Contemplating the Universe

[xqueen-asheliax.livejournal.com]

Who: Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca and (hopefully) Rasler Heios Nabradia
What: Emoing in her corner? No, she's just thinking...
Where: Royal Palace, Rabanastre
When: Late evening
Rating: PG?


Tired. That was the best way she could explain how she was feeling. It had been some time since her coranation and she was already so very tired. Politics were a lot more difficult than she'd first imagined and with the constant nagging from her advisors and maids and attendants... well, it was enough to drive her up the wall. She just pretended everything was okay, as usual, and took out her stress when she was alone, usually by sneaking off to do some training under the guise of Amalia.

She'd yet to retire the name. It was a fond name, a fond memory. The name she'd taken to lead the Resistance and gain her title once again. Of course, she'd lived as Amalia for two long, painful years and it was difficult to recall those she'd been close to in those years without refering to herself as Amalia.

Still, time had passed and now she was Queen Ashelia B'nargin, as she was destined to be. A widow with no reason to desire another husband. She was too busy to seek a suitor, regardless of the incessant pushing from her advisors to produce an heir. She was but twenty one years old. She had many years in which to produce an heir to the throne... even if she truly wished one day to have that luxury.

She felt sick each time she thought of her love for Snow. How long had it been since she'd seen him? He'd gone without a word and it broke her heart a second time. She was sure it was because he'd gone to fulfill his duty but without a word and so suddenly...

Pacing about her study, the young Queen eyed the rings that remained on her desk, both Rasler's wedding ring and the engagement ring from Snow, and the armour Rasler had wore that was on display in the corner. Certainly, she'd had the arrow hole patched up. Beside that, a case that contained the Shards.

Each a piece of her own history.

A sad sigh escaped her and Ashe paced only a moment longer, deciding she needed some air. Pushing open the doors to her balcony, the young woman seated herself on the edge, casting her gaze over the city and giving gentle waves to those who saw her.

Dalmasca was beautiful in the evening light.

Comments

[the-whiteprince.livejournal.com]

Rasler sighed, the guards refused him entrance to his own home. No matter how much he tried to explain, he was still refused and told to petition to the queen, under his true identity, in the morning when she took visitors. Not that he blamed them, he was supposedly dead for the past three years.

Now he must take matters into his own hands, if he ever wished to see Ashe. He landed hard on his feet aggravating the injuries he received earlier that day. With the first wall surmounted, there were now two options sneak in using the passage of the waterway, or climb up with the ledges and windows. Either option had the chance that he would get caught by servants or guards, both which he wished to avoid. He decided to take his chances and climb up their balcony. Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself down and began to climb.

Rasler made it to the balcony. He hoisted himself over the ledge and landed on his feet with a small thump. "Ashe?" he asked suddenly becoming aware of the state of his clothing, they were torn and dirty form his trek across the desert.

[xqueen-asheliax.livejournal.com]

As the balcony was suddenly invaded by a man with platinum blonde hair, the queen took several steps back, a gasp escaping her once her back found the wall. No. No, it couldn't be him. Could it? Had Ivalice returned him to her side when she truly needed him? Her silver eyes darted from his face to his clothes and back again. Rasler. It was him. But how?

Finally allowing a breath in, the young woman inched forward, shaking her head enough that her hair swished in the breeze. "...I... how?"

It wasn't exactly the best greeting she could've given, but to see her husband who'd been dead for years suddenly scaling the royal balcony and standing there in the flesh... well, the royal wasn't sure what was honestly happening.

Noticing the wounds and filth, finally, Ashe reached out at thin air, her hand pausing. "You are harmed..."

[the-whiteprince.livejournal.com]

Rasler looked at Ashe she was just as beautiful as he remembered her. "Truthfully, I don't know how it happened." All he could recall was fighting in the war, and then waking up in Nalbina. The three years in between were lost to him.

To be seeing her again after all that happened, left him feeling guilty and yet happy. He should of been there for her those three years. Instead she suffered though countless ordeals. He knew not the exact details, but could assume from what he was told.

He nodded and stepped closer, "I had a run-in with wolves, it's nothing major."

[xqueen-asheliax.livejournal.com]

She felt herself shift back as he stepped towards her but Ashe made herself move closer, her gaze lowered. "It matters not. What is important is that... that you are here." Her voice shook and the queen sighed softly. It was like starting over, at least for her. She wasn't sure whether or not to touch him or embrace him...

It felt as unsure a moment as their first meeting.

"It has been years..." She wanted to say she missed him but her pride as queen pushed its way in. She was too frightened of what might happen if he vanished again.

[the-whiteprince.livejournal.com]

He reached out and pulled Ashe closer. Rasler embraced her tightly, catching a whiff of her familiar perfume. It carried the memories of their joys and sorrows, their first meeting, first proper dance, their wedding, and when he left to fight in the war.

"I'm sorry...I" he whispered. He could hold her close like this for eternity.

