The Protector

Chapter VII: The Idle Life

A/N: Sorry for the long update-I had great difficulty getting this online.

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"I don't want you to be sad. 'Cause I'll only feel sad, too. I know everything will get better, I promise."

But can it? Ashe silently thought to herself after remembering what Alix said. After all that has been going on?

Ashe needed a few moments to herself to think, even if it was eight thirty in the morning. Even if she still needed several more hours of sleep. The princess squinted at the rays of sun as they shined down on her, almost as if they wanted her awake.

She was situated on a rope swing in one of the many palace gardens, isolated from the curious eyes of any unwanted visitors. Ashe would come here often in her childhood, mainly to play or if she wanted some time alone. The princess rarely swung on the rope swing now, due to her royal duties and most recently, finding time to be with Alix.

Ashe lightly swung herself back and forth, her feet grazing the bottom of the grass below. When Ashe was younger she had trouble keeping herself on the swing long enough until she fell, but eventually time passed and she outgrew this issue.

The princess gazed around the rest of the garden, until her eyes settled upon Alix sitting only a few feet away from her. Ashe was quite surprised that she didn't notice him until now.

"Ashe, you've had more than five minutes." Alix whined, leaning back. "Can you show me the palace now?"

Ashe didn't even remember telling him to let her have extra time. "I just came down here to think. How about five more?"

"You told me that an hour ago!"

"All right, but not without your breakfast first." Ashe said.

"Fine, fine." Alix leaned forward off the ground, resting his chin between his knees. "I've never been in a place so big, and I wanna see as much as I can so I don't get lost again."

Ashe's feet halted the swing, "Would you like to try this for a bit? Before you go off exploring the palace?"

"Okay." As Ashe got up Alix sat down, but didn't move. Hands tightly clasped around the ropes he asked, "Ashe, what do I do?"

"Hm, just hold on tightly to the ropes and don't let go. Do you want me to push you?" Alix nodded, and the princess instinctively began to rock Alix back and forth. "Higher?"

"Yeah! Higher!"

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"So you have never been on a swing before until now?" Ashe asked. The two had sat down, somewhat exhausted from the swinging.

"Nope. That was my first time ever."

"Was there a swingset at the orphanage?"

"Yeah. There was one, but the big kids got to use it all the time. You had to wait your turn but the older kids ended up in the front of the line first. Even when I asked politely they said no. Besides," Alix looked up, "At the orphanage Miss Rina was too busy to push me on the swingset. But you just did that."

"You know, that swing is where I met a good friend of mine many years ago. We were only children then. About your age or so." Ashe looked down at her hands, sighing slightly.

Alix gazed at Ashe with curiosity.

"Our fathers wanted us to meet. Said it would be good for the future." Ashe sighed. "And it was. After that we saw each other more often, and got to know each other well."

"Did you like him?"

Ashe was slightly taken aback by this question. "Well, just like any other girl I thought he was annoying, but I got to like him. As a friend, yes. But more than one, actually."

"There was one girl who I talked to a lot at the orphanage." Alix said, his right hand picking at the blades of grass. "She was the only one who didn't make fun of me. Her name's Delia, but I didn't get to say good-bye to her when you picked me up. One of these days I'll go back to see her again."

"If you would like I could arrange you to go to the orphanage." Ashe answered back. "After all, you still need to gather the rest of your things. And say hello to Delia."

"Yeah...That'd be great. When would we go?"

"Well, I might not be able to go with you," Ashe said, but quickly moving on as Alix's face fell, "But, if I can find time then I'll join you, okay?"

"'Kay."

Just as Alix finished a figure ran toward Ashe and the boy.

"Ashe, Alix!" It was Penelo, waving her hand in the air. She stopped abruptly in front of them, panting, "A-Ashe, the servants wanted me to tell you that breakfast is ready."

"So who are you, then? Their new servant girl?" Ashe asked.

"No, they just needed someone." Penelo joined the two as they walked back towards the palace. "Everyone else was busy doing who know what."

"Sounds fair enough." Ashe answered.

"Alix, you can go run on ahead." Penelo told the boy as he looked at them. "Ashe and I will catch up with you later."

"Okay," Alix started to jog in front of Ashe and Penelo. "Later, Ashe!"

Penelo sighed as she saw the boy run off. "He seems to have so much energy in him. Kind of reminds me of Vaan and I when we were little. Is he hard to handle?"

"Not really, no. He is a good kid, even if he insists on waking me up at seven in the morning."

Penelo chuckled. "I have Vaan to do that for me these days."

"I wonder..." Ashe paused, in deep thought. "Does Fran make Balthier do everything for her?"

