Valley Of The Dead Chapter 5

Basch ran. The air that whipped the hair from his face was sterile and ancient. It blew away his weariness and gave oxygen to the fire that fuelled his heart and limbs. The sweat on his body seemed to chill, though his heart pumped hot blood and adrenaline furiously through his veins.

Basch took fore granted his ability to stay focused so sharply during times such as this. It was one of the reasons he became captain of his squad. The reason so many men had trusted him to bring them to their goal and back home to their family afterwards.

Today was a day he would not forget as long as he lived. Today was the day he let his guard down to the near ruin of Dalmasca… for the second time.

Vossler stood with his sword raised and ready over the still and fragile form of Ashelia Dalmasca on the golden floor of Raithwall's Tomb. It was in that critical moment of finding the missing Princess and yet finding her apparently slain by her own Knight and trusted friend that the confuse spell hit him squarely in the back.

He had been oblivious to the undead that surrounded them, eyes alert to nothing but finding his charge. The undead were slow fiends and the others could take care of them. Fran slew the last the moment it cast the curse on Basch, and collapsed alongside it in a faint. Balthier rushed to her side.

But Basch registered little more. It was as though his most recent nightmare came to life before his eyes. Vossler- how could he? Vossler was a true man, a good man... Basch couldn't think. He felt sick. His head spun and the world made no sense anymore. It may well have crumbled down around him as his heart crumbled in his chest while he tore his eyes away from Ashe.

Revenge screamed in his mind. Guilt would come later.

And with that, Basch Fon Ronsenburg was gone. In his place came a deadly Knight with nothing but murder in his heart.

It was easy. Simple. Physical. It was what he was made for. He felt as one with his sword as he released his wrath on the bastards that surrounded him. Vossler first.

He charged and his target turned to witness the attack. Basch felt a fresh wave of fury as Vossler blocked the blow and raised his own sword- threatening but not attacking. Basch stabbed at him and this time he pierced the shoulder of the his sword arm.

A rush of blonde hair- the girl had leapt on his back in an attempt to restrain him. A mere irritation that only angered him further. He thrust his sword into the boy who was attempting to wrestle the sword from him with his bare hands. This was no match for him. Where was the satisfaction he needed just for a moment to quieten the anguish of his being?

The boy cried out and fell as he was struck, clutching a wound in his side. The girl screamed in his ear words he didn't care to listen to. Growling he threw her off just as the Sky Pirate crashed into him.

Though he was merely knocked back and not injured, his mind whirled once again. He was light-headed and the strength he'd felt a moment ago seemed to drain away until he sagged slightly. Vossler and Balthier took their chance and pounced on him. Basch was thrown down and crushed beneath them, pinned to the ground with fury boiling inside him more than ever.

"NO! I must avenge her!" He gasped, struggling with all his might.

--

In her spelled state of petrifaction, Ashe could do nothing to stop the scene that unfolded before her but watch in increasing despair. She cried silently for her friends as they were struck down. She could not see what had happened to Vaan she couldn’t help but imagine him in a horrific state. She could only hear his agony and Penelo's desperate cries for him to hold on.

Had she been too quick to trust Basch? Was this what he had planned all along? To massacre them in the depths of her ancestor's grave where nobody would find them for months, years?

Yet he'd had plenty of opportunity before now. As Penelo rushed to her side and fumbled through their bag of remedies for a Golden Needle, Ashe began to anger. She cursed Vossler silently for his good heart that trusted too quickly.

And yet...

She had caught the look in Basch's eye. He did not seem himself. And then she heard him yell: "NO! I must avenge her!"

Her heart burned and she would have gasped had the spell allowed her. Suddenly understanding, she urged her muscles to move, to show Basch that she was not dead. She must bring him out of this insanity before he killed them all.

Just as Ashe thought Penelo had given up, the girl released the Esuna spell over her and she cherished the return of her body… but only for a second. She must end this. Quickly.

--

With an almighty wrench Basch threw off Balthier and rolled Vossler over bodily so that it was him that pinned the other down. His sword was snatched away but Basch had already head-butted Vossler so that the other mans head hit the stone hard. The man went limp underneath him and Basch rushed to his feet, searching for the other.

He and the girl were bent over the boy and his charge. Though they did not seem to be harming her, Basch still wanted them away from her. Sword forgotten he hurtled toward Balthier.

What happened next threw him completely off-guard.

The Princess rushed toward him in an instant, stumbling up against him. Basch felt utterly confused as her beautiful face leaned close and her smooth lips touched his desperately.

His heart beat like the wings of dragon. He was too taken aback to react. He thought that he must have lost his sanity, but how could he care when her lips were so soft, her taste so sweet? Her smell so...

He did not know what was happening anymore, all he knew was that he could not help but respond. He let her lips part his and joined the kiss passionately, sinking into the serenity of her embrace. His arms curled around her waist and his fingers tangled through her soft hair.

This had to be a dream, it was too perfect and yet it was forbidden. It was wrong...

"Basch..." Ashe whispered against his lips. He did not want to kiss to end. Now he had her, he never wanted to let her go. She pulled back slowly in his arms.

"Basch."

He opened his eyes to the full devastation of what he'd done.

--

A/N:

I’m glad this is finally finished and I’m sorry about the wait! I’ve been putting off this last chapter from lack of confidence, I suppose. I can think of no better excuse! I hope you guys aren’t left disappointed, anyway.

Thank you so much to those of you who reviewed, especially Earisu and BaschAshe for your kind help and inspiration!

I’m going to carry on writing short stories about Basch and Ashe. The next is starting very soon. I’m quite excited about it, the first chapter is almost ready to post!