[xqueen-asheliax.livejournal.com]

A small, startled noise escaped her as she was pulled close and held tightly, one arm pressed flat against her chest, trapped between them as the other hung at her side for a moment.

Blood, dirt, sweat... she could smell it all on him, but it didn't matter one bit. He was her husband. She'd missed him so much it broke her heart. "Do not apologise, Rasler. You fought for your homeland, as I did mine."

She couldn't fault him for that. Not at all.

[the-whiteprince.livejournal.com]

Despite the three years that separated them, Ashe was still the sweet princess, with the feisty temper he met, and eventually married. He stroked her cheek, with his calloused hand. "But...I failed. Nabradia is..." he trailed off.

[xqueen-asheliax.livejournal.com]

"I know... but it isn't your fault." Looking up at his eyes with her own grey ones, she sighed gently. "You should bathe and find something new to wear. I... never threw anything away." All his things were still there, in their room.

She'd just... tried not to look at them for too long.

[the-whiteprince.livejournal.com]

"But I should of..." he shook his head and sighed. His homeland and family were gone but there was nothing he could have done about it, but it still felt like he should have done something more.

He nodded, "I think I need to take care of this first." He motioned to his injured leg, blood soaked through the makeshift bandage.

[xqueen-asheliax.livejournal.com]

"Ah... yes." Grasping his hand, Ashe led her husband inside to the study, pulling open the desk drawer to gather some potions and a bandage she always kept near. Returning to him, Ashe ignored all thoughts of what was proper and all protocol, shifting to her knees and ripping the fabric of his pants to expose the wound more.

Removing the bandage, the queen hissed in horror at the sight. "Potions are not going to repair this..." Standing, the woman set the medicines aside and turned to the door. "Come with me."

[the-whiteprince.livejournal.com]

He followed Ashe into the study, were he waited for her. He winced as his wife wife tore open his pants.

"Is it that bad?" he replied looking down. The injury was worse than he expected, he managed to ignore the pain due to the adrenaline rush he spent the greater part of the day in. Now his thigh throbbed painfully. The prince nodded, and limped after his wife.

[xqueen-asheliax.livejournal.com]

Taking Rasler to their long-abandoned room, it'd be obvious it was never used anymore. The bed was bare of the necessary sheets, simply a neatly folded blanket atop it. The curtains were drawn. The room just felt lonely.

Opening the door to the bathroom, she gestured to it. "You should clean the blood and dirt off. I will find a stronger medical aid." That said, she turned to start searching through drawers, wrinkling her nose at the dust inside them. She wouldn't use magicks anymore. She'd become rusty in her time as Queen and wouldn't want to harm him further.

[the-whiteprince.livejournal.com]

He entered the bare room, instantly he recognized it as the room that he shared with Ashe. The lack of furnishings and decorations, made it evident that he truly disappeared for three years. The last time he was here, he was attempting to ease her worries before setting off to war.

"Sure." He hobbled off into the bathroom, and took off his armor leaving only a simple linen undershirt and his torn pants. He slipped them off, and grabbed a washcloth off a nearby shelf. Grimacing he began to clean off the blood and dirt. He tried to ignore the sharp sting of the gash, but harder than expected since he was tending to it himself. "Ashe? Could you come here for a moment?"

[xqueen-asheliax.livejournal.com]

Finding a few hi-potions, Ashe blinked as she was called, clutching the magical medicines against her as she made her way to the bathroom, a faint blush painting her pale face at the sight of him out of his pants. It had been a long time since she'd seen him undressed and while the image was still raw in her mind it was still a shock to see it partially presented to her in reality.

"Allow me..." she murmured, hitching up her skirt to kneel in front of him, taking the cloth to wipe away the grime, frowning slightly. "It is not as deep as I expected... how did you get it?"

[the-whiteprince.livejournal.com]

He smiled at his wife's reaction, it was quite endearing. The last time Rasler had seen Ashe so flustered was on their wedding night, when she blushed and stammered upon entering their room. It was quite tempting to make a comment about her blushing, but this was neither the time or place.

Rasler offered his thanks, and leaned against the wall taking the weight off his leg, and thus alleviating some of the pain. "I got into a fight with a wolf, and I tried to use magic to seal the wound."

[xqueen-asheliax.livejournal.com]

"Wolves are not known for playing fair, Rasler," she murmured lightly, his name still feeling like a ghost on her lips. It felt strange to say his name after all this time.

Once she'd cleaned the wound, Ashe used the hi-potions on it, healing it up for the most part. She stood; her smile was soft when she looked at him and Ashe couldn't help herself from embracing him again, her head tucked under his chin. "I... Rasler..."

[the-whiteprince.livejournal.com]

"They certainly don't." he replied. He shut his eyes, as he felt the sharp sting and cool liquid of the potion being applied to his leg.

Rasler wrapped his arm around Ashe's waist. "It's okay Ashe. I'm here for you now, and I shall never abandon you." He planted a kiss on her temple. While he was away fighting in the war he missed her greatly.