"Knowing Fran, most likely." Penelo giggled as Ashe gave a small smile. Imagining Fran using Balthier as her servant was quite easy to picture. Balthier's smooth words and charm would be no use against Fran's ability to intimidate those around her.

"I should ask Balthier later." Ashe answered, quickening her pace to catch up with the younger girl.

"You might want to try that another time." Penelo sighed. "He had to leave early this morning. He said something about important in Balfonheim, and it couldn't wait. Fran tagged along, too. After all, a leading man can't succeed without his leading lady, right?"

I would offer ten thousand gil that he is doing something illegal. Ashe thought, rolling her eyes. "Oh. I will contact him another time."

There was an awkward silence.

"Ashe I forgot to ask this, but are you feeling better? After last night?" Almost instantaneously Penelo looked at the ground, knowing she had said something personal.

"I-I'm not trying to intrude or anything, but-"

"It's fine. And I'm fine, too." Ashe answered. Penelo looked up at her. "I just...I just was not myself that evening. I talked with Basch last night, and I explained what happened. Yesterday may have been a bit rough for me, but I am all right now."

"Good to know. Say, Ashe." Penelo began, her face lighting up, "You should have told everyone earlier that the food here's excellent! I mean, lunch yesterday was great but the breakfast totally tops it! It's been so long, and we haven't spoken like this in ages, either! I still have so much to tell you..."

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"Slow down...slow down, Ashe..." Alix panted as his short legs attempted to keep up with Ashe's strides.

"This is the last staircase to the top floor." Ashe answered, beginning to walk up. "Alix, if you did not eat so much food at breakfast then you might have been able to keep up. It's not good to exercise on a full stomach."

"Can't you just...I don't know, carry me? Or something?" Alix whined.

"I could, but not up these stairs." Ashe answered back. "After about ten minutes or so I'd collapse."

Alix grumbled under his breath, lightly jogging up the spiral staircase behind the older woman. "There are probably twenty or thirty-something staircases here! Ashe, why aren't you tired?"

Ashe looked over her shoulder. "I have lived here longer than you. After a while you'll be fine. Stair climbing every day does the trick."

"What's up here, anyway? You said the bedrooms were on the third floor."

"You'll see." Ashe reached the top of the stairs, with a panting Alix following right behind her. "After all, yesterday you told me you wanted to see the rest of the palace, right?"

"Yeah." Alix pouted in defeat.

The two walked on for several more minutes. Ashe instinctively looked away as they passed a large painting of Rasler.

"All I see are old paintings of guys who I don't know and lots and lots of chandeliers." Alix answered, looking around to his left and right the long hallways.. "Those are everywhere in the palace! Why do they make this floor so special?"

"Just follow me." Ashe called out as she started to walk down the left hallway.

A light cough from behind caused the princess to stop. Upon seeing the Tyrian Alix ran to the princess and hid behind her skirt, peering around it anxiously.

"Lady Ashelia." It was Sir Tyrian, his right hand clasped around a letter and the other supporting his weight against a wall. "I was on my way to my office when I was asked to give this to you."

With a shaky hand, Tyrian handed Ashe the letter.

"The letter is from Marquis Halim Ondore. It was sent several days ago and arrived here just yesterday. He is requesting your prescence in Bhujerba, and wishes to know your answer as quickly as possible."

"Thank you, Sir Tyrian," Ashe answered, toying with the letter. "However, I would prefer it if you did not read my mail. A princess does need her own personal space."

"My sincerest apologies, your highness." Tyrian gave a small bow. "If you would excuse me, there are matters that I have to attend to in my office."

Tyrian departed in the opposite direction.

I thought he would say something ignorant, as usual. Ashe thought, moving down the hall with Alix right behind her. People who are in good moods do not act in such a polite manner. But he can't be in a good mood; he's Sir Tyrian, after all.

"Ashe, are you gonna see this Marquis guy?" Alix asked as he scampered along, bringing Ashe out of her trance. "He sounds kinda important."

"He is. And I suppose I will pay him a visit." Ashe said, "After all, I have not left Rabanastre for a long time. I have not seen my uncle in some time, either."

"When will we leave, Ashe?" Alix asked with great curiosity, looking up at Ashe intently.

"After I write back he will tell us." Ashe answered as she led Alix into yet another hallway. "Hopefully within a few days or so."

"Okay."

Ashe gazed down at the boy. "And you will be right by my side."

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A/N: I finished this chapter a while ago, but didn't feel it was right to put it online. I dunno, I felt it didn't turn out the way I wanted it. (For some reason I feel there's too much dialogue and not enough description of the situation or the characters). But after re-reading it, I felt somewhat better.

I know what to write for the next chapter, but not how to write it. I'll figure out something, and hopefully I won't keep any of you waiting for too long. (I'd better get out of that habit).

-Abzan342