ocean holds a beauty that many take for granted as well," Balthier replied, clasping his hands together nervously.

The blue sky spread all the way to the horizon off in the distance. Seagulls flew overhead and the sounds of their cries reached the boat. It was a warm afternoon but not too hot. Ashe looked over the edge of the boat at the cyan colored water and smiled at her reflection.

"So were you planning on going anywhere?" Ashe asked.

"There's a small island nearby that I've explored a bit," Balthier answered.

"My, my, and here I thought you were dedicating all your time to politics," Ashe said playfully.

"I could never devote myself to something like politics," Balthier winked.

And so the boat floated on in the water and Ashe and Balthier just relaxed on the cushioned seat at the back. It was one of the most peaceful settings Ashe had seen in a while. Balthier stood up and walked to the bow of the boat and took a basket out from a cabinet under a counter. He walked back to Ashe and opened the top of it, exposing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

"Lunch?" Ashe laughed.

"Give me a break, I can't cook and I needed something that could be brought out here without keeping warm," Balthier chuckled.

Ashe reached down and took the sandwich in her hand, and suddenly she thought about how cute the scene was. She couldn't remember the last time she had a sandwich like this. It was over fifteen years ago that she did. When she was very young she was allowed to play with other young girls in Rabanastre, and they used to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Once she got older though, those friends either went away or weren't allowed to be with royalty, and the simple sandwiches turned into gourmet meals of the castle that needed to be eaten with class and a dignified manner.

"This really is perfect, Balthier," Ashe said quietly.

"Really? Hahaha I told Fran I make the best sandwiches. You know, the perfect proportions of peanut butter and jel-" Balthier started as Ashe cut him off.

"No, I mean the sailboat and sneaking away by ourselves and the island and everything," Ashe laughed.

Balthier laughed back and continued, "Don't worry, I knew what you meant."

Balthier took a gigantic bite out of his sandwich and Ashe laughed when she looked at his cheeks full of food.

"What's so funny?" Balthier mumbled, trying to talk with a full mouth, small crumbs flying out.

"Hey!" Ashe exclaimed, pushing Balthier's shoulder. "Don't eat with your mouth full!"

Balthier laughed outloud after swallowing with a big gulp, "Don't eat with my mouth full?!"

"I mean, don't talk with your mouth full!" Ashe cried, laughing at her mistake.

Balthier reached down into the basket and took out a few napkins to wipe his mouth with.

"Did you bring anything to drink?" Ashe asked.

"Nope, just drink the seawater," Balthier replied seriously.

Ashe stared at him dumbfounded for a second, then said, "Are you kidding?"

Balthier smirked and said, "Nope. Wanna see a magick trick?"

Balthier reached over the edge of the boat and cupped his hands in the water. He brought his hands, cupping the water, back over the boat and faced Ashe. He brought his hands close to his face and shut his eyes. Suddenly, the water lit up a bright blue and the light reflected off the water onto Balthier's handsome face. And then a second later Balthier blew out of his lips. And from his lips came small snowflakes and a small blue stream of air. Then he drank the water out of his hands.

"What in the world was that?" Ashe asked.

"Take some sea water, cast a Water spell on it, and then a minor Ice spell on it to make it nice and cold," Balthier smiled. "Neat trick, eh?"

Balthier then reached into the basket and took out two empty cups. He filled them both up with sea water and handed one to Ashe.

"Okay, now you try," He insisted.

Ashe repeated what Balthier had instructed, and when she tasted the water, it was like fresh water that just streamed off the snow of a mountain peak.

"This is delicious!" She exclaimed.

"I know," Balthier nodded smugly.

Ashe and Balthier drank down the water thirstily as the sun's rays beat down on them.

"Alright then!" Balthier exclaimed. "To the island!"

"Aye aye captain," Ashe joked, bringing her hand to her forehead in a playful salute to Balthier.

Balthier rigged the sail again, and in no time the small island was in sight and coming closer. They neared the shoreline, and then Balthier put the sail down. He let the boat gently run aground and he pulled it up some more, and then helped Ashe down.

The island itself was small. It was a secluded spot with lots of yellow sand, large dunes, green ferns, and gorgeous palm trees. They ran up one of the sand dunes together to the highest point on the island. Ashe looked out and could see Balfonheim not too far off in the distance. Before them lie miles and miles of open sea and cerulean sky. Now, some white clouds were starting to blow across the sky, being pushed by the warm breeze.

"Heads up!" Balthier cried as he grabbed Ashe's hand.

He started to run down the dune dragging Ashe behind, and the two of them raced down the dune toward the shoreline. They got to the bottom of the shore, but Balthier hadn't let go of Ashe's hand yet. And he was still running.

"Balthier! What're you doing!?" Ashe cried happily.

Balthier turned and swept Ashe off her feet as he sprinted toward the shore, and before she knew it, Balthier had flung her into the shallow water.

She screamed in delight but also in surprise.

"Balthier!" She yelled. "How dare you! I don't have a change of clothes! And I'm wearing light colors!"

"Nah, I made sure that I brought a change of clothes. I mean, they're a pair of my shorts and a shirt of mine, but I'm sure you have clothes of your own back at the office," Balthier replied, sticking out his tongue at her.

She splashed toward him and leapt into his arms.

"There! Big wet hug for you too!" She laughed.

"Please, a little water like that doesn't bother me," Balthier replied smugly.

And all of a sudden, Ashe gripped Balthier's neck tighter and swung him around and pushed him into the water as well.

"Hey! Okay, now water like this bothers me!" He laughed.

He quickly got up and ran to Ashe and tried to splash her and tackle her in the water, but she was already on the beach. He did catch up to her though, and wrapped his arms around her from behind and swung her around until he fell on the soft sand. And as they hit the ground together, something amazing happened.

Ashe rolled over on top of him and kissed him right on the lips. And the two of them lied there all wet and sandy, and continued to kiss passionately for a while.

About twenty minutes had passed by, after much more rolling around in the sand, until they finally stopped and lied there on their backs. Ashe lay next to Balthier flat on the sand, her right hand clasped in his left hand between them.

"I think we have to get back soon before they find out we're gone," Ashe said, breaking the peaceful silence.

"I agree. They might think that I kidnapped you," Balthier smiled.

"It would have been the second time you've stolen me, right?"

"Yeah."

They sat there for another minute in silence when Ashe piped up, "Balthier. I really want to come back here some evening, lie just like this, but watch the sunset and gaze up at the stars."

Balthier suddenly sat up alertly, startling Ashe as his head spun to look at her.

Ashe sat up in fright and cried, "What's wrong?!"

"How did you read my mind?" Balthier said seriously.

Ashe was caught off guard by the joke, but then burst into laughter.

"Don't scare me like that!" She playfully yelled, slapping his shoulder.

"Jeez, you're gonna give me bruises if you keep hitting me like that," Balthier whined.

He helped her off the sand and walked back over to the boat. He had two pairs of clothes on the boat waiting for them. Ashe slipped on his tee shirt and shorts while Balthier turned and let her have her privacy. She happily smiled at the thought of wearing Balthier's clothes as she smelled his cologne rise up to her nose.

When she turned around to tell Balthier he was okay to look, she was startled by what she saw. It was Rasler with his back to her. She could tell because he was wearing his favorite cloak. Then Rasler turned to face her. Except it wasn't Rasler.

It was Al-Cid.

Al-Cid was wearing Rasler's clothing like he had done two nights ago. And Al-Cid was frowning.

And as quickly as the mirage had came, it disappeared, and Ashe snapped out of her trance to see Balthier walking toward her.

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