[xqueen-asheliax.livejournal.com]

Ashelia smiled lightly as he kissed her temple, her hands flat against his back. "Thank you, Rasler," she murmured, her gaze falling to the floor. "I should leave you to bathe and change... your clothing is still in the room."

Pulling back just enough to be able to look at his face, she tilted her head a little, just studying him. It hurt to think that she'd been without him for so long. "I have missed you so much..."

[the-whiteprince.livejournal.com]

He smiled and ran his fingers through her soft hair. "I should be the one thanking you." Rasler said softly. He had once thought that he would never hold her like this again, especially after what Fran had told him.

Looking down at Ashe, he gave a vague nod. "It must have been so hard."

[xqueen-asheliax.livejournal.com]

"It was, but Dalmasca deserved a real ruler, and not that... man." She rarely spoke Vayne's name these days. It was too bitter a word to let free and she chose to simply refer to him as 'that man'. Even her advisors and maids had learnt what she meant by that.

Pulling away, Ashe reached her hand to rest it against his cheek. "Is there anything I can do for you, Rasler?"

[the-whiteprince.livejournal.com]

"And now they have you." He paused thinking of his next words. Rasler did not want to press the issue too much, he would learn what happened in the past three years eventually. "Since we met, I always knew you would make an excellent queen."


"Well I can't recall the last time I ate, or drank for that matter." He said looking down at his growling stomach.

[xqueen-asheliax.livejournal.com]

"And you would make a splendid king, if only your chance had not been taken from you..." Her gaze fell but when his stomach growled Ashe laughed softly into her hand.

Pausing as she stepped back slightly, she smiled at him. "Wash up, and there are clothes in the room. I will have a maid bring you a meal."

Before she stepped out of the bathroom, Ashe couldn't help but lean close to him and press a gentle kiss to his cheek.

[the-whiteprince.livejournal.com]

"Do you think they would still let me? I mean with my homeland destroyed and and me being gone for three years. It would be quite difficult." He looked down.

He nodded. "Sure, but what if she starts asking questions?"

Rasler, brushed his hand where his wife had kissed him, remembering the affections they shared in the past.

[xqueen-asheliax.livejournal.com]

"...I am unsure." She shook her head slightly. Sighing softly, the Queen pondered the idea until his next question.

Smiling to him, she gave him a rare cheeky expression. "I am the Queen, Rasler. She has to do what I ask. Besides... do you plan to live forever in secret?"

Turning for the door, she smiled back to him. "I would have you as my king, if I am able."

[the-whiteprince.livejournal.com]

"No, but I don't want to cause any upheaval, in revealing myself too suddenly." He paused and smiled back, "Although being the Queen's secret lover would be interesting proposition."

He gazed at his wife, "I pray that you are able to, Ashe."

[xqueen-asheliax.livejournal.com]

Ashe gasped at him, laughing as she shook her head. "Honestly, Rasler... you always were one for romance tales such as that." She couldn't help her smile now.

"I will speak with my attendants... Rasler, there is something I must discuss with you, but it can wait until you are fully clothed and have food."

Leaving the room, Ashe was quick to find the first maid who swiftly brought fresh bed linen and a rather large meal, complete with wine, to the bedroom. Of course, Ashe decided it'd be better to put the sheets on the bed herself which proved to be rather a task considering she'd never actually done it before...

[the-whiteprince.livejournal.com]

"There's nothing wrong with that." Still smiling, he took her hand and kissed it.

"You shall have my full attention." Rasler closed the door behind him, and stripped down for his bath. It was quite relaxing compared to the quick cold showers he took during the war. He dressed quickly slipping on a pair of simple trousers and a shirt. Before leaving the room he stopped in front the mirror and stroked his jaw, realizing he needed a shave.

Rasler stepped into the bedroom, "Ashe what are you doing?" he titled his head slightly.

[xqueen-asheliax.livejournal.com]

Blinking at him from under a pile of bedding, she laughed and shook herself out of it all. "I believed it would be better that I dress the bed, rather than allowing a maid to see you too soon..."

Managing to get the bed sorted, surprisingly, she seated herself upon it with a huff. "There is a meal prepared," she murmured, gesturing to the service cart with dinner for two. It'd be like old times, when they hadn't wanted to set up the enormous dining room just for her, Rasler and her father. The King usually never turned up to meals anyway...

[the-whiteprince.livejournal.com]

He smiled, and chuckled. "Makes sense." Although he did wonder how the maid would react upon seeing him alive. He assumed that Ashe would would sort it all out, and reintroduce to the court him without causing a fiasco.

Rasler walked over to the table and took a seat. He took a plate off the cart, the scent of their supper making his mouth water. He much preferred dining alone with Ashe, where they could talk about whatever came to mind without having to worry whether the subject was acceptable for the ears of polite society. "Ashe, what did you want to discuss